How to Spend Your Time - The Easy Guide to Your First Walt Disney World Visit 2015 - page 165

Showcase Pavilions from Mexico through the U.S. On your Soarin' day, hit Future World
West and the Pavilions from Canada through Japan.
With just one day, things are a bit more complicated. Fortunately, FastPass+ reservations
cut down on walking. There are a few ways to make it work. First, Test Track has a single
rider line with waits that are often shorter than standby or even FastPass+. However, your
group won't ride together and you won't have an opportunity to design a car in the regu-
lar pre-show. You can enter the single rider line later in the day and find waits of 10 to 20
minutes. Second, you could use FastPass+ at Soarin' or Test Track to minimize afternoon
waits. Third, if you're planning to skip IllumiNations, you could visit either Soarin' or Test
Track in the morning and then the other right before close. Waits will be relatively short
at the end of the night, and you won't be wasting valuable touring time since the park is
closed. As long as you're in line before official park close, you'll ride, regardless of the
posted wait.
Since Maelstrom's closing in October 2014, there are no World Showcase attractions
that typically see long lines. You may otherwise need to wait a few minutes for the next
show to begin in China, France, and Canada. They are all worth seeing. You generally get
out of World Showcase what you put in—spend some time exploring and you'll get much
more out of it than someone who simply walks past the Pavilions.
CHARACTERS The princesses in World Showcase can see substantial waits. Mickey,
Minnie and Goofy at Character Spot can also see 20 to 40 minute waits. It's best to do
Character Spot near park close to avoid long waits or use FastPass+. If you're skipping
Soarin' and Test Track in the morning, visit Character Spot right after park open. Most oth-
er characters will have 5 to 15 minute waits. Random characters may also appear. Check
in between the Canada and United Kingdom Pavilions and to the left of Liberty Inn in the
United States in the afternoon.
ROPE DROP Epcot has two entrances. At the main entrance, a brief welcome spiel will
play over the speakers beginning at 8:45am. At 8:47am, Disney will begin letting guests
into the park. If things aren't quite ready, the welcome spiel may be delayed by a few
minutes. There are no ropes inside and guests are free to head to the Future World attrac-
tion of their choice. From the International Gateway, there is no welcome spiel, but Disney
admits guests at the same time as the main entrance. It is a slightly longer walk from the
International Gateway, but with fewer people entering, Gateway visitors should arrive at
Soarin' or Test Track alongside most guests entering from the main entrance. At the main
entrance, arrive by 8:15am to ensure the shortest waits possible throughout the morning. At
the International Gateway, arrive by 8:30am.
FastPass+ Priority
FastPass+ at Epcot is divided into two tiers.
In Tier 1 are Soarin', Test Track, IllumiNations, and Living with the Land. Guests may
initially select only one Tier 1 experience. We recommend Soarin' because its location
makes it more convenient to visit in the afternoon with FastPass+, and Test Track offers a
single rider line that reduces waits.
There are eight options for Tier 2 and you may initially select two of them. Most guests
will want to initially select two of the top four choices.