Fun for my four year old son

[PaulDavid's mom]

My family is trying to plan for a trip somewhere around March/April 2006. I'm sure there will be a lot for my son (who will be 4 at that time) to do, but is there anything that he'll absolutely love? This is our first time to WDW & DCL. Also, how can I get the countdown to our trip on the bottom of my response? I'm new to sites like these and am not very good with computers.

 

[epjenk]

We took our 4 yr old in May. His favorites were Medieval Times ( I know- its not Disney, but he loves swords!), Playhouse Disney show at MGM, everything at Magic Kingdom, Blizzard Beach and Universal Studios. Universal was great because you can buy all day express passes and not have to wait in line. With my 4 yr old that made a significant difference in the fun factor. We found Animal Kingdom to be highly skippable and not worth the money. Luckily we were on a park hopper pass so we left and went to blizzard beach.

For the cruise, he loved the kids clubs and seeing all the characters. Be sure and take beach toys with you for Castaway Key as they are very expensive to buy on the island. Get to the Golden Mickeys early and he may get to be "interviewed" on the red carpet, our DS loved that. No matter what, I'm sure you'll have fun!

 

[PaulDavid's mom]

Thank you so much for the info. I know we have awhile to wait for our trip, but reading other peoples opinions and ideas really is making the time go by a little easier. Again, thank you.

 

[smahoney6]

My 3 (soon to be 4 next month) loved the kid's club in small doses. He even opted to stay a few times to watch the movies with the others. He loved the characters, did tea with wendy, loved to swim in mickey's pool (may want to bring pool toys like little boats, balls, etc.). He also loved the shows at night because most include the characters (MIckey mainly who he loves) somehow in the show. I'd say he enjoyed the cruise most out of our 7 member family....he DID NOT want to go home and is already talking of next time....

 

[diznylnd]

Hope this works! Below is the link for the timer... We are taking our DD4 for our 1st Disney cruise in 3 weeks! I will let you know when we get back what she loved. Hope this helps.
Kirsty



link to countdown timer

 

[firsttimemom]

Every 4 yr old is different. Mine (who can be VERY different ) could spend all day playing ping pong and watching kids come down the Mickey slide.

Like you said, there's so much to do. You just don't know what your child will gravitate towards until you're there.

Have a great trip!

Liz

 

[fcrouch]

our 4 y.o. daughter only had dinner with us 2 of the 7 nights (and one of those for only about 30 minutes - had to go to the Club). She loved the Club. Also the princesses especially - so your son might love seeing captain hook! stitch - we all enjoyed the charactes. The mickey slide - waiting in line was the most patient she'd been in her 4 years on this earth! I know there were also kids who didn't like the clubs at all - and were with their parents all the time - which is fine so long as they are having fun with the parents (but I got the feeling this wasn't what the parents had -planned so it wasn't as much fun for them). She loved Hercules the musical among the three shows the best. I think 4 is a great age to do the cruise - I think our daughter is too young to enjoy the park alot - but I know kids her age do enjoy it - you get so much opportunity to interact with the characters on the ship that I can't imagine is possible in the park.

 

[PaulDavid's mom]

Thank you! He loves Mickey too! I am just a little nervous that he won't enjoy himself, or want to cling to me the whole time. I'm sure i'm getting nervous over nothing.. thank you again.
-Kelly

 

[CM_Mom]

Kcashner, another poster and frequent cruiser mentioned on another post that their family has a "1 activity per day" rule. The kids have to choose one activity to participate in the Club/Lab to participate in each day. They can do more if they want but the minimum is one activity each day. They review the Kids Navigators with the kids each night and help them choose what they want to do in the Club or Lab the next day. That way the parents get some adult time each day.

IMHO, this idea seems very reasonable to me. After all it's the Adults vacation too. Even if the kids don't LOVE the activity - and I think they usually do - a couple of hours a day won't ruin the kids vacation. Not having a couple of hours of adult time each day might ruin the adults vacation.

Just a thought.

 

[MamaCrush]

I think the one activity per day "rule" is a great idea. I know our DS4 often just needs a little "encouragement" to try something and then finds he loves it. It may be a way of getting reluctant young ones to give it a whirl and then find themselves not wanting to leave! DH and I want to spend a lot of time with our kids (also DD3) since that's what a family vacation (and Disney) is all about, but we sure would like some time for ourselves!

 

[mrsltg]

Your son is going to have a great time! I took my dd to WDW for the first time when she was 2.5 (very quick 2 day trip), then again for a long trip when she was 3. She loved just about everything we did, and just to show how kids can be different, really loved the Animal Kingdom! She has spent 4 full days there and never seems to get tired of it! She has not been on the Disney cruise yet (but will be in 2.5 weeks!!!), but has been on another cruise. She thought that was great!

Just take it at your son's pace and you'll be fine. You're going to have a wonderful time seeing everything through the eyes of your little one!

Erin

 

[PaulDavid's mom]

Thank you to everyone who has replied to me. You have all given me some great things to think about for our trip. I really do like the "1 activity per day" rule also. Thanks again.

Kelly