Epcot?
Worthwhile?
Is it still awesome and spectacular or is it dated and not worth getting a one-day pass for?
We have 6.5 days in Orlando. We have passes for the magic kingdom for one day. We're liking the look of the unlimited access pass to Sea World, Busch Gardens and Aquatica even if we don't get to them all. Kennedy Space Center is another day.... is Epcot going to be worth a day or should we just chill in Busch Gardens/Seaworld?
We took the girls six or seven years ago. We all enjoyed it quite a bit. As I recall they liked it somewhat better than magic kingdom. We did however plan our time carefully to take full advantage of the special events. The drum thing in the Japan section was particularly cool.
I think it really depends on your family's interests, though.
Either 10 & 11 or 11 & 12.
thanks. I have boys 8 and 10 and girl 12. None of us have ever been before, so magic kingdom is a must, just for the "been there, know what you're talking about" factor if nothing else, but we only have a week... and we've heard rumors that maybe epcot is a little dated......
We're meeting my sis and her hubby and 6yo daughter from the UK, they're doing everything, staying for two weeks, so we need to decide what they should save for when we join them in the second week.
I have not liked fairs since the age of __. They are dusty,hot, the food is terrible and the people are cranky so when I found out the the orphanage work crew I was volunteering with would be stopping at Disney Land I wasn't that excited.
Fortunately it was early in the spring so there weren't many lines.
There wasn't a speck of dust or paper anywhere so to me it made the place enchanting. Well of course it isn't what made it enchanting but the fact people were not throwing paper on the ground and groping tourists made it that much more beautiful.
No really it's a wonderful place. The attractions are amazing,the rides are out of this world. I saw a lazer light parade which seemed nothing less than magical.
Hi Mon!
I strongly recommend Epcot. It's one of our favorite places to visit when we're in Orlando. The two separate parts have a little something for everyone. It used to be not so kid-friendly, but they've changed that with the introduction of the KimPossible scavenger hunts through International Showcase, and the Kidcot activities at each pavillion. The Futureworld side of the park has some fun rides - (Soarin' is a must do - get fast passes! and Test Track should thrill the boys in your group too).
If you're planning on dining in the park, I would recommend the BierGarten at the German Pavillion, Nine Dragons in China, or the San Angel Inn in Mexico - all are pretty nice sit down restaraunts with a great environment.
Plan on staying until park close and catching the IllumiNations fireworks - it's a great show - and gives me goosebumps every time we go :)
If you want more info on Disney - and what's in Orlando, feel free to email me at [email]kellie@brabec.com[/email] - We go at least 2x a year - so I have a clue...and if I don't, my hubby sure does :)
Thanks Dagney. Sky, are you talking about Epcot or a different park? If Epcot, could you be more specific, please?
I've emailed my bro for you too.
Should get a reply back in the next day or so.
...Plan on staying until park close and catching the IllumiNations fireworks - it's a great show - and gives me goosebumps every time we go :) ...
An incredible show. If you go to EPCOT just for that, it's worth it. Sea World was much better than I thought it would be - I was impressed. Aquatica is a water park, nothing really special.
I went many years ago, so not sure how it is now, but I enjoyed it quite a bit--one of my favorite parts of the parks. We had dinner in Norway, and one afternoon I sent the kids off to swim, and I tried to drink my way around the world.
Only made it halfway before I had to stop (less I not make it back to my hotel room at all!) but it was fun trying!
Is it......[COLOR="Gray"] kitsch[/COLOR]......? The countries thing? One friend raved about it because she loved how kitsch and stereotypical it was. I'm not so keen on that sort of thiing and I'm worried about spending that much money to be sorely irritated for half a day. And Future World -has it been kept up to date? Or is it now a giggle at what people thought would be?
Thanks for the fireworks show recommendation, though -I LOVE fireworks :D
I wouldn't say that it's kitsch-y - of course it does have some aspects of that - but they've done a fairly good job at making it educational and fun. Some of it is a bit 'dated' (the movies in Norway and France for example), but they're still entertaining. What time of year are you going to be there?
Future world has had some new things added - especially in the Innoventions pavilions - one is a design your own coaster ride along with some other fun stuff.
Depending on when you go, one of the annual festivals may be going on as well. Food and Wine is in the fall (Lots of extra food and alcohol) - and Flower and Garden is in the spring. (Lots of topiary and plants)
WRT fireworks - make sure you try to catch Wishes at Magic Kigndom - out of the two, that one never fails to make me weepy - it's more the 'little girl, wishes, magic' kind of show - while IllumiNations is more a powerful and moving art piece - with explosions :)
We're going in two weeks :)
thanks. I'm not the girly weepy type, so Illuminations might be more my thing :lol:
My bro's answer. My few edits are shown [thus].
I'd agree pretty much with [Dagney]. Epcot gets a bit of a bum rap, mainly because it was the second park to be built after the Magic Kingdom and so was a let down in many people's eyes. It was also seen as the boring educational park with little to do for kids and teenagers. And maybe that was true ten years ago, but they have really done wonders with some of the rides (add Mission:Space to Test Track and Soarin' to complete the list).
In fact, it is probably now my favourite Disney park (and definitely is [SIL's]). And Illuminations is the BEST firework display I have ever seen, without question. I echo the "goosebumps" comment.
But here's the thing. Is it worth one day out of six when it sounds like they've already got at least four accounted for already? And it's their first trip? Personally I would, but I'm basing it on our circumstances, which are very different. We go there at least twice a holiday, but then we are there for 14 nights and haven't got little kids to worry about (who only care where they can see Mickey [he doesn't your your kids!]). Also the cost of a one-day ticket is prohibitive - Disney tickets only start getting to be good value at four days and above.
It's a tough call. Cop out answer, I know!
thanks. Exactly. If we had a many-day ticket it would be a no-brainer to add Epcot as an extra day.
Does Walter Kronkite's voice still narrate for the big sphere ride?
No, they re-did it a year or so ago, and now it's narrated by Judy Dench.
Absolutely do EPCOT. Get a multi-day pass for Disney, with the Parkhopper option, which lets you go to multiple parks in one day ... It's easy to get from one to another, and you will want to switch, or go back to one for something that you missed. I had a four day, which turned out to be just right for a week down there, and two trips to Universal, one to Sea World.
I did not add the Water Park option, because I don't like big bowls of human soup, no matter how much chlorine they add.
The EPCOT fireworks are amazing, try to stand on the bridge for the best view. Just ask a Cast Member, they'll point you there.
I loved the Magic Kingdom fireworks (that's the park with the highest Kitsch rating, incidentally), but the most spectacular, to me, anyway, because of the other effects and live action, were the ones at Hollywood Studios. I did not see the closing show at Animal Kingdom.
I would like to ask you if you'd do me a favor ... someone stole the
Sorcerer's Apprentice Mickey Ball (well, similar, mine didn't say Disneyland on it) off my car aerial. If you have the time, would you pick me up a couple and mail them to me? I'll send you the cashola.
But given that we're not getting the multi-day pass with the park-hopper........
...is Epcot worth it on a one day pass? i.e. $80 each for 5 of us?
We already have passes for one day at one park, so we can use those for the Magic Kingdom, it's not worth buying the multi day passes until you get up to at least 4 days, we don't have that many days or that much money.
So it'll be a one day deal if we go.
I will try to get the car ball thingies, although wouldn't it be simpler to buy them from Amazon from that linkie you posted?
But given that we're not getting the multi-day pass with the park-hopper........
Whoopsie. Missed that bit.
...is Epcot worth it on a one day pass? i.e. $80 each for 5 of us?
I would say yes. Or at least add parkhopper to your existing passes. The monorail is a direct link between Magic Kingdom and EPCOT.
I will try to get the car ball thingies, although wouldn't it be simpler to buy them from Amazon from that linkie you posted?
I would, except that I don't want the ones that say "Disneyland" (which is in California, and I haven't been there. A friend has and she said it was very disappointing, much smaller than she expected. The Orlando parks were planned to be way bigger and way better).
I would like to ask you if you'd do me a favor ... someone stole the Sorcerer's Apprentice Mickey Ball (well, similar, mine didn't say Disneyland on it) off my car aerial. If you have the time, would you pick me up a couple and mail them to me? I'll send you the cashola.
I can Wolf, - we'll be there next week :)
OK, let me know if you don't, Dagney -we'll be there the week after.
Thanks wolf. We won't bother flitting between parks, though, we'll do one on one day and then one on another. The passes we have are from the Give A Day Get A Day program.
Epcot must see is (was?) 'Honey I shrunk the audience' - it's 15 years ago or more that I was there with my boys, but if it is not still there then it's a shame - probably not, but I suspect that something similar will have taken its place. Be sure to go i if it is still running. You won't come across anything quite like the experience it delivers
Not going to Epcot. Sis, BIL and niece went last week to test the waters and said "you'd hate it". We trust 'em.
Dagney, we're off to Magic Kingdom tomorrow -did you get those thingies for wolf?
If I end up with multiples, I'm cool with that. I'll be more than happy to buy up what y'all find.
My best friend has a sorcerers apprentice set of Mickey ears from when Hollywood Studios first opened. It's full size, not the tiny hat on a set of ears that they sell at the parks now. Those are darn cool. Her daughter's ears are the Pirates of the Caribbean variation, which are also really cute, with the pirate bandanna, an earring, and the Jack Sparrow beads hanging off of it.
I got you some. Problem was, couldn't remember which one you wanted when I got the the park so I got one plain mickey and one with the sorceror's hat. PM address, please. (they were $5.something each inc tax.)
eta... duh, I have your address from SS. Do you want both even though I screwed up and only one has the hat? The other says Disney world on it.
I'd love both of them, thank you!
yw, will mail as soon as I can after we get home (prolly Mon)
Hehe, I didn't check the Cellar at all while I was in FL (gasp!) So, Wolf is going to have two sets o' ears :)
I need that addy too! :)