Why I Take My Toddler to Epcot

I often hear from other parents with younger kids that they don’t visit Epcot when vacationing at the Walt Disney World Resort because “there’s nothing for them to do there”. While I will agree that the options for the youngest Mousketeers may seem limited, I have to disagree with that blanket statement.

Let me preface this by saying that I’m lucky enough to be an annual pass holder. Even if I wasn’t, I’d use a park hopper park ticket to take my toddler to Epcot.

Future World

Our son loves everything Nemo – the movie and the ride. There is almost never a line for Under the Sea with Nemo and Friends, and it’s a nice, cool intro to the Living Seas pavilion. The Living Seas is a wonderful place to find some relaxation on hot Florida days. Best of all, it offers a laid back atmosphere in which to view numerous varieties of sea life. If your little one is old enough to sit still, consider checking out Turtle Talk with Crush.

In the Land Pavilion, we enjoy Living with the Land – a nice, slow ride that has enough visual interest to keep little eyeballs occupied. Due to the slow loading and unloading of boats for this ride, the line can get long. I recommend riding first thing in the morning or getting a Fast Pass for lunch time – eat at Sunshine Seasons and then ride.

Want to walk right on to another ride? Journey into Imagination with Figment is the attraction for you. Even in peak times, I have never waited more than five minutes to ride. Lots of fun and silliness for the kids, just be aware that there are some loud noises. Doesn’t faze my guy.
Another opportunity to rest your feet and get a history lesson is Spaceship Earth. My little one has been known to grab a cat nap on this ride while the adults savor the scent of Rome burning. The line for Spaceship Earth gets LONG, fast. Definitely Fast Pass this one or ride just after park opening.

The Jammitors are an often overlooked musical group who perform several times a day on the Innoventions East and West Plazas. Check your times guide and join the crowd to get a taste of their performances. It’s loud, booty-shaking beats that are a blast for the whole family.
If your schedule permits, consider getting in some character photos and autographs at the Character Spot. This line gets VERY long, so it’s a good idea to try and hit it if the wait is less than 20 minutes or if you have a Fast Pass.

Innoventions is an area we haven’t explored yet, but I’m sure our active son will want to explore more on future trips. What am I leaving out? Test Track, unless you have Fast Passes and do rider swap, most little ones won’t meet the 40 inch height requirement. We also skip Ellen’s Energy Adventure due to the time commitment required to ride – you need a pretty long attention span for that one.
 
World Showcase

As of March 2015, World Showcase currently features only one ride – Gran Fiesta Tour – in the Mexico Pavilion. I personally can’t wait to see what they do with the Norway pavilion and the Frozen ride, but that’s a long way off.

We like Gran Fiesta Tour as our son loves Donald Duck – and there’s never a line for this ride. Beware the merchandise set up in the pavilion as there are lots of things at toddler eye level to entice little ones.

In my opinion, the best part of World Showcase is the live entertainment: a Capella American folk music, flag twirling, chair stacking and rock n’ roll.  Our son’s favorite is British Revolution in the UK pavilion. Want proof?  Check out this video of my son getting up close and personal with British Revolution in January 2015.

Grab a Times Guide when you enter the park and check out a few shows – you won’t be disappointed.

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About the Author

Rebecca M. Farrell, Client & Contributor
Rebecca is a public relations professional, mom, and MAJOR Disney fan. She has been visiting parks since she was a child and now as a mother loves sharing the joy of Disney with her son. Rebecca regularly contributes to Disney-themed blogs and websites across the internet.