Two 7 year olds - does Epcot require a full day?

[CatManDoo]

We'll be at WDW for 6 days in June and I'm trying to plan our time. Epcot has me at a bit of a loss. It doesn't SEEM like there is enough there to keep two 7 year olds interested for a full day, but I can't shake the feeling that I'm being naive. I know we'll want to do Soarin, Test Track, and Turtle Talk. We'll also want to hit World Showcase, but I don't know how long we'll be able to hang out there before the kids get bored (assuming they will?). We've got dinner ressies at Rose and Garden at 6:45 in hopes of catching Illuminations. What I'm trying to decide is whether or not we should hit Epcot early in the morning and stay all day or maybe hit MK for a couple of hours and then hit Epcot, maybe after lunch?

 

[kaybird]

Depends on your kids. Epcot was my kids favorite park right from the start when they were young, and that was way before kidcot stations, kim possible, and the awesome activities they have now in innoventions. Most kids love the interactivity of EPCOT if parents aren't in a hurry to move them on. We can still kill a half hour just directing the music at Journey into imagination.

 

[JimmyV]

Definitely a full day, and perhaps then some. Future World has a whole bunch of "hands-on" exibits that would be right in the sweet spot of 7 year olds. Don't think of FW as "just rides". The rides are in pavillions, and the pavillions have lots to offer other than just the rides. Don't rush through these. Innoventions itself can be a several hour adventure.

As for World Showcase, for a 7 year old, it is what you want to make of it. I know people who rush through it, convinced that their kids won't enjoy it, and I know people (myself included) who spend considerable time there allowing kids to enjoy "Kidcot". Again, Kidcot may not seem all that interesting to you as an adult. But most kids really love doing the arts and crafts, and meeting the CMs from other countries.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

We'll be at WDW for 6 days in June and I'm trying to plan our time. Epcot has me at a bit of a loss. It doesn't SEEM like there is enough there to keep two 7 year olds interested for a full day, but I can't shake the feeling that I'm being naive. I know we'll want to do Soarin, Test Track, and Turtle Talk. We'll also want to hit World Showcase, but I don't know how long we'll be able to hang out there before the kids get bored (assuming they will?). We've got dinner ressies at Rose and Garden at 6:45 in hopes of catching Illuminations. What I'm trying to decide is whether or not we should hit Epcot early in the morning and stay all day or maybe hit MK for a couple of hours and then hit Epcot, maybe after lunch?

opinions vary...it really depends on the kids. I think you are right that 7 year olds will like Future World a lot easily.

On WS.....Kim Possible adventures alone could occupy hours and then you have various street performers and musical acts you can catch. and you get snacks along the way (like baked goods in Norway!) and kids love that.

Some will mention Kidcot stops but I always thought they were kind of lame (i.e. coloring).

 

[cjsm&d]

If they are anything like my DS, they also will want to do
Ellens Energy Adventure
Michael Jacksons 3D Captain EO is back at Imagination
Figment at Imagination
Mission Space (Just do the non-gravity version)
Spaceship earth
Living with the land (I wasn't sure, but DS loved it)
Mexico with the 3 caballeros
Maelstrom at Norway

And then let them play Kim Possible! DW and I took turns doing the adventures with DS while the other had some alone time to wander the World showcase!

We find it a full day. In fact, this is one park we always hit twice. (More this time... park hoppers and staying at Swan! )

 

[kaligal]

You can spend a whole day there and not do everything. Many parents think, "Oh, my kids won't like Epcot" but they almost always like it and like it a lot.

6:45 is really early if you're planning to hang around for a 9:00 Illuminations show. Can you re-schedule for later?

 

[carrollchristoph]

Depends what your kids like. You could easily spend several days in Epcot with kids that age, just watching the street performers & doing the Kim Possible adventures. Browse the main site to see examples. Epcot is billed as an adult park, but the kids stuff there is very laid back and enjoyable to do at your own pace. My kids will tell you that the Magic Kingdom is their favorite, but their Mom and I think that Epcot is probably the most fun for them.

 

[lmmantini]

Our DD was 6 when we were there last time and we ended up spending two days at Epcot! As others have mentioned there is much more to do than just the rides. We couldn't drag her away from some of the activities.

 

[MSLRAC]

It really does depend on the kids. My niece and nephew did not like it and they spent a half day there and never looked back. My kids loved it, so we spent one and a half days there and left feeling like we had missed so much. Next trip, we have 2 full days scheduled there.

I would schedule at least one full day. Between the rides in Future World and Kidcot and Kim Possible activities in World Showcase, you can easily fill a day.

 

[CatManDoo]

You can spend a whole day there and not do everything. Many parents think, "Oh, my kids won't like Epcot" but they almost always like it and like it a lot.

6:45 is really early if you're planning to hang around for a 9:00 Illuminations show. Can you re-schedule for later?

That was the latest we could get. We'll just have to make do.

 

[Jasperann]

When we went in March we spent two and a half days there and didn't have enough time...lol My kids LOVED all the hands on stuff they could do in FW. My 6 and 7 year old's loved the rides (all of them). All of the kids except for our youngest enjoyed Kim Possible Missions. Our youngest just slept in the stroller while they did a couple Missions.

When they talk about Disney now they always mention the different rides and things they want to do 'next' time they go. They have also requested to go to Epcot first next time we go, when ever that may be.

 

[imthatgirl]

Honestly it's easily a 2 day park with kids that age. Don't over look some of the simpler things just because they don't "seem" exciting. My 7yo loves the Living with the Land ride. Sure it's not high pace, but to ride through and see all the really cool fruits and veggies(some in really fun shapes , I don't know, you can't beat that.

Also you didn't mention Captain EO, Spaceship Earth, the "what if" labs, both innovations buildings which if they're 48 inches you won't want to leave out Sum of all Thrills.

Kim Possible can leave you occupied for hours, my 7yo didn't want to stop.

Are you sure you want to skip all of this?

 

[Lynne M]

When I was 7, I would have liked Epcot way, way, way better than MK.

 

[imthatgirl]

That was the latest we could get. We'll just have to make do.

I wouldn't worry about the time of dinner. That actually sounds like a perfect time. Any later and you may be rushing. You have to figure you wont be seated until probably 7:10 or later. Order, eat, relax...the earliest you're out of there is 8:15(but don't be surprised if you walk out later then that). Stroll around and find a spot.

Personally I wouldn't eat any later then 7 if I wanted to see Illuminations.

 

[cjsm&d]

When I was 7, I would have liked Epcot way, way, way better than MK.

Ironically, for my family, MK is the shortest visit! We do early morning and fly to Splash and Thunder Mtn, get a Space Mtn fastpass, then hit the rest at our own pace, and are always on the monorail to Kona for lunch by mid-afternoon.

We rarely do another day there. Sometimes we go back another time for Wishes...

 

[delmar411]

Don't forget that the FP rides will be low/out of FPs if you don't arrive until afternoon and you may be stuck with standby. I'm going to bet that your 7yr olds would rather wander the World Showcase than wait in the never ending standby Soarin and Test Track lines.

We spend days at Epcot during our trips and my kids are 5(next month), 6.5, 7.5 and 12. Heck, my kids would spend all day on Mission Space and Test track if they could! We normally end up dragging them out of Innventions after a few hours to go do other things.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you aren't going to be able to just hang out at your table all night. There are other people with reservations after yours so it's best to re-consider your Illuminations strategy.

 

[CatManDoo]

GREAT responses everyone, and you've confirmed my hunch that we will need a full day. 7 is a tough age to figure because they don't really fit into the pre-school stuff anymore, but they're not really tweens yet either. It sounds like our DS7 will really enjoy Epcot. DD7, who knows? They will have done MK the day before, so I'm a little concerned that they'll be expecting more of the same, but doing MK first day is non-negotiable. They've made that very clear.

I've heard that Mission: Space is pretty much -inducing. Is that accurate? I see it mentioned on touringplans.com worship, but I'm not convinced I'll let the kids give it a go.

 

[imthatgirl]

I've heard that Mission: Space is pretty much -inducing. Is that accurate? I see it mentioned on touringplans.com worship, but I'm not convinced I'll let the kids give it a go.

There are two sides to mission space. A quesy motion one, that I don't recommend to anyone and a gentle less intense fun one. Pick the green side...orange is for those looking to loose their lunch

 

[Jasperann]

GREAT responses everyone, and you've confirmed my hunch that we will need a full day. 7 is a tough age to figure because they don't really fit into the pre-school stuff anymore, but they're not really tweens yet either. It sounds like our DS7 will really enjoy Epcot. DD7, who knows? They will have done MK the day before, so I'm a little concerned that they'll be expecting more of the same, but doing MK first day is non-negotiable. They've made that very clear.

I've heard that Mission: Space is pretty much -inducing. Is that accurate? I see it mentioned on touringplans.com worship, but I'm not convinced I'll let the kids give it a go.

My girls went on the Mild side of Mission: Space it doesn't spin and give you that sick feeling. They loved it and rode it every day we visited.

 

[cjsm&d]

GREAT responses everyone, and you've confirmed my hunch that we will need a full day. 7 is a tough age to figure because they don't really fit into the pre-school stuff anymore, but they're not really tweens yet either. It sounds like our DS7 will really enjoy Epcot. DD7, who knows? They will have done MK the day before, so I'm a little concerned that they'll be expecting more of the same, but doing MK first day is non-negotiable. They've made that very clear.

I've heard that Mission: Space is pretty much -inducing. Is that accurate? I see it mentioned on touringplans.com worship, but I'm not convinced I'll let the kids give it a go.

They have a tamer version that my son liked. I would not recommend the original with the full simulation. We all got a bit queasy on it (DS di not ride that time)