Many people assume Epcot is just for adults. However, nothing is further from the truth.
My kids always loved Epcot when they were young. There is so much to look at and take in, the kids can sit back in their stroller and have a more relaxing day.
There are many shaded and secluded areas in Epcot that are perfect spots when nap time rolls around. You’ll also enjoy the quiet and the shade while the little one naps for a bit in the stroller.
Epcot is a wonderful way to spend a day with little ones. It’s also a much more relaxed day than the other parks so gives the kids plenty to do but at a slower pace so is an ideal mid-week park. Get a bit of a rest but still have lots of fun!
Take advantage of the following tips, if you’re heading there with a toddler. It’s the best way to ensure everyone has a good time.
Eating
There are plenty of quick service spots for the little ones to eat, but why not take a visit to Epcot to expose them to different foods from around the world.
For a long time we would make it a habit to eat in a different country on each trip so that the kids could experience foods from around the world.
Plan Ahead
As with any other trip to Walt Disney World, exploring Epcot with a toddler is much simpler if you go in with a well-thought-out plan. In this case, the My Disney Experience app is an invaluable tool for planning your trip.
One of the biggest advantages to preparing for your vacation in advance is you can reserve FastPass+ selections. This allows you to skip the line at an attraction and ride it at a pre-reserved time.
Creating a plan also helps to make sure that you have time to see everything that you want to see while you’re at Epcot. Especially if you only plan to spend one day there, you’ll need to manage your time effectively, if you don’t want to rush.
Try to leave a bit of extra time between each attraction in case your toddler sees something he or she wants to check out more closely on the way.
And . . . definitely don’t miss Turtle Talk with Crush!
Throughout the day most of the countries offer scheduled entertainment. All of it is family-friendly. My family can watch the acrobats in China over and over again!
Look for Character Meets
Epcot is a great Walt Disney World park for experiencing character meals and meet-ups. You’ll typically find characters hanging out in the world showcase pavilion of the country their movie draws inspiration from.
For example, you can find Belle and the Beast at the France Pavilion and Alice from Alice in Wonderland at the United Kingdom Pavilion.
Again, take advantage of the My Disney Experience app to see which character meet and greet experiences are going to be available during your stay at the park. If possible, schedule and attend the selected character meets early in the day before the lines get too long.
Become a Kidcot World Traveler
If your children enjoy scavenger hunts, they’ll love looking for Kidcot Fun Stations in each of the pavilions at Epcot’s World Showcase. These stations have a unique stamp, one for each of the countries represented in the World Showcase.
Kidcot Fun Stops keep the kids motivated to travel to each country in the World Showcase country. Even young kids will have fun coloring at the free craft stations. If you purchase the passport for the kids they will also receive stickers to decorate the book and there is a scavenger hunt aspect of filling the passport and it makes a great souvenir of the day at EPCOT.
The stamps can be collected on their own. But, you can also purchase a Passport to the World book to put them in, which includes stickers and other fun activities. Not only does this give kids something fun to do at each of the stations, it also doubles as a souvenir you can pass on to them when they get older.
