Help me with Epcot planning

[susanh]

We have one day at Disney as a family before my husband's week long Orlando work meeting (the rest of us will have 6 day pass). He has chosen Epcot. It will be the end of August and hot. Kids are 5 and 7. My mom will be with us and due to health issues will not be moving quickly. The things I want to accomplish are:
1. Living with the Land and Behind the Seeds Tour (takes 1 hour)
2. Biergarten for lunch when entertainment is the best (anytime between 12-3pm)
3. Soarin
4. Some of World Showcase-doesn't have to be full loop
5. Everything else we get to do will be icing on the cake but I don't want to do a lot of backtracking.

So...do I start at IG with world showcase, lunch at noon then the rest of Epcot vs. ending the afternoon at world showcase with later lunch Biergarten at 3 pm?

 

[ForMyBoys]

What time does each part of the park open that day? That will help a bit.

When you do world showcase you're kids should sign up for Agent P's adventure, its so fun. Of course you have 6 days w/o hubby so maybe that can wait

 

[DisneyCAL]

If you are starting your day around 11 when WS opens then yes start at IG do some looking around the WS maybe France, UK, and Canada the lunch around 2 (hot part of day) to take a breather. Head to Future World area after lunch for Soarin (FP this) and then do your tour. Afterwards head back to WS and do the opposite side before heading back to IG (make use of the boats that go across the lake to cut down on walking). Remember shops are air conditioned and so are the shows around the WS so take advantage of it for your mom's sake.
I personally would start at Future World when it opens and then WS when that area opens but it depends on what time you starting your day there. If starting at epcot open (~9am) then I would do Soarin then the tour then head to WS and make the clockwise loop with lunch around the same time (or whenever you make it to Germany). Hope this makes sense or helps.

 

[larryz]

Be advised, the August heat and humidity can suck the appetite right out of you and your little ones. Let me recommend that you plan some cool and shady time for the hour prior to your Biergarten adventure. From the left, Mexico and China have fairly long indoor, A/C-cooled attractions. From the right, Mitsukoshi department store in Japan and The American Adventure will cool you down.

 

[Hootch]

It will be hot, but late August is a low crowd time.

My wife and son did the behind the seeds a couple of months ago and enjoyed it. Biergarten is one of my favorite places to eat. German food has a reputation for being heavy, but they several salads and roasted chicken. According to wdwent.com the band plays Daily at 12:30, 1:20, 2:20, 3:20, 4:45, 6:00, 7:15 & 8:15pm Your kids can burn a little energy on the dance floor.

Wdwent.com shows the the types and times for attractions at each of the pavilions. It also shows the times for character meet and greets if that is an intereste to your kids.

http://www.wdwent.com/

If you can schedule your Soarin' FP time outside the normal meal times, the line for Living with the Land will be shorter. It won't be too long much of the day at that time of year.

 

[Aerinha]

WS doesn't open until 11 so unless you arrive then, you will have to start with the front parts of Epcot. Also, unless you are staying at an Epcot area hotel, even if you arrive at 11, you will probably have to enter through the main gates not IG which means walking all the to WS, passing attractions and then backtracking. If you are at an Epcot hotel, you will have to walk through part of WS to get to the Seeds tour and then back track for anything in WS

When it is really hot I don't get hungry until in AC for several minutes. Then I notice. A big meal might not sound appealing in high temps.