How long should I plan for Epcot WS? and kid friendly recommendations

[lovetoscrap]

2 Families, 5 children ages 5-12, all girls. Going first week of Feb.

The older 2 will be mildly interested in the "cultural" aspects of World Showcase, the younger 3 could care less! They will all enjoy the KidCot making a mask thing. The 2 dads are there just because we are dragging them, the 2 mom's are really only interested in keeping the kids happy and from killing each other. We aren't planning on shopping or eating. We hope to see a few things like the Chinese Acrobats and the Candy Making and Statues. The kids will be intereted in the various live music for about 5 minutes (if that) and then want to move on. Not much interest in the movies, but will do the rides and American Adventure. Hope to find a few characters. NOT interested in Illuminations.

So, given all of this, how long should I "plan" for it to take us to do WS? We have been twice and never seen it because we waited for the last day and were too tired. We will do it FIRST this time, but I am thinking that it will really only take us a few hours. We plan to arrive when WS opens (we will do FW on another day). If we can do everything we want to and make everyone happy, I am hoping to hop over to MGM and catch Fantasmic! which will probably be around 7pm that night.

Do you think we can do everything at WS in about 5 hours, given that we are mostly apathetic about the whole thing???

Also, given this interest level, what things do you recommend we not miss that the KIDS will enjoy????

 

[Rella Bella]

Depends on the crowds and how interested the girls get in the passport/mask/craft booths. Five hours will probably be enough... (especially if you go in the back gate so you don't get sidetracked in FW on the way in). But you may find you like it more than you think. My fam has done most of it in 3 1/2 - 4 hours but there are only 3 of us... and usually we run out of time or get worn out a few countries before the end... so the next time we start from the other end. We see something different everytime we go... there is so much, and each country has many offerings that you have to hit the time just right to see.. so just like the rest of Disney... relax, enjoy... see what you can!

 

[Pokemom]

Make sure you search out the characters in World Showcase. The character meeting areas are marked on the guide map, but if you don't know they're there, you will probably miss them. Mary Poppins can be found in the England pavilion. Sleeping Beauty (or one of the other Princesses) is often in the courtyard beside the Library in the French Pavilion. Beauty and the Beast are inside the Library. Aladdin, Jasmine, & Genie are found at the very back of the Moroccan area - hard to find if you don't know they're there. Because the characters are not out in plain sight, the line-ups to see them are usually not too long.
Although there are many interesting things to explore in World Showcase, if you are not too interested in looking closely, and mostly just want to walk through and stop at a few things, I would think 5 hours should be enough time to spend there.

 

[the kabuki]

I think 5 hours would be plenty of time, with the ages of your kids', might even be a bit on the long side. My three are 12, 8, and 4 and with the same attitude towards WS as yours and I think we did it in about 3 hours. That's not to say that a person couldn't spend all day there, if I were by myself I could, but not dragging along DH and the kids.

 

[Leota]

Since you're apathetic about it, 5 hours will be plenty. But you may miss the best stuff that way. I don't really see Epcot or WS as a Park to go thru a checklist on. It's more of a wander thu & enjoy all the little things kind of Park.

If the Kids really get into the Passport/Kidcot thing, it may take longer. DS spent an entire day from 11am opening til 9pm closing & still wanted to do more when he did the Passport (he was 10) But, then again, Epcot was his favorite Park from 4-7 yo and again by 14.

One thing we really make a point of seeing in Epcot is the Mo'rockin Band in the Morroccan Pavillion.

 

[dwkwootton]

We love the WS and my kids loved it when they were little. You may be surprised to find your crew may enjoy it more than you think. The live shows are so entertaining and (I understand that you don't plan to shop) looking around the shops and watching the craftspeople in the countries is unique enough that it may capture your kids' attention as it did mine.

 

[Cara]

My DD is 10. We got to the WS one afternoon around 12:30, had lunch, and toured until shortly before our 7 p.m. ADR at LeCellier. That was not enough to time see everything!!

 

[PortieOwner]

My 2.5 year old son really loved the outdoor toy train near the German Pavillion in WS. We could have spent the day there watching those trains.

Portie

 

[puffkin]

My 7 year old niece had a GREAT time in WS. We only planned one night there, but she had so much fun doing the Passport. We didn't even get a chance to do the mask and barely looked in most of the shops. We actually had to rearrange our schedule to get her back there another night to finish up the Passport. That was one of my big regrets of the trip, not spending enough time in WS.

A coworker took her family with 3 girls ages 13-7 and the WS was one of their favorite parts of Disney. They loved it and did a lot of shopping there purchasing trinkets in the countries.

You might be surprised at how much your group enjoys it, so I would leave it flexible in your schedule to possibly go back a second night if need be.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I want to make sure we find everything that will interest them. I am not looking to rush everyone through. If the kids are interested and want to spend all day then we will. But, I don't see it happening!!!

I have done lots of trips with these kids and know their attention span--I am fairly sure they will be antsy to keep moving. Even at crafts they mostly just slap on some glue, throw a few things on top and move on! Usually I am lagging behind trying to see stuff and they are on to the next thing with thier mother. She and I are both NOT shoppers--and we wouldn't take our 5 kids in the shops on a dare!!!

I suspect we will lose the Dad's somewhere around Germany or England and we won't see them again until dinner!

If I were alone I would probably take all day and see every shop and take my time, but that isn't happening for another 13 years!!!

It seems there are lots of things that aren't really on the map. I remember reading something about a maze? They would love that--where is it?

This also seems like a great time for character interaction. Thanks for listing the spots to look. Do they still do the Bus of characters?

I don't think we want to spend the money on the PassPorts. Does anyone know an online place to make one that would be similar? I could make one on my computer, but if there is already one someone has made to share that would be great.

 

[AJKMOM]

I think the maze is near the Britsh Pavilion. However, I remember reading here that the Living Statues are not at EPCOT any more.

 

[addicted2disney]

We love Epcot. The more trips we take, the more time we spend there. We love hopping over there expecially at night. We always go with at least one family. Our kids are 13, 12, 11, 10, 8 & 3. Last year we went with another family and their kids were 9 & 4. 8 kids.. and the all love Epcot.

The maze is behind England around the gazebo where The British Invasion play. This is a must do for us. They only play for about 15-20 minutes each set. Its great fun. We get fish & chips and beer and head back there and watch the show. The kids run around in the maze and dance on the side walk. RIght inside is the kidcot station, and also the meet and greet for Pooh & friends and Mary Poppins. Cananda has the band Off Kilter, and again, our kids love to sit and watch them. They arent long shows. Get some fries or ice cream and sit and watch the show. Off Kilter is a great time.

We ride the boat ride inside the Mexican Pavillion, and its cool in there. Kidcot is inside, so you can have them do their mask while you look around. The scenery in there is cool. Looks like a volcano errupting in the distance.
Norway has the other boat ride. There is also a big Viking boat outside that the kids can play on. We have to eat at the counter service in China ( lotus blossom) every trip too. The candy lady is in Japan. In Italy, they sometimes have costumed people doing things back in the open area. Morocco has strawberry daqueries !! Well, its in cart right next to the pavillion. woohoo We like to catch Germany on the hour and watch the clock. It opens up and you can see the kids come out. The guys like the german beer here. The mini train is right outside too, so the kids like to stand there and watch that.

A few thing we like to do to get the kids in the pavillions and walking around in the shops are... we do the pressed pennies. They have them all over and in each country. Usually 3 different ones per machine. Use shiny pennies.. they come out the best. Let the kids start saving shiny pennies and quarters now. It can get them excited to do that for the upcoming trip. There is also a list on the Dis of all the penny machines.. in all of the resorts, DTD, just all over the parks. We have 3 penny books filled up. There are also pressed quarters too, but they cost more.

The other thing we started doing 2 years ago was taking 'HAT' pictures. In every country, or just in different stores and shops throught the parks, we tell the kids to put on different hats. Sombraros in Mexico, Viking hats in Norway, character ears, etc... The kids are always looking for hats we havent taken pictures with. They make great scrapping pages too.

The character bus still makes scheduled stops. If you can get there 5 minutes BEFORE the bus gets there, you have a better chance to get autographs before other people catch on. Especially if you are trying to get Minnie and Mickey.

WHy no Illuminations? Its really a good show.