Slightly OT-Epcot

[ChisJo]

I love Epcot...IMHO, the best park in WDW. I find this park to be the most Adult like park (we don't have kids) but at the same time, hold enough there for the kiddies to be happy too. I like how this park is educational, for both adults and kids. The WS is so well done. I always go to Epcot for at least 2 days when I head to Orlando because there is so much to see. When we go this year, we are doing a "drinking and eating around the world" in the WS, to try all the different eats and taste a couple of beverages (this is the day we plan on taking a taxi from our hotel!). I look forward to heading there again, and it is at the top of my favorite things to do while in Orlando! (USO/IOA first, then shopping, then Epcot!!!)

 

[Akdar]

Thanks for all the advice everyone! We are definately going, I am looking forward to it, something new and different for us. I still think we'll go Tuesday the 23rd, that works the best for us with our schedule at USO. We will get there at opening, when is that exactly?? The hardest thing about the day will be getting my 20 year old son out of bed to get there early!

 

[Metallicat]

FYI, if you are into old 70's music, the Four Tops will be performing at epcot at 5:45pm, 7:00pm and again at 8:15pm on Oct. 22-25th.


I wouldn't avoid epcot just because it is an extra magic hours morning. it is a great park, not to be missed IMO. you can always get a fast pass if there is something you want to see or do. since the 23rd falls on a tuesday, I don't think it will be THAT crowded. not like a weekend anyway. I always stay over at Disney and I rarely do the extra magic mornings. just too early for me.

 

[kellymonaghan]

October 1 is Epcot's 25th anniversary and there are at least two Disney fan get togethers schedule for the days just before then. So expect larger than average crowds.

However, Oct 23 is probably far enough before the anniversary that crowds should be "normal" -- which for Disney means pretty horrendous.

 

[Sepiroth12]

Thanks for all the advice everyone! We are definately going, I am looking forward to it, something new and different for us. I still think we'll go Tuesday the 23rd, that works the best for us with our schedule at USO. We will get there at opening, when is that exactly?? The hardest thing about the day will be getting my 20 year old son out of bed to get there early!

Tells me how you day go I'd love to know, and if you decide to see the firework show, try to get there 30 to 40 minutes prior to it's start. =)

 

[Flyin2MCO]

Be sure to give Maelstrom a ride or two....that's one of my favorite rides in all of WDW (I'm serious...I've considered building a Maelstrom tribute site on the web). I'll be riding it multiple times in Oct after completing our FWF drinking tour...Three Caballeros is another must do, mostly for the video of the cliff divers (I believe they did away with the hot tubbers from the old Rio del Tiempo version).

 

[keishashadow]

Be sure to give Maelstrom a ride or two....that's one of my favorite rides in all of WDW (I'm serious...I've considered building a Maelstrom tribute site on the web). I'll be riding it multiple times in Oct after completing our FWF drinking tour...Three Caballeros is another must do, mostly for the video of the cliff divers (I believe they did away with the hot tubbers from the old Rio del Tiempo version).

it now features my fav -

look! he's the mummy

 

[macraven]

thanx keisha!


you know my main man is Donald........

 

[keishashadow]

thanx keisha!


you know my main man is Donald........

he has 'tude

 

[macraven]

he has 'tude

which makes us compatable

 

[Akdar]

mike, the cheapest tickets for disney is thru undercover tourist.com
don't leave spaces though.

if you are a member of mousesavers, you can get the best, cheapest deal on tickets by going thru them.

send me a pm if you need help.

i buy my tickets thru undercovertourist for disney the last 3 years.

i think they might undercut the AAA tickets if you go thru the other website

Mac
I tried that site, and I can't find a 1 day ticket for any of the Disnay parks,. all the tix start at 3 days?? Also, the local AAA said that there isn't a discount on the Disney tix, and I think they said around $79 for one day. I went to a site http://www.dwtickets.com that a woman who works with my wife uses (she goes to Disney every year since forever) and those tix were just over $80 after shipping. So my wife is going to call Interval International (our timeshare company) and see if they have any deals for tix. If not, we'll just get them at AAA.

Mike

 

[Spidey7]

I like EPCOT a lot, its a good park and definitely worth going. Its very big, very well themed, and there are some really high tech great rides there. Its one of the better parks around for sure. with some pretty original stuff you won't really see at any other park.

 

[keishashadow]

thru AAA south (access via entering Orlando zip code ) the tix are still $71+ don't reflect the 8/5 price increase...they'll sell to anyone; don't have to be a member or live in FL

unless we buy APs we purchase thru undercover tourist too

mousesavers indicates that discount tix are sold @ kissimmee walmart (walk up only); you can call & check as to what's on hand/price @ 800-669-0913 or email wmvc@0817@wal-mart (.com) to verify what type they are currently selling

RCI's site takes you directly to the WDW one, same price.

i'd be very leary of buying on ebay unless they're a verified travel seller

only other strategy is to do a search & find out what convention is in town, some folk report success purchasing from the group via web site.

let us know

 

[calgarygary]

Thanks for all the advice everyone! We are definately going, I am looking forward to it, something new and different for us. I still think we'll go Tuesday the 23rd, that works the best for us with our schedule at USO. We will get there at opening, when is that exactly?? The hardest thing about the day will be getting my 20 year old son out of bed to get there early!

I haven't read the rest of the thread yet but want to say don't go on the 23rd! Epcot is great and the food and wine festival is fantastic but you are giving too large a head start start for onsite guests. If you arrive for opening, there will already be long lines for all the major rides. Please, please pick another day. Going to a WDW morning EMH park while staying offsite will lead to the same type of experience as showing up at US/IOA on a busy day at noon while staying offsite. You might enjoy yourself but chances are you won't.

 

[HalloweenHorrorHelp]

Hey all we will be going to US for HHN but going to hit up Epcot the first day of the food and wine fest. Is there anything we need to know about the festival? Do you need any additional tickets or anything to go or can you participate with just the Epcot admission ticket?

 

[macraven]

Hey all we will be going to US for HHN but going to hit up Epcot the first day of the food and wine fest. Is there anything we need to know about the festival? Do you need any additional tickets or anything to go or can you participate with just the Epcot admission ticket?

for epcot, all you need is the park admission ticket.
there are booths, stands through the park.
each sample costs money.
last year i think the cheapest food was about $1.75 and went up to about $4.50.

the beer and wine, i don't know their sample prices. i stuck with the food.

as long as you have the money for the sample food, that is all you need.

 

[Akdar]

I haven't read the rest of the thread yet but want to say don't go on the 23rd! Epcot is great and the food and wine festival is fantastic but you are giving too large a head start start for onsite guests. If you arrive for opening, there will already be long lines for all the major rides. Please, please pick another day. Going to a WDW morning EMH park while staying offsite will lead to the same type of experience as showing up at US/IOA on a busy day at noon while staying offsite. You might enjoy yourself but chances are you won't.

So what about Monday the 22nd? Is that a bad day as well? I know nothing at all about Disney, what are good and bad days to go. If it is going to be packed, I'd rather not go! Sea World is an option for something different if Epcot is a no go.

 

[calgarygary]

So what about Monday the 22nd? Is that a bad day as well? I know nothing at all about Disney, what are good and bad days to go. If it is going to be packed, I'd rather not go! Sea World is an option for something different if Epcot is a no go.

The 22nd is likely to be fine. The problem with the 23rd, is that it is a morning EMH. That means anyone staying onsite at a WDW hotel can get into Epcot one hour before it's opening time to the general public. Thousands take advantage of morning EMH and that means that by the time the park opens, lines have already formed for the limited # of popular rides. It's not much fun to walk into an hour+ wait for Soarin and have to wait for hours if you get a fastpass because all the early return times have already been taken. A general rule of thumb for WDW, is if you are not staying onsite, always avoid EMH parks.

 

[Akdar]

The 22nd is likely to be fine. The problem with the 23rd, is that it is a morning EMH. That means anyone staying onsite at a WDW hotel can get into Epcot one hour before it's opening time to the general public. Thousands take advantage of morning EMH and that means that by the time the park opens, lines have already formed for the limited # of popular rides. It's not much fun to walk into an hour+ wait for Soarin and have to wait for hours if you get a fastpass because all the early return times have already been taken. A general rule of thumb for WDW, is if you are not staying onsite, always avoid EMH parks.

calgarygary, thanks for the info! I will talk it over with the boss (my wife) and see what she thinks, I was originally planning on spending that whole day in the parks, since I know in the AM there will be little if any crowds.

Thanks again
Mike

 

[Akdar]

Well, now I have yet another dilemma, I watched a Travel channel show about Seaworld (it was the newest one, from 2007) now I think we might go there instead???? Decisions, decisions, decisions......