Friday–Basic Itinerary

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BASIC EPCOT ITINERARY eb11

  • Today you will complete Epcot, with an afternoon break at your hotel. As a Walt Disney World Resort guest, you can stay at Epcot until midnight
  • Don’t forget your Candlelight Processional tickets.
  • Pop Century guests need to complete their breakfast in their room and be at their bus stop by 7:50. Polynesian guests need to complete breakfast in their room, walk over to TTC and be on the Epcot monorail platform by 8:10

AT THE PARK

  • Be at Epcot by 8:30
  • Enter the turnstiles when the park opens at 9, grab a map and Times Schedule, and follow the cast members to Soarin
  • Ride Soarin, then walk across the park to Mission: Space. Fastpass it
  • Walk to Test Track and ride
  • If your Mission: Space fastpass is ready, use it (ride the “green” version of the ride; if you love it, you can ride the much more intense “orange” version later tonight); otherwise ride Ellen’s Universe of Energy
  • When you have ridden both the above, cross the park again to the Seas pavilion and see Turtle Talk with Crush, and then the Seas with Nemo and Friends
  • Return to The Land pavilion—where you saw Soarin—and see the other rides in this building. If you wish, fastpass Soarin for another ride, if the return time works. (You will be able to see it again tonight after 10p)
  • If you are ready for lunch, have it now, as you will be eating lunch in this building, in the Sunshine Seasons Food Fair (counter credit) on the same level as Soarin. If not, continue with the steps below and return for lunch when you are ready
  • Move on to the Imagination building, and see Honey I Shrunk the Audience. Skip Journey Into Imagination with Figment unless you have a lot of time on your hands. A lot of time…
  • You have now (almost) completed what you must do in the morning and early afternoon. You can begin heading back to your hotel now–seeing Innoventions and Spaceship Earth on your way out–or go on to the World Showcase and continue your tour of it
  • If you continue in the World Showcase, go counterclockwise starting with Canada, as the gardens and flowers in Canada, England and France are at their best at daylight. Attend the items with defined schedules and work the unscheduled items at the pavilions around them
  • Check out Innoventions and ride Spaceship Earth on your way out, and return to your hotel and goof off

AT THE PARK: EVENING

  • Be back at Epcot by 5p—Pop guests need to be at their bus stop by 4:20; Polynesian guests at the Epcot monorail stop at TTC by 4:40
  • Make your way to Mexico and your 5:30 dinner reservations at San Angel Inn (two table credits.) This is your special Candlelight Processional dinner which guarantees you a seat at the 8:15 Candlelight Processional show. Be sure to inform your waiter and ask if there is anything special you need or need to do
  • After dinner, continue visiting the World Showcase until about 7:45
  • At 7:45, find the line for the guaranteed seating for the Candlelight Processional. There are TWO lines—one standing room only, and one, for YOU, guaranteed, because you did the Candlelight Dinner package. The guaranteed line is usually the one the goes counterclockwise and ends at the American Pavilion stage. Check with a cast member (not with another, possibly equally confused, guest) to be sure you are in the right guaranteed seating line!
  • See the 8:15 Candlelight Processional
  • After the show, get the list of rides and restaurants that will remain open late. You likely will have time to tour one more pavilion—but not see a movie or ride in it—before finding a spot to watch Illuminations
  • Between 9 and 9:15, find a spot to watch Illuminations—given where you are, the bridge near the International gateway is as good as any
  • At 9:30, watch the special Christmas version of Illuminations
  • If you have not already seen the American Adventure, see it now
  • Return to the International Gateway, exit, and see the Christmas decorations at the Boardwalk, and also at the Yacht Club if you missed them earlier this week
  • Stop in Boulangerie Patisserie for a snack (cash)
  • Decide based on the list of what is open what rides to see again. Families often split on this. Some members may even wish to return to the hotel, while others stay.
  • Return to your hotel by the means you used to get to Epcot

NOTE: Bring The Comprehensive Guide to Rides and Rides that Might be Skipped with you in case your day gets too intense.

LINKS TO DAYS AND TO-DO LIST

The links below take you to pages with specific guidance on what to do every day of your first family Walt Disney World vacation, and the To-Do List for preparing for your trip.

LINKS TO BASIC ITINERARY VARIANTS

BASIC ITINERARY LESS SECOND SUNDAY: Summary To-Do List

BASIC ITINERARY LESS FIRST SATURDAY: Summary To-Do List

BASIC ITINERARY LESS FIRST SATURDAY AND SECOND SUNDAY: Summary To-Do List

BASIC ITINERARY 5 NIGHT VERSION: Summary To-Do List

BASIC ITINERARY RELAXED VERSION: Summary To-Do List

ITINERARY LINKS


22 comments

1 Scott Walker { 07.14.11 at 10:28 pm }

Hi there,

We are traveling down this year 11/25/2011 to 12/4/2011. Following your plan to the letter, but we are getting there a day early because it works well for us. What do you think about switching the Friday Epcot agenda to the Saturday of 11/26/2011? Can we do everything the same? Will there be the candlelight processional and fireworks?

We have an 8 and 10 year old. I think goofing off all day Friday 12/2/2011 may be fun for us.
Thanks for the help! Your site is awesome!

Scott

2 Dave { 07.15.11 at 7:44 am }

Hi Scott, and thanks for the kind words!

Assuming you are staying in a WDW resort, Friday and Saturday are not the same at Epcot. Friday evening has extra magic hours, which means you don’t have to leave right after the fireworks (along with 30,000 other people…) Saturday does not. It still has the fireworks and processional, but not the extra magic hours.

Suggest you do this: do the “evening” part of what would otherwise be 12/2 on 11/25; do the morning part of what would be 12/2 on 11/26; then you can still take the 2nd off!

3 Scott Walker { 07.17.11 at 1:52 pm }

Great advice!

Thanks Dave!

4 Dave { 07.17.11 at 2:26 pm }

You’re welcome and have a great trip!!

5 Mahe { 06.13.12 at 10:28 am }

Hello,

The information you provided is priceless; a simple thanks does not do any justice; I have to find a new way / word to thank you. You are really awesome.

Could you please help me with the following:

1. Why do you choose San Angel Inn for the Candlelight Processional Package when there are nicer restaurants in Epcot like Tutto Italia or Le Cellier. Is there any specific reason to choose San Angel?

2. We prefer buffets because it gives choices and we are not adventurous when it comes to food. Also, we are not particular to go to character meals. For the basic itinerary, with the dining plan you suggested, how best we could use our dining credits so that we could go to max number of buffets / good restaurants?

Thanks

Mahe

6 Dave { 06.13.12 at 11:52 am }

Hi Mahe, and thanks! What a really sweet thing to say…

Almost all my dining choices are picked from the eyes of kids. There’s tons of Epcot options with better food (altho San Angel gets a bad rap–it’s much better than a lot of the online community thinks) , but nothing with the kid-pleasing setting that San Angel has. The setting is also romantic!

On the buffet front, see this: http://allears.net/din/buffet.htm and tie it back to this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/where-to-eat/dining-alternatives/the-comprehensive-guide-to-walt-disney-world-dining/

7 Mahe { 06.13.12 at 2:04 pm }

Hi Dave,

Thanks a bunch for your quick response. I really appreciate if you can answer two more questions.

With my Disney dining plan, instead of upgrading to next level, is there anyway I could buy extra dining credits?

Can I upgrade just my counter service credits to table service credits?

Thanks again

Mahe

8 Dave { 06.13.12 at 4:52 pm }

Hi Mahe!

On question 1, no.

On question 2 kinda, but only if you upgrade to the Deluxe Dining Plan, which gives you three table service credits a day, which you can use, if you choose, also on quick service meals. See this: http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/magic-your-way-package-with-deluxe-dining-plan/

9 Ginette { 08.19.12 at 10:42 pm }

Dave:
We are following your suggestion and changing our week for our first time at Disney to February 22. We are arriving at the Orlando airport at 10:30 am on Friday February 22 and returning home on Sunday March 3 at 6:30 am. We are 2 adults with 2 girls ages 7 and 9.
I want to follow your suggested itinerary. I’m unsure as to how to modify your suggested itinerary to accomadate the fact that we are arriving Friday morning. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

10 Dave { 08.20.12 at 8:04 am }

Hi Ginette–I’d do what’s written as “First Saturday” on Friday. You can then do the Animal Kingdom part of First Sunday on your first Saturday (keep the Fantasmic part of First Sunday on your first Sunday.) The rest of your first Sunday you can either take off, or do, on Sunday am, the Gospel Brunch from Second Sunday since you’ll miss it on your second Sunday…

11 Troy { 11.17.12 at 11:47 pm }

Dave–

Where exactly would you factor in Sum of All Thrills into the above? I’m assuming in those first 3 or 4 rides, but where would you plot it?

12 Dave { 11.19.12 at 6:59 am }

Hey Troy! SOAT is tough, as it’s capacity is tiny, suggesting an early visit, but while a hoot it is not remotely as much fun as Mission Space, Test Track, Soarin, or Turtle Talk. If it’s a priority to you, check the waits for it after you’ve done the first 4–of 3 of the 4 but are waiting on a FASTPASS for the 4th…See also (you knew I was gonna do this) this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/02/03/review-the-sum-of-all-thrills-at-innoventions-east-at-epcot/

13 Troy { 11.20.12 at 12:14 am }

Curses – you got me AGAIN! :-) Thanks…well, no, I wouldn’t say it’s a priority, but I would like to do it, so we’ll keep an eye out for it. What have you heard on Test Track – will it be running by 11/29? I would think it would have to get at least a week’s worth of “normal” operation before 12/6, yeah?

14 Dave { 11.20.12 at 8:37 am }

Hey Troy, that’s my bet–I think test Track’ll go into soft open any day now…

Update: see also this: http://www.epcyclopedia.com/2012/11/13/track-talk-for-test-track-schedules-and-more/

15 Troy { 11.21.12 at 1:54 am }

Alright, Dave, I know you’ll roll your eyes at this, but we’re at Epcot on Thur 11/29. I know, I know. :-) So we’ll be seeing Illuminations, then we get to have the pleasure of leaving with everyone in the park. Any tips on how to achieve this? We’re seeing the 8:15 Processional as part of the dining package, so we’ll have the “VIP viewing” for Illuminations. Any idea on where that is, and whether it’s worth hanging there instead of moving to somewhere else to get out and back to A of A faster?

16 Dave { 11.21.12 at 9:42 am }

Hey Troy, I can’t confirm to my own satisfaction where the VIP area is–so come back and let me know when you find out!

Just from a “closer to bus” point of view, the best spot to see illuminations is the area of the lagoon that’s closest to Future World and the bus lot. However, these spots fill EARLY, so you’d spend more time waiting to hold your spot than the extra time waiting for a bus after.

Thus, two suggestions, only the first of which is sure to be much help:
1. Remember that Epcot serves alcohol
2. Note, when you get back to the bus area, where the Pop Century bus stop is. If it is close enough to see and get to from the AofA bus stop, join that line if it’s appreciably shorter. Just on the odds, there’s no reason it should be, but Disney buses can be mysteriously dispatched…

17 Troy { 12.12.12 at 12:37 am }

Hey Dave–

Well, our trip went off splendidly, thanks in large part to all of your advice and tips. My apologies to your readers of this page for the length of this, but I’m going to give you a few of our opinions:

–first of all, in answer to your question above as to where the VIP seating for Illuminations was for the Candlelight package: it’s the small steps directly in front of the lagoon on the Future World side. So I guess it’s just open seating for normal time of year, but they reserved it for the package holders. We had to book it after the 8:15 show to make it, but we did with a few minutes to spare. And after Illuminations, we walked a brisk walk to the bus stop and literally walked right on a bus! So no alcohol was needed. :-)
–Art of Animation was simply an amazing place to stay. We stayed in the Nemo suites, and were blown away by the theming and service. I’m surprised it’s a value resort, considering how great it was. I don’t have a single negative or constructive thing to say about it. Fantastic. We would stay there again in a second.
–We went to several restaurants that aren’t on your list due to planning of this trip that occured only 2 months before we left – many were already full. Our favorite meal overall of the whole 8 days? Get ready: T-Rex at Downtown Disney. We were kind of shocked because we expected the food to be junk since all the money would be spent on the theming (which was absolutely stupendous and jaw-dropping), but the food was incredible. It’s unbelievably loud, but you adapt. Mama Melrose also surprised us at how much we enjoyed it (went to it for the Fantasmic package). Coral Reef was a really nice setting and had quality food – but sloooooow. Nine Dragons was pretty good (had a few authentic choices), but made great by our server who talked to us about living in China and answered our questions freely. Taught us some Chinese characters and wrote our boys’ names in Chinese on a special thing for us to take home. Worst was (no surprise here) Rainforest at AK. Nothing better than sitting a family w/ boys 7 and 10 at a table in the bar under a big unexciting mushroom. Ridiculous.
–Your “to do list” for Mickey’s Christmas Party on Tuesday was spot-on. We were nailing rides left and right. The only glitch was that Splash Mountain closed down shortly before 3:00, which caused a major pileup at Big Thunder, but we adjusted and beat the rush. (However, is there a ride any worse than Tomorrowland Speedway? Even my boys disliked it. How boring – especially at night.) Perfect placement by the castle for the shows and parade! If anything, we were actually too close for Wishes, as part of the castle blocked a few of the fireworks.
–As you probably know, Test Track didn’t open to the public many days before 12/6, so unfortunately it was still closed on 11/30. D’oh!
–We went to Seaworld on Friday, 12/1 and were blown away at 1) the lack of crowds – we could literally walk on every single ride all day long, even Manta (incredible, by the way), and 3) there is definitely a difference between a Disney employee and a non-Disney employee. Lightyears of difference.
–The longest wait we had to wait for any ride in our entire trip was for Soarin’ in the morning – 25 minutes. We were at the park early enough, but we were stuck at the far right turnstile – the only one in its group operating – which moved extremely slow. We got there at 8:30, but didn’t get into the park until literally 9:20. By that time, crowds were already backing up Soarin’. Still 25 minutes… Can’t complain too much. But that did kind of throw “the plan” off for the whole day. Didn’t get over to Imagination or Innovations (w/ Sum), but I guess if something had to be dropped…
–We all really enjoyed Hoop Dee Doo and Chef Mickey’s. Thanks for pointing them out, because we never would have known about them or gone to them otherwise!

Guess that’s it. Again, I apologize for the lengthy update, but it seems that not many if any actually seem to give you updates after the visit on your site. Thanks again for all of your personal advice!

18 Dave { 12.12.12 at 6:27 am }

Hey Troy! Thanks for the detailed update. Sounds like all in you had a great trip!

19 Tom { 12.13.12 at 10:07 am }

Great piece of tip Troy! Especially about TRex, which I always frown about
I concur about Disney and non-Disney employee attitude and service provided.

I just can’t wait to go to AoA!!!!

20 Dave { 12.14.12 at 9:47 am }

I’m with Tom–great write-up, Troy!

21 Troy { 12.14.12 at 11:48 pm }

Thanks, guys. Hope you didn’t think it was excessive! I don’t know what to do with myself now that I’m not reading and researching every evening in preparation. So I’ve got all this knowledge and nothing to do with it now. :-)

So if you don’t mind my asking, how often do you go? You have so much info about so many of the resorts, so you obviously go often and have been around. Do you have a season pass? I don’t believe you live in Florida, so, uh, how do you manage to get down there so often? Do you ever branch out into other parks?

Okay, my grilling is over. Thanks again for sharing all your knowledge!

22 Dave { 12.15.12 at 2:55 pm }

Hey Troy, I don’t mind the grilling! I go 6-8 times a year, usually 1-2 times family related, 1-2 times work (that is, my real job) related, and the rest just to go to see and write about new stuff missed on the other trips. I live in Northeast Ohio, so always fly and rent a car. I use annual passes.

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