Epcot Innovations for a 3 year old

[stacyleigh1978]

DS will almost be 3 1/2 when we go to Disney in November. We're going to go to Innovations since we have the Disney Visa card and can do the meet and greet with the characters. We've never spent much time in Innovations before. Are there any activities/exhibits in Innovations that would be appropriate for a 3 1/2 year old?

 

[ccgirl]

There is a LOT to do. It is one of my DD's favorite places. Great place for them to run around a bit and great place to get out of a rain storm. We were very surprised how much there was to do in there.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

I don't think a 3 yr old is going to 'get' alot of the attractions inside Innoventions. They may enjoy playing some of the games b/c of the noises and reactiions but won't get the point of the games. I would skip it for a 3yr old except for the Visa meet and greet and a nice cool place to stop and rest.

 

[dalt01]

i have always thought of innoventions as a good place to put a couple rides

 

[PictureJumpr]

We took my 3-yr-old nephew in there one afternoon waiting for the Visa meet-n-greet. He liked just running around in the area just inside the doors (large open area, nothing there but benches along the walls), and he had a lot of fun with the velcro-frog thing - we got him a frog and some pieces, and he sat and played with it for quite a while pulling the pieces off and sticking them back on in different combinations. It kept him entertained until we got to the front of the Visa meet line, and then once he got finished playing with Mickey and Pluto, he declared that he needed a doozie (he became a full-fledged Itzakadoozie addict over the course of that trip) and we left Innoventions.

I would agree that a child of that age won't get much out of the educational or thematic purposes of the activities, but it doesn't mean they won't find something entertaining in there to do or look at.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

i have always thought of innoventions as a good place to put a couple rides

Have you tried Sum of All Thrills? At least they are trying..............

 

[ktlm]

I'm not a big fan of Innovations, but my 3 year old DD loved it. Its just kind of a place for them to wander around and explore at that age. When DH and I couldn't take it anymore, we had to drag her out! I think she would have stayed in there all day!

 

[mbakun]

My 3yr old loves it.... there is a fire truck inside, he could be "in" a video game, lot, and all kinds of stuff. I would try it, it is not like you have to wait in line. Just check it out, if they like it, great; if not, only a couple minutes lost.

Good Luck!
Michelle

 

[KTMB]

DS was 3.5 when we were there in December 2009. He LOVED Innoventions, especially the garbage truck/recycling activity (can't remember the exact name). He loved pushing around the small garbage truck from station to station. Now, he didn't totally GET the purpose of the recycling activities, but he loved it anyway. He also loved the fire truck/fire safety part. DD (5.5) loved it too, and the Piggy Bank activity where she had to make choices on how to save money.

Epcot is one of our favorite parks and we could spend hours in Innoventions.

 

[HMGar]

My son is 3 and even at 2 he enjoyed the piggy bank activity. We also did the Velcro show for the first time this last trip. We all loved it. I think for the toddlers, it's fun just to walk through and let them explore.

 

[jc040404]

I'm having a rough time buying that a 3.5 year old won't "get" anything in Innoventions. If you take some time to explain what's going on, I'm sure they'll understand what's happening. I know my son did and had a great time here. Geesh, my two year old son even understood the point of Don't Waste It and the Great Piggy Bank Adventure from watching from the side. He just lacks the coordination for the games being that little. He did great participating in the SlapStick show! Little kids aren't stupid and that age is perfect to teach some this stuff! It's such a nice place to get out of the sun and learn a bit while you play. I say check it out and have fun!

ETA - Our favorites:

Don't Waste It! - Push a garbage truck around and play games to separate garbage, sort items to recycle, etc. My son actually asks to go back to do this one. Your little one probably already understands to sort items for recycling anyways. You can email a certificate to yourself at the end.

The Great Piggy Bank Adventure- Pick what you want to save for (My son picked an Extreme Bedroom Makeover) and move your piggy bank from game to game. Sort coins and stuff. They're fun. You can email the online/home game version to yourself at the end. LOVED this one, but didn't actually try it until he was four. My two year old already understands saving money in his own piggy and loved this, too.

What's Your Problem? - SlapStick studios show. VERY cute and wish we'd have done it sooner. Our boys and then my husband got to be part of the show. I'll save the details. You can make velcro froggies to take home, too.

Where's the Fire? - Needs to be coordinated enough to shine a flashlight on the same fire hazard as you, and then press the button. I thought it was great just for the fire safety aspects and our side won!

StormStruck- They claim this is intense and scary for little ones. My kids weren't bothered and had fun with games after. They're kinda used to a passing storm most days here though. It could be too much for your child.

Test The Limits Lab - This was just fun!! Very noisy. We watched a short video with Pumba and Timon about how to stay safe at home here, too. Who doesn't love these guys? Great info that your 3.5 year old should probably already know!

 

[tbell63]

I have found that there is a lot to do for young children at Innoventions - I do agree that they may not get the educational messages all of the time - but they definitely get the fun factor. Favorites that I have brought friends families to that have similar age groups are:

Where's the Fire - the kids love the fire truck and being able to take pictures to send home of themselves as a firefighter, the Play it Safe house is great for that age group and even the big house activity ( but sometimes too long)

Slap Stick Studios - great fun for the entire family and they do have a specific show that they use small children in that would be fun and their Creative Solutions studio allows kids to make frog sourvenirs to take home.

The Great Piggy Bank Adventure - the kids like the whimsical fun part and the pig they take from activity to activity but may not get the overall financial message - be careful though some kids get attached to their pigs and I experienced a "meltdown" with one friends child when the piggy had to go away at the end of the game.

In the other building - Don't Waste it is fun - the kids get to move through the game pushing their own little trash truck and get to see a real one up close

Sum of all Thrills has a height restriction minimum 48" so probably not for a little one and StormStruck can be a bit scary

Test the Limits Lab is great - very kinetic and the kids can run around and try all of the different activities - slamming doors, breaking TV's etc - good place to get out extra energy

At the end of the building is a papermaking station where kids can make their own paper and decorate it - perfect for a little person.

Have fun!

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

I'm having a rough time buying that a 3.5 year old won't "get" anything in Innoventions. If you take some time to explain what's going on, I'm sure they'll understand what's happening. I know my son did and had a great time here. Geesh, my two year old son even understood the point of Don't Waste It and the Great Piggy Bank Adventure from watching from the side. He just lacks the coordination for the games being that little. He did great participating in the SlapStick show! Little kids aren't stupid and that age is perfect to teach some this stuff! It's such a nice place to get out of the sun and learn a bit while you play. I say check it out and have fun!

ETA - Our favorites:

Don't Waste It! - Push a garbage truck around and play games to separate garbage, sort items to recycle, etc. My son actually asks to go back to do this one. Your little one probably already understands to sort items for recycling anyways. You can email a certificate to yourself at the end.

The Great Piggy Bank Adventure- Pick what you want to save for (My son picked an Extreme Bedroom Makeover) and move your piggy bank from game to game. Sort coins and stuff. They're fun. You can email the online/home game version to yourself at the end. LOVED this one, but didn't actually try it until he was four. My two year old already understands saving money in his own piggy and loved this, too.

What's Your Problem? - SlapStick studios show. VERY cute and wish we'd have done it sooner. Our boys and then my husband got to be part of the show. I'll save the details. You can make velcro froggies to take home, too.

Where's the Fire? - Needs to be coordinated enough to shine a flashlight on the same fire hazard as you, and then press the button. I thought it was great just for the fire safety aspects and our side won!

StormStruck- They claim this is intense and scary for little ones. My kids weren't bothered and had fun with games after. They're kinda used to a passing storm most days here though. It could be too much for your child.

Test The Limits Lab - This was just fun!! Very noisy. We watched a short video with Pumba and Timon about how to stay safe at home here, too. Who doesn't love these guys? Great info that your 3.5 year old should probably already know!

Mine didn't at 3 and 3 months, his older sister loved it though (was 6 then). He felt left out when she was playing some of the games and got frustrated b/c he couldn't excel at them or do them properly (we didn't allow our kids play video games and such at home at the time). This year he was a week shy of 5 and had much more fun in there, it was a great learning experience, and he was much happier that he could participate in everything and understood the points to the activities now.

 

[indimom3]

My 4 and 6yos were obsessed with Innoventions this trip. Fine with me to get out of the heat. You would not believe how much they know about fire safety after spending 2 hours playing "where's the fire?"

And the meet and greet was awesome. We got pics with Minnie and Goofy one day, and Mickey and Pluto another day.

 

[At World's End]

Both of my kids (ages 3 and 6) LOVED Innoventions. They spent hours there. It is alot more hands-on than most other attractions at any of the parks. We're looking forward to going again, I just hope we can drag them out of there to see other stuff!

 

[sparty7798]

When we were waiting with our 2 year old at the time in 2009, he loved it. There are a lot of activities to keep them entertained. Ours liked standing on the trucks and getting his picture taken!

Your child should enjoy it!