Kids and EPCOT??

[FBZ]

Going to WDW with SIL and family. Family includes two kids 7 yo girl and 3 yo boy. She does not think the kids will enjoy EPCOT. What do you think?? And why?? I need all the help I can get so come on people let me hear from you. Thanks

 

[HauntedMansionGeek]

When my grand daughter was 4 I couldn't get her out of Epcot.

This April, when she was one month shy of 7, we still couldn't get her out of Epcot. We planned to go to the MK several times but she enjoyed learning, seeing and doing things at Epcot more than the crowds and rides at the Magic Kingdom.

Go figure. LOL

Good luck. It's tough to convince some people that Epcot is a fun place for ALL ages.

 

[snowsdad]

My DD5 has enjoyed Epcot very much for the past 2 years. (MK is still the favorite, but she is definitely not bored at Epcot.)

Here are her Epcot favs: Spaceship Earth, Living with the Land, Journey Into Imagination...ride with Figment and What If Labs, Test Track (she's rather tall and rode it at 4yo), Garden Grill restaurant, Food Rocks, Fitness Fairgrounds at Wonders of Life, El Rio del Tiempo ride in Mexico, The Maelstrom ride in Norway, Imaginum living marble statues in France, Illuminations.

She loved Tapestry of Dreams (so sad, it's gone)

She was a bit scared last year by: Honey I Shrunk the Audience and Ellen's Energy Adventure (however, your 7yo would probably love those)

Her all time Epcot fav?! The hedge maze in the United Kingdom. We have to drag her out of there after 30+ minutes! Bet your 3yo will like it too.

 

[grinningghost]

There really is alot for kids to love at Epcot, it's just very spread out, and that makes it seem like there's less. At least that's my take on it.

My own DD loved Epcot at 7 - especially Body Wars (yuck), Honey I Shrunk the Audience, Rio del Tiempo, Maelstrom, The American Adventure (yep, she actually did like this), Living Seas (although it's not too great anymore), pretty much everything in the Wonders of Life pavillion, Spaceship Earth and the list goes on. They didn't have Test Track back when she was 7, but she loved it at age 11.

My advice is - take the kids to Epcot FIRST. Don't let them get a glimpse of that Castle before they do anything else. Epcot is fun, but that Castle just wrecks everything if they see it first.

 

[uncle al]

The 3 yr old may be a challenge. The 7 yr old will probably enjoy it - if you can keep her interest. When our children were that age we discovered the little passports that can be purchased in World Showcase gift shops. There are stickers for each country's page and a place to have the passport stamped after vsiting each country. Our kids had a great time finding the "right" person in each country to stamp & sign their passport. We also played a game in each country: each of us had to try something different in each country. This could be anything, a piece of candy, or pastry, or like in China and egg roll (my DS first intro to Chinese food, he actually decided he might like it). We had lunch in one of the country's (I think Italy one trip and Mexico another, and before we knew it they grew up & we didn't need to play anymore). Just keep them engaged, point things out to them that they would find interesting, like the fancy dolls in Germany, and the trolls in Norway. Anyway, you get the picture. Finally, plan your country visits around the live shows (i.e. The World Showcase Players in England, Off Kilter in Canada, The Fife & Drum Corps in America, The Belly Dancer in Morrocco, etc....)

Then of course there is Test Track & Journey into Imagination (with Figmet) and The Wonders of Life Pavillion where there are a ton of hands-on things (that even the three year old will get into).

Have Fun!!!

 

[LadyAurora]

There is a thread around here somewhere that is titled "Help! My DD hates Epcot". I don't know how to find it, but it is full of info that will help you.

 

[swilphil]

My 3 year old enjoyed the leisurely pace of Epcot. He loved Food Rocks, Journey into the Imagination and the boat ride in Mexico. The best part was walking through World Showcase and stopping at the Kidcot stations. They get a mask to decorate and a stamp. There's also tons of room to just run around. He especially liked splashing in the puddles right after the rain storm. I only regret that we didn't get to spend more time there, and do the maze, the Viking boat and the Maelstrom.

 

[>>^..^<<]

Hi there - have a look at this thread...

<a href="http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=401906">Help my DD Hates EPCOT!!</a>

>>^..^<<

 

[jacksmom]

We have a 6yo ds who loves Epcot! Our last trip in March, we about had to drag him out. His dad was ready to go, but he wasn't! He loves making the mask and going to all the different countries to get a stamp. We took a picture of him in each country and I made a photo album for him to take to school to show his class! He also really enjoyed the WS, Loves Figment and the Ellen ride and Honey I shrunk the audience! Really, he loved everything we did there! We are planning another trip in Oct. and I have planned extra time at Epcot! I hope you try it, I think most kids would enjoy something there!

 

[slp87]

I haven't read the other thread, but I'm sure it mentions the Kidcot stations. The 7 year old will definitely enjoy those! There is also some great outdoor entertainment in WS that kids enjoy as well. Be sure to see the candy artist in Japan, it's amazing!

 

[lovin_disney]

For a few years we had some trouble convincing our DS Epcot was fun but when he was 6 I introduced him to pin trading at Epcot and that changed everything. I agree to buy him 1 pin for each visit and he goes crazy trading pins with all the CMs. Epcot is now one of his favorites stops and Spaceship Earth is his all time favorite ride.

 

[MulanMom]

When we go to WDW, we don't even bother doing the Epcot/MGM before MK thing anymore, because my kids ask to go to Epcot. Last trip in mar/apr 2003, my then 3.5DS and 5.5DD asked to go to Epcot because they wanted to see the lights in the sidewalk! It's amazing that is what they remembered from a trip the year before! They seem to enjoy a lot of Epcot, the different shows, performances, restaurants. Last trip, they tried and liked Test Track!!! They also enjoy the character meals at the Garden Grill and Akershus.

 

[jaysue]

My 3 1/2 yr DS loved Epcot on our last trip - here are the +/- from his viewpoint:

"+":

El Rio de Tiempo
Mexico
Italy
Test Track
Spaceship Earth
Journey with Figment
Norway
Morocco
Maelstorm
Japan
Food Rocks
Walk out Gateway to BW/BC
World Showcase Boats
France
The Living Seas
Model Trains - Germany
Germany
Living with the Land
Epcot-MK Monorail
Bus to Epcot

"-":

Ice Station Cool

Ones he would not go on - i.e. did not like the building/look/ride entrance etc.:

Illuminations
Body Wars
Making of Me
Cranium Command
HISTA
Universe of Energy


Overall based on where he wants to go and what he talks about:

1) MK
2) AK
3) Epcot
4) Typhoon Lagoon
5) DTD
6) Disney - MGM - he does not like this park!!!

Thanks
jaysue

 

[Mainebound]

My DS3 LOVED Epcot. We went there our very first day (I agree that Epcot should precede MK) and he thought everything was amazing -- the fountains with music, ice station cool, the kidcot stations (he still plays with the mask he made 4 months ago), maelstrom, spaceship earth (his very first Disney ride, it will always have a special place in his heart, I bet!). And, since he loves playing games on the computer and gamecube, he spent a LOT of time in Innoventions (actually, there a quite a few physically challenging games to play in there). Maybe he's a weird kid, but he even liked watching the Test Track cars whiz by for a while.

We ate at Norway (Akershus) for lunch and the Moroccan restaurant (Marakesh?) for dinner and he belly danced! Both were great for kids. After dinner we strolled along and stopped to hear the music at the bandstand.


Hope you have great trip!

 

[jeannej]

My children have always loved Epcot. I had heard that kids would like it but my hubby and I diecide to take a chance about 7 years ago when our children were small and Epcot has been on the intenerary ever since. Even at 12 and 10, their favorite ride still is SpaceShip Earth.

jeannej

 

[CRCrazy]

Another vote for Epcot! We are planning another trip for November, to bring my in-laws. They went with my husband's sister and her family (3.5 and 5.5 year old kids) last April, and NEVER went to Epcot since my SIL thought the kids would be bored!

My kids, 6, 13, 14 all love Epcot!! In fact, it is my 6 year old's favorite park, even though her favorite ride's are all the thrill rides. Future World has lots of fun, if slow paced, rides and shows, and they all exit into play areas with fun things to do! Even more of a plus, they are all in pavilions, so they are air-conditioned in the heat!

When my youngest was 5, she spent two full days in Epcot, from opening till closing - and still didn't have enough!! Of course, she loved the Tapestry of Dreams parade, which no longer exists, but she loves all the street entertainment in the World Showcase, and the mask making at the Kidcot stations occupied her for hours!! The one thing we did on our first trip that we won't bother with again is buying the Passports - they were expensive, about $10 each times 3 kids - and the kids just didn't get into them that much. They much preferred the masks, which were free, and make a colorful - and depending on your kid's artistic ability - beautiful souvenir. They are hanging on the girls' bedroom walls still! The CM's will stamp the stick of the mask, just like the passports, and several of them also wrote little notes in their native languages. They also showed my daughter how to write Sarah in Chinese!

We do rent a stroller in Epcot, although since she will be 7 in November - we may not this time. This saves any whining - because there is so much to see, even from the stroller point of view.

MGM, on the other hand, is not a hit with her! Even though she is now tall enough for Rock N Roller Coaster, her favorite ride!, as soon as she rides it once -- she starts begging to go back to the resort to swim! Even though they have plenty of kid oriented shows, restaurants, etc. The general atmosphere of this park just turns her right off!

 

[jaysue]

MGM, on the other hand, is not a hit with her! Even though she is now tall enough for Rock N Roller Coaster, her favorite ride!, as soon as she rides it once -- she starts begging to go back to the resort to swim! Even though they have plenty of kid oriented shows, restaurants, etc. The general atmosphere of this park just turns her right off!

CRCrazy, glad to see my DS is not the only one who does not think much of Disney-MGM park.

It has gotten so bad, during our last trip we managed to do a couple of attractions - Playhouse Disney - reaction "I don't like shows Daddy ", Star Tours - "Daddy I don't like the building " etc. etc. Even tried the HISTK playground - some interest but too crowded. He did love the Backlot tour though with the boat attack scene and the catastrophe canyon segment.......

So I thought later in the trip, let's try again - (good thing we have Annual Passes), DS and I had barely been 10 minutes in the park and he says:

"Daddy, I want to go to Epcot where there are things to do!"



thanks
jaysue

 

[swilphil]

I agree with all the great things said here about Epcot, but our 3 yo son loved MGM as well. He got to do a lot of running around at Epcot in the WS and also enjoyed the Kidcot stations, as well as the other kid attractions mentioned here.

At MGM, the shows were a huge hit: Playhouse Disney, Mermaid, Beauty and Beast, and Muppets 3D. He could have spent all day at the HISTK playground. He wouldn't get off the giant plant stumps (like tree stumps) that make musical notes. The adults and older kids also enjoyed all the shows and our very favorite rides: Tower of Terror and Rockin Roller Coaster. Fantasmic is a must see too, but bring ear plugs for little ones.

 

[Twigs]

MY family has always enjoyed Epcot and we have been taking the kids since they were 4 (they are now 11). I would recommend getting the strollers, even for the 7 year old as it is alot of walking and that gives them a break when they want it. Also, as it has been mentioned the kidcot stops are a must, as it gives them something to look foward to in each country and the world passports are alot of fun. They still take them out to see hello written in each language. They also liked the adventure of finding the cm who would stamp and sign the passport. When they were younger we also tried not to do things that would be too boring for them, that way they did not dread going back.