Walt Disney World With Kids (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [73]
The Yorkshire County Fish and Chips stand in the United Kingdom is always popular. Carry your food into the back garden and sit on a park bench while you listen to the British Invasion sing Beatles classics.
The Boulangerie Patisserie in France emits such phenomenal aromas of coffee and croissants that there’s always a line, even though the café is in an out-of-the-way back alley. Drop by for sandwiches, quiche, and a wide selection of decadent pastries, which are so good that they make the Boulangerie a favorite with Disney cast members. Bon appétit!
Money-Saving Tip
Not on the dining plan but you’d still like to size up a few of Epcot’s posh restaurants? To save both time and money, stick to fast-food places for meals and make reservations at a sit-down restaurant for a truly off-time, like 3 PM or 10 PM and just have dessert. You can soak up the ambience for an investment of 30 minutes and 20 bucks.
Alternatively, as the average Epcot dinner for four costs about $100 without wine or beer, you can slice that bill in half if you visit the sit-down restaurant of your choice at lunch instead of dinner.
Epcot Extras
The Magic Kingdom isn’t the only place to see the characters, catch a show, watch fireworks, or buy souvenirs. Epcot provides a whole range of entertainment, but with an international spin.
Characters
The character meetings and shows at Epcot are rarely as crowded as those at the Magic Kingdom. A well-marked character spot to the right of the fountains in Future World is your best bet to meet Mickey and his pals, and, in the World Showcase, the backdrops for individual character appearances can’t be beat. You might meet Aladdin in Morocco, for example, or Mary Poppins in the United Kingdom. Check your entertainment schedule for times.
Insider’s Secret
The princess character meals at Epcot are popular but not as well-known as those in the Magic Kingdom. Restaurant Akershus in Norway is the host, and at present the princesses show up at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They only stay for about an hour, though, so book your meal at the time they’re slated to appear. Also note that you may see Belle, Snow White, Mulan, or Sleeping Beauty, but Cinderella only appears in the Magic Kingdom. Reservations are a must; call 407/WDW–DINE up to 180 days before the date you wish to attend. The earlier the better!
The princess meals aren’t just for girls. Consider this note from a mother of two in Delaware: “Even though it’s somewhat geared toward girls, my 7-year-old son really enjoyed the princess breakfast in the Norway pavilion. The waiter greeted him by calling him ‘Prince,’ which he loved, and the princesses treated him like royalty throughout the whole meal. He seemed quite smitten with them.”
World Showcase Performers
Singers, dancers, jugglers, and artisans from around the globe perform throughout the World Showcase daily. Times are outlined on your entertainment schedule.
Some of these presentations are more child-oriented than others. Children especially enjoy the young acrobats in China and the balancing act in France. Older kids can enter into the raucous action of the King Arthur skit in the United Kingdom or catch the “high-energy progressive Celtic music” of Off-Kilter in Canada. This translates to rock music with bagpipes—a must-see. The British Invasion, a talented ’60s-style group that plays in the United Kingdom, is also popular.
The shows are set up so that you can pretty much flow from one to the other as you work your way around the World Showcase. If you’re there 10 minutes before showtime you can usually get a decent spot. Be forewarned that for most of the shows you’ll either be standing or sitting on the sidewalk; only the stage where Off-Kilter appears has actual seats and even that venue is way too small