Honest Opinions please

[BoxerMom7]

We are going on our first outing as a family (hubby, daughter, and me) to Orlando next month. Daughter and I have been with Grandma before (once when she was 10 mos old and once when she was 23 mos old), hubby and I went for our honeymoon and for 1st year anniversary. Daughter is now 2 and 1/2 years old and fearless. She's been to Sea World (LOVES it--could spend all vacation time there in fact) and Epcot (this was in January of this year while I was at a continuing ed conference). She enjoyed Epcot (mainly Future World part) and we almost had to pry her out of there.
We have planned to spend 3 days out of our 7 day trip at WDW--1 day at AK, 1-2 days at Epcot, 1 day at another WDW theme park (no water parks) possibly (depends on how much we want to go back to Epcot for 2nd day).
My question is this: truly, honestly, is it worth it to spend just 1 day at MK with a 2 and 1/2 year old? I'm sure I am going to cause some folks to develop heart palpitations or to get "the vapors" by even asking this question <LOL>, but I'm trying to make sure that we get the most enjoyment that we can out of this trip.

 

[turnlisa]

I have been taking my oldest DS to WDW since he was 2 1/2. My youngest DS went with us last year and he was only 9 months old at the time. It is definitely worth it to do one full day at MK with a child of your DD's age.

During my older DS's first trip, it was the first time that he had really been on a ride. We took him on Pirates of the Caribbean first since it is my DH and I's favorite ride. We got off, put my DS in the stroller, and headed to Fantasyland. On the way, we stopped to buy some cotton candy. My DS looked at me and vehemently said out of the blue, "Mama, wanna ride!" This made our trip!

There is so much to do here for a child of this size. Even if she doesn't remember it, you definitely will! The rides I would highly recommend are Winnie the Pooh, the carousel, Peter Pan, It's a Small World, Pirates (of course), Aladdin's Magic Carpet, and Dumbo. Definitely do the Tiki Birds! My DS loved this and all we heard for 3 days until we returned was "Wanna see Yayu!" (His version of Zazu -- you try to find that bird anywhere but at the Tiki Birds). Plan a lunch or breakfast at the Crystal Palace with Pooh. Make memories for yourself, if not for her. We take my older DS's picture on the teacups every year just before the ride starts up. He is now 6 (will be turning 7 on our trip) and it definitely makes for a scrapbook moment.

This year my younger DS is 2 and I can't wait to get him there in November. The looks on their faces with the characters is priceless! Enjoy!

 

[BoxerMom7]

Thank you for your quick reply. I have been tossing this back and to for a few weeks now. She is, as I stated before, absolutely fearless and would no doubt ride whatever her height lets her (she's tall for her age--last time I checked she was 37 inches high) and then some.
My hubby is a big chicken and will not ride any roller coasters and I cannot anymore due to a back injury (oh, I probably could, but I don't want anymore surgery thank you very much) so he and I won't miss out by not riding any rides like Space Mountain or BTMRR.
I just wondered how much there really was for a child this age to enjoy there with respect to rides. I wasn't concerned about meeting characters or just touring the sights as she will like these things. She is, knock on wood, a very agreeable toddler.
Again, thanks. We may have to adjust our plans. Luckily neither one of us is so inflexible that that's a problem!

 

[BevS97]

I would definitely go to MK, it is such a magical place, even if you didn't ride anythign you would have a super day, but as the other poster said, there is loads a 2 1/2 year old can do.

Also check out World Showcase at Epcot, if she enjoys sights and sounds, my dd just loved all the unexpected shows and performers that we stumbled upon as we walked around.

Bev

 

[MarbleBob]

Last September, we took our 2.5 year old daughter to Disney World, and Magic Kingdom was clearly her favorite. We actually spent a total of 2.5 days there... (in addition to .5 day at MGM and 1 day at EPCOT)

She absolutely loved the Winnie the Pooh ride!! She also loved Dumbo, It's a small world, the tea cups, Buzz Light year, Alladin's Carpets, touring Mickey and Minnies houses, the train ride, country bears, the parade, etc...

She was a bit scared during Peter Pan (its dark). She had mixed feelings with the Pirates of the Caribean. She was absolutely TERRIFIED by the "volcano fire lady" in the Tiki birds. We didn't even try the Snow White ride.

We brought our camcorder with us and she loves watching the tape we made, and asks to watch it frequently. She probably would have forgotten much of the trip, but since she sees it on tape, she pretty can pretty much tell you all about MK and what her favorite rides were.

On the other hand, being 2.5 years old, she didn't really enjoy EPCOT as much. She did enjoy working on her mask in each country and seeing all of the "cool stuff". We rode the "boat ride" (I don't remember its name) inside of the Mexico pyramid several times in a row - she loved that.

She didn't really care much for MGM, again she liked all of the "cool stuff" to look at as we strolled through the park, but not too much. Here, she loved the Little Mermaid show and the Playhouse Disney.

We skipped AK...

Hope this wasn't too wordy and I know all little kids are different, but I imagine your 2.5 year old would LOVE MK...

Also, if you decide not to spend a full day at MK, you can still ride most of the rides I described above in the first couple of hours (just not over and over as daughter will probably want to) I'm sure there are some posts that describe best "touring strategies". We pretty much would hit MK as soon as it opened and head straight for Dumbo (ride it a couple of times while there wasn't a line) and then hit Winnie the Pooh a couple of times. Then the Tea Party. Then Buzz once or twice, then back to Fantasy land for It's a Small world. I think we were able to do these rides in around 90 minutes or less (before they start to get crowded) and then we would just tour the rest of the day without much of a plan...

 

[EthansMom]

I've borrowed a few of the planning guides from our local library and used them to make lists of which shows/rides my 2 year-old son would most like in each park. My list for MK is actually the longest of any park.

Here is my list for MK: Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, Country Bear Jamboree, Liberty Square Riverboat, The Haunted Mansion, Mad Tea Party, Dumbo, Cinderella's Carousel, It's a Small World, Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan's Flight, Mickey's House, Donald's Boat, Tomorrowland Transit Authority, Indy Speedway, AstroOrbiter, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Aladdin's Magic Carpet, & Legend of the Lion King.

EthansMom

 

[deb305]

MK is a must do for DD 4.5yrs, ever since she was 3. It is probably one of the easier parks for me to ride with her on as I am very pooh sized!. Even the roller coasters are fairly mild. MK has shows in addition to rides (Cinderellas play in front of the castle, story telling, roving Merlin show, and the Tiki birds). I always schedule MK after Epcot, or else we'd never make it to Epcot. If you could schedule and extra day, MGM has a lot for toddlers - Playhouse Disney is geared to her age group.

 

[dsnylndmom]

Defitnely do MK at this age! We've been taking our boys to Disneyland since they were 12 mths and 18mths and there's so much to do for the young set! Our list of rides both boys liked at 2 1/2, at DL(that will transfer over to the MK) are

Pirates, Jungle Cruise, Tiki Room, Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan, Dumbo, Small World, Autopia, tea party, Toon Town, Tom Sawyers Island.

For MK I'd defintely add Buzz, Country Bears and Aladdin.

HTH

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I would definitely go to MK. There are so many rides for little ones there. We spent a full day and still did not get quite everything in we wanted. My DS 4 did Splash Mountain, but that was our only height requirement ride. If she likes Pooh, I recommend the character breakfast at Crystal Palace. My kids also loved both parades.

 

[turnlisa]

Ethansmom,

Just so you don't get your son too excited, please note that Legend of the Lion King closed down last year. This year it is being replaced by Mickey's Philharmagic that opens in October.

 

[~Sparkly~Zoe]

I think the MK has the most to do for a child that young.

 

[BevS97]

Here is my list for MK: Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, Country Bear Jamboree, Liberty Square Riverboat, The Haunted Mansion, Mad Tea Party, Dumbo, Cinderella's Carousel, It's a Small World, Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan's Flight, Mickey's House, Donald's Boat, Tomorrowland Transit Authority, Indy Speedway, AstroOrbiter, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Aladdin's Magic Carpet, & Legend of the Lion King.

If your child is at all timid, I would be very wary on Pirates, Haunted Mansion, and Snow White (which I see you haven't listed).

We worked our way up to Pirates and my dd quite enjoyed it in the end, but she will not go on the Haunted Mansion, she won't even walk past the building, and she doesn't like Snow White either, the witch is quite creepy.

Bev

 

[trracers]

Okay, maybe it is just because I am a "grown up kid", but I, at my age (which we won't even discuss) cannot imagine not going to MK. It is my favorite, my DH's favorite and has always been DD5's favorite. Out of the 8 days we are there,we are sure to spend at least part of EVERY day in the MK!! Have a great time.

 

[CEDmom]

I'm definitely in the minority here but our DD (3 1/2 during trip) hated MK but LOVED Epcot. In fact we had to leave MK after only 1 1/2 because she was headed for a meltdown. If you have a child that is easily overstimulated it isn't the best park to visit.