Must sees/things to do for a 4 year old

[chickybanky]

Other than riding all the rides, and character meals, what are some other things my 4 year old DD should not miss??

Thanks for the help!!

 

[Harlie]

I would say the Jedi training is your DD is a little tom boyish. I read that you can bake your own cookies somewhere I think any little 4 year old would enjoy that.

 

[ctamama]

* Princess Fanatasy Fair

* A character Breakfast (maybe Ariel's Grotto)

* Toon Town

* Any meet and greets with favorite characters...my DD's loved doing the autograph books at that age!

* Parades at DL or DCA are very fun and kid friendly!

* High School Musical Block Party at DCA (if she likes HSM)


This is SUCH a fun and great age for a kid at DL! I am sure you will all have a blast!

 

[grizbuzz]

Not sure about girls, but I know my little boys definitely need some runaround and play time scheduled in. I recommend Redwood Park at DCA for free time to get the wiggles out. They also like the Tarzan tree.

Turtle Talk with Crush is fun for kids.

And if she likes to play and decorate Potato Heads, there's some fun Potatoe Head accessories at:
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/parks/shopping/detail?name=EEToysShoppingPage

 

[CrAzY4DL]

Took my 4 year old DD last April and you know the "weirdest" place I had the hardest time dragging her away from? Snow White's wishing well. Seriously, the kid just wanted to stand there and watch the fish and listen to the singing. Really floored me!! The baking cookies thing is a lot of fun also. The trip report in my signature is for the trip of just me and 4 year old DD if you are interested. Have fun!

 

[Jenn1116]

I'm going to DL with my DD4 this February. I'm planning on down time in the afternoon because I know she'll need the rest in order to make it into the evening hours. When we went last time (DD was 2) we did both the princess lunch and the character breakfast, and both are fantastic ways for the kids to interact with the characters and get some time with them as well as getting great pics without having to stand in all the lines. Anyone have suggestions for getting DD4 on the bigger rides, like Space Mountain and the Matterhorn? I'm guessing she'll be too scared, like I was at her age, but I want her to try them at least once because she might love them.

 

[daffidyll]

Hi, I'm wondering the same thing as we'll be with our 4 year old.....the make your own cookies sounds great....can anyone tell me where that is?

 

[grizbuzz]

Not sure about getting little ones on the bigger rides. I managed to get my almost 3 year old on Matterhorn, but he was a bit traumatized by it. And we've gotten our 4 year old on Splash twice, but he still doesn't like it. I'm hoping as the get older...

That being said, both kids LOVE (and have always loved) the dark rides and their FAVORITE is the Haunted House.

Good luck! And have fun

 

[chickybanky]

I agree, the make your own cookie thing sounds fun! Where is that??

Thanks for all the suggestions! I'm going to write them down and look into a few more of them.

. Anyone have suggestions for getting DD4 on the bigger rides, like Space Mountain and the

My parents tried to get me on Space Mountain when I was almost 5, and I was traumatized for a long time after that! I know my DD won't like Space Mountain because it's dark (and she's currently in a "scared of the dark" phase), but I'm planning on bringing her on the Matterhorn. I think she'll enjoy it, as she likes roller coasters and is much braver than I was with things like that at her age!

 

[Oscar T. Grouch]

what do you mean traumatized?

My DS loves rollercoasters, and that is his first question, if he is tall enough to go on it, during the summer we went to an amusement park and big sister could go and he couldn't. He was traumatized by that. LOL.

how does Jedi training work?

 

[Jenn1116]

I guess I'll have to work on convincing her how fun it is. Thank you!

 

[grizbuzz]

what do you mean traumatized?

My DS loves rollercoasters, and that is his first question, if he is tall enough to go on it, during the summer we went to an amusement park and big sister could go and he couldn't. He was traumatized by that. LOL.

how does Jedi training work?

By traumatized I mean that he burst out into tears as soon as the ride was over and kept repeating "I hate Matterhorn." But no doubt I'll ask him if he wants to try again next time we go.

 

[Zoemakes5]

I'd say Tom Sawyers, but I haven't been there since the re-do.
There are three things my DD really loved, and she still talks about all three of them. The first is Dinner at Ariels. Once we went back to the hotel, as we were staying across the street, and changed her into her Mulan costume. The other time, we changed her into her Sleeping Beauty costume in the restroom at the parks. She got lots of extra attention and LOVED seeing the princesses. She slept with the picture book under her pillow for almost an entire year. She was 3.5 the first time she went.
The last time we went to DLR, I took DD to Club Libby Lu and had her hair done up. I was thinking Princess and she was thinking Rock Star. She had such a great time and was totally all smiles for quite awhile. Currently, the cost is 27.50.
The third thing we did was Build a Bear. She still sleeps with that bear and tells anyone and everyone that that was the bear she built at Disneyland. (We did the Build a Bear on the last day before we left, so she would have something nice to focus on as we were leaving the magic.)
I thought there was story time with the princesses, too, but I'm not absolutely sure it's there anymore.
Oh, and an inexpensive memento is to get her sillouette done on Mainstreet!
DD was tall enough during our trip when she was 3.5 to go on just about any ride she wanted to. She loved Star Tours. She didn't like Matterhorn, we didn't do anything bigger. When we went this last time, she was just five, and was tall enough to go on everything except the DCA roller coasters. She begged to go on Thunder Mountain, and we did that a few times during the trip. I think that's an easier one to start with, as it's not dark and not quite as fast. Just a "fun train ride".

 

[ctamama]

Hi, I'm wondering the same thing as we'll be with our 4 year old.....the make your own cookies sounds great....can anyone tell me where that is?

It is in the Plaza Pavillion on Main Street. It is all done outdoors on a veranda there. Ages 4-10 may participate. They offer this activity several times per day for about 15-20 children at a time. My DD8 enjoyed it!

 

[disneyfan4ever54]

It is in the Plaza Pavillion on Main Street. It is all done outdoors on a veranda there. Ages 4-10 may participate. They offer this activity several times per day for about 15-20 children at a time. My DD8 enjoyed it!

I heard that this has been discontinued at present. I'll try to find the info. on it.

 

[disneyfan4ever54]

Here is the info. I just read it in an article this week, so apparently it is very recent.


The Plaza Pavillion, which is usually closed to park guests is down for a 10-month refurbishment. The Plaza Pavillion, when used, is used for alternate Annual Passport processing when the Bank of Main Street is closed. Rumor has it that the Disney Gallery may be finding a permanent home here.


The former restaurant was also home to the Junior Chef program, which allows young park guests to bake Nestle-Tollhouse chocolate chip cookies. Due to the Pavillion's closure, the Junior Chef program has been discontinued. No word on if it will resume after the refurbishment, or if it will be moved elsewhere.

 

[daffidyll]

DARN! Thanks for the info

 

[MommyWithDreams]

My son loved the Matterhorn......which REALLY surprised me since he's a bit aprehensive about fast rides. He ended up riding it twice and it turned into a competition to see who could yell at the "snowman" the loudest. He says next time he goes to Disneyland he'll yell louder than anyone on the ride. I just hope that works when I get him on splash mountain for the first time this trip.

 

[Jenn1116]

I LOVE the idea of yelling at the snowman! That just might get DD4 excited enough to be willing to try the ride.

 

[bumbershoot]

No one has mentioned meeting Mater and Lightning McQueen! They hang out in their garage over across from Soarin' in DCA. They don't move or sign autographs, LOL, but they are fun.

Thinking of it, though, I wish they had Sally! Or Flo! Why no female Cars characters...harumph.