What's for 3 & 5 yr old at Epcot?

[Ithastobe]

Hello! I know you guys will be able t answer this.. We visited WDW last October and only was able to do MK and MGM. This time we have a 4 day pass and I'd like to do all the parks. What I've read however about Epcot, there doesn't seem to be a lot to do with smaller children (no kiddie rides, etc). Hubby wants to nix going there, and just go to MK twice, but I'd really like them to see it all.

Have girls aged 3 and 5 - any ideas to convince him? We'll be there 4/26-5/3. thanks!!

 

[lisareneeo]

In 2002 (our kids were 3 and 5) and we tried Epcot and LOVED it. My kids enjoyed making a mask at the different countries at the KIDCOT stations in World Showcase. Unfortunately, we visited EPCOT on two 1/2 days and we didn't make it to every country, but they still loved doing it. They enjoyed Illuminations. This started at 9:00pm and was a little "late" for them but it was great to see. They also enjoyed the "street" entertainment we came across in the different countries. In Future World, my son (5) enjoyed Innoventions East and West more than my daughter (but she still had fun) My son also loved Test Track. Daughter was not tall enough. There was plenty to do and I would recommend giving it a try!

 

[tjkraz]

If you're getting a Hopper pass, I'd suggest at least a half day at Epcot--preferrably the evening so you can enjoy Illuminations. That show is worth a trip to Epcot alone, IMO.

Epcot certainly doesn't have attractions on par with the Magic Kingdom, but there are pleanty to fill up an evening.

Honey I Shrunk The Audience
Journey Into Your Imagination
Test Track
Living Seas (great if your kids love aquatic life, but don't expect much "attraction")
Maelstrom
Body Wars
Spaceship Earth

You may even get lucky and find Mission: Space open by the time you arrive.

The only other advice I'll offer is that if you do decide to visit Epcot, do it very early in your trip--preferrably the first day. Based upon my own past experiences, if you save Epcot until the end of your trip, you will invariably be disappointed. It's simply not the type of park that makes for a climactic ending to a trip. There's still a lot to enjoy (particularly Illuminations!!!), but schedule Epcot early and build-up toward the more exciting parks.

 

[lilsonicfan]

Just regarding attractings listed by tjkraz: your kids might not be tall enough for some, or even enjoy some, like Test Track, Body Wars, Honey I Shrunk the Audience (lots of screaming kids in this one sometimes).

But Epcot was still tons of fun for the 3 year old in our group. She loved all the boat rides (Mexico "el rio di tiempo", Norway "Maelstrom" and "Living with the Land".) The KIDCOT stations are also good - they get a stamp from all the countries on a mask that they make. Innoventions is quite fun, they get to try out Disney video games (including a great dancing game). They might enjoy some of the shows, like the living statues and acrobatics found at World Showcase. The What If! imagination labs are also quite fun; you've gotta try out the slow-motion camera. And if it's hot - Ice Station Cool is a good place to cool off. Oh, and we saw TONS of characters at Showcase Plaza - they came in on a big red double decker bus at certain times every day.

I found this site incredibly useful, with great info on almost every aspect of Epcot. http://www.wdwig.com/ep.htm For us, Epcot was an excellent place to start our trip. While it doesn't appear as kiddie-friendly as say, Fantasyland in MK, it was still a great park.

 

[Magic2000]

My girls have always enjoyed Epcot. Now, I have two teenagers and a 6 yr old - and we always do two days at Epcot!

My little one loves making her mask at each of the Kidcot stations. Talking to the CMs at the table is so nice. Watching some of the shows at each country is also really nice. Illuminations is a wonderful fireworks show - at first, Allison was afraid of the fireworks (too loud), but now she really enjoys the show.

I would definitely schedule in one day for Epcot - if you get there and the kids aren't enjoying it, you can always go to another park. But I think they'll really enjoy all that Epcot has to offer!

 

[TREEFROG00]

My kids, then aged 3 and 7, loved EPCOT. They loved the Living Seas. I think they could have stared at the fish all day if I would have let them. They also are dinosaur lovers so Universe of Energy was right up their alley. They Land had a lot to offer and they loved the future playground in Journey to Imagination.

Definitely give EPCOT a try.

 

[cinder1]

I'll add my 2 cents, too. Last time we were at WDW, my kids were DD4, DD6, DS 22 mths. My girls LOVED Epcot. We will be there this Friday and my now 6yro (then 4) can't wait for Test Track and the "Viking" ride (maelstorm). My kids loved everything at Epcot. I think Test Track was their favorite ride, including rides at MK. They loved the crafts and getting their autograph book stamped at the countries. We did not buy a passport, just used their autograph books. Some CMs even wrote little notes to my girls in their native languages. They adored the living statue and the Chinese acrobats, the Mexico ride and the living land ride. My older DD LOVED Body Wars. She's a bit more adventuresome. All my kids loved the fountain dancing to music. We sat for ages watching that. Oh yeah and the different flavors of coke to sample.

Gosh, I could go on and on. We are planning 2 whole days in Epcot this time because they loved it so much last time. There is so much to see and do everywhere that it will be exciting. Also, I hear there are more characters at Epcot now.

You will have a great time.

 

[MulanMom]

I have a 5 and 3 year old and agree with all of the above!!!! Just wanted to add that my two love Epcot...out of the blue, my 5 y.o. DD mentioned wanting to step on the lights again (stone pavers that light up with different designs when stepped on). On another occasion, my 3y.o. DS wanted to see that place in Disney World where we saw all the fish...Living Seas. And our trip was in March of last year!!!

IMHO, Epcot is a great park to do on an arrival day. If you enter Future World in the mid to late afternoon, a majority of the crowd will have worked their way back to World Showcase, which then makes it much easier to see Future World attractions.

 

[raidermatt]

A lot of kid's will also like Cranium Command and Food Rocks.

On the other hand, you likely won't be able to do everything at MK in one day either...

If you have hopper passes, what you could do is hit AK on the first day of your trip. Since it closes by 5 or 6, you can then hop over to Epcot to get a taste of what it has, and see Illuminations.

Then you can decide if you want to spend another 1/2 day or full day there.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Here is what our 4 yo goes for in Epcot:

Living Seas
Land
Journey Into Your Imagination w/ Figment
Maelstrom
Rio del Tiempo
Illuminations
Storybook Princess Breakfast
Model trains at Germany
Kidcot stations and the masks (boy I hate those things )
Lots of characters to be found
Various other special events such as the kids garden during the Flower and Garden Festival and Holiday Storytellers during the Christmas season.

Next trip we might try her on Test Track and a few other things, but the things I listed above are a given and serve to fill a good part of the day at Epcot.