Epcot Tips
Epcot is my least favorite of the Disney theme parks, by a mile. The theme is educational and learning and BLURGH! Give me my thrill rides! However, Mr. Husband and Alexis both love it, for different reasons. He's a fan of the World Showcase while Alexis is a fan of the few rides that are there.
Epcot involves a lot of walking . . . a LOT of walking. However, it can be done at a pretty leisurely pace, so it's good for a "down" day when you don't want to be racing to get on rides and such. There are some great playgrounds hidden around the park, so if you have small kids, it's pretty fantastic to find a bench and just hang out while your kid(s) burns energy.
Anyway, here's a few things I think when it comes to enjoying a day at Epcot:
Epcot Tip #1: As soon as you get into the park, go get a Fast Pass for Soarin'. Trust me on this.
Epcot Tip #2: If you get to Epcot early in the day, head straight back to the countries (after you get your Soarin' Fast Pass). I know it's tempting to stop and look at all of the stuff that you see when you first come in, but that's exactly what everyone does. The lines go down substantially a little later in the day, plus, all those air conditioned exhibits are much sexier when the sun really starts beating down. P.S. The "ride" that goes through the giant golfball is L-A-M-E. Everybody stops there when they first get into the park, so if you wait until later in the day when the line goes down, you won't hate yourself quite as much.
Epcot Tip #3: I hope you showed up to Epcot hungry because the best food Disney has to offer is there. The nachos in Mexico are not anything spectacular in the grand scheme of Mexican food, but yet I love them. A lot.
The real star of Epcot, though, is the bakery in Paris. Z.O.M.G. The pastries are pretty reasonably priced ($3.50 for a slice of cheesecake, for example) and did I mention Z.O.M.G.? The strawberry tart, people. THE STRAWBERRY TART. The strawberry tart is so phenomenal that I walk right past the funnel cake stand in America to get to the strawberry tart.
(Side note: lots of people would argue that the true star of Epcot is the ability to drink your way around the world. I can see how that would be alluring.)
Epcot Tip #4: We made a reservation at one of the full-service restaurants this year for the first time. And, while it was nice, I have decided I'd rather graze my way around Epcot. Still, if you're interested in eating at one of the full-service restaurants, you can make reservations online here (do it as early as possible for best availability) or stop into the particular restaurant at any time. Sometimes when it says there is nothing available online, there are still openings, so it's worth checking.
(We ate lunch at Via Napoli. It was $40 for a large cheese pizza. It was VERY good, but it wasn't $40 good, IMHO. For the record, I think that if a pizza costs $40, it should change my life.)
Epcot Tip #5: The shows, "rides," and movies at each of the countries are hella lame. And I do mean LAME. I think everyone should do them each once, but don't feel bad if lines are long and you decide to skip something.
Epoct Tip #6: There are real Smarties at the shop in Canada. Totally made my day when I discovered that little tidbit.
Epcot Tip #7: Alexis really, really, really enjoys the Kim Possible game that is featured at Epcot. You start at one of the Kim Possible stations (there are several all over the place--for example, just inside Innovations at the front of the park, one near England, one near Mexico, etc). It's basically an electronic scavenger hunt. You get a cell phone that is programmed to give clues and you have to find things based on the clues/photos provided. We were pretty leisurely about the game, taking several breaks to do other things and then resuming when we were ready.
Epcot Tip #8: Another Alexis favorite is the Finding Nemo ride. It's back up near the front of the park. Lines are a bit long in the morning, but if you wait until a little later (around 2:00 seems to be good when we're there in March--not sure about other times of the year), a lot of times there is little or no wait. We always end up riding it three or four times because she likes it THAT much. The grown-ups like it because it involves sitting and air conditioning. Make sure you stop at Crush Talk before you leave.
Epcot Tip #9: After Soarin' and Nemo, the other thing Alexis insists on riding is Test Track. Get a Fast Pass for it as soon as you're allowed. (You're only allowed one Fast Pass at a time. I'd definitely take Soarin' first based on what I've seen with lines and availability. There will be a time printed on your Fast Pass that says when you're allowed to grab another one, so that's when to grab Test Track.)
Epcot Tip #10: Epcot is a fantastic place to catch a lot of characters. There is an organized, indoor spot for Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Pluto, and Donald near the front of the park. You wait in line once to meet all of them. Right outside of that building you can find Chip and Dale.
Around the World Showcase you can find Snow White, Jasmine and Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Marie, Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, and probably a few others that I'm forgetting.
Epcot Tip #11: Coca-Cola's Club Cool is the stickiest place on earth. It's a little shop in the Innovations pavilion and allows you to sample (free!) carbonated beverages from around the world. Some of them are absolutely disgusting (I'm looking at you, VegitaBeta), but some are really very good. But, hooboy, the floors there are insanely sticky.
Epcot Tip #12: The Illuminations show that goes on at park closing is pretty amazing. There really isn't a bad spot to see it, but there are "better" spots. For example, check the direction the wind is blowing. If it's blowing towards you as you look out on the lake, you may end up with a face full of smoke. Go sit on the other side. Also look out for large posts and anything else that may end up blocking your view.
If you want one of those better spots, you'll have to find it a bit early. I like to be right at the entrance to the World Showcase or on the bridge between France and England, but like I said, really anywhere around the World Showcase is good. Alexis *hates* fireworks, so we haven't gotten to stay and watch it in the past few years, but if we had, I would have found a place to sit and then sent the husband to go buy some food to eat while we waited for the show to start.
What did I miss, almighty Disney gurus?
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Reader Comments (27)
i like epcot better than animal kingdom. The food is great and I love to eat! It's too bad you haven't been able to stay for the fireworks. Theirs is the best for all the parks I think. Great tips though. Hopefully I'll remember some of them when we finally get back to Orlando.
Man, you're really testing my ability to wait a full year, aren't you?
No mention of Figment? That "imaaaaa-gin-aaa-tion" song is still trapped in my head.
Figment! Figment! Figment!
In all seriousness, you are absolutely correct about the walking. There is so much walking that if it's late July and you are 7 months pregnant, you might just cry from the heat and the walking. Maybe. But I wouldn't know anything about that. *ahem*
On extra tip, you can enter EPCOT in the World Showcase. It's back near France and England. I'm blanking on what transportation takes you there (maybe just a boat?) but if you want to bypass all the stuff in the front of the park, it's definitely the way to go.
Well, this isn't so much for the younger crowd... But me, I'm a HUGE fan of Mission: SPACE (the tame version, anyway). Perhaps it's just the NASA nerd coming out in me, but when I was there this last May, I got quite gleeful about it (including reverting to my own inner child and actually, literally jumping up and down and giggling uncontrollably when we got "selected" for our roles).
Also, for the Disney nerds out there, I'm also a big fan of Ellen's Energy Adventure (also, not really for the little ones, it's LONG) -- those cars run on a teensy-tiny cable that's...1/8 inch thick? Amazing.
I've always, ALWAYS loved the Living Seas...as a child, and now (and yes, I even think the new Nemo ride is a cute addition)...
Test Track just rocks, end of.
I actually really enjoy Spaceship Earth - moreso since they refurbished it and made it a little more updated. But the real prize is the "playground" after.... Similarly, Innoventions and the "playground" at the end of the Figment ride are also buckets of fun (both for kids and us kids at heart!).
I oh so totally agree with you, though, on Soarin'... It's one of my favorite rides, ever. SO AWESOME. Props to whoever came up with that brilliant little brainstorm...
Ahem... And I would be remiss if I didn't highlight one other little, teensy-tiny, itty-bitty thing...... Captain EO, anybody? I do believe it's still at Epcot (temporary replacement for Honey, I Shrunk The Audience -- and a much better show, IMO)... Love. So much love. It's cute, it's pretty epic if you consider that it was filmed in the 80s (and give it some leeway for the bits of the 80s that still come through)....and hello, Michael Jackson. Singing, dancing, 3-D... AWESOME. When I was at WDW, it wasn't yet fully installed, but when I went to Disneyland, it was... I saw that show 14 times in 4 days. GO SEE IT (if it's still there when you go, of course). :)
Conceptually I feel like EPCOT has been stuck in a really weird limbo for many years now. For the first 10 years it was certainly a mellow park, what with all the edutainment and such - but it was also a real showcase for all of the grooviest technology and special effects. No one went there for big thrills, but the technology of something like HORIZONS in the late 80's was actually pretty groovy (what with the big IMAX screens and choose-your-own video ending) -- and the Innovations area always had at least 2 or 3 things that would generate conversation (anyone else remember the first time you were able to design and ride your own roller coaster on those touch-screen monitors? Mind-blowing stuff back in the 80's)
But even then, it was a hard sell to get kids and thrill-seekers there ... so I understand the desire to bring in the fun stuff, but I don't think any of the newer thrill rides warrant any fierce emotions one way or another. And World Showcase hasn't really changed in nearly 20 years.
The park is stuck in this weird middle-ground space attempting to please everyone but not emotionally connecting with anyone. It used to be the place where you went to chill out a bit after the hectic pace of Magic Kingdom, and would come home talking about all the futuristic technology and ideas -- now it's just this bizarro mix of dry, dated rides and a globally themed eating/retail area.
I know this sort of post should make me not want to hide under the sofa until my kids are past Disney age, but it's all just so intimidating and confusing!!!
If you're there during the holidays, you can make your lunch or dinner reservations work double time. We had a late lunch reservation in Germany that also got us priority seating passes for the Christmas Choir show AND for the fireworks at the end of the night. Not having to fight the crowds for a good spot? Worth the price of a sit-down lunch. It's not well advertised, we only heard about it when the guy taking our reservations over the phone suggested it. (Side Note: If you're not making reservations ahead of time and waiting until the day before or day of? Call the reservation line - don't try walking up!)
They may offer something similar other times of the year, minus the choir show, but we haven't made dinner reservations when we've been there outside of December.
Epcot is my 2nd favorite park (after MK). Soarin is my favorite ride. We usually get there early, grab a fast pass, then jump in the still-short standby line, so we get to ride twice.
The food is the best in Epcot - between all the countries and Sunshine Seasons over in The Land, you can actually get healthy, delicious food (which isn't always easy in WDW)
If you can go during the Food and Wine Festival - GO. Instead of the normal countries to choose from, you get an added buttload of kiosks from different countries, each selling a couple of traditional foods, wines and beers.
If you hit Club Cool, be sure to try the Beverly, It's delicious (*snort*)
We just capped our own family vacation to Disney a few weeks ago and I have to say you are spot on in your assessment of Epcot.
The two big draws are Soarin' and Test Track, both were excellent, but get a Fast Pass.
We gorged ourselves at the French pastry shop. (eclairs, napoleon, mousse, THE strawberry tart) we had a sit-down lunch in China (excellent food, prices were reasonable) We had dinner in Italy, Tu Ta Italia I think is the name, expensive, but it's a fancy sit down place so, not bad. The food and wine were excellent. as were the deserts.
Some of the country rides were cute (Mexico), others (I'm looking at you Norway) were just stupid and made no sense. It was all cruise ships, oil rigs and trolls, and an overzealous video from 1983. Skip it.
We ended up on the bridge in Venice watching the fireworks, very cool to see Magic Kingdom show in the background at the same time.
You're right, compared to other Disney parks, it's a bit lame. Nemo ride and aquariums are a must visit though.
Glad you guys had fun.
@Michelle--I *loved* Caption EO. Alexis thought it was the most terrible, horrible, awful thing of all time. Too loud and too scary for her wimpy little self. ::eyeroll::
@Bex--Prime Time Cafe at Disney Studios is one of our must eat places. I tried to make an advance reservation online and none were available. I tried calling the morning that we were headed there. Nothing. Then, at 5:30, we decided to just see if there was anything. Five minute wait. Sometimes (not always) there are apparently openings that don't make it into the computer system.
@tehamy--Figment can bite me. Such a waste of a potentially good character . . .
When we go it is always the first week of Decemeber and I agree completely with the order you have given here (so it works other times of the year). Fastpass for Soarin and then the World. The World Showcase on a hot afternoon will make the experience miserable. If you are there when it is hot, stop in Italy for a ice cold shot of Lemon Cellio.
Last year when we were there, they had a mask that kids could pick-up at the first country and then stop and decorate and add to it at each country. Kept Juliana interested in going to each place and we could sit and enjoy a drink while she was working on her project.
We had free dining on our last trip (look for packages that include it) and we always eat at a sit down restuarant each day - and make reservations 90-days in advance. We tried Akerhaus in Norway last year and in my opinion, it is the best place if you need to see all of the Princesses - they come to each table. Dinner includes an 8x10 of your child(ren) and Belle - at least it did last year. And the food was much better than I expected.
The Japan Candy Lady. The Japan Candy Lady. The Japan Candy Lady.
This is a must see...she makes animals out of candy. Sounds kinda lame, but her personality is hilarious. Youtube her.
Also, the organic restaurant inside The Land is amazing. They have specialty dinners served family style and all of their ingredients are very fresh and healthy.
And finally, hidden Mickeys make the waits in lines much more fun.
Otherwise...a great recap, Michelle!!
Epcot is actually my favorite park. I love the world shocase and it's a great "slow day" to just wander and graze.
Side note, if you don't mind a bit of flirting, it's easy to eat for free in Italy (if you get a male waiter). I've done that more than once. And who doesn't like Italian food? And no. Having the husband along would not stop me. He'd be happy we had no bill.
Morroco actually has my favorite food though and the most wonderful service. The sampler platter feeds at least 2 or 3 people and the little touches like washing everyones hands with warmed orange water at the end of a meal is absolutely luxuroius. Sadly, I havent been able to scam free food there with eyelash batting.
oh, I just thought of another tip...
If you like to cook and find you just LOOOO-OOOOve the food at a certain restaurant (Hello, Marakkesh), they will sell you (cheaply) a cookbook with the recipes on their menu. and yes, they taste exactly the same.
OK. Kim Possible. We decided on our last trip to do this with our boys (then 7 and 5). FAIL! Youngest Boy freaked the frickety frack out because he thought there were ACTUAL bad guys in WDW and he and his brother had to REALLY save the "world". Yowza! We took those little transmitters back to the same station we picked them up in - about 2.3 seconds later...
Epcot is my second-favorite park (MGM is my fave, er, I mean Hollywood Studios). I like Mission: Space and the kids love playing in the planets (it's closed in enough that even a small newly-walking munchkin can enjoy it without you stressing about losing them).
Not planning a trip but like your tips regardless. One question though...Disney parks arent dry? By dry I mean free of alcohol. It seems weird to me that an amusement park geared toward children (of all ages granted but you know what I mean) would have alcohol concessions. Who the hell wants to walk around Disney, ride rides & chase kids while drinking? That sounds like a horror adventure to me.
@mindymin--Parts of Disney are dry, but not all of it. It's fairly recent that Epcot became SO open with the alcohol, but even there it's done sort of subtly because everything is integrated into the countries. You just can't have Germany without a Biergarden, y'know? Given that everything is at Disney prices, it would require pretty deep pockets to get carried away with the booze, too.
Yeah thats valid. I hear people complain here that Kennywood is dry...really? I couldnt even imagine riding coasters drunk. Ugh. That just sounds vomit inducing. LOL
One word. Jealous!
If "Grandpa" screwed up and didn't book a Princess Lunch before you got to Florida....Epcot has one and not many people know that--you could get a reservation for 13 people the day before....in a very busy July.
i thought a love of fireworks was born into pittsburghers!
also, what are "real" smarties?
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Keep the lists coming - I'm printing them and will review them closer to our trip! You're the best!
EPCOT is my favorite park. I have a story about losing 2 1/2 hours and $200 in the tequila bar in Mexico.
Figment is one of my favorite characters and he really embodies the spirit of what Disney stands for. Remember though if you do get to the park early, yes, Soarin' fastpass is a must, but remember World Show Case doesn't open until 11 so go ride "Living with the Land," "Journey into your Imagination with Figment" and 'Finding Nemo" Those lines usually don't exceed 20 minutes.
Or stop and have breakfast at the Sunshine Seasons food court inside the Land Pavilion.
Those random playgrounds are their just for the Flower and Garden festival. They disappear in May and they might install one or 2 during the Food and Wine Festival that runs end of September until Mid-November.
The videos in World Showcase may be boring, but in the hot afternoon sun a 20 minute break from the heat in an air-condition theater is amazing and you can catch a nap too! Or you can take a longer nap on the 45 minute, hasn't been updated since 1994 Ellen's Energy Adventure.
Epcot has the best Quick Service Restaurants, know as QSR's. Stay away from the crappy Electric Umbrella and dine at a QSR at one of the countries or once again the Land Pavilion's SunShine Seasons food court.
The masks kids use to color and get random paper attachments too are gone and have been replaced with a picture of Duffy, The Disney Bear. Same Concept you color Duffy and go around to different spots and collect stamps, but here's something fun you can do with your kids that makes a free souvenir. When you go to each country ask the cast member to write a message in their native language. Like maybe the word Hello, Welcome or some other word.
Here's my tip for Illuminations: At the front of World Showcase there are two stores. If you are facing the two stores and the wind is blowing at you MOVE or you will get smoke and firework fallout dropping on top of you. If it isn't, shortly before the show mill about the store. When you here the announcement the show is going to begin. Exit out the back of the store and you will have a great view of the show.
I can say more, but Michelle might kill me if I go on. She knows I can go on for hours.
Someday.
I agree with becoming-mommy, Morroco is the best food at Epcot! We like to eat at the countries and will park hop around all day to eat there. The rides are a bit corney, but my kids are corney so it works well! Soarin is the best and the fast pass is the only way to go. My kids also liked the tour with the hydroponic gardens and the *green* theme. The story books lunch at Norway is a must for Princess lovers. The food in Norway has gotten better as well! We do love Epcot, I think because it is a slower pace and we can chill a bit. A great place for character meetings. Also, if your kids are older and don't mind riding alone they can stand in single passenger line at Test track and ride several times without a line.