Which Epcot ride do most people do first?

[werfamily]

We are trying to figure out our "plan of attack", and wondering which of the big rides tends to be the most crowded just after rope drop? We are guessing it is either 'Soarin or Mission Space (as these are the two we are most excited about), but since we haven't been before, we are just not sure.

Thanks!

 

[sbakersub]

I think Soarin' and Test Track are the most popular, Mission Space maybe a little less so because of the queasiness factor. Our strategy was to have me run for Fast Passes for Soarin' while the kids headed to Test Track, and then I met them there. We road Test Track a couple of times before it got really busy, then did Mission Space, and then headed over to Soarin' with the Fast Passes in hand. Worked really well, starting the day on a real "ride high"

 

[wilma-bride]

Whenever I have been at Epcot for park opening, around 80% of the crowd headed right towards Soarin'. The rest tended to go towards Test Track/Mission Space. We always go to Soarin' first, get FPs, ride it once, then head to the Seas and do Crush and Nemo, then go back and ride Soarin' again before heading over to Test Track and Mission Space.

 

[STEAMBOAT209]

For our group its Soaring first, we heard straight for Soaring, get a fast pass to ride later, and then get in the stand by line. After riding, we head to Mission Space, then Test Track.

 

[nickeymouse]

I would do Soarin' first. Then make your way to Test Track. It shouldn't be crowed. But if you wait, you'll hit a crowd.

 

[EeyoreFan1]

Soarin'! Then head over to Test Track

 

[smylie1]

If you get there early, go straight to Soarin'. We practically walked right on, but when we went to ride again later in the day, a 45+ minute wait. That's in the off season.

 

[winterman]

I don't know about most people but we go to Mission Space first. Then Test Track.(with very little wait at either) Then we head over to Soarin. We get a fastpass and while we wait for our time we either take a break at the food court or we ride The Land, or do both if time allows.

 

[java]

We had to baby swap last time for Soarin- so it was Soarin- and then I went with baby to get fp for Test track for everyone. Went back and rode Soarin for the baby swap. Then everybody over to Test Track with our FP. Again baby swap so DH ran off to MS to get FP for him and ds. (No thanks once was enough for me)
Well SURPRISE SURPRISE!! We got a Magic Fastpass on TT. And of course me with my big mouth got one for dh too. So we got to do them all again! With our fastpasses! It was very very cool. And it was so funny because when we went I was telling the kids we would hopefully win something but you never know. And it was so random we just got lucky that day. They gave them out in the room where you watch the little movie-

 

[wdwlvr629]

Soarin, then Test Track, both always have a line, but even after a couple of years, I think there is still the "newness" factor to Soarin. Just MHO!

 

[RllngRckBrw]

Soarin for sure is the busiest, but that helps us to get so much more done. Last year we headed to see the characters (not sure if your kids are to "cool' for that yet) just next to the MouseGear gift shop. Everyone ran by Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Pluto (later in the day the line was over an hour long. We were the first people through and were not rushed at all. We had a great experiece taking all sorts of photos with each one and not being pushed along. We then hit the Nemo ride (which we walked on to). After that I went to get Soarin fastpasses while the family played at the Seas, waiting for Crush to start. We then hit Soarin and the Land, before getting out Test Track Fastpasses. We then had lunch and did TT. For us it makes more sense to do the shorter lines first and fastpass the things everyone runs to. We can accomplish so much more than is on our list.

 

[chalee94]

...I think there is still the "newness" factor to Soarin.

and an awesomeness factor!

 

[::Snow_White::]

Soarin' is where most head when we went. Over an hour wait!
So I'd go to Soarin' then make your way to Test track and mission space.

 

[Luv4Disney]

Soarin' and Test Track!

 

[Golf4food]

Soarin' for us.

 

[KimAshton]

Soarin'. There was a mad rush over to soarin' when the park opened.

 

[MonkeyPants]

Soarin for me, the line gets HUGE very quickly

 

[werfamily]

Wow, thanks for all the responses! We are from California so have experienced 'Soarin Over California' at California Adventure a bunch of times. I am surprised that it is a big deal in Florida too! Isn't it the same film (of California) and experience?

Now we have something to think about. While we absolutely love 'Soarin, it's the only ride of three we have done before. But...in order to expedite our line time, it seems like it still would be the best to do first. Our only other consideration is that our youngest is only about 43", so can't ride MS.

 

[DLBDS]

Soarin' for us after we grab FPs.

 

[loafskier]

I'm with sbakersub...a runner gets fast passes to Soarin and then we all ride Test Track and MS with no line at all. We hit Nemo and Crush before we ride Soarin'...Crush gets a long wait very quickly. We don't have a need to ride Soarin' first or early as long as we have a FP in hand to avoid a wait.

A side note: My whole family (me 39, DH 39, DD 9 and DS 6) enjoys Soarin' but we don't think it deserves the hype it attracts. It is a good ride and different than any other ride at Disney (then again, you could say that about just about all the rides at Disney...they are all quite unique) but we just don't think it is the best. I would rank about a dozen rides better than Soarin', maybe more.