Favorite "Secret" Spot with Toddlers

[castlegazer]

Hi - I always love it when people share their secret spots to spend time with their toddlers who just need a little time to run around outside of the stroller. So, Please, share yours with me.
Our favorite MK areas are:
The rose garden next to the castle and the gazebo (which is covered and overlooks the water and ducks)
The little tucked away sitting area next to the Dole Whip counter (the fans swirling overhead just relax me instantly)
The bridge to Adventureland
The area outside the Baby Care center on Main Street (and the Baby Care center itself)
The theater on Main Street - boy, can this be a lifesaver on a hot day! Plus there are great picture spots inside!

I'd love to find more - PLEASE SHARE

 

[castlegazer]

Am I the only person who does this - takes some time to explore off-the-beaten path places? I got most of these ideas from this board and used them the last trip - The Rose Garden's gazebo was a true find. We spent a huge amount of time there just letting my DS run around and play in between the pillars. I wouldn't have known about it had it not been for this forum.

Well, anyways, hopefully others can spend some quiet times with these suggestions.

 

[cmcvean]

Thanks castlegazer for the tips. I have to remember to slow down with my little ones and just enjoy the simple pleasures that Disney offers!!



Christine

 

[CarnotaurDad]

It's not really out of the way, but the Viking boat in Norway at Epcot is a great place to let the kids run around......

 

[lovesdumbo]

My DD (3) loved the playground in Toon Town.

 

[twotoohappy]

Splashing around in the fountains at Epcot, MK by Ariel and Toontown, and Downtown Disney....

 

[cinmell]

Our daughter had lost of fun at the play area at Splash Mountain and she loved the Bone Yard at AK.

 

[castlegazer]

Play area at Splash Mountain? I don't know about this - where is it exactly?

 

[mommyflower]

The fountains in Epcot and DTD were the water jumps up at you from different little holes. We went shopping at DTD with my DS, 18 months at the time and he started to get grumpy as it was very hot. So we decided to take him to see these little fountains, well he loved them. We stayed and played for 20 minutes and he got soaked. Good thing we had just bought him that new WDW t-shirt. One thing I would like to say about these is they are very slippery, so my DH held DS hand the whole time. Older kids many not have trouble but little ones still working on their walking skills might.

 

[doc hog]

Thanks for the GREAT idea's! My family will enjoy the down time with our DS (2.5) in a couple of weeks.

 

[doc hog]

Thanks for the GREAT idea's! My family will enjoy the down time with our DS (2.5) in a couple of weeks.

Thanks again - Doc Hog

 

[mom-2greatkids]

When our daughter was 2 she spotted the "jumping fountains" at Epcot. She started to explore and ended up spending about 1/2 hour playing in them. It was a great opportunity for her to run off some steam and just play. Needless to say, she was soaking wet, but I had another outfit with us. From then on, every time we go to Epcot I make sure I have another change of clothes, because that is her FAVORITE thing at Epcot!

 

[DisneyKidds]

The Splash Mountain play area is right across from the fastpass machines as you go under the RR overpass. There is a tunnel and slide. The kids love playing there while waiting for us to swap on SM.

In the AK, the seating area own behind the Flame Tree BBQ is perhaps the most relaxing spot in any of the theme parks. Hopefully the Expedition:Everest construction hasn't changed that. The view used to be so peaceful and I'm not sure if that has changed. Of course I don't mind giving up that view for a great new attraction. It is great to get an ice cream and go down and sit by the water. You can let the kids feed the fish. There is also a neat pond that often has ducks. The kids can run around while mom and dad just let down for a few.

 

[deb305]

Took our monster boy in Jan just after he turned 1. Here is what tuckered him out:
Epcot - The carp pond in Japan and the little trails behind it
Canada-walking up to the falls and watching them
Living Statutes
The Japanese drummers
Dancing with the Janitors band in Futureworld

MGM- Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground. Loved the musical rocks
Playhouse Disney-Stood the whole time (we were in the back)

AKL-Every roaming musical group
Loved all of the animals around the tree of life
All of the animal trails (Tigers in Asia, Gorillas near Safari)
Boneyard
Eating at the Bar-b-que place near DinoLand. The table overlook a lagoon, lots going on
Every show, especially Lion King
AKL parade was his favorite because of the interaction with the animal characters

MK-Tiki Birds
The diving birds that eat your food at Pecos Bill and near BTR
Mickey and Minnie's house-the rougher the better


This was our slowest trip,because he was fascinated with everything and would not leave his favorite spots. Yet we have the biggest memories from this trip

 

[castlegazer]

deb305 made me remember another very good one: in Italy the Carnival characters are wonderful, colorful and the area is great for toddlers who need to get out and stretch their legs. The characters were wonderful with my DS - they played with him for a very long time and he loved it - all while munching on his Biscotti.

Great Ideas Everyone! I am dying for more as we get closer to our next adventure!

 

[disneyvoice]

My 2 year old son's favorite parts of our trip in October were:

Andy's Room at the ASMo - He would have probably had even more fun on our trip if we let him spend all 10 days playing in Andy's room!!!

Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Adventure Set at Disney Studios - he had a HUGE meltdown when we made him finally leave.

Playhouse Disney Live on Stage - He LOVED this. We went back to that courtyard area later to see the Little Mermaid attraction and when he saw the outside of the Playhouse Disney attraction he pulled me with all his might and said "More, mommy, more." So we skipped Little Mermaid and did Playhouse Disney again. He is STILL talking about this show and now gets excited when he sees the commercial for the attraction on the Disney Channel.

Kettchakiddie Creek at Typhoon Lagoon - another place he would have spend 10 days if we had let him.

Germany Pavilian at Epcot - he loved dancing around to the German band and he loved the food and the show at Biergarten.

The long pathway that leads from the Crystal Palace to Main Street at MK - he spend an hour just running back and forth along the path.

WDW definately has something for ALL ages!!!

 

[WhispyPixie]

My favorite spot with my toddler was on the side of the castle, the little walkway, we were walking and toddling about and 2 of the little mice from Cinderella were back there resting, they sat down and played patty cake with us. What a special time!

 

[oogieboogie]

Originally posted by disneyvoice
My 2 year old son's favorite parts of our trip in October were:

Andy's Room at the ASMo - He would have probably had even more fun on our trip if we let him spend all 10 days playing in Andy's room!!!

What is Andy's Room?

 

[castlegazer]

I was wondering the same thing!

 

[Madi100]

Andy's Room is at the All Star Movie Resort. Toy Story is one of the themes for the buildings. There are two large buildings and in the walkway between them is a HUGE Andy's room. There is a HUGE Buzz (my four year old didn't reach the top of his foot, I don't think), a HUGE Woody, there is a big Bo Peep, there's the car you can sit on. There is a HUGE checker board. This is a really neat area. If you have a fan of Toy Story, this is a definite thing you'd want to visit. LOTS of opportunity for photos.