To Do Or Not To Do Epcot???

[ChrisLei]

Hubby and I are traveling with our 6 year old daughter and 2 year old son. It seems that alot of the things to do in Epcot are geared towards older children. We have purchased the base tickets, which means we dont have the option to park hop if it isn't the children's thing.

Our question is, should we do Epcot, or should we save it for our trip to the World in 2007?

 

[Barbday62]

I personally think Epcot is the greatest. We took our 1 month shy of 3 grandaughter last August. Her favorite thing to do was run through the fountains. After we let her have as much of that as she wanted we found many things to do. In World Showcase we made a coloring mask on a stick. Then rode the boat in Mexico. Then we played on a Viking Ship (We avoided the attraction, line was too long and I feared it was too lous and scarry for her) But we played some bongo drums under a tent. We watched a show at American Adventure then we left because it was the day before Hurricane Charley was to hit adn the weather was bad. Earlier that morning we did the future side but she fell asleep for a lot of it.

While we took turns doing Mission Space they have a wonderful play area for kids in the airconditioned room at the ride exit. Shew also played in a fountain on that side, and we went into the under sea one but thats where she fell sleep in the stroller. (Again weather was bad so we had to duck out in some safe places in between everything we did.)

I think its a personal thing and amount of time you have. Epcot is wonderful in its own. We found way more to do there than MGM. MGM was fun too but less things to do for her.

 

[bluejasmine]

I LOVE EP but I have noticed younger children not have quite as much fun, I think EP is a do not miss so if you want to take the kids do EP before MK...

 

[jonestavern]

DSthen8 really loved Epcot.
Just outside in Mexico, there were musical instruments for the young ones to play, under the cheerful instruction of dancing musicians; in China he played emperor; met the Italian Christmas Witch, discovered the twisting alleys of Morrocco where he happened upon Jasmine & Alladdin.
Enjoy the Jammitors, the drum playing in Japan, acrobats; the street actors in the UK, & mimes in France
Patrick liked SE, the Land; the Living Seas--now Crush has a show;Universe of Energy; Maelstrom etc
There is always sampling foods from the countries, also
Now there are the Kidcot activity centers at each country, which DN7 & her friend, also 7, enjoyed.
A nice experience for kids all in all-

Jean

 

[crisi]

I'd upgrade to hoppers if you can swing it. Epcot is a nice "break" park - pop the kids in the strollers, wander around the countries, catch the shows, take a few rides - the lines for everything a two year old can ride will be really short.

 

[bubba73]

Do it!!! I love EPCOT!!! It is the best. You have to do The Living Seas with Crush and Dory, Journey Into Imagination with Figment, Universe of Energy is also a favorite of kids because of the dinosaurs, Spaceship Earth so you can say you rode in "the golf ball". Go into Innoventions. They have an interactive area for kids so they can play and learn at the same time. Go to the countries and do El Rio Del Tiempo in Mexico and Maelstrom in Norway. Go to France or Norway and let your kid have some chocolate. Go to The Land. There is so much in there for kids. There are shows in there, Living with the Land (which I do everytime I go), and Soarin (which is the best attraction in Disney). My kids and I do more in EPCOT than we do in any of the other parks. Now you have made me homesick. I want to go back. Can you take me with you???

 

[kirbsam]

go to figment and the kodak world after. kids can spend hours there.

 

[Hull-onian]

I think that the Living Seas would have something to offer them and The Land, or Soarin. Imagination is good too. Plus they have some play areas for little ones. Try it, they and you might be surprised.

 

[PolyAddict]

The majority of our character photo's are from Epcot.

Esmerelda in France

Pooh, Piglet and Tigger in the UK

Belle and the beast

Mickey and Donald

just to name a few

And they come out of the woodwork!!! Sometimes at the back of the shops in world showcase.

Go, you will all have a great time.

Michele

 

[staylor]

Someone gave me the absolute best advice before we took our children to WDW the first time. They told me, "Take your children to Epcot first, before they go to Magic Kingdom. They do not know what to expect yet and will love it." Well that person was correct. My children, DS9 and DS5 now love Epcot. It is one of their favorite parks. They enjoy just about everything in Future World and love making masks in World Showcase. They also love Illumniations!
I say give it a try, you just may be surprised.
Staci

 

[Troy08]

Definately do as another poster said, Epcot first. If it;s very hot, do the furure worls things but bypass world showcase. It;s a long walk in the heat and not much really for little ones to do. Take a break at your hotel but come back and try to keep the kids up for Illuminations. It's a great show for all ages. Plus, perhaps you grab a fastpass when you leave and Soarin when you come back.

 

[dpuck1998]

As many others said I would go for sure!! I have a 6 and 4 year old and they love epcot. We have as much or more fun there than any of the parks. My oldest enjoys Mission Space and Test Track, but we always do Figment and they love wondering around the countries. The stores are great and sometimes more of a draw to the countries than the rides. I could go on and on about how much fun they have at the Living Seas too. In short there is a lot to do there and 1 day will only scratch the surface.

 

[Honeybehr1]

Last time we went was Jan of 2002. My favorite park was EPCOT. I am a Figment Freak. lol BUT we found the whole park to be very dirty and unkept. The CM were very grumpy. The only ones in a good mood were this small group of men that played music using trashcans. Other than that we all were very disappointed.
We are going October 16-21 and have alloted 1 day there but DH doesnt want to do the countries. I love the countries more. We shall see. I am hoping its much better then last time.

 

[SammieG]

From age 2 - Epcot has been my DS5 favorite park.

I couldnt imagine missing it out! Its such a cool park too!

 

[Amy&Dan]

The best advice I ever IGNORED was to skip Epcot! A well meaning friend told me her kids hated it, it was boring etc. Well we had the park hoppers so we thought what the heck we'll try it and leave if we don't have fun. It has become our family's favorite behind MK. Each trip we love it more. One thing I would really consider doing is getting the park hopping option. AK for instance has shorter hours so at 5:00 when it closes you are done for the day if you can't hop. Also, Epcot is great to do after AK for dinner and Illuminations. I can imagine not being able to park hop and go to Epcot when we go to WDW!

 

[ChrisLei]

Grat advice everyone! Thank you! I am rearranging our iteniary to include Epcot as our first park to visit.

This is what it looks like:

Sunday: arrive about 4pm Dinner Chef Mickey's

Monday: Epcot Center

Tuesday: Magic Kingdom

Wednesday: relax, stroll Downtown Disney dinner show Spirit of Ohana

Thursday: MGM Studios

Friday: Animal Kingdom

 

[zurgswife]

Epcot is a wonderful park....look for the little things...take your time. Both WS and Future World have great things kids love..

 

[slp87]

In World Showcase we made a coloring mask on a stick.

As someone else mentioned, these are the Kidcot stations found in World Showcase. (Although I've heard there are some in Future World now, but they tend to be more crowded.) Since my DD was 5, making the mask has been her favorite thing. At the first country your child will choose a mask. It's flat & white, made out of tagboard and on a stick, like a paint stick. They can use the available crayons to decorate it. At each country find the Kidcot station and there will be a table where the CM will add a die cut picture to the mask, stamp the stick with the country name, and your child can add more details with crayons. The best part is that this is all FREE!! You can also purchase the passport to have stamped and a message written inside, or you can do a pressed penny at each country. But honestly my DD just loves doing the mask every visit.

 

[ChrisLei]

As someone else mentioned, these are the Kidcot stations found in World Showcase. (Although I've heard there are some in Future World now, but they tend to be more crowded.) Since my DD was 5, making the mask has been her favorite thing. At the first country your child will choose a mask. It's flat & white, made out of tagboard and on a stick, like a paint stick. They can use the available crayons to decorate it. At each country find the Kidcot station and there will be a table where the CM will add a die cut picture to the mask, stamp the stick with the country name, and your child can add more details with crayons. The best part is that this is all FREE!! You can also purchase the passport to have stamped and a message written inside, or you can do a pressed penny at each country. But honestly my DD just loves doing the mask every visit.

Wow this is free too! That is wonderful! Is this in MEXICO only? Will the map say where thereare KidCot locations?

 

[MinnieMom]

I was considering the same thing this past March with dd, 4. I really didn't think she would like Epcot, but it actually ended up being one of her favorites.

She loved making the mask in WS and she really enjoyed just checking out the different cultures in all the countries. She also loved the show with Crush and all the play areas in Future World.

We found a talking trash can that she about flipped over!

If they like characters, I found that Epcot was the easiest place to see them with the fewest lines. We definitely got some great pics there with a lot of interaction from the characters since there were so few kids around.

I know we will definitely be going back to Epcot when we head back to the world in March!