Touring Advice...Epcot? About This Page:

[Steph A]

We are planning our vacation in September and will be staying 5 days. I have 2 children DD age 4 and DS age 15 months.

Will they enjoy Epcot? I know that you can't compare it to MK but I hate to pay the price of admission to have to fight them all day. I have loved the park in the past but am not sure about taking young children?

TIA
Steph A
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[Kruggie]

Hiya Steph!

My son was 16mo old on his first visit to Epcot, and then a month shy of three on his second visit. He had a very nice time there, I think there is enough to see and do for the little ones there. The living seas was a big hit, Spaceship Earth , and Journey into your immagination went over very well. He also had a great time at inoventions east and west...there are lots of neat things they can get into there. We didnt tour the world showcase much, but I understand the kidcot stations are a hit, and of course if the little one isnt scared of fireworks..Illuminations is just awesome! Food Rocks in the land pavilion is a good one too! lots of neat things for little ones to put their hands on and a great lil' preshow before and the show itself is adoreable.
Hope I helped you some!

[ 04-10-2003, 12:43 AM: Message edited by: Kruggie ]

[Geri Alexander]

I hated Epcot when I was smaller, but it seems like they have made a huge effort to make it more "kid friendly" especially in World Showcase. I saw a lot of happy kids in February running around the kidcot stations.

Plus, I've always found it's a more relaxed atmosphere for character meetings.

I would say go for it! It's a HUGE park, and will take you a whole day, especially if you do World Showcase, but it can be fun for kids if you make the effort to hit all the "kiddie" activities.

[Pooh1219]

I'm not sure exactly what a 15-month old would get out of Epcot, but that's just my opinion. I think there's so much more for such young children at MK and even AK that I think I would spend more time at those parks. Have to say, though, I don't have any children, so I'm just using all my "aunt" experience here. My personal favorite is Epcot, but I'm considerably older than your kids!!

[SleepingB]

My three children enjoy EPCOT very much and have since very young ages. Spaceship Earth is a favorite and innoventions. Even things like the little games and tests in the Life pavillion are fun for kids.

However to be honest, if you are having to choose between parks and not park-hopping, the other three parks do offer more for younger children.

Of course, it is your vacation too and if you want to do EPCOT, there are plenty of things to amuse people of all ages.

Just my opinion,
SleepingB

[Mr.Grumpy]

I love Epcot and think the walk around WS is a great bonding experience for parents and kids. It is less hectic and there are great things to do in each country that would keep a kid interested.

Mexico - participate in the Mexican dancing show outside the pyramid (a few times each day)

Norway - play on the big pirate ship

China - watch the acrobats together (many of the acrobats are kids...Kids love to watch other kids)

Outpost - have the family play your own Tribal song on the drums

Germany - take a break from the sun and watch the show inside - great toy store as well - outdoor miniature continuously running train scene - kids love this

Italy - sit out in the courtyard and enjoy a musical show - get up and dance with the kids ... they'll love it and it will set a trend for others to join in

American Adventure - buy the kids each an American Flag and have them join in the march of the Fife and Drum Corps.

Japan - awesome and inexpensive Japanese inspired toys/ watch the ceremonial drum show together

Morocco - mom and dad take a child and split up. Play a game of hide and seek in the streets of Morocco....pick a meeting place maybe in front and meet Jafar, Jasmine and Alladin

France - good time for an ice cream and street players performance

England - go into the back courtyard and meet Pooh and friends sometimes Alice and Mary Poppins can be found as well. Make a phone call in the red phone booths to grandma...it will make her day and the kids will think it is awesome to use a real phone booth .... I don't think we have many of these in the US anymore

Canada - watch Off-Kilter on the outdoor stage. dance around ... the band will get a kick out of the kids bopping around and will get even crazier if they know the kids are enjoying themselves.

Don't shy away from a park like Epcot because it seems educational. Kids love it when their parents are interested in cool things. This is the teacher in me coming out. But from what I have seen, the kids that we have been to Epcot with ahve enjoyed the variety of things to do.

Of course, there is also Future World.

As far as costs, the 15 month old is free I believe. I think the investment in trying this park far outweighs the chance of disappointment. However, I do not think any kid can be disappointed with Epcot.

Best wishes - Have a great time.

[LilMarcieMouse]

The only tip I an give you is do Epcot Before MK. that can help the kids to enjoy it better.

[Goofy62]

Hi Steph A: I'm pretty much in agreement with everyone here. Epcot at that age is probably a 1 day park. And mostly Future World stuff. I would also try to make it my first day park as it would be a new thing and hold their interest longer. Once your childern get to 7 or 8 then this becomes at least a 2 day deal and they really become interested in what the park has to offer (both sides). Good Luck and Remember the Magic. Jerry [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]

[ariel1]

don't forget the freebies like trying on hats at all of the world showcase pavillions, all of the performance artists, and my kids' favorites- playing in the fountains and watching the big fountain.

[Dopey007]

When my son was 4 we went to Epcot on our first ever visit. It was hot and we had explored all of the appropriate attractions in Future World and were on our way into World Showcase when we spied the water fountain area where the water shoots up unexpectedly from jets in the ground. I changed him into his swimtrunks and let him go and play. I never laughed so hard in my whole life! The water would shoot up totally surprising him and then he would turn around to address the one that had just gone and another would shoot up behind him. Some of the jets shot up really high and when the water splashed back down, it would catch the back of his swim trunks and pull them nearly off! A crowd started to gather and he was totally oblivious to everyone. It was one of the most memorable occasions I have ever had at WDW.

He is now 13 but whenever we go to Epcot and walk past that area, I remind him of the fun we had when he was 4.

Bring a swimsuit and let them go crazy! [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]

[statelady01]

I also agree, do EPCOT before MK!

[Yoopermom156]

The first time we went to disney my daughter was two and the last time she was four. Epcot is a family favorite with us. The front section has plenty for the little ones to do. The living seas is her favorite. We rode journey into your imagination and Emily sang the figment song the rest of the day. The parade, which im hearing is no longer happening, is our favorite. It always brings tears to mine and hubbys eyes. The world showcase has the different kidstops. Emily loved it. It gives the kids something to do in each country. Alot of the countries have native shows they do like the acrobats, the drummers, and band in the UK.
Im including some pics so you can see how much she enjoyed it.

Emily in the store in Mexico


Emily in the outpost. This was sooo great. No one else was there.



Emily and Mickey. There is a Character Caravan. Its a bus with a bunch of characters on it. It makes stops and they all get off and do meet and greets.



Hope this helps you see that Epcot is fun for all and that your children should do fine there. Plenty to do for the little ones.
Dawn

[WillCAD]

You've gotten plenty of great answers above, especially the fountains on the walkway between Future World and World Showcase. Kids love playing in the fountains! Kids also love to watch the flying fountains in front of Honey I Shrunk The Audience. You can't dance in these, but a few of them are low enough to hit tall people in the face, and they are a hoot to watch as the water squirts in a perfect arc over the walkway to land in exactly the same spot each time.

I can only add that if you have park-hopper tickets, and decide that the kids are hating Epcot, get on a bus or a boat, or jump in your car, and go to another park. It only takes a few minutes by car, maybe 20 by bus or boat, to get to any of the other parks, and then maybe you can find some stuff your kids will like better.

[Luv2plan]

EPCOT is my husband's favorite so it was a must for us. My daughter was 14-months-old when we went last and really seemed to enjoy EPCOT - possibly because it was a little calmer and she could really look around at everything more. She absolutely loved:

Living Seas,
the jumping fountains,
the acrobats in China,
Rio del Tiempo ride in Mexico,
surprising to us - the Living with the Land boat ride
and just walking around World Showcase and looking at the lagoon.

She was not afraid of Spaceship Earth, but I had forgotten how loud it is at the beginning - to a little one anyway - and she wanted her pacifier. I know these are many of the suggestions you've already gotten but I thought you might like to know that someone the same age as your son really enjoyed them! Best for us was when we set off around World Showcase on the Mexico side a little before lunchtime and she was asleep in her stroller by the time we got to Rose & Crown Pub! We were able to keep her in her stroller and sit right on the patio with an nice breeze to cool us off during lunch. Have fun!

[dzlovesdisney]

Hi there,

Hubby and I took the boys to WDW for the first time last October, and they were 4 years old and 20 months old. We did Epcot as our first park, and they loved it. There are many things to do in Innoventions for them, and as far as the rides, they liked Spaceship Earth, Imagination, the Land and Energy rides. We also did the Living Seas but there didn't seem to be too much going on there so we didn't stay there long. There were a few shows we saw that they liked too, like Food Rocks at the Land. It was a great introduction to the parks for them because it was very relaxing. As for the countries, they liked the Mexico boat ride, but beyond that we were lucky enough [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img] to have them both fall asleep in the stroller for about 45 minutes, so we got to walk around the countries and enjoy the atmosphere. We also did a character lunch at the Garden Grill in the Land, the rotating restaurant, which went over very well.

So my vote is to GO FOR IT! Have fun!