World Showcase or Future first?

[tbuot]

We will only have one day for Epcot and I was wondering with two children (4,7) and two senior citizens which area should we do first in case they wear out and don't want to return for the evening? I would love to see the evening events but worst case scenario....

 

[susy]

Hi! Is this your first time at Epcot?? Where are you staying? We do this park every trip with our 5 year-old son and he loves it. So does my mom. It really is a park for all ages!

Epcot opens at 9am ,except for Wednesday when it opens at 8am for Disney Resort guests . If you are not staying onsite, I recomend that you not do Epcot on Wed.

Future World opens at opening,but theWorld Showcase does not open until 11am

I suggest concentrating on Future World in the morning and if you are staying onsite and CAN do Wed, by all means do so! If you want to have a great sit-down lunch with characters, you can dine with Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale at the Garden Grill at the Land pavilion. There are also many counter services restaurants.

I would definitely take a break after lunch and return to your hotel for a swim and nap. If you arrive back at Epcot around 4 or 5pm, you will have plenty of time to enjoy the World showcase!Some of the pavilions have rides and movies. The kids can stop at the kidcot stations in each country where they work on a "mask". My husband and I take turns staying with him at the station while the other one walks around in that country. They have wonderful sit-down restaurants or you can "sample" your way around the world with counter service fare.
See menus at wdwig.com

The official site -waltdisney world.com has descriptions of all the attractions.

Find a spot around the lake for the 9pm fireworks extravaganza, "Illuminations: Reflections of Earth".

There is a lot of walking , so I highly recommend the kids get a stroller . You just pay once to use it all day. Also, I highly recommend the break. You will be avoiding the hottest and most crowded time of day.

 

[MzCohen]

I agree with Susy. I was just in Epcot on 6/28. We were there as soon as the gates were opened. Quickly ran to get fast passes for Test track. While waiting for Test track we visited other areas of Future World. Kids LOVED "FOOD ROCKS" in The Land. Also Loved Figment of the Imagination. After we rode Test Track. We visited other areas in Future World until we were ready to go into World Showcase.

If you get into World Showcase before 3:30 you will still be able to sit down and eat in one of the restaurants and still get the Lunch prices. I suggest seeing if the Mime is still at France. He was wonderful. The kids loved him and his show pretty much centers on picking out kids from the spectators.

If you like Beer try the selection of Beers in England. You can also snack on Fish and Chips... YUMMY!! Take the Beverages and Fish and chips over to the little park area and catch the British Invasion (Beatles Band) excellent. You can sit and relax in the Shade (if you find a good spot).


Hope this helps,
Dianne

 

[tbuot]

Thanks for your advice! We will be staying onsite but won't be going to Epcot until Friday. I have been before but my parents, my DH and sons have not. We will be going next August and I am a bit concerned about the size of the park coupled with the heat and my dad has respiratory problems. Is the World Showcase a mob scene in the late afternoons?

 

[georgina]

We've been in august, and while it is hot to walk around, most of the things are indoors and air conditioned. World showcase can get crowded in the afternoon, but the place is so big that the crowd is spread out. It is not possible to see everything in one day, so I would pick out things you most want to do ahead of time, if possible. The kidcot stops kept our little ones interested in the world showcase, but mine were too young at the time to really appreciate Illuminations, which the adults really wanted to see. When we have more time, we like to visit epcot for shorter periods on several different days.

 

[donna in Oz]

Yes, the World Showcase does tend to get congested later in the day. Crowds tend to "migrate" there as evening approaches. But since WS doesn't open until 11:00, touring it in the early part of the day really isn't an option.

Are you also planning a day at the Animal Kingdom? If so, could you work in an extra evening at Epcot after the AK closes? If that's possible for you, you could see part of the WS that day (maybe take in Illuminations?) then finish it up on Friday. Would give you a little extra time.

I agree with Susie; if it's possible to adjust your schedule to be at Epcot on Early Entry day, it might be worthwhile for you. Even though it would mean an earlier start to the day, the kids could relax with the character lunch at the Garden Grill; this is a fun way to have lunch and relax, too. Plus, since the restaurant rotates through the "scenery", the adults in your party would enjoy it, too.