Help!!!! with 1 day Epcot

[calliemom]

Help....I've been reading too many books and web sites and all I've ended up with so far is to go on Soarin first thing and then Turtle Talk with Crush. I am travelling in 3 weeks with my husband and 7 year old daughter and although I've purchased the Mini Mickey Book and subscribed to Tour Guide Mike, I find it all just too much. Too much information that is. We are not thrill seekers and are not the type to run around the park like a crazed family, but I want to make sure we get the best of the best.
We will be there as the gates open and will leave the park after lunch to return for a 7pm dinner at the Garden Grill.
Any advise is greatly appreciated..... Help!!!with 1 day Epcot

 

[matt&jakesmom]

Your correct in going to Soarin' first. When your finished you may want to try going to the other things in that building. There is Land and upstairs is a show with Timon and Pumba about I think recycling. I would then head over to the Living Seas and spend time with Crush and the new Nemo ride. Don't forget to go to the Character Connection for pictures with the characters.

Have lots of fun and don't stress about the trip. There is so much info to read up on and it is helpful but can get overwhelming.

 

[David R]

Since you'll be there early in the morning, you should be fine. However, if you come during the Thanksgiving holiday, be prepared for lines and crowds.

The first thing you should do is head to The Land and grab a fast pass for Soarin. No reason to waste valuable morning time waiting in a line, even if it's just a few minutes.

I'm not sure what time Turtle Talk opens, I don't think the first show is until 9 or 9:30 am but someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm not sure if you plan on skipping Test Track and Mission Space since you say that you are not looking for thrills. If you plan on going to these, make sure you grab a fast pass for either of them as soon as as you are elegible for it before you go go ride Soarin (the time in which another FP will be available to you will be printed at the bottom of your Soarin FP.)

The World Showcase opens later in the day, it sounds like you'll have time to wander around. I'm just concerned about whether you'll be able to find a good spot for Illuminations if your dinning reservation is at 7 and the fireworks are at 9 and if you are here during the busy Thanksgiving weekend.

If there is a long line at Space Ship Earth, come back later, although the line does move fast, there are times during the day when this is a walk-on.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

If your not into thrills, skip mission space and test track. Definetely visit Soarin', living with the land (In the land pavillion), the Seas with nemo and friends, and the Imagination pavillion- Honey I shrunk the audience. You may want to skip the other side of Future world all together. Then visit the World showcase in the evening. Be sure to see illuminations.

 

[calliemom]

Thanks all...I'll be at Epcot on Nov.13th which is supposed to be a green day to visit (as per tourguide Mike). I didn't intend to visit World Showcase this time around, however I'll take your advise MickeyGirl and have a look.

 

[rlovew]

Figure out what you want to do- I would be happy to help you plan your day but I would need to know which attractions you plan on doing. If nothing else look at allearsnet.com and decide which attractions you want to do. PM me with them if you want me to put them in a logical order for getting through the park. Also let me know what size party and the ages to help with planning times.

 

[jjan]

We just did Epcot yesterday from opening until 4:30 pm -ish and this is what we did... First thing we hurried to Soarin' to get fastpasses and then rode it, we then went to Nemo which lets out right in front of Crush (actually we rode Nemo 2x since we loved it so much) and then went into Crush. We then returned for our 9:45 return time to Soarin (got another FP before riding it since we REALLY love this ride), went next door to Journey into the Imagination and then went over for our first ride ever on Mission Space (the green/tame side)... my DD (and me too) LOVED this ride (we ended up riding it 4x during the day) After riding MS 3x in a row, it was lunch time and we went to Seasons in the Land for lunch and our return FP time for Soarin' (we got another set of FPs to give away later in the day). We then wandered around the F&W festival and snacked around the world which was fun and yummy (we do this even without the F&W festival since it is one of my DD favorite things to do in WS... spring rolls in China, Sweet almond prezels &/or rice pudding in Norway etc.) Once we were stuffed, we went back and of course rode MS one more time and rode Spaceship Earth. We would have loved to have ridden Ellen's Energy Adventure, but we ran out of time since it was our last day and we had a Magical Express time to get to. We really felt like we saw it all and had a blast... it was a great one day tour of Epcot. Have a wonderful vacation

 

[KimWDW]

and then went into Crush. We then returned for our 9:45 return time to Soarin

Does this mean that Crush opens early now? It used to have its first show at 10:00. Is it open at 9 or 9:30 now?

 

[calliemom]

rlovew,dd just home from school, but when I get some spare time tomorrow I will post a list of some of the attractions that we are interested in. Thanks all once again.

 

[jjan]

Does this mean that Crush opens early now? It used to have its first show at 10:00. Is it open at 9 or 9:30 now?

To be honest, I'm not sure the exact time, but it was before 10 and we weren't even the first show because one was letting out as we went in. HTH

 

[karrit2000]

Make sure you go into Innoventions and build a FREE robot at the Fantastic Plastics display. Your daughter sounds about the age to have fun doing the race & then making the Robot. I'm not sure which is East or West but it is the one on the same side as Test Track & Mission Space & the Mouse Gear store.

 

[calliemom]

O.K. so here's the plan...
arrive for park opening
Soarin
Turtle Talk with Crush - tour the living seas
Honey I Shrunk the Audience - tour Imagination area
Innoventions East & West
Leave Park for the Afternoon.
Come back for 5pm and tour World Showcase briefly
7pm Dinner at Garden Grill
leave immediately after dinner to find a spot either in front of Mexico or Canada for the 9pm Illuminations!!!!
Does this sound reasonable folks, or am I fooling myself in thinking we can do this in 1 day??

 

[David R]

It sounds good! Don't forget Nemo & Friends also at The Living Seas, your daughter will love it.

 

[rlovew]

Your plan seems fine- Soarin and Turtle Talk are your only 2 attractions that have long lines in Future World (on your list) and if you do them first you can take your time with the rest. If you enjoy such things look at the Living Seas for the time of the dolphin training interaction and catch it if you can- it is fun and is about 11 am I think for the first time but the times are posted at the Living Seas.

2 hours around the World Showcase may be pushing it if you like to shop and really want to explore but if you just want to browse breifly through the shops and look around a bit you can walk through the countries in the time you have planned- just make sure you are heading to the Garden Grill by 6:30 so you can arrive about 15 minutes before your reservation and get out with time to spare before Illuminations. You may want to come back a little earlier if you want to spend more time in the countries.

Unless you are going to go through every nook and crany of the places you mentioned in Future World you will be able to leave it by around noon, in which case you may be ready to come back a little earlier to enjoy the World showcase.

 

[MomofKatie]

O.K. so here's the plan...
arrive for park opening
Soarin
Turtle Talk with Crush - tour the living seas
Honey I Shrunk the Audience - tour Imagination area
Innoventions East & West
Leave Park for the Afternoon.
Come back for 5pm and tour World Showcase briefly
7pm Dinner at Garden Grill
leave immediately after dinner to find a spot either in front of Mexico or Canada for the 9pm Illuminations!!!!
Does this sound reasonable folks, or am I fooling myself in thinking we can do this in 1 day??

Do you think you will have time to slip Spaceship Earth in somewhere? If you haven't ever done it, you should give it a try- it is my DD8's very favorite thing at Epcot. Ther shouldn't be much of a line at all in the afternoon- you could maybe sneak it in as soon as you get to the park in the afternoon, or even after dinner, before you head over to Illuminations.

 

[calliemom]

You all are sooo great! Your advise has really helped me with my planning and understanding of this very large park. I'm already thinking about going back again, perhaps at the end of June when my daughter finishes with school.
Thanks again!