lookiing for someone to help with EPCOT travel plan with little kids

jenniferma

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jun 19, 2004
Messages
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Hi-- I can't remember the member here that helps posters with travel plans. Does anyone have any advice for us please-- I haven't been to Epcot since 1990 and my DH has never been. We are taking our two DD ages 3 and 5 next Fall. We pretty much revolve our planning around what they like (and food!)... our MK trips are all fantasyland, character greets etc, toddler and preschool friendly rides etc...

Anyhow-- I was hoping someone could let us know how they would plan their day at EPCOT with a 3 and 5 year old. We are hoping to do a whole day there and would like to eat at the Garden Grill Character meal. My daughters love all the character greets and my DD5 LOVES Mulan-- so we were hoping to see her if possible.

Does anyone out there have any great advice for EPCOT? We are the commando-type (we like to have a set plan) travelers!

Any ideals for lunch? I have heard such great things about LeCellier-- I am considering splurging there for lunch??? but not sure.

Thanks so much for your help- jennifer
 
Hi! Don't miss Turtle Talk if it is back open by now. And Soarin'. I think your kids would be fine on this. I have seen Mulan in the China Pavillion. We love EPCOT even more than MK. You might try Touringplans.com and plug in your times with small children. It has a fee I believe, but it is a lot of fun to play with. Have fun!
 
Hey! We just got back yesterday. We also were traveling with a 5 yr old boy. I do suggest the character meals. We did three while we were there and I found myself calling for more while we were in Disney!! Big highlights of the trip. The kids loved it. Do as many as possible. Get the dining plan if you can, it makes paying for it alot easier. We ran around to the meet and greets also. I have the park map at home. I can tell you the times and places tomorrow once I look at it if you'd like.
 
My nieces (4 and 2) don't really like much at Epcot. We do take them to the Kidcot stations where they can do crafts. I might try Epcot again in January with my niece (the 4 yr old) when we go alone. I thought if I got her the passporter she might find that a fun thing to do.
 

And it'll be great for your kids and yourself!! Try to stick around for the fireworks!! It was beautiful - very touching. My tough 5 year old little man broke down in tears cuz he was so moved by the firework show. 22 of us went, and we all agreed it was one thing that we were glad we didn't miss
 
Well, our days at Epcot with kids 2, 4, and 7 would go something like this if we weren't taking a break and going back to our hotel for a midday break. Epcot is a wonderful park in which to do morning EMH if you are staying on property, so keep that in mind. Really helps you get through Soarin quicker and on to the rest of your day. Oh, and we usually have ADRs for meals planned ahead of time......preferably a late breakfast so we can take advantage of short lines at opening.

Arrive at opening, your only choice being Future World. Before you go figure out if your 3 yo is tall enough (40 inches) and brave enough for rides like Soarin and Test Track. Our 4 yo loves Soarin, and rides Test Track but always is a little apprehensive beforehand.

So, get there at opening. Grab fastpasses for Test Track and head to Soarin. If both kids can ride than all do that. If you don't think the 3 yo will go for it then do the rider swap (get the rider swap ticket from a CM when you enter the line for Soarin). One of you rides with the 5 yo while the other takes the 3 yo on the Living with the Land boat ride. Repeat that with the other parent taking the 5 yo on Soarin again, giving the 3 yo a second go on Living with the Land. If you are able to get another fastpass at this point do so for Soarin......you may want to do it again later. When you get done with Soarin you can all ride Living with the Land together if you haven't done that and are interested and there is no line. After this head over to Test Track and ride that with your fastpasses. Don't worry if the time has passed, you can still use them. Do the rider swap thing if necessary. While over there hit the single riders line at Mission: Space for whoever is interested. A definite no go for the 3 yo, and I wouldn't take my 7 yo on, much less a 5 yo. At this point it should be time for that late breakfast. We prefer the Princess Storybook Breakfast (good chance to see Mulan) over in Norway and would head over there.

After enjoying breakfast we would hit Maelstrom, since we are there anyway. Make you way over to Mexico and hit the boat ride there. From here you have some choices. You could stick with World Showcase, but we'd head back to Future World. Hit the Living Seas, see the aquarium, and do Turtle Talk. After this you can finish up whatever else you might want to see in Future World. Imagination, Honey I Blew Up the Audience, Spaceship Earth........especially if they don't have lines.

That will get you to early afternoon most likely.....and back to World Showcase. Now you can slow your pace. Start to hit the countries. Let the kids make a mask at the Kidcot Stations while you grab a snack/pastry/soft drink/beer....whatever you like.....as you soak in the atmosphere. Be sure to see the trains in Germany. Note that at this point the kids have been busy all day and you have enjoyed yourself too. Keep touring World Showcase until it is perhaps time for an early dinner at Epcot's best restaurant, Le Cellier. Order the Mushroom Filet and the Chocolate Moose.

Now you are free to just relax and take in whatever you might have missed. Were you able to get those fastpasses for Soarin earlier? Head back over there and ride again. Perhaps you didn't catch The American Adventure or the movie in Canada......give those a go. It's atmopshere time as World Showcase is great in the evening. Lots of entertainers to catch in the countries as well.

Get yourselves a good spot for Illuminations and your day is complete, a good time had by all.

At least that is what keeps our family happy and entertained all day. People who say Epcot doesn't have a lot to offer for kids don't know what they are talking about ;) (although I will admit a 2 yo is largely along for the ride)......plus the adults enjoy it all as well. Epcot has moved up our list of favorite parks recently.
 
My dsis and I have a thread on the trip reports board about our recent trip with my niece and nephew, ages 4 and 6 respectively. My nephew LOVED soarin, but my niece hated it...and test track was torture for her. Until we took this trip we thought she was quite the little daredevil, always willing to try new things, etc. , but we found out the hard way she was not ready for these rides. You will know your child best of course.

Things they definitely liked: Spaceship Earth, the boat ride in Mexico, Imagination (ugh!), meeting characters, illuminations, and, one thing I would have overlooked if not for them, innoventions. I have walked through innoventions so many times with my DH and thought there was nothing of interest there. The kids thought differently! There are multiple video games(not normally allowed my their Mom so big interest to the nephew), a giant playhouse, a tunnel of bugs, and many other things the kids enjoyed. On trips alone with DH this pavillion is a waste of time to us, but on a trip with the kids it provided an area where they coud blow off some steam and have fun.

Finally, Turtle Talk with Crush is awesome! I really wanted the kids to see this on our trip but everytime we got there the wait was an hour or more (torture with kids, as you must know!) The pavillion had just reopened after renovations so I accounted that for the wait. My DH and I saw the show last year and believe it would be a great experience for any kid. Have fun on your trip!
 












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