Help us enjoy Epcot World Showcase

[PSUamanda]

I know people love world showcase. The past couple years we have really tried to enjoy it but I think maybe we're doing it wrong? We have young kids (4 and 7 this year) so maybe it's just more for adult only groups? In the past we have had LL so any down time feels like we should be doing all of the rides. We've tried making dining reservations around the world showcase but then it feels like you're power walking past things to get there on time because it's so spread out. Also by the time we usually make it to showcase the characters are all gone (except Elsa and Anna who are there all day). We've gone into some of the stores for pin trading, but with young kids it's not a ton of fun to browse. I know there are some shows that we've never spent time watching. Is that part of what we're missing?

We're going in about a week with a big group (7 adults, 5 kids 7 and under) and I'm in charge of the planning. We will have LLMP and we have a space 220 reservation around 2. I'm thinking we'll be able to get everyone to the park around 9:30-10, start in the front, do about half the LL attractions, then head to world showcase and try to meet some princesses before lunch. After lunch we'll finish the rest of the rides then finish the day at world showcase.

Help us enjoy world showcase this year. What are the best things to do in the countries? Best shows/ attractions (other than remy and frozen)? Best snacks/ drinks? What are we missing?

 

[Dug720]

I think they still have the Kidcot stations don't they? Those are geared for kids and as I understand it are fun.

 

[BrianL]

I will say that as a kid I didn't enjoy World Showcast all that much. It wasn't the most kid-oriented place. I did like the Mexico pavillion and The Maelstrom of course. With Frozen and Ratatouille now, that helps - but they are far apart! Honestly, even as an adult it's not my favorite - I tend to do the rides and treat it as a destination for eating. I don't explore it all the much really. I do like the Mitsukoshi store in Japan, but that's about the only one I would go to purposefully.

 

[shm_helene]

Epcot was something that we didn't enjoy with our kids until they were a little older. If the food and wine or arts festival are going on there are some fun activities associated with that!

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

I went with my kids last summer when they were 2 and 4. The younger one likes snacks so he got different snacks and the older one likes princesses and shopping so she likes that. Oh and the younger one liked meeting Winnie the Pooh. For us though it was just so hot so couldn't last too long outside. If it was less hot we would have done kidcot.

 

[scrappinginontario]

It has always been my daughter's favourite park, even since she was little. She's 15 and even last night said it is still her favourite park.

When she was younger we enjoyed doing the Kidcot stations as well as wandering through the stores. She also enjoyed what is now the Disney's DuckTales World Showcase Adventure on the Play Disney app. Even when she was little, if she couldn't handle the app portion, she enjoyed us making things come to life and interact.

The entertainment in the countries was fun. We'd stop and watch for a little bit or longer time, depending on her interest.

You will also be there during Festival of the Arts which will mean there will be a Figment Scavenger hunt. A picture will be hidden in each country. You can purchase a map at the front of World Showcase (or the store inside the IG entrance) and the kids can have fun looking for Figment.

Honestly for us it was slowing down and enjoying what she wanted. The miniature train in Germany was also a hit.

If you need to step out of the crowds and just give your kids some breathing room, the little gardens in Japan are a beautiful oasis!

World Showcase is not for all kids but hopefully some of these will help your family!

 

[Marthasor]

Epcot has been my DS's favorite park since he was little, however, that was mostly due to the interactive attractions that used to be there in the now, repurposed Innoventions buildings.

I would highly recommend doing the Kidcot stations with the kids. Also the Figment Scavenger hunt as PP recommended. Both activities give you the chance to really explore the pavilions. My DS also loved playing the drums in the Africa area and watching the trains in Germany.

 

[Counting Stars]

We're going in about a week with a big group (7 adults, 5 kids 7 and under) and I'm in charge of the planning. We will have LLMP and we have a space 220 reservation around 2. I'm thinking we'll be able to get everyone to the park around 9:30-10, start in the front, do about half the LL attractions, then head to world showcase and try to meet some princesses before lunch. After lunch we'll finish the rest of the rides then finish the day at world showcase.

That is a pretty aggressive plan with a group of 12... Depending on the time of year you visit you might want to prioritize the attractions. Then slow down and take the time to actually see Epcot. Let the kids participate in the kid activities. 5 kids under the age of seven is a handful. And a group of 12 is not going to move as quickly as your family of four. Have 3 or 4 must-do items, e.g. a reservation and a couple of rides so you can relax and enjoy the whole day at Epcot, not just isolated 3 minutes ride segments. Also, Big kudos to you for being the planner for the group, an important and sometimes under appreciated job!

 

[kdka421]

We were there for Festival of the Arts when my girls were 6/8 and they LOOOOVED it.
The scavenger hunt as many have said is a must. Also, there was a big mural they could help paint, paint by number style. (not world showcase but just a heads up as a fun festival activity) So much to see visually, chalk drawings etc.
Outside of the festival, they really enjoy the entertainment - drummers in Japan, Voices of Liberty in America, there is a juggler in Italy, etc.
If the budget allows, they love the experience inside the Japan gift shop where they can pick out their own oyster & receive a pearl.

I hope you find a lot of new experiences to enjoy!

 

[ak517]

Disney's DuckTales World Showcase Adventure on the Play Disney app

This is sooooooo much fun and so underrated. We (two adults) did it while I was pregnant and had a blast!

 

[vspenn]

Epcot is my kid's favorite park. many of the things have already been mentioned:
DuckTales on Play app
Kidcot stations (my 6yo spent an hour at Mexico Kidcot - drawing, chatting with the guys there)
Scavenger hunt (cost $10, varies by season, get a nice item at the end)
Food - looks at menus of various food stands/countries and pick what your kids will like. We never do sit-down reservations as we eat our way through the kiosks. There's always something my kids love. Maple popcorn in Canada is always a must-refill and Morocco and France are must-eat
Moana - Journey of water - my kids have spent over an hour each time we have been there. just have a change of clothes (or wear swimsuit), but this was THE highlight of the park. they get completely soaked (but don't have to if you don't want to). it's like a mini-waterpark for them.
Encanto show
Playground - inside Mission to Mars (can enter through the exit, don't need to ride the ride). good place to get out of the heat.
Pick rides that they like - don't have to do all of them. for us, it's Remy, Frozen, Soarin, Guardian, Nemo (mostly for the playground and acquarium inside), Test Track (closed), Mexico ride. I insist on Living with the land. we skip Mars, Spaceship Earth.
the big store in Japan - we didn't buy a pearl but kids watched other people for a looong time. they also had fun seeing all the silly and cute things in the store.
Miniature train in Germany - my son loved watching it. probably spent a solid 30 min with it.
Morocco - pretend car racing (pavilion on the left side) through sahara. again, for my car-obsessed son.
With that many people, plan to split up and let kids spend longer where they are happy, instead of go-
go-go (see above - full hour at Moana)

 

[PSUamanda]

Wow, thank you all for such thoughtful replies! We did try kidcot once, but it was probably when my oldest was about 2.5 and was probably too young for it at the time. We'll give that another go, we're probably closer to the target age group now! Also, I need to learn more about this DuckTales app. Sounds like something my kids would like. Is that on the MDE app? Or something different? We knew it would be festival of the arts, but I didn't know about the figment scavenger hunt, we'll look into that too!

As for country specific options, I don't think we've ever been in the Japan store but that sounds really cool. Maybe we'll try the oyster thing, my kids would love that. We do always stop to see the train, so that's a good reminder that the kids will like seeing that. I'll have to look for the pretend car racing in Morocco, that's new to me, but sounds like something the kids would like.

I agree it's a big group. My husband and I keep saying the whole group doesn't have to stay together the whole time, but the rest of the group is intimidated by disney planning so just want to tag along to whatever we plan. Maybe when we actually get there some groups will be brave enough to branch off for different interests and meet back up. To complicate things, one family has DAS and the rest of us will have LL. So that will be extra fun to try to coordinate ride times lol. We'll do our best, and at the end of the day, I'm sure we'll have a great time.

Thanks again for all of the advice! If anyone sees this and has more ideas not already mentioned, keep sharing!

 

[scrappinginontario]

DuckTales is on the Play Disney app. You will want to download the app.

 

[BrianL]

Also, I need to learn more about this DuckTales app. Sounds like something my kids would like. Is that on the MDE app? Or something different?

The DuckTales World Showcase Adventure replaced the Agent P adventure, previously the Kim Possible adventure, but they are all essentiall the same thing. They used to issue you a cellphone to play with at stations, and you could turn it in when you were done, but now you use your own smart device through the Play Disney Parks app (download it ahead of tiem - it's hefty!). The phone will give you little missions to go to certain locations, then when there you can trigger litle real-world events. I don't know what all the DuckTales ones are, but back when it was Kim Possible there were some light-up things and animatronic effects (like triggering a specific cuckoo clock in the store in Germany). Do note, that at least previous versions could be quite the time-suck - I never did it all! It;s pretty fun though.

 

[GBBTomorrow]

I think World Showcase, like Animal Kingdom, calls for a mindset that is not "theme park," but "Saturday in the park." Here's what I mean. I see "theme park" mindset as goal-oriented. We want to do All The Things and to be thrilled and to ride rides and to be moving forward to the next thing all the time. That's a great fit for Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, or even the front part of Epcot.

"Saturday in the park" is more of a hey, let's relax and see how this day unfolds kind of vibe. It's slowing down. Looking around. Not having a plan. Just letting things present themselves to you on their own schedule. Maybe one day you'll round a corner and acrobats will catch your eye. Maybe you'll go through a doorway and find yourself in a Moroccan courtyard and learn about it. Maybe you'll sit down on a bench in a beautiful garden while the children scamper around looking at koi. Maybe you'll stop for a show. Maybe you'll see a British rock band in a gazebo and the kids will dance and you'll have a beer. Maybe you'll just walk around.

One of the best days I ever had at Epcot was the one where I "got the least done." No kids, so it's a lot different, but when my husband and I were down there for a national championship football game in Tampa, we spent much of the day before just hanging out in Rose and Crown talking sports and everything else with strangers. It was like what you'd want the neighborhood pub on your block to be, if there were such a thing. Didn't plan it. Just happened.

To me, that's the magic of Epcot. I don't have an agenda. I just let it be what it wants that day, and enjoy it as it comes. Little kids can do that too. My three kids have loved Epcot all their lives.

I imagine you feel quite pressured to make everything wonderful for this big group, and that's so kind of you. But I'm going to give some advice that Mel Robbins has been promoting lately: "Let them." You don't have to make everything perfect. If they don't like something, that's fine. Let them not like it. If they want to go someplace you don't want to go, let them. If they complain, let them. This is your trip too and you can't control how other people feel.

If you want one specific suggestion, try a "World Showcase Food Court" lunch. Let everybody go pick out food at the country that sounds best to them (obviously someone will have to help the kids) and then meet in the middle and all eat together. My family does this often and we always enjoy it.

Just slow down and let it be, and people will have fun. I hope you have a wonderful vacation!

 

[loves to dive]

Epcot and WS in particular was (and still is) my son's favorite park. We started going long before some of the "kid friendly" things were there and he still loved it. But, he loved learning and was fascinated with all the CM's in all the countries, he would talk to them and ask them questions about their countries for what seemed like hours. Maybe you can sneak in a little edutainment while you are there. Look at the exhibit when you first enter the Mexican pavilion, there is a little game on the wall before you enter into the main area they can play as well. In China go into the store, it's a treasure trove of stuff, there used to be an exhibit about the the Disney park that is there in the building where the movie is shown, if it's still there that might be fun to see how different it is. In Norway go into Stave Church. There is an exhibit about Norse Gods (Thor and company) that also has real artifacts and buttons on the display cases when you push them you get a story. Play the drums outside the little African outpost. In Germany go into the toy shop, don't forget to look up at the top of the QS building, there is a huge clock display that happens, think cuckoo clock with people instead of a bird. In Italy there is a juggler that does a cute show with audience participation, times will listed on the app. In Morocco there is the museum and a belly dancer with a band, times listed in the app. In Japan there is a small museum at the pavilion that right now is all about "Cute" culture. They also have drummers, check the app. and store is a treasure trove for kids. They might enjoy looking at the Koi pond near the QS, there are some huge fish in there. In France there is a Beauty and the Beast sing along and a great ice cream shop. In Canada way back by the theater where Kid Kot is there is a great water fall. There is also a stage there but I'm not sure if there will be an act. In GB there is another toy store and a band that plays on the stage back by the maze. Each country has a meet and greet for characters of some sort, check the app. for times. Each country has a kid kot, they have an activity at each and the kids get a post card that they can color and a sticker that goes on it and the CM signs it. Talk to the CM's and ask them something about their country, it can be as simple as what's your favorite dish.

There is lots for kids to do there, you just have to take your time and not rush through it. Of course, there are the rides in Mexico, Norway and France and movies in China, France and Canada. Food everywhere. And for Mom and Dad, if they wish, Italy, Germany and France have wine shops where you can get a glass of wine.

 

[vspenn]

also - Club Cool! free, unlimited samples of various coke products from around the world. It's next to the main connections store and eatery in the middle of the passage. it's a must-stop every time for us.

 

[PSUamanda]

I think World Showcase, like Animal Kingdom, calls for a mindset that is not "theme park," but "Saturday in the park." Here's what I mean. I see "theme park" mindset as goal-oriented. We want to do All The Things and to be thrilled and to ride rides and to be moving forward to the next thing all the time. That's a great fit for Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, or even the front part of Epcot.

"Saturday in the park" is more of a hey, let's relax and see how this day unfolds kind of vibe. It's slowing down. Looking around. Not having a plan. Just letting things present themselves to you on their own schedule. Maybe one day you'll round a corner and acrobats will catch your eye. Maybe you'll go through a doorway and find yourself in a Moroccan courtyard and learn about it. Maybe you'll sit down on a bench in a beautiful garden while the children scamper around looking at koi. Maybe you'll stop for a show. Maybe you'll see a British rock band in a gazebo and the kids will dance and you'll have a beer. Maybe you'll just walk around.

One of the best days I ever had at Epcot was the one where I "got the least done." No kids, so it's a lot different, but when my husband and I were down there for a national championship football game in Tampa, we spent much of the day before just hanging out in Rose and Crown talking sports and everything else with strangers. It was like what you'd want the neighborhood pub on your block to be, if there were such a thing. Didn't plan it. Just happened.

To me, that's the magic of Epcot. I don't have an agenda. I just let it be what it wants that day, and enjoy it as it comes. Little kids can do that too. My three kids have loved Epcot all their lives.

I imagine you feel quite pressured to make everything wonderful for this big group, and that's so kind of you. But I'm going to give some advice that Mel Robbins has been promoting lately: "Let them." You don't have to make everything perfect. If they don't like something, that's fine. Let them not like it. If they want to go someplace you don't want to go, let them. If they complain, let them. This is your trip too and you can't control how other people feel.

If you want one specific suggestion, try a "World Showcase Food Court" lunch. Let everybody go pick out food at the country that sounds best to them (obviously someone will have to help the kids) and then meet in the middle and all eat together. My family does this often and we always enjoy it.

Just slow down and let it be, and people will have fun. I hope you have a wonderful vacation!

Thank you for this thoughtful perspective, this "Saturday in the park" vibe is probably some of what we're missing. We do tend to have more of that type of attitude with animal kingdom, but that is a smaller park so easier to enjoy the performers and zoo walk type areas without feeling like it's at the expense of the rides. Usually there is plenty of time for both. We'll try to keep a similar perspective for world showcase this year!

 

[PSUamanda]

Epcot and WS in particular was (and still is) my son's favorite park. We started going long before some of the "kid friendly" things were there and he still loved it. But, he loved learning and was fascinated with all the CM's in all the countries, he would talk to them and ask them questions about their countries for what seemed like hours. Maybe you can sneak in a little edutainment while you are there. Look at the exhibit when you first enter the Mexican pavilion, there is a little game on the wall before you enter into the main area they can play as well. In China go into the store, it's a treasure trove of stuff, there used to be an exhibit about the the Disney park that is there in the building where the movie is shown, if it's still there that might be fun to see how different it is. In Norway go into Stave Church. There is an exhibit about Norse Gods (Thor and company) that also has real artifacts and buttons on the display cases when you push them you get a story. Play the drums outside the little African outpost. In Germany go into the toy shop, don't forget to look up at the top of the QS building, there is a huge clock display that happens, think cuckoo clock with people instead of a bird. In Italy there is a juggler that does a cute show with audience participation, times will listed on the app. In Morocco there is the museum and a belly dancer with a band, times listed in the app. In Japan there is a small museum at the pavilion that right now is all about "Cute" culture. They also have drummers, check the app. and store is a treasure trove for kids. They might enjoy looking at the Koi pond near the QS, there are some huge fish in there. In France there is a Beauty and the Beast sing along and a great ice cream shop. In Canada way back by the theater where Kid Kot is there is a great water fall. There is also a stage there but I'm not sure if there will be an act. In GB there is another toy store and a band that plays on the stage back by the maze. Each country has a meet and greet for characters of some sort, check the app. for times. Each country has a kid kot, they have an activity at each and the kids get a post card that they can color and a sticker that goes on it and the CM signs it. Talk to the CM's and ask them something about their country, it can be as simple as what's your favorite dish.

There is lots for kids to do there, you just have to take your time and not rush through it. Of course, there are the rides in Mexico, Norway and France and movies in China, France and Canada. Food everywhere. And for Mom and Dad, if they wish, Italy, Germany and France have wine shops where you can get a glass of wine.

Thank you for all of these insights and suggestions!

 

[Laura's Dad]

DuckTales is on the Play Disney app. You will want to download the app.

I saw a video for this this afternoon. It looked like a blast for kids and it is something we seniors might want do on our upcoming trip.