How to do Soarin, Mission Space & Test Track

[DISUNC]

Just got back....This wasn't a strategy we planned, but boy did it work.

We got to Epcot around 9:30 one morning, went to Soarin got FP's for 10:30 to 11:30 (* read note below), walked to Mission Space, walked right on! Then went to Test Track and did the singles line..waited a whole 10 mins.

By the time we were done with TT, went back to Soarin went on...and by 11:00 had all the BIG 3 At EPCOT done.

* Note: With all the reading of these boards, I assumed Soarin was its own Building, I was quite suprised that the entrance is in The Land pavillion. It is absolute BEDLHAM getting in and around this building when it is sooooo crowded. Be careful getting off the escalators which is right next to the stairs(both sides of the bldg)...there are people walking into each other at a maddening ratio! Also, there is the food court there....It really is a very confusing and slightly dangerous place to get around...you have to be very aware!!!! This is no easy stroll. However SOARIN is NOT TO BE MISSED!!!!!

 

[QT Pooh]

Thanks, this is great to know. What day of the week did you go to Epcot?

 

[DISUNC]

Thanks, this is great to know. What day of the week did you go to Epcot?

Thursday & Saturday

 

[bavaria]

TLinden16 and I did this last Saturday - Soarin at 9am (with a 20 minute wait); we took fastpasses (which we didn't end up using); Test Track twice (with 5min wait in the singles line the first time, about 10 minutes the second time due to technical difficulties); Mission Space (ok, she rode, and I chickened out as always!)

We were done by about 10:45am, and that included a visit with Mickey in his space suit (only 2 kids ahead of us!)

 

[elastigirlfan]

DISUNC is right. It's nuts there in the Land Building. Between the new food court, the Land ride, Soarin, and the Garden Grill there are people everywhere. Congrats on getting on all 3. We had to do Soarin one day and TT a different day because it was sooo packed. It worked out though because we needed 2 days to get through Epcot.

 

[DISUNC]

DISUNC is right. It's nuts there in the Land Building. Between the new food court, the Land ride, Soarin, and the Garden Grill there are people everywhere. Congrats on getting on all 3. We had to do Soarin one day and TT a different day because it was sooo packed. It worked out though because we needed 2 days to get through Epcot.

HIJACK HERE!!!!

Did you get to do "Turtle talk with Crush in the Living Seas????" Thats was soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good!

We did Soarin (with FP's) 3 times!!!!!! And walked on MS 2x!

 

[ryley26]

We were there also and did the same thing worked like a charm. Do you know why the wait for SE was so long?

 

[DISUNC]

We were there also and did the same thing worked like a charm. Do you know why the wait for SE was so long?

SE???????????????

 

[snowy76]

I think the line for SE is usually quite long in the first part of the day... first thing everyone sees... it's the "icon" for the park, yadda yadda... everyone wants to be inside the big golfball!

Over on another thread I was just mentioning how we did the "big three". We went to Soarin first (this was morning) EMH day and grabbed a FP with a return time of 9:05 before getting in the regular line (around 8:15 a.m.). By the time we got out, it was 9:03! We waited for the two minutes then got right back into line using our FPs... two times within an hour! Then we went across and got FP for TT... rode Mission:Space standby, then came back to ride TT. Done by about 10:30 just as the crowds started to swell!

 

[PKS44]

.....getting in the regular line (around 8:15 a.m.). By the time we got out, it was 9:03!

The ride itself is what? 3 minutes long? Is there some preshow? Maybe 10 more minutes? So you waited in a 30 minute line that pretty much took up your entire EMH?
That sounds like an awful waste of time for one ride...I have not been since Soarin opened but this sounds like a job for Tour Guide Mike
I am sure he could advise a plan making more of that precious first hour....

 

[DISUNC]

SE???????????????

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Spaceship Earth!!! DUH!

We went to Epcot 4 times, 2x in the am and 2x at night...and EVERYDAY the Line for SE was LOOOOOOONG! However it does moves rather quickly....
OH the Air conditioning wasn't excatley working too good on that ride last week.
Also...all the interactive things once you come off the ride are gone!!!!

 

[snowy76]

PKS... the show is almost three times as long as you suggest. Add a couple of minutes onto each end of loading/unloading, add 5-10 minutes in the pre-loading area.... the math tells me we were in the main part of the line for about 15 minutes, give or take a few.

I rode the second time with zero wait (walked right into the loading area). So that really means I waited an average of 7-8 minutes, since I rode twice. Being the new ride we knew we wanted to ride it twice... this way we didn't have to wear ourselves out cross-crossing the park and I didn't have to come back later in the day. Since average wait time for Soarin approaches 90 minutes, I don't think that's a waste of my time!

Besides, everyone has different priorities. I've been to WDW three years in a row... we skipped a LOT this year. Relaxed a bit more. Made smart use of FP. Overall on our trip, Soarin was our longest wait.

And for three years in a row, I've done Epcot EMH. The first time, M:S was new, and wait times were at least a half hour by 9:00. When there's something new or popular, you're realistically only going to get two or three rides in before regular opening at that park.

BTW, we did regular opening at MK and did 5 rides in 20 minutes. Depends on your priorities for what you want to see/do.

Edit: You mentioned you hadn't done Soarin yet. It's THAT good.

 

[DISUNC]

The ride itself is what? 3 minutes long? Is there some preshow? Maybe 10 more minutes? So you waited in a 30 minute line that pretty much took up your entire EMH?
That sounds like an awful waste of time for one ride...I have not been since Soarin opened but this sounds like a job for Tour Guide Mike
I am sure he could advise a plan making more of that precious first hour....

There really aren't many ON/OFF rides in Epcot. All attractions take a good chunk of time. So on EMH mornings, the best you can do is maybe 2! They only have EMH MORNINGS once a week @ Epcot!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

We were there also and did the same thing worked like a charm. Do you know why the wait for SE was so long?

I know why it is. It's right there near the entrance right in the middle of crowd flow. It's also a ride the whole family can ride.
In no park should you ride anything right near the entrance while crowds are entering unless you get there first. For the same reason, skip a ride if you notice a show has just let out nearby and come back to it later.

.

 

[DisneyWisher]

HIJACK HERE!!!!

Did you get to do "Turtle talk with Crush in the Living Seas????" Thats was soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good!

We did Soarin (with FP's) 3 times!!!!!! And walked on MS 2x!

Dude, Turtle Talk with Crush is so cool, Dude!
Duuuuudddeee!