First trip w/4 yr. old - several questions

[tracydsnyder]

My husband and I are taking our 3 yr. old daugther (she will just have turned 4 at the time of the trip) and have several questions:

1. We are planning to go the week after Thanksgiving on Thurs, Fri & Sat. Is this a good time to go? Is the weather nice?

2. We are thinking about 2 days at Disney World and 1 day at another park. Is 2 days good for DW? What other park should we do - - we have a good zoo where we live so we were thinking Sea World instead of Animal Kingdom?

Any other hints or suggestion would be greatly appreciated!

 

[nikjd68]

2. We are thinking about 2 days at Disney World and 1 day at another park. Is 2 days good for DW? What other park should we do - - we have a good zoo where we live so we were thinking Sea World instead of Animal Kingdom?


IMHO, and I took a 4-year-old to WDW last year, is to do a half day at the studios (muppets 3-d, Playhouse Disney, Beauty and the Beast, etc., Fantasmic), half day at Animal Kingdom (it is not a zoo: Safaris, Dinosaur, Nemo, Festival of the Lion King) and do 2 days at MK (too long to list). You could even add a half-day out of the two to go to Epcot (illuminations).

I think Wishes, Fantasmic and Illuminations are must sees so you should try to get to the three parks during your stay. Also, the safaris and shows at AK are awesome.

My last piece of advice (if you are still reading): Do the parks in this order, AK, EP, DHS, MK. If you go to MK first, nothing else will impress your child as much and will be a let down. Do it in that order and you build up the experience.

 

[stopher1]

WELCOME!!

We have a 4 yr old, and she really likes MK best...but there is something in each of the parks that she likes. The pp made some good suggestions. Honestly, 2 days is not enough for WDW - but if that's all you have then you make the best of it. I've never been to Sea World Orlando - only San Diego - but honestly it wasn't all that appealing to our son when we took him at 3, or our other son when we took him at 5. Shamu is nice - but they just didn't really get all that excited about any of the other stuff at SW. Somehow they just don't compare with Mickey, Minnie and the gang!!

 

[tracydsnyder]

Sorry, I said it wrong - - 2 days at Magic Kingdom and 1 day at another park at Disney World so we would have 3 days total.

 

[rottiemom]

Hi Tracy,

I'm new here too, also going to Disney (for the very first time, ever) with my 4yo. Take some time to poke around the boards for a bit. Even though I've never been to Disney I've already discovered a bunch of stuff by hanging out here that I never would have known about .

That said, think about what your daughter likes & what each park has to offer. I picked up a guidebook at the library to help me figure out what each park had. For instance, I had planned to skip DHS entirely but after reading up I realize that both my son & my husband would love the Star Wars stuff, as well as the muppets and a few other things.

I can't be much help, I just wanted to wish you luck!

 

[2BoysMom]

Next week I will be taking my boys to WDW to celebrate their 4th birthday (May 7th). This will not be their 1st trip (that one was in vitro , really!).

Our most recent trip was this past December. I think 2 days at MK is a good idea. It will be a very busy weekend, the weekend of Thanksgiving, so you may have some lines to deal with.

As was mentioned previously, 1/2 day at DHS (formerly MGM) is a good idea. We go for a few hours, never a full day. They have a great Playhouse Disney show, Ariel and Beauty and the Beast shows. DHS also has a nice Playhouse Disney breakfast with characters, if your daughter is really into Playhouse Dis, but approaching 4 she may not be...

When we go to Disney now (at this age) we start out at the train, it's right at the entrance of the MK. We take the train to Toontown, which is next to Fantasyland. Both these two areas are age appropriate for rides and interest. Toontown will give you possible opportunities for character visits, like Mickey & Minnie. Great photo opportunities! Also great, b/c you are hitting them early before people/kids are too tired or dirty. The boys are old enough to walk around initially, but then after spending a few hours in this area of the park, we walk down towards Main Street to pick up a Disney stroller. By then the boys are slightly tired and willing to ride in the stroller without feeling like their are giving up their independence.

I've noticed for this coming trip, that my boys have just reached 40" which allows them to ride a couple of new rides (ones Mommy and Daddy like). The two that I am thinking of are Splash Mountain and Thunder Mtn. Railroad, those are in Frontierland, and once we pick up the stroller, that's usually the direction we head back again.

Do you know where you are staying? On site, or off? Depending on where you are from, the end of November might be too cold to swim. It would be for us, but we live in FL now, and our blood has thinned considerably.

It was suggested previously that you surf this board for information. This is the GREATEST board in the world with the GREATEST people. You will be amazed how much interesting and unique information you will pick up from Disboards!

Since you are just doing 3 days, I would just do DHS and MK, especially at her age. The crowds might be a little stressful, and you don't want to have to feel pressured to see this here and this there, etc. Take your time and enjoy. But prepare yourself, you may just become a new Disney addict!

 

[2girlsmom]

Mine were older and we were there a week, so I would just agree that it depends on your child's interests, but probably not a LOT into Epcot, more likely DHS and/or AK. We have an excellent park in Omaha, just accross the river, so I didn't think they would be that excited about AK either, but they loved it! The safari and the Dinoland, etc were great. MK of course is a must do for this age level. We were there Dec 8-13 this past year, and the weather was gorgeous, mostly low 80's for highs, 60's for lows. There were very low crowds, though we were told the week prior with Pop Warner football teams is a little more crowded. I am sure that you will have a great time!

 

[tracydsnyder]

Thanks for all your great answers - - it will point me in the right direction. I think we have decided to squeeze one more day in so we will have 4 days now.

Thanks again.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Thanks for all your great answers - - it will point me in the right direction. I think we have decided to squeeze one more day in so we will have 4 days now.

Thanks again.

Nothing can beat staying on property as long as you can. Another area is location, staying closer to your favorite park so hopping back and forth is quick and easy. We prefer the WL for ease in getting to our favorite park, MK, we like going back when the crowds thicken and the heat factor kicks in and the boat over and back is nice, quick and easy and refreshing. I'll agree on the MK and DHS best for young ones, we're late 50's and enjoy those parks the most. As I stated the best is days on site, seems you just get into the swing of Disney and have to pack up to leave, short trip, lengthening a stay is key, you can take more breaks and see the world at a relaxed pace and the World is huge.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Your four year old is going to LOVE WDW!!!! Be ceratin to get an autograph book if she is brave enough to go up tothe characters. I also think one character meal is a great idea! What are her favorite Disney characters? Yours? Princesses, Winnie the Pooh/TIgger, Mickey, Little Einsteins?

The week of Thanksgiving is very busy, and the start of the week after is also busy, but the crowds thin as teh week progresses. Two years ago, we checked into AKL for one night during that week. It was the first night fo the new pricing season (value price season ) and the staff member let us know they were compleely booked until after New Years, so don't wait too long to book your room - if you want AKL or WL esp.

If you stay at WDW for a full week - and go from 9am until 11pm every day, you still would not be able to see everything WDW has to offer! Though admittedly, when we do go for a week we do ride our favorite rides more than once. That is part of the magic of WDW. Even vets like me find something new every year.

I suspect you are confusing the MAgic Kingdom with WDW as a whole. Lots of folks do. WDW is FOUR major parks not one. Sea World and Universal are great places, but if I were you I'd just stay at WDW. If you only plan to go for three days, you will have more than enough to see and going anyhwere esle will cost a bundle. WDW has priced tings so that the longer you stay , the more your ticket price will go down.

I really suggest a four or five day trip for a start, but if three is what your budget will allow that's fine too.

If you confine your trip to just WDW, and stay on WDW property, then you won't need a rental car (or shuttle bus), which can make quite abit of difference. If you stay on Disney, they will provide you with free transporation from the airport. If you are planning on driving to Orlando, then it matters less, but You will still save on tickets if you stay just at WDW.

With just three days...I'd spend one whole day at the Magic Kingdom, one day at Epcot, and then I'd probably spend the last day split between AK and the Studios - or maybe just a full day at either. I fyou split your time, you'll have to apy extra for hopper tickets, and you won't see everything, but you'll get a taste of each park, and you'll be able to go from early moring until evening (otherwise AK closes at 6pm most of the year).

 

[dwade266]

We took our 4 yr old daugher for the first time many years ago. Riding back to the hotel on the monorail, well after midnight, she was all chirpy and thrilled, while all the other kids were either asleep or whining. One exasperated parent said "How do you do it" and we replied "NAPS - for everyone".

I realize it is counter intuitive to spend all the money and then sleep for part of the day, but consider this
1. if you are on-site, you will (or should be!) using extra magic hours - up early and or out late! it's a lot to ask a 4 yr old to be happy and compliant for 18 hours!
2. if you are on-site, you hop on a waiting (cool, airconditioned bus) and hop off at your hotel
3. you get to use the pool during the mid-day
4. if you have been to WDW before, then you have witnessed the numerous "melt downs" that occur, typically around the hottest part of the day...you don't want go there!!

As for parks, note that WDW is really 4 parks. 2 days is not nearly enough. Sea World is nice, but I would suggest staying at WDW the entire trip. Plus, the ticket price structure makes it worth your while - I think the difference bwtween 2 day and 3 day is less than $10. The diff between 7 day and 10 day is only $6 (that dones' include "hopper" option which you porbably don't need).

Have a magical time!