Sell me on Epcot!

[gilmore]

In 3 weeks we will be making our 2nd trip to WDW. Last time we did not go to Epcot but will be spending 1 day there for sure this time. Help me get excited about Epcot. It seems so different than the other parks. Our kids are 9 and 7. We'll do Soarin and Test Track for sure, but where should we spend the rest of our time? Innoventions? Univ of Energy? The land? Nothing just jumps out at me as being super exciting. Suggestions?

 

[KCSherri]

Are you kidding?

My kids love Epcot...

In Future World, there's not only Soarin' and Test Track, but you can do Mission Space - do the "green" level for the less intense experience. We also LOVE Turtle Talk with Crush - that is a great show for ALL ages. Spaceship Earth is always our last ride of the evening on the way out - we like the interactive part of it at the end. We also enjoy seeing the "Fab Five" characters at the Character Spot...too fun! Innoventions is always fun - we like Sum of All Thrills.

In the World Showcase, there's lots of different cultures, food, and shops to explore...and my kids love to do the Kim Possible Missions for extra fun and surprises. We also enjoy all of the live shows that happen around the World - Off Kilter, the World Showcase Players, etc.

Epcot is a park to be savored and explored...if you try to rush through it, you'll miss half of it's charm.

 

[POOHsie]

It's hard to describe Epcot to someone who's never been. I will say, as many, many others have said, that Epcot is absolutely my favorite place at WDW. I can't tell you why. It's not really the rides. It's the expansive feeling and glorious music as you enter and continue around Future World. It's all the countries around the lake, staffed with people of their country, offering a taste of their world. It's everyone from all over the world joining together in a circle at the end of the evening to experience the Illuminations show.

PP said they go to Spaceship Earth last. We go there first, to start our Epcot day. It sets the tone, to us. Of course, everyone loves Soarin', but in The Land building, there is also "Living with the Land," a fun and informative boat ride through innovative and sustainable modern agricultural methods. It's very interesting to school-age kids. The aquarium and manatee exhibit at Living Seas is very impressive. You will all have fun at Cool Club, where you taste free samples of Coke products around the world. Have your camera ready for reaction to "Beverly," the Italian soda. I love the Universe of Energy, but for your first trip to Epcot and only 1 day, this will take precious time. I would skip it if time is tight. Your kids would also love to participate in Kim Possible around World Showcase.

Epcot isn't like an amusement park, or a place of thrills. It's about mental stimulation, about ideas. I hope you write back after your trip and share your impressions of Epcot.

 

[acf_1991]

Please let us know how you liked everything. I'd like to hear as well.

 

[GrumpyDad1974]

We went at Christmas last year with DW's sister and brother in and he refused to go to Epcot (we go every year and it was there 1st time as a family). He went once when he was a kid and was not going to subject his children to it. So we love Epcot and we figured it was half way through the week and it would be a good day to split up because they wanted to relax, so it's all good. So we did rope drop hit TT and Soarin multiple times and then after lunch we get a call asking where we were becuase they were going to try out Epcot. Well long story short we had to practically drag my brother in law out of there, he could not believe all the stuff to do and see and all the beers to drink... It was all DW could do to keep me from saying "I told you so." But I didn't do it, I don't think that would have made me a bad person?

 

[kaybird]

Allow the kids to explore and get involved. It was always the boys favorite park growing up. Your kids are the perfect age for Kim Possible, Innoventions, The Seas, and bet they will love the different countries more than you imagine!

 

[jg121285]

For me it's all about the World Showcase and seeing each of the countries with the their different foods, scenery, souvenirs and all kinds of other stuff. I also liked going to the Seas with Nemo & Friends and seeing the dolphins and other ocean life and then of course everyone should ride Soarin' at the Land Pavilion at least once.

 

[SamJane]

Epcot is our favorite park too. We have 2 girls, ages 4 and 7. We spent more time at Epcot than any of the other parks on our trip (end of September), and we still didn't feel like we got to see/do everything we might want to.

Just explore it and enjoy it. Previous posters have already mentioned some of the things to do there.

 

[Art 1]

Epcot has been full of families for years with 9 and 7 yr olds.

 

[Jey12]

I've never been as well, but I am bouncing in my chair waiting one more week before we leave. I was sold on Epcot with just a quick visit to youtube and watching illuminations, or just a small part of it. I'd suggest plan for a whole day, walk the different areas of the different countries and the rides. This is our plan and you might want to factor in another day as well because I have a feeling you're going to want to see more. I know we've planned at least 2 days for Epcot during our trip and I'm starting to feel like we could spend the whole week there. We're traveling with DD5 and I can see there will be plenty there for her to do. We might be different than your family though, we're not just about the rides (which is fine if you are) but the different experiences and cultures that Epcot offers looks amazing.

 

[youcansmellit]

On our last trip we made it into Epcot 4 of the 7 days. I feel like I will never have enough time to explore World Showcase. I have two girls 6 and 8. They have a blast. Epcot has a feeling about it. It is place that is so unique you feel like this is a bigger deal. Something about it seem to be making a diference in your life. From the time I hear the music under Spaceship earth until the end of Illuminations I feel nothing but happy.

 

[shburks]

On our last trip we made it into Epcot 4 of the 7 days. I feel like I will never have enough time to explore World Showcase. I have two girls 6 and 8. They have a blast. Epcot has a feeling about it. It is place that is so unique you feel like this is a bigger deal. Something about it seem to be making a diference in your life. From the time I hear the music under Spaceship earth until the end of Illuminations I feel nothing but happy.

You said that perfectly...I NEVER feel like I have enough time to explore the World Showcase! Two years ago I thought our then-five year old would be bored back there and planned to only hit pavilions with rides...He loved it! Last year we did the Passport for him and he did the craft, met the CMs at each country and had a blast. So much so that when we went back for a half-day to EPCOT, we had to stop and do the craft for every country pavilion we passed! I was amazed at how much he enjoyed it.

Outside of that, it is such a place of feeling like anything is possible.

And Test Track and Soarin' are two of my absolute FAVORITE rides. And we adore Turtle Talk with Crush!

 

[fan1080]

I've been to Disney 7 times now, and EPCOT has become my favorite park.

World Showcase is huge, and I've still not seen everything there is to see there. It's very interesting exploring all the World Showcase has to offer. Everything from architecture, food, drinks, attractions, etc.

Future World is fantastic too. Soarin and Test Track are family favorites of ours. And there is so much more to experience as well. We did the Segway tour a couple years ago, absolutely fantastic!

EPCOT has so much to offer, it's difficult to explain it all.

 

[LovesTimone]

You will be surprised at all it has to offer, Everyone has already stated the rides, but when my DD's were that age they loved Epcot. This is really not a commando type park, it is for us to be enjoyed and taken at a slower pace. I think that your children will enjoy it as well as the big kids other wise known as grown ups. It opens up their eyes to different cultures, food, sites and sounds. Let them do Kim Possible and make the crafts. I enjoyed watching them learn without realizing they were learning. You could pick up a small book (like for autographs), and have them write your child's name in each, in their language, snap a pic and then put them together in a memory book. You might want to try some snacks from the different country as well. There are some really great adult beverage for the grown ups. Go with a open mind. Enjoy

 

[kohlby]

My kids actually perfer Epcot to MK - and after three trips of only having one day in Epcot, we still have yet to make it over to World Showcase! We're planning 2-3 days for Epcot for our next trip so we can do WS as well. I think my kids will like the Kim Possible Mission, plus a slew of other attractions at WS.

TT is one of their favorite rides. But the Innoventions buildings is where they could spend an amazing amount of time. They actually weren't that into Soarin', but there were so many other things to see and do.

I went to Epcot several times without kids, so I had thought there wasn't tons for kids to do. We took our first two kids over there one trip and were surprised at how much kid-friendly things there were to do.

 

[robinbutterfly]

Epcot is by far our FAVORITE park!!!
Your kids will love it!

 

[Lidian]

Are you kidding?

My kids love Epcot...

In Future World, there's not only Soarin' and Test Track, but you can do Mission Space - do the "green" level for the less intense experience. We also LOVE Turtle Talk with Crush - that is a great show for ALL ages. Spaceship Earth is always our last ride of the evening on the way out - we like the interactive part of it at the end. We also enjoy seeing the "Fab Five" characters at the Character Spot...too fun! Innoventions is always fun - we like Sum of All Thrills.

In the World Showcase, there's lots of different cultures, food, and shops to explore...and my kids love to do the Kim Possible Missions for extra fun and surprises. We also enjoy all of the live shows that happen around the World - Off Kilter, the World Showcase Players, etc.

Epcot is a park to be savored and explored...if you try to rush through it, you'll miss half of it's charm.

I just have to agree with everything said! Honestly, I wish I could plan 2-3 days just for Epcot each trip. I always leave with regrets: "Oh I didn't get to see that. Didn't get to do this. I never went in that shop. You mean there's a show over there?" My kids have both asked for more time at Epcot each trip -- but alas, we just never make it work. Out of 3 years of Epcot visits, we still have unexplored things to do -- attractions we've yet to see (and not due to closures, but due to time).

I say just go, have fun, stop and explore each country along the way. Spend time in Innovations (both of them). Look for all the nooks and crannies.

 

[yarlenna]

There are not a lot of rides in World Showcase. It is a wonderful way to get the flavor of the nations that are there. One of the things that Disney sells is a "passport" and the children can get their passport stamped at every stop.

 

[metsno1]

I'm in the same boat as many other posters.....over the years, Epcot has become-by far-my favorite park.

OP, you're essentially correct when you say that Epcot is different than the other three parks, but believe me when I tell you, that difference is a palpable and wonderful bonus-definitely *not* something to be dreaded for fear of missing out on more traditional "Disneyesque" experiences. Somehow, they've managed to maintain that Disney feel while creating a very unique atmosphere.

You've been to Tomorrowland in the MK, right? Imagine how that must have felt when the park opened back in the 70's-futuristic, sort of other-worldly? At least that's how I think Walt imagined it. Well, IMO, Future World at Epcot is the real culmination of that vision. Even though I've been there countless times now, it still feels like I'm visiting the future every time!

As far as World Showcase is concerned, I'm not sure how anyone could find it anything but fascinating. Obviously, every place has its haters , but each of the countries is so extraordinarily well done, the CM's are incredible, and the food is borderline amazing. I'm not sure how *anybody* can say that they dislike the entire thing. There really is something for everyone.

I'd be willing to bet that if you love the *other* three parks, you'll find that one day at Epcot is not nearly enough on your first visit there. Hope you have a great trip!!

 

[amym2]

Our kids are 9 and 7 and Epcot is their favorite park. Sure, they love the other parks also, but we always end up spending the most time at Epcot. Last Christmas we did the Universal parks and when choosing one Disney park to do, Epcot was the unanimous choice. We were just there last month and I thought we'd spend the least amount of time in Epcot since we had been there 9 months before, but we ended up changing our MK day into a DHS/Epcot day.

Some things not to miss:
Soarin
Test Track
Mission Space (our kids love the more intense version)
Livin with the Land
Innoventions- Sum of All Thrills (create your own roller coaster)
Turtle Talk with Crush
Spaceship Earth
(I agree that although the Energy ride is good, it is looooong and should be skipped)

World Showcase:
Rides in Mexico and Norway
Movies in Canada, France, China
Street performers in each country
Kim Possible Missions (we especially like the ones in China and UK)

And there are some great options for food- the Biergarten in Germany is fantastic with a buffet and show the kids can participate in, Via Napoli or Tutto Italia in Italy, pastries in Norway and France, and on and on

One of our favorite things about Epcot is the chance to interact with cast members from other countries. When our kids were younger and did the Kidcot fun stops, we had the cast members write the kids' names in their language in the kids' autograph books. So cool!