Epcot planning question About This Page:

[Stephanie P.]

Hello!

When we go to Epcot (at the beginning of Thanksgiving week), we would get there right at 9:00 when the park opens. The 4 things we want to do (for sure) in Future World are Test Track, Sourin', Nemo ride, and Spacehip Earth. Then we want to go have lunch in the sit down restaurant in Mexico. What time do you think we should make our ADR's for lunch? I was thinking maybe 12:30 or 1:00?

I know that we could do the Spaceship Earth ride later on in the day when the crowds head more towards the countries. I'm just trying to be efficient with our time so that we're not backpeddling much.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

[Dopey007]

1pm should work if you get your fast pass right away for Soarin. Otherwise the lines there are outrageous. Last time I was in Epcot I went right away and got a fast pass for Soarin, then rode Nemo. Went back to use fast pass for Soarin and then crossed over to Test Track and rode without a fast pass. Spaceship Earth is always what I do last on my way out! It is empty then...

Good luck and have fun.

janet

[scillarella]

You may need to return for Soarin after lunch because FastPasses go fast and even if you get one first thing in the am it may be a long time until you can return. Keep in mind however, that you can go back if your fastpass has expired... meaning if it said return between 12:20 and 1:20 and you had lunch at 12:30 you can go back to Soarin after so you don't miss lunch. Fitting TT, Nemo and SE in before 12:30 should be fine!

[Stephanie P.]

Originally Posted by scillarella

Keep in mind however, that you can go back if your fastpass has expired... meaning if it said return between 12:20 and 1:20 and you had lunch at 12:30 you can go back to Soarin after so you don't miss lunch.

Really? I was thinking that you HAD to go between those times unless the ride went down during your time. If that's the case, then that would be great!

[scillarella]

Yup, I am pretty certain that's still the policy. They can't turn you away after your FP time, only before.

[bradk]

well, to be fair, officially you're supposed to return between the times given. however they rarely say no if you show up later (as a matter of customer service). if for some reason someone does say no, i'd just try again in 15 mins as they're all on rotation and it will probably be a different CM then. in any case, FPs are never accepted early (as mentioned) and they're pretty good at making sure you can't use them on a different day (which is pushing it). conversely, i hear many childswap passes are good for multiple days.

[tdandboys]

WOW, I am so glad I have found this website. I have leanred so much in this one post. I'll put this in my Passporter. I will be utilizing the childswap passes a lot, can someone fill me in on this.
Thanks for the tip on the FP, if we need to use this, this is nice to know. I've also put soarin on the list to go get a fp early.

[scillarella]

I would just like to add though that bradk is right, you SHOULD go back for your FP during your assigned time. I have never taken advantage of the late return policy and was only bringing it up in case you have a rare circumstance and it's kinda beyond your resonable control to get back in time. I do not advocate taking advantage of the policy if you can help it!

[Stephanie P.]

Originally Posted by scillarella

I would just like to add though that bradk is right, you SHOULD go back for your FP during your assigned time. I have never taken advantage of the late return policy and was only bringing it up in case you have a rare circumstance and it's kinda beyond your resonable control to get back in time. I do not advocate taking advantage of the policy if you can help it!

I understand! Honestly, I would rather be able to get it all in and then go eat lunch, but if things got tight, it's good to know that I can try to go back and use an expired FP if push came to shove.

[Suzie&Jay]

I'd like to know more about the childswap passes too...I didn't know there were actual passes, I thought you just asked and then went through the line. I've never done it, and we're going to have to this fall

[bradk]

i believe the process varies between attractions.

[ilovedisney0_0]

I just want to pipe in and say that I have had some real militant CM's who would not let us use the FP even ONE MINUTE before the window. So I don't even try to get there earlier than the FP states, because they aren't messin' around!

[skelly]

Just wanted to say that when I was there last Thanksgiving, we planned Epcot kind of the way you have. But, the park was so crowded that even with fast pass and getting there early it was impossible to finish up Future World and then eat lunch. We ended up going to eat and then going back later and doing the things we had missed. It worked out great anyway because Future World was much less crowded later in the day.

[goofylaw]

Originally Posted by Suzie&Jay

I'd like to know more about the childswap passes too...I didn't know there were actual passes, I thought you just asked and then went through the line. I've never done it, and we're going to have to this fall

Just wanted to add our two cents worth on the childswap passes. We used these very often on our last trip. They were passes for up to 3 people and all of the ones that we received were good for over 1 wk from when we received them. They do not have a time period only the expiration for over 1 wk away. They were great. We gave several of them away because we were able to get through short lines for some rides. We would definitely recommend them. You just go up to the CM at the beginning of the line and tell them you need a child swap pass and they hand it to you. Good luck.

[magic mickey]

If the park opens at 9:00 am, you should be there by 8:30. The lines can get very long and you want to be closer to the entrance when the park opens.