need suggestions for taking 3yr old!

[NanciG]

We are going to Disney for the first time in 3 days and I am a little concerned that I am not finding enough attractions for my 3 year old... I dont want to waste time on things she will find scary or to overwhelming...

Anyone have suggestions?? I have never been so I have no idea what to expect! We have a 3yr old and a 5mo old.

HELP! PLEASE

 

[SYDNCLAIRESMOM]

I didn't hold back with my 3&2 year olds. I would explain to them that it was a little scary but it was all in good fun. My 3 year old simply declared "well, that was a little scary" and my 2 year old was fine as long as I held her. I think the key is to not overplay the scary parts and point out some other benign parts of the ride. For example when the Hephalumps and Woozles came out on the Pooh ride we would point out all the colors instead of fiegning "fright"
I didnt want to make the choice, for them, what was scary and what wasnt and if they didnt want to go on again they didnt have to. The one and only ride they choose not to go one again was Haunted Mansion.
I did choose not to take them into Its Tough To Be a Bug because I was forwarned that spiders came out of the ceiling and the big mean grasshopper popped out at one point. My DH and I saw it alone and was glad I didnt take them in. That, I KNOW, would have freaked them out.

 

[NanciG]

thanks so much for the input! I appreciate your suggestions

 

[2d_star_to_the_right]

We took 2 of our children when they were 3 and neither of them were afraid of the attractions- I think the scariest one is probably Snow White's Adventure- but they had seen the movie so many times and we reassured them that Snow White was okay at the end of the ride that they enjoyed it tremendously. Some kids might be overwhelmed at the Little Mermaid at MGM but again- just an explanation that you will be in a theater and there will sounds like the ocean but remember Ariel wins in the end. Probably the one I would skip would be a Bugs Life at AK and Honey I shrunk the Audience- those might be too much. However- the Muppets at MGM were hugely popular.

For your first few hours- let your children guide you on what interests them and then go from there. Children take their cues from you so if you present it as exciting and fun they will more than likely go along. Don't push them- because that will violate trust and make every new ride a misery. You can explore some of the more "scary" rides such as the Haunted Mansion on the internet and I believe Pirates of the Carribean movie has an attraction section.

just thoughts

 

[TammyC]

We just got back with our 2 1/2 year old. I didn't remember from previous adult only trips how many attractions have thunderstorms! A good snuggle with grandma got our DS through many attractions - but we did skip ITTBAB and HISTA. Be prepared for the loud volume in the shows. Our son was apprehensive about most rides in MK our first day, but with some nudging he got on and 30 seconds later proclaimed "I like it." I'm sure some people thought I was wrong to push him to go, but I knew he would be happy once we got going. Let me know if you have questions about specific attractions and remember all kids are different.

 

[chirsty'smom]

We went when our son was almost 3 and again 6 months later - that was 18months ago and he still talks about Mickey's House and wants to go back.

If there was something that I thought would scare him I would fore-warn him but NOT overplay it - in It's Fun to be a Bug when the Grasshopper comes out I'd laugh at the Grasshopper.

The 2 rides he didn't like were Haunted Mansion (just the part when you see the ghost sitting w/you) and Goofy's Barnstormer. He did okay just told me at the end that he didn't want to do that again.

If he didn't want to do something we wouldn't - don't force them and they'll be fine.

Have fun!