I need some feedback on our itinerary for Epcot please...

[Soupermom]

Hello, and thanks to all who help! First, the specifics:

Date of visit: Sunday, March 12th
Cast: DH, Dme, DD11, DS8, Sis, BIL, Dmom, Ddad. My group can go commando, my mom and BIL cannot (BIL is only a few years younger than mom!). Hopefully the weather in March won't be too hot, which will help them both!
Things to consider: NOT an EMH day. We have dinner ressies at GG for 5pm. I'd like to visit the DisVISA Meet N Greet at some point (1-4pm?). Mom and BIL won't tolerate criss-crossing around the park very much. TT and MS are being skipped because they would make me and most of the group !

My tentative plan: Arrive around 8:30 for 9am opening (Can we find our Legacy Tile while we wait? We made one last time we went and have never visited it before.) Head to the Living Seas, catch the sights and don't miss Turtle Talk. Continue to The Land for Living in the Land ride and grab a FP for Soarin'. Head to HISTK and Figment's show, stopping to e-mail photos. Go back to Soarin' if time is right. I'm hoping we can do this by around 11am or so?

Next, head to WS and continue around in a counter-clockwise fashion, stopping in Maracco or Japan for counter service lunch. Must sees: American Adventure, Maelstom and El Rio Ride; we can FP Maelstrom if needed when going into El Rio (I'm good at running with the group's tickets and getting FP's). Browse the shops and visit with characters as we'd like. I'm hoping we can go around the showcase by 3pm or so...4 hours enough for all of this?

Then, we could hit the Meet N Greet around 3pm and then Cranium Command. Finally, stop to make a robot (Can anyone tell me for sure if this is in Innov. WEST or EAST? I've heard both) and head to dinner by 4:45. After dinner we can stop to ride spaceship earth and head out. If our FP for Soarin' was in the afternoon while we were at WS, do you think we could go in now?

Again, thanks to anyone who can offer suggestions. I appreciate your time and assistance!

 

[dizenthusiast]

If you're willing to be the "FastPass runner" for your group, I think you might want to run to Soarin' first thing and get FP's there while the rest of your group makes its way to the Living Seas. That will help guarantee you won't have to wait too long until your FP return time arrives, and if you get the FP right after opening, you may be able to ride with your FP right after you finish the Living Seas.

Also, unfortunately, I don't think the Wonders of Life pavillion will be open, so Cranium Command is probably out of the picture.

 

[Wendaeh]

I agree, get the FP for Soarin' first -- the Land isn't too far from Living Seas. If you are the runner, why not have the rest of the family do SSE, and meet them at the exit (it's about a 20 minute ride), then head to Living Seas. I think the first Turtle Talk show is at 10 (?), so make sure to see that while you are there. You could then go back to the Land (that should be your fastpass time for Soarin). Off to HISTK and JIYI. No Test Track??? If you want test track -- send a runner to get FP then do Universe of Energy That's 40 minutes long. You can then check out Innoventions, do Test Track - have a quick lunch, then Disney Meet and Greet right when they open.

I would then do Showcase in the order you have it.

Have fun!
Wendy

 

[Soupermom]

I'm drawing a blank...what is SSE? We can't handle MS, and we did Test Track a few years ago...I get more excitement driving on the interstate! We also did Ellen's Energy thing last time and I think we can skip that. We've never done Cranium Command though, I was really hoping for that! I'm sure I can grab some fast passes first thing...that's a good idea! Thanks for your help thus far!

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

SSE is Space Ship Earth.......
Definitely grab FP for Soarin' right away. The stand by lines can be very, very long. Even the FP return may not be for a few hours. I have read that some CM will take expired Fast Passes but some won't.
I doubt you will be able to see Cranium Command. We always enjoyed this attraction but they seem to only open it on rare occasions now.
If you happen to be in WS when it's time to leave for the California Grill just walk out the International Gateway (near United Kingdom). Walk straight for five minutes and you will be at the Beach Club (on your right). Walk through the lobby and take the Magic Kingdom bus. From the MK you can take the seven minute walk to the Contemporary or the monorail.

PS.....just re-read some of your post. You will never make it to the Contemporary in fifteen minutes from Epcot. If you take the monorail you will have to transfer at the TTC to the resort monorail. Just waiting for the monorails can add a lot of time. Suggest you leave at least 45 minutes to get there. The MK bus from the Beach Club will probably be easier and faster.

 

[maleficent_man]

Another for the grab the FP for Soarin' first!

 

[ryley26]

I have to agree send a runner and get a fastpass for soarin or you'll be riding late in the day.The rest of your plan looks very do able.

 

[Soupermom]

My dinner ressies are at the GARDEN GRILL (GG) in Epcot, not CG in MK.

 

[reallybadeggs]

Must sees: American Adventure, Maelstom and El Rio Ride

I would recommend spending more time in the WS. The entertainment there is great. There is a juggler in Italy, a comic waiter in France, the Candy maker in Japan, two Shows by the World Showcase Players (one in Italy and one in the UK), an a capella group in America, and even Mo' Rockin' in Morocco is good. Oh and the Acrobats in China are awesome.

If you plan in advance, you can start in Canada and work your way around without much backtracking and catch most of these shows in a 4 hour period.

 

[tar heel]

A couple things:

Your 8-year-old would probably think Test Track was the best thing in Epcot.

As the previous poster said, the country entertainment is the best part of World Showcase. Your noncommando people are probably going to require some bench breaks -- why not try to combine those with seeing some of those wonderful shows? My children LOVE A Chair Act in France. Pick up a schedule on your way in.

 

[Margie]

Hi, first time here. Leaving for DW on the 20th of Jan. The information on the threads is wonderful...but hard to understand with all the abbreviations. Is there a page that shows what they all mean?
Thanks,
Margie

 

[Demon Llama]

FP Soarin' first. FP Test Track next chance you get. And I agree about adding more time in the showcase. There's the cutest most talented young acrobats at the Chinese pavillion! The stores carry the coolest merchandise, and there's so much food around there you'll want to slow down to sample for sure!

 

[Soupermom]

Margie...Yes, if you go to one of the main/home pages, there is a link you can click on the upper left that will give you all of the abbreviations.

I love the world showcase and plan to catch many of the little acts, I just listed the 3 big "rides" we want to hit (Don't care for the other movies, like the Oh Canada one...it's a vertigo thing). That's why I've asked if 4 hours (11-3 or so) is enough time in WS.

My son MAY like TT this time, he didn't 18 months ago. We do have another day in Epcot later in the week without the rest of the family, so if he wants to try it then we will. This day will be mostly about the grandparents.

Thanks for everyones input!