Is 2 parks (MK and MGM) doable for a 3yr old Toddler?

[devotedchristian]

I mean MK one day and MGM the next day. Also, looking at a map of MK...well it looks *exhausting*. It looks so big...like we would be tired after 2 hours in the park.

On the other hand, looking at a park map of MGM, it looks smaller and less *stressful* and chances are we may only have time for 1 park and MGM looks *easier* for a 3yr old Toddler.

What do you think?

 

[WDWguru]

Your 3 year old will enjoy MK much more than MGM, imho. MGM has some great shows, but most of the rides are geared toward older kids. At MK you have all of Fantasyland and ToonTown at a minimum to keep him entertained.

If you can, plan a mid-day break. Even if you don't leave the park, made an advance dining reservation at a sit-down restaurant for a late lunch and just sit in the climate controlled atmosphere for a while. Get a stroller so he's not walking so much and take little rests here and there -- stop and watch the ducks in the water around the castle, or get a Mickey bar and sit on a bench and share it.

The one trick that really works is to get to the park at opening and start in Fantasyland. The crowds will be smaller and the weather cooler.

I think you could do MK one day and MGM another without much of a problem. As I mentioned, most of the MGM activities for a kid his age are limited to shows and character greetings, so you will do a lot of sitting.

 

[ScoJo15]

I think a 3 year old would need a nap in the middle of the day for each park.

MGM is smaller but has less to appease a 3 year old.

 

[bwv4me]

I've done multiple parks 5 days in a row with a child younger than 3! In fact, on some days we park-hopped (touring in one, eating in another). We did just fine. Granted, our agenda was not to see "everything", but I think many people visit these parks back to back. Not a problem for us at all. Take breaks when needed and all should be fine. You certainly don't have to do the whole park. At MGM, there isn't all that much for a 3 year old to do anyway - Muppets, Playhouse Disney, Movie Ride (maybe, guns can be scary), etc. Just don't go commando and enjoy!

 

[Uncle Servo]

We just went down with our DS, who will be 3 in December. We didn't take him to MGM this trip at all, and even when we do take him to MGM we don't usually do a whole lot there. There are a few things a toddler would like, but I'd plan much more time for MK than MGM.

Oh, and when DS was younger and fell asleep in his stroller we'd take him on the TTA Blue Line and let him stretch out in one of the seats. The CMs were always great about letting us stay on for multiple rides.

 

[speakupjc]

We are going to get a late start with my 2 year old (she sleeps till 10:30) and then go park hopping each day. We plan to do counter service lunches and sit down dinners plus breaks whenever needed. I don't think doing 2 parks in 2 days is an impossible task as long as you have a stroller. The reason we will park hop is that it forces us to take a break and gives her a break from the same type of rides for example we are going to the animal park in the morning/afternoon and then MGM that night.

 

[spot28]

Last year we did AK until about 3, crashed at the hotel till about 7pm and then headed out to MK. I could not believe both my kids (4 & 3) made it to the fireworks at 11pm. They promptly crashed on the way to the monorail. I think the key is to space a day of non-park in between if possible, we never do parks 2 days in a row..just seems like too much for little ones. Remember, they will most likely be strolling most of the time...it might be you who will be more tired!

 

[1princessX2princes]

I think two parks in two days is doable with 3 year old. However, we just did all the parks and agree with the previous posters that MGM had much less to do for the 3 year old. I would pick AK or just do 2 days at MK.

This was our schedule with DS5, DD3, and DS21 months,

9/29 travel day so spent it at MGM from 11-6 with a dinner at the end
9/30 AK 9-5 with character Breakfast at AK at 8 am
10/1 MK 9-9 with lunch at CRT
10/2 MK 9-6 with lunch at Tonys
10/3 MK 9-6 (by choice to leave early---it was PACKED) with dinner at crystal palace
10/4 Epcot 10-3 travel day

My kids held up fine with the extra days in Magic kingdom we tried to limit are walking each day....the lunches/dinners helped for a break.

 

[henrylovespooh]

We went in March with our 2 and 3 year olds and went to one or two parks a day for seven days. No problem. Many days we went back to the room for a nap or break, and some days we didn't and just went back to the room around 7 p.m. Most days we went to one park in the morning and then another in the late afternoon. The kids are in a stroller so they don't really get the workout the adults do, and if they get tired, they nap in the stroller.

 

[Skroops]

We have a 2 year old, and we have to take it slow or he gets sensory overload. He refused to use a stroller which slowed us down even more. I think every park has something for a toddler. At MGM, we really enjoyed the show Bear in the Big Blue House, the Voyage of the Little Mermaid, the Honey I Shrank the Kids play area, and Muppets 3D. For us, we really couldn't do more than that in one day. We had to schedule nap time or breakdowns occured, (well honestly they did anyway...).
IMO, go to the park you want to see the most. There is something cool for a toddler at any of them. Seeing the world through your toddler is tons of fun at WDW!
Have an awesome time!

 

[thaggie]

Last year for their 3rd bday we went to WDW for a week. In the course of the week we hit all 4 parks and did MK 2xs! The day of their bday was at MK. We had 8:45am CRT resies and didn't leave the park until it closed about 9pm. They did have a stroller and napped for about 5 minutes. Before I get flamed........they didn't cry once and had the time of their lives! Actually my dh and I were tired but they were like little Energizer Bunnies. I would have never thought they would have done so well that week (they had a cold ontop of it).

So do as much as your kids can comfortable handle and stop and rest when its needed.

have fun!

 

[slduck]

We went in June with our 3 yo. She loved Playhouse Disney, Little Mermaid, and the characters. We only spent 1/2 a day at MGM. If I could only visit one park per day, I think that I would spend 2 days at MK.

 

[bwv4me]

Just a thought..my DD was scared of the Little Mermaid show when she was a tot. If I remember correctly, it was the thunder and lightning (or something loud and flashy) that freaked her out. But she rode Goofy's Barnstormer about 6 times in a row. Go figure!