Does MGM and EPCOT make sense for a 3 year old?

[txfriend]

We are visiting the WDW, with our 3 year old son, May 20-23. We were wondering whether a 3 year old would have fun at EPCOT & MGM. Please advise.

Current Plan
----------------
May 20'th - MK all day
May 21'st - AK in the morning and MGM after 3pm.
May 22'nd - MK in the morning and EPCOT after lunch. Back to MK at night for Spectromagic and Fireworks.
May 23'rd - MK all day.

 

[Serenity]

My dtr is currently 2 1/2 and loves MGM. She really likes Playhouse disney, loves Fantasmic, loves Beauty and the Beast, as well as Indiana Jones (all the action really kept her attention). She also enjoyed everything else - those were just her favorites.

She likes Epcot but not in the way she did MGM. I gave her more freedom to walk around in the showcase and she liked that and I got to explore a little more of the countries than I normally do. She didn't really enjoy any of the shows in the countries - so we walked while the others watched them. She did really enjoy the Land, the Living Sea and Journey Into Imagination.

I think there are a lot of things there for kids this age - also don't forget the Kidcot Fun Stop craft areas - places where she can make masks and do some crafts in the different countries.

 

[all5ofus]

MGM definately has a lot to offer for a 3 year old.

Playhouse Disney, Voyage of the little Mermaid, Muppetvision 3-D, are all age appropriate for a 3-yr old. Our kids also love the Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground.

Epcot has less to offer the little ones, but we took our kids there at that age and we all enjoyed it.

 

[unregistered1]

We went a few years back when my daughter was three and we had a nice day at MGM; but now that I think of it (and not to be sexist) but many of the things we did were more girly. Playhouse disney is a live show which includes Bear in the Big Blue House, Stanley, Pooh and Roly Poly Ollie. There is a very good little mermaid show and a good stage production of Beauty and the Beast. We also did the muppets 3d movie which she enjoyed but wouldnt keep her glasses on for. The parade there is very good for little ones, has many disney animated characters. Finally (and perhaps most importantyl) the Toy Story Characters are there and some other rare characters (we saw the woman from Atlantis but we had never seen it before so we were clueless until we watched it when we got back and our daughter said "that is the lady we saw at Disney).

There are probably some things for little ones we missed (I know there used to be a Hunchback show but I think it is gone now) that I hope others chime in about because we are heading back soon with a 3 and 5 year old. I am sure you might get conflicting advice on Fantasmic.

Incidentally, I see that you were thinking about going to MGM in the afternoon. I would check show times because I think some of the more kid oriented stuff have early last show times.

 

[magictrickboy71]

My daughter was a little over 2 in Oct. when we were there. She loved MGM and EPCOT. Her favorite ride was the Big Ball (Spaceship earth) & figment.

She turns 3 this month and can't wait to get back to Disney to see her friends at MGM (Playhouse Disney) and she really can't wait to meet Jo Jo from the show on the disney channel. She also saw the Little Mermaid show 2 or 3 times and the Muppet 3d movie was also a big hit.

So I would say yes your child will enjoy both places. Don't forget to let him play in the fountains by test track, just bring a change of clothes.

Hope this helps,
Frank

 

[dougsmom98]

I think it depends on your child. On our last trip our kids were 2 and 4 years old. We skipped Epcot except to see Illuminations one night. I looked at the attraction in the guidebooks and knew that our kids would not be up for them. My kids are 3 and 5 now and if we go to Epcot this trip, it will be in the late afternoon or early evening and we will take it easy and just walk around and have a few snacks here and there. If the kids show interest in something we will go see it, otherwise we won't push it. There is a lot at Epcot my husband and I would enjoy, but we know we will eventually get to see it as our kids grow. I think my 5 year old would be interested in some of the shows and would really learn something, but our 3 year old twins would be too wiggly and it would be too difficult for us to enjoy anything.

We did MGM on our last trip and it was the first park we visited. It will also be the first park this trip. For us, it was a good way to ease the kids into the Disney magic. The shows that were mentioned by a previous poster really are great. We stay and see the parade because it is full of characters and the kids love it. It is also a good park to consider in the middle of your stay because it is good to rest your feet at the shows after all the walking you will do at the other parks.

I think you are smart to spend a lot of time in MK, your son is the perfect age for it and will love it, especially Fantasyland. Your son will grow into the other parks as he gets older, but for now the magic is so real and in my opinion there is nothing more magical than MK.
Have a fantastic trip.
Amy

 

[wannabee princess]

Is it just you and a spouse and the 3yo going? Are you staying onsight? Will you take advantage of the extra magic hours?

I do think that both MGM and Epcot can be enjoyed by a 3yo. However, after looking at your planned schedule, I would tend to say don't worry about trying to fit in Epcot. (can't believe I'm saying that as I LOVE Epcot!!) I just think you would feel rushed and worn out from the morning at MK then traveling to Epcot only to return to MK.

I also think that you might want to get to MGM earlier in the day (but I don't know the specific schedule for shows for the days you are there, so that may make a difference). I would almost say go to MGM on the 22 -- but I'm not sure if it is EMH since all of the changes with the extra hours! If it is EMH and you aren't going to stay onsite or start the day early, that would make me switch it with AK and go on the 21 to MGM and AK on the 22.

I would probably do MK first day, MGM 2nd day. If you don't want to stay until closing and watch Fantasmic, go to MK ... or if you wanted to see Illuminations instead of Fantasmic, you could do Epcot for dinner and the fireworks. Then AK on the 22, heading to MK at the end of the day for the parade and fireworks. End with MK as planned.

Well, guess I went further than saying that Epcot and MGM are good for a 3yo!

 

[Planogirl]

I wouldn't necessarily totally rule out Epcot. We spent an evening there when DS was two and he was completely smitten with Spaceship Earth. We rode it so many times during that trip that I practically knew the dialogue.

He also loved the monorail though so you never know.

 

[Serenity]

Magictrickboy71:
"and she really can't wait to meet Jo Jo from the show on the disney channel."

Please double check me, but there is no place that I am aware of where you can see JoJo. My dtr is a hugh JoJo fan, so I would love it if they had him there. But he is not there - not even in the Playhouse Disney show.

If this has changed, someone please correct me.

 

[disneyfreakjackie]

If your son can color, draw or scribble, I bet he would LOVE the Kidcot stations at EPCOT!! He can make a mask on a stick! My three year old DD's did!!

 

[magictrickboy71]

Serenity

Sorry for the confusion. Jo Jo is being added to the parade, if she has not already, and there will be a meet 'n greet starting in the summer (confirmed by www.wdwmagic.com).

My wife made the mistake of telling my daughter that Jo Jo would be there when it was only a rumour. Thank my stars that is has been confirmed.

Hope this helps,
Frank

 

[Serenity]

magictrickboy71:
"Jo Jo is being added to the parade, if she has not already, and there will be a meet 'n greet starting in the summer (confirmed by www.wdwmagic.com)."

Thanks for telling me this. My dtr is going to be SOOOO excited. I really hope JoJo is still there in Dec.

 

[sarahsmom73]

We did them both many times over Easter with dd 2 1/2... MGM is great with Playhouse Disney, the Little Mermaid.. Muppetvision etc...

We stayed at the Dolphin so most late afternoons and evenings we went to EPCOT.... DD really liked it there... The Nemo exhibit at the living seas is wonderful! She even liked "The Big Ball with the man painting onthe ceiling!)


About JO JO!!! COOL! If we head back in Nov.. DD will be thrilled!

 

[Schmeck]

I think EPCOT is great for the little ones - the fountains by the Imagination Pavilion are fantastic, Living Seas, the Viking ship at Norway, the hedge maze, Winnie the Pooh, and Mary Poppins in Great Britain are fun too. Is the model train town still in World Showcase? When my kids were little, they would watch that for hours it seemed, LOL!

 

[liznboys]

Check out this thread on the Resorts Board:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=565730

I posted on it about taking our (then) 3.5 yr old and 17 month old to MGM... It IS worth it.

 

[moinab]

It really depends on your child. MGM is our least favorite park with our 3 year old DS, because, other than the HISTK playground, it's mainly shows that are at least 20 minutes long. MGM=lots of sitting and watching. He did enjoy Playhouse Disney and MuppetVision, but didn't want anything to do with the Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast, and he doesn't have the patience for most of the other shows/attractions.

On the other hand, he absolutely loves Epcot. Ice Station Cool, playing with the Thomas trains in England, watching the model train in Germany (he loves trains!), making a mask and visiting all the Kidcot stations, going through all the TestTrack exhibits (loves cars, too!), watching the dancing fountain, the fiber optic sidewalk, talking water fountains, etc. Also, there are so many great places to get out of the stroller and run around, which helps burn off some energy.

I think, as adults, we tend to think of Epcot as being more adult-oriented because there isn't an abundance of character-based rides and attractions, but there are so many little things there that can be fascinating for a 3 year old to discover.

I would suggest spending the day at Epcot on the 22nd, rather than the extra morning at MK, but still head back to MK in the evening to catch Spectro and Wishes.

Good luck, and have a great trip!

 

[sha_lyn]

DD loved both parks at 2 1/2 and 4 1/2. all our "high points" have been mentioned here except one so I won't repeat them. The one Ididn't see mentioned was The Great Movie Ride at MGM. It was the first WDW ride DD rode and IMHO it is a good introduction to some of the "iffy" rides.

Now if your child isn't use to any type of rides I wouldn't suggest it as first ride. However once they are use to the "kiddie" type rides TGMR is a good gauge to see how they would do in rides such as Pirates, Huanted mansion etc.

 

[pjlla]

Also keep in mind that there are lots of Characters in both of those parks! I think we saw more there than at MK!......P

 

[txfriend]

thankyou everybody who provided me with their valuable feedback. I really learnt a lot about MGM and EPCOT.

As a result, I have now altered my plan

(not staying onsite and I am following the May9-22 EMH plan by
avoiding EMH parks)

May 20 - MK all day
May 21 - MGM all day
May 22 - EPCOT all day and return to MK in the evening for

 

[sha_lyn]

looks like a good plan however I'd suggest an AM in AK. Epcot tends to be open later so I would make that a mid day/evening park