[dementia]

You guys have been such an awesome help with advice and such on my previous questions and have given such valuable feedback (thank you guys!), I figured I'd bring my itin for epcot to you (only one more park after this, and MK is the trickiest one to plan)


I'm also not sure about some of the features listed, like the tea party or the ladybug release, or the trained squirrels, or the guy who knows all the zip codes, so if any of you know anything about any of that or know a great spot for Illuminations (other than a restaurant), be sure to let me know!


Okay. On 5/24, a Tuesday we plan on being at Epcot. I made up an itin, after checking a bunch of websites, and this is what I came up with. I have a few questions about some of the things mentioned, but with all the information gathered, those of you season Epcot people, will this work? Anything else you would add, rearrange/ Suggest?

***Note, I'm not interested in the Land, Spaceship Earth, whatever Ellen is doing, or Honey I shrunk the kids, I hear it's scary for little kids. We're staying off-site so no Disney extras for us. Also, we don't want to do a sit down meal as we're on a tight budget so we're "snacking" around the world. No park hoppers either as we only have a Fl res 3 day pass, so one park per day. We have me, my BF, DD-15, DD-5, my best friend and her DD-12, my brother and his GF. This itin is mostly for me and my DD-5, and whoever else wants to come, everyone else can do their own thing. The oldest will probably spend time with the video games in Innoventions and seeing the bands in Can. and the UK.

9:00AM: *Arrive at Epcot for rope drop.
*Catch/follow Holiday Bus to Future World Pin Central for character greetings/autographs
*Buy S's passport/Goofy's Epcot Guide


Grab FP's for TT (I'm not going on, this would be others in the party)
Mission: SPACE (use child switch as well)
Soarin' Fastpass (ride if not busy)

*"Turtle Talk With Crush"/Living Seas
*Meet Nemo / Figment
*Find out about Ladybug release for S.
*Ice Cool Station
*Find talking fountains/trashcan
*Find Jammitors
*Find the guy who knows all the zip codes in the country (anyone know about him?)
*Find trained squirrels( anyone know about these?)
*Minnie’s Magnificent Butterfly Garden for S.
*the marker in EPCOT that represents the center of WDW



(World Showcase opens 11 am)
(Do Kidcot in each country)
Mexico:
I have heard that there are talking parrots in the trees at the entrance to Mexico on the Norway side in EPCOT
Try churros? *go back for the ride later*

11:00AM: Start out in Norway (try to get "Viking for a Day")
Ride Maelstrom
Check out Playground on Viking ship
Check out the Stave Church
Get Veiled Maiden or Lefse bread (Snack #1)

Find princesses from breakfast and find out about prince/princess combinations in Morocco (was told: If you happen to go to the Princess Breakfast in Norway, talk to Jasmine and find out when all the prince/princess combinations are going to be in Morocco. Be there a little early. You can get 4 or 5 prince/princess pairs of autographs all in a few minutes. They don’t stay very long, so you need to find out ahead of time)


China:
Try egg roll or red bean ice cream
Find : Mulan/Shang/Shan-Yu/Mushu characters
(of course check out the scenery, that's a given as we go through each country)


Germany:
Find: Snow White/Dwarves (what other characters are there)
Try Apple Strudel with vanilla sauce or Bavarian pretzel


Italy:
Try: TIRIMISU or gelati
Find : Pincocchio/Geppetto, etc.

America:
Try: funnel cake (*shrug*)
Find : Gov Radcliffe, (who else in in America, the fab 5?)

Japan:
-Miyuki: a woman who makes candy suckers for the audience. She does them in front of you and shapes them into all kinds of colorful creatures...(get there early to get candy)
-Matsuriza: Taiko drummers
-go to the pearl counter and watch the castmembers opening the oysters-
Try: Kaki Gori (shaved ice)



Morocco:
Aladdin reads a story and signs autographs at the back of Morocco
Find: Aladdin/Jasmine/Genie/Jafar
Try: the "baklava" type desserts : Baklava at Tangierine Cafe


France:
Find: Princess Aurora (?)
Belle/Beast
Clopin/Esmerelda/Quasimodo/Frollo/Phoebus
Try: chocolate moose or a crossiant sandwhich from their bakery/strawberry filled crepe

United Kingdom:
Mary Poppins : an impromptu pretend tea party in the United Kingdom (I've heard about this from deb's site but no one has been able to tell me anything?)
Find: Winnie the Pooh/Eeyore/Rabbit/Tigger
Alice in Wonderland/Tweedle Dum & Tweedle Dee/Mad Hatter
Wendy/Capt Hook/Peter Pan
*There is a path running down the side of the Rose & Crown pub, which leads to a 'secret' garden.
Try Fish and chips


Canada:
Try :Pretzel Breadsticks at Trapper Bob's (since there are no longer beaver tails)
Check out: Off-kilter
Find: Koda/Kenai?

African Outpost:
(Characters?)
*The cooler that has a surprise for you when you open it
*Ladybug release?

Check out the Festival back in FW, Dancing Fountain


8:00 find best spot for Illumnations.

9:00PM: Illuminations.
Wait for park to empty a bit, then go home, eat, then crash.


What do you guys think? Am I missing anything? Do you know anything about the stuff with ?'s? Should I rearrange anything? Any tips?

Thanks in advance guys!

[Erin]

Have a bite of that Tiramisu for me!!! :c)

[EmpressJenny]

Tiramisu scares me! It's so good but so risky!!!! I always have a serious inner debate w/tiramisu......(yes I have mental issues).

I've found that Mission:Space has the shortest line early in the day....don't know why...I've seen Mission:Space have a 5 min. wait while TT right next door is over 30 min. It's very weird.

Okay, it sounds like you've got a really full day, this is the day you want to wear your most comfortable shoes possible - World Showcase can be very tiring. Your itin looks good and very ambitious,

People are going to tell you to try and grab a table outside Rose & Crown for the fireworks. Good %*$&@&$@ luck with that. I've tried even in Sept. and unless you want to get there and not move after 6:30PM, it's a waste of time. Last time I saw Illuminations it was from the wall in Morocco, and that was a perfectly lovely view.

Hey, how come part of your itin isn't going to see me & Pete in the Leave a Legacy monument j/k

[dementia]

Originally Posted by EmpressJenny

Tiramisu scares me! It's so good but so risky!!!! I always have a serious inner debate w/tiramisu......(yes I have mental issues).

I've found that Mission:Space has the shortest line early in the day....don't know why...I've seen Mission:Space have a 5 min. wait while TT right next door is over 30 min. It's very weird.

Okay, it sounds like you've got a really full day, this is the day you want to wear your most comfortable shoes possible - World Showcase can be very tiring. Your itin looks good and very ambitious,

People are going to tell you to try and grab a table outside Rose & Crown for the fireworks. Good %*$&@&$@ luck with that. I've tried even in Sept. and unless you want to get there and not move after 6:30PM, it's a waste of time. Last time I saw Illuminations it was from the wall in Morocco, and that was a perfectly lovely view.

Hey, how come part of your itin isn't going to see me & Pete in the Leave a Legacy monument j/k

Tell me where you are and I'll go see!!

But I'll eat the tiramesu in your honor *grins*


But after some discussions I did realize a couple of things (this is just to anyone who reads from here on in, not just you)

I realized that a LOT of time will be saved on characters because of 2 things: one is a lot of these characters we'll have seen the day before in MK, so we don't have to worry about them, and we're not going to find ALL of them of course. It's just a list of thinsg to do.

I also want to get a photo of me in a different hat in each country. Thought that would be fun too.

I also didn't figure in Journey into Imagination so I have to rework the itin GAH!!

[llama]

Well, you're certainly thorough!

In theory you've created a wonderful iternary. But WS is one of those places that you can't "plan" in the same way as the other parks. Often there will be several shows going on in different countries at the same time. Some times you'll be walking through a country and get mesmerized by something you didn't plan for - like the balancing waiters in France or the lady "statue" in Italy or the acrobats in China. WS is my favourite part of WDW and we've been dozen of times. I can honestly say I've never seen all the things you plan to see in one day - especially if you're making a stop at each Kidcot. So my advice is to tour World Showcase with a more "European" relaxed state of mind. Stroll along. Enjoy what you do discover and savour the unexpected. Last year in Morocco while my daughter bought a little book about "Habibi" a camel who wanted to wear slippers, the young clerk in the bazaar told us "Habibi" means "my love", and he went on to tell us a wonderful Moroccan folk tale. That was one of my fondest moments of our last trip.

Also - just a warning - while the "snacking" is a great idea - it's amazing how much money you can spend doing this. Choose wisely.

I'm sorry - I don't mean to rain on your parade, I just don't want you to be disappointed if your itinerary doesn't run like clockwork - but that will be a good thing. The unexpected moments are always the best.

[dementia]

Originally Posted by llama

Well, you're certainly thorough!

In theory you've created a wonderful iternary. But WS is one of those places that you can't "plan" in the same way as the other parks. Often there will be several shows going on in different countries at the same time. Some times you'll be walking through a country and get mesmerized by something you didn't plan for - like the balancing waiters in France or the lady "statue" in Italy or the acrobats in China. WS is my favourite part of WDW and we've been dozen of times. I can honestly say I've never seen all the things you plan to see in one day - especially if you're making a stop at each Kidcot. So my advice is to tour World Showcase with a more "European" relaxed state of mind. Stroll along. Enjoy what you do discover and savour the unexpected. Last year in Morocco while my daughter bought a little book about "Habibi" a camel who wanted to wear slippers, the young clerk in the bazaar told us "Habibi" means "my love", and he went on to tell us a wonderful Moroccan folk tale. That was one of my fondest moments of our last trip.

Also - just a warning - while the "snacking" is a great idea - it's amazing how much money you can spend doing this. Choose wisely.

I'm sorry - I don't mean to rain on your parade, I just don't want you to be disappointed if your itinerary doesn't run like clockwork - but that will be a good thing. The unexpected moments are always the best.

No no I DO appreciate the advice and feedback. I mean a lot of you guys are more seasoned than me, so that's why I post this. I wanna hear the good AND the bad...


I'm not going to spend more than $4 for a snack first of all, that's my budget. And I'm only going to buy one in each country, and probably pslit it since my palette isn't all that "cultured".. I'll probably not like a lot of the stuff, because I'm a big junk food addict :

Now I'm sure I'll spend most of my time in the World Showcase. I figure from 11 am right on through 6 or 7 pm. I figure by the time I'm done, anything I missed in Future World, by that point I can go back and do (and pawn my youngest off on one of the other adults by that point). I think 6 hours is about what I'll spend in WS :)

[Erin]

Dementia - will you plan my next trip??


EJ - what is it that is 'risky' with Tiramisu? I need to know!

[EmpressJenny]

Erin, I think Tiramisu is delicious, but you can get really sick from eating it if it isn't prepared properly. Salmonella I think. However, if I was going to eat it anywhere and feel safe, it would definitely be WDW. Pete orders it a lot and I can't help but taste it because it is SO good

[rhodisney]

I have always wanted to eat a little something from each of the countries like you are planning to do (snacking your way around the world) so to speak. I do recommend the fish and chips in England but get them from the stand adjacent to the Rose and Crown. They are much cheaper!! But the freshest tasting fish I think I've ever eaten!
Your 5 yr. old will love the Viking playground, the Stave church was a dissapointment to me, I thought I'd be able to go in , find a pew and pray and reflect. But it's just a walk through exhibit that only took about 5-7 minutes to go through. You mentioned the Goofy's Guide to the World. When we were there in Jan. I tried to get one for my 7 yr old DD and they told me at Guest Relations they stopped producing those. I was looking forward to her getting the free poster at the end of her search. Disney seems to be cutting out all these extras or any free souveniers. They did however still have the passports. Note: when your child makes the paper masks on a stick at the Kidcot stations in WS, the cast members stamp them in each country with their country's stamp. This may save you $10 to put towards another souvenier. So I don't think the passports are worth buying for a child. Have sooooooooo much fun!

[dementia]

Originally Posted by rhodisney

I have always wanted to eat a little something from each of the countries like you are planning to do (snacking your way around the world) so to speak. I do recommend the fish and chips in England but get them from the stand adjacent to the Rose and Crown. They are much cheaper!! But the freshest tasting fish I think I've ever eaten!

Do you happen to recall how much they were by chance? I hope less than the $6.50 I was quoted! It may not sound like much but $4 at each country DOES add up!

Originally Posted by rhodisney

Your 5 yr. old will love the Viking playground, the Stave church was a dissapointment to me, I thought I'd be able to go in , find a pew and pray and reflect. But it's just a walk through exhibit that only took about 5-7 minutes to go through.

Oh wow, if that's the case, I'll just skip it and save time, if it's only an exhibit and not a place where you can sit and "chill out".

Originally Posted by rhodisney

You mentioned the Goofy's Guide to the World. When we were there in Jan. I tried to get one for my 7 yr old DD and they told me at Guest Relations they stopped producing those. I was looking forward to her getting the free poster at the end of her search. Disney seems to be cutting out all these extras or any free souveniers. They did however still have the passports.

What's the difference between the Goofy's Guide and the passport?

Originally Posted by rhodisney

Note: when your child makes the paper masks on a stick at the Kidcot stations in WS, the cast members stamp them in each country with their country's stamp. This may save you $10 to put towards another souvenier. So I don't think the passports are worth buying for a child. Have sooooooooo much fun!

So you don't need the passport to do the masks? I thought that was part of it... hmm ... My daughter is 5, so maybe she'd just enjoy the masks instead of the passport. Maybe you can explain the whole thing to me again, the passport excursion as opposed to just doing the masks, and the differences in both...

Thanks so much!!

[rhodisney]

They've had the passports for years, they are blue and look just like a regular real passport. There's a place in them where each country can put their stamp and a cast member can write their name or some greeting from their country. The masks resemble a Mardi Gras mask on a stick. (The stick is a paint stirrer) As they go through each country the kids go to the Kidcot stop and choose a shape of paper that's either already cut out and decorated, (I guess for really little kids) and ones you can design yourself. The cast member then attaches the shape to a plastic loop on the mask and stamps the stick with their country's stamp. Goofy's Guide was like a scavenger hunt thing if I remember right. The purpose was to go into each country and find a cast member to stamp or put a sticker in the book for that page. Then you took it back to the Guest Relations desk in Epcot and they gave you aa 8x10 picture of Epcot you could frame when you got home. I think mine's in a scrapbook somewhere along with the guide. My hubby said the fish and chips were about $6.50 as you were quoted.

[dementia]

Originally Posted by rhodisney

They've had the passports for years, they are blue and look just like a regular real passport. There's a place in them where each country can put their stamp and a cast member can write their name or some greeting from their country.

Okay so they still have the passports. Ten a piece. You go to each country and a CM will stamp and write something in it, not necessarily at Kidcot. Gotcha.

Originally Posted by rhodisney

The masks resemble a Mardi Gras mask on a stick. (The stick is a paint stirrer) As they go through each country the kids go to the Kidcot stop and choose a shape of paper that's either already cut out and decorated, (I guess for really little kids) and ones you can design yourself. The cast member then attaches the shape to a plastic loop on the mask and stamps the stick with their country's stamp.

Okay so the MASKS are what they do at Kidcot, not the passports. Okay, I'm with ya. Now what are the charges for the mask, and do you start at the first Kidcot station you see?

Originally Posted by rhodisney

Goofy's Guide was like a scavenger hunt thing if I remember right. The purpose was to go into each country and find a cast member to stamp or put a sticker in the book for that page. Then you took it back to the Guest Relations desk in Epcot and they gave you aa 8x10 picture of Epcot you could frame when you got home. I think mine's in a scrapbook somewhere along with the guide .

And those are discontinued. Well drat. I think maybe my 15 y/o DD would have enjoyed that as would have my friend's DD-12.

Originally Posted by rhodisney

My hubby said the fish and chips were about $6.50 as you were quoted.

Okay well since UK is at the end, that'll be around dinner time anyway. Thanks so much for helping me out

[rhodisney]

Dementia the masks are free. You can begin in any country.