Please sell me on Epcot

[blessedby3]

We are going the week after Thanksgiving to Disney and are hoping for low crowds. I think I have decided not to get the hopping feature (we currently have 10 day non expiring passes using 5 this trip and 5 next trip) and save the extra $210 it would cost. This means we will spend one day in MGM, AK, and Epcot and the other 2 in MK. We usually dont spend a whole day in Epcot- usually only a few hours to go over and do Test Track and Honey I Shrunk the Audience and hit a few shops. Epcot gives me the feeling of being too "educational" and not very fun. Can you all post some of the things that you like to do, and maybe get me more a postivie frame of mind for visiting Epcot. Thanks everyone, I know that there are lots of people who do like Epcot and I would love to hear from them what is Fun and Exciting. THANKS!!!!

 

[Toni300z]

It took me 3 trips to finally go to that park. test track is my fave and thats about it. Also the Statue lady/Man in the Italy I believe! That was such a treat, but I heard that he/she is no lonegr there!
They were awesome when we were there in February!

Sorry, I can't sell you but I will wait to see what others say.

 

[disneysnowflake]

I thought Soarin was great. I also enjoy looking at the buildings and such in the countries. To me, there is so much to see in Epcot.

 

[Toni300z]

I thought Soarin was great. I also enjoy looking at the buildings and such in the countries. To me, there is so much to see in Epcot.

I soo want to ride that. We were in line for it in may when it opened but we were worried we not be able to get off the ride in time to see the Fireworks show at Epcot, so we backed out.
I have such great things about that ride. I cannnot wait to ride it!

 

[WDWguru]

Also the Statue lady/Man in the Italy I believe! That was such a treat, but I heard that he/she is no lonegr there!

This is true, they no longer have the Living Statue act, but they do have a juggler/magician type guy in France.

 

[Lorelai]

I hear ya...... but we love Epcot.

The Living Seas is my favorite because of the Turtle Talk with Crush & the cool marine life.

My husband loves World Showcase - LeCellier is a great place to eat. There is a little model train village under a walkway bridge by Germany. It's to the right of the clock shop. My boys always spend a bit of time checking that out.

My oldest love Mission Space in Future World. And he's so excited about Soarin' - I hear it's awesome!

My younger son loves Test Track and the fountain show with the shooting water and blaring music. I actually like that too.

My daughter is a big Figment fan - so she likes the Journey Into Imagination ride. Also, the way the ground lights up by the Spaceship Earth Walkway at night - it's like walking in the night sky, really cool. Also, that double decker bus with the characters is fun - they all come driving up and get out dancing & waving - then they sign a ton of autographs. She loved that.

It probably depends on the age range of your group. Everyone in our group seems to like something different, so we do a little bit of everything.

Enjoy!

 

[blessedby3]

Thanks for the quick responses. I am excited about Soarin- very much so- and I forgot about the Turtle Talk show. We have never seen this, but I was thinking I read something about it being closed during our time. We will be at Epcot on 12/1/05. Does anyone know about if it is closed or not? Our group ranges in age from DD7, DS10, DD15, DD's friend16, Me38 and DH40, and GP's 65.

 

[janice1234]

blessedby3- there is so much to do at epcot, test track, soaring, mission space, honey i shrunk the audience. also at the world showcase there is a neat kid stop station. the kids decorate a mask, and talk with workers from the countries. also at that time of the year all of the countries have santaclaus who come out in the countries santa costumes, and tell there christmas stories. it is really neat. i also have 2 kids and although world showcase is not their favorite, they still do enjoy it. also the food and beverages are awesome, you could try snacks or drinks from the diffrent countries. have fun.

 

[JRawkSteady]

See, it's strange. I LOVE...absolutely LOVE thrill rides. And I absolutley LOVE Epcot.

But I HATE Mission: Space and Test Track - Mission: Space makes me so sick...and Test Track is kinda boring to me.

I love everything about The Living Seas (pre-Nemo) and Imagination (pre-reconstruction) - even though Wonders of Life was about learning (and the fact that it's gone) it was sooo much fun!!! Cranium Command was hilarious!! And the little games there were fun for kids AND adults. I miss the bikes that they took away. Innoventions is so interesting - I could spend hours just watching the presentations at the exhibits.

But the World Showcase is where its at. The food: amazing - the sights: amazing - the mini-shows are SPECTACULAR!!!

I love Epcot- and you should too... :: big smile:: fade to black

Sold?

 

[henrylovespooh]

I just love walking around the World Showcase. I enjoyed watching the Chinese acrobats, the fife and drum band in the US pavillion, going into the patisserie and perfume shop in France, and watching the movie in Canada. The little band that plays in Germany is good too. I love snacking on funnel cakes in US, the granita drinks in Italy, and crepes in France. I feel like everytime I go I see something new. Dh likes the boat ride in Norway and the kids like the Rio del Tiempo in Mexico. We like seeing the characters in all the countries and listening to different music and meeting different people.

Last week we walked through Innoventions and enjoyed the robots exhibit. I also like the Living Seas (the Crush show is really fun) and the kids like seeing the fish. The Land pavillion has Soarin' and Living with the Land and even the Lion King recycling movie is good.

I can't imagine going to WDW without going to Epcot. DH would have a fit because it's his favorite place.

 

[mommaU4]

We were on the fence about Epcot for a long time too. In fact I had decided not to go because I did not think DS10, DD8, DD5 and DD5 would enjoy it. But then my in-laws decided to go and that's one of the parks they want to be sure to see sooo..... we are going. And I'm starting to get excited about it. It'll be fun. If nothing else, at least we get to try yummy foods from around the world.

 

[eclectics]

Your kids seem old enough to really enjoy epcot. Even the youngest should have fun. Lot's of great stuff to do and see. Can't see anyone not spending at least a full day here. I would get a good recent guide book and go over each attraction with everyone so you all know what to expect. Pick all the attractions that appeal to everyone, or let the older kids go off on their own. Have a great trip!

 

[WIcruizer]

My opinion is that Epcot is similar to AK. MK and MGM are more of what I call "check off" parks, where you try to get to as many rides and shows as possible, as you check them off.

AK and Epcot you have plenty of time to do the main attractions. Then you're left with a lot of time to casually enjoy the parks. the problem is that kids aren't interested in casually enjoying anything.

Now that ours are older, we all enjoy spending more time in the World Showcase. (We used to blow through it in an hour.) More than anything, we like the atmosphere. Have a snack in Mexico...a little shopping in Germany...see a show in America.

I guess what I'm saying is this. With younger kids, I would go to Epcot the first day. They will be excited just to be at WDW and may show a little more interest in Epcot. Make Test Track, etc. the reward for strolling through World Showcase. (And their are a couple rides there...the one in Norway is pretty fun.)

 

[NMAmy]

We love Turtle Talk with Crush--it's amazing. It's also so fun to watch the World Showcase players in the UK pavilion. They use audience members so it's a different experience every time and just a blast.

 

[wendy1974]

Since you will be there the week after Thanksgiving Epcot will have even more going on than normal. There is the Candlelight Processional, every country has their own personal version of Santa Claus and I think they even tell stories and then you have all of the regular entertainment around world Showcase. Get a park map and a Times Guide when you get there and the Times Guide will tell you about all of the special entertainment including times and places to be so you can see it. There are also some great bands in Canada and England. You could skip doing a traditional lunch or dinner and just eat your way around World Showcase...many of the countries have smaller food stands that you can stop at along the way. Get an order of fish and chips in England...head over to France and get a pastery...stop in morroco for some chicken schwarma or baklava, get a cannoli in Italy...of course you would be splitting all of this or you would be sick before you made it around World Showcase.
Also, as other posters said , take time to explore the Living Seas and Turtle Talk with Crush and make sure to ride Soarin'
Some of the best times that I've had in Epcot were when I wasn't in a rush to get somewhere. Like the time at the Living Seas where I stood on the walkway looking into the aquarium and before a knew it a playful dolphin began to swim by. He found a specific fish in the aquarium and began to play with it, teasing it, bumping it with his nose, swimming circles around it. Who knows he might have been about to eat it but it was sooo funny.
My advice would be to slow down your pace in Epcot and look for the hidden treasures

 

[carol-lamb]

Our family loves Epcot. My kids have always liked it and they stated going when they were pretty young. I love it because it is so big and it never feels really crowded. I love the music they play - it's very relaxing. The countries are great and they are so beautiful (gardens, etc.). We spent quite a bit of time there this summer and look forward to going back again this December.

 

[Snowy]

Mission Space. There is a lot else I love about Epcot, especially the World Showcase, but Mission Space has been the most magical experience of all of WDW for me for the past 3 years. I can't wait to bring my dad next year so he can ride it too - I know he'll love it. Soarin' and Test Track are ok - good to experience them. I think everything there is worth trying once, except maybe the ride in Mexico. The France movie is also one of my favorite things to do in all of WDW.

 

[Ride Junkie]

I guess it depends on how old everyone is - are there kids, or just adults? DH and I hated Epcot the first time we went - there just weren't enough rides. When we went back a year later, we began to discover all the cool places to eat, the shops, shows, etc. Now, we usually go there every day on our trips. We can't leave WDW without having mint tea and baklava and watching the live band in Morocco!

 

[MossMan]

Thanks everyone, I know that there are lots of people who do like Epcot and I would love to hear from them what is Fun and Exciting. THANKS!!!!

Nothing. That’s the answer.

There is nothing worth going to EPCOT for. It’s a mediocre park that’s best avoided. People go there and invariably have a terrible time. If you decide to go, you too will have dreadful time.

Here’s the rub though. People who are disappointed by EPCOT don’t like to admit it. It’s just too embarrassing a thing to own up to. How could they be the only one to hate this Disney Icon? So what do they do to protect themselves? They lie and say they enjoyed their time there.

So if anybody tells you how much they like EPCOT, you automatically know they are lying. The truth is they hate the place as much as you will after your visit. But they (like you too one day) are too ashamed to face the truth. So they hide their embarrassment behind false declarations of love for the place.

 

[MOMOFMNM]

My girls who are 5 7 and 9 say it is their FAVORITE place!!

I am not kidding!!!!

it was not mine however they LOVED EPCOT!! So much more than I thought they would!!!

they love the imagination station and HISTA 3D movie and THEY could spend all day in innoventions doing dance games (yes I cleared three levels!!) and video and computer games...they just LOVED all the interactive educational/fun stuff!!

they loved MS
loved SOARIN' we all did!!!
dh loves the car show after TT
love WS!! My kids thought it was cool to say they were in Japan...
LOVE illuminations!!!!
we could have spent two or three days in that place there is that much to do there, seriously!!!

you will all love it love it love it!!! I did not get that magical fantasy happy Disney feeling there but I did get a very futuristic, learning in a fun way feeling and MS is cool IMO!! It is a great park!!