3 Year Old

[carolb3]

Has anyone taken a 3 year old to WDW? We are wondering if we should wait a couple of years? We have a 3 year old and a six year old. I heard that Epcot would not be of interest to them. Any advice? Thanks!

 

[campingcorgi]

All kids are fun and have fun at Disney in different ways depending upon their ages. There is no perfect age--especially with two kids three years apart in age. Go when you can (and as often as you can), take lots of pictures and make lots of memories.

I've taken them at 7 months, 12 months, 18 months, 30 months, and 7-23 years. Trust me, the younger the better! Those teenagers--they put a whole new spin on any trip!

 

[Barb D]

My almost-3yo went for a few days at 5mo and a few days at 23mo. She's going again for one day at the Magic Kingdom a week after she turns 3. She is VERY excited about it, and I've already told her older sibs that this is HER trip. If we have to choose between something for them and something for her, we'll choose for her. (Hopefully it won't be too much of an issue. We should be able to get everybody's favorites in.) There is SO much to do there for a 3yo. There are very few rides she won't be able to go on.

EPCOT is probably the least interesting for a 3yo, but there are some things she would enjoy. Spaceship Earth is pretty cool. And the Tapestry of Dreams parade in the evening is awesome. The giant puppets will actually reach down and touch the kids, and the puppeteers blow kisses.

I would definitely say go now, and then go again in a couple of years. Your 6yo is the PERFECT age right now.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I just got back from a 2 week trip with my 3yo and she loved it. It was so much better than the trip we took last year when she was 19 month old. This time she loved all the characters, got their autographs, loved posing for pictures and dressed up like Cinderella and had breakfast with the princesses. It as great.

 

[beattyfamily]

3 is a wonderful age (especially if they are already potty trained) to bring a child to WDW. The only down side I know of is they may not remember. But that's no reason!

They can go on lots of rides, enjoy the shows, and the characters and parades.

They actually complain less at that age than when they get older, IMHO, about the heat or lines etc....

Go for it!

 

[carolb3]

Thanks to all! Sounds like my daugther will have a wonderful time!!!!

 

[crisi]

We went with our 2 and 3 year old in Febuary.

We spent most of our time in the MK - especially Fantasyland, and the AK. We spent some time in Epcot (they saw the Dreams parade twice and loved it) and a little time in MGM.

My little ones enjoyed parades and almost all the rides they went on at every park. My son LOVED the ship at Norway - and there is other stuff for younger children at Epcot. Plus they just liked being pushed in the stroller and people watching. We had several dinners scheduled in Epcot, so we would generally swing through, spend an hour or two there, and then go to dinner, catching the parade on the way out. We also discovered that when you do find characters at Epcot, they aren't nearly as mobbed as at the other parks.

(My son had decided to potty train the week before we left. I told him he had to wait. I'd rather bring pull ups along that worry about spare pants. A child in diapers is better, IMO, than a "beginning" pottier.)

 

[carolb3]

crisi - Did you go back to the hotel for naps, or just go straight through the day? When she doesn't nap, my daughter usually falls asleep around 5:00 p.m. So, I'm deciding whether we should head back for a nap or just stay the whole time and have her sleep when whe get back at the end of the day. We also have a 6 year old, but he doesn't nap obviously. In February, what time do the parks close? Thanks for you any advice!!!

 

[crisi]

We ended up napping on the transportation.

The first day we spent in MK. The kids were nap ready, so we started to move towards the door. They fell asleep in the strollers. We got them to the boat (we were staying at WL), they fell asleep again on the boat. Ten minute boat ride later we got to the hotel. Moved to the room - and the ten minute nap was the kiss of death!

So we changed our game plan. Kids get tired, we get on the bus (the train in the MK, the monorail). One kid per adult, head on the shoulder. Kids fall asleep by the time you are out of the parking lot, and then you ride the bus in a circle for an hour or an hour and a half.

Its enough of a nap that they aren't cranky and make it to the end of the day. (It wasn't the best nap they'd ever taken, and staying up late for fireworks was not park of the program this way).

The parks closed around 7:00, except Epcot, which opens later and closes around 9:00. We never managed to stay up for Illuminations.

 

[Boardwalk33]

My DH and I have taken our three children since my oldest was 2 years old and now she is 7 (today is actually her birthday). Any way, she loved it! We were careful with her and the characters and let her get close if she wanted to. At 3 years old it got better and it seems to get better each year.

We just returned from our August vacation at OKW with our DD (7), DS (4) and my other DS (1) and we made it through just fine. A lot of time in the MK but that's what they wanted.

Good luck and enjoy!!

 

[honeymom]

My kids enjoyed Epcot at 2 and 1/2 and 5 years old.

We did it late afternoon and evenings. That way, we could eat dinner there (better restaurants than MK). They enjoyed the atmosphere and the rides. We skipped some of the lands in World Showcase, concentrating on those we were eating in or walking by. We also did not bother with Innoventions.

My kids are scared by a lot of the rides at MK. They did not seem frightened by the Epcot rides (we skipped Test Track). It was also a lot less crowded at Epcot and we were able to get on the rides quickly which they liked.

 

[dcedwards]

We took our son at 13 months, 18 months, 2 yrs and last year he was 3 years old. Loved each and every trip. They are always different and the last trip we found we spent most of time at MK. He loved the Buzz Lightyear ride, although he had to sit on mom's lap to shoot the gun but he loved it.

I wouldn't hesitate to take a 3 yr old to Disney. Do plan for naps. Our son slept in the stroller which was nice but we also went back to the room a couple days. He fell asleep on the bus and then we rested for an hour or so. Was perfect and kept him going the rest of the day. I would highly recommend some sort of nap but that may depend on your child.

The other thing to keep in mind is to use the Baby Care centers at the parks. They are wonderful especially for changing pants, clothes, etc. And, don't forget your own stroller. The ones at the parks, in my opinion, aren't quite like their own. It really helped make our trip by having it.