Epcot in the PM and evening only?

[zaz]

Hi everyone,

I have a huge dilema. We have 1 day at Epcot this summer. We are a cast of 3 : DH, me and DD4 1/2 and 43 inches no shoes; 44 inches with shoes . The day before Epcot, we will be at MK until very late (after Wishes). We were thinking of sleeping in on the Epcot day (how much sleeping in can we really do with a 4 yrs old?), even get a swim in, then make it to Epcot. I'm thinking we could be there between 11 and 2 PM. We want to view Illuminations that night. Should we try to do early AM; sleep/swim at resort/then back at Epcot instead? We are staying in a DTD hotel, so travel might take some time.

Do you think it's feasible to have a 'relaxed' day at Epcot?

Would 11 be better than 2 or will there be no difference?

Thank you!

 

[nepalostparks]

Epcot is the largest of the parks in terms of size, so it requires a lot more walking from one point to the next. You can easily spend a full day or more if you want to experience all of the different attractions, entertainment, and spend time in each country in the World Showcase.

The only thing you might miss out on, or end up standing in a very long queue, if you arrive later in the day is Soarin'. Fastpasses can often run out by noon or shortly afterwards. So going earlier would benefit you in that regard by ensuring you can get FP and avoid the standby line.

As long as you know what you want to see, and are willing to miss some things, you can have a relaxed day for sure. I would suggest getting there closer to 11 as opposed to 2, as this will allow you to ease your pace as you try to see what you want.

Have a great trip! :wave:

 

[ratherbeinwdw]

Hi everyone,

I have a huge dilema. We have 1 day at Epcot this summer. We are a cast of 3 : DH, me and DD4 1/2 and 43 inches no shoes; 44 inches with shoes . The day before Epcot, we will be at MK until very late (after Wishes). We were thinking of sleeping in on the Epcot day (how much sleeping in can we really do with a 4 yrs old?), even get a swim in, then make it to Epcot. I'm thinking we could be there between 11 and 2 PM. We want to view Illuminations that night. Should we try to do early AM; sleep/swim at resort/then back at Epcot instead? We are staying in a DTD hotel, so travel might take some time.

Do you think it's feasible to have a 'relaxed' day at Epcot?

Would 11 be better than 2 or will there be no difference?

Thank you!

Huge difference. I concur with the other poster that you will probably limit your chances of getting a FP to Soarin if you wait until lunch or later. Also, the heat will be worse at 2 than at 11. I would go morning, then swim or nap in the heat of the day and return in the evening. Wednesday will probably be the best day since they have after hours on Tuesday until 12. Most parks are less crowded the day after late hours. Their early hours are on Friday in the summer, so Friday wouldn't be a good day to go there early since you aren't going to be in a Disney resort and be able to do the early hours. Even though, you would probably be able to get a FP if you get there by 11. The line for The Land gets long around lunchtime. We almost never have to wait if we get there during the morning hours.
Extra Magic Hours do change, so you need to check the Disney World site park hours a few days before you leave.

 

[zaz]

Thank you, I'll do that. See at what time we get up, don't rush, but won't go for a special lunch somewhere before hand. We'll make it to Epcot and have lunch there, after Soarin Fastpass (if any left). The rest we'll take our time to do.

 

[dreamfinder]

As the PPs said, the later on in the day you arrive, the harder it will be to get a Soarin' FP.

But you will really be more at the whims of your child. If they are capable of doing a full day after a late night, then they may be fine. But they may still want/need a nap mid day depending on where you are in the trip. You can easily have a relaxed day, but you may also eliminate some of the attractions right off the bat. Some kids love the travel movies, others don't like standing up looking at the screens for so long. I'd check out all the listed attractions, and see what you realistically think you and your family would want to do. Plan on spending time exploring. The World Showcase has lots of little hidden gems that most people never find as they just stay on the main path.

 

[Annielkd]

What I would do is go for the early morning at Epcott... leave AT 11... take a nap and then swim, and return to Epcott around 4 (it's much nicer then). This way you will be able to completly unwind and go refreshed. That's what we always do. My son usually gets a little cranky around 12... so leaving before the heat... usually helps a LOT.

 

[MissM]

Epcot lacks in shade. It gets VERY hot during the afternoon. If you get there are 2, you're going to be arriving in the worst of the heat.

Get there early, get your fastpass(es), hang out until lunch, then head back to the room, swim, cool off, nap - whatever - and them come back in a few hours.

Much more enjoyable that way.

 

[Gabe1]

We gave up on strollers by age of 4 for our children however at Epcot we did bring it. Consider if the child is willing bringing along an umbrella stroller. That park is huge for a little kids tiny legs especially when you are trying to pack a lot into a partial day.

I too agree with the go early, leave and come back. That park is hot in the afternoon. Or if you are going to arrive mid day do Future World where you are in A/C buildings until it cools down. Sunshine, in the Land is a great place to take a break and grab some lunch, snack or dessert, very cool down there and then hop on the Land ride.

 

[disneygirl76]

Hi everyone,

I have a huge dilema. We have 1 day at Epcot this summer. We are a cast of 3 : DH, me and DD4 1/2 and 43 inches no shoes; 44 inches with shoes . The day before Epcot, we will be at MK until very late (after Wishes). We were thinking of sleeping in on the Epcot day (how much sleeping in can we really do with a 4 yrs old?), even get a swim in, then make it to Epcot. I'm thinking we could be there between 11 and 2 PM. We want to view Illuminations that night. Should we try to do early AM; sleep/swim at resort/then back at Epcot instead? We are staying in a DTD hotel, so travel might take some time.

Do you think it's feasible to have a 'relaxed' day at Epcot?

Would 11 be better than 2 or will there be no difference?

Thank you!

Due to the travel time to a DTD hotel, I would suggest, "sleeping in" then a swim and then getting to Epcot around noon. That is still 9 hours until Illuminations. You most likely will not be able to get everything in, but you should have a leisurely day. I will say, my mom and I did a whole Day at Epcot. We got there around 10 or so - we had breakfast at GF that day. And we stayed until illuminations. We didn't do very much of Future World - Figment and Soarin' are the only two things I remember doing over there. We spent the rest of the time in World Showcase and needed to rush through the last few b/c we lingered and had a leisurely day at the rest of the countries. As long as you are okay with not doing everything, then you can for sure have a nice relaxing day.

 

[Clamman73]

Epcot rope drop, have a fun time in Future World for the morning, eat lunch at Sunshine, back to hotel, swim, chill, back to Epcot around 4, have dinner in a Showcase restaurant, visit each country, Illuminations, fight crowd back to parking lot. Done.