Must do's for a 4yo at Epcot?

[showar]

After reading the Epcot section of Unofficial Guide I felt like there wasn't much my 4 yo dd would like there. We are going to WDW late September so I need to start making my PS for the restaurants on Monday. Epcot was going to be our first park with a lunch with the Princesses at the Story Book Lunch. Should I just plan on a half day at Epcot? What are the must-do's for a 4yo. Could she spend a lot of time playing at Dinoland with me while dh went and explored other parts of the park?

Sandra

 

[Harligirl]

HI!
You MUST do Turtle Talk with Crush! It is in the Living Seas. It is sooooo much fun! Not sure on your comment about Dinoland??? Are you thinking of animal kingdom or is it something new???

We love Epcot- not a big fan with the kids but since you are planning to go there first, it should be fine. They have lots of Kidcot stations in the countries.....Look for characters (check in the roadway by United Kingdom, in the back)

Have fun!

 

[snyderla]

I think Dinoland is in AK, not sure though. I don't remember seeing it in EPCOT.
There is a water play area on the way to Test Track, I think. And there is a short hedge maze in the United Kingdom.

We are taking my 4yo granddaughter in September, I know we will take her to Living Seas and to the EPCOT Kidcot stations at the World Showcase pavilions, but I'd like to hear other peoples ideas, too! The ride in Mexico would be good, too.

 

[rileyroosmom]

My 4 year old dd liked Test Track (she is not a daredevil), Journey into your Imagination, Ellen's Universe of Energy, Honey I Shrunk the Audience, The Living Seas (Turtle Talk with Crush is in here). She also liked the ride in The Land (can't remember the name, the one that shows you how they grow things) and she even liked Soarin. She like the World Showcase because she made a mask and the "charm" in each country. We went on Malestrom (she didn't love this because the boat goes backwards a little bit) There is a ride in Mexico similar to It's a Small World, but we never made it that ride. There are characters all around. We saw Snow White with no line. The character bus shows up at certain times. There is the fountains that come out of the ground that are fun to play with. Spaceship Earth, forgot that one!! She liked that too. To finish off the day, Illuminations. So you can see there is quite a lot to do with a 4 year old. Have fun!

 

[ToTLaugher]

There is a great train garden (I think it is in Germany, but maybe someone can correct me if I am wrong.) There is even a bridge you can walk over to see the train better.

I know a lot of people say their kids don't like EPCOT but mine have always loved it. They really enjoy the viking ship in Norway. (It is for kids to go aboard and climb around in.)

Also my kids LOVE watching the acrobats in China. You can check the park map for the times of the show.

HTH

 

[SplashLover93]

you have to do turtle talk with crush its so cool how he ineracts with the kids um universe of energy if you like dinosuars test track i dun know i wouldn't because of how fast it goes when you go on open track but u decide um spaceship earth they will love and its nice and cool to get out of the heat

 

[ccgegg]

I hope I don't bore you with my punctuation......

Our DD4 absolutely LOVES Epcot. The Kidcot stations (where you make the mask) are an absolute thrill for her. This is a great way for the parents to enjoy a relaxing stroll through the different countries of World Showcase while the child also has something fun and exciting to do along the way. If your DD4 enjoys crafts, this is a MUST. But plan on spending a good 2-4 hours doing this, depending on how much time you spend looking around each country.

In FutureWorld, she loves Test Track, Living Seas, the water fountain, etc, and is looking forward to riding Soarin.

If you can, I would plan on at least a day there. We have about 1.5 days of our 5 day December trip planned for Epcot. And I'm not sure that'll be enough because of the holiday storytellers in each country.

 

[meandtheguys2]

My guys liked the shows in WS (even when they were younger). I also bought passports, they did the masks, and I let them trade some pins. This got us around the world. I didn't get to shop much, but it was better than not seeing it!

They liked SE, LWTL, Imagination, and the fountains best in FW.

 

[showar]

I was getting a little worried while reading the Unofficial Guide thinking that my dd might get a little anxious because she is going to Disney to see the Princesses. I'm sure she will enjoy the Storybook Lunch and I know she will be in awe if we are able to see Snow White (her favorite). She does love crafts so we will do the Kidcot stations as well as everything else that was mentioned here. My dh will probably get a little bored with the crafts so I'll let him explore the rest of the park for a few hours.

I also forgot that Dinoland is in AK. I think I am getting an information overload! Since I have the dining package and need to make my reservation I feel like I have to plan all of our days/activities while at WDW. Of course I'm all for being flexible too but I like to have a plan.

Thanks again!
Sandra

 

[tjmw2727]

I think it depends on the kid - but there are so many great things at Epcot for that age group, some often overlooked.

My kids loved Epcot since age 2 starting with the WS because they loved all the live entertainment. Favorites were the acrobats in China, Mo-rockin and Off Kilter - the latter mostly because it was a fave of mine!

The boat ride in Mexico is fun, a bit like small world at the end as is the Malestrom in Norway, another boat ride with a small drip (like POTC) and some friendly trolls.

The girls love making the mask and decorating it and adding to it in each country. They like to play on the viking ship in norway and see the trains in Germany.

In future world they like the living seas, all of the imagination pavillion and most of the land. They like the Innovations pavilion closer to test track esp the interactive games and toy making. I would say the only thing they didn't like at FW they were tall enough for was the energy adventure.

Just before he turned 4 in December 05 we took my nephew to Epcot, IIRC one full day and most every evening and he loved everything as well. He even rode Test Track a few times.

So if you find she is into the rides then stick to FW, if he likes people and live entertainment hit the WS. If she likes both then spend more time!!

Honestly, we spend most of our evenings at WS because a day at the parks overloads us all. Other than an evening at MK for wishes and one at MGM for Fantasmic every night of our vacation ends at Ecpot. Esp the WS, it just seems more relaxed but still that vacation fun we like.

Sorry so long
TJ

 

[jl3614]

Each child is different, only you will know your DDs interests.

I took my 4 yr old DD in April. Her only absolute "must do" things were the Figment ride in the Imagination building and Turtle Talk. A few other things she enjoyed but could have lived without - playing in the Imgination building, the Mexico boat ride, and Space Ship Earth

She is not an arts and craft girl so Kidcots was not her thing. She was frightened by Honey I Shrunk the Audience, and a little scared on Test Track and the Norway boat ride. She doesn't have the patience or interest to sit through any of the WS movies.

As I said each child is different, your DD may love some of the things my DD didn't care for.

 

[DISUNC]

Sandra

As you can see, there is PLENTY for a 4 year old in Epcot.....I think much more than MGM & AK.

However, one of the BEST things they do in the Countries is with a EPCOT passport. You purchase a Epcot passport anywhere in Epcot (I dont think they are any more than 10.00...probably lower). It sort of looks like a real passport, and each page represents a country in EPCOT. The child places stickers on the pages. Then when they go to each country at a special table, they will place a stamp in the book and write your childs name in their language.

It's a perfect thing to do for any 4 year old. My nephew LOVED it when he was five.....and he want's to do it again...he is now 11.

Have a great time,
Andy

 

[lorli]

There is also a water area near the bridge. DD(3) at the time loved malestorm, ride in mexico, the living seas, and the spots to make masks. I highly recommend taking a bathing suit for the water areas. Use these areas to take breaks and allow her to run, stretch and cool off.

 

[8 Ears]

Yes, purchase a Pass Port in the first "country" you visit. Our 10 and 13 year old at the time enjoyed seeing how different they wrote. We asked them to write the same thing so we could see the differences more clearly. We went just before Christmas 2004 so we asked them to write Merry Christmas and the child's name.

We did not do the masks but we saw that the younger children really enjoyed them.

Oh yes, I am glad to hear you are doing EPCOT first, instead of MK then EPCOT for example.

Hope this helps and enjoy your trip!

 

[pospisil]

I just made ADR's a couple of weeks ago, and was told that the place where the Storybook Lunch is(I can't remember the name now, the Norway place?)would be closed for I think it was 2 weeks for some remodeling or something. We're going in mid-Sept, and it will closed the whole time, but I can't remember now exactly when. I think it will be open again the last part of Sept, but am not sure. Sorry this is so vague. You may want to check ahead of time so you don't call and find out at the last minute they will be closed the day you want to go.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Kidstop at each country and finish it. My DS brought it to school and they had a discussion about it (pre-school). It was very cool, how much he remembered and shared with the class. He's 9 now and it is still in his room.

 

[Eljay]

If your little one likes music and likes to dance, you must take her to an Off Kilter show in Canada in the afternoon. Check the entertainment guide for showtimes. They are very kid friendly and she will have a ball! They love to pose for pics & give autographs after a show! You'll like them too!