As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
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There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
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To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
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If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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So although this will be my 5th WDW trip we have spent VERY little time at Epcot.
Background- I visited for my first time in 2002 (at 24 years) and thought it was incredibly boring and even skipped it the next two visits thinking that there would be very little for my young son. During our last visit in 2008 we visited ONLY to get to our Coral Reef reservation and my son (3 at the time) loved the few rides we went on and I really enjoyed much more that I expected.
So this year we are visiting with my own family (including 5 year old boy and baby girl) as well as friends (2 adults) one of which hasn't been to WDW at all yet. Given that we do have young kids and one that is visiting for the first time I'm trying to decide how much time to plan for.
How much time do you spend? We have quite a few dinners scheduled there so we will end up there 4 or 5 times during. I had originally planned on one day there but seeing as we're visiting in August and my kids don't really do that well in heat we may be taking breaks in the afternoons which will cut into our touring time (which is fine). I think the closer I get to departure day the more I question all my choices!
We usually spend more time in Epcot than any other park... I know. DS is 9 now, but we started going when he was 5 and Epcot has always been his fave (with the one exception of the fact that it is not the home to his favorite ride - RnRC). One of the great things about Epcot is that there are little, usually overlooked, things everywhere for kids. (in Future World as well as the countries) A great way to see some things you may have not noticed before is to do the Kim Possible missions. We've spent tons of time in Epcot, but those had me noticing things I had never seen before and were really fun (for kids AND adults). Don't worry if you aren't into the show...the only one of us that had any clue who the characters were was DNiece, but it didn't make one bit of difference. Have a great time!
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MNSSHP 2015: DH (Bane), Me (Batgirl), Genie, and our friends
We spend the most time at EPCOT. My grandson started coming to WDW at age 5 and he enjoys EPCOT more than MK . Make sure you visit NEMO and take your son to Turtle Crush.
My kids always loved getting the Epcot passports with a signiture from each country. They still do this & they are teenagers now. They enjoy the shopping in the different countries too.
I've never been thrilled with Epcot either. It always seemed boring to me (sorry to those of you who love it!) However; it may be because I was never able to immerse myself in the park because the kids were bored and antsy.
The next time I go, I'll be with only adults -- so maybe I can stop and smell the roses and will come back with a different opinion!
we spend two days at Epcot-soaring, test track, visit all the countries-see all of the performers,, eat at 3-4 restaurants, visit art of Disney, take our time to take in all of the sights-peoples-lake,etc.
We spend more time in this park than any other. We enjoy the food, the attractions, the shopping. There is so much to see and do. This year we plan on 1 1/2 days
To us this park had the least "magic" but has the best dining choices and some great elements. For example, my favorite ride is here (Soarin). I did not get to enjoy international showcase as much as I would have liked because the kids were antsy but now they have the mission impossible feature that should make it interesting. Although it was not our favorite parks, it still had some of our favorite memories. We did go two days. Its a big park and attractions are further apart from each other so that takes extra time.
We loved Future World more than the World Showcase, though the showcase was pretty neat. We all loved Test Track and rode it multiple times! Nemo and Crush are also lots of fun! We went to the princess breakfast in the showcase...lots of face time with the princesses, but only counted as one sit-down meal. We spent nearly two days there.
I think esp since there are children, a plan would be to do 2 half days, 1 day for FW, and 1 day for WS. You could do Epcot FW getting there at park opening, then go back to resort for a mid day break, then do another day going to WS after your mid day break.
WS doesn't open till 11? anyway! Maybe do this on a day you have ADRs there, and stay for Illuminations.
We do two days at Epcot. Day 1 is Future World only. Kids love everything in The Living Seas Pavilion and we have to practically drag dd out of Innoventions. Soarin is a must do. Figmet is fun and the kids have a blast playing in there afterward. I love Spaceship Earth and we have to do Test Track too. Day 2 we may sleep in a bit and then get to Epcot by 11 when World Showcase Opens. We spend all day there. DD loved the Kim Possible missions and making her mask and having her passport signed. There are lots of characters and entertainment in WS, so that takes up lots of time too.
My husband always thought Epcot was the most boring park, but now he loves it... For us, it's definitely a slower paced park...we're not running for fastpass return times and trying to make the most of our time on rides. We kind of just meander. Hope this helps!
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My DD age 7 loves epcot, it was her fave park, she loved the Kim possible mission and the characters, she likes the rides at MK but we spent 13 straight hours at Epcot.
We also spend more time in Epcot than any other park. I always plan a minimum of two days there and usually a lot more, as there's nothing we love more than wandering around Epcot.
Get your 5-year-old going on the Kim Possible missions, and I bet you'll need at least a half day doing nothing much else.
They're basically a scavenger hunt by means of a cellphone-like clue giver. Really very cool! As mentioned above, you'll see lots of things around WS from following up on mission clues that you otherwise might not notice. Some clues have you point the "Kimmunicator" at an object hinted at by the clue and stuff lights up, makes sounds and sometimes moves.
We're middle-aged and were having such fun doing missions that we had to force ourselves to quit or risk being late to an ADR!
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
I prefer 2 full days but for the rest of the family, they only want 1 day.
That means we don't get to see the shows at World Showcase or really relax and enjoy Epcot. And that usually includes a 3 hour break in the afternoon so sometimes we don't even get through all of World Showcase.
I'm going to try to get them to go for a day and a half next time.
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I know. DS is 9 now, but we started going when he was 5 and Epcot has always been his fave (with the one exception of the fact that it is not the home to his favorite ride - RnRC). One of the great things about Epcot is that there are little, usually overlooked, things everywhere for kids. (in Future World as well as the countries) A great way to see some things you may have not noticed before is to do the Kim Possible missions. We've spent tons of time in Epcot, but those had me noticing things I had never seen before and were really fun (for kids AND adults). Don't worry if you aren't into the show...the only one of us that had any clue who the characters were was DNiece, but it didn't make one bit of difference. Have a great time!
. Make sure you visit NEMO and take your son to Turtle Crush.
Jen
Andie
Hope this helps!
Cassie
PassPorter Guide Author
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