World Showcase for young children

[MalkaR]

I'm planning a short day at Epcot. I'd like to do Spaceship Earth, Seas with Nemo and aquarium, Soarin', Living with the Land, Gran Fiesta Tour and Test Track. Is it worth trying to squeeze World Showcase in? The kids will be 7, 5 and 4 and fall apart at about 2 or 3 when we do day trips, so I'm guessing that on a week-long Disney trip, we will only have till 1 or 2pm. I'm counting on lots of bathroom stops. We will be bringing lunch with us, so no waiting for food. We've never been to Epcot and I'm not sure if there will be a return trip. Try to get to World Showcase? Yay or nay!

 

[Eastern]

I might do WS starting from Mexico or on the other side, UK, and walk about halfway around. Take the boat back so you don't have to walk the entire way around, which is long and takes time. Going around the entire WS is too much walking for little kids.

 

[Happy_Haunt999]

I would definitely do the WS with kids that age. Like a previous poster said, use the boats. Also, is it a possibility to go in the AM, go back to the hotel and get in pool time, naps etc and then go back and do the WS? That would probably be better for all of you.

 

[jawa7400]

We didn't do WS with our kids on the last trip but are going to try it again this go round. We will do FW in the am and WS after a midday nap. We are stay at BWV so it's an easy walk back and forth. That would be my suggestion since your kids are older. Like PP said use the boat and only do half. However, if you complete FW and your kids aren't feeling it, don't feel bad.

 

[TexasKiwiPrincess]

We took the girls to WS for the first time when they were 5 & 7 and while it wasn't their favorite part of the trip, they enjoyed it. We purchased the EPCOT passports for them ($12) - they are little passports books with stickers for each country and you can have them signed in each country at the Kidcot stations. If I had it to do over again, I would take the boat across first, catch Voices of Liberty in the American Pavilion, possibly watch the American Experience film, then walk the WS towards Mexico. Germany made quite an impression on the girls at that age mostly due to the trains, the gift shop/toy store and the caramel shop. Finish with the Three Caballeros boat ride in Mexico.

 

[abnihon]

I'm planning to do it on our next trip when DS is 4. We'll have a stroller in case he's tired.
There are characters and entertainment in the countries and I hear a model train in Germany.
I think he'll like it.

Plus I love it and wouldn't miss it!!

 

[RedStars]

We've gone twice to WS with our young kids and are going again next month (they're 4 and 7 now). There's a lot to do for kids: the various country performances, kidcot stations, and lots of snacks.

 

[ariane37]

I like pp's suggestions of doing FW in the morning, taking a break at your resort if possible, and going back for WS. Maybe then your kids will make it into the evening? There actually is quite a bit for children in WS. You can get a passport as TexasKiwiPrincess mentioned. They can also get what WAS for the longest time a Duffy bear on a stick to color at each of the KidCot stations, where a CM would stamp the stick with a Mickey stamp related to their country. Since Duffy has left the parks it may be something else now.

There are quite a few characters in the WS-Daisy, Aladdin and Jasmine, Belle, Snow White, Donald Duck in his sombrero. In addition to the Voices of Liberty and the American Experience attraction in the American Pavilion, there are acrobats in China your kids may like watching and the performer in France, Serveur Amusant is fun to watch. I can't remember their name but there are drum players in Japan. And the Gran Fiesta boat ride is over there inside the Mexico pavilion so you'd have to head that way anyway if you want to do that attraction.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[kren250]

You could see how they handle the Mexican pavilion, which you'll need to go to anyway for Gran Fiesta. Next door to it is Norway, where I think (????) the Frozen ride will be open by then, if you are going in 10 months like your ticker says. I would imagine the kids would like to see the Frozen stuff.

After that, you could see what kind of moods they're in, and it they seem willing try visiting more countries. Maybe bribe them with treats;-).

 

[Happy_Haunt999]

I like pp's suggestions of doing FW in the morning, taking a break at your resort if possible, and going back for WS. Maybe then your kids will make it into the evening? There actually is quite a bit for children in WS. You can get a passport as TexasKiwiPrincess mentioned. They can also get what WAS for the longest time a Duffy bear on a stick to color at each of the KidCot stations, where a CM would stamp the stick with a Mickey stamp related to their country. Since Duffy has left the parks it may be something else now.

There are quite a few characters in the WS-Daisy, Aladdin and Jasmine, Belle, Snow White, Donald Duck in his sombrero. In addition to the Voices of Liberty and the American Experience attraction in the American Pavilion, there are acrobats in China your kids may like watching and the performer in France, Serveur Amusant is fun to watch. I can't remember their name but there are drum players in Japan. And the Gran Fiesta boat ride is over there inside the Mexico pavilion so you'd have to head that way anyway if you want to do that attraction.

Enjoy your trip!

The Taiko Drummers in Japan. Also, there are flag performers in Italy. Another thing they could do is the Agent P World Showcase Adventure: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/attractions/epcot/agent-p-world-showcase-adventure/

 

[maw]

I just wanted to echo how cool the passports are. My kids are 9 and 5, we just did a few countries this trip and will save the passports for the next trip. The girls really enjoyed talking to the CMs at the countries. For some reason our EPCOT day always ends up being the hottest day of the trip. They were tired but did like the boat and looking at the different countries. And I totally bribed them with ice cream!

 

[Planogirl]

Our son was good with World Showcase if we didn't dawdle. He would wait patiently for me to do a bit of shopping but he did get antsy if it took too long. So we compromised where I would wait while he watched the trains or played at a fountain and then he would wait while I shopping at a few favorite stores. He never cared for the kidcot stations or particularly liked most performers so that made it a little harder but we did OK.

 

[LISAVWL]

Our kids love the World Showcase and have since they were little. We used to play "Character hide & seek" back when they had more characters throughout the countries. They love to explore the country, stop at the Kidcot stops to decorate their masks and check out all the entertainment. We did the passports one year and they were a HUGE hit! I'll second the Agent P Adventure - a lot of fun!

 

[stormer]

Definitely do World Showcase. There are things that will interest them. My boys have loved WS since they were little. We used to do the passport and they loved it. If you go to the Creative DISigns section you will find really cute kid friendly ones you can print at home. We let them color at the Kidcot spots in some of the countries. They also enjoyed the entertainment on some of the countries. They loved Sergio in Italy. Agent P is really fun also.

 

[SaintsManiac]

We did WS 2 times with DD5 in December. The character meets made it worth it! We grabbed a cronut to kick it off, watched O Canada, met Mary Poppins, met Belle, ate yummy pastries in France, shopped in Japan, met Mulan, met Daisy, did more shopping, ate more food...you get the idea. It was a success in my opinion

 

[mousegear]

When our DS was young, we would make some kind of special trip to make it through the World Showcase. I made passport, getting some ideas from the creative board, so he was excited to get the stamps from each country. We also did the character pictures and signature from each country as well. Also during the Food and Wine Festival, we would snack around the world. Now, he is 12 y/o and love the World Showcase.