Need advice on "pre-schooler friendly" Epcot days

[Surgie2]

We are going early May 2018 staying at Poly. We will have RD days and at least one later night at MK so trying to avoid RD at Epcot while sprinkling in two Epcot days (not back-to-back) during our 9-day visit. 6 adults + 4 kids ages 13 months-5 years old. Trying to make Epcot as kid-friendly as possible and avoid park criss-crossing. Even though I've scheduled early FP (needlessly?) I don't want the pressure of having to be there at RD.

We will have strollers for the kids. We don't want to spend full days at Epcot and only some adults will return later for Illuminations.

So here is a rough itinerary I've planned out, trying to somewhat divide FW and WS between east and west but it didn't work perfectly. I'm concerned that we might have a wait for A&E but I'm going with the assumption that I'll be able to get FP at the general times I have planned. If times don't work out to see WS entertainment we can let that go.

Have I included anything that is NOT kid-friendly? Have I missed anything that IS kid-friendly? We are OK missing Mulan and Aurora unless it happens to work out.

We may decide to walk the entire WS on both days just to visit more F&G kiosks but I want to be sure I included the most kid-friendly countries.

Advice is greatly appreciated!

EPCOT DAY 1 East
FUTURE WORLD
FP 9:30 Spaceship Earth
FP 10:30 Mission Space (adults)

WORLD SHOWCASE
FP 11:30 FEA
Meet Anna and Elsa before or after FEA?

Lunch at F&G kiosks or QS
Visit Kidcot stations
Mexico: The Gran Fiesta Tour
Germany: shop for gummy candies, see model trains
China: see acrobats
Italy: see Sergio the juggler

EPCOT DAY 2 West
FUTURE WORLD:
If there at RD do Soarin’ for adults interested/kids tall enough
Go to Epcot Character Spot on park arrival

FP 9:00 Living Seas
FP 10:00 Turtle Talk
FP 2:00 Test Track (on way out of park)
Also possibly see:
Pixar Films
Living with the Land

Take boat from Showcase Plaza to Morocco. Be in line for Belle (France) by 10:45.

WORLD SHOWCASE
Lunch at F&G kiosks or QS
Visit Kidcot stations
Japan: Hello Kitty merchandise, koi fish ponds, check schedule for The Matsuriza Taiko Drummers, do Pick-a-Pearl
Morocco: see if Aladdin and friends are there, wander through passageways
France: get a treat at Les Halles, see Serveur Amusant Balancing Act

 

[sharonabe]

Looks great to me!

My only suggestion would be while some are doing Soarin', the others do Living with the Land with the littles even if all of you are going to do it again. It will keep the littles entertained while the wait. There's just not much else to do in The Land.

 

[Surgie2]

My only suggestion would be while some are doing Soarin', the others do Living with the Land with the littles even if all of you are going to do it again.

Great idea - thanks! I actually enjoy LWTL even though it might just be a boat ride for the kids!

 

[Mamabun]

This year they did a fun egg hunt thing, I believe it was called Eggstravaganza. I think it went on for the entire F&G festival, well past Easter. You follow clues, find specially decorated eggs hidden throughout Epcot, place stickers where you find them on a map, and then get a prize. I don't know if they'll do that again next year or if it'll still be happening in late May, but it could be fun for all your kiddos.

Also, there's Agent P's world showcase adventure. We went with a 6 year old boy, and this one of his very favorite things. But it does take some time and might not be too exciting for everyone (the 4 year old with us on that trip had no interest at all).

And lastly, there's Journey into Imagination with Figment - the ride is cute, and I think a lot of kids like all the games and interactive things at the ride exit.

Have a fantastic trip.

 

[pfanny37]

Don't forget about Figment. We rode it for the air conditioning and no lines last August (even though I had heard how horrible it was), and my 3 and 6 year old loved it. The CM seemed shocked when we got right back on it . We rode it 4 times that day. We also loved the 3d films which are right by Figment. It was a nice seated, air conditioned break.

 

[Surgie2]

Don't forget about Figment.

I did forget about Figment! I'll add that to the "west" day. I know we probably don't need FP for Living Seas or Figment but since we have one to spare do you have a suggestion on which could likely use it over the other?

 

[Surgie2]

This year they did a fun egg hunt thing, I believe it was called Eggstravaganza.

Thanks - I'll see if that's still available while we are there. Thanks for the info on Agent P...we can see if the older kids are interested. I'm on a mission to make sure Epcot is preschooler fun! My adult kids are doubtful lol but they are always happy with whatever Nana plans Plus...there are margaritas in Mexico!

 

[pfanny37]

I would fp the seas because all four times we rode Figment we walked right on.

 

[Gracie09]

We always get the kids passports. They like getting the stamps (even when young) and now have them in their memory box.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

My boys used to spend hours and hours in the Seas area. One hour would not have been enough for them at that age. But I like the way that you have it broken up. Just a shame that the interactive stuff that used to be in the Innoventions halls is all gone.

 

[Surgie2]

Just a shame that the interactive stuff that used to be in the Innoventions halls is all gone.

I agree! My own kids loved that when they were little.

 

[Surgie2]

I would fp the seas because all four times we rode Figment we walked right on.

Thanks, that's what we'll do. And I'll add some extra time for exploring. The grandkids love aquariums and we considered lunch at Coral Reef but I want to keep TS restaurants to an absolute minimum (not as much for cost but for the time they eat up and for kids who aren't wild about TS!).

 

[Surgie2]

We always get the kids passports. They like getting the stamps (even when young) and now have them in their memory box.

Where do you get passports? At Kidcot stations?

 

[ucfknight]

There's still one attraction open in Innoventions: Colortopia
The kids get to paint with a "magical" fiber optic paintbrush among other things.
It might be interesting for the little ones.

 

[Kerriowl]

I have actually found that my kids love Epcot. At the young ages, they loved the interactive areas at the end of the rides, these are great places to wait while adults are child swapping. Mission Space has a great play space, TT has a car show room my kids adored, Spaceship Earth and Imagination have interactive areas. These are my kids favorite things to do in Epcot. When asked for his favorite park, my then 5 year old didn't hesitate at all to say Epcot.

 

[Surgie2]

I have actually found that my kids love Epcot.

I'm glad to hear this. Epcot doesn't get a lot of love among people with younger kids. I see comments about skipping it or making it a half-day park which IMO is a mistake. I might not have a lot of love for Epcot either if we didn't have the luxury of going twice during our stay.

 

[ucfknight]

I'm glad to hear this. Epcot doesn't get a lot of love among people with younger kids. I see comments about skipping it or making it a half-day park which IMO is a mistake. I might not have a lot of love for Epcot either if we didn't have the luxury of going twice during our stay.

I think that mainly comes from older people without kids who think Epcot is for the adults due to all of the drinking and dining options. Or from people with young kids who tour Epcot from an adult's perspective.

My kids have both loved Epcot the best since they were toddlers. Sure it used to be even better when Innoventions was full of fun activities for kids instead of being 95% shut down, but there is still so many interactive activities for the young ones to do. I think a lot of the younger kids like to interact with things instead of just watching a ride go by at MK. I know many other families who have had similar experiences with their small children saying Epcot was their favorite park.

 

[JackOliva07013]

how about Nemo ride after seeing Living with the Land? on 2nd day - you dont need FP for Living with the Land at 9am, than I would do Nemo ride and get ready for 10am Turtle Talk. if you do all 3 in that order in the morning - you will not need FPs for them.

 

[Surgie2]

how about Nemo ride after seeing Living with the Land? on 2nd day - you dont need FP for Living with the Land at 9am, than I would do Nemo ride and get ready for 10am Turtle Talk. if you do all 3 in that order in the morning - you will not need FPs for them.

Thats for advice. i'm just not 100% sure we can be at Epcot at 9:00 so that's why I'm trying to FP as much as possible. But I'll add Nemo to the list!

 

[BigredNole]

That's a tough age for WS, but doable. Some of the things to consider is knowing where the "play" areas are. Nemo area has a great area to explore. Mission Space does as well (if it will still be there). There are a ton of M&G's but the waits can get tiresome. You have Kidcot as well.