How much time for World Showcase?

[Tessaf]

How much time would you allocate for the world showcase? Due to ADR’s we won’t be stopping to try food/drinks, but would check out some stores as we go.
We would also have our 2 girls (10,8)

 

[Alesia]

We spent between 16 and 20 hours there each trip.

 

[Tessaf]

We spent between 16 and 20 hours there each trip.

Thanks! Is it more adult stuff to look at or is there plenty for kids?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

To me, that's a hard question to answer. We can spend a little time there (quick lap, 1-2 hours)...or we can spend a lot (3-5+ hours). Depends on if you're just shopping or hitting some of the shows/movies in the different pavilions.

Often, we go with the intent to just make a quick lap, but the kids (mine are 4 and 8) get into Duffy coloring (now the new Ziploc passport/card collecting thing)... or do one of the scavenger hunts at F&W or F&G...stop and watch the trains...play the drums, etc, etc..... and next thing we know we've been there half the day.

Our best World Showcase days seem to be the unplanned World Showcase days.

 

[Alesia]

Thanks! Is it more adult stuff to look at or is there plenty for kids?

There's plenty for everyone -- it has always been my daughter's favorite part of Disney world. Most of the pavilions have live entertainment that shouldn't be missed. Also, I would seriously encourage you to rethink not eating there. You'll be missing out on the best food in WDW. We typically share snacks from every pavilion.

I will say this: if you're only going to quickly walk through and occasionally stop in a shop, you're probably not going to enjoy it.

 

[dmband]

Agree with above, hard to say.
I never had much interest in it and my kids don't at all. That said we usually do the whole thing in under two hours.
Recently though, I was there without the kids and took a little time to look closer at some of the stops and found it is much more I teresti g then I had ever known. Spent like 5 hrs.
I can see people who are into it taking a full day or more

 

[Tessaf]

Thanks for all the help! Since this is our first time doing the WS and I wasn’t not sure how are kids will enjoy it, I had planned 8-9 hours over 2 afternoons to view it. I didn’t even know about the Ziploc passport thing. I may have to consider modifying our 2nd day to add more

 

[Klayfish]

It really depends on your interests and your kids interests. We like some of the shows/street performances there, but beyond that we frankly find the WS rather boring. On our 17 day summer trip, I think we spent a total of 2-3 hours there...maybe. But that's just us. Others can spend days there, because they're interested in all that it has to offer, which is a lot.

 

[Lalabubbles]

World Showcase is one of our favorites, including our almost 12 year daughter. We tend to spend a lot of time there, especially when staying at the Beach Club which is a short walk to the International Gateway

 

[MamaMaleficent2016]

This has always been my family’s favorite. The main reason we get a park hopper is to spend lots of time in World Showcase. If you take your time to explore you’ll be amazed at the endless amount of stuff to see, learn and enjoy.

 

[kevind2112]

We've easily spent entire days there on past trips. Even when our kids were smaller (6 & 13) they loved it. It's probably not for every kid, but luckily our girls just loved going through all the shops and seeing all the demos and shows, and generally just hanging out.

 

[FSU Girl]

I love the world showcase, not sure I loved it as much as a kid. You could definitely spend a few hours there just walking around. There's a ride in Mexico that doesn't have fast pass that is fun. I also like how everything there is inside and looks like night time. If you get a Frozen fast pass that's next door. Some of the shops have unique things to look at, but kids aren't always excited by shopping. I think they have little kid stations set up in each country, but I've only walked by them so not really sure what they entail. It's hard to say how long you'll want to spend time there until you actually go and see how your kids react to it.

 

[rotlex]

I'm in the anywhere from 1-2 hours to 1-2 days camp, lol. We LOVE WS, and on some trips spend a lot of time there, and some, none at all. Just depends on the mood of the vacation, the time we have and any other factors including weather.

This past trip we spent a lot of time there. For the first time ever we had two nights where Epoct was opened until 11pm for EMH. We walked, ate, drank, shopped and did it all over again x3, lol. Loved it.

 

[mamaofsix]

We always hit the World Showcase around 1:00p.m. and stay until after Illuminations (9:00 or 10:00ish). So, about 8-9 hours. Our park days are limited, so we get most of the front of the park done between rope drop and 1:00. The key is to research what's there and make a plan. We have 6 kids aged 14 and under and they all love it. We focus on the attractions at each pavilion. For example, this is our plan this year:

-Start in Mexico. Explore the store, try on some straw hats for a photo op., ride the boat!
-Go to Norway. Explore the Nave gallery. Use a fp to ride Frozen.
-Wonder past China and Germany, maybe collect some passports. Check out the miniature train outside Germany-it's so cool!
-Stop in Italy and dip our fingers in the fountain. Try some gelato.
-Watch the American Adventure - it's awesome!
-Stop outside Japan and Morocco for some quick pictures. We don't usually spend much time here.
-Watch the great film in France and take pictures outside the Eiffle Tower. Eat a picnic Supper or buy snacks and sit around the lagoon.
-Go to the UK and let the kids run around the maze behind the Pavilion.
-Watch the film in Canada if time and explore the grounds/ gardens (which are pretty amazing).
-Find a seat to enjoy Illuminations - our absolute favourite night time show at Disney...

 

[kniquy]

How much time would you allocate for the world showcase

There really is so much to see at each country. If you want to make it more interesting for the kids then look into Agent P adventure. It is a little hunt/game that you can do on your phone by an app.

As for time I would plan for 30-40 minutes per country - which would provide time for shops and walking about. Sometimes there is entertainment going on so that might catch your eye and you find yourself in a particular country longer. There are some movies to see in a few of the countries (Canada, France, China) The american adventure in the US pavilion would be a great educational show for the kids (and a good place if it is hot out).

We find the WS area to be a full day and even with that we do not see everything. We were talking about WDW with a friend last night and surprisingly my 12yo DS popped in and said Epcot was his favorite park. I think it was because of all the different food he was able to sample around the world. That is something to consider -- if you are going at a time where they have food booths then you might want to scrap a TS reservation for being able to sample your way around WS.

 

[gharter]

The obvious answer is as much as you want to.
Each country has its own unique things. If you plan to watch all the movies, shows and go in all the different shops and charater meet and greets, its difficult to do in 1 day. If you just take a quick look in each country, and don't really explore any, about 2 hours.
Personally, we enjoy watching the movies in China, Canada and France and the American Adventure. If they are out, the acrobats in China are amazing as well.

 

[goodeats]

My girls are 9 and 6 and we just came back. This is what we did in World Showcase -

Evening Day 2 -
Met Anna and Elsa
Took picture in Italy
ADR at Biergarten
Shopped a little in Germany

This took 2- 2 1/2 hours including our dinner (6 - 8:30)

Afternoon Day 7
Rode Frozen with FP
Shopped in Norway a bit
Back to Mexico - looked around
Rode 3 Caballeros
Lunch ADR at San Angel Inn
Bypassed China
Pin shopped at African Outpost
Shopped in Italy
Tried to catch Voices of Liberty, but first show was cancelled
American Adventure Show
Bypassed Japan and Morocco
Snack in France
Shopped in France
Shopped in England
(By now DH was over shopping and declared WS the dumbest place ever and headed back)
Girls and I shopped in Canada a bit then we headed to Future World.

This took 3 - 3 1/2 hours including our lunch (11 - 2:30)

I don't know if it was our timing, but there was no live music going on in England or Canada. We also didn't attempt any movies besides AA. The first evening Epcot was fairly rowdy with drinkers. We also didn't wait in any character lines besides Anna and Elsa. DH wasn't overly impressed with World Showcase and I think my girls were a little young to appreciate. I think spreading it out over 2 - 3 visits is a good way not to overdose on it.

 

[Tessaf]

Thank you everyone for all your advice!!! I'm going to have to sit down and really read through each country and what they have for shows/music. I had already put time aside during the morning to meet Anna and Elsa (right after Akershus) and with our ADR's the only character we would want to meet is Mulan. But for some reason, I didn't think of shows and other attractions other then the American Adventure and boat ride in Mexico. I'm now starting to think the 45 minutes I set aside for each country isn't going to be enough.

 

[WEDWDW]

Thanks! Is it more adult stuff to look at or is there plenty for kids?

PLENTY for kids.

Kidcot with the new "Plastic bag "Suitcases""-the kids get a new "card" to put in the "Suitcase" in each Country and get a real Postcard when hey have visited all 11 Countries.

Agent P World Showcase Adventure is awesome for kids-all you need is a Smartphone.

MANY Character Greetings.

Awesome candy and snacks authentic to each Country.

GREAT interaction can be had with CMs from 11 COUNTRIES!

ETC.,ETC.

World Showcase is the most unique place in ANY Theme Park in the World(Disney or otherwise)!

OTPN

 

[OhDannyBoy]

My wife and I spent like 3 or 4 hours in Germany alone drinking beer, eating, singing, and meeting people.

I could spend weeks in world showcase and never be bored.