Here are some favorites of my almost two-year old son (and I'd point out that every kid is different):
1. Pooh's playground. This is the best attraction at walt disney world.
The other playgrounds like honey I shrunk the audience and the boneyard are too big for little ones. There is another small playground in front of Mickey's toon town, also a big hit.
2. It's a small world. This is tied for the best attraction at walt disney world.
3. Storm along bay. Actually, this is probably the best attraction at walt disney world. I think most any pool would do, but storm along bay is great for toddlers. Actually, the little water slide on the ship on a lap is for sure the best attraction at WDW.
4. Playhouse Disney. This is the best attraction at the studios. Actually, this is about the only thing we do at the studios. But it is worth the trip. You can meet JoJo at the studios if you have a fan.
5. Dumbo and Alladin's magic carpets. Holden seems to prefer the carpets at this point, probably a little roomier. Also the teacups are good.
6. An overlooked attraction for toddlers, if yours loves climbing on stairs like mine does, is the swiss family robinson treehouse. It is all about the stairs. Don't even worry about the scenary.
5. Innoventions, El Rio Del Tiempo, and the Living Seas. These are the best at epcot, according to our toddler. One of the innoventions has a sort of playhouse by the firetruck. the house is all padded so that they can teach preschoolers about fire safety. Go when they aren't doing the demonstration, and let your toddler play in a perfectly padded playhouse. A wonderful attraction. They should build more stuff like that. Also, the boat ride at the land has always been "OK," but the real attraction at the land pavillion is the escalators. The viking ship in norway is a little fun to play on. We haven't tried Maelsrom and I don't really plan to. For little babies, spaceship earth was good (think of all the cool lights and stuff), but for toddlers not so much, but YMMV. He may come back around to liking this. OH, yeah, after dark there are little lights in some of the sidewalks, big fun.
6. At Animal Kingdom, the safari ride has always been fine. Holden hasn't seen the lion king show for a while, but it is probably time to take him back. The walking trails are good. Haven't tried the triceratop spinner but I'm sure it is fine. That's about it.
7. Tom Sawyer's Island is a little big, but it is still fun. Especially the stairs in the fort and the rocking chairs on the deck. I'd avoid the dark caves.
8. Boat rides. The boat ride to the resort is a winner.
9. Train rides. I have to get him out to
disneyland to see casey jr. The MK train is OK, no real problems, but not a real winner, either. He doesn't seem to care. We have to get him on the steamboat. I really wish they still had the keelboats.
10. The carosel. Sort of like the train. It is OK, but he doesn't get to excited about it. Teacups are good.
11. Don't forget the petting zoo at fort wilderness. You get a boat ride, a run on the beach, and petting zoo for the price of one. Which is free.
12.The jungle cruise is good fun. Holden has always held up well during the cambodian temple scene. Lots of fun pointing and looking the rest of th ride.
Having said these, I have to tell you that Holden's personality is a unique mix of rough and tumble AND doesn't like loud and surprising noises and he isn't a big fan of the dark.
So here is the second list, the attractions that are so-so. Holden gets a little uncomfortable on parts of these, but tends to do OK overall.
1. The people mover. Gets a little antsy in the dark of space mountain, but recovers easily.
2. Pirates of the Carribean. He likes parts of this, and doesn't like parts of it. Gets a little antsy.
3. Peter Pan's flight. He doesn't like the part at the end where the alligator is trying to get captain hook. Can be a little iffy.
4. Winnie the Pooh. He really wants to like this, but gets a little unsure in the rain, rain, rain came down, down, down room.
5. Figment's imaginative journey into whatever. The explosion at the end is a little intense.
6. The enchanted tikki room. Mostly OK, and some big interest in parts - especially the singing tikki's - but the tikki goddess is a little too much.
7. Our friend's 1.5 year old daughter is a fan of Sonny E. Clipse at Cosmic Ray's. Holden couldn't care less.
8. Characters. Probably should have made a new section for this one. Holden really was interested in them as a baby. At about one, they became a little scary. He really likes looking at them from a safe distance, but doesn't like them right there in his space. I'd introduce characters really gently from a distance. Our friend's 1.5 year old loves them. In Jan. Holden will be almost two and I'm interested in how he will do. Generally, Mickey's house in toon town has been an OK attraction for him, but his interest is only moderate. He'd rather be on the playground.
The third list is things that really didn't work out for Holden.
1. Snow White's Scary Adventure. It is called scary for a reason. He was fine with this when he was very young, but at about a year old or so he figured out that the witch who keeps popping up is scary. I wouldn't do it with a 2.
2. Mickey's Philharmagic. Loud and Dark. He is a huge Mickey fan, so this one may get another day in court. This is the only three-D that he has been to, we may try the muppets in Jan.
3. The country bears. This one has always surprised me, because he likes the country bears on video. The show hasn't been very successful so far. Its all about the lights going off and the music coming on.
We haven't tried several things because of the loud/dark factor: voyage of the little mermaid (the only shows we've tried are playhouse disney at every trip, and legend of lion king when he was younger). Haven't done haunted mansion since he was a baby. Haven't tried a 3D movie since first try at Mickey's 3d.
The big thing is, go at the kid's pace, keep them well-rested, fed, and hydrated and they will have a lot of fun. Let them look at what they find interesting. Don't let them get too tired, keep it fun.
Holden likes parades, and has been fine with the fireworks. Last Sept. we sat right on the water at rose and crown and I was little unsure about it, but he just leaned back and took in the show. Spectromagic is good, but I'd try to go at less crowded time or find a less crowded space.
Your responses are a big help!! I truly appreciate them!
