How much time to set aside for World Showcase?

[maltdizzy]

I'm thinking 1 hour and 45 minutes is more than enough for this part of the day. Am I wrong? Should I block off more time?

Let's do some math...it'll take the average person, dealing with other guests, 30 minutes to walk from one end to the other without stops.

You've now given yourselves less than 7 minutes per pavilion. Mexico will take ~15 minutes with little to no shopping. Now you have 6 minutes each for 10 remaining pavilions, some with more to see/do than others. No bathroom break? No drink break? No snacks? (sacrilege!)

Yes, it can be done, and if you have little to no interest in the country pavilions, seeing the street performers, or any significant shopping, you might be done in less than 2 hours and may never go back. Maybe it's all the time you have (1/2 day at Epcot?). I dunno. I just can't imagine scheduling anything that rigidly.

 

[honeybunches]

We always rushed through WS in favor of rides and whatnot. Last trip was the first time we ever did a proper walk through in the WS. I couldn't believe how much we missed by never taking the time to stop and look at things. My DH didn't get to go with us that time, so on our upcoming trip, the kids are going to a childcare center and we're going to have an actual DATE. I cancelled our Narcoossee's dinner so that we could just browse the WS together, eating where we land. Can't wait!

 

[Flamingeaux]

If DW wasn't with me I would spend very little time in WS. I'll be interested to see how much time I spend there in November, DW is staying home.

 

[RustManFan]

you will be rushing around WS in an hour an a half and not really taking in all it has to offer - a time limitation my family could never set for Epcot but maybe that is just us!

but we are not all about just rides either....

 

[KeroKero]

We could never do WS in 1hr 45mins. I think we spend at least 35-45 minutes in each country, especially the ones we like the most (Japan, Mexico, China). There is so much to see and do and taste and drink, but like most people said above everyone is different. When you get there and start making your way around, you'll realize if the time allotted will be sufficient or not.

 

[slickpoetry]

OP here. I have to thank everyone for their well-thought out replies. I think what I am going to do is just try to get Future World done in the morning with FPs and then leave the afternoon completely unscheduled to tour World Showcase. I had a plan where I was going to head back to Future World to do more after World Showcase, but instead we'll just stay in World Showcase until the kids can't handle it anymore. It might be 2 hours, it might be 4 or 6. who knows.

To those who asked, this is a 5 day trip. I wish I could spend 10 or 12 days straight at WDW but my work wouldn't allow it. We are doing two days in MK, 1 day at AK, one day at H.S., and yes just one day at Epcot. I am not buying park hoppers. We have a six year old boy and a 3 year old girl. We do want to meet some of the princesses in world showcase but I think my boy would not be interested in doing that too many times. We're on the Quick Service dining plan so planning meals isn't too much of a concern (I was going to get an ADR for dinner at Garden Grill but I think we won't do that)

 

[MataHari22]

OP here. I have to thank everyone for their well-thought out replies. I think what I am going to do is just try to get Future World done in the morning with FPs and then leave the afternoon completely unscheduled to tour World Showcase. I had a plan where I was going to head back to Future World to do more after World Showcase, but instead we'll just stay in World Showcase until the kids can't handle it anymore. It might be 2 hours, it might be 4 or 6. who knows.

To those who asked, this is a 5 day trip. I wish I could spend 10 or 12 days straight at WDW but my work wouldn't allow it. We are doing two days in MK, 1 day at AK, one day at H.S., and yes just one day at Epcot. I am not buying park hoppers. We have a six year old boy and a 3 year old girl. We do want to meet some of the princesses in world showcase but I think my boy would not be interested in doing that too many times. We're on the Quick Service dining plan so planning meals isn't too much of a concern (I was going to get an ADR for dinner at Garden Grill but I think we won't do that)

That sounds good.

 

[nicki.momof3]

WE spend multiple days in WS. It is our favorite place at WDW. We will eat 4 of our 8 dinners there plus watch illumivations one night and shop and have fun. We personally spend 2-3 evenings (4+ hours each) in WS. We love it and so do our three kids (10,11,13).

 

[winthropf]

I highly recommend seeing the Voices of Liberty perform in the American pavilion followed by the American Adventure show. Just that will take about an hour. Mid afternoon would give you an hour in air conditioning.

 

[scrapquitler]

I'm working on our touring plan for Epcot, and I've never been to Epcot before and don't know what to input in terms of time spent in World Showcase. I'd like to tour around the entire lake, but not linger too particularly long in any single country

• We're going on a low crowd day in mid-January
• Maelstrom is closed, leaving Gran Fiesta as the only real ride in the attraction for us to ride
  
• Not going to watch the travelogue films about Canada and France, etc. etc.
• Not eating a meal in the area, but may stop somewhere for a quick snack or drink
  
• Want to see each country's special exhibits and shops, but in a kind of quick way

I'm thinking 1 hour and 45 minutes is more than enough for this part of the day. Am I wrong? Should I block off more time?

We spend a good 4-6 hours and tour pretty much the way you describe. Unless you are in and out of each shop in 2-3 minutes and are rushing around, I don't see doing it in less than 2 hours. , Your time estimate only allows you about 10 minutes per country. The best parts of the World Showcase are the bits where you stop to watch a street performance. chat with a CM from that country, etc. and in 10 minutes per country, you are going to miss that. I'd definitely suggest slowing down.

The rush rush approach reminds me of when my aunt took a tour of Europe because she wanted to see 'everything' and visited something like 10 countries in 14 days. Yes, she saw 'everything' but she didn't really get to see any of it with any kind of meaning.

 

[travelfearlessly]

We have a toddler and allocated about half an hour for each country. Some countries didn't get the full half hour (sorry Italy and America!) while others like Germany got 1.5 hours because we were eating there. But I think the half-hour rule can pretty much cover everything

 

[MommyMK]

Your 6 year old boy will love the Agent P adventures, your 3 year old girl will love the meet and greets and both kids will love the kidcot coloring stations. I swear my kids spend hours coloring those things every trip.

 

[CaryHaven]

Im always disappointed with anything less than six hours. I love the shops and architecture, not to mention LOTS of character interaction there. We always met multiple princesses for our two young girls, including Mulan who I haven't found anywhere else. There's also Pooh and Tigger, not to mention Mary Poppins. I could spend at least an hour in Japan's shop, and the caramel shop in Germany is a must-stop for us. We've never even seen any of the movies, but we used to watch the performers when they were out. We managed to find little areas that are new to us each time. Last time, we walked through the back exit of a store in Morocco and came upon Jasmine and Aladdin, who stopped on their way to break, just to lift my little girl up and spin her around in the air. It was just such a surprise to all, I didn't even think to get my camera out in time. I love WS

 

[hamilkm]

OP here. I have to thank everyone for their well-thought out replies. I think what I am going to do is just try to get Future World done in the morning with FPs and then leave the afternoon completely unscheduled to tour World Showcase. I had a plan where I was going to head back to Future World to do more after World Showcase, but instead we'll just stay in World Showcase until the kids can't handle it anymore. It might be 2 hours, it might be 4 or 6. who knows.

To those who asked, this is a 5 day trip. I wish I could spend 10 or 12 days straight at WDW but my work wouldn't allow it. We are doing two days in MK, 1 day at AK, one day at H.S., and yes just one day at Epcot. I am not buying park hoppers. We have a six year old boy and a 3 year old girl. We do want to meet some of the princesses in world showcase but I think my boy would not be interested in doing that too many times. We're on the Quick Service dining plan so planning meals isn't too much of a concern (I was going to get an ADR for dinner at Garden Grill but I think we won't do that)

Your plan sounds perfect to me! It usually takes us around 6 hours to do the world showcase with no children. I do remember thinking Epcot was boring as a child but love it now as an adult. If the kids get bored you can always head back to future world!

 

[abyrd86]

It usually takes my family about 2-3 (sometimes longer) hours to do the World Showcase. My kids LOVE meeting the characters there and trying foods from all the countries. My DH and I like to take our time though and we really like to take it all in. It is one of our favorite places at Disney!

 

[DeeSanDisneyFan]

OK. I think I may just have to be more flexible when it comes to Epcot and spend as much time as my family wants to. I have a 6 and 3 year old so after a couple countries they may be like "Where the heck is Mickey Mouse?" lol

I would love to just be more freewheeling with stuff but with FP+ and ADRs and ya ya ya it's like everything should be planned down to the minute.

My 5 and 2 year old enjoyed the Kid cot stations and it kept them entertained in World Showcase. Your kids may enjoy it more than you think.

 

[rainboots]

OP, thank you for posting this! The responses were thought provoking & helpful! We will have 10 ppl touring together, ages 3 - 71. I was unsure of how to budget our time, also. We have 7 hrs for WS with Teppan Edo taking part of that for dinner. I'm excited to check it all out! I am not a huge shopper, but my mom will be in heaven!!
We will plan on the Perry adventure for the 3 kids, although DH & I love Phineas & Ferb!

 

[slickpoetry]

OP, thank you for posting this! The responses were thought provoking & helpful! We will have 10 ppl touring together, ages 3 - 71. I was unsure of how to budget our time, also. We have 7 hrs for WS with Teppan Edo taking part of that for dinner. I'm excited to check it all out! I am not a huge shopper, but my mom will be in heaven!!
We will plan on the Perry adventure for the 3 kids, although DH & I love Phineas & Ferb!

You're welcome! It's just so hard to plan a Disney trip. So many "moving parts," so to speak.

Since posting this thread, I upgraded from quick service dining to the regular dining plan, and added a 5:10 dinner at Akershus. They also announced Soarin' would be closed during my trip. So now I'm pretty sure I can finish Future World and eat a quick service lunch by 12:30, and spend 12:30--5:00 walking counterclockwise from Canada to Norway. I also took out the meet and greets in the pavillions since we will meet most of the princesses at Akershus. Then after dinner we do the Mexico Pavilion. I'm bummed about missing Soarin, but it made planning the day easier at least! lol.