Getting the most from our day at Epcot

[UpAllNight]

We are returning to Orlando soon from the UK and one of our days we are doing a full day in Epcot. We went in May 2015 and we left after half a day. Just wasn't our thing I guess. On reflection we didn't tour Epcot well at all, doing World Showcase around midday and not stopping to watch any entertainment. So really I'm just after ideas on the little extras that people like to do to make their day at Epcot extra special? Open to all suggestions really.

I know this is difficult to answer as everyone has a different idea on what makes their day special, but if I can hear what you like doing, it will inspire us to get the best out of our day, and not leave and miss IllumiNations.

 

[Tom]

Personally, Epcot is the park I enjoy the most at night, especially after dark. If you pick an EMH night, hang out after Illuminations and just walk laps around the park. World Showcase is vibrant, while also peaceful after dark.

Hit Future World early, because you can pretty much hit everything by noon, then have lunch and maybe one more thing.

We always do that, then take a break at the room. Then go back at dinner time.

You can spend at least half a day walking World Showcase, if you go back in each pavilion to explore the details and shops.

 

[Marc Davis Fan]

I like to arrive around midday (or late-morning) and visit WS. Walk into/through each pavilion. There's so much amazing/beautiful stuff to see. Walk to the waterfall in back of the Canada pavilion, walk through all the winding alleys of the Morocco pavilion, go inside the temple in China (look up at the amazing ceiling!), go inside the pyramid in Mexico, etc. And of course stop for the entertainment, e.g., the acrobats in China are great. And obviously ride FEE if it's open by the time of your visit. Pick a place in WS in advance that you'll want to have lunch at.

Then I go to FW in the late-afternoon, and ride SSE, M:S, TT, and Soarin' (you didn't mention when you're going, so obviously it may not be open).

I return to WS in the evening, as it's a different place to walk around after dark, just beautiful. Have a place picked out for dinner.

Don't miss Illuminations. Find a spot with a clear view of the water in the center of the lagoon, and stake it out at least 45 minutes beforehand (depends on the crowd level that day).

I hope some of this is helpful. Enjoy Epcot!

 

[graphite1326]

My sister went there and called me about 4:00 in the afternoon ready to leave. I asked if she went on Soarin? Where is that? Did you go in the aquarium? There's an aquarium? How about the movie in Canada? We didn't go in any buildings except the one at Mexico to eat and we had tequila shots. Well did you go on the boat ride there? Didn't know there was a boat ride.

 

[hrusnica]

There are so many great places to eat in Epcot! We have young children and Akershus was our favorite meal. It had a relaxed pace, the food was amazing, oh and princesses- 4 of them! We had several character meals and this was hands down the best. I would go back just for the food, but meeting princesses here also saved us hours of waiting in lines at meet and greet locations. We spent an afternoon eating at the various garden festival kiosks and everything we ate was delicious!

 

[JIMINYCR]

I enjoy having conversations with the CM's that are from each country. They love to talk about their home countries, their distinct cultures, tell about their experiences while at Disney, and if you have a Disney passport they will write a message for you in their language.
Take time to really view the train lay out by Germany, theres a lot of interesting set up miniature things there you can find.
Look for the reverse flowing water fountain by Journey Into Imagination.
Stay to watch the amazing acrobats outside of the china pavilion, they will astound you.
In Mexico there a great mariachi band to entertain you as well.
Theres also the Phineas and Ferb game you can do as a family. Each country has areas that you seek out and activate.

 

[UpAllNight]

Personally, Epcot is the park I enjoy the most at night, especially after dark. If you pick an EMH night, hang out after Illuminations and just walk laps around the park. World Showcase is vibrant, while also peaceful after dark.

Hit Future World early, because you can pretty much hit everything by noon, then have lunch and maybe one more thing.

We always do that, then take a break at the room. Then go back at dinner time.

You can spend at least half a day walking World Showcase, if you go back in each pavilion to explore the details and shops.

Yeah I pretty much realised when I got back that we missed a trick not doing World Showcase in the evening when it was presumably more vibrant. It must have just been opening up when we did as some of it wasn't open yet and there wasn't much in the way of entertainment. We're not staying on property so it's probably going to be a case of staying there all day rather than popping back to the resort, which makes filling the whole day important

 

[UpAllNight]

I like to arrive around midday (or late-morning) and visit WS. Walk into/through each pavilion. There's so much amazing/beautiful stuff to see. Walk to the waterfall in back of the Canada pavilion, walk through all the winding alleys of the Morocco pavilion, go inside the temple in China (look up at the amazing ceiling!), go inside the pyramid in Mexico, etc. And of course stop for the entertainment, e.g., the acrobats in China are great. And obviously ride FEE if it's open by the time of your visit. Pick a place in WS in advance that you'll want to have lunch at.

Then I go to FW in the late-afternoon, and ride SSE, M:S, TT, and Soarin' (you didn't mention when you're going, so obviously it may not be open).

I return to WS in the evening, as it's a different place to walk around after dark, just beautiful. Have a place picked out for dinner.

Don't miss Illuminations. Find a spot with a clear view of the water in the center of the lagoon, and stake it out at least 45 minutes beforehand (depends on the crowd level that day).

I hope some of this is helpful. Enjoy Epcot!

Thanks for your reply.

Yeah we definitely didn't go off the beaten track enough around World Showcase and explore enough...it's something I'll bear in mind Illuminations will undoubtably improve our Epcot experience significantly.

 

[Disneyfreak Jen]

I'll be visiting again in the fall, as I've done the past few years. You didn't say if you had kids or if you're doing an Adult trip. This is my Adult only Solo trip plan for arrival day at Epcot. I hope it will give you some good ideas!!!!

My plan for arrival day is to land at MCO about 8:30am, get to Epcot by around 10:30/11. Since I will have a FP at HS that evening for Toy Story, I'm going to enjoy a FP free day at Epcot. My plan is to beeline it to Sunshine Seasons and devour a chocolate chip muffin, then hit Living with the Land, which is one my favorite rides. I'm also planning on doing Spaceship Earth on standby, and heading over to the Seas to enjoy the aquarium. Not planning on Soarin' as standby will be too long and I will FP it on another day. Club Cool will be calling my name, well, everything there but Beverly will be calling my name , as well as the Figment store (I still love him but I miss the 80's super cute Figment!).

After that, I'll head over to World Showcase and wander around the Food & Wine festival and eat my way around the world. I'll be stopping off in the shops that are in each country, watching the film that each one offers, and enjoying the shows. I love the drummers in Japan, the Flag throwers in Italy, the Chinese acrobats, and even though the performer in France makes me so nervous with his acrobat skills I'll stay for his show too. .
There really is a lot to do, Epcot is not a park that is to be rushed. The "little things" make it worthwhile. (The trains in Germany... Canada is so pretty, as well as China, and the Patisserie in France has good desserts.) Really go into the nooks and crannies of each country and you'll find out that there really is a lot to offer and keep you occupied.

 

[UpAllNight]

There are so many great places to eat in Epcot! We have young children and Akershus was our favorite meal. It had a relaxed pace, the food was amazing, oh and princesses- 4 of them! We had several character meals and this was hands down the best. I would go back just for the food, but meeting princesses here also saved us hours of waiting in lines at meet and greet locations. We spent an afternoon eating at the various garden festival kiosks and everything we ate was delicious!

We've definitely thought we could use this day to do more of the Character meets and I've heard good things about Akershus. Problem I have is I love food too much...stick me in front of a good buffet at breakfast and I fear for my health.

 

[disney4life2008]

I'll be visiting again in the fall, as I've done the past few years. You didn't say if you had kids or if you're doing an Adult trip. This is my Adult only Solo trip plan for arrival day at Epcot. I hope it will give you some good ideas!!!!

My plan for arrival day is to land at MCO about 8:30am, get to Epcot by around 10:30/11. Since I will have a FP at HS that evening for Toy Story, I'm going to enjoy a FP free day at Epcot. My plan is to beeline it to Sunshine Seasons and devour a chocolate chip muffin, then hit Living with the Land, which is one my favorite rides. I'm also planning on doing Spaceship Earth on standby, and heading over to the Seas to enjoy the aquarium. Not planning on Soarin' as standby will be too long and I will FP it on another day. Club Cool will be calling my name, well, everything there but Beverly will be calling my name , as well as the Figment store (I still love him but I miss the 80's super cute Figment!).

After that, I'll head over to World Showcase and wander around the Food & Wine festival and eat my way around the world. I'll be stopping off in the shops that are in each country, watching the film that each one offers, and enjoying the shows. I love the drummers in Japan, the Flag throwers in Italy, the Chinese acrobats, and even though the performer in France makes me so nervous with his acrobat skills I'll stay for his show too. .
There really is a lot to do, Epcot is not a park that is to be rushed. The "little things" make it worthwhile. (The trains in Germany... Canada is so pretty, as well as China, and the Patisserie in France has good desserts.) Really go into the nooks and crannies of each country and you'll find out that there really is a lot to offer and keep you occupied.

Am I reading this correctly: you land at 830am and plan to be at Epcot by 11am? Did you account that it will be a good 30 minutes from gate to luggege or DME. Then another 45 to an hour from mco to hotel or even to Epcot. Maybe you can do it but just think about your timing.

 

[copcarguyp71]

Two times...Early morning when the streets or pathways are still wet and the park seems "untouched" and then the other time is EMH's that go until after midnight because you can appreciate things so much more not being in a hurry or being jostled by crowds.

 

[UpAllNight]

I'll be visiting again in the fall, as I've done the past few years. You didn't say if you had kids or if you're doing an Adult trip. This is my Adult only Solo trip plan for arrival day at Epcot. I hope it will give you some good ideas!!!!

My plan for arrival day is to land at MCO about 8:30am, get to Epcot by around 10:30/11. Since I will have a FP at HS that evening for Toy Story, I'm going to enjoy a FP free day at Epcot. My plan is to beeline it to Sunshine Seasons and devour a chocolate chip muffin, then hit Living with the Land, which is one my favorite rides. I'm also planning on doing Spaceship Earth on standby, and heading over to the Seas to enjoy the aquarium. Not planning on Soarin' as standby will be too long and I will FP it on another day. Club Cool will be calling my name, well, everything there but Beverly will be calling my name , as well as the Figment store (I still love him but I miss the 80's super cute Figment!).

After that, I'll head over to World Showcase and wander around the Food & Wine festival and eat my way around the world. I'll be stopping off in the shops that are in each country, watching the film that each one offers, and enjoying the shows. I love the drummers in Japan, the Flag throwers in Italy, the Chinese acrobats, and even though the performer in France makes me so nervous with his acrobat skills I'll stay for his show too. .
There really is a lot to do, Epcot is not a park that is to be rushed. The "little things" make it worthwhile. (The trains in Germany... Canada is so pretty, as well as China, and the Patisserie in France has good desserts.) Really go into the nooks and crannies of each country and you'll find out that there really is a lot to offer and keep you occupied.

You sound as much of a dreamer as me when a I picture my first day on Holiday!

We're not travelling with Kids. 4 of us in total. I'd say we like pretty much all aspects of Florida theme parks, but the extent of our love for Disney within the group varies. I think the order you do the parks when visiting can have a massive effect on how each park is perceived....we did Epcot the day after Busch Gardens, and it all seemed a bit too tame for the more thrill seeking members of the group. But I have no doubt if we'd have done Epcot before Universal and Busch etc that our overall perception of the place would have been much higher.

 

[Disneyfreak Jen]

Am I reading this correctly: you land at 830am and plan to be at Epcot by 11am? Did you account that it will be a good 30 minutes from gate to luggege or DME. Then another 45 to an hour from mco to hotel or even to Epcot. Maybe you can do it but just think about your timing.

I've been successful with this time frame almost every time I've gone in the past, I'm keeping my fingers crossed I have the same luck this time too.

 

[hrusnica]

I've been successful with this time frame almost every time I've gone in the past, I'm keeping my fingers crossed I have the same luck this time too.

This is similar to what my family did last week. We arrived at 9:00, took the magic express to our resort. Checked our carry-ons and made it to the park well before noon.

 

[danyoung56]

I'm not sure if anyone else mentioned this. But one of the most incredible musical acts in the World Showcase is the Voices of Liberty. They perform in the rotunda of The American Adventure building, usually 15 minutes before the main show. Try to catch at least one set - they really are amazing!

 

[SAV]

Another vote for the Chinese acrobats. And Illuminations is a MUST.

In general, just slow down and explore each country and take in the details. The Mexico pavilion is amazing. Watch the movies/show in each one. Get a pastry from the bakery in France and sit at a small table and enjoy it. Go to the store in Japan and if you find it interesting, "Pick a Pearl".

And if you partake, you can "Drink around the world" and have an adult beverage in each country.

In Future World do Soarin', Test Track, Spaceship Earth, Explore the Seas Pavilion, the Land Pavilion. If you are wanting a good laugh go and see Turtle Talk with Crush. Make sure to stop in Club Cool and try the FREE coke products from around the world.

 

[blueboxdoctor]

I find the countries to be best later in the day/night time. Everything is lit up really nice (though, the downside is some characters won't be out, and they usually have a good selection of characters, and in the day time they sometimes have a sort of surprise character spot, forget what it's actually called, but they'll open up a side area with some of the rarer characters) and it seems to come alive then. Plus, it's a decent walk so it's better when it's cooler out. I don't really watch many of the shows, so I can't comment much on those (just stick around sometimes for the band at the UK section and some of the performers in Italy, China, and Japan, though, during Christmas time there are more specific shows so they are neat, but other than that, those are the countries I can think of with shows I have watched). Norway is also getting the Frozen ride (or maybe it is done now, not sure) so if it is open when you are there it may be of interest.

And where you want to eat is your call, but for counter service I like the Mexican section (and they have a nice indoor area you can bring your food to). For an actual sit down meal the options open up a lot, so it really is whatever you prefer (though, I wasn't a fan of the sit down at the Mexican section, and the French restaurant didn't do much for me).

There's also all of Future World if you go there for the first half of the day.