World Showcase Favorites!

[HollyJoy]

I'm now COMPLETELY stressing over our trip! LOL I'm still in the process of getting all my notes together, and I've realized that I've focused so much on MK, that I don't have much jotted down for Epcot! I have two girls, ages 7 and 5, and I was wondering what your favorite things to do in the World Showcase are! Things that kids will enjoy!

Thanks!

 

[dvcfamily41801]

We love the Kidcot Stations where you can make the mask and get something from each country to add tot he mask, as well as a stamp.

This trip we are going to get Matt a World Passport and he can have fun doing that.

Of course, love finding the characters in each country.

Have a fantastic time, and no stressing allowed

 

[AFMom]

My kids had the best time at Epcot - it was our first time and I was worried they wouldn't like it. They are 6 and almost 8, and both really liked Mission Space and Test Track (even though they hate RNR and won't go on TOT). The Imagination Institute ride with the little Figment dragon was neat for them, and the Norway boat ride was ok. I think what they liked the most was getting their home-made passports stamped. I left a lot of room on each page, and in each country the person working the station would write their names, hello, and welcome to whatever country in their languages, as well as stamping it. They also really liked the masks they were able to make. I'm sure your kids will have a blast!

 

[HollyJoy]

You've peaked my interest!! Homemade passports! How did you do this. This is a great idea! Would save $$ too!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

My kids (7 & almost 5) liked World Showscase:

finding characters

exploring " side streets" (esp. in Morroco)

playing n the boat next to Norway Pavillion

El Rio del Tiempo & Mexican marketplace

Norway gift shop and Maelstrom ride

 

[Noelle]

I noticed you'll be there during the christmas season. My children loved the different Holiday Storytellers in each country. It actually took us 2 days to see all of them. But we got our pictures with each one. My kids really enjoyed hearing about how the children of these different countries celebrated the season.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

My neices loved the mask making stations.

The older one, 11 at the time, was enchanted by the holiday storytellers & the candy lady in Japan. She also loved the acrobats in China and the living statues.

(the living statue scared the little one though, who was I think 2 on her last trip)

 

[AimeeM]

In one of the Innoventions.. you can take a picture of your family & email it home! And its free!! You can make a short video at Mission SPace and do the same thing. They take your picture, and stick on this little funny cartoon video and you email to someone for free. That was fun. Over in the land, downstairs in the food court, there is a place for kids to be Chef's for a Day. Its sponsered by Nestle, and they get to help make cookies which magically bake in 30 seconds, and come out in bags for the kids to take with them They also got to keep their chef hats!! We loved that!! Check out the jumping water fountians over by Honey I Shrunk the Audience. Keep an eye open for the times there are characters over by the lake. They come in on a double decker bus and stay for about 20 minutes. If you time it right before they get there, you can hit quite a few characters before others know they are even there!! Mickey and Minnie are always there. Walk back behind United Kingdom. Right around the gazebo where The British Invasion plays is a hedge maze that my kids love to run around in. Its great because you can sit back there and relax in a park like setting while the kids play in the maze. ALso, Pooh & the gang & Mary Poppins have meet & greets right inside the store beside the park. Thats where the kidcot station is too. Check your times schedule and see if the candy lady is in Japan. My kids love watching her and seem to always end up with a special lollypop! Ride the Norway ride ( Maelstrom) and check out the giant troll in the gift shop at the end.. we always get our pic taken with him. Inside of Mexico is a really neat place to see. There is also a boat ride in there. Try and find the living statues too. They used to be in France, but they may be in Italy too. Im not sure. Over at the African Outpost, there are drums to play. We like to stop there and play them. Stop by in Germany when the clock strikes the hour and watch the cute display that comes out. There is always characters to be on the look out for too. All this PLUS rides, attractions. I know I have said this before, but the more we go to Disney, the more we love Epcot and the more time we spend there!!

 

[HollyJoy]

Originally posted by AimeeM
Check out the jumping water fountians over by Honey I Shrunk the Audience. Keep an eye open for the times there are characters over by the lake. They come in on a double decker bus and stay for about 20 minutes. If you time it right before they get there, you can hit quite a few characters before others know they are even there!! Mickey and Minnie are always there. Walk back behind United Kingdom.

I'm assuming that this bus comes in the United Kindgom?

THanks everyone for the great ideas! Keep them coming!

 

[ErinInCT]

I just PM'ed you about my homemade passport. We got lots of compliments from the CM's.
I did not think dd4 would like Epcot. Turned out to be our favorite place. Next time I would honestly plan 3 days! 1 for FW, 2 to do the whole WS.
DD loved TT & Ice Station Cool (tricked dh into drinking the delicious Beverly!). We did not even get to Figment & dd had wanted to do the Junior Chef program (basically you get to bake cookies) at The Land (near Sunshine Food) but never made it there either.
The masks at the Kidcot stations were great. At the 1st country ask for a mask & they will give you a mask & a charm to attach to it. Each country gives a different charm & will stamp the handle of the passport. The kids can decorate them at each country. The stations are pretty well marked.
We got dd a fan from China with her name printed in Chinese.
Girls love to pick a pearl in Japan & have a necklace made from it.
We liked Maelstrom in Norway & the boat ride in Mexico. DD & Dh danced to the mariachis outsdie Mexico!
We saw TONS of characters, especially princesses! It was just a nice relaxing time!
We need to go back so we can finish it!!! We only made it thru half the countries!
Check out the other thread (World Show Case Secrets) for more info!
Erin

 

[WDW LOVR]

My kids LOVE the World Showcase Players. They perform at Great Britain, France and I think sometimes Italy. They do a short crowd participation street play.

They pull people out of the crowd to help in the skit and of course, make you look foolish (been there, done that, twice!). The boys especially enjoy the Search for the Holy Grail skit that is done in GB.

All the other things people have mentioned here are great.

Epcot is our favorite park. Don't be in a hurry, we still discover new things every trip. Talk to the CM's about their home countries. They love sharing information and love it when someone shows an interest.

The best tip for Epcot is to go to the World Showcase when they open at 11:00. Most people spend the morning and early afternoon in Future World. Lines can be long. If you go to WS early and head back up to FW in the mid to late afternoon, you can do everything there with virtually no wait and then go back to WS for illuminations.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We love sitting in the outdoor dining area of Tangerine Cafe, eating, while we watch Illuminations. It's not the best view of Illuminations, but it isn't very crowded in that area either.

 

[Dreamin' Disney]

On our last trip, we toured though all of FW and did the rides there, but didn't plan enough time to do anything in WS except walk around.

This time, we are planning a full day there. I think we should be able to tour each country and check out all they have to offer.

There is another thread called World Showcase Secrets, or something like that, with lots of hints on things to see in each country - like the garden maze in United Kingdom!

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

Erinin Ct

Can you PM me about the passports, too? I'd love to do this.

Thanks!

Holly Joy,
The character bus comes to the front of Epcot. As for walking around toward the back of England, that's where you'll find the hedge maze.

Hope that helps.

 

[3MouseMom]

We do a few things only in FW and try to get to WS quickly. I know there is great stuff in FW, but we really like the countires the best. Each land has something...acrobats, bands, candy lady..something neat to see or do. Our kids loved playing the african drums with the stroytellers, and our dd was called up to be part of the living statue show. It was great. The masks are fun and free. We love looking for princesses in all the back streets. Our fave was meeting Belle and Beast ALONE in France. I bet we were there at least 5 or 6 minutes before somone else came. This year we are on a Jasmine kick, so I hope we can find her!

have fun!

 

[Bella34]

Thanks for all the great info about Epcot. I think my two DD's will love it on our fast approaching trip - does that countdown actually say 19 days???!!!



AFMom - Can you PM me with the info on the homemade passports also? I would appreciate it !

 

[HollyJoy]

Originally posted by SnoWhiteRabbit

Holly Joy,
The character bus comes to the front of Epcot. As for walking around toward the back of England, that's where you'll find the hedge maze.

Hope that helps.

Do you mean to the front of World Showcase, or the main gate to Epcot?

THanks!

 

[disneymania]

Don't miss Off Kilter performing in Canada. They are play bagpipes, etc. to rock music. really fun!! Also, we loved the Beatles type of band in back of Great Britian section. It is the park our family always has the best time in. Slower paced & very easy for kids to see characters without huge lines. Get a schedule of events when you come in & try to hit some of the performers. The Jamminators are great too. They are in FW & have a great band made up of garbage cans.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

Originally posted by HollyJoy
Do you mean to the front of World Showcase, or the main gate to Epcot?

THanks!

Main gate.

 

[AimeeM]

no no no.. The Character Bus will stop in between FW & WS near the lake. If you walk into Epcot, past Spaceship Earth... keep going straight. Past the tip board and the dancing fountain. Keep walking straight towards World Showcase Lagoon. There is a little area there were the bus will pull in. Its marked on your time schedules that you will pick up next to the maps (which is also makred for a character meet & greet) . They are there a few times a day. Get there a few minutes BEFORE the bus gets there for the best chance for no lines. Once people realize the bus is there, more people come. They arent there very long, so if you time it right, you can get most of the characters! Most people also wait for Minnie & Mickey & Donald, leaving open all the rest. Id say maybe 10-12 characters are there.