MGM or Epcot with 4 year old boy?

[baseballmom3]

Magic Kingdom is a must for us. But other than that which Park to see. Animal Kingdom was not that good for us last year. We had fun but do not need to go back.

So should we do Epcot or MGM? He has been to neither of those parks. I am trying to go through all of the Attractions and such and still cannot make up my mind. We are going in Feb if that helps at all.

 

[disneynewman]

To me that's a tough one. Is he really into Nemo? If so you might want to go to Epcot, or does he LOVE Playhouse Disney (they are revamping the show in Jan to include more up-to-date characters), they also have Lights Motors, Action which little boys tend to love. But if he loves to explore he might find a lot that he likes in Futureworld at Epcot. I would say if it's one or the other write down all the attractions at each park and see who has more that you think he would enjoy. Personally my kids like DS better, I think mostly because they have more of the characters they love

 

[snowwhite84]

I would say MGM for sure. You could do the Playhouse Disney show, have lunch or breakfast with the characters at Hollywood and Vine, see the Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid and Cars shows, he could meet the Playhouse Disney characters, a lot of Pixar characters and the Power Rangers. I think it is the perfect park for kids that age. Plus, there is a parade and nighttime show.

 

[Mickey3]

MGM has a little more geared to young children. There is Playhouse Disney, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Muppet 3-D, Cars characters, Power Rangers, Star Wars and a great parade. Our DS4 really liked MGM (he LOVES Star Wars, Cars, and Power Rangers) but we did find it to be a short one day park for him.

Epcot was neat with the KidCot stations, trains in Germany, Acrobats, dancing fountains, Nemo & Turtle Talk with Crush. My DS also thought Coral Reef was the greatest restaurant in Disney.

It is hard to choose...Epcot is a lot of walking but much to explore, MGM has more geared towards little ones (if your DS is into what they offer). If I had to only choose one I think I would go for MGM with a 4 year old.

Either way you will have a great time!!!

 

[serene56]

i found online here on the disboards a wonderful section for Epcot with kids.
It gave directions on how to get aface mask that the child willl decorate at each land- and get his name written on the back in different languages. I printed it out and cant seem to find it now.

Im sure with that information Epcot could be really fun for our little one too

 

[momtoccc]

My almost 4yo daughter enjoyed them both. She was tall enough for Soarin which she really liked. She could have done Test Track too but was tired and didn't do it. We did Nemo, Turtle Talk (really cool) and the Imagination pavillion. (the Imagination ride isn't that good but the stuff afterwards is) She was also happy playing in the play area at the exit of MIsison Space while DH and did rider switch.

At MGM we did Playhouse Disney, Beauty & Beast show, Ariel show and Honey I shrunk the kids playground. That was really it for us at MGM (partly because we ran out of time).

If you can do both then I would say go for it!

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

I would pick MGM for your DS4. I don't think a child that young can relate to the concept of "other countries" in the World Showcase. I don't think Future World has enough.

In MGM he will find lots of familiar friends from TV -- Disney Playhouse, Muppets 3-D, Ariel, Beauty & the Beast. The character meet & greets are heavily focused on the more recent TV and movie characters. I think he will probably enjoy the action in the stunt show and Indiana Jones. Even the comedy of the streetmosphere people will grab his attention.

Have a great trip!

 

[maraki527]

mgm for sure. who wouldnt want to meet the power rangers. btw i learned from the disboards that when you meet them stand on the corner with the lamp post on it (on your right if you are looking down the street) to meet the red power ranger. my nephew was first in line thanks to everyone here and i was the greatest aunt that trip

 

[ajcolorado]

Maybe I'm completely off base but I was leaning away from MGM (soon to be called Disney Hollywood Studios). Playhouse Disney is sweet and Voyage of the Little Mermaid is fun but there just aren't many rides there and I'm concerned about a 4 year old sitting through so many shows. It may be perfect - actually, my god-daughter had a lot of fun at MGM and she was 3. But, the "Alien" scene is kind of creepy on the Great Movie Ride. Star Tours has a 40" height requirement. That's it for rides - everything else (other than Honey I shrunk the Kids play area) is a show.

Epcot is big so there is a lot for everyone and most of it is pretty inclusive. Here's an article about touring Epcot with preschoolers:
http://www.buildabettermousetrip.com/article-epcot-with-young-children.html

 

[tinkandpan]

I'm going to place a vote for EPcot. Since my son has been old enough to tell us his favorite park- it is has always been a toss up between MK and Epcot. He loves the Land Boat Ride, Making cookies in the Land Pavillion, the Seas Pavillion with the Nemo ride, Turtle Talk with Crush and the exploration of the seas themself, Spaceship Earth, and the imagination pavillion. Walking through the country he loves the little trains, three cabelleros (prefers the old one!), maelstrom and all the goodies and snacks we stop for there. The performers, the character intereaction is terrific- lines are usually shorter. He also loves innoventions and could spend hours in there if we wold let him. He is now 6.

 

[Shmily1]

I carried my DD and DS when they were two and three respectively to all the parks. MGM was much better for them than Epcot. That experience was so bad at Epcot that I wouldn't carry them back until about two years ago. They are now 16 and 17. They were really good but were bored so we left there about 2 PM... we had only gotten there at 10 AM. To us Epcot was just not for very small children. When they are older, it is fun, but not when they were little. Now, I have a ball taking them! Well, really, I have fun with them about 90% of the time (the other 10% they are acting like teenagers ).

 

[LilGMom]

We prefer MGM but that is because our DS (now 6) at 4 was very into the Power Rangers and Playhouse Disney. He enjoyed the Great Movie Ride, Playhouse Disney, Mermaid show, Backlot Tours, Indiana Jones, Star Tours, and others that I know I'm forgetting. And we found that MGM was a better park to meet characters. But depending on the height of your child and his willingness to sit through shows MGM might not be a good pick.

We also really like Epcot and our DS loves Living with the Land, the Living Seas, Test Track, Innovations, Universe of Energy, Spaceship Earth and the rides at the various countries. Our DS never got into the Kidcot stations until this last trip and then only when the mood struck - at four he could have cared less about it.

I'd suggest sitting down and looking at the maps of the parks and see what you feel will offer the most for your child. Personally I don't think you can lose with either choice.

 

[baseballmom3]

I think we may just try both and do Magic Kingdom for just one day instead of two. It sounds like there are great things at both. It has been at least 7 years we have been to the other two Parks. Thank you for your input.

 

[RllngRckBrw]

My son loves both (we were there last when he was 4). I think for him it is a toss up between the two. Turtle Talk, Soarin, Test Track, Nemo were his favs at Epcot. At MGM he loves Playhouse Disney, Indiana Jones, and fantasmic. I was suprised to see how much he liked the World at Epcot. We speant an entire day doing the world with him stopping at every kidcot stop. If I had to pick I would go with Epcot because I like it more because as for my son it would be a toss up.

 

[rysmama215]

We're here now....We did MGM yesterday and Epcot Tuesday with my DS, who is 4.5. I'd say it depends on the child, really. My son hated Nemo (too dark for him, although it's really not dark), but got a huge kick out of Crush and LOVED Test Track. I mean LOVED it. He enjoyed the Playhouse Disney show at MGM, we ate at Sci-Fi, which he thought was pretty cool. He really liked the Indiana Jones show, the MuppetVision show & Fantasmic.

I'd say it depends on what your child likes to do, but my DS enjoyed them both!

 

[MichiganMomto4]

If you really needed to just choose one, I'd go with MGM (DHS by the time you go) because of the PR, Playhouse Disney, and cars characters.

Can you not park hop? If you can and don't want to give up extra time in the MK, try to do a half day at each MGM and Epcot and the other half in MK in addition to your full day at MK.