Need help to enhance 4-year old's MK experience . . .

[rejobako]

My oldest daughter is four years old, and this Saturday marks the beginning of our first Disney trip when she'll be old enough to really soak up the experience and remember it. I've been to all the parks enough times to navigate them blindfolded, but I know there's probably a lot of activities/tips for younger children that I simply haven't needed to become familiar with before now.

Can anyone give me some advice on some of the little touches that would round out the experience for our daughter? We'll be doing the Magic Kingdom, DTD, the Boardwalk, and moving off-property to Sea World. I know about autograph books for the characters, but what's the deal with Disney pins and such? Are there certain attractions/activities for younger children that you consider "can't miss"?

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[720L]

We brought our daughter to the character breakfast at the Grand Floridian (Mary Poppins, Tigger, Pooh, Eeyore and others)--she loved it! The food was EXCELLENT-one of the best breakfast buffets I've had. The characters come to your table while your eating and you can have them sign autograph books and take pics. She was 4 when we brought her. She loves Mary Poppins-we surprised her, we just told her we were going to breakfast. When Mary Poppins showed up her expression was priceless!! Definitely do a character meal.

 

[Schmeck]

If she's into Princesses, you could try the Princess breakfast in the Norway pavilion at EPCOT. I know you didn't mention going to EPCOT, but Jasmine, Belle, Mulan, Aurora, and Snow White are pretty magical to a 4 year old!

 

[GEM]

I bet a little girl that age would LOVE doing the afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian as a special treat with mommy! It's a little girl's dream come true. They even have special chocolate milk "tea" for the little ones. It's just a quick monorail ride away from the Magic Kingdom and it would make for some adorable pictures and great memories!

 

[crbalb]

Our DD4 absolutely loves WDW and talks about it every day. We plan to go to MK very early to get her on as many rides as possible. Try to have it planned out, so you know which rides you will go to. We get a FastPass for Peter Pan or Pooh, then ride the racecars, teacups, Dumbo, Carousel, and visit with characters in Fantasyland all within the first 20 minutes of park opening. She often will ride these more than once. We then ride our FP ride, and get another for Peter Pan or Pooh or Philharmagic. Later, we swing to Tomorrowland for Buzz Lightyear and Astro Orbiter. She also loves Big Thunder Mtn. and Splash Mtn.

As for characters, it's hard to catch them all in the parks. Our daughter loves Chef Mickeys, LTT, CRT. I would be happy to answer any more questions.

Good luck and have a great trip.

 

[rejobako]

Thank you all for your responses; I especially like the "afternoon tea" idea at GF. My little girl is always having "tea parties" with her stuffed animal friends, and she would really get a kick out of that.

crbalb: you seem to be the person to talk to about rides. Presuming she meets the height restrictions, what's your opinion on a four year old getting on something like Splash Mountain? She's an adventuresome little thing, but she hasn't experienced anything like that. Obviously, she'd enjoy the whole thing until that last big drop; I just don't know if she's ready for something that intense . . .

 

[JoniGirl]

My little girl really loved pin trading. We bought a lanyard with 4 or 5 pins already on it for around $20 in the park. She bought a new pin for every ride she really liked, and made some great trades with the employees.

She still gets her lanyard out all the time and plays with it.

 

[crbalb]

We rode Splash Mtn. for the first time Christmas '03. It was so cold that day that we were wearing coats. My daughter stayed dry but I got very wet! She and DH thought it was so funny that Mommy got wet.

So--I would recommend having your DD put on a poncho if she may not want to get wet. Other than that, our DD did not find the drop scary at all. We did ride Goofy's Barnstormer first to make sure that she was comfortable with rides that go faster and "crazier" (that is DD word for it)

Let me know if I can answer any other questions.

 

[Hieatt]

Speaking of tea parties, our girls (5 and 4) did the Alice in Wonderland Tea Party at the Grand Floridian and loved it. You drop them off for an hour and a half and they do all sorts of fun activities... read about it at http://allearsnet.com/pl/grandadven.htm. Alice and the Mad Hatter show up for pictures, etc. You can go have a nice meal elsewhere in the GF with the comfort of having a pager in case they need you.

 

[Ratpack]

If you are near Tinkerbell's Treasures, little shop just behind the Castle, when they open, take DD in and they will let her "wake" Tinkerbell up from her night's sleep. They let her stand on a stool and tap Tink's box with a wand and say "Wake up Tinkerbell" and then she flies out. It is really just lights embedded in the wal, but a 4yo wouldn't notice I am sure, ours didn't. Then she will get a certificate commemorating the experience. A nice little keepsake. Just remember, you have to be there at opening and the first child to ask.

 

[rejobako]

Thanks again, everyone. I made a huge mistake; after hearing about the Tea Party thing at GF, I made the mistake of telling my daughter about it, and for the last two days I've heard nothing at home except how she's going to drink "tea" with Alice and have teacakes etc. etc.

The problem is, they're completely booked up next week. I've got to hope to get lucky with cancellations. Otherwise, as my wife ruefully informed me, "I am soooooooo busted."

 

[bartleby1]

I only skimmed through the responses very quickly so forgive me if this has been mentioned. My DD LOVED the storytime with belle at the magic kingdom on our last trip. It was probably one of her favorite attractions.