Review: 5 top attractions for young children in Epcot
After having traveled to Disney Parks four times with children aged 1 to 6, I’ve found that the entertainment and character greetings are sometimes the most magical parts of the holiday for the very youngest and ride preferences can vary widely depending on personalities, but I wanted to put together a guide with some of the favourites for young children:
*Turtle Talk with Crush
One of my youngest favourite experiences in Epcot has been the 15-minute Turtle Talk with Crush show, which is an impressive attraction as characters on screen can interact with the audience. We were all laughing a lot as the charming turtle Crush and friends were answering questions from audiences, and I also liked that there has been no need to use a FastPass+ for this attraction when we’ve visited, as those who arrived at the time we did could attend the next performance despite the crowd levels being very high in the park at the time. (Photo by: David Roark)
If your child likes this, you might also want to try: the musical show Finding Nemo in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which is showing in a 1500-seat theatre and transports audiences to a colourful undersea world with beautiful puppetry and projections. For another fun experience that impresses with characters on screen interacting with the audience, try Monsters Inc Laugh Floor, but this is a comedy-style show that I think is perhaps even funnier for older children and may not be fully appreciated by the very youngest.
*Frozen Ever After
In the Norway pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase, Frozen fans can board a slow-moving boat and travel through Arendelle, inspired by Norway’s scenery, in the Frozen Ever After ride. The ride brings the story about sisters Elsa and Anna to life with songs, electric audio-animatronics and projections. The boats go forwards and backwards and the ride includes a few small drops. We got slightly wet when sitting at the front, but this is also the best position for an undisrupted view of Elsa’s Let It Go.
If your child likes this, you might also want to try: meeting Anna and Elsa in the Norway pavilion, near the ride, and go see For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, which is a 30-minute long Frozen show in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. There is also a character greeting spot where you can meet Olaf in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
*The Seas with Nemo and Friends
Next to Turtle talk with Crush in Epcot’s Future World, families can find The Seas with Nemo and Friends, a slow ride that takes visitors on a journey to a colourful undersea world with the favourite characters from the Disney Pixar film. Families can board slow-moving clamshell-shaped ride vehicles, and follow Nemo’s friends around as Nemo goes missing again and they start searching for him. With an encounter with the comical and charming Crush and a happy ending to the ride, this is a sweet ride for young children.
If your child likes this, you might also want to try: Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid in Magic Kingdom, which is a very similar style slow ride, where visitors also sit in clamshell-shaped ride vehicles.
*Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros
In the Mexico pavilion in the World Showcase in Epcot, the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros takes families on a slow boat ride, which follows Donald’s adventures around famous sights in Mexico. I think this can be a sweet ride for families with young children, and despite being in Epcot when crowd levels were high, we hardly had to queue at all for this one. There is no FastPass+ option for Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros. There’s also a warm and authentic atmosphere in the Mexico pavilion, and to get to the attraction you walk across a courtyard where there’s always nighttime, and there’s some shopping and a restaurant. Waterside tables at San Angel Inn restaurant can watch Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros boats go by.
If your child likes this, you might also want to try: It’s a Small World, a classic slow ride where families sit in slow-moving boats that take you on a journey through a world of singing dolls. Another slow boat ride is Navi’ River Journey in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
*Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
One of the biggest surprises for me last year was the Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival, which is an 18-minute long 3D film experience that includes the screening of three short films. The highlight for us was a classic Mikey cartoon, which had been tweaked, making it look like the characters walked in and out of the classic. We were truly amazed, giggling and glued to the screen. We didn’t need to use a FastPass+ for the Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival when we visited, and I would recommend this attraction to families with children who are old enough to wear 3D glasses.
If your child likes this, you might also want to try: Mickey’s PhilarmMagic in Magic Kingdom, which is also a 3D-film attraction and features some of the best known Disney classics.
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