Please help plan my day at Epcot!

[momtoprincesses]

My family will be visiting DW in October. We will be in Epcot Tuesday October 24, when park hours are 9-11 (PM EMH). My party consists of myself (36), DH (39), my three girls (8, 6, almost 3), and my mom (64). Although we were in Disney two years ago, this is our first trip to Epcot.

I am having a hard time planning our day. I know Epcot is huge, especially when comparing to MK, and I don't want to do a lot of backtracking. We are NOT interested in Test Track, Soarin', or Mission Space.

High on the priority list is Frozen (which I will try to get a FP for) and meeting Anna and Elsa. We want to see the Nemo ride and Turtle Talk with crush as well as the aquarium area near there. We are interested in exploring World Showcase (not sure how long to budget here with small children) and doing the Pick a Pearl activity in Japan, as well as meeting characters. I was also thinking my girls might like the Agent P Adventure game while we are in WS. I would like to sample some of the booths at F&W, although my oldest daughter is extremely picky so I need recommendations for pizza in Epcot. We have a Beaches and Cream reservation at 3:10 (which based on another thread, I believe we can easily walk to). After B&C, we may head back to the Poly or go back to Epcot (or split up). DH and I also may try to come back that evening to enjoy WS without our kids if Grandma agrees to watch them! How is Living with the Land and Spaceship Earth with kids (my DH thinks they sound boring)?

Another thing to note is that my 6 year old has sensory processing disorder. She can get overheated easily and does not react well to very loud noises or huge crowds (we are prepared to leave with her if necessary). Any recommendations for calmer areas of the park where we can get off our feet/away from crowds/out of heat are greatly appreciated! Thank you!

 

[DisneyCAL]

We enjoy doing Future World in the morning and Showcases more in the late afternoon to evening. Then ambiance is better and the showcases are easier to tour when cooler out. I would say try to get FEA mid morning (between 11 and 1). Tour front of park with Nemo and the Seas, and the Land. Then around 11 head to Showcases, do FEA and meet n greet, pick a pearl in Japan (my kids could spend 2 hours in the store here) and a few other showcases. My kids on the last trip both at 5 years of age loved the showcases, Agent P is cute or you could go more laid back and do hidden mickeys or the kidcot stations. Then head to BC thriough the international gateway for your adr ressie. Our your way out back through the park to Poly (im assuming you're gonna go monorail) you could do Spaceship Earth all together.
If Grandma agrees to watch them definitely take a date night in the Showcases. This will give your 6 year old a break and give grandma time with her grandbabies. We take a date night in epcot every trip. And nighttime is the best time for that. The lighting and cooler temps make for a nice evening. You could enjoy some of the more exotic tastes and have more time to see detail without worrying about boring the kids.

As far as heat nemo and seas is cool, spaceship earth is cool and the land isnt as cool but is calm. Epcot is my 6 year old DS's favorite park. With the exception of Test Track and Mission Mars (which we will never go on after a bad experience with just me and DH) Epcot is a calmer, quieter park and there's always an area tucked here or there to take breaks.

 

[momtoprincesses]

We enjoy doing Future World in the morning and Showcases more in the late afternoon to evening. Then ambiance is better and the showcases are easier to tour when cooler out. I would say try to get FEA mid morning (between 11 and 1). Tour front of park with Nemo and the Seas, and the Land. Then around 11 head to Showcases, do FEA and meet n greet, pick a pearl in Japan (my kids could spend 2 hours in the store here) and a few other showcases. My kids on the last trip both at 5 years of age loved the showcases, Agent P is cute or you could go more laid back and do hidden mickeys or the kidcot stations. Then head to BC thriough the international gateway for your adr ressie. Our your way out back through the park to Poly (im assuming you're gonna go monorail) you could do Spaceship Earth all together.
If Grandma agrees to watch them definitely take a date night in the Showcases. This will give your 6 year old a break and give grandma time with her grandbabies. We take a date night in epcot every trip. And nighttime is the best time for that. The lighting and cooler temps make for a nice evening. You could enjoy some of the more exotic tastes and have more time to see detail without worrying about boring the kids.

As far as heat nemo and seas is cool, spaceship earth is cool and the land isnt as cool but is calm. Epcot is my 6 year old DS's favorite park. With the exception of Test Track and Mission Mars (which we will never go on after a bad experience with just me and DH) Epcot is a calmer, quieter park and there's always an area tucked here or there to take breaks.

Thank you so much! This is very helpful!

 

[nat8199]

When we were in Epcot last my kids were 4, 4, and 6. Living with the Land and Space Ship Earth were rides that they LOVED and made us ride over and over again. They did like Test Track and Soarin, too, but didn't want to re-ride them quite as much. For this next trip, my kids are already asking about Land and SSE rather than any other rides they have been on before in any park (with addition of Dinosaur).

 

[Oneanne]

If you're needing to take a sensory break, Living with the Land is actually ideal... its a slow moving boat ride with calming music. There are also places you can go for a sit down that will be quieter, like back behind the shops in England (provided a concert isn't going on) and up in the garden area in Japan. The pick-a-pearl area can be pretty high energy and noisy, so you'll want to plan out when to do it.

 

[wdw&sonny]

I think the plan by DisneyCAL is good.
9:00: I would start with FP to Spaceship Earth early morning and do that first, since it's on the way in and you don't want to do Soarin or TT.
9:30: Then head over to Nemo, Turtle Talk and check out the aquarium.
10:30: Living with the Land
11:00: Journey into Imagination and Pixar short films.
11:30: Over to Mexico and ride Gran Fiesta
12:00: FP Forever After and A&E meet. Check MDE for evening FP for Soarin for you and DH.
1:00-2:30 work your way around World Showcase toward International Gateway.
3:10: Lunch and Kitchen Sink at B&C.
4:30: Back to Poly.

Return to park later and ride Soarin.

For pizza, Via Napoli restaurant is GREAT! But, I am not sure how you would fit that in with 3:10 lunch.

I think you could move quicker and get to an earlier ADR for B&C lunch.

Or, switch to an earlier lunch at Via Napoli instead of B&C.

 

[momtoprincesses]

I think the plan by DisneyCAL is good.
9:00: I would start with FP to Spaceship Earth early morning and do that first, since it's on the way in and you don't want to do Soarin or TT.
9:30: Then head over to Nemo, Turtle Talk and check out the aquarium.
10:30: Living with the Land
11:00: Journey into Imagination and Pixar short films.
11:30: Over to Mexico and ride Gran Fiesta
12:00: FP Forever After and A&E meet. Check MDE for evening FP for Soarin for you and DH.
1:00-2:30 work your way around World Showcase toward International Gateway.
3:10: Lunch and Kitchen Sink at B&C.
4:30: Back to Poly.

Return to park later and ride Soarin.

For pizza, Via Napoli restaurant is GREAT! But, I am not sure how you would fit that in with 3:10 lunch.

I think you could move quicker and get to an earlier ADR for B&C lunch.

Or, switch to an earlier lunch at Via Napoli instead of B&C.

This is incredible! Thank you for taking your time to do is--so, so very helpful!

 

[momtoprincesses]

Good to know that Living with the Land and Spaceship Earth should work with our group