Must-do list for a 5 yr. old boy

[Funkyzeit mit Bruno]

What would you put on a must-do list for a 5 yr. old boy who'll be staying at GF for 5 days with his DM? What would be the best character meal?

 

[craziefortigger]

I have a 5yr old DS and he loved the breakfast at AK...breakfastsaurs something like that (Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald and Goffy) and he still loves Tigger so we ALWAYS do breakfast at the Crystal Palace (all of the pooh characters).

Our must do's at MK are
Buzz
Big THunder Mountain
Philharmagic
Peter Pan
Haunted Mansion
Pirates
and any/all fireworks

this yr we may try Splash Mountain, have to wait and see if he's interested

MGM:
Star Tours
Fantasmic
Indy
Muppets 3D

AK:
Dinoland
Safari
Rapids
Rafiki Trail (think that's what it's called)
Lion King show
Bug's Life

EPCOT:
we do everything EXCEPT World Showcase

Oh, and don't forget to ask to sit up front on the monorail THAT'S A MUST DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IF you have time stop by WL and check out the pony rides, petting zoo and evening movie with samores.


HAVE FUN! I'm leaving with my son in 4 days to spend the weekend just he and I (and maybe Frances the Hurricane is I can't shoo it away!)

 

[GaTech]

Just want to add a couple things to craziefortigger's list...
Character Meals:
Chef Mickey

MK:
Goofy's Barnstormer
Indy Race Cars

 

[canwegosoon]

Also just wanted to add to craziefortigger list too. We did Splash my boys were 5 and loved it..but I would build to it. Peter Pan's flight, Jungle Cruise, Buzz, Railroad, Haunted Mansion...then Splash. I think the only ride my boys were iffy on was Dinosaur.
We did the Showcase, they liked Japan for the pearls and the Pokemon/Youghii (sp) cards, and the drum show. We skipped a lot of MGM due to time. I would ditto the Chef Mickey..Who does not love Mikey Minnie, Chip/Dale, Pluoto, Goofy??? We went at 10:30 and had Brunch!!!

Oh and my boys almost split a side at Hoop Dee Doo!! They are going on their 6th birthday this year!!!

 

[wld]

My nephew was 4 the year we went. His favorite things were Buzz Lightyear, Blizzard Beach and the pool at the hotel. He liked down time at the pool.
Oh and he hated Tower of Terror

 

[MsLeFever]

Honey I shrunk the kids playground at MGM!

Barbara

 

[bubba's mom]

i think i must have a thrill seeker 5 yo......he LOVED space mtn. and HAD to have the front seat every time!!!

 

[The Sweetness]

Why not look at one of the guide books with him and let him choose whats important to him? Also, dont worry too much if hed rather wait in line for a while to meet and get photos with characters than cue up for a ride or show. You can always have a return trip next year

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I don't know if a water park is in your plans, but my DS4 and DS6 always choose Typhoon Lagoon over another day at the theme parks...

 

[ILOVEPOOH1]

Tom Sawyer Island in MK... this is often overlooked but there is plenty of space to run, climb and play! Do not miss this!! My son went when he was 6 and now 5 years later this was still his favorite part of all WDW!! There's caves to explore and a fort to run around! Don't forget to look for paintbrushes that Tom left lying around. If you find one bring it to a cast member. You may get a treat such as a FP or an ice cream or something!!

 

[swilphil]

My 4 year old LOVED World Showcase, but didn't really like Epcot's Future World except for Figment. In WS, he loved the Mexico and Norway rides, the train village at Germany with the bridge to run around, the hedge maze in UK, and ALL the Kidcot stations. He also enjoyed the living statues and all the characters that we saw there.

Most of the must-do's in the other parks have been mentioned. He actually liked Tower of Terror, though he said "Once was enough." And he's kind of a daredevil. At MGM, he liked the Disney Playhouse and Beauty and the Beast shows, Pizza Planet arcade and statues, Muppet Vision, and seeing characters at Al's Toy Barn.

At MK, I would add to the list Toontown's play area, roller coaster, and Donald's Boat. We also spent lots of time on Tom Sawyer Island. It's a nice place to go when it's hot. He liked the Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Carribean, but did not care for Haunted Mansion on this trip. He also enjoyed Mickey's Philarmagic.

The only thing he liked at AK was digging for fossils in the Boneyard The Lion King show was okay for him, but he did not enjoy it as much as the MGM shows.

He LOVED the Crystal Palace character breakfast, but did not really care for the Donald's Breakfastasaurus. The food is also much better at Crystal Palace, and I think it may be a little bit cheaper than Donald's.

 

[tar heel]

All three of my boys went when they were 5.

The oldest LOVED Future World in Epcot. His favorite attraction was Big Thunder Mountain.

The middle child didn't like Epcot, and his favorite attraction was also Big Thunder.

The youngest HATED the bug 4D show in AK. It's hard to convey how much he disliked it except to say that he has been back five times since then and will not do it.

My youngest child absolutely loved a couple of World Showcase performers (Imaginum-- the living statues and Miyuki -- the Japanese candy maker) and was fascinated by Ice Station Cool.

The best advice I can give you is to start with something gentle b/c the size, scope, darkness, etc., of many Disney attractions can be overwhelming for a child until they get in the flow. We started with Pirates with our first child and he really didn't like it. We started with Small World with the second, which was perfect. We started with Honey I Shrunk with the third (What were we thinking?) and he flatly refused to even try the next attraction we had planned. By the end of the first day, he had gotten in the groove but he remained timid the entire trip and didn't even do Big Thunder or Test Track.

 

[loriandmatt]

must do's for my DS when he was 5 (our first trip)......

MK - jungle cruise, the crack pot jokes were just his speed. laughed his butt off. loved all the "mountains", but couldn't get enough Buzz.

Epcot - as someone else mentioned.....take plenty of time in FW, he loved so much there. all the interactive stuff in inovations and the wonders of life pavilion. Totally dug the living seas and ellen's universe of energy.

AK - the safari, Kali, and ITTBAB were his tops here

MGM - he was too short for most of the rides here. he loved muppets and the sci-fi drive in though. also, he was just thrilled with fantasmic.

Don't forget about the pirate cruise there at the GF. a must do for any little boy. can't praise it enough. he talks about it years later.

- lori

 

[jsfein]

I'll second loriandmatt's suggestion to do the Pirate's Cruise at the Grand Floridian. It books quickly, so make your PS early. A highlight for boys your son's age.

 

[DisneyDianne]

I agree with the pirate cruise my son eas 5 at the time and still talks about it! Also, my ds always gets his hair cut at the barbership on mainstreet at the magic kingdom. They color his hair green and paint mickeys in his head and sprinkle lots of pixiedust. He loves it!!


Good Luck! DisneyDianne