Lots of Epcot advice needed.

[sleepyone]

We are planning on doing Epcot in 2 days because on our last trip we only had about 3 hours in Future World. We didn't even get to go to the World Showcase . We plan to spend the first day, May 8th, in World Showcase and May 12th, an evening EMH, in Future World. With a "day" dedicated to each section of Epcot, how much will we be able to see and do? Our arrival date is May 8th, we will probably arrive at Epcot around 1:00 or 2:00 and we have PS at 5:40 for Akershus. In which land should we begin? I'm thinking it would be best to start at Mexico and work clockwise . I don't have any PS's for Future World; we'll just get counter service. Any favorite foods for counter service? I know we want to head straight for Soarin' and also see Turtle Talk with Crush. I'm looking for any advice from those of you that love Epcot.

 

[jenndisney]

Two days is great for exploring EPCOT. This is our families favorite park. You have a great start to your plan. We look at this park as a bit more relaxing (why we LOVE IT) and so we just go with the flow. We have eaten at France, Japan, and England and will be trying Germany and Morroco this year. If you are traveling with children, make sure to get a passport so they will interact with the different people working there from the different countries. My daughter treasures her passport.

Have a great time! I know that others will help to guide you with the other questions you asked.

 

[java]

We always go countries clockwise starting in Mexico. Our favorite although completely unhealthy cs lunch is actually the little shop in London that sells the fish and chips yummy with vinegar. And we always have a nice cold beer with that. Yummy!!! We probably spend too much time in the World showcase-- we get lost in shows and talking to people in each area. Most are college kids and full of cool information about their country that my kids love to hear. The big movies are China/France/Canada. The American Adventure is one that we probably will do again because we will be there over July 4..feeling patriotic and all. Most of the performances in the countries start late afternoon. Check the schedule the Chinese acrobats were fantastic when we went. In Japan you have to see the candy lady. Then there is that Beetle's cover band that we never seem to see in London. For Future world I am assuming Soarin is going to be the ride-with Test Track a close second and Mission Space a very close third. My kids hate Honey I shrunk the audience-way too loud for them so we skip that. When we have time we like to play in Innoventions-you can zap alot of time here. just typing this makes me want to go to Epcot first.
The food in future world is generally pathetic without the Land. Just general bland fast food there..I would walk to the countries to eat.

 

[LadyLuc361]

I was at Epcot May 8th last year! We had such a great time and by the end of the day had completed everything in Future World. We did all the rides, spent some time in The Living Seas, Innoventions. We did a lot. The weather was beautiful and the crowds relatively low. We only got to a few countries (we ate at San Angel) but we came back for a second day to do the countries. It was a great day! Hope you have a magical trip.

Rachel

 

[nanatink]

Also if you have children you can get the masks at the different countries for them to make. The passports are even loved by the adults. My grandson loves seeing the country's movies.

 

[floridagirrl2]

I think two days will give you plenty of time. Make sure you grab a schedule of entertainment for the week when you enter Epcot--you may find you will want to plan some of your time around seeing the various performers in the different countries.

I don't think it matters where you start or end in the World Showcase. I agree with the poster who said Epcot is more of a "go with the flow" kind of park--you may spend a lot of time exploring nooks and crannies in the World Showcase, OR you might you to shop til you drop, OR you might want to see all the musical acts, OR you might want to eat/drink your way through. Or any combination of the above!

DH and I find the World Showcase more magical at night--we love to have a drink (champagne from France for me, a beer from England for DH) and catch a couple of sets of the British Invasion (Beatles tribute band) or Off Kilter (wild, comic band in Canada that plays everything from 80s New Wave to It's A Small World--oh yeah, wearing kilts).

No suggestions for counterservice--neither DH nor I particularly like any of the counter service, but I'm vegetarian and he's low-carbing so we are probably pickier eaters than most!

Have a wonderful time!

 

[lilyprincess]

We will also be at epcot on May 8th and we are having dinner at Akerhush at 7pm! Have a great trip!

 

[eeyore45]

DH and I shared a meal at Morrocco, and it was wonderful!! Desserts too! I suggest also to get the entertainment schedule here too! We spend at least 2 days at Epcot, I hate having to wait till Future world opens!!

We also spend quite a few hours in the Living Seas, I love Figment, and was surprised how much fun dd had inside there also!!

I also reccommend the menus on deb's allearsnet.com site - so much to ponder! Shaved ice, Beaver Tales, the Desserts in France, food in Italy, Food in Japan, China, just so much to see and do, and eat!!

 

[J and R's mom]

My husband and I make it a point to eat at San Angel (inside the Mexico building) everytime that we go to Disney World. It's also a good way to escape the heat. Also, the boat ride is very relaxing and another great way to beat the heat. Right across from the Mexico building is a place to purchase GREAT margaritas...if you're so inclined.

The fish-n-chips in England are pretty good too!

Have a great trip.

 

[Music Mole]

The food in future world is generally pathetic without the Land. Just general bland fast food there..I would walk to the countries to eat.

I totally agree!

Our favorite counter service is Kringla Bakery in Norway - yummy salmon sandwiches! Have fun at Epcot. It is such a great park to linger in . . .

 

[Lizzybee]

La Patissierie (sp) counter service in France was a great choice for a light dinner and simply decadent desserts. I had the Cheese plate which comes with a baguette, three different cheese wedges and grapes. It was the BEST cheese EVER and I live 5 mins from Wisconsin so I know cheese
My son ate a ham and cheese quiche and my mom got a turkey sandwich. All of it was very tasty and then there were the desserts.... oooh la la. Our first night at Disney we went to Epcot and the kids ate at the Liberty Inn in the USA section and got chosen to be "Jr Chefs of the Day"... they made chef hats for the kids with their names on them and the Liberty Inn and the date. They put them in chef coats and took them backstage and announced them to the guests. They got applauded, had their pictures taken, and got the make themselves ice cream sundaes. Very cool! The grown ups got counter service in Mexico and we got a GREAT table to see Illuminations from too. The only thing was it took FOREVER to order and get food at the Mexico counter service, I couldn't figure out why. It took over 30-40 mins to get three dinners. We loved Epcot! We spent 4 partial days of a 7 day vacation there and STILL missed the Universe of Energy building.

 

[Tiziminchac]

Our arrival date is May 8th, we will probably arrive at Epcot around 1:00 or 2:00 and we have PS at 5:40 for Akershus. In which land should we begin? I'm thinking it would be best to start at Mexico and work clockwise . I don't have any PS's for Future World; we'll just get counter service. Any favorite foods for counter service? I know we want to head straight for Soarin' and also see Turtle Talk with Crush. I'm looking for any advice from those of you that love Epcot.

Which way you tour WS I guess depends on when you start touring it. If you begin when you get to Epcot then I would recommend starting in Canada. That way you will have time to work your way around the lake. If you start close to your ps time then start in Mexico. Remember, Norway is right next to Mexico. Of course you can always backtrack. When I was there last week a CM told me that the food court in The Land was being completely redone. All the cooking would be done in the open, so that may be a nice place to get a counter service meal. Anyway, I hope you have a great time.

 

[erinch]

okay, here's an out-of-date question. It used to be that you could park in one of the epcot resorts to ride the boat to WS, if you didn't want to walk all the way through FW to get to the back. If you're driving is that still possible?

Timewise, you'd be better off to start over by the International Gateway, because that would get you just about halfway around in time for your Norway PS. We usually spend 2 days in WS--we try to see all the shows, and linger in some of the shops and snackeries.

The film in France is one of our favorites. We love the "players" who do RobinHood and things in the UK, and if Off Kilter is playing, you have to catch a set, or three or four. (and lament the loss of beaver tails). The films in China and Canada are "must dos" at least once. The Chinese acrobats aren't to be missed. If the drummers in Japan or Africa are playing you can't miss them. and you sure don't want to miss MoRoccin; the British Invasion; or the Liberty Singers in the American pavillion.

A good place to check the entertainment is Steve Soare's site right here:
http://pages.prodigy.net/stevesoares/

If you can afford it, a good place for lunch in FW is at the Coral Reef. Request the first seating when the restaurant opens, and check in 15 minutes ahead, and ask for a seat by the fish tank.

 

[henrylovespooh]

Epcot is our family's favorite park. We also start in Mexico and go around the "World." We just stroll around and take in the sights. We still haven't seen all the shows or movies, but it always leaves us something to do next time. Our kids are 2 and 3, so they like to color masks at the Kidcot stations. I love eating fish and chips in UK, teriyaki chicken at the counter service place in Japan, kaki-gori (sno cones) in Japan, anything at the patisserie in France, anything at the San Angel Inn in Mexico, and the buffet at Germany. Great show there too. We are always surprised with seeing characters in the World Showcase - Snow White, the Beast, the genie, and others.

I agree with other posters that there is nothing worth eating in the Future World section. It's a quick walk to the World Showcase and well worth heading there to eat. Also, since lines aren't long in WC, you can pick up a Fastpass for Mission Space or Test Track and then head to WC to eat lunch or dinner, and then go back for the rides. Very easy to get back and forth, especially to Mexico and Canada.

 

[sleepyone]

We will also be at epcot on May 8th and we are having dinner at Akerhush at 7pm! Have a great trip!

Thanks, maybe we'll pass each other in the park!

 

[sleepyone]

My husband and I make it a point to eat at San Angel (inside the Mexico building) everytime that we go to Disney World. It's also a good way to escape the heat. Also, the boat ride is very relaxing and another great way to beat the heat. Right across from the Mexico building is a place to purchase GREAT margaritas...if you're so inclined.

The fish-n-chips in England are pretty good too!

Have a great trip.

How is the food in San Angel? I LOVE Mexican food. Is it authentic Mexican or TexMex?

 

[sleepyone]

Which way you tour WS I guess depends on when you start touring it. If you begin when you get to Epcot then I would recommend starting in Canada. That way you will have time to work your way around the lake. If you start close to your ps time then start in Mexico. Remember, Norway is right next to Mexico. Of course you can always backtrack. When I was there last week a CM told me that the food court in The Land was being completely redone. All the cooking would be done in the open, so that may be a nice place to get a counter service meal. Anyway, I hope you have a great time.

How long does it usually take to tour each country?

 

[aubriee]

How is the food in San Angel? I LOVE Mexican food. Is it authentic Mexican or TexMex?

It's definitely NOT TexMex. We tried to eat there in January and my son and I both left our plates almost untouched. My GD said she was starving and realy tried to eat it, but finally said this is not Mexican food and can we go eat somewhere else, (which we did). We have very good Mexican food here in Texas and you usually hear very negative reviews from Texans who try to eat at either San Angel or the cantina. To us they're both awful. There was a thread not too long ago on food in WS and there was alot of negative reviews about this place.

 

[Lizzybee]

I've lived in Mexico City for 4 months while in college and we ate at the counter service in Mexico and I thought it was just ok. It didn't taste bad but it wasn't wonderful authentic Mexican food. I've read posts where people rave about the San Angel Inn, it's probably a different quality. Then again they didn't serve kraft American cheese slices and chocolate pudding at the counter service in France, that was some yummy food!

 

[floridagirrl2]

I don't think the food at San Angel Inn is anything like the Mexican cantina. While the cantina food was edible, DH and I both thought the San Angel Inn had tasty food (I personally would call it Tex-Mex) and an AMAZING atmosphere. You have to see it to believe it.