Struggling to understand EPCOT

[emij]

I feel super lame asking, but can you all please help me understand what you actually DO in a day at EPCOT?

We are historically DLR people, went to WDW 2 years ago for the first time and were told by friends to skip EPCOT, that our kids wouldn't like it, so we skipped it. Now with DS9 and DD6 we are returning in Sept and DS saw TT on the planning DVD and wants to go. I figure we need to do it all at some point, so yay, right!??

I have read many threads about individual pieces of EPCOT on here, and I have tried doing a touring plan for it but there are not a whole lot of things to enter on a touring plan. I understand the Future World and World Showcase separation. I have to believe it's just a lack of experience that makes me feel like it would be hard to fill a day at this park. (We filled a day at each AK and HS last trip no problem and I know many here don't think of those as full day parks, so I know I'm missing something when it comes to EPCOT.)

Right now I have FP+ for TT, Spaceship Earth and Meet Disney Pals (who are these pals, anyway? do they need a FP+?). ALso have a dinner at Akershus planned. We aren't really food/wine people.

Can you give me descriptions of what you actually do that takes the whole day here?

THANK YOU!

 

[samsteele]

I also enjoy the:

• aquarium (Future World)
  
• Club Cool - free Coca-Cola drink samples from around the world (Future World)
• the classic (read dated but interesting) films in each Country including Canada, France & China (World Showcase)
• boat ride from International Gateway, World Showcase, to Boardwalk area;
  
• Mitsukoshi Department Store in Japan;
  
• walking deep into each Country's Pavilion (esp Morocco, Japan and Mexico) to discover the hidden areas; and
• Food. Its a huge part of World Showcase. Maybe surprise yourself and check out some of the treats?

 

[Alesia]

We need a minimum of 2.5 days in Epcot every trip. All of the street performers in the world showcase are fantastic. Each country pavilion has plenty to see (we typically spend more than an hour in each one.)

My advice is to stop trying to overthink it and just go and experience it for yourself.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

We spent a day and a half at Epcot on our recent trip.

First day was Akershus breakfast, A+E meet, TT twice, Nemo, Turtle Talk, Soarin, Baymax, back to TT, Mission Space, snack, Mexico ride, Mulan meet, Reflections of China, Aladdin+Jasmine meet, early dinner, walk around, TT again, Mission Space again, and Joy+Sadness meet.

Second day was Frozen ride, two more times on TT, Spaceship Earth, the Land, Turtle Talk again, and walking the other side of the Showcase (Canada, UK, France).

 

[DWillowBay]

EPCOT is my favorite park for just the reason that you outlined. It LOOKS like there's not much to put on a touring plan, but like the PPs said, there are street performers, shops, character interactions, the interactive game with Agent P, and rides on which you may want to have multiples experiences. I always schedule 2 days at EPCOT so that I don't feel rushed. I agree...just enjoy your time without overthinking.

 

[maranara]

We spent a day and a half at Epcot on our recent trip.

First day was Akershus breakfast, A+E meet, TT twice, Nemo, Turtle Talk, Soarin, Baymax, back to TT, Mission Space, snack, Mexico ride, Mulan meet, Reflections of China, Aladdin+Jasmine meet, early dinner, walk around, TT again, Mission Space again, and Joy+Sadness meet.

Second day was Frozen ride, two more times on TT, Spaceship Earth, the Land, Turtle Talk again, and walking the other side of the Showcase (Canada, UK, France).

We've planned for 2 full days for our upcoming trip. How did you get on TT so many times? Were you just lucky with lines? Any tips? I know my daughter will want to do it more than once!

 

[SaintsManiac]

We like to do 2 days at EPCOT. After last trip I doubt we'll rope drop it again, though. Also, we prefer to just snack our way around the Showcase, but we're thinking of Thanksgiving dinner at Garden Grill next year. I think what I love most about EPCOT is the fact that we always find something new. It's always an adventure for us to go there. It's my favorite park.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Your FP selections are solid. You should definitely try to see Soarin. You can try doing it at Rope Drop or employing some strategy you find on the boards, but you can just do it the old fashioned way by getting on the standby line. Ditto for Frozen Ever After.

Probably like most people, we work our way through Future World then head into the Worldcase. Beyond the FPs you have and Soarin, you also have Mission Space, which I believe your older child can do. There are two attractions in the Imagination pavilion, one on short films and the other is a ride with a "Figment" of your imagination. You have two attractions in the Seas pavilion, Nemo and Crush Turtle Talk, which is adorable. My family has spent hours in aquarium part of the Seas after doing these two things.

Also in FW are Living with the Land, which is in the same building as Soarin, and Ellen's Energy Adventure, which I like to do in the late afternoon so I can take a rest.

Several of the World Showcase pavilions have movies or rides. Mexico and Norway have boat rides (Frozen Ever After), and China, France and Canada have movies. The American Adventure has a movie with animatrons. You can also find entertainment in each country that will be listed in your times guide.

Honestly, everything I've listed more than fills a day between walking between things, actually doing them, snack breaks, and looking at all the decor and exhibits. My family has never found it boring no matter how old the kids were.

Take some time to explore whatever strikes your children's fancy. That could be the aquarium. Or it could be the exhibits inside Mexico or China. They may be fascinated by one of the gardens in Japan, France or the UK. There's a great train display in Germany. And the department store in Japan is great (Pokemon).

Just go and enjoy. It's an amazing place with plenty to do, see and experience for all ages.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

@maranara - the first day we were at Epcot, the crowds felt light. We did A+E right after breakfast and then went straight to Test Track. The line said 15 minutes, but it was only 5-10. When we got off, the line was still only 15 minutes so we went again. As soon as we tapped our third FP, we were able to get another TT, and after we rode that we got another FP for it later in the day.

My best advice is to take advantage of the 4th FP on a mobile device. Start looking as soon as you tap your third FP, adjust the times if needed and keep refreshing! Sometimes the app would say nothing was available for hours, but I'd look a half hour earlier or later and things would open up.

 

[linzbear]

It's hard to explain, but there's so much to see and do. I think kenny has a great expanded times guide of all the extras at Epcot http://www.kennythepirate.com/show-schedules-2/epcot-show-schedules/

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We are in EP almost every day of every trip! We usually stay at an EP resort with hoppers, so we can always pop in for dinner or a walk around WS.

There are so many more interactive things for kids to do in EP than any of the other parks. My DS8 could spend 2 hours just at Living Seas. With your kids, they may enjoy the interactive areas after Spaceship Earth, Mission Space, TT, Living Seas and the Imagination Pavilion. The Innoventions building also has some fun interactive exhibits and they can design and ride their own roller coaster in Sum of All Thrills. FW could take us 4 to 5 hours to ride and experience everything.

My DS8 also loves WS. Especially the Japan store - he could spend a whole hour in there! The Mexico pavilion is gorgeous. The film in Canada is also very entertaining. Yes, EP is definitely a full day and more visit for us!

 

[BeerMe]

DRINK BEER. That's what I do.

 

[PlutoFan10]

Be sure to end your day with Illuminations!

 

[busymommy2pink]

My girls have loved Epcot more than MK since they were 3. Here's what we do:

We purchase the official $10 Epcot passport and they have it stamped in every country. The cast members write in them in their native language and really engage the kids, more so than with the Duffy bear stamps we've found. We spend a day going around the world and experiencing all the world show case has to offer. It's nice since it opens at 11, we use it as our rope drop sleep in morning.

We watch the performances. The candy lady in Japan, the mimes, just take in the atmosphere.

We check our different things from every country in their gift shops. We've purchased some of our favourite souvenirs here. From chopsticks to fans with names in Chinese to picking a pearl in Japan.

We split a snack or drink from the different countries. Ice cream in France is delicious, iced teas in China, churro in Mexico, caramel items from Germany.

Meeting mulan in China. Only place you can find her. And the detail in the China pavilion is gorgeous! Take time to take in all the countries. Belle is also in France, Snow White in Germany and now Anna and Elsa and their ride in Norway (excited to experience this!)

The seas is another place we spend a lot of time. We ride nemo and then our girls (and us parents) enjoy spending a lot of time gazing in the two storey aquarium. It's breathe taking. The girls love spotting the sea turtles that are massive. We often go back here (we walk through Epcot home to beach club almost every day). Turtle talk with crush is hilarious, and a must do at least once. Even at 10, this hasn't lost its magic for our daughter.

The land pavilion, we love soarin. We do this ride multiple times. Excited to experience the new movie. We also love the ride right beside it. Living with the land. We all find it very interest of how they are growing and inventing new ways to grow plants and much of the produce is used in their restaurants.

Mouse gears at Epcot is hands down one of the best gift shops in Disney world. Love perusing.

Club cool you can try different coke flavours (free) from around the world. I dare you to get someone to try Beverly

We enjoy Ellen's energy adventure as a 20 minute cool down and break. I think this is closing soon though. We will miss it.

Mission space. We can take or leave. But many love it. I get motion sick so it's a no go for us!

Test track is the best! We love waiting in line for this one. Designing the car and racing it! So fun?!!!

Our girls love the live fountains on the bridge to world show case. They'll romp around getting soaked. It's great. We then walk back to beach club.

Truthfully we've never done figment. I'm not sure why. Trying to do that next trip before it's gone as well.

Illuminations is the most unique of the fireworks shows I find. We try to watch it once. But our youngest has sensory issues and hates the noise.


We spend at least two full days and many evenings in Epcot. It's fantastic. I'm sure I'll remember more later.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Fellow DLR vet here. Epcot is just a different animal than the other parks at WDW and definitely than the Anaheim parks. It has kind of a split personality. Future World is focused on attractions (i.e. rides), but Epcot fans will tell you that World Showcase is about savoring the simple experience of being there and enjoying the architecture, food, drink, shopping, and browsing, kind of like a World's Fair mixed with a mall. Most people love Epcot and love World Showcase, and most people would say it's a two-day park.

Epcot is controversial though. Parts of Future World haven't been updated in decades, the World's Fair/mall vibe of World Showcase isn't to everybody's liking, and some people who grew up with the park talk about it with a fondness that has more to do with the Epcot of yesterday than the Epcot of today. It's also a very big park with very little shade. For these reasons, some people don't prefer Epcot, or think Epcot is only a one-day park, or even a half-day park (for example, some folks only like one half of the park.)

IMO since Epcot is such a diverse place, if you haven't been there yet, there's really no way of knowing if you'll like it or find enough to do for a whole day. It's definitely worth it to start early and plan a whole day, though, because all the better if you love it. And if you don't love it, you can always hop to another park. Just do beware of folks who tell you it's the best Disney park in all of creation. My partner (also a DLR vet) and I thought we'd love Epcot, hated it for the reasons above, and ended up at Magic Kingdom by dinner time. But we don't regret giving it a shot.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

DRINK BEER. That's what I do.

Same here and wow, after waltzing to the boardwalk at midday for a kitchen sink then back for more Epcot fun I have to say that this day for us is the more beat down. I tried to beer up at HS but it just wasn't the same.

 

[ariane37]

Everyone has pretty much covered what there is to do at Epcot - we all love it, including my 2 DS's 10 and 14. It was their favorite park as toddlers believe it or not and still is for my 10yo; thrill rides in general have become my older ones' favorites. One thing with Epcot is that a lot of what there is to do isn't right out there for you to see like rides are: Club Cool for instance, all the interactive play areas after certain rides. The entertainment around WS (Serveur Amusant in France is my favorite and the boys love him, too). So as a pp said you kind of really need to go there yourself and find all the great things Epcot has to offer for adults and kids.
Someone mentioned buying a passport in WS and having a CM in each country sign it. We've done this twice and it's great. Keeps the kids interested if you happen to hit a country you want to explore that they don't. There's also KidCot stations in each country where they can color what was for the longest time a Duffy Bear on a stick, it may have changed now but not sure. At each KidCot station a CM also "stamps" the stick so that keeps them wanting to check out each country.
I would plan at least one whole day there. If you have hoppers you can always leave if you find yourselves not enjoying it

 

[martikus]

Epcot is actually a park we love even more with kids! We spend 2 days there if we can.

The Agent P is hands down favorite. We try to do 2-3 adventures a day. Don't miss the ride in Mexico. So cute and a good boat ride. Agent p is also a good way to see each country.

Test track, living the land, spaceship earth are must dos. Turtle talk with crush, soarin, and figment also faves.

You will have no problem filling time. We can't usually do it all.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I ride TT, SE, Living with the Land, Finding Nemo and spend time in Aquarium Building. I also stop in Club Cool and the Art of Disney store.

Then I go back to World Showcase and watch as many of the performers as I can plus go into each Pavilion to see the displays and sometimes I look for the characters. My next trip I am hoping to see Caballero Donald and Jasmine/Aladdin.

Don't forget to color Duffy in each country and the CM's will stamp the stick with a stamp from their country. Or you can buy a World Showcase Passport and they'll do it on that instead.

I enjoy Epcot although my trips are short so I don't get to do everything there each time I go.

 

[mort1331]

My girls have loved Epcot more than MK since they were 3. Here's what we do:

We purchase the official $10 Epcot passport and they have it stamped in every country. The cast members write in them in their native language and really engage the kids, more so than with the Duffy bear stamps we've found. We spend a day going around the world and experiencing all the world show case has to offer. It's nice since it opens at 11, we use it as our rope drop sleep in morning.

We watch the performances. The candy lady in Japan, the mimes, just take in the atmosphere.

We check our different things from every country in their gift shops. We've purchased some of our favourite souvenirs here. From chopsticks to fans with names in Chinese to picking a pearl in Japan.

We split a snack or drink from the different countries. Ice cream in France is delicious, iced teas in China, churro in Mexico, caramel items from Germany.

Meeting mulan in China. Only place you can find her. And the detail in the China pavilion is gorgeous! Take time to take in all the countries. Belle is also in France, Snow White in Germany and now Anna and Elsa and their ride in Norway (excited to experience this!)

The seas is another place we spend a lot of time. We ride nemo and then our girls (and us parents) enjoy spending a lot of time gazing in the two storey aquarium. It's breathe taking. The girls love spotting the sea turtles that are massive. We often go back here (we walk through Epcot home to beach club almost every day). Turtle talk with crush is hilarious, and a must do at least once. Even at 10, this hasn't lost its magic for our daughter.

The land pavilion, we love soarin. We do this ride multiple times. Excited to experience the new movie. We also love the ride right beside it. Living with the land. We all find it very interest of how they are growing and inventing new ways to grow plants and much of the produce is used in their restaurants.

Mouse gears at Epcot is hands down one of the best gift shops in Disney world. Love perusing.

Club cool you can try different coke flavours (free) from around the world. I dare you to get someone to try Beverly

We enjoy Ellen's energy adventure as a 20 minute cool down and break. I think this is closing soon though. We will miss it.

Mission space. We can take or leave. But many love it. I get motion sick so it's a no go for us!

Test track is the best! We love waiting in line for this one. Designing the car and racing it! So fun?!!!

Our girls love the live fountains on the bridge to world show case. They'll romp around getting soaked. It's great. We then walk back to beach club.

Truthfully we've never done figment. I'm not sure why. Trying to do that next trip before it's gone as well.

Illuminations is the most unique of the fireworks shows I find. We try to watch it once. But our youngest has sensory issues and hates the noise.


We spend at least two full days and many evenings in Epcot. It's fantastic. I'm sure I'll remember more later.

Love all about the post, but Ellen's 45-50mins. Great for the hot afternoon nap...lol