Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
189
Caribbean;
then, if it's scheduled, end the
day with the
Wishes
fireworks display.
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PCOT
Epcot deserves at least 2 days, so this is a
barnstorming highlight tour. Remember
to make
Advance Reservations
if you
want to eat in the park (call
&
407/939-
3463
before you arrive). I suggest the
Coral Reef
restaurant in the Seas with
Nemo & Friends or the
San Angel Inn
in
the World Showcase's Mexico exhibit for
lunch, and
Marrakesh
in Morocco or
Akershus
in Norway for dinner. See other
options in chapter 5, “Where to Dine.”
While additions and refurbishments
over the years have improved the kid-
friendliness of this park, it remains the
least desirable of the parks for tinier
tots.
Even some tweens and teens may not
enjoy the heavy educational and technol-
ogy themes, though there are more tot-
friendly rides, attractions, and characters
to entertain the younger set than ever
before.
As you enter, go to any of your favorite
rides that have FASTPASS (they're noted
in the handout guide map). If the lines are
short, don't bother with the pass. If the fast
track isn't in your itinerary, take the
other
strategic approach:
Future World,
near the front of the
park, is the first of Epcot's two areas to
open, so start there. Skip
Spaceship Earth
for now (save it for the end of the day
when lines are at their shortest). Go
straight to
Mission: Space,
where you can
train as the astronauts do. Follow up with
next-door-neighbor
Test Track.
Then cut
to the west to
Imagination!
and its two
great shows:
Journey into Imagination
with Figment
and
Honey, I Shrunk the
Audience.
Next up is the
Seas with Nemo
& Friends,
for a quick conversation with
Crush and a “clamobile” ride under the
sea, before heading on to the
Land
where
Soarin'
takes riders on a high-flying
adventure over California.
If time permits before a late lunch, visit
Innoventions.
On its East Side, all but the
smallest kids will like seeing some of
today's and tomorrow's high-tech gadgets.
Over on the West Side, kids and adults
find it hard to leave
Video Games of
Tomorrow.
Unless your feet could use a rest, bypass
Spaceship Earth
and proceed to the
World Showcase
in midafternoon. For
me, this is the best part of Epcot—the
pavilions of 11 nations surround a big
lagoon that you can cross by boat. But,
again, kids (especially small ones) and
teens may get the itch to leave. To keep
them entertained, play the new
Kim Pos-
sible Adventure
(an interactive spy-adven-
ture where you, alongside Kim Possible,
help to save the world from super villains
as you make your way around the World
Showcase).
Norway
delivers a history lesson and
boat ride called
Maelstrom; China
and
Canada
have fabulous 360-degree movies;
and
France
has a magnificent large-screen
production. Don't leave without taking in
the show and concerts at
U.S.A.—The
American Adventure.
And don't miss the
taiko drum show at
Japan.
After dinner, be sure to watch
Illumi-
Nations.
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PCOT
Ignore the 1-day itinerary, but consider
my earlier advice about Advance Reserva-
tions and choice of restaurants.
The basic plan of attack here is to hit
Future World and all of its rides and
exhibits on your first day, and then cruise
the World Showcase the next day. (Because
the showcase opens later, you can hit any
missed areas or go back for seconds in
Future World early on Day 2.) Remember
to go straight to FASTPASS rides that
appeal to you (check your guide map).
Day 1
If you want to eat in the park, book
Advance Reservations
for lunch and din-
ner if you haven't already. Skip
Spaceship
6
