4 yrs

[Gutto]

Please, i read a book (unffocial guide disney world by Bob Sehlinger... ) that said Disney is better for chd over 6-7...., i am from Brazil...i am going in September with my wife and little 4 ( She talks every day about our trip !!), but i am affraid with it, my wife wants to give up....Does anybody could tell me something about Disney with KIDS ( 4 years old).
I booked Comfort Suites Maigate East, What about the area hotel ? All information is very important to me...Thanks in advance !!

Augusto

 

[gshoemate]

I think your 4 year old will have a great time. Of course, doing WDW with a little one will take a little work. There is lots to do and see so she will probably get tired ( I would recommend renting a stroller so all the walking is not to hard on her). Although she will be to small for some of the rides, there will be plenty to keep her busy. I say go for it.

 

[BevS97]

I have to say that I really hate that book, I read it before our first trip, and it is so negative! I really wondered if the author even liked Disney World!

We have taken our daughter at 3 1/2 and 4 1/2 and we had a great trip both times. Your daughter will have a fantastic time, please throw the book away, and go and have a great trip!

bev

PS there is another book
Walt Disney World With Kids, 2003 (Walt Disney World With Kids)
by Kim Wright Wiley

which is a much nicer book - I think this author really likes Disney, and kids

Bev

 

[toystorymom]

I have never read that book but I can tell you that your 4 year old will have an AMAZING time!! Don't cancel your trip. I think 4 is a great age to go to Disney, there will be so much for her to do. It's great at this age, they truly believe in all the Disney magic. Have a great vacation!

 

[Kimberle]

No! No! No!!

I really hate those "know it all" books!

Our first trip with dd was when she was 2.5 years, then 3.5 years, and this trip will be 4.5 years.

There is alsolutly nothing more magical than seeing WDW through the eyes of your small child! Our dd absolutly LOVED her trips. She still talks about them and has memories from her first trip. To her "vacation" is WDW!!!

You and your child will have a terrific time!!!!

 

[viluvsdisney]

Hi 4 years old is a perfect age to go! If your little one still naps, that helps a lot. And bringing a stroller helps too! Have a great time!

 

[heather208]

BevS97 - I'm glad someone said it! I wanted to tell people the same thing about that book, but you know how some people can be on these boards. Say one wrong thing and your toast. lol. Anyway, yes, that book is totally wrong for a first timer. I'm in the same boat and have gotten more info off internet boards than what I could find in those books. Not to mention the best part......the boards are free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free.....Disney........YIPPY!!!!! Finally! lol.

 

[crisi]

We went when our kids were 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 and had a wonderful time.

There is a "sweet spot" for a single trip, that may be around six (depends on the kid) - the magic is still there when they see the characters, and they still like the Fantasyland rides, they make it through a longer day (although in September, you'll have short park hours), but they are old enough to go on and enjoy some of the thrill rides.

But that doesn't mean a four year old won't have a great time. There is plenty to do for that age (we were there seven days and didn't manage to do everything we wanted with our little ones).

Besides, your four year old is excited - you can't pull it from her without a darn good reason.

(And I hate that book, too. It really is a scary one - it makes things too complicated, it isn't easy to read, and it is rather negative. The book Bev recommends is much better. And Birnbaums is really a good book for a first timer as well.)

 

[Desnik]

We've been taking our 5yo DD since she was 9mo!! Our DS first trip is in Nov and he will be 8mo. Don't listen to that book!!!
If you want good guide books to read try www.passporter.com or the Birnbaums official Disney guide book.
Disney is a place for all ages and there is so much for your 4yo to do.
BTW, welcome to the DIS and have fun planning your trip. You will find so much useful info here, have fun!

 

[sha_lyn]

I hate the unofficial guide too. I also wonder why write a book anyone would write a book about a place they seem to hate.

Another book I like is WDW for Kids by Kids. It had been a prized possesion for my 6 DD for the last 2 years.

Also if you can find the Disneylnad sing along video, it is great to prepare the kids for the rides and characters. Although it is DL and not WDW most of the rides on the tape are also at WDW.

 

[sarahandhannahsmom]

Go Go Go!

My dd was 4 (barely) the first (and only) time we were there. She loved it, still talks about it and can't wait to go again (now she is 6).

Everything is real to them. That is Mickey, and Pooh and everyone else. I cried when my DD hugged Mickey. That trip was the biggest time of her life.

That is a nice Comfort Inn ( I think it's Comfort Suites isn't it). We have stayed there before but have now upgraded to staying on site (which I think will be even more magical)

I don't hate the book, but I agree that there are some negative points.

What I did like the book for was advice like:
1. See the parks in this order with a young child so they will appreciate all the parks a) Epcot B) Animal Kingdom, C) MGM D) Magic Kingdom. It suggests that they will not enjoy epcot as much once they have been to Magic Kingdom (I can see the logic in that)
2. What days are least crowded at each park during your particular stay.
3. The touring plans. When we went last time we just wandered around without a plan. In two days at Magic Kingdom, we still didn't see all of it because of lines, etc.

Don't believe all the negativity in the book. Much of it is quotes from disgruntled patrons (I found that usually people only write in when they are complaining).

Don't postpone the trip. It will be the vacation of a lifetime.

Have a magical journey

 

[anut4disney]

We took my daughter when she was 3 and she had a great time. Friday we leave to take my grandchildren and they will turn 4 while they are there. I am sure that they will have just as much fun.

 

[zurgswife]

MY younges has been going since she was 3months....and she just turned 6....she has gone once or twice a year and while some ages were easier then others she still remembers stuff from our trip when she was 4.....She met Bebop(a talking trashcan at AK) he called her is girlfriend and she he was her boyfriend...she still refers to Bebop as her boyfriend....so, 4 is a great age......

 

[cali2gagirl]

That's just crazy! My daughter was a month shy of being 3 when we went..and she can't stop talking about it!! Spend alot of time at Magic Kingdom..that's where she can do the most! If she likes animals...take her to AK. MGM has awesome shows for her age as well! There is plenty to do, and if your kid is like most...she'll love swimming at the hotel too!! My daughter talks daily about seeing Mickey, and the castle and that next time she'll ride Space Mountain
Ya'll will have a GREAT Time!!!!

 

[K and K's Mommy]

My just turned four year old LOVED Disney when we went in the spring. He and I are trying to talk DH into another trip this spring, but dad says every other year! I used that book, and did like it for the description of the rides, restaurants, and touring plans. The only time I would say to wait is if you are going on a once in a lifetime trip to Disney. Then I would wait until my child was 48 inches so he/she could go on all rides. We were there 5 days and still did not get everything in that my DS 4 wanted to do. Go and have a great time!

 

[sters]

Disney is great at any age. There is so much to see and do. There's a story time with Belle near the Castle at the MK. I can guarantee you that I would never have done that as a teenager, but for a small child it would be great. Each trip we have different fun times doing different things because our kids are different ages. Go for it!

 

[BevS97]

It suggests that they will not enjoy epcot as much once they have been to Magic Kingdom (I can see the logic in that)

I;ve read this as well, but I disagree, Magic Kingdom is what the kids love and it's what they are thinking of when you say Disney, so we always start there. I don't feel like we are really there until we have walked down Main Street and seen the castle! We will go back there later in the week too.
We always have a fab time in Epcot as well, in fact it's our 2nd favorite park, and we will visit there more than once as well.

bev

 

[cofey]

We took our DS to WDW for the first time when he had just turned three and all of us had a BLAST. We visited MK, Epcot, and AK and he loved all three.

One tip from that book that is totally true is the emphasis on naps. Try to stay on-site or a very close offsite, get an early start in the morning, then go back to the room for a couple of hours in the middle of the day. This made all the difference for our family.

Good luck!

 

[crisi]

I disagree on the nap thing if going in September because of short park hours - at least as a blanket recommendation - but it really depends on the kid.

My kids were never big nappers, and napping on the train around the MK, or in the Hall of Presidents, was usually enough to keep them going on short days. The one day we tried to go back to the hotel for a nap, they slept on the boat from the MK to the WL - ten minutes, and then we spent two hours trying to get them to rest in the hotel room - and they never did - it just wasn't even worth it to try and head back at 5:00 when the park closed at 7:00. We never did Fantasmic or Illuminations - deciding instead for early bed times. By three and four (shortly after our Disney trip) my kids had nearly completely outgrown napping.

 

[sarahandhannahsmom]

We are really struggling with the nap thing. DD6 has outgrown naps and resents resting. DD2.5 desperately need a nap or else we all pay for it.

we have contemplated one adult going back with 2.5 for nap and one staying at parks with 6 year old.

we also thought about all of us going back and 2.5 napping whild 6 took a swim, but 2.5 would probably throw a bloody fit over this INJUSTICE!

Since the park closes early, we have early dinner PS so it will be early to bed.

We probably will not go back for naps and try to do the following:

AK-short day and early dinner, early bed

MGM-long day because of fantasmic so we'll try to stalk out a quiet shady place for an hour of rest or so

Epcot-two days here and we may go back for nap on day 2 because of illuminations.

MK-also, two days. Try to find quiet shady place for an hour or so rest.

We have built in one day off for either resting or 1/2 day at water park.


I feel like if we try to go back to the resort much, the same thing will happen as the previous reply......fall asleep on the way back to resort, wakes up when getting off the bus, and we spend the next two hours begging her to fall asleep. if she does, by then, we'll miss the evening, if she doesn't everyone grumpy.

good luck