How long did you spend at the WS?

[mermaidwannabe]

We have 3 DDs (8,5,2) and wanted to know how long WS would take us. I know, it depends on A LOT of things, but I was trying to work it out that we could see the live entertainment in each of the lands so I was guessing 20-40 minutes in each "country". I figured we'd spend the morning in the FW, we have PS for the Princess Storybook lunch at 1:00 so I thought we'd start in Norway and go counter clockwise and end up back in Norway around 7:30. Am I way off base here?

 

[eeyore45]

it so depends!! Make plans on getting the "free masks" at the countries they offer a "kid" station, which helps get the kids interested in each country! My dd 8 really enjoyed the WS, but she loves history too!!

 

[WDSearcher]

Well ... it depends, as you said, on a lot of things. If all of your kids want to do the Kidcot stops -- where they can make a mask and having it added to at each country ... something that I highly recommend for kids at Epcot! -- then you've got 20 mins per pavilion right there. If you want to shop at each country and see the attraction or entertainment at each country, you will not make it with only 20-40 min at each pavilion. You'd have to hit all the entertainment exactly right to not have to wait for a show to begin. Plus, American Adventure alone is a 20-30 min presentation, and that's not even including watching Voices of Liberty, doing the Kidcot stop or shopping at the pavilion.

If your lunch is scheduled for 1pm, that means you won't actually be out on the Showcase until at least 2-2:30pm. That gives you five hours to see everything -- including Norway, which you won't have seen, even though you started there. You're not allowing yourself any time to eat as you go around the WS, which is one of the cool things to do, frankly , and you'll be rushing through shops and entertainment.

If you have pavilions you don't mind skipping -- decided on in advance -- you can do all of World Showcase by 7:30pm. Of course, you'll be missing IllumiNations : Reflections of Earth if you leave then, and that is my one "not to miss" show at Epcot.

 

[mermaidwannabe]

We are planning on staying until Illuminations. I just timed it with my ridiculous 20-40 minute stops and that was the time we'd finish. Maybe I could cut off some of the FW time and get to the WS earlier than 1:00pm? And if we have until 9:00, we could take more time. I KNOW my girls would LOVE the masks. Anything to do with crafts and they are happy little campers. Is the America pavillion worth going to? I know that sounds silly, but are there really interesting things there?

 

[jl3614]

If your children are any thing like mine I'd guess your 2 and 5 yr olds will take it or leave it, your 8 yr old will probably enjoy several things. Our kids are 4 and 7, last year at 3 and 6 - all we visited was the two pavillions which had rides - Mexico and Norway. We may do a little more this year. I would think the younger kids will not stand still for China and Canada movies - ours certainly would not stand that long. IMHO - standing while watching a movie is no fun - I'm just as bad as some of the kids - wanting to sit on the rails rather than lean, and wanting to sit on the floor. Our kids would probably fall asleep during American Adventure - too long, not exciting enough, they may make it through the France film since it is shorter and a little more entertaining.

My 7 yr old likes crafts some days, while the 4 yr old has very little patience for any stand still activity. So the Kidcot stations have only limited appeal. Our kids will probably like some of the entertainment - music, juggling, mimes, etc.., and will probably want to stand in line (if is not too long) to get a few character autographs.

We do not spend more than a few hours in WS, at least for our family there are much better uses of our time.

 

[mermaidwannabe]

I fully intend on skipping those movies! LOL Just thinking about my DDs standing or even sitting makes me laugh! I really just want to see the juggler, Miyuki, some music, live skits, the hedge maze, butterflies and waterfalls. Hopefully, we'll see Aurora, Pooh and Belle. Oh and the pearl stand is a must too. I think we can do it all. We won't be doing everything at FW either. Thanks for your perspective!!