AK & MK with 3 y.o. please help w/ itinerary

[missytiffy]

Hi. I've read the books and the boards and have almost memorized the touring guide for Mk & AK. Could you give me your best step by step itinerary for a day at each park?

My husband and I do not care to ride, so that is not a factor. Our tickets were free, so I feel no need to hurry through the parks to see it all, when she is done..we'll go back to OKW and relax. With that in mind, please give me your suggestions. Especially for Animal Kingdom, I seem to know less about this one! She loves animals & Lion King, too!! Thanks, I know you veterans will have the best info available!!

 

[Selket]

If she likes rides like Dumbo, I'd suggest the Triceratop Spin. The Boneyard might be fun also...and the Kil. Safari The Festival of the Lion King show is awesome and you'd probably enjoy that if it is open when you're there (you don't say when you are going).

I highly recommend the Tour Guide Mike site for help in planning an itinery. The URL is http://www.tourguidemike.com I have read all the books too and this site helped me the most. I'll admit that AK wasn't my favorite park...perhaps because the two times we've been to it the weather was very hot and that park just seems 100x hotter than any other park. I've never taken the time to really look for the animals!

Touring the MK is an art unto itself so ....that is where the TGM site could help you out a lot. Since you don't know what kind of rides she would enjoy or might frighten her...I think you'll have to have your options open. I recommend using the early entry for that park if you are staying onsite unless it is a very uncrowded time of year that you're going.

You might try posting this on the Family board too.

Have fun!

 

[nasmith]

My 3 1/2 yo wanted to spend all his time at the boneyard at AK - even when we were at the hotel, he kept talking about going to the boneyard! It's a huge playground -with lots of nets for them to climb thru (bring sneakers- as you or Dad will probably be following her around thru the nets ).
He sat thru the lion King show well - liked the tumble monkeys (you'll like that one too), bribed him into going on Kimanjaro Safaris by promising him he could go to the Boneyard later! We only did a half day there- There is a small petting zoo at conservation station that you could go to if she likes animals- my son was more interested in animals close up, not far away. The parade is supposed to be great- but we were long gone by them (had a nap time schedule to keep!)
At MK, he tolerated Dumbo, doesn't like Pooh (in general, not just the ride) - loved Buzz Lightyear and Indy race cars (boy does that line get long fast- so either get there early or don't let her see it!), Liked Peter Pan, didn't care for Small World (smart kid). He went on Goofy's Barnstormer and didn't like it this trip (too scary) -which is funny, since 6 months ago, he loved it! Mickey's toontown opens at 10:00 am and has some great character interaction (phot ops) in the tents, as well as alot of areas to run around in. Have fun!! Jill

 

[jksmom]

the safari, the triceritops spin ride, the Pangini Forest trail and the Tarzan rocks show. Oh and the Tough to be a bug 3D show.She wanted to ride the Dinosaur ride but was a little shy of the height requirement.

 

[spr0m]

My DD just turned 3 on 9/5 at the parks she loves everything in fantasyland and Goofys Jamboree was her favorite she got to dance holding hands with Jessie next to the princesses her favorite character. I highly recommend this new show. At the AK she liked all the shows we missed LK(due to rehab) but saw it in 1/2003 and the she loved it then even the 1 yr old loved this show and the Tarzan show they were both shaking to the beat. I go to the park later in the day and catch the parade it's tough to make it through the whole day there. The parade is fun and she liked it better than the share a dream come true in the MK. alomost forgot they both love the Country Bears and Tiki Birds as well and clapped after both shows. rememer the AK is always hotter but after october it's fine . All the trees and bushes block any breeze so it's always feels warmer there

 

[MinnieGi]

My DD was 2 1/2 last time she visited and will be 3 when we go at the end of October. MK & AK are her favorite parks. We usually spend two long mornings into early afternoon for both parks. And also hit MK on the night it is open late since we go in value or regular season.

For AK Day One: (We usually also go during EE day to get our extra hour)

Tour animal areas around Tree of LIfe

See The Lion King Show - She LOVES this show!!! (so do I)

Catch a few characters in Camp Minnie-Mickey (next to show area)
Walk to DinoLand

Ride TriCeratops several times! (DD loves Dumbo and all their circular rides like this one)

Go to the Boneyard - DD Loves this area too. Lots of great slides that she just had a ball on, plus nets, ramps, and a huge "excavation" sand site to dig in. DD could spend a long time here and we do stay quite a while but then we need to get lunch!

Eat at Flame Tree B-B-Q (near the entrace to Dinoland)

After lunch head to Asia and do their Animal Walk (the proper name of it escaping me right now, sorry) This trek has tigers, kamodo dragon, huge bats and other animals to see. Nice relaxing activity after lunch.

At this point we need to head back to the resort for nap and swim time.


AK Day Two Touring Schedule

Head to Kilimajoro Safari

Do the Pangani Forest Trail after the safari. DD loves watching the gorillas here!

Catch the train to Rafiki's Planet Watch

Do the petting zoo at the Planet Watch and tour the conservation station

Head back into Camp Minnie-Mickey to watch Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends show. This is geared toward the little ones. DD really likes the animals

Then we do lunch at Pizzafari which is not to far away from the show.

After lunch we head to see Tarzan Rocks! and either finish up with a Tricertops Spin ride or some more Boneyard play

Time to head back for nap and swim

We've never been able to stay for the parade at 4:00, but the pictures from it look really cool. This year I might stay one long day in AK so DD can see the parade and just forgo the nap but then we'll make it a short evening so she can get to bed early.

(I'll post a MK schedule later)
Hope this helped a bit!
Gi

 

[swilphil]

Hi. I'm from KC suburbs, too. We just got back with 3 yo son. For MK, I would recommend Early Entry or getting there right at opening on another day (preferably the day after EE). Go to Fantasyland first thing. Dumbo has the slowest line, so if that's a priority do that first. Also did Carosuel and Small World. Use the Fastpass for Pooh and Buzz Lightyear. Go to Mickey's Toontown and when you're done there take the train to Frontierland. DS liked Pirates of the Carribean and Jungle Cruise, but he doesn't scare easily. He wasn't sure about Haunted Mansion, but said, "That's a good one" when the ride was over.

As for AK, we had a PS for Donald's Breakfastosaurus before the park opened and then went to the Boneyard and the Teceritops Spin (exactly like Dumbo, but no line). The Boneyard is a lot of fun. My son didn't really want to go on anything else at AK. He wanted to nap and then see "Bear in the Big Blue House" at MGM. He actually liked MGM and Epcot better than AK. The animals that we saw at AK were nothing that he couldn't see at the KC Zoo. The shows at AK do sound good though.

I would recommend going to the Johnson County Library and getting the Unofficial Guide to WDW. It has a whole chapter on touring with kids and good touring plans just for young children. They probably already have the 2004 edition.