Need advice on "pre-schooler friendly" Epcot days

[cmph]

We did an extended family trip a few years ago, when my kids and their cousins were 1, 4, 5, and 8. If you asked my son (the 5yo) which park was his favorite - he'd have said Epcot! The 4yo's favorite ride in all of WDW was The Land, go figure! She's a chatty one, and she was just thrilled to sit next to me on a slow moving ride and talk about the plants; we got off and she asked if we could go again, haha. I found that we adults had to sort of turn off our touring plans mindset at times. It seemed like a waste of time to us at first, but the kids all loved that play area in the Seas and had to be dragged away. The same kids who whine about walking too much will still want to run around and have free play time, LOL! We had to accept that we adults would just be standing around for 30min+ while they did that. All that stuff when you get off Spaceship Earth kept them very busy too. Basically, they wanted to interact with things, and Epcot is the best place for that. All except the 1yo did Soarin' and loved it; the 5yo did Mission: Space too, with me (he loved it, pushing all the buttons etc). Our kids are super tall though, so I have no idea what the height requirements are for either. But I wouldn't consider those adults-only rides.

DD (the 8yo at the time) loved eating and shopping around WS, but I can't say that was super interesting to the others as much. DH and I were super nice and took all 4 kids to dinner so the others could have date nights, and we chose Marrakesh as a result. I didn't want to do quick service with 4 of them, b/c that meant one adult doing all of the food shuttling for 6 people. We thought something with entertainment value made sense - music and belly dancing. It actually worked out quite nicely, partially b/c that did entertain the kids, but also b/c the staff there were super accommodating and great with kids. It was a very long day for everyone, and oddly dinner turned out to be one of the calmest parts, having someone serve us and not having to battle for quick service table space.

Sorry, this turned out longer than I intended! The ages of the kids in your family clearly sent me back in time to that trip b/c of the similarity.

 

[sharonabe]

Forgot about one more FUN thing to do....the jumping fountains outside the Imagination Pavilion.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

I would maybe come up with a couple alternate plans based on availability for Frozen FP+.

I went on my 60 day last week right at 6am (central) and I couldn't get a FP for Frozen until 1:30pm (which is when at least one of my kiddos will probably be sleeping in the stroller). I had to kind of shift our general idea of how we would attack the park that day since I ended up booking a 4pm FP (when my kids will both likely/hopefully be awake) instead of mid morning.

Also, you might get better times for Frozen later in your trip since people who check in earlier than you could possibly be booking FP on your earlier day. I know you may not want to save Frozen for Epcot day 2 but if the timing is important to you, you should check on Day 2 as well. We are doing Frozen twice and got a much more ideal time later in our trip.

I love your ideas! As a kid I loved Epcot. Still lots to explore there for kids. I love when people make kid-focused Epcot plans! We do too.

 

[mikebb]

My suggestion for Epcot with little ones (particularly WS) is to slow down, plan less, and let them enjoy. There are enough things to keep younger kids occupied for longer than an older kid or adult, be it Kidcot stops/coloring, checking out the unique spots in each country, or just running around and interacting with CMs and other kids. My daughter has enjoyed Epcot immensely since she was very little (she's almost 5 now), but we always make sure to take PLENTY of time to cover WS and let her do her thing.

 

[FigmentFinder]

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.


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

There is a nice playscape inside Mission Space for the kids. The height requirement is 46 inches so the 5 year old may or may not be tall enough, the green side isn't that intense.

I would use a FP for Character connection over Spaceship Earth or Finding Nemo. The Character connection gets lines even early since people take quite a bit of time in there. The CMs are great about not having too many people lined up in the room with the characters waiting around. Although I do like a FP for Nemo ride, it cuts off a long line to walk through.

We managed to just miss Mulan last year and didn't want to stick around for the next time. Unfortunately China is the only place in Disney to meet her. There are other meet and greets in the countries in Epcot. They are great if you hit them at just the right time.

 

[Gracie09]

Where do you get passports? At Kidcot stations?

gift shops, some carts at the front of the world showcase

 

[GADisneyDad14]

My suggestion for Epcot with little ones (particularly WS) is to slow down, plan less, and let them enjoy. There are enough things to keep younger kids occupied for longer than an older kid or adult, be it Kidcot stops/coloring, checking out the unique spots in each country, or just running around and interacting with CMs and other kids. My daughter has enjoyed Epcot immensely since she was very little (she's almost 5 now), but we always make sure to take PLENTY of time to cover WS and let her do her thing.

I very much agree with this.

When DS was 4 we had a trip where I just stopped "trying" at Epcot and ended up having that "aha" moment when it comes to Epcot. I had been focusing too much on rides and charachters. Once I let the fun of slowing exploring each country, dong the Kidcot thing, coloring Duffy bear, the passport, etc, it unlocked a whole new world for us.

We love WS and have made great, unexpected memories there. DS tends to talk about some of the experiences there more post-trip than other things we do.

 

[cutigerlady]

I would second the slow down and take your time at Epcot. My kids loved the butterfly garden exhibit and the play areas they set up for the event. They also loved the topiaries throughout the park.

 

[Thegeiers]

These responses have given me so much hope! We are spending one day at Epcot with two little boys, ages 3 & 5, and I'm really hoping they love it. We are adding early morning Garden Grill and late lunch Akershus, hoping to get enough character interaction while eating and relaxing in the AC and not having to spend time doing M&Gs during our park time my guys are crazy about princesses, and Garden Grill breakfast sounds like a home run!

 

[Stitch_Oswald]

My Ds (16) and DD (11) would both tell you EPCOT is the BEST!!! They have always felt this way all their lives as they both started going as infants. We learned to stop and smell the roses while we are there. Let them set the pace as little ones and everyone will have a great time. All of our best Disney memories have been made in EPCOT. Do not sell it short.

One thing to do with kids which has not been mentioned is the German Biergarten where the kids can dance while the older ones share in a German toast! Also the trains in Germany are fun for the kids. The caramel shop is a dream for young and old! Sharing a crepe in France or a shaved ice in Japan can be fun for little ones too. China has a great outdoor souvenir stand wiht puppets which the kids will enjoy playing with and take time to stop and bang on the drums in the African outpost. Remember EPCOT is about the experience....let it happen and when you least expect it ....MAGIC!

My son's still most favorite memory happened when he was 4 in the UK pavilion. On a rainy night, we had taken shelter in the back most gift shop in the pavilion. At the time, it had a Thoms the Train table in it. DS was playing with the trains when he was joined by a special friend who had snuck in from the back of the store. For over an hour, they pushed trains around the table.....the friend was Winnie the Pooh. It was so special seeing my son chatter away to Pooh and share trains just like the story coming to life! Pure Disney Magic!

 

[Surgie2]

Thanks so much for all the Epcot wisdom! I think we'll have a great couple of days there.

 

[mikebb]

...snip...

My son's still most favorite memory happened when he was 4 in the UK pavilion. On a rainy night, we had taken shelter in the back most gift shop in the pavilion. At the time, it had a Thoms the Train table in it. DS was playing with the trains when he was joined by a special friend who had snuck in from the back of the store. For over an hour, they pushed trains around the table.....the friend was Winnie the Pooh. It was so special seeing my son chatter away to Pooh and share trains just like the story coming to life! Pure Disney Magic!

That's crazy, we have an almost identical story! A very rainy night in Epcot, we tried to make the best of it by running from country/shop to country/shop, and wandered over to that same toy shop in the UK. Alice was in from Wonderland doing her meet and greet in the little nook there. Since we were basically the only ones there, she spent about 15-20 minutes playing with my daughter. She even took her back herself to the other room to see Winnie the Pooh and Tigger. It was a priceless memory that you really can't plan for.

 

[ppjluvsdvc]

I thought I heard that FP for FEA don't start until 11:00 but that the ride is open for standby at 9am. Can someone confirm that? TIA