Hi Michael!
Thanks for reaching out to the Moms Panel!
I see you're heading to "The Happiest Place on Earth" in January, which is a good month to choose, as January and February are generally as close to non-peak months as you'll find at
Disney World.
To answer your question (
Epcot or
Animal Kingdom?), I think it would all come down to personal preference. If you tend to lean towards experiencing nature, I would go with
Animal Kingdom. If, however, you prefer innovation (Future World) and culture (World Showcase), then I would go with
Epcot.
Me personally, as someone who "geeks out" on technology,
Epcot rises to the top for me between the two! I love Mission: Space and the Advanced Training Lab right as you leave the Mission: Space attraction, Frozen Ever After, Soarin' Around the World, Spaceship Earth, and Test Track. Plus, if you're somewhat of a food crawlie as I am, being able to enjoy the various culinary dishes served up at the countries in World Showcase is another check in the checkbox for me! Lastly, you must experience the
Epcot Forever fireworks show in the evening. By FAR my favorite fireworks show in all the parks at this time.
So it's what you feel is best for you. For me, as you can see how much time I've spent speaking about one theme park as opposed to the other, the answer is obvious. :-)
Have a magical time on your
Disney vacation!
Terry