World Showcase Day

[mom2cgj]

This is our first trip to EPCOT (not to WDW - we just haven't done EPCOT before as we didn't think the kids were old enough to enjoy it). For our next trip, I am planning 2 days at EPCOT - one for Future World, one for World Showcase. What I'm wondering is - will WS take up the whole day? I have NO idea what all is there. I do know that we want to snack around the world (no ADRs for the day), and the kids will want to do the kidcot stations. There is the ride in Mexico that looks interesting, but the movies aren't really our thing. How long would you spend in each country? I don't want to rush us around and then have a bunch of free time at the end, but I'd like to get a general idea so we don't have to miss have the countries because we started out moving too slow. Are there some countries you would spend more time in than others?

 

[Alesia]

We spend 4 half days in the world showcase and still never find time for the movies.

My daughter was 9 on her first trip. I thought we'd spend about 45 minutes in each country, but I was way off. She spent 90 minutes in china just playing with the puppets and toys.

 

[disnut8]

You could think about not doing Future World one day and World Showcase the second day. You could do half of Future World and half of World Showcase the first day and see how that goes. You could do a big FastPass attraction in Future World that first day early, then do something like Living Seas or Imagination, then start to walk around World Showcase, have a lunch, and see how it goes.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Many people will spend lots of time in World Showcase. For us, not so much. I have boys who were 12 and 14 last time. We did stop for the ride in Mexico, the American movie, and had a few snacks along the way. Still was pushing it to stretch the afternoon until our dinner ADR. Granted, they didn't do Kidcots, so that would take some time. But basically walked around each area, went through some shops, and were ready to move on. I'm still trying to figure out what we missed that would have taken us a whole day!!! So many people say they need two days for Epcot--we've done fine with just one. FW until lunch time, World Showcase after that until dinner. Then pretty much ready to go, maybe hitting a couple more rides on the way back out.

 

[scrappinginontario]

The Kidcot stations in each country are basically the same as far as I'm aware. There is a cardboard Duffy the Bear on a stick that they can colour. The CM will add a stamp from their country to the stick and possibly write something (Child's name, hello, etc.) on the bear or stick but that's about it. Once they have coloured their bear stopping at Kitcot in each country will not take a lot of time.

Basically we find the Epcot for kids really depends on what they like to do. If they like to look at the different stores and see the unique toys and gifts there it will take time. If your child is not a 'shopper' it's a different story. We like watching the shows in the different countries and the movies are great...and a nice break from the heat.

We enjoy hitting our favourite rides in Future World on both days then visiting parts of World Showcase each day too.

I'm sure you'll enjoy Epcot!!

 

[amomma23]

We like to take the left, right approach rather than FW, WS. We spend one day doing Test track and basically working our way back toward Germany. The other day we do Soarin', Nemo, etc. and work our way back to WS on the right side. We enjoy WS, but don't care to devote a whole day there. The kiddos would have a hard time walking past FW without doing anything there.

 

[lizard1]

It depends on what you like. There is a lot of shopping...we could spend hours in the Japan store alone. We had 3 half days at Epcot and still didn't see 75 percent of the world showcase. There are also shows in the countries if you stop to watch (not movies). If your kids like to meet the characters, there are many throughout. We tend to spend the longest in Japan and also quite a bit of time in Morocco, Germany, and China....my kids have never even made it to the ride in Mexico because we always run out of time!

 

[LisaCM614]

We love exploring the countries in Epcot. My kids enjoyed Agent P's World Showcase Adventure. They also like to poke around looking at the details but only because I encourage them to notice. Walking around World Showcase can be very tiring - it is a long walk. Stopping and snacking along the way is fun. Before the kids got braces we would stop in Karmel Kuche and then take our treats to watch the mini train and wait for the cuckoo clock to go off. we have spent a lot of time poking around Japan and China - the exhibits are very interesting. It is fun when you bump into some entertainment such as the acrobats.
World Showcase does not open until 11AM - that might be a nice day to let your family sleep in!

 

[nat8199]

I expect that between meeting characters, watching performers, and eating you could easily spend an entire afternoon and evening in World Showcase. We aren't big shoppers, but there is also just so much to look at in the different countries stores, windows, and displays that you can easily spend a lot of time just wandering.

The way that I would do two days in Epcot, though, is pieces of FW each morning, lunch in a country, and then wandering WS for the afternoon and evening.

 

[DisneyHardin]

DH and I don't have any kids, but World Showcase is our favorite part of Disney. There are quite a few character meets in the WS. It is neat to look at the stuff in the shops and of course get a snack and/or drink.

 

[slp87]

When DD was younger, we always took a day to go through the countries and work on her Kidcot mask (this was before the days of Duffy). She knew we would make stops at each pavilion, so she would just color a little at each station. One time she asked the cast member to write her a message in his/her language on the back and we would take their picture. The passports are a great souvenir and pressed pennies from each country are also fun. We've taken pictures of DD holding a flag from each country, wearing a hat, or holding a stuffed Mickey(or other character) in the native clothes of the country. We loved exploring all aspects of the pavilions and taking in the live performances. Be sure to catch Serveur Amusant in France, great fun! We're planning to see Sergio the juggler in Italy on our next trip. You'll have a blast!

 

[DisneyCAL]

You could spend days there. I don't think a whole day is needed for Future World but World Showcase can seem endless. What I wouldn't give to spend a half day just in Japan's Marketplace (omg Pocky and Saki and Maki!). Even without viewing the shows there is still tons to see. IMO I would do a morning 9-1pm in the Future World and the rest at the WS. My DH absolutely loved the UK, grabbing a beer and listening to the bands was so much fun. Im not sure how old your kids are but there are also meet n greets at each showcase. If you have a daughter, definitely treat her to the Japan Pick a Pearl! I'm excited for you that you have more than a day for Epcot. Have fun!

 

[joe1946]

Don't forget that WS doesn't open until 11:00

 

[JimmyV]

World Showcase is a litmus test to see what kind of Disney guest you are. There are those who believe that if you are not riding a big attraction, or waiting to ride a big attraction, then you are wasting your time. There are others who can easily while away an hour in the museum in Japan, and another hour and a half in the department store there. If your family falls into the former category, you can zip through WS from 11:00 and be done by 3:00, and that assumes that you have a leisurely table service lunch. If you fall into the latter category, you will need more than a full day for WS. As noted above, you should consider splitting your Epcot days so that there is some Future World and some World Showcase in each day rather than doing all of one on one day and all of the other on the second day. I find that this breaks up the monotony and allows you to truly immerse yourself in the hands-on stuff in Future World instead of bouncing from one attraction to the next. Same with World Showcase. It is more fun to completely absorb a country before moving on without feeling the need to "pick up the pace" in order to complete the circuit all in one day.

And a world about "shopping". The stores in World Showcase are not really souvenir shops as much as they are department store type shops. Yes, the requisite gifts, t-shirts and coffee mugs will be available everywhere. But if one goes into, say, the store in Morocco looking for a Disney souvenir, they might turn around and walk out in about 30 seconds. But if you take the time to look at the different spices, and food products, and woven items, and brass items, you might look at your watch and realize that you spent an hour in there. For some, this is a great way to spend an afternoon. Others think it is crazy to devote time to doing this. This is why you will see all sorts of opinions about Epcot in general and World Showcase in particular. No one can predict what another person will like. I could give you my "Top 10 things to do and see in WS" and you might do all of them and conclude that I am insane. Or you might thank me for turning you on to stuff you never would have thought to do, or seek out. No way to know. Just give it a try with an open mind and see where you end up.

 

[tooh8ful]

We have typically spent three days at Epcot on each trip. The majority of that time is WS and it has NEVER been enough! I could fill pages with the things we HAVEN'T done/seen yet! WS is without a doubt my favorite part of WDW. Obviously how much time you spend there will totally depend on your family but there are plenty of things to do there, enjoy!

 

[Minnie-Maniac]

How long is your entire trip going to be. When my family goes for 7 days we give Epcot 2 full days(1 at Future World and 1 and World Showcase.) I don't think my family could do WS in just half a day and we have seen a lot of it already. Also WS doesn't open till 11 A.M. as stated in a previous post. Our family always has a Dinner reservation somewhere in World Showcase so we stay the entire day. If we see we have seen what we wanted to see in WS we just sneak over to Future World again to get another ride on Soarin' and Test Track.

 

[bbjunkie]

I could spend DAYS in the World Showcase with my 9 year old daughter. All of the performers in each country are worth seeing: the acrobats, the Liberty Singers, etc. I personally think that everyone should see the show at The American Acventure. (It is not a movie as someone stated above). The pick-a-pearl in Japan is great. (You can purchase cute pearl cages online inexpensively so you have a place to put a chosen pearl immediately without spending extra money on settings there) Participate in the Agent P World Showcase adventure. Enjoy some amazing warm caramel corn from Germany on a bench as you wait for Illuminations to start. Of course, there are a lot of character meet and greets, some funny comedians with audience participation shows, etc.

All of that being said, I think the overall best touring strategy for Epcot is the right-left way as others have mentioned. Because Future World opens at 9:00 and World Showcase opens at 11:00, if you do Soarin, The Seas, and The Land in the morning, then head to the right side of World Showcase, then the next day do Test Track, Mission Space, Spacehip Earth and head to the left side of World Showcase (either starting with Mexico or taking the ferry over to wherever you left off the first day) it can save a lot of walking and is more efficient use of your time.

 

[Aerinha]

If your children like Hello Kitty you will spend hours in the Japan store while they decide what Kitty item to purchase. I have never seen so much! WS to me is really about shopping, as it is one of the few places where stores don't all sell the same stuff, and eating as its QS are not typical park fare and are unique. There is only one ride thanks to Maelstrom's demise and Donald grates even if I wasn't miffed they ruined a childhood love by ducking it up.

The movies aren't really worth it IMHO as they are outdated. Plus whoever decided standing for them all had clearly never schlepted to the back of Epcot in 90 degree temps. Sitting would not only be restful, but a swiveling chair or a tilting one like in imax theaters would allow better 360!viewing. They all need to be reshot to refelct current day and turned into imax or Soarin type experiences. The Canada one was kind of funny, but I was ready to run for the exit in China.

 

[stormer]

Definitely think about a passport. My kids loved doing that. I didn't buy it there. There are amazing passports in the Creative DISigns section of the boards. I printed a passport for each kid on card stock and then bound it. I carried them with us in a ziplock Baggie. My boys lived getting it personalized in each country. If you are planing on doing the Kidcot stations, that is where they do the passports too. It us an awesome souvenir.

My boys also love the Agent P game. We usually do it in two different countries each time. It takes about 30 minutes and is really cute.

We also love watching the entertainment in each country. I think Setgio in Italy is probably my kids favorite, while I live the band in England. We try to watch at least one movie each time and then the kids don't mind.

We also stop for snacks, too. There are a lot if characters to see, also. We love World Showcase. It is all his you present it to your kids. My boys have loved it since they were 2 and 4.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

I can attest to a previous poster about being the more leisurely Disney guest. I enjoyed trying to get everything done when I was younger, but now that I'm older (and can drink), I find the WS a great experience. I'm perfectly happy walking around the WS with a drink in my hand and just embracing the atmosphere. Now I do feel with the loss of Off Kilter and the world showcase players some of the atmosphere has been lost, but that doesn't mean I still don't enjoy the leisurely walk around. I will say, I also always go over the holidays, so 2 days is in no way enough time for the WS with the holidays around the world going on.