Okay, my family's faves (to help with your choices):
In MK: Splash Mountain is great! Also, Buzz Lightyear is a big family favorite. Mickey's Philharmagic, Dumbo, Peter Pan (magical), and Winnie the Pooh can not be missed in any trip for us. Haunted Mansion is great, my 2 year old was scared, though, and I had to sing jingle bells throughout and cover his eyes..........(he'll be turning 4 this trip and tells me I won't have to do this again....he remembers the last trip, despite SOME people thinking little ones don't remember). Space Mountain is great for the older set, and little ones like Country Bear Jamboree, so we'd usually split with one parent taking the younger to Country Bears and one the older to Space. We like to eat at Cinderella's Castle here for late breakfast (must have priority seating, and if you want it, you'd better call first thing tomorrow, as it's a bit late to get it), or Pecos Bill's for early lunch........on the back side of Pecos Bill's there are a couple of outdoor tables and across from them a McDonald's fries kiosk.......kids liked the familiar taste. We like Crystal Palace for dinner with Pooh and friends. Pirates of the Caribbean will be closed when you are there, and there are lots of other great attractions, but these are the ones we HAVE to do...................along with the fireworks show at closing, and both parades are great, too.
In Epcot: Anybody big enough will like Test Track, we haven't seen it yet, but Soarin' is apparently a great one, and we will be sure to do it. The Living Seas is fun for the kids if you aren't going to Sea World.........even if you are, stop in for Turtle Talk with Crush..........the kids loved it. We also like Ellen's Energy Adventure, but it's really LONG, but there is a part when you go for a ride and there are dinosaurs that my boys really love. Spaceship Earth is also a must do. Honey I Shrunk the Audience is hilarious.
In the World Showcase, my kids enjoy the gift shops in each country, and the characters. If you'll check the times guide, it will list when and where to find characters here, and there are rarely lines for them, and you can find ones you won't find elsewhere. Particularly my kids love to meet The Beast (from Beauty and) in France. There are two boat rides in Mexico and Norway that my kids enjoy, and they love the indoor Mexican pavilion. Norway's Restaurant Akershus has the Princess Storybook meals with Mulan, Jasmine, Aurora, Snow White and I think I'm leaving someone out. Le Cellier in the Canadian pavilion is a popular favorite on the boards for dinner, and we also like Coral Reef Restaurant near the Living Seas. You eat near a giant fish tank. Many don't like it though, so you'll have to decide on that one..........I think generally those who are used to just caught fish on the coasts don't like it...........we aren't used to that, and it tastes great to us. Illuminations here is the big show at or near closing, and you shouldn't miss it, though the fireworks get REALLY LOUD and scared our infant son, but he was fine at 2.
At AK: This is our favorite park after MK. My kids love animals, and they love this park. Dinoland is one of their favorites. It has some carnival-type rides they enjoy, but it has a little path garden with statues of dinosaurs they can climb on, and a giant dino excavation-type playground that they LOVE. Dinosaur, the big ride, is just down a bit, but we don't recommend it for those under 6........it's REALLY scary. My kids loved Kali River Rapids and the nearby trails with tigers, bats and komodo dragons. The also loved the safari, and the educational exhibits nearby, and the animals there. My kids love the Pocahontas show, though some on the boards don't. The whole family MUST see Festival of the Lion King. It is excellent, with puppets, fire dancers, singing and dancing.........really nice. Camp Minnie Mickey is one of the nicest places for character greeting in the World in my opinion, and generally we've dined with two trails,a nd just go to the third. Going up to Conservation Station on the train can be fun, but isn't a must do. There's a new big roller coaster here called Expedition Everest, but I'd bet all your kids are too small for it. Donald's Restaurantosaurus has characters here for breakfast..................and you can get Happy Meals in this park if your kids love McDonald's like mine. We also like to eat at Flame Tree Barbecue. We don't take a noon rest on our AK day, as we can do all we want by 3 o'clock or so, and then we will go back to hotel and out again about 6 to another park (usually Epcot).
At MGM:
My older son has loved Tower of Terror and Rock N Roller Coaster since he's been old enough to ride them. We plan to see the Narnia exhibit if it's still up.........it's just a walk through. Younger son loves (and older did when he was young) Playhouse Disney. We all love Voyage of the Little Mermaid, and meeting the newest characters at Disney's Animation. We enjoy Indiana Jones, but we have boys of course.........and we do want to see the new Motor Stunt show. Both kids like Star Tours. We have not yet seen Beauty and the Beast show, but it gets accolades on here, so we are making sure we see it this trip. We love Fantasmic at closing. Hollywood and Vine has a new character breakfast with little Einsteins, Jojo and Goliath here. The kids adore the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground, and it's great for photo ops. We generally eat lunch at Pizza Planet. My kids don't like the Muppet show, but love the Millionaire one.........go figure. We also like The Great Movie Ride here.
Well, I don't know if all that will help, but it was fun for me!
