The idea of touring Epcot with kids intimidates some parents. It's too big. It's too adult. It's too--drum roll--educational. Some even think you can't get a true taste of all that this sprawling park has to offer in a single day. But, as they say in the France pavilion, au contraire. Jordan's favorite Epcot attraction is Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. Appropriate, I think, because the key to touring this monster park is to shrink it, to present it to your kids in easily digestible bites. Though Epcot dazzles you with big stuff, the true magic begins when you savor the details, like meeting Pooh in a perfect English garden or watching your 10-year-old master her first virtual-reality ski jump.
The park is composed of two sections: the nine pavilions of Future World and the 11 nations of World Showcase. The hip and high-tech Future World pavilions have names like Wonders of Life and The Land, and are full of hands-on exhibits, rides, films and shows. World Showcase lets you stroll from Mexico to China in minutes, and the best restaurants and shops are there. As Jordan says, "Future World is more like science, and World Showcase is geography." Close enough.
While it might be tempting to view attractions in the order you encounter them, I don't advise it. Better to mix it up a bit, alternating the pizzazz of Future World with the laid-back charm of World Showcase. You may do less, but you'll enjoy more. Here are more essential tips for touring Epcot.
ESSENTIAL TIPS
• Arrive at least a half hour before the stated opening time. Frequently guests are allowed into the first section early and can ride Spaceship Earth, make dining reservations (highly recommended) and get maps and strollers before the park officially opens.• Zig while everyone else zags. Visit Future World in the morning and World Showcase in the afternoon. Then return to Future World in early evening.
• Eat at "off" times. It's easier to get reservations, and an early dinner breaks up the day.
• Pace yourself. Those four- and five-year-olds who don't require a stroller in the Magic Kingdom will need one here. See shows and films in the afternoon, when your feet will welcome the rest.
• Epcot shopping is super, but since you won't want to carry your purchases with you, have them delivered to Package Pick-up, near the exit. If you're staying at a Disney resort, your goodies can be sent directly to your room.
Click on the following links for a detailed one-day Epcot itinerary for seeing most everything and the best Epcot attractions by age.
DISNEY MAGAZINE contributing editor Kim Wright Wiley is the author of the annual guidebook WALT DISNEY WORLD WITH KIDS and is FamilyFun's new Theme Park Expert.
Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Updated June 2005.
