Epcot

Park map and show times – Start by looking at the map of Epcot which has two big areas –Future World and the World Showcase. Future World has all the technology stuff. World Showcase is an international adventure – eleven countries are represented with architectural landmarks, art, food, music and storytelling. Check your Times Guide to find out times for music and live performances in the World Showcase.

Tip: To skip waiting in lines for rides, get FASTPASS timed tickets.

Spaceship Earth – Step inside the big silver globe for a ride through the history of communications, from early writing to printed books, newspapers, radio, TV, computers and the moon landing (this is an eye opener for kids who may not realize that computers used to take up a whole room).

At the end of the ride, there's a cluster of interactive kiosks with games, such as drive the cars of the future, provide energy to a big city, test your reaction time and hand-eye coordination, try robotic surgical tools (these games are always changing, so each time you come, there's always something new).

Image Works (Imagination! pavilion) – This attraction is fun for everyone in the family, all ages. At the kiosks, take a picture of your face which you can decorate with animal ears, mustaches, crowns, etc., then email the photos to family and friends. Grandparents have just as much fun as the kids doing this activity.

Musical fountain – In the plaza between the Innoventions buildings, stop to watch this fountain spectacle, water gushing up and cascading down, in time to the music. The music always changes, so come back to watch the show more than once.

China – Step into the Circle-Vision 360 degree theater for quick trip to China. A gorgeous 14 minute presentation will take you to the Great Wall, inside the Forbidden City, Shanghai, and the misty mountains of Guilin.

Wurzburg miniature railroad – Just outside the German pavilion, stop to watch the miniature train wind its way through little towns and forests on the Romantic Road in Germany.

Norway – Vikings are always fun for kids, and Norway has an exquisite wooden Stave Church with artifacts and exhibits about the Vikings inside. Then, take a ride on a Viking ship, past trolls and polar bears, with a watery splash into the North Sea at the end.

Fun food - One of the most fun things about the World Showcase is all the food from different countries. For lunch, kids can sample Japanese noodles and sushi, German bratwurst, Chinese eggrolls, Mexican food, UK fish and chips. There are also special treats to try, such as funnel cakes, cannelloni, crepes, apple strudel, French pastries, churros, lebkuchen, Japanese candy.

Music and storytelling – Each country pavilion has different events throughout the day, such as Japanese Taiko drummers, Canadian and Celtic rock, Italian holiday stories, legend of the Chinese Monkey King, music of Mexico. (Check your Times Guide.)

Ferry across the lake – It's fun for kids to take a ride around the lake. Pick up the ferries at the Showcase Plaza, ferries dock close to Morocco or Germany.

Photos with Disney characters – Have your picture taken with Mickey, Minnie, Donald Duck and friends (meet at Innoventions West), as well as characters from Disney movies such as Aladdin, three Caballeros, Mushu the Chinese dragon (look for them at Mexico, China, Germany, Morocco, France and United Kingdom).

Lines and FASTPASS – Your bet best for popular rides is the free FASTPASS. Go to the ride, check the time for the next FASTPASS entry, insert your ticket, and out will come a FASTPASS ticket with a time stamped on it, e.g. 2:00pm. Go off, do other things, come back at 2:00pm and get in the FASTPASS line – you'll go on the ride with a minimum wait.

Shopping –

In the shops, kids can pick up authentic souvenirs from each country in the World Showcase shops, such as Chinese parasols, German Christmas ornaments, Japanese toys, Viking helmets, French perfume, Mexican wood carvings.