play areas at Disney

[Ariel on Land]

I noticed while on allears that the Honey I shrunk the kids play area is for kids 4 years and up. Is this a minimum rule? A suggested age? Are all the play areas like this? My boys will be two, and I had just assumed they'd go play at some of these places.... are we out of luck?

 

[CaFeeney]

We were at the Honey I shrunk the Kids playground in October when my daughter was 2 1/2. She loved it but I was a wreck trying to keep track of her in the playground. There are a lot of tunnels and slides that came out all over and I was too big to fit in many of them so I would let her go down and then frantically try to locate where she was. I think if you had 2 adults it would be a lot easier.
What it comes down to is you know your kids and if they tend to wander. Mine does - we actually had a Monkey Backpack for most of out park time so she could walk (hates the stroller) and wouldn't try to bolt.
We just got back from Disney last night and what a difference 6 months makes! She was so much easier, no backpack needed.
Have a great time!

 

[msmama]

My 10 month old (early walker) was all over the play areas, including Honey I Shrunk the Kids. He liked the Ant the best.

His favorite was Pooh's Thoughtful Spot in Magic Kingdom and he also liked the little one over by Splash Mountain.

The Dinosaur play area in AK has a couple of small sides (go to the right as soon as you walk in).

 

[MouseMadness]

We were at the Honey I shrunk the Kids playground in October when my daughter was 2 1/2. She loved it but I was a wreck trying to keep track of her in the playground. There are a lot of tunnels and slides that came out all over and I was too big to fit in many of them so I would let her go down and then frantically try to locate where she was. I think if you had 2 adults it would be a lot easier.
What it comes down to is you know your kids and if they tend to wander. Mine does - we actually had a Monkey Backpack for most of out park time so she could walk (hates the stroller) and wouldn't try to bolt.
We just got back from Disney last night and what a difference 6 months makes! She was so much easier, no backpack needed.
Have a great time!

I agree...it is hard keeping track of the kids there. Last time we were there, I actually had to have a cast member make sure my (almost) 5 year old didn't wander back out after I left to go get my husband to help look for him. I was completely frantic...but he, of course, was fine. Turns out some older kids were keeping him "at bay" in one of the tunnels and wouldn't let him pass to get out. Also, it was so loud he said he never heard me calling for him If you take them, I would suggest getting down on their level, if possible, and going through the whole playground WITH them. Also, we had my (almost) 2 year old daughter who loved sitting on the big plastic animals (ants and stuff) and going down the more accessible slides (I stayed with her our 2nd trip there while DH kept up with DS).

There's also another small playground in the back of Toontown if they just need to burn a little energy...as well as Donald's Boat where they can run around and even get a little wet

 

[tnd]

My son was 3.5 when we went there in January and he loved that area, but like many others mentioned, there are a lot of ins and outs and it was hard to keep track of him. The Pooh playground by the Pooh ride is really great for the younger kids, it was so hard to get my son out of there. It was one of his favorite things about the trip.

 

[adventure_woman]

Play areas:
MK -
Pooh's Thoughful spot
By Splash Mountain
Tom Sawyer's Island (kind of)
Play area in Toontown. Be warned. I almost had to TAKE OUT a 6 year old for plowing my 2 yr old over. I was so irritated (particularly of the parents not watching their children). The play area is OBVIOUSLY for little ones, not huge 6 year old RUNNING around to slam into the little ones. We left after that, I didn't trust myself.
Donald's Boat - bring swim diapers

Epcot -
Water play things by Test Track and walkway to World Showcase. Bring swim diapers. This is my DD2s favorite thing to do.

AK -
Boneyard - she enjoyed playing in the sand. She didn't go on the slides - too much climbing and I didn't feel like carrying her and trying to get her to go down the huge slide.

DHS -
I think Honey I shrunk the kids playground was closed when we went last. But it is for a little bigger of kids.

DTD -
Also has the water play thing area.

 

[livndisney]

Pooh's thoughtful spot is designed for kids 2-5 as posted on the sign. From all ears:
http://allears.net/tp/mk/pps1.jpg

The playground in toontown near Donald's boat is also for the younger kids.
From all ears:
"Children must be under 40" to play in Toon Park"


I think parents see a playground and automatically think it is ok for their child to play there.

The Hista playground at the Studios (From All ears:The Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure is for children 4 years and older. Smaller adults may be able to move around in the tunnels and slides, but the areas really are scaled for children. )

and Boneyard are designed for the older kids (from All ears: The Boneyard is for children 4 years and older. Smaller adults may be able to move around in the tunnels and slides, but the areas really are scaled for children.)

 

[Ariel on Land]

Good info folks! Maybe we'll have to skip the Shrunk the kids area this time, then. Pooh's spot looks promising though! ANd thanks for the heads up which areas are water areas!!

 

[WantToGoNow]

My children have been going to the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground since they could walk. Your little ones will have a blast. But be forewarned that there are bigger, older children runnig around everywhere in there - it is a playground after all.

Somehow we managed to walk right past Pooh's Thoughtful Spot several times during our last trip and didn't even see it. My kids are both too big for it now as well as Toon Park.

 

[ChristusG]

The ages are just a suggested age.

That being said, I really dont like the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground. It's a neat place, but waaaaay too easy for a kid to just disappear. There are dark tunnels that exit different places. There's dark staircases in those tunnels for a kid to fall down. There's stairs that go different ways. I lost my 5 year old there for a few minutes when we were there last week. I can duck down and go through the tunnels for a few minutes, but only for a few. It starts killing my back. And there's usually tons of people there. It would only take a second to lose a kid. Especailly if you are trying to watch more than one. I was watching my two year old and turned my back for a second and then could not find my four year old.

We really like Pooh's Playful Spot though. It's for the younger set, but it is wide open.

 

[ChristusG]

Oh yeah, I really like the Bone Yard....so did my kids. The area where you did for dinos is great!!

 

[Zeebs]

Good info folks! Maybe we'll have to skip the Shrunk the kids area this time, then. Pooh's spot looks promising though! ANd thanks for the heads up which areas are water areas!!

Personally I wouldn't miss it. My 2.5 year old shorty had a great time in there, his Dad went around with him, while I fed his brother.

We also took them to Poohs playful spot which my 11 month old enjoyed more than Cullen, mainly cause he got wet very wet, but he dried fast.

Here are a couple of links to photos of my boys in Honey I shrunk the kids and Poohs playful spot.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2133384

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2132616

Kirsten

 

[livndisney]

The ages are just a suggested age.

That being said, I really dont like the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground. It's a neat place, but waaaaay too easy for a kid to just disappear. There are dark tunnels that exit different places. There's dark staircases in those tunnels for a kid to fall down. There's stairs that go different ways. I lost my 5 year old there for a few minutes when we were there last week. I can duck down and go through the tunnels for a few minutes, but only for a few. It starts killing my back. And there's usually tons of people there. It would only take a second to lose a kid. Especailly if you are trying to watch more than one. I was watching my two year old and turned my back for a second and then could not find my four year old.

We really like Pooh's Playful Spot though. It's for the younger set, but it is wide open.

The ages posted on signs and height requirements are just suggestions? May I ask where you read this?