1 Day at MK - thoughts on how long a 6 yr old can go?

[JRatManda]

We will be headed to Disney in early March.
It is the first trip for my daughter who will just have turned 6. It is a quick trip, so we will have just one day at Magic Kingdom. She is active and hasn't napped in years, but I'm wondering if it is too much to expect her to go from Rope Drop till around 7 without a major break??
We have a later breakfast at CRT at 10 (a must do for her!) dinner at BOG at 5:10 (a must do for me!) so going back to the hotel (off property) for a mid day break seems like it's would eat up a huge chunk of our only day at MK, but I don't want to overdue it with her either!!! Thoughts?? Thanks!!

 

[alicat8]

I wouldn't bother with a break. You'll get none of the park done but your meals! It's one day-let her tough it out. She'll probably be fine. If it was the last day of a week long trip, that might be a different story.

 

[Alesia]

At that age, my daughter could easily go from rope drop until after the fireworks.

 

[JRatManda]

Thanks guys! That was my thought, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't totally crazy!!

 

[ErinInCT]

At least it won't be brutally hot. My 11 yr old and 15 yr old could barely last 3 hours at the park!! Your meal times are at good times to break up the day. I think you'll be fine.

 

[Anchored]

we just did 2 weeks and my 6 year old did lots of late nights, closing out MK at midnight! your meals will be perfect breaks and if you still find yourself needing a break, ride the carousel of progress for a good 20 minute nap lol

 

[Thing 1]

She should be fine, especially with two sit-down meals. At six we did take breaks some days on multi-day trips, but we did the occasional weekender when we stayed in the park from rope drop to fireworks and he was fine for one day of it. We always make sure to do a sit down meal during these long days.

 

[Mousemommy1]

My kids would have been fine going from open to close at age 6. But, you know your child best.

 

[TravelingTotMom]

As previously mentioned, the Carousel of Progress is good if a break is needed.

It's also fun to ride the railroad around the park (and use it to get from one part of the park to another), as well as ride the PeopleMover.

 

[SweetMissy]

We always stay from opening until closing...depending on the park/day, we sometimes leave a little bit earlier. Our kids do great. A 6 year old shouldn't have a problem staying the whole day but it depends.....Disney can be tiring, so just wait and see. Have fun!

 

[patdoc98]

Yep, I would expect that, with two table-service dinners, mixing in some "fun breaks" (Mickey's Philharmagic, Monster's Inc. Laugh Floor, People Mover, Railroad) in the afternoon when her energy might otherwise be low, and maybe a snack around 2 pm (you could even just bring some granola bars and get a free cup of water from any quick service -- or have more fun and get Dole Whips, milkshakes or smoothies!), a 6-year-old should have no problem going all day, for one day in March.

She will sleep well that night!!

 

[jmccoy18]

She should be fine, but I would take a stroller to help with all the walking! Plus it is nice to have a place to store all your stuff!

 

[Barbara76]

She should be fine, but I would take a stroller to help with all the walking! Plus it is nice to have a place to store all your stuff!

A stroller would get in the way I think, for a 6 year old it seems like it wouldn't get used. Last time we went my daughter was 5 and my son was 8 and they both did great...they were exhausted on the bus on the way back to the resort at night, but they were great while there.

 

[keepswimming76]

Our 5 year old made it from rope drop until close once. We just made sure to have some down time at the park during the day. I think the meals you have planned will work out well for that.

 

[msmama]

Just as a dissenting opinion - my son (now 7) would NOT have made it from rope drop to close. Rope drop to after dinner - possibly.

For him, it's not so much that he'd get tired, he'd just get overwhelmed and overstimulated. We do lots of slow time (meaning we wouldn't ride all headliners). We'd do a lot of slower rides, spend some time on Tom Sawyers Island, ride the riverboat, and do lots of window shopping.

Like everyone said, you know your child best.

 

[sharona]

As long as your not criss crossing the park or wanting her to move at a faster than normal pace, she'll be fine. I think your planned breaks at CP and BOG are nicely timed. Have a great trip!!

 

[Lsyves]

Mine gets tired by early afternoon. Not a napper but needs down time I think from the sensory overload. But as everyone said, it really depends on the child's personality. And if it's the only day you have, she might be right in there with you for everything...mine get tired more and more as our weeklong stay goes on so we have to pace ourselves or it's no fun by the fourth day or so...

 

[Gumbo4x4]

DD2 was 6 when we were there in June, 2012. On our MK day, we went rope drop to close (midnight) with one sit-down meal at lunch. She did fall asleep on the boat ride back to TTC

 

[ktlm]

My DD has always been high energy. We don't take afternoon breaks. She goes from rope drop to park close and then gets up and does it again the next day. We break up the day with a TS meal to sit down and re-energize which it sounds like you are doing. We have been every year since she was 2 and she has always been fine with full park days. (We tried the afternoon break on her first trip when she was 2, and quickly realized it did not work for her at all- she did not want to leave the parks). When she was 6, we did MVMCP twice and we were in the parks from rope drop to almost midnight both those nights, and she did fine both those days. You say your DD is active and hasn't napped in years. I bet she will be fine!

 

[ajwolfe]

My kids were able to handle park opening to park close at that age easily. If she's an active child I think she will be able to as well. Enjoy, sounds like you have fun day planned!! And I would not mess with a stroller, my bet is she wouldn't use it anyways and it will slow you down!