best things to do at magic kingdom

[LAWZMAN]

If you had to pick the top things to do at magic kingdom for a 7 year old boy, (please keep in mind that he's tactiley defensive), what would that be? I'm thinking it's best not to try to do everything there, but to take our time and hit the highlights.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

I think Pirates is a must for anyone. It has some loud noises in, and you sit next to each other, but you should be able to leave some space on the bench, so he isn't crowded.

Jungle Cruise is good fun, though they do pack you in a bit.

Buzz Lightyear I would say is a must do. Shooting aliens to save the planet, what more do you need?

Tom Sawyer's Island is great to explore and run around on, just make sure you don't overheat (I accidentally did this, felt dreadful for most of the next day!)

Those would be my top ones (OK, so I'm not a 7 year old boy, but I was a 7 year old tom-boy once ), but I think it would be best to sit him down and see what he likes the look of. There are a lot of videos of rides on YouTube, if you wanted to check them out before you left.

 

[mom2zandjsquared]

Buzz Lightyear is a must do and maybe more than once!! POTC especially if he is into Pirates!!

 

[OneLittleSpark]

More than once? Try more than a dozen times! My family and I often just go straight out of the exit, back into the queue if it's quiet. I think last trip we rode Buzz at least 6 times and Pirates about 8. Near the end of the trip, we were coming off Pirates and the guy at the unload said that we must really love that ride, because he'd seem my wheelchair waiting at the exit so often!

 

[BeckyScott]

Yep, Buzz is like #1 on our list too.

You know what I did, and it may or may not work for you. I got out my copy of Unofficial Guide and it lists all the attractions. Or UG for Kids would work well too. I sat with the kids (okay, I was sitting, they were on the computer and playing Wii) and went thru the rides one by one just to get their input about them. I made sure to explain if they were loud or dark or wet. We'll be at WDW long enough to see everything, but I just wanted an idea of what they were most interested in-- to help me make a game plan-- and wasn't sure if my guessing would be right.

There are also videos of almost everything on YouTube.

For the most part, I would have guessed it right. But not all the way. Cinderella's Carousel might work well for some kids, and mine like carousels, (going in circles is fun!) but my boys are both at the age that if it sounds "girlie" they want no part of it. My youngest (8, autism) wants to go to Playhouse Disney Live at MGM, and I would have pegged him as too old for that. My oldest, I tried to explain to him that Mission: Space has been known to make adults puke, and that completely backfired cause now he really really wants to go on it! (and will be going with his father)

It's hard for them to say what they'd like and not like sight unseen, but I did get some feedback.

 

[ireland_nicole]

Hi; I'm sure your going to have a great time. Could you elaborate on what types of stimuli challenge your guy? Is it people brushing too close, mist on his face, the possibility of getting wet, sensation of heat or cold, is he bothered by speed, sensation of bouncing or moving side to side or backward, spinning or going really fast? It would help me to recommend attractions. Don't worry, there's plenty to do that he'll like no matter what.
Thanks
Nicole

 

[LAWZMAN]

Great ideas everyone, thanks. I would say we would want to avoid things touching him, especially unexpectedly, something rushing towards him like in the 3-D movie images wouldn't be good, you mentioned mist on his face which I don't think he'd do well with.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

If he doesn't like stuff rushing towards him, you might want to either avoid the Great Movie Ride, or tell him to close his eyes and cover his ears as soon as you get into the 'Alien' bit. It took me years and years before I could cope with that scene, though I'm sure it doesn't come down as far as it used to. Dinosaur also has stuff coming at you out of the dark. I had a little girl next to me once who was terrified by it, poor thing.

There is a bit of a mist effect at the beginning of Pirates, but it's extremely light and you can barely feel it. I just wanted to warn you in advance, so you can let him know; otherwise he might freak at going through it.

How would he cope with being splashed with water? Some rides, like Jungle Cruise and Backlot Tours, can get you a bit wet; others, like Splash Mountain and Khali River Rapids, can get you soaked. If he's got tactility issues, but reckons he'll be all right on the wet rides, make sure to take a full change of clothes for him. The River Rapids get you completely soaked through, right to your undies (doesn't help that the design of the seat means you're sitting in a puddle before you even start), and the humidity in Florida makes it hard for you to dry off. Wet clothes can really rub, and be pretty uncomfortable, so be prepared (can you tell I was a Guide [translation: Girl Scout]? ).

 

[ireland_nicole]

I agree with the other posters, definitely, My kids also love the Swiss Family Treehouse and Peter Pans flight(I know its in Fantasyland, but trust me, its fun) Although BTMR is fun, you would bump against him, but there's 2 in a seat, so no one else. Space mountain is only one in a seat, but if you have claustrophobia you might not like that its veeerrry dark and there's a tunnel. That being said, maybe they would let you put him on and wait at the exit? Aladin's carpets is fun, you can make it tilt up and down, but stay above or below the camels mouth when he spits water. Astro orbiter would require an elevator to get to. TTA is fun, not fast, but you get to see all around tomorrowland. He won't get bumped, and most of the ride is on a high track in the open.

 

[eternaldisneyfan]

Considering all your needs this is what I suggest. Magic Kingdom gets extremely crowded like shoulder to shoulder. I would suggest getting there at opening and leaving for Epcot at 12:00. I would recommend these attractions-Buzz Lightyear, Jungle Cruise, Pirate's of the Carribbean, Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan's Flight, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.