WDW "Vet" A WS Novice - Help Me Out??

[melomouse]

Hi -
DD (10) and I will be doing 6 nights at POR during FDP from 9/24-9/30. In all of our trips, I am sad to admit I have NEVER completely "done" WS, nor have I seen Illuminations - DD has a previous trip but she is sooo looking forward to going with just Mom. We got ADR's at Chefs de France for 5:30 PM - Le Cellier was already booked, with ONE opening at &:50 when I called a week ago - guess I could try again...??

Made a short visit to WS a few trips ago and saw France - lunch at Chefs, saw street performers and a couple of surrounding countries and ran on back into Futureworld, because DS could not stay content.

I need touring plan advice to try to do almost a full day at WS. Where should we begin and how should we get there (never been to Epcot resorts, either and would love to take a look, maybe even have a bite?)??? Want to do Maelstrom, and maybe check out Biergarten - except for dinner ressies and Illuminations, those are our only "must do's". Not a shopper!

Viewing for Illuminations?? What else would DD and I love?? Any thoughts from you Epcot pros out there?? This is my least-visited park so far and this is the trip to change that!

Any and all opinions, ideas.. I welcome them! Thank you so much!!!

 

[Luv4Disney]

Here's what we do:

We start in Mexico and work our way around clockwise. When we get to the International Gateway we take the ferry to the Boardwalk and explore there a little bit. Afterwards we may walk to Fantasia minigolf. Afterwards we head back to Epcot and do the remaining countries. It's a lot of walking, but we like it anyway. By going in order, we don't miss anything.

Other things to do: Do you mean just in WS, of in FW too?

 

[BTown]

Honestly, I love the World Showcase, but there isnt really a whole lot to do there other than eat, drink and shop. The Mexico and Norway pavilions both have thier own rides (neither of which are very exciting or terribly creative) and a couple of other pavilions like China and Canada have IMAX style movies about thier respective countries, though in all my years, I have never done any of these things. The only attraction, other than Illuminations, I would suggest is the American Adventure, in the American pavilion. It's a lot like Hall of Presidents, so it may bore your daughter to tears, but the animatronics are pretty sophisicated, and worth a look.

Beyond that, I would just say, walk around and enjoy your time. Make sure you check out a couple of the shops in each country, and snack and drink your way around the world (my fav thing to do).

Also, if you will be there until the 30th, I believe the International Food and Wine Festival starts on the 29th (is that right?) and that is something you most certainly will not want to miss.

 

[DVCLiz]

We love WS - is your daughter a confirmed non-shopper, too, or is that just you?? LOL - I took a 12 year old last month, and although I can take or leave all but the most cursory glance into the shops, she became a shopping demon, and we spent a huge amount of time (and some money, too!) going through each and every store!!!

Remember that a "full day" in WS begins at 11:00am, when WS opens. If you wanted, you could begin at an Epcot resort for breakfast. There's a great character meal at the Beach Club, but you could also just walk through several of the resort lobbies and have a bite at the bakery on the Boardwalk before you move to Epcot itself. You'll go in the "back" way, through the International Gateway.

Once you get to Epcot, if you begin on the Mexico side, you should easily be able to ride the Mexico ride as well as Maelstrom, see the China movie, and browse all three of those countries in a couple of hours. Why not make a lunch reservation at Biergarten? Then work your way through the rest of the countries during the afternoon, stopping for your dinner reservation when needed. You'll be on that side of the park anyway, so you can backtrack a little bit forward or backward to France as needed.

Or, you could come in through the IG in the morning, see all of United Kingdom and Canada, then walk around and do Mexico, etc. later on. You might not be able to fit Biergarten in, though, and still be ready for your early ADR at France.

As far as Illuminations goes, there are lots of good spots, but quite honestly, we've found the last several times that those pesky trees continue to grow and there is almost always a branch in our way!!! I think if you're there to see the fireworks above your head and can see some of the presentation on the water, you'll be fine. The lights and music are easily viewed and heard from anywhere.

Have a great time - Ws is different and interesting, not like any other part of WDW!!!

 

[sjcmi]

Hi, we spend the whole day at EPCOT. We start in Future World and do all the pavilions. I think your daughter will really like the Living Seas and Soarin' in the Land Pavilion. Spaceship Earth is always worth riding as is the Energy Pavillion. For excitement there is Test Track, and Mission Space. Be prepared, Mission Space is INTENSE!

From Future world we go to the World showcase and hit all the countries. You will find something interesting in each and everyone of them. I suggest getting a guidebook or going to a Disney World website and reading up on what each pavilion or country has to offer.

Get a list of the live performances and go and see the ones that interest you the most. We really enjoy the "Off Kilter" rock and roll bag pipe band. They play on a stage outside the Canadian Pavilion.

Taking the boat to the boardwalk area or even all the way to Disney MGM studios is a good way to take a cool down break in the afternoon.

As for Illuminations, we are going in Sept. for 8 nights and we are planning on seeing Illuminations at least 4 times, yes it is that good.

Good luck and have a great time on your trip!

 

[Epcot242]

I agree with DVCLiz. Breakfast at the BWV would be a great way to start your day and would work out well at the end of it too (I'll explain in a minute). World Showcase is a fantastic place to just stroll around. If you're planning a whole day for just World Showcase, don't kill yourself running from place to place. Explore each pavilion, every little nook, you'll be surprised at the detail and authenticity of everything. If you're going to do it clockwise from Mexico, you may want to do the Mexico boat ride (El Rio Del Tiempo), explore a bit in there, then move to Norway and get a FP for Maelstrom. This would give you some time inbetween boat rides and some time to explore Norway itself and maybe even get a pastry from the bakery. Depending on the FP you could maybe make it to China and see the movie there and even to Germany, but then you'd have to backtrack to Norway.

Any way you do it, just take your time, France is sort of "the end" of World Showcase (you can either return to the Epcot resorts from there or begin the loop again in England), so that might be a good place to stop, since your ressie is at 5:30. After dinner you could go back and explore something you missed or maybe head into Future World for a few hours. Around 8:15 you should head back to WS if you want really good seats for Illuminations, if you're fine just watching them from whatever view you can get, I would say head over to WS around 8:50 then, giving you more time in FW. Like it was said before, there really is no bad view for Illuminations, although some allow for more fireworks to be seen than others. After you watch Illuminations you can then head back to the Epcot resorts via International Gateway and maybe even explore the Boardwalk at bit (I once caught a great magic act right on the Boardwalk after Illuminations, I wasn't expecting it, but it was fantastic). Then you can just take your car and drive home from there without having to fight for a seat on the tram or monorail.

I really hope this helps. Have a great time!!

 

[melomouse]

WOW! Thanks and keep 'em coming...

I'm not exactly a "confirmed" non-shopper - love to look and browse - just don't like to spend $!!!! DD loves to shop and look and is the kind of kid who looks around lots before decideing what she wants...

This is the very first time we are solely using WDW transportation. Should I take the bus directly from POR that AM to the Boardwalk resorts - ? The boats go from BW to WS - at just one end? By Mexico? Or the "middle"? I have to do my transport research - for how much I know MK and MGM - I cannot believe how ignorant I am about WS!

DD, believe it or not - is dying to check out YC and BC and BWV. She's goin' places for sure - If I win lotto...LOL!!

Definitely we will check out the performance schedule for live music - I love it! - and will snack and drink a bit...I DO want to try Biergarten - have to check the DP again - make lunch ressies, maybe move dinner back a bit...

We have plans to split 1/2 day w/ AK for FW - Soarin' was totally exhilarating last time that if it weren't so busy, I would've ridden again!! That high lasted days!!!!

Knew I came to the right place!! You guys are awesome!!!

 

[bopper]

Your daughter is 10?
She may still want to do the "kidcot" stations....they give you a mask, and you collect stamps and paper doo-dads from each country. If you finish and get one from each country, you get a little certificate.

You can also buy a Epcot passport and get it stamped in each country.

Also, you can get a pressed penny from each country.

But mostly start from either Canada or Mexico, and work your way around.