MGM and Epcot with toddlers?

[1833]

We're planning our first trip in November. DS just turned 3 and DD will be 1 in September. We have 6 days there and plan to go real slow-- tour in the mornings, lunch and nap, and play the afternoons by ear, depending on how the kids are doing and park hours (which are pretty short that time of year).

I think my kids (like most) will love MK. I've seen a lot of great posts about suggested rides for preschoolers/toddlers at the MK, and they have helped plan my lists of attractions we'd like to see. I also plan to go to AK-- my son is an animal nut, so I'm sure he'll get a kick out of that.

But what about MGM and Epcot? Are there any "must-sees" there? Is it worth using prime-time touring periods (first thing in the morning) to see the other parks at this stage of their lives? Checking them out in the afternoon? Skipping them altogether?
I'd appreciate any advice from the experts!

Thanks.

 

[momxx5]

I think MGM is a toddler must see... watching little DD(2 yrs old) dance and sing in Playhouse Disney Live on Stage is a wonderful memory. She also loved Beauty & the Beast and the Voyage of the Little Mermaid. Your DS would probably like Indianna Jones and the Muppet Show.

There are a ton of characters in MGM and the parade is really fun.
I would try it if I were you.

Now as far as Epcot is concerned, there are fun things....Imagination - my 5yr olds favorite and the Living Seas - really cool sea life underwater. I think given the choice I would skip Epcot.

Wishing you a magical vacation.

 

[Barbday62]

We just got back and our granddaughter is 1 month shy of three. In Epcot she loved the fountains to run through. We found two different ones she loved. Also at the exit to Mission Space is a great playland (Indoors too with airconditioning) and itw as great to wait for the baby swap place.

I know she would have loved the Living seas but she was in the storller sleeping through a well needed nap

Im World SHowcase

She loved the Mexico pavillion. She loved making masks and the boat ride.

Right after Mexico was Norway and we only played on the ship as the line was way too lomg for that ride.

Right after that was a set of drums. She loved playing them. We didnt do too much more in Epcot because of the lateness of the day, the wearing out of adults and in our case we had a Hurricane coming at us the very next day so we never got back there again.

I know other countries have the kid cot stations and that was a lot of fun for her in Mexico so it would have been fun to find other things like that to do.

In MGM it was only opened on Friday the 13th from 8am to 1pm. We didnt get there until about 9:30 so we didnt do too much. (Again a hurricane coming at us that evening) We did do the playhouse Disney, we waited to get Jojo and Goliath pictures and autograph from Jojo. Then we played at Honey I shrunk the audience playset. We left by noon to get gas and food before it was too late to do so. We knew that we had to go on a quest to find Jojo because that was her whole thing about going to Disney she wanted to see Mickey Mouse and Jojo. I figured if Disney opened the parks we would be safe and the hurricane didnt come until night anyway.

 

[BevS97]

my dd loves epcot - it's just a really different sort of park and the atmosphere is great there. She lovse all the unpredictable things, like the shows that you see as you walk around - the fountains in the sidewalk - the really awful ride in Mexico (it really is bad - but she loves it)
I can't imagine skipping it - we go there often.

MGM is a bit harder - she LOVES playhouse disney and we would go for that alone - Beauty and the beast is also good, and Little Mermaid is ok (she's a bit nervous of Ursula).

She will go on the backlot tour, although she's not a big fan.
She loves the parade, and the characters, there are loads of different characters at MGM - and she likes Who wants to be a Millionaire because she recognises it from the TV.

All in all, we find enough to spend one day there, but it's not the best park for her, and we don't go back repeatedly.

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

Don't skip MGM & Epcot. They are great for kids of all ages, even your young ones.

 

[homeschooler]

My kids have always preferred Epcot to any of the parks and they started going a 4 mo, 4 yrs and 8 yrs.

The second year, we were at the WS before it opened by a couple of minutes and the young CMs waiting to open up were playing with the kids, told them where they worked, told the kids to look for them when they got there, and greated the kids when we did see them.

I asked the kids this last year on the drive home, if they could only go to one park, which would it be and they all agreed it would be Epcot.

MGM has so many great things for the kids too. We like 50's. My DH decided to act up one year and got put in the corner. The kids were thrilled.

I wouldn't miss either one of them.

 

[mexico_ride]

We just got back from our trip with my son who is turning 1!
Highlights at MGM are Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Playhouse Disney, and he got to meet JoJo...which was probably the highlight of his little life!
The greatest part in EPCOT is in the back of the shops in UK, there is a quiet, hidden, Pooh Meet and Greet. We had the whole room to ourselves, and Pooh, Tigger and Eyore got down on the floor and played with my son for a good 5 minutes. Other rides in EPCOT that he liked were Figment and Mexico!
Right now, Mexico is the closest you can come to It's a Small World.

 

[kaseyC]

We found that our kids prefer Epcot. Don't get me wrong they love MK too, but I think the crowd factor makes a difference to my girls. Because Epcot is so large it never seems as crowded as MK.
The Kidcot stations are fun. My eldest DD had a great time purchasing Candy from each of the WS pavillions.

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

Originally posted by POOH&PIGLET
Don't skip MGM & Epcot. They are great for kids of all ages, even your young ones.

 

[CarnotaurDad]

My DD will be on her third trip to WDW in Dec. She is 4 1/2 now. She loved Playhouse Disney but nothing else at MGM. Playhouse Disney tends to start later than park opening so it is a good one for a morning where you might want to sleep in. Then you can actually boat over to Epcot (the world showcase does not open until 11am)

Epcot is my DD favorite. She will pick it over MK alot. She likes making the masks at each place. Loves the Living Seas, the Mexico boat ride. Epcot is also a great place to see characters. Pooh and friends and Mary Poppins in England. Aladdin and Jasmine in Morocco. They had the Three Mustketeers in France when we were just there. etc. The Chinese acrobats are a big hit.
The Princesses sometimes hang out in that back entrance to Epcot as well.

Don't skip it...we thought that we would go when she was young because middle aged kids are reported not to like it...but as it turns out we just trained her to like it as much as we do.

Just remember your earplugs for the kids. Some of these shows are so loud that the only thing that is off-puting for a young child is the volume. Once you get a kid used to earplugs they are all for it. (I was in theatre and worked with OSHA alot on sound protection for my performers)

We used the Birnbaum's childrens' guide. Having seen the pictures of what things looked like really helped. Of course, we read the different descriptions to her over and over. It became one of her favorite bed time reads.

Have fun and follow their lead. It will all be fun.

 

[jcemom]

My suggestion would be to use a couple of your evenings for Epcot since it will stay open later than the other parks anyway.

 

[bounceytigger]

We took my DS to EPCOT when he was 23 months old....overall it was so-so. If anything, we figured that we will only go to EPCOT for a morning, or evening, on our next trip. (Not for an entire day.)

My son did really enjoy those fountains that another posted mentioned, however....you might want to bring along a change of clothes for your kids, in case they want to play in those!

I think it's worth it to go for at least half a day to Epcot....and then see if your kids like it enough to spend more time there after that.

Good luck!

 

[raysnkaysmom]

Yeah...I'd skip Epcot...but MGM was great! My 2 yr old had a blast at Playhouse Disney..we ate at the place with the old fashioned cars and movie (can't think of the name)...and they have the "Honey I shrunk the Kids" playground and lots of cool things to look at. If you have the time and money...I'd go for it! We probably saw more characters there than MK.

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

Originally posted by raysnkaysmom
Yeah...I'd skip Epcot...but MGM was great! My 2 yr old had a blast at Playhouse Disney..we ate at the place with the old fashioned cars and movie (can't think of the name)...and they have the "Honey I shrunk the Kids" playground and lots of cool things to look at. If you have the time and money...I'd go for it! We probably saw more characters there than MK.

You just never know. Both of my kids (4 and 2 last trip) loved Epcot--much more than MGM.

The Figment ride, the kidstations, all of World Showcase, the Chinese acrobats, eating in Mexico pavillion, illuminations--it was only second to the MK in their eyes.

Just wanted to mention a different point of view

You can't go wrong with either park, really--they're both MAGICAL in their own way