Will kids 8 and 4 enjoy Epcot?

[mommyaof2]

I was wondering if girls 8 and 4 will enjoy Epcot? I can remember as a child being totally board with it. I know things have changed since I was last at WDW but any advice would help. I need to know how many days to allow to see Epcot.

 

[ajleone]

IMHO EPCOT is Awsome. My son(8) loves it. There are some great rides now. Also theres whats called kidcot- at all the pavillions kids get to put together a piece of a mask and the CM's from that pavillion stamp it with a stamp in their language. Also theres a sticker stamp book you can buy that as you go to the different pavillions your kids can have that signed and they put the stickers in place -its really pretty cool.An epcot guide map shows where all the kidcot areas are.

 

[disnut8]

We took our then just turned five year old granddaughter to Epcot for her first visit a few years ago. She loved it. She did the passport and the mask (you don't have to do the passport, the masks at the Kidcot places are free). She loved the entertainment and learning about the different countries. We had a world map with us to help out as well.

For her second trip last Christmas, she insisted the first thing she did was Epcot. She had fallen in love with Off Kilter at the Canada pavilion and wanted to see them first. She's seven now and didn't lose her love for Epcot. The last time, she went on a pressed penny hunt for a penny from each of the countries. It was quite an adventure since some of the machines aren't even in that country. My son had her ask at each country where she could get the penny. Had her talking to the Cast Members quite a lot. Another idea would be to collect a postcard from each country and have the Cast Member checking you out sign it.

Make it educational without the child knowing it. Lots of fun for everyone that way.

 

[la79al]

I wasn't sure about taking our DS8 and DD4 to Epcot last year because I thought they may be bored. However, 4 year old wanted to get on the ride inside the big ball, they both loved the living seas, especially Turtle Talk with Crush, they loved Soarin' though it was difficult getting fastpass for that, they liked honey i shrunk the audience though 4 yr old was a little scared, and 8 year old liked test track. We didn't really get to do World Showcase because of the rain but maybe try the rides in norway and mexico and the movie in canada.

 

[Stacerita]

The first time I took the sweetpea to Epcot she was 8 and she loved it. Its one of our fave parks. There was a lot to do and kept her attention all day long. On our last trip there she found even more things she enjoyed.

I think their enjoyment depends on your attitude when introducing the park to them. If you show it as purely educational and not fun, then they will see it as such. But if you show them how fun the park is and how different it is, they will get much more out of it.

 

[LaughinPlace289]

I visited Epcot around that age so I'm speaking from personal expirience here. I recall loving Future World. I thought Spaceship Earth and Body Wars were awesome. I found World Showcase rather boring though.

 

[MinnesotaChill]

We just returned and spent much more time at EPCOT this year because the kids adored it. We spent hours in Innoventions, and we really focused on Future World. We tend to cut through the countries on our way to the monorail from BW, so they've also done those. They think it is pretty cool to try different foods from around the world. We've gone three times with them, they are now 6,7,7 and they've had a blast each time for different reasons. Isn't that what is so cool about WDW?

By the way, the hedge maze behind England and the model train in Germany were also huge hits!

 

[Cmbar]

We just returned and my son (8) said his favorite park is Epcot! I kinda looked surprised but he said there were lots of hands on things for them to do. They loved Innoventions both sides, but mostly West. It gives them a chance to play, use their brain and bodies and not just wait and then see a show or do a ride. He loved Soaring and both my kids 6 & 8 loved CRush.

Now that being said, I would not do Epcot for more than one day unless you plan a day with Future world and maybe some of the courtries. Or if you really like to go around the countries and do the Mask or passport then you can do that as a evening park. While your their eat at LeCellier!

Only you know your kids and what they like to do. My kids are far too shy to go around the countries and ask for stamps and stuff. It would have been a struggle, so they wanted to stay in Future world.

 

[bicker]

Our DN6 gave us his ratings for the four parks: MK was #1 by a mile -- twice as good as any of the others. AK and D-MGM came in second. Epcot was his least favorite, with only Soarin' being worthy of his positive review. (To be fair, Test Track was undergoing rehab.)

 

[KimWDW]

My 3yo LOVED Epcot. He loved Soarin', Figment Ride, Norway boat ride, Mexico boat ride, he even liked The Land (boat ride). They would love The Living Seas and they'd love Test Track, too.

Just don't spend too much time shopping in the World Showcase, that seems to be what bores the kiddos. And don't bother with any of the movies.

 

[cleo]

Our 7, 9 and 13 year olds love Epcot. The 13 year old has a friend coming for a visit in April and we said we'd visit 2 parks (along with loads of other Orlando area stuff the friend has never seen). DS had to choose 2 parks and he said "Epcot for sure. Maybe Magic Kingdom if we have time, and AK for Everest."

When I've asked him in the past which park he wants to see first he always says Epcot (this has been since he was 8 or 9 years old). Your milage may vary, but our boys love Epcot.

 

[jeankeri]

Yes! Mexico has a very cute boat ride; your 4 year old might not like the one in Norway as much- pretty dark in places. We did the masks and passports our first time; it was a race to finish them before we left the park; and the passport line in Japan was the longest line we waited in that whole trip. The performances are also good, especially the acrobats in China and the candy lady in Japan. We also enjoyed the bellydancer in Morocco- time your meal with one of the performances and ask to sit by the stage. My boys were 8 & 6 the first time we did these and asked to repeat them all on our last trip.

 

[BrerRabbit_fan]

Our 5 and 7 year old loved it. We dressed them up in each country for a crazy pose. They had fun with autographs and learning words in each language.

 

[aunt kelly]

Your kids will love test track, soarin, and turtle talk in Future World. They will also probably enjoy the place where you sample cokes from around the world. The dancing water fountains are fun also. I think the best gift shop in WDW is in Future World.

I totally agree with the poster that said don't spend a lot of time in World Showcase. My kids were 7 & 5 the first time we visited World Showcase. After spending the morning in Future World, (which the kids loved and this was before Soarin and Turtle Talk) we hopped on a boat to the World Showcase and ate CS at Germany. After lunch we leisurely strolled through the World Showcase on our way back to Future World, where we hopped a bus back to our resort. I don't think my kids had the energy or patience at that time to spend a lot of time in World Showcase (especially after spending the morning in Future World). The next trip the kids were 10 & 8 and they were ready to spend more time exploring World Showcase.

 

[eeyoregon]

Epcot has a lot to offer and is a more mellow pace than the chaos of MK. Living Seas Aquarium is awesome - love the manatees!!! Soarin over California = super awesome! Spaceship earth seems to facinate the young. Both of my boys loved "The Land" boat ride and learned some new things while having fun. Journey into IMagination w/ Figment is a kid pleaser. Test Track (not sure if 4 year old is tall enough) is AWESOME!! Also, Universe of Energy is really cool and full of dinosaurs! And last but not least, Illuminations laser/firework show is beautiful and a wonderful way to end a magical day.