help! this is our first disney trip

[heathersmom]

This is our first time going to Disney. We are going the 26th of June through July 1st. Not real long but that's what we can afford for now. My question is should we take our daughter (she's 5) to Magic Kingdom for two days or should we try to take her to all the parks? Having never been there I don't know which parks are best for 5 year olds. We're definitely going to AK and MK. Thanks for your help in advance

 

[shanleal]

Personally when I took my kids when they were younger we stuck to the Magic Kingdom. Even that was a lot for them to comprehend. Pace yourself. They got tired easy and really didn't go for the long lines. I definately would bypass Epcot for now. I didn't take mine to MGM until they were 9 and 8 years old.

 

[mtdevine615]

I would go to MK for the two days and maybe bypass Epcot. epcot is our fav. but not the kids when they were that age.

 

[Jennabeth]

I agree with the others. We went in Jan and bypassed Epcot and spend 2 days at MK. My daughter loved MGM and AK also, but MK was her favorite. Try to get some character meals too. That way you may not have to wait in line for autographs. Have a great time!

 

[3xthecharm]

I would pass on Epcot if this is a trip intended to please your daughter.

I would plan atleast a morning in MGM to do Little Mermaid and Playhouse Disney. They are conveniently located right next to each other. This could be on a morning that you don't want to get up very early, since the first Playhouse show is not until 10am. I have also been told that the Beauty and the Beast show in MGM is great. I would not plan a whole day here. By the way all of these shows are in airconditioning.

You could go back to the resort for a rest period and then finish the day in MK or at the resort pool. Kids enjoy eating at the Prime Time Cafe. It is not cheap, but offers normal food your child may be used to eating at home.

AK gets very hot in the afternoon. I might just plan on a morning there as well.

 

[TigerCheer2009]

I would pass on Epcot if this is a trip intended to please your daughter.

I would plan atleast a morning in MGM to do Little Mermaid and Playhouse Disney. They are conveniently located right next to each other. This could be on a morning that you don't want to get up very early, since the first Playhouse show is not until 10am. I have also been told that the Beauty and the Beast show in MGM is great. I would not plan a whole day here. By the way all of these shows are in airconditioning.

I agree. Welcome! MK for 2 days would be the best!
Tiger

 

[addicted2disney]

I first took my girls at age 3 & 5. We did all the parks. Just make sure you have the hopper option because you can really hop around and spend time in each park. You may think your kids will hate epcot, and find that they love it and want to go back. Take advantage of the EMH's at MK!!

My kids have always loved Epcot. Going inside the "big golf ball" was thrilling for them back then. You can do space ship earth, the boat in Mexico, the Maelstrom ( boat in Norway), Ellens energy adventure ( 45 minute ride.. great for a rest and some airconditioning), She will probably like Figments ride in Imagination, and if she is into Nemo, go to the Living Seas, BYPASS the movie ( you do get that option, its really boring!!) and go down to where the cool nemo stuff is. Go see the new Crush the turtle show. It was great!! Honey I shrunk the audience scared both of my kids back then. She will be big enough for Test Track and my 3 year old son loved that this past trip in January. You can take her through the countries and have her make a mask. You stop at all the kidcot spots. Its a great way to have them not be bored while checking out all the beautiful countries. Pooh and Friends are in the United Kingdom inside the store where the kidcot is. There is a character bus in Epcot that stops at certain spots ( check the times and locations on your time guide) My kids still love Epcot. Even my 3 year old son loves it.. the lights in the sidewalk at night, the mini train in Germany, the viking boat in Norway. We spend more and more time there every trip!!

In MGM.. your daughter will love the Beauty and the Beast live on stage show. If shes fearless like my son, she can ride Tower of Terror. There is Playhouse Disney with Olie, Bear in the big blue house, Pooh and Stanley. She will like Voyage of the Little Mermaid too. We eat at Sci Fi every trip and also eat at Pizza Planet too. We go check out Buzz and Woody too!! She will enjoy Muppets 3-d show, the magic raining umbrella, and the Honey I shrunk the Audience playground!! Dont forget to end the day with Fantasmic. Its a must see!!

With 5 days, Id do 2 full days in Mk.. On full day in Epcot, One full day in MGM,( or maybe an EARLY emh park and then hop to MGM for the rest of the day and night) and go early to AK, and hop to another park for the evening. You can take advantage of the night time Extra Magic Hours which will give you an extra 3 hours at a park on certain nights. You will have an AWESOME time!!

 

[HollyJoy]

I would try to break the other parks up into one day.. for example, split one day between AK and MGM or Epcot. Then definately spend 2 full days in MK! We took our girls to WDW this past December on their very first Disney trip. We went to MK the first day, then were there tuesday night for MVMCP, and also Thursday 1/2 day. We were leaving Friday, but decided to go back to MK one more time! Well worth it!

 

[mrsgroove]

Wow, how great for you! While I love going to Disney, and have become a fanatic, there is nothing quite like the first visit. Something about seeing the castle for the first time almost takes your breath away!

Anyway, I agree with the other person who suggested a park hopper pass and doing all of the parks. My daughter was 4 the first time we went to Epcot and LOVED it. The kidcot fun stops are great, and the fireworks display in the evening is outstanding....please do not miss it!

We always go to a park in the morning then head back to the resort for a few hours in the afternoon for a swim and some rest. We then go to a different park in the evening. This way we see everything that we want to and have the opportunity to go bak to our favorites at the end of the week.

Have a wonderful, magical trip!!

MG

 

[pongoperdigirl]

This is our first time going to Disney. We are going the 26th of June through July 1st. Not real long but that's what we can afford for now. My question is should we take our daughter (she's 5) to Magic Kingdom for two days or should we try to take her to all the parks? Having never been there I don't know which parks are best for 5 year olds. We're definitely going to AK and MK. Thanks for your help in advance

I am in NY too, I am also going to be there on the 26-1st...I went for the same amount of time last year and it was a perfect amount of time. I think you have time to do all of them and spend two days in MK. I plan on going to MK for part of the day on the 26th when we check in and make sure I go for another full day later in the week.

 

[dizagain]

Hi!

Absolutely try to include all four parks! Each park is so different and special - my girls were 7 and 9 on their first visit and they loved them all! We went to MK first which I was warned not to do as it might "ruin" everything else, but that didn't happen! My girls were thrilled the entire trip and the magic was EVERYWHERE for them. We're going back for their second visit in less than two months (yay!) and they are on cloud nine already!

Have a great time and think about getting the park hopping option...we LOVE it!

 

[Eeyore2003]

We took my brother and family in July for their first time. My niece was 7. You really have to know your own child as to the degree of rides she will like. Is she a little daredevil??? Then she'd maybe be able to do TOT.

Most of all I'd make sure to take that afternoon break. I think kids get "overload" in the parks. There's just SO much. EPCOT, does have the least amount for a 5 year old, I think, plus is a HUGE place to walk around for a little one, unless you want to do the stroller. My niece got most bored there and was the "crankiest" there.

MGM, I think has plenty and don't for get Fantasmic.

AK, I think, has "enough", but I think you can do it in a morning and part of the afternoon. That also depends on how many of the shows you want to see there. Shows are kind of hard to "schedule".

MK, will be the park she likes the most and there's allot to do there for her age. I don't think there's any ride worth waiting in a long line for. Esecially a 5 year old. My youngest was 6 when he went the first time and mostly remembers having to stand in line. Not a good memory.

Take time to do character meals. Stop and see the characters at the parks. And don't forget to break up your day and swim at the resort for a couple hours in the middle of the day. You can't imagine what a difference that makes!!!

I also agree, I started my trip at MK, it's what they're waiting for at that age. It worked out really well. I think it's cool at that age to start your trip at MK and end your trip at MK, like a meal at the castle or something. Plus a little in between!!!

 

[MickeyMacks]

Don't forget to build in some down-time for her to run around at playgrounds! For a child it's very hard work to sit still, be quiet, stay close, pay attention, don't touch, get off that, etc. all day long.

She deserves a break from that in each park, so let her run around at Tom Sawyer Island in Magic Kingdom, the Boneyard playground at Animal Kingdom, Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground at MGM and the Viking playground at Epcot's Norway (bonus, have a beer from Kringla Bakeri while she plays!)

If you have the Plus option on your tickets to include the water parks, there are some great kids attractions there so it may be worthwhile, since you're going in summer, to include half a day at a water park.

Have fun and don't forget that's it's all about playing and discovering, not about seeing and doing everything!

 

[debbiedoo]

I am going against the majority here. . .I have a 6 year old that has been 7 times. . .

MK--a must--2 days

Epcot--do reasearch--future world. my daughter enjoys. Loves Test track and mission space--are waiting for soarin!! She loves the Mexican music players, dances with them, chinese acrobats, Japan--the lady that makes lollypops, also likes the mexico and norway rides.

MGM--I do this as a lais back day--we enjoy GMR, millionaire, mermaid, BATB, playhouse, the kids park, muppet show, she has a great time


AK--loves the animals, kali river rapids, safari--but I will warn you now--she did not like Dinosaur!!

I would spend one day at each park--with a second trip back to MK

And enjoy the night shows!!!

 

[heathersmom]

I just wanted to thank everyone for their great advice about the parks. It's appreciated. I'm just so excited and want the trip to be a wonderful memory