How much time for Epcot World Showcase with kids?

[carmiedog]

The grown-ups in our group could probably spend days there (trust me...you do NOT want to go with my husband to a museum or battlefield! ), but we'll have 3 kids with us - 8, 5, and 2. I'm hoping to skip the kidcot(?) stations and maybe just get one snack somewhere along the way. Should I figure 20-30 minutes per country? I've never been so have no idea of the actual size of these places! Thanks for sharing your experiences!

 

[ntsammy5]

There are tons of things to do in each country -- performers, movies, shows, drummers, bands, etc, etc, etc. 30 minutes might work per country, but that will still take you at least 1/2 a day with all the walking (about 1.3 miles around thge lake). Just a quick question though, why skip kidcot? My kids are all grown now, but my 5yo grandson loves it.

 

[bicker]

We were there last January with a six year old and a 1 1/2 year old. We spent 2 1/2 days at MK; 1 1/2 days at Epcot; 1 day at D-MGM; and 1 day at AK.

Here's a link to a page from our website with photos from our visit to just the World Showcase section of Epcot, and it doesn't include the photos from our character greetings. (They're on another page.) At the bottom of the page you'll find to links to two short videos, highlight reels of two things we spent a lot of time enjoying with the kids, Honobono Minwa and Voices of Liberty. I think just with those two, we spent about an hour, and each was just a part of what we saw at that specific country (Japan and America, respectively).

http://wdw2006.brianandrobbie.com/worldcountries.htm

 

[emerymt]

I agree, why skip kidcot? Also, my kids loved the passport- you can buy them at the first concession you come to and have them stamped and signed by the CMs in their own language. It's very neat.

If you get a program for the day, you can find the entertainment. In particular, they loved the Chinese acrobats (they're all children), the Japanese drummers and the "Statues" in Italy. Norway has a great little ride, the Maelstrom which is scary but not too much for the older kids. The boat ride in Mexico is also fun and appropriate for a two year old, though it is dark.

Actually, my kids love World Showcase. Epcot is by far their favorite park. Partly, I think it's because we're (mom & dad) enthusiastic. It's all in how you approach it- like AK it's just a different experience.

 

[carmiedog]

Hoping to skip Kidcot for time reasons and because I know that even though they'll enjoy it at the moment, after they leave it'll all just end up in the trash. My boys really don't care after the fact. I'm one of those anal planners and right now I've figured in 11.5 hours for ALL of Epcot (broken up into a few smaller visits). I know once we're at Disney that we might want to change and spend more time at one park than another, but it will be very hard for me to relax and deviate from schedule. Thank goodness for the kids that their dad is complete opposite of me so they should make it through the vacation unscathed.

 

[laceemouse]

I agree, why skip kidcot? Also, my kids loved the passport- you can buy them at the first concession you come to and have them stamped and signed by the CMs in their own language. It's very neat.

If you get a program for the day, you can find the entertainment. In particular, they loved the Chinese acrobats (they're all children), the Japanese drummers and the "Statues" in Italy. Norway has a great little ride, the Maelstrom which is scary but not too much for the older kids. The boat ride in Mexico is also fun and appropriate for a two year old, though it is dark.

Actually, my kids love World Showcase. Epcot is by far their favorite park. Partly, I think it's because we're (mom & dad) enthusiastic. It's all in how you approach it- like AK it's just a different experience.

Agree, our kids are older now, but 2 of them have always considered EPCOT their favorite park. Last week we did a full day in WS. My dd9 did all of the kidcot stuff and loved it. I know your kids are younger, but if you approach it correctly it can be fun for adults and kids!

 

[Ariel8676]

Aww my girls love the KIDCOT stations!! They love coloring their masks and getting a stamp in each country..in China they will write your childs name and message in Chinese, they thought his was really cool.
My dd's LOVE Epcot and ask to go there a few times each trip..they love the shops in each country and the snacks and rides too...especially The Maelstrom in Norway (they think the trolls are so funny looking) and make sure they get a Rice Cream each trip...
Why time yourself??Why not just go with the flow and see how the day goes? Hey so what if the masks end up in the trash at the end of the day...as long as they have a great time making them right???
There is so much to do..bands, "street performers" In Italy, miniature trains, drummers, the candy lady, and you can find a ton of characters in their countries.

 

[emerymt]

Hoping to skip Kidcot for time reasons and because I know that even though they'll enjoy it at the moment, after they leave it'll all just end up in the trash. My boys really don't care after the fact.

Yeah, I hear you on that count. Plus, you know who will get to cart the items around the park . The Passports are perfect for this reason- they get a memento, and it's small.

One thing I saw on Deb's WDW site was trying the same thing from every country- like candy, cookies or chocolate. Of course, you'll be skipping lunch (and maybe dinner, too) on that day! But I think it's a great opportunity for American kids (who are so far away from other countries it costs a fortune to get there) to get to see a little of the culture.

 

[ajcolorado]

Epcot takes a little advance planning so that you see the entertainment that you want to see - some starts earlier in the day, others a little later in the afternoon. You'll received a "Times Guide" when you get to the park but you can get an idea of the schedule by clicking on the "Epcot" tab at http://pages.prodigy.net/stevesoares/

The amount of time you spend at each pavilion will depend on which entertainment interests you.

There is some fantastic entertainment that kids will enjoy: The “Serveur Amusant” (France) is a comedic balancing act. Japan has three great things for kids – “Matsuriza” is a traditional drum act; “Miyuki” is a very neat candy artist, and there is a Japanese Storyteller “Honobono Minwa” on Wed, Thurs, & Fri. Sergio (Italy) is a juggler. “OrisiRisi”, he drum circle and African Storytellers (Mon- Fri) in the Outpost get good reviews. Kids always love the Dragon Legend Acrobats (China) because they are children too. Some kids will enjoy “Off Kilter” (Canada) – bagpipe rock and “MoRockin” (Morocco) – Middle Eastern pop sounding band. IllumiNations is the evening fireworks show and it is excellent.

Some other kid friendly things: The boat ride at the Mexico pavilion is similar to “It’s A Small World”. The kids may or may not enjoy the American Adventure or the Circle Vision movies in China & Canada. If I was going to choose one, I’d go with the China movie. There is a little hedge maze in the UK pavilion that is too short for adults to find challenging but I saw a bunch of kids gleefully running through. I also saw kids intrigued by the model train at the Germany pavilion. My kids loved wandering through the Morocco pavilion. There are Koi fish in the pond in Japan.

 

[armomof3lvsdisney]

Someone I know, went a couple of years ago and she said her daughter got a charm bracelet at Epcot and then they got a charm at every country. I had never heard of this and forgot to look for these last year. Does anyone know anything about this and is so how much are the charms and bracelet. TIA

My DD11 and DD9 love the Kidcot Spots, but I think it would be really neat to do the bracelet and charms.