DCA: a full day w/ 3 young children?

[CableKC]

I find that if I go for 3 days, I take my time to go to each and every park. I usually spend the majority of the day at each Park for the first 2 day.....even taking a break to go back to the Hotel to do some swimming ( if it's during the Warm months ) and/or do some shopping in Downtown Disney and/or the stores inside the Park ( which we usually don't have time to do ). On the 3rd day, we split the entire day between DL and DCA to go on all the rides that the kids like ( as opposed to going to the entire park ).

Either way....going for 3 days allows you to not rush while enjoying your time in the Park. This is especially important when you ( just like me ) have kids to deal with.

 

[pixarmom]

There are lots of characters at DCA. We see quite a few on Hollywood Boulevard (Sully, Goofy, Mickey, Incredibles characters, etc.), right when you walk in straight ahead there is a fountain where lots of characters hang out. We have seen Stitch, Mickey and Minnie. Woody and Jessie were doing meet and greets over by TSMM on our last trip.

At the Drawn to Animation show we have seen Mickey, Woody and Cinderella.

Koda and Kenai do a little show over in the Redwood Challenge area.

Great news! Thanks for the information!

 

[brergnat]

There is absolutely enough to do there for a day.

We were just there on Sunday (we've bee locals/AP holders for YEARS, so we've been to DCA many, many, many times). We spent over 4 hours there and barely scratched the surface on things to do. Our kids are 4 and 5, oldest is just 42", so we didn't even hit the "big rides".

You will also have shorter park hours on a weekday in May, although the Food and Wine festival is going on all during May, so that's a bonus! The park hours will likely be 10am-6pm. So, really only 8 hours or so. You can easily spend 8 hours in DCA with little ones and still not get to do everything.

 

[sonnyjane]

Is Aladdin closed Mondays & Tuesdays? I know it was closed two days per week, just don't remember which days

I was just there yesterday. It now says that Aladdin will be playing Thursdays through Sundays on the marquee.

OP, since you will only be at the parks for two days, I would devote 1 1/2 days to DL and 1/2 to DCA. There can be enough at DCA to fill an entire day if you made it a mission to do absolutely everything just for the sake of stretching it out, but in my opinion, one day is not enough for DL, so since you have the option of going back and forth, I would hop between the two and not devote a full day to DCA.

 

[Hound 109]

Isn't there also the MuppetVision 3D show in DCA? I think I remember we did that one day when it was sprinkling a little. The little kids liked it all right.

Yes.....& definitely a kid (& adult) favorite. The Muppets often get overlooked because it's been at WDW (& DLR) for so long.

But if someone hasn't enjoyed it a dozen times (like me ).....it's definitely a must do.

 

[heatherleigh]

I'd only do CA for half a day, given the limited amount of total time you have there. I remember us doing CA for a half day on our very first trip (it was only 3 days long).

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

We spend a full day in DCA on each of our trips. Don't forget "Playhouse Disney" and splashing in the water at Bugs Land, and maybe Redwood Creek Trail Challenge.