How Realistic is this plan... in Epcot...?

[kiapepito]

First time to Epcot and we only have a day. Me, husband, and 2 daughters.. 4 and 7. I was thinking of starting at Ellen's Energy Adven while we have FP and Rider switch at Mission and Test Track hopefully at 10 am.. Would it be realistic to say that we would be done with all three by 11 am? We are going last week of July...

Then by 11am start at Mexico and go to the Three Caballero show, head to Norway, then to picture with Mulan and show in China.. over to Germany, Italy, America Show, see Japan, and grab the girl's their food in Japan (Katsura Grill), and head over with their lunch to Tangeierne for mom/dad lunch. (What time do you think we'd make it to lunch if all goes according to plan?_ Take pictures with Aladdin/Jasmine? Continue over to France, pic. with Blue Dress Belle and show...

Head over then to UK. and then to Canda to see the show... what time do you think it would be if we make it this far according to my plan?

We have dinner reservations at Garden Grill at 5:45 pm so I figured heading over to Imagination with Figment (no soaring as we have it at California Adventures, we live in Ca) head over to dinner and after dinner do Living with the Land/Circle of Life, and FP Seas w/Nemo, ending with Spaceship Earth FP before heading back to the Hotel. It is also opened an hour later this day.

How realistic am I being? Please be honest! Thank you!

 

[ellie05]

I wouldn't go to Ellen first thing in the morning. To know if it is doable it depends on the times the characters are meeting. Go over to touring plans plug everything in and see if it will work out. Just so you know my aunt spend 1.5 hours waiting to meet Jasmine over at Epcot in feb.

 

[Belle61513]

I wouldn't go to Ellen first thing in the morning.

Definitely agreed. I would plan to spend more time at the countries. I would also maybe start at Spaceship Earth, then go right to Nemo/Crush, the land, etc.
Can you push dinner a little later? If not, you should still be fine.

 

[tobikaye]

If I was going the last week of July, I would definitely not start with Ellen's. It is a 45 minute attraction, I think I did the original before it became Ellen's in the mid-90s, and I think I fell asleep because I only remember some things. If you really want to do this attraction, it would be better during a hotter part of the day to get out of the sun.

How much time someone spends in each country can determine how long it takes to do World Showcase. I know it can take me 2 hours when I only just stop in a couple of countries or only for a short time in all. Other times, it can take me 5-6 hours and that is still skipping things as I like to stop for a snack or drink along the way. If you are planning to meet characters here, you need to make sure to be in line early or be willing to wait for the next set. If the line gets long, they will cut it off and let people know that they will have to wait for the next set. This can add a lot of time.

 

[figment_jii]

I would not start with Ellen either; it's not one of the more popular rides, so I would save it for later in the day when the lines are long elsewhere and you want a 45 minute break in an air conditioned location. Sadly, while it may have been interesting when it debuted, much of the science is actually out-of-date at this point and a fair number of folks aren't really familiar with Bill Nye the Science Guy or even Ellen. I would probably think about doing Spaceship Earth first or maybe spend some time in Innoventions while you wait for your TT or Mission Space FP windows to open up.

In terms of WS, it really depends on whether you plan to visit the pavilions themselves or just the character meet and greets, but overall, I don't think you'll finish your schedule within the time frame you have. The characters have a schedule, so you'll have to see when they'll be out and work around that. Also, some of the shows have a schedule. Assuming you head to WS around 11:00 am and start at Mexico, my guess is that you won't get to Japan or Morocco until about the time for your dinner reservation. You have to factor in time to wait in line for attractions/show/character, ride the attraction (e.g., Gran Fiesta Tour is about 8 minutes long) or see the show (e.g., the American Adventure is about 30 minutes long) or meet the character, and then walk to the next location.

I was looking at today's operating schedule and you'd have to be roughly doing something like this:
11:00 am-11:15 am Arrive at Mexico, see Gran Fiesta Tour (assumes no wait)
11:15 am - 11:30 am Tour Norway
11:30 am - Noon Tour China and hope the Circle Vision show is starting
Noon to 12:30 pm Wait in line and meet Mulan
12:30 pm-12:45 pm Tour Germany
12:45 pm-1:00 pm Tour Italy
1:00 pm-2:00 pm Tour American pavilion and see American Adventure
2:00 pm-2:15 pm Tour Japan and pick-up food
2:15 pm-2:30 pm Tour Morocco and pick-up food

So you could (in theory, if everything goes well and you spend less than 15 minutes touring and walking between each pavilion) be at lunch by 2:00(ish). I personally think that would be very stressful and any small deviation would throw off the whole schedule.

 

[rtbreneman]

Count me as another vote in the "Don't go to Ellen first" corner (unless you are related or something). I would also vouch for the use of touring plans - plug in everything you want to do, hit optimize, and see if it's even close to realistic. They have been fairly accurate in my experience.

 

[kiapepito]

Thank you all for your great help! No Ellen.. hahaha... I looked at Touring Plans and it looks like I'd be running all over the place with 2-15 min. walks in between everything.. I guess this could be a time where the girls could rest in the double stroller. Thanks again for your help. You all are awesome!!

 

[sharonabe]

Are you going to EP on a day with late EMH? If not, I think some of the attractions you want to visit after dinner will be closed at 7:00.

 

[kiapepito]

Yes, it will be late EMH! Good point!

 

[sharonabe]

I think The Seas will still be closed, but Circle of Life and Living w/the Land and Spaceship Earth should still be running.

If you're going to eliminate Ellen, you may just want to make this a late-start day and get to the park in time for your first FP. Otherwise, Innoventions is a great place to spend some time. The Piggy Bank adventure is a good family "game."

 

[ammag]

Adding that the line for blue dress belle can get pretty long if you are able to see her at MK and don't specifically need the blue dress it may work out better,that being said we had a fantastic experience, ask her what he favorite book is! I also believe Aladdin and jasmine meet near the flying carpets ride in MK. In case you don't make it during the Epcot day and are going to Mk later.

As for the countries it took us 6 hours to do them and we still missed two. However we took our time, we waited about 30 min for Mulan. We loved the store in japan, did the pick a pearl and shopped, we also did the perry game so those things took time. Epcot is awesome with young kids, I love that you're going! Some people think it not fun for them. My daughters favorite ride when she was 5 was spaceship earth

 

[finedice]

Personally, I love to take care of FW first, and then do WS. Lines in FW get much longer late in the day. Should consider Sum of All Thrills too

 

[maryandtyson]

No one mentioned the Kidcot stations, but my DDs loved them when they were 4-8 years old. WS is a two day experience for us, minimum. Have fun, don't stress and don't be "that mom" who shoos her children along too much, LOL!

 

[kiapepito]

I did not even think about Aladdin and Jasmine at MK. We will also be doing CRT at MK the day before so that should be helpful. Mulan will have to be on the list for sure so hopefully it is not a painful line! We are excited to take the girls!

Adding that the line for blue dress belle can get pretty long if you are able to see her at MK and don't specifically need the blue dress it may work out better,that being said we had a fantastic experience, ask her what he favorite book is! I also believe Aladdin and jasmine meet near the flying carpets ride in MK. In case you don't make it during the Epcot day and are going to Mk later.

As for the countries it took us 6 hours to do them and we still missed two. However we took our time, we waited about 30 min for Mulan. We loved the store in japan, did the pick a pearl and shopped, we also did the perry game so those things took time. Epcot is awesome with young kids, I love that you're going! Some people think it not fun for them. My daughters favorite ride when she was 5 was spaceship earth

 

[kiapepito]

That is a great idea. Thank you!

No one mentioned the Kidcot stations, but my DDs loved them when they were 4-8 years old. WS is a two day experience for us, minimum. Have fun, don't stress and don't be "that mom" who shoos her children along too much, LOL!

 

[msmama]

Like someone else said, make sure everything will be open after dinner. Last trip I was surprised at how much of future world closed early.