How do I enjoy Epcot as a Millennial?

[RolloTomasi]

Epcot may not be for everyone but being a millennial has nothing to do with it. I’m technically a millennial (31) and I love Epcot. It was my least favorite park as a kid but as I got older I appreciated it a lot more. I like the food, I like the shopping, I love the different vibe each pavilion has, and even though I’m not a big drinker I always get a margarita at La Cava del Tequila. I find it a more relaxing park than any of the others.

 

[paradesintherain]

Never look up from your phone, take pictures of your food, take a million selfies, don't buy anything (millennials are killing all sorts of restaurants and stores after all!)

 

[Cosmic]

If you're going in December, definitely check out Illuminations with the holiday tag.

 

[sunshine1]

I love Epcot - didnt first go there until 2006.

I like it as it kindda depresses me: hear me out - i imagine how great it would have been back in 1983.

I like the retro vibe of it.

I always thought that future world had the concrete jungle vibe to it.

 

[Cinderella94]

Epcot is probably my favorite park. I'm just a few years younger than you are and have not once ever thought about my being a millennial in the context of enjoying any Disney park. That doesn't really have anything to do with it. Go in with an open mind and take it for what it is.

 

[margot31]

Going in Dec is one of the coolest things to do vs any other time of the year. The story telling of each country is just neat and how they celebrate that time of the year. When my husband and I went we listed in Japan and brought home a durma doll and even did the practice of what it represented.

 

[jsbowl16]

My wife and I are both 35 and I feel like Epcot is more appreciated the more times we go to Disney World. We have been there each of the last four years and will be going again this summer. We are becoming the people that spend the day running around at one of the the three other parks and then have a relaxing dinner and a nice stroll around World Showcase to end most days. We also go for nine days each year so we dont feel the need to constantly go go go to get everything done. The more we go to Disney the more we try to avoid the crowds at night and Epcot is the only park where you are not packed in like sardines to see the fireworks at the end of the night.

 

[jsbowl16]

Deleted

 

[TiggerBouncy]

I love talking to the CM's around the world and learning more about their home countries.

Avoid the heat by not being there in the middle of the day and go later in the year. Pay attention to the crowd meters - Epcot takes a HUGE number of people.

There is stuff in EPCOT for everyone, but it depends on what interests you personally.

 

[Moliphino]

I'm 30 and Epcot has been my favorite park for like a decade. We're there almost every day of our trips (park hoppers). It has the best food and drinks, Illuminations is my favorite nighttime show (especially during Christmas season). We love watching the British Revolution perform while drinking a nice beer.

 

[Magpie]

Epcot has been a highlight of our family vacations, ever since our kids were 7 and 9 years old (when they pronounced it their "favourite park"). Our first visit was during the Flower and Garden Festival, back in 2005.

Have you considered that maybe your parents have accidentally instilled the idea in your head that certain things can only be enjoyed by people of certain ages? Like, when you turn 30 you'll suddenly develop a liking for things you never liked before, just because you're a "grown up" now? And you'll start disliking things you used to like, because they're "for kids"?

In my experience, it doesn't work like that. Yes, it's true that I used to hate onion rings and now I like them, but in almost every other case I still like and dislike the same things I liked and disliked when I was a kid.

I think it does kids a disservice, when we keep them from things because we think they won't be interested until they're older.

Anyway, I don't drink alcohol, and we don't spend much money on food, but we still love Epcot. We like the shows, strolling around the world showcase, browsing into the nooks and corners, talking to cast members and checking out the cultural displays. For us, it's very much like an enormous museum.

If museums are your thing, you'll like Epcot. If they're not, you'll probably ride a handful of rides and then think there's nothing else to do.

This was my favourite exhibit, last trip...

We'll be back in January. I can't wait!

 

[dreiwhit]

It sounds like you didnt like Epcot because of the large crowds and hot weather - by going in early December you should eliminate both those problems!

We went the week after Thanksgiving last year, and Epcot was more crowded than it had been at the end of February - 1st week of March. It actually surprised me. My wife overheard several people say they were only at Epcot for the Candlelight Processional, and I think that Free Dining also added to the crowds.

So, going in early December may not mean lower crowds.

FWIW, my kids are millenials and they both love Epcot. They like the attractions because they aren't really typical Disney (i.e., MK attractions) and they really like the World Showcase and visiting the different areas.

 

[Karin1984]

I think it would help if you stop labelling yourself and just see what the park has to offer. Some like Epcot, some don't, regardless of age. If you are a rollercoaster junkie, Epcot is probably not your park.

I am officially a millenial and totally do not fit the millenial profile. To be honest, when I read the marketing strategies targeted at millenials I always think that millenials are very annoying people, people I should avoid.

(I do like Epcot )

 

[buzznina]

I don't think enjoying Epcot is tied to age at all, just mindset. Know that there aren't a ton of rides, but there is a lot to see. World Showcase is awesome for adults who like to eat, drink, and shop within new cultural experiences.. If you are only into thrill rides, then Epcot isn't for you no matter what your age.

I'm not a millennial but Epcot has been my favorite park since it opened, and my husband and I both loved it even in our 20s.

I agree, but I also think that TT and Soarin' are very good rides.
We have no problem spending a whole day at Epcot, there is so much to see there. I do not know how many times I here a friend or co-worker say they were disappointed with Epcot especially the WS. When I ask them if they stopped at this country do see this or that country to see that, they usually say no. They pretty much just walk right by most of the countries, maybe stopping to look in a store here and there. I wonder why they do not enjoy it

 

[KenHutch]

At 56 I find Epcot OK something I would visit once a trip but to my 17 year old daughter and 8 year old god daughter it is their favorite park. I have to schedule 2 full days there every trip. They love World Showcase and my daughter thinks Figment is the best attraction on all of WDW.

 

[kiford]

I'm not a millennial but we've been going to Epcot since we were in our early 30's. If you go in early December when it's not crowded, it can be very nice. That's usually when we go. We actually spend a fair bit of time in the World Showcase. During December, there's lots of street performers, storytellers, musicians and other activities outside of the rides and pavilions. That's what we really enjoy. We can spend the best part of a day there and never go on a ride. There's the mariachi band at Mexico, the mime/acrobats at France, the acrobats at China, the drummer at Japan, the flag guys at Italy (although I don't think they're there any more), the musicians and bellydancer at Morocco, the gospel choirs in Future World, and the Christmas storytellers all around. We also spend time wandering through the stores - Japan, China, Mexico and Britain specifically, and Mouse Gear as well. Then we will do some of the rides like Test Track, Soarin' and Mission Space. We usually spend a fair bit of time in the exhibits at Nemo and Friends. We also like to watch the fountains when the music starts (especially when we want to sit for a bit). It's one of our favourite parks. And in December, the weather is usually just perfect - not too hot and not too cold so you can spend a fair bit of time outside comfortably.

 

[TwinkleKS]

I love Epcot. I've loved it since I was a little kid, when I was single, and now having kids of my own. My kids love it to. It's a mindset. Nothing to do with your age IMO. You can make anything fun.

We like the rides - TT is our current favorite ride (mainly because mommy and the girls build a sparkle machine that beats DH and DS car every time - Doesn't hurt that I'm an engineer and DH is an accountant lol). Spaceship Earth is another favorite. I don't know why - it's goofy but we love it.

We like to eat at the different restaurants. DH may drink around the world on occasion. The performers in each country are fun to stop and watch. There are shops we stop at every year. I like to buy my perfume in France instead of at the mall - then I have happy thoughts whenever I use it. The kids like to see their name and Merry Christmas written at each country.

Sure it doesn't look different every year - but the iconic sites around the world have stayed the same - you still see the Eiffel Tower in Paris, etc.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

You need to go to Future World next time...not just World Showcase. Spaceship Earth, Test Track, the new Mission Space, The Land are all worthy rides.

Last but not least, Soarin' is not to be missed and is one of the best experiences in all of WDW.

 

[monorailrabbit]

Epcot has always been my favorite - when I was a kid, I wanted nothing to do with Magic Kingdom! I was 6 years old on our first trip to WDW, and supposedly, the day we went to Magic Kingdom I stood and looked at the castle for a few minutes, then turned around to my parents and said, "this is nice, but can we go see Figment?" "He's in Epcot, honey." "Okay, well, where's the monorail and the big ball?" "Sweetie, all of that is in Epcot." "WELL THEN WHY ARE WE HERE?" I don't remember this, but I 100% believe it happened!

When I went with my husband for this first time in 2012 (his first trip to WDW) I was worried I would still love it because of my fond memories, but he wouldn't "get it." Couldn't have been more wrong. It was almost instantly his favorite. (For the sake of this post, he was 30 then.) Some of our favorite rides are in this park, and we love ending our day in World Showcase. Since we've started going almost yearly since 2012, there are still things we haven't gotten to fully explore yet. Like most others here, we love talking to the CMs about their home countries and soaking it all in! Christmas is absolutely AMAZING and I can't wait to be back for it next year!

 

[Micca]

Well that movie in France is very dated though the music is terrific. There are plenty of dated things at Epcot and Disney is working on it. In the meantime I'd go with the idea that some of the attractions may not be there the next time you go and it's sort of fun to catch the "dated" things just for the perspective on how cutting edge they were considered when the park opened. If you aren't that interested in eating and drinking I can see how a few hours in FW might be sufficient. Certainly Soarin' and TT are two of the best attractions on property, and I'd argue that SE fits that criterion as well.