Just curious how much time it takes to really check out the world showcase. May not really be interested in the few "rides" but possibly. Just want to leave enough time in my schedule to really explore it all. Also, what are some favorites to see?

(now this is only my opinion) Not that long. Well, it depends on what you're interested in doing. First of all, there are only two actual "rides" in the sense that you're in a moving vehicle, so no need to worry about that. If you are interested in eating, then it will take quite a long time-- & probably more than one visit! BUT, if you are like me & just like to meander through the countries, appreciating the little details & taking photos, then it is probably between two & three hours if you're not stopping much, but also taking your time. I've meandered through on two different Christmas trips (i.e. very busy, lots of crowds) & it definitely took, at most maybe 2.5 hrs. & I'm a slow walker. & I get easily distracted.

That said, if you're into the meandering & detail-observing, UK has a lovely garden area that is just so relaxing. Lot of pretty backdrops for photos. China is neat, too... the Temple of Heaven is pretty much identical to the one in "real" China. But my absolute favorite is Morocco, because I love Moorish architecture. There are some little rooms kind of past the shops (if I remember correctly... like I said, I meander) which make for gorgeous photo backdrops.

I have somewhat of the opposite view. I love to take about a day to seriously tour WS. In fact, I think I still have not seen everything. But then again, what we like to do is to split up WS with Future World so that the kids have a little variety.

In essence, its more about how you want to tour WS that determines how long it will take.

In essence, its more about how you want to tour WS that determines how long it will take.
I totally agree with this. Also, are you interested in the live entertainment? Voices of Liberty and World Showcase Players are two that I really enjoy. Plus, even though there are only 2 "rides" there are movies in France, China, and Canada that I enjoy, not to mention The American Adventure. And some of the countries have little museums that are interesting (China, Japan, Norway, United States and Morocco off the top of my head).

You might want to check and see if one of the tours appeals to you. I was in the "couple of hours" group and then did a tour (that's no longer around, unfortunately) that was focused on WS, and it really opened my eyes on things to look for in the different countries. Check out the difference in the lighting along WS Lagoon - the fact that different areas of most countries have 'looks' that are country and city and that they've pulled in items to appeal to the 'only seen in movie', 'visited' and 'lived there' crowds.

Even when I'm visiting outside of a festival, I need a couple of different visits to say I've "done" World Showcase. If there's a festival (Food & Wine, Flower and Garden, or Holiday Season) I need even more time.

I concur with previous statements, unfortunatly this is a very individual thing. We usually do at least 2 half days there. . .but we LOVE WS! You can spend a lot of time wandering around, eating, listening to live entertainment (as previously mentioned Voices of Liberty, Mariachis in Mexico, etc) , shopping, riding the rides (Mexico, Norway), watching the movies, and talking to the people. I really love it there - but thats me.

When i worked in Disney that was my place to hang out on a day off or after work (go to the pub in England or read a book in the gardens etc) , its really an individual experience.

World Showcase is where we spend most of our time (our days always end up there).

But each person is different, as mentioned. It would be almost impossible to see all the entertainment in just a few hours. If you want to do all three films, the American Adventure and Maelstrom, that's going to take a few hours as well. Add in any shops you want to at least look through or peek into, and you have more time.

We can do one complete circuit of World Showcase in 30-60 minutes without seeing anything except the people as we are walking. It's 1.2 miles around the lagoon so even walking will take time (the boats are fine but that will take you even longer, believe it or not).

Also remember that all the attractions with the exception of Maelstrom, are scheduled so you'll have to work around that too.

Okay, so my "plan" is to spend an entire day at epcot, spending about 30 minutes per country at the WS. That way I have time to stroll around and look at everything. If I want to check out an attraction I'll have time for that, and any country I'm less interested in I can shorten the time. I'm leaving free space in my other days incase I miss out on anything I really wanted to see.

Also, WS doesn't open until 11, right? But what about EMH mornings? Does WS ever open early? Also, am I only allowed to enter the WS entrance after 11am? I'll be walking from the Beach Club area and would hate to have to ride the bus around to the other side if I want to get there before 11.

Thanks for the comments!

I'm pretty sure you can enter through the International Gateway, before World Showcase opens. To me, the World Showcase is not a get in, see everything, and then you are done, experience. I like to pop in and out, throughout my vacation, which is easy to do if you are staying so close. There are lots of great restaurants, so we usually eat there, at least a couple of times. There is a lot of entertainment, and it's fun to just relax and listen to a musical group, or watch a performance, whatever is going on as we walk by. Earlier in the day, we will do more running around, but the World Showcase, is best considered as a more relaxed touring experience.

Your plan sounds great. Be sure to check out the entertainment schedule so that you're in the right country at the right time to see any shows you don't want to miss. When our boys were young we didn't spend a lot of time in World Showcase, now we really linger and love it.

It's been years and years since we stayed at Beach Club, but back then we could get in the International Gateway entrance at the normal opening time of Future World. I love the Beach Club and that easy back door access to EPCOT is one of the big reasons.

You CAN enter Epcot before 11am through the International Gateway, but you're just allowed to walk through and go to the Future World portion. If you want to do any of the 'thrill' rides in Future World, Definitely aim to get there at opening. The big three are Soarin, Test Track, and Mission:Space - and that's the order that the fast passes are done being handed out. Test Track has a single-rider option, but the other 2 do not.

World Showcase never opens before 11am.

I'm envious of you staying at Beach Club - it's super great for getting a little Epcot dose in the evening.

You could also plan to have a few dinners at Epcot and get to see WS that way (walking in/out of the shops and around the lagoon after a delicious meal in one of the countries). With the boys, until this trip, they were not big fans of WS. We spent more time in Epcot (and WS) this trip than ever before.

Here's our little parenting tip: What we usually do is let them go on a few rides in Future World and grab a FP for something in Future World, to come back to after touring the WS. This way, they are better about wandering through WS b/c they know they have the FP to look forward to on our way out as well as one last ride on Spaceship Earth. ;)

I'm envious of you staying at Beach Club - it's super great for getting a little Epcot dose in the evening.

A few years back I worked a convention at the Boardwalk, and for some reason they had the crew staying in the Beach Club. It made for a really nice early morning walk around the lagoon to get to work at the BW. And this convention broke most days at noon - in fact they were totally dark on one full day! I really enjoyed working the morning and then splitting off and using my AP to get into Epcot for those half days. I guess it's the closest I'll ever get to living in a park!

World Showcase never opens before 11am.

It does if you're doing the Segway tour! :)

It does if you're doing the Segway tour! :)

Just because you can go in it doesn't mean it's open! :D

You could also plan to have a few dinners at Epcot and get to see WS that way (walking in/out of the shops and around the lagoon after a delicious meal in one of the countries). With the boys, until this trip, they were not big fans of WS. We spent more time in Epcot (and WS) this trip than ever before.

Here's our little parenting tip: What we usually do is let them go on a few rides in Future World and grab a FP for something in Future World, to come back to after touring the WS. This way, they are better about wandering through WS b/c they know they have the FP to look forward to on our way out as well as one last ride on Spaceship Earth. ;)

It also depends on the size and age of the kids, and their walking capacity. Since they raised the cost of the stroller rentals, we no longer rent a double stroller at Epcot. If your kids are just beyond stroller age, but still pretty small, a visit to Epcot can be an awful lot of walking for them. I don't mind putting in a few miles, to go back and forth from FW to WS, and around the lagoon (which, of course, justifies that snack stop at the France pavillion, or that giant margarita in Mexico), but it can be a lot to ask of a smaller child. When we put both kids in a stoller, it really didn't matter, but now we plan a little more strategically, so that we don't wear out our smaller child, and end up carrying her.

Okay, so my "plan" is to spend an entire day at epcot, spending about 30 minutes per country at the WS. That way I have time to stroll around and look at everything. If I want to check out an attraction I'll have time for that, and any country I'm less interested in I can shorten the time. I'm leaving free space in my other days incase I miss out on anything I really wanted to see.

Also, WS doesn't open until 11, right? But what about EMH mornings? Does WS ever open early? Also, am I only allowed to enter the WS entrance after 11am? I'll be walking from the Beach Club area and would hate to have to ride the bus around to the other side if I want to get there before 11.

Thanks for the comments!

I think the others have answered the entering using the International Gateway but want to add one more thing - the World Showcase doesn't open before 11:00, not even during Extra Magic Hours (since the attractions open are in Future World).

With your plan of spending 30 minutes in each country, you would need a minimum of 5-1/2 hours (11 pavilions times 30 minutes) for World Showcase. The 30 minutes for each country would only provide you for a snippet of entertainment as most of the acts are 15 minutes or longer (if you happen to be there when the entertainment is happening).