What's to do at Epcot???

[risy]

We are going to MK in 2 weeks with our 3,5,8 yos.

Is there any reason we should spend an afternoon/early evening at Epcot.
What could we do there that would make it fun? We could not stay as late as closing, because we have an early morning at MK next day.

I have not been to Epcot in 9 years, and never with children. All I remember doing there is eating, drinking , and aimlessly wandering.

 

[mjmcca]

My kids really like it. They are 4 and almost 3. They have kidcot stations in each of the countries with masks and coloring.

 

[sunny04]

Go to the Imagination section and ride Figment and Honey I Shrunk the Audience -- your kids should love these! Go to the Living Seas - it is now Finding Nemo themed a little bit. There is a show called Turtle Talk in there that from what I hear is great. They might enjoy Ellen's Energy Adventure because it has dinosaurs in it. Test Track and Mission Space might be too intense for them -- although Test Track isn't too bad. In the World Showcase, they have Kidcots set up for kids to learn about other cultures and make masks, etc. These locations are marked on the map. Mexico has a boat ride similar to Small World inside and Norway has a Viking boat ride as well. There are also various street performers in each country. You might want to catch some of these if they interest you. It's too bad you aren't staying for closing, because Illuminations is an awesome show! Make sure food wise that if you want a sweet snack, you check out the Kringla bakery in Norway!! Pastries to die for!! Hope this helps ... we've fallen in love with Epcot this year, so I hope you enjoy your time there too.

 

[nygrl]

my 8 year old loves test track and space ship earth is is favorite ride . they also have honey i shrunk the audience which is a 3d show. there is also the land that has slow moving boat ride. i think there is plenty to keep busy. maybe last time you were there most of the rides were not. world showcase is where all the food is but the side where the monorail drops you off is all rides. i definatly would not leave it out of a disney trip!

 

[sunny04]

I forgot about Spaceship Earth! Nygrl is right about that one! The Land does have a slow boat ride too, but I'm pretty sure it's closed right now while they finish the refurbishments of that area.

 

[kiddisney]

there's so many things to do - a lot of people keep their kids out of world showcase because they think that there's nothing to do - but since our kids were 18 mos old we've been taking them to world showcase - there's all of the shows - they love off-kilter - and the show in the american showcase is always good - the street performers are always entertaining - and the british invasion keeps them interested - china has entertainment - the movies are good - there's so many things to do - just pick a few - and the best part is that you can sit and relax and enjoy more than having to walk around mk or ak or mgm

 

[720L]

Our kids love Epcot! You really should try and see Illuminations-awesome show. I agree with all the things the other posters mentioned & would like to add one: Ice Station Cool. We've spent a lot of time in there cooling off and the kids love getting their own drinks.

 

[sters]

our kids love Epcot... Imagination, Spaceship Earth, Living Seas, Energy was okay, Test Track for my middle child, Mission Space for my oldest. By the way, the exit area of Mission Space offers an indoor playground, much like you'd see at McDonalds, only with a space theme. While I waited with for my husband and son, my kids had a blast playing here. And, let's not forget the wonderful splash areas. You may want to consider swimsuits if you're going when its very warm. During the evenning, the waterfalls are lit with colored lights and even dance to music every 15 minutes. What a hoot! IN the world Showcase there is a playground in Norway, minature trains in Germany, the drum show in China (5 year old loves drums), and the silly streetshow in Great Britain that had my kids howling! Also, the kidcot stations were a hit. I purchased a "passport" for my oldest son, who got it stamped in each country, and still talks about how he was born in The Year of the Rat (or was it Dog?) in China. The show at the American pavillion, while not a huge hit with the kids, was a quiet and dark place to relax in during the afternoon. My 3 year old napped, which I considered a bonus. A fun place to eat is the restaurant in The Land (can't think of the name). There are characters and the restaurant slowly rotates, so it offers more experience than just eating. Enjoy!

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

Last trip, our girls were 4, and 8.

My 8 yo, did the passport, and mask. She really loved going through the countries. She also loves test track, and mission space. We were there for the grand opening of MS, so she now has a lifetime bond with that ride.

My little one, wasn't so impressed, but now at age 6, is looking forward to the coutries, but isn't so much into the rides. Our family split, and took 1 to Epcot, and the other to MK.

They both loved eating at Teppanyaki, and using the chop-sticks.



Have fun planning. Enjoy your trip

 

[swilphil]

My sons, ages 2 and 4, love World Showcase, especially the kidcot stations and just wondering around. In UK, there's a Thomas train table in the Toy Shoppe and a gazebo outside with a hedge maze around it. My boys loved running through that. Some Pooh characters are often in this garden area or in the back of the Toy Shoppe. There's also some good opportunites to meet characters in the other countries, but you might have to ask. I like WS because it's a nice break from the theme park atmosphere.

 

[debbiedoo]

I have to kids dd6, and dd13, and everytime we go to the WDW I always ask them what park would they like to go to first. . . .

EPCOT

Yep, you are hearing me correctly. Then the next day is MK.

 

[Tracie]

My boys (11 & 14) love EPCOT it is also the first park they want to visit. My 14 yr old has loved EPCOT since he was 4 when he did the passport and he LOVED Illuminations and still does (has the CD and listens to it every night when doing his homework.) I think if you are excited about the park your kids will be. My boys like to go to each country and talk to the CM about that country, and they love the store in Japan with all the Yu-gi-oh, and Gundam merchandise.

 

[daisylove]

Epcot is my 5 yr olds favorite park. There is more than a days worth activities to make her happy there. We usually take at least one full day to explore. Turtle Talk at Living Sea is amazing. The kids sit down front and this turtle talks to them personally in character sooo cool. Ina ddition to what everone else has said Epcot is the best place to see charactyers. Every country has a princess in it France - Belle and Beast with Aurora around the back entrance. Morrocco - Jasmine, aladdin & Genie, Germany - snow white, Japan - mulan, UK - Mary poppins and pooh and Tigger etc. Also there is the character bus several times a day with aroung 13 or so characters on it. We save our autographs and pics until Epcot. So much easier.

 

[Jasminesmommy]

My kids loved it. They were 4 and 6. They loved making th mask around the countrys at the kidcot stations and collecting stamps as well. They also loved the candy lady in Japan who made candy animals for free for them and most of the rides are pretty melow.

 

[ErinInCT]

We thought EPCOT might be a snooze, but had to go for the Princess Breakfast. It ended up being our best day!! My 4yo dd loved the kidcot stations. We made our own passport before we left & she learned how to say hello & thank you in each country's language. We could not get her to leave each country. The shows/entertainers are great!! Mexico & Norway have fun boat rides. Next time we will do 3 half days for EPCOT, 2 for WS & 1 for FW. We loved TT. Didn't get to do Nestle Junior Chef or Figment b/c we ran out of time. You'll be surprised! It is so relaxing, much less chaotic then the other parks! Your older 2 will love doing the passports & learning the language. We also did penny presses & pin trading a lot in EPCOT.
Have fun!

 

[Skellington]

HI MY NAME IS KATIE AND I AM NINE. YOUR OPINION MIGHT BE DIFFERENT BUT I THINK THAT THERE ARE TONS OF THINGS TO DO AT EPCOT!!! MOST OF THE RIDES AND ATTRACTIONS THERE DON'T HAVE LONG LINES AND IF YOU COME ON A CROWDED DAY THEN JUST USE FASTPASS. SPACESHIP EARTH IS SLOW AND GOOD FOR ALL AGES AND IF YOU LIKE THE FASTER RIDES YOU CAN GO ON TEST TRACK AND MISSION SPACE. BUT WHERE EVER YOU GO IN EPCOT EVERYTHING IS PRETTY MUCH ALL GOOD!!! :space:

 

[the kabuki]

One of my kids' favorite was Turtle Talk with Crush, it's in the Living Seas-head straight for it as you exit the elevator. It's a small theater so you don't want to be last in line. All three of them 11,7,3 thought it was great.

Also Test Track, Imagination with Figment, Spaceship Earth(DD3 loved this one), Illuminations, Eating inside Mexico pavillion was cool.

We didn't do Mission Space, I just heard too many people on this board say they had a bad experience on it to chance it.

 

[jgmklmhem]

I will say definately go to the Ice Station Cool....and drink some Beverly for me!



J/k but it is worth going in and trying the different sodas from around the world for free.

 

[fourfoxesinpa]

NOOOOOOOOO!!! Don't have the Beverly!!!!!!