Strategy for touring Epcot with younger kids?

[ehlander]

Our girls are 7 and 8, and I was wondering what other families do when it comes to Epcot? I really want to spend time in the World Showcase and skip many of the rides in Future World. Also, given that we are going in late August I figure we still need an afternoon break from the heat, so even less time to get to everything.

Any thoughts on how to keep the kids interested in WS? Do the Kidcot Fun stops and Agent P's help or more a wast of time?

 

[msmama]

My 8 year old loves WS and always has.

He decided last trip that he was a little bit old for the duffy bear you color at the kidcot stations (plus we have tons of them already) and we purchased him a passport to get stamped in all the countries instead. They're sold at about every gift shop in WS.

So getting the passport stamped and signed takes up some time. And I have a good window shopper so exploring the stores has always been fun for us (and playing with toys in various countries). We always find something the same to do in every country - during F&G we take a picture with a topiary in each country. We've done pictures with toys in each country, pictures with hats in each country, pictures with flags in each country...you get the picture.

If you really want to explore WS, I wouldn't take a break, but I would spend more time inside doing the movies and stuff (that way you're minimizing outside in the heat time). I've never seen the American Adventure show, but the waiting room area before you go into the show might be the best air conditioning on property!! Snacks in every country are always good, too. My personal favorite is a caramel apple cookie in Germany. My son likes the macaron ice cream sandwich in France, and on the edge of America there's a little tiny place that has different seasonal funnel cakes.

Agent P is fun, but it takes about 20-30 minutes per country and it's a lot of walking back and forth and around, not necessarily where you want to be looking around though. We usually do one country per trip to WS, though.

 

[alicat8]

There are also lots of character m&gs- Mulan, snow white, Belle, Mary Poppins, Alice

 

[PantherPete]

How big are they? I know this may sound crazy given their ages, but if they can fit in a stroller, pick up a couple of cheap "throw aways". Let them relax/nap in the stollers while you tour World Showcase. We only brought 1 stroller the year we went when my kids were 4 & 7. We had always brought 2 before that, but figured there was no way my 7 year old was going to ride in a stroller. Well, we were wrong and ended up buying one there. He was huge in that thing, but at least he was able to relax/nap and I was able to enjoy the World Showcase.

 

[Alesia]

The world showcase has always been my daughter's favorite part of WDW. Se could easily spend more than an hour in each pavilion playing with the toys in the shops and watching the entertainers.

 

[quagmire0]

1. Get the paper Duffys that the kids can get stamped at each country, keeps them interested in at least something.
2. Stop for character meet 'n greets.
3. Don't do all of World Showcase in one day. If you can, use park hoppers and do each side on a different day. Do it later in the day as well, so you aren't out at the hottest time of day.

 

[ehlander]

Thanks for all the great suggestions and tips! Great idea for the photos too! Our girls do enjoy taking pictures with my camera, so can see getting them interested with finding the things and modeling. They are very tall for their age, so the stroller is probably a no go for us. Thanks for the info about Mr P's too. I have to book FP soon, which is why I am going a bit crazy trying to figure out how to plan a day at Epcot.

 

[sharonabe]

Kidcot and Agent P will be great for your girls' ages. Yes, they take some time (especially Agent P), but they help you explore each country a little more in depth than just walking in and looking around. You probably won't be able to see/do all of the Agent P, but even one or two is better than none.

When my boys were that age, we also decided on a phrase or word we wanted to learn in each country's language. I used a metal ring and some poster board cards with a hole punch. We then asked a CM from that country how to say the word and asked them to write it down for us. It was fun and encouraged the boys to engage the CMs.

 

[serene56]

World show case does not open til 11am so have a sleep in day and head there about that time. When we did our first trip I had to make It fun for the grand kids or they woulda hated it. GD was age 5 and its her favorite park at age 10 I got personalized Passports off ebay for that trip and other trips we had CM sign a frame mat with a word like family in their language. Make a great keepsake. The agent P is not available in all countries = it takes 14 - 20 min max so let them do that. We also snacked our way around the world. Churro/Mexico Bakery in Norway Potstickers/china Kaki Kori in Japan Crepes withice cream in France Fish and Chips in UK etc.

 

[jormom1030]

Here is a scavenger hunt that I found on Pinterest http://www.apinchofpixiedust.com/2013/02/epcot-world-showcase-scavenger-hunt.html

 

[brooke789]

We did the Duffy Bears and met as many characters along the way as possible. Also, the Three Caballeros ride is a favorite of our family! We also bought food along the way: Mickey Pretzels, Croissant Donuts, etc.

 

[loves to dive]

Epcot has always been my son's favorite park, from the time he was 3 or 4 until not, he's 35. He has always been a huge history/travel buff and loved stories so it was just the perfect place for him. He could talk for hours with the cast members asking them about their countries and he loved looking at all the different things in the shops. Don't discount FW, even if you just go to the living seas, it's worth a walk over there.

 

[SaintsManiac]

My 5 year old loved the Canada film, shopping in the pavillions, eating sweet treats in France and meeting the characters. She also stole most of my cronut

 

[ktlm]

EPCOT has been my DD's (10) favorite park other then MK since she was 2 years old. She absolutely loves the Agent P missions, the character meet and greets, pick a pearl, the different acts (drummers, bands, acrobats, jugglers), browsing the stores, the boat ride in Mexico, and she even enjoys the movies about the different countries. She can spend the whole day there from the time WS opens until the time WS closes and not be done. At your girls age, they would probably like the passports more than the Duffy or Perry on a stick for the Kidcot stations, but you have to buy the passports. With the passports, you go to each kidcot station and the CM there will put that country stamp in the passport. The CMs are from the country and they can also tell your girls about the country or teach them a word or two in that language if your girls are interested in that.

 

[ariane37]

Like everyone else, my boys have loved Epcot since they were toddlers. Some of the things they love now at 10 & 14 aren't the same things they loved then, but we still spend lots of time there each trip. I agree with getting your girls the passports; if they still like to color you can also get the free Duffy bear but the passport is more "grown up" and still as much fun. Although you're going when it's hot, try to catch some of the acts around WS - they are some of my boys' favorites. We absolutely love Serveur Amusant in France and the band in the UK, and the Chinese acrobats are fun, too. Definitely catch Voices of Liberty which you can do inside the American Pavilion in A/C; that may not end up being the girls favorite thing but my boys were more mesmerized than I thought they'd be on our last trip, and I guarantee you'll enjoy it
Out of curiosity, do you not want to do anything in FW just because of time constraints? Because while I do prefer WS over FW there are some things there I believe your DD's would enjoy if you think you can fit them in.

 

[Shellyb84]

WS is probably my DD's (6 years) favorite part of Disney also. We get the passport and she gets stamps at the Kidcot stations. She loved pick-a-pearl, all the shops, all the snacks, and the live entertainment. We haven't tried Agent P yet but are planning to on our upcoming trip.

 

[lynch34]

We usually do a half day. My kids are usually bored after that.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Buy a Passport at just about any gift shop in Epcot and have it signed and stamped in each country.

 

[ehlander]

My 5 year old loved the Canada film, shopping in the pavillions, eating sweet treats in France and meeting the characters. She also stole most of my cronut

Thanks for the morning laugh! My kids are ALWAYS doing that too!

 

[ehlander]

Like everyone else, my boys have loved Epcot since they were toddlers. Some of the things they love now at 10 & 14 aren't the same things they loved then, but we still spend lots of time there each trip. I agree with getting your girls the passports; if they still like to color you can also get the free Duffy bear but the passport is more "grown up" and still as much fun. Although you're going when it's hot, try to catch some of the acts around WS - they are some of my boys' favorites. We absolutely love Serveur Amusant in France and the band in the UK, and the Chinese acrobats are fun, too. Definitely catch Voices of Liberty which you can do inside the American Pavilion in A/C; that may not end up being the girls favorite thing but my boys were more mesmerized than I thought they'd be on our last trip, and I guarantee you'll enjoy it
Out of curiosity, do you not want to do anything in FW just because of time constraints? Because while I do prefer WS over FW there are some things there I believe your DD's would enjoy if you think you can fit them in.

Yes, I worry that with the new Frozen stuff we will have less time to fit it all in. I wish my kids could handle all day in the park, but it just isn't worth dealing with their short fuses later. I know Soarin is a must, but I heard Living with the Land, Spaceship Earth, and the aquarium is worth seeing too. Because I have to book FP next week, I am going a bit. It's figuring out a touring plan. Probably I am over thinking this, but as a kid I really loved the world part, so wanted to spend our hours there more if I can. Thanks for you suggestions too!