Best 1st amusement ride for DD3 & DS4

[It's A Happy Day]

Thanks to all for replying with great ride tips Are there other things that score high on your must do lists while at each of the parks - nonrides? This is our 1st trip with kids so I've never thought of it from that angle before. With everything that we'll be doing I'm sure they won't miss things but would like to know what people think are must hits for 3 & 4 yr olds. What are must hits for character meals? Best non ride moments...

 

[twinmommyks]

We just got back recently from our 1st trip with ds4, dd4, ds9 and the character meal that was a big hit with my children was the Winnie the Pooh and friends at Crystal Palace at MK. They loved the characters and even my ds9 joined in the parade at the end of the meal through the restaurant. My ds4 kept hugging the characters. It was so much fun.

My dd4, of course, thought the Princess Storybook Luncheon at Epcot was the best. Princesses are the best thing in the world to her. If your children aren't big princess fans, I wouldn't recommend this, but if they are, it will be a hit. Even though the meal was mostly for our dd4, we all had a blast just watching her and seeing her so excited.

Both meals were fun for our family. I thought perhaps my kiddos were too "old" for Pooh, but they loved these classic characters!!!

Bren

Bren

 

[Princesa]

Ok, I'm going to chime in with another vote for Dumbo!

Our first trip with kids we had DS3 and DD(turned two during trip) They both thought Dumbo was awesome. We had read about long lines later in the day at Dumbo, so we headed there first after watching the park opening. We were only in line maybe five minutes, so no problem there. Both kids loved it! I still remember DD laughing giddily, and wanting to ride again. By the end of the trip, we finally learned to skirt around the front of the castle if we didn't want to ride Dumbo once again! Nothing beats that though, knowing your kids are so thrilled to be there....DD would point, dance and shout "Dumbo fly high! Dumbo fly high!!" whenever she spotted it, and immediately expect to ride again! Needless to say we still own a stuffed Dumbo! My kids still want Dumbo to be the first ride of a trip! I'm glad....me too!

Another plus for this....Dumbo is often on a lot of the promos, commercials etc. for WDW--If this is your "special ride" then you get to have that warm fuzzy feeling everytime you see them!

Second possibilities...It's a small world--DD loved it...we have some adorable footage of her dancing on my lap in the boat waving hi to all the "babies"! too cute. DS loved Peter Pan--he would ride this again and again! Pooh is cute, but so-so for us. We did skip Snow White as I had heard about some being scared and didn't want to ruin my chances on others.

We spent our first time in Fantasyland, and then headed over to the rope drop for Toontown. We got to walk in with characters, and then had great chraracter interaction with almost no waiting. This was our first experience with characters, and was a good intro, as we didn't have to wait a long time and DD got to meet Cinderella! DS being almost two years older jumped right in with all characters, but DD held back--would go up for pictures only if I went with her and stood between her and the character. Face characters were fine though.

Once we had built up with the calmer rides, they were good to go for anything! We love Buzz but I wouldn't reccoment it for a first time ride. But for later in the day, don't miss it! And we visited POTC just in time to cool off in the afternoon, and DD settled down so much in the cool, dark lines that she fell asleep and napped for the entire wait and ride. 30 minute nap and she was ready to go again! no heading back to the hotel for us...we just head over to the pirates!

DD missed the 40 inch mark, but DS had a blast on larger rides too. We started with splash Mountain which was such a hit, it gave him confidence to try others. For him we learned to never go past Test Track unless we were willing to ride!

Another vote for Kidcot stops at Epcot, FOTLK in AK, riding up front in the monorail, there are so many special things for little ones.

The other very special thing we did that first trip...making sure we were in the Rose Garden for the fireworks, so Tinkerbell would fly right over us. She looked down and waved, and DD still thinks she waved right at her! Half the fireworks were over before she noticed they were happening because she was so excited about "The Wave" However, I did have to explain...she knew it was Cinderella's castle...and thought it was Cinderella! We had to have a crash course in Tinkerbell after that!

HAve a blast! Whatever you choose to do, you will have priceless memories...don't forget to take tons of pictures!!!

 

[estherhead]

Just a warning on Pooh, my 3 year old was a bit frightened in the huffleump area, so I wouldn't choose it as your first ride. Better to keep them outside for the first few times. Last visit we actually started with the carousel while Daddy waited in line at Dumbo. It was perfect. Then we went to the Mickey's Philharmagic and they got used to the dark as a "cinema" which they are used to. Then all the other inside rides were no big deal.

As a side note, both of my daughters took their first ride on Dumbo at 2 MONTHS!!! I love that goofy Dumbo. It is always a wise choice for the young.

 

[kizmac]

My vote goes to Dumbo! It is my kids favorite and most memorable ride. Whenever we talk Disney, they always talk about riding Dumbo. (my young kids that is, my older ones are starting to "out grow" Disney (is that possible?)

I would then do IASWA and Peter Pan. Both are first must do's for us! For me, the ride that gives me warm fuzzies is Peter Pan. It is the ride I remember being my favorite from my first Disney trips as a child.

Then I would go to Aladdin, Buzz & Pooh...etc. Snow White is the only one that may be alittle scary for them. Oh, and Pooh in the Heffalump part can be a little scary to little ones, but my kids have loved it.

Have a wonderful time!!!

 

[virginiamama]

DS 4 (at the time) LOVED Goofy's Barnstormer. He screamed this high pitch scream the entire time that the "plane" was moving. We got it on tape and DH took a picture from the front of the plane of me and DS. It is one of my favorites from the trip. It's a little rollercoaster but it is so much fun!
He also loved Buzz.

 

[StephMK]

We took our first trip last year and rode Dumbo first as well. As far as memorable rides though, their top fav was Aladdin. My DS2 just thought the spitting camel was the greatest! One of my best memories of the trip is him saying - the camel spit right in my face - in his happy baby lisp that he's since outgrown some! LOL

Snow White, Pirates & Buzz were all ridden & DD4 didn't like any of them. Scary & too overwhelming for her. She tends to get overwhelmed easily & I think all the bright colors & action in Buzz was just too much for her. DS2 loves that one though!

 

[jesszac610]

My Daughter loved the "people Mover" when she was two. Its in Mk in tommorrow land across from Buzz Light year and above the Stich ride. She's 6 now and we had to go on it 3 times our last trip!!! Another favorite of hers then and now is definately "Its a small world" and the Dumbo ride.

 

[Daydreamer]

Small World gets my vote. It is a favorite with all our children and will be my newest DD's first ride when we go in November.