Epcot Future World - better anti-clockwise?

[Nostromo]

We did Future World in a clockwise manner on both out previous visits, starting with Spaceship Earth and then going to Innovations West, Universe of Energy and so on. But by the time of our next visit in April-may 2004, Mission Space would be in full swing and the morning queues could be long for that and Test Track next door. Moreover, with 2 seniors in my group, I have to try and avoid walking back and forth along the same path at most parks, especially Epcot. We intend a 2-day visit to Epcot with a whole day reserved for Future World alone, but even so, I wondered if an ANTI-CLOCKWISE approach might be better this time around. I mean start early with Spaceship Earth again (we like that) and go to Innovations East, Living Seas, The Land and so on. That way, we'll hit Test Track & Mission Space just after lunch and hopefully the crowds and queues may be less intimidating. What do the others think?

[caroline]

Everytime we've been the queue for Test track has been awful - I would go ahead with your plan but on arrival send one member of your party round to collect fast passes for test track:)

[Nostromo]

quote:Originally posted by caroline

Everytime we've been the queue for Test track has been awful - I would go ahead with your plan but on arrival send one member of your party round to collect fast passes for test track:)


Thanks Caroline. I think that is a good idea. Of course, the "member" will have to be me but I can pop over to both TT and MS and get their FPs while we are between the Eastern attractions. I think we'll be all right as long as they are seperated by 2 hour intervals or something like that, isn't it?

[DMC]

Apart from the Fast Passes, which can save time, if you are happy to go on Test Track on an individual basis then don't forget that there is the single rider option.

The door for this is to the left of the main entrance and can save you a long wait in line, if you don't mind spliting the party up, if in doubt ask a cast member, they are happy to help

We always go anti clockwise around Epcot, never quite sure why, but it seems to work ok, although you always seem to be walking in the opposite direction everyone else.

Anyway we are going back in September and looking forward to seeing what Mission Space is like. :) Please let the forum know what it is like.

Have fun.

DMC

[Nostromo]

[quote.

We always go anti clockwise around Epcot, never quite sure why, but it seems to work ok, although you always seem to be walking in the opposite direction everyone else.



DMC
[/quote]

We usually get into World Showcase via the International Gateway and do it (mostly) anti-clockwise. But this will be the first time we'll be trying it at Future World. I have a very reliable friend who swears that the anti-clockwise route works for some parks like Epcot, Sea World and IoA (if you are prepared to leave the Superhero Island to the last) but NOT for Magic Kingdom, MGM or Universal Studios. I am going to follow his advice this time and see how it goes.

[MTP]

For some reason we always go wound the world showcase lagoon in a clockwise direction. For some reason Mexico seems closer when you enter through the main entrance. The only thing to watch about arriving at TT & M:S by lunch-time is that all the fast passes may be distributed by the time you get there. I guess if you get the FP first this will kind of guide you in the direction to go and also how long you will have to wait before getting the second set of FP's.

Best wishes,

Euan

[Nostromo]

Thanks Euan. What I plan to do is to go on Spaceship Earth first and while the others are looking around in Innovations West, trot across and get FPs for TT & M:S. Then go and see "The Land" and so on in an anti-clockwise direction.

[millie]

I agree with going to test track first. The queues are horrendous and so are the fast pass return times. The best way is to do the single rider queue. The normal wait time was around an hour but we were told the single rider was 10 mins. In reality we walked straight on to the ride and ended up in the same car anyway.

[Nostromo]

quote:Originally posted by millie

I agree with going to test track first. The queues are horrendous and so are the fast pass return times. The best way is to do the single rider queue. The normal wait time was around an hour but we were told the single rider was 10 mins. In reality we walked straight on to the ride and ended up in the same car anyway.


I know that this sounds silly, but will the staff object if the 4 of us in the 'singles' queue talk to each other while waiting, thereby reveling that we know each other? Also, one of the four is a 9 year old child and will she be allowed in the singles queue?

[Carla]

Don't worry about that Nostromo. My family and friends always use a singles queue if it is available. The staff know that people do this and have no problems with it. Sometimes you are even lucky and a couple of you will get on the ride at the same time. Age doesn't matter as long as she is big enough to use the ride.

Another tip, everyone goes on Spaceship Earth in the morning, and queues for it!! Probably because it is the first ride that they see. We leave it until around 5pm and then you can walk on and off and go round and get on again without any queues whatsoever. Never fails us!!

[DMC]

I don't think anyone will object to you talking to your party in the singles line, I have been on via TT via the single route, ( the wife hates this sort of ride and waits outside ) in fact if more rides offered this service it would make my life alot easier ( does anyone know of any other single lines on other Disney rides ? )

Once in the "singles section" there is a sense of "togetherness & excitement" with your fellow riders, you feel that you are getting "special VIP treatment", by entering an unsigned door and being kept away from the rest of the crowds.

Has your 9 year old ridden on Test Track before ? if not are you sure that when the time comes to get in the car, on their own and with several strangers and that they will in fact see it through.

I don't think that the staff will be any too happy if they change their mind at the last minute, you will no doubt have to walk back out and go via the main enterance.

If they havn't ridden TT before, then I would suggest you try it at least once via the main route to make sure that they are ok with the ride and know what to expect. Then if all is ok go back for further rides via the single line.

The other thing that you might want to do, is position it so that your 9 year old gets on the ride between members of the rest of your party, that way there are people with them before he / she gets on and waiting for them when he or she gets off at the end.

If all goes well, use the singles line as much as you can, you will save yourself a huge amount of time and be able to ride TT many more times.

I rode it 4 times back to back in 40 mins last year and that was when the main line showed a 120 minute wait !!!

The only word of warning is that TT shuts down if there is alot of rain and thunder about, also it has been prone to breaking down at a moments notice.

But if you have only been waiting in the single line for a few minutes then that doesn't seem to matter much, but all hell breaks loose if you have waiting in line for 2 hours and you are turned away, just as you are about to get to the front !!!!

Whatever happens I am sure you will have a great time.

DMC

[Daniel Ramsey]

Don't forget to keep an eye out about Mission:Space, its new and supposedly the hottest experiance in flight simulation into space yet. And from what I hear its best to look forward at all times or you may suffer vertigo. Some people have have severe dizziness after the ride but those cases have been usually because the rider was feeling poorly prior to the ride or were taking medication. Myself I just can't wait till jan when I arrive in Orlando for my vacation. :D

[steph_goodrum]

Singles doesn't mean you have to be alone just that you are prepared to RIDE alone and make up the seating in another car with another group, as said before you may often find you are riding with other members of your group, my daughter and I ended up in the same car on Spiderman a few times as if there is a party of four ride together that leaves a couple of spare seats. So don't feel guilty thinking "I'm married - I shouldn't be here etc":D

"while the others are looking around in Innovations West, trot across and get FPs for TT & M:S"
Nostromo Don't forget you can't get fast passes for the 2 attractions at the same time, when you get your 1st fast pass it will tell you the time of return for your ride (I can't remember if Universal have the time printed when you can collect your next fastpass - Disney now do), it will save you time if before you ride on the first ride you then try and get your fastpasses for the second (I know you mentioned about leaving 2 hours in between - but you can't go and ask for 1 ride at 1 oclock and the next at 3 , the machines allocate the time and if you try and get a 2nd before you have either used the first or the allotted time to get a 2nd has arrived it will be rejected by the 2nd machine and tell you that you have a fastpass in operation already. one way round this is, if there is a member of staff at the machines, not always but sometimes there is and they are trying to speed up the queue, go through their machine as they use a special card to swipe instead of your ticket so it doesn't register on yours and you can get a 2nd.

[Nostromo]

quote:Originally posted by steph_goodrum

Singles doesn't mean you have to be alone just that you are prepared to RIDE alone and make up the seating in another car with another group, as said before you may often find you are riding with other members of your group, my daughter and I ended up in the same car on Spiderman a few times as if there is a party of four ride together that leaves a couple of spare seats. So don't feel guilty thinking "I'm married - I shouldn't be here etc":D

"while the others are looking around in Innovations West, trot across and get FPs for TT & M:S"
Nostromo Don't forget you can't get fast passes for the 2 attractions at the same time, when you get your 1st fast pass it will tell you the time of return for your ride (I can't remember if Universal have the time printed when you can collect your next fastpass - Disney now do), it will save you time if before you ride on the first ride you then try and get your fastpasses for the second (I know you mentioned about leaving 2 hours in between - but you can't go and ask for 1 ride at 1 oclock and the next at 3 , the machines allocate the time and if you try and get a 2nd before you have either used the first or the allotted time to get a 2nd has arrived it will be rejected by the 2nd machine and tell you that you have a fastpass in operation already. one way round this is, if there is a member of staff at the machines, not always but sometimes there is and they are trying to speed up the queue, go through their machine as they use a special card to swipe instead of your ticket so it doesn't register on yours and you can get a 2nd.




Thanks Steph. This really answers a lot of questions. I'll assess the situation when we get there and take it from there. We are doing Epcot over a weekend in relatively low season of early May (Sat for FW and Sun for WS) when the crowds (so they say) are not too bad. Maybe with M:S in full swing, TT may be less crowded than usual. I'll follow your advice for the FPs. Thanks again.

[steph_goodrum]

Nostromo the other option is, I know you mentioned seniors in the party, but can't remember how many you have in total but if say for a party of 8 only 4 want to do each of the 2 rides then you will be able to get both sets of fast passes using all 8 admission tickets.
Hope that makes sense.

[MTP]

Also watch if the weather does stop TT as I have been there when it was on and off all day. Apart from the notice board in the centre of Future World there is no other way to know if it is running (without asking a CM), I can't remember if they announce it or not. So it is a real hassle if you trek all the way over there and it is really queued as the ride has started up after being shut. There is also not much else around TT so it may seem like a wasted trip. Also don't rely on hearing the noise of the ride to assume that it has re-started as they send round test vehicles before re-opening.