Play Areas in the Parks (& DTD)

[MaidMarian]

Just a few random thoughts-
Doing the Passports and Kidcot stations in Epcot. Watching the dancing fountains in Epcot and the jumping one too. Watching the drummers and the candy lady in China. Having your child ride Cinderellas horse at MK (the one with the gold ribbon). Being at Toontown at opening so they have the chance for special interaction with the characters. Stepping on the footprints by the tikki gods in adventureland and dodging the spraying water. Asking to ride up front on the monorail. Stopping and listening to any of the musicians from the dappper dans in MK to the african drummers in AK and watching your child dance. Taking the boat between parks.

 

[sconnell]

Just a few random thoughts-
Doing the Passports and Kidcot stations in Epcot. Watching the dancing fountains in Epcot and the jumping one too. Watching the drummers and the candy lady in China. Having your child ride Cinderellas horse at MK (the one with the gold ribbon). Being at Toontown at opening so they have the chance for special interaction with the characters. Stepping on the footprints by the tikki gods in adventureland and dodging the spraying water. Asking to ride up front on the monorail. Stopping and listening to any of the musicians from the dappper dans in MK to the african drummers in AK and watching your child dance. Taking the boat between parks.

Hey, where are those Dancing Fountains? I know my kids would love that!
Where in Africa can you listen to the drummers?

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Did anyone mention in Epcot passing hte big fountain on your way into WS on the right hand side is a POP jet area! DD loves those things!!

This is a gREAT list! As a long time WDW visitor, i didn't know about some of these!!

 

[sconnell]

Did anyone mention in Epcot passing hte big fountain on your way into WS on the right hand side is a POP jet area! DD loves those things!!

This is a gREAT list! As a long time WDW visitor, i didn't know about some of these!!

Isn't it funny how many things you miss until you go "Toddler Speed!" lol.
Anybody know what this is called?

ETA: I'm looking at the map and I think I see it. Is it on the walkway between the Big fountain and the center entrance to WS? Is this the dancing fountain that I've heard so much about? It almost looks like the monorail goes over it. Is that right?

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

yes the monorail sorta goes over it. It's not not the big dancing fountain in the center of the walkway. It's just an area where the jets pop water up from the ground.

Like the POP jet area in DTD in front of the scrapbooking store.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Epcot, they have those interactive fountains, did someone post this? outside of one of the rides. They leap over from one place to the next??

AK: in Asia, they used to have a small water play area where the kids got SOAKED outside of the MAjarajah Jungle trek and Kali. It looked like the pop jets, but they came out of little sewer holes of some sort. Really cute.

 

[sconnell]

Epcot, they have those interactive fountains, did someone post this? outside of one of the rides. They leap over from one place to the next??

AK: in Asia, they used to have a small water play area where the kids got SOAKED outside of the MAjarajah Jungle trek and Kali. It looked like the pop jets, but they came out of little sewer holes of some sort. Really cute.

Oh, I thought that those pop jets were the same as the "dancing fountains." Where are they? (looking at the map still) Are they over near Mission:Space?

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

you've got the right one. I pulled out the big map too

the huge fountain you see in the center (has a little PT sign next to it on the map) is the dancing fountain that dances to music.

Go further towards the WS but BEFORE you go under the monorail and on the right hand side is the POP Jets. They don't dance to music or anything, just a random sequence of jets that pop out of the ground. The kids can walk all over them and play in them. I call them POP jets since at the POP Century RESORT they have these too and they are called Goofys POP Jets.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

this is the one at POP, but it's the general idea.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

okay and the interactive fountains, it does not look like they are listed on the map from what i can see..

These are outside of #9 on the map
Honey I shrunk the audience.


Nobody gets wet, they just jump through the air from one fountain to the next, it's really neat.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

this info is from allearsnet.com

Nearby, outside the Honey, I Shrunk the Audience attraction, you'll find a whimsical "leap fountain," where the water jumps from "pad" to "pad." It's not a play fountain, but children (and sometimes adults) can be seen trying to catch the water as it leaps around.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Some brooks babble, but at Epcot the babbling is done by some of the enchanted drinking fountains! You can find at least three fountains that will talk back to you: 1) Face the "Fountain of Nations" with Spaceship Earth behind you. The talking water fountain is outside Mouse Gear, on your left. 2) There's another to the right of the magic/play fountain between World Showcase and Future World. 3) The third is behind Innoventions West, near the restroom.

These might be a funny surprise for some!

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

these are the POP JETS i was talking about:

there are 2 someone else mentioned the one by Mission Space

As you're crossing the walkway from Future World to World Showcase, you'll spy special lights and spouts built into the concrete on your right. You may not give this area a second thought, but upon closer inspection you'll discover a spontaneous water fountain that sends water 20' straight up into the air. On hot days especially it's the perfect spot for kids (and adults) to cool down. There's another Magic Water Fountain on the east side of Future World, in between Innoventions East and Mission: Space attraction. (Note that these fountains may not be operational during times of water shortages.)

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

and finally

The path leading to Test Track has a beautiful Butterfly Garden that features plantings designed to entice the winged beauties. It's a quiet spot not too far from Cool Wash misting station on the way toward World Showcase.

 

[MaidMarian]

We've come across the african drummers outside Tusker House in the village sqaure

 

[newtowdw1]

The Splash Mountain Play area is signed for kids UNDER the height requirement for the ride.

In MGM:

at the exit of Sounds Dangerous is a sound lab my kids loved.

at the exit of the animation tour (can access through gift shop) is a great interactive computer lab little ones could have a riot with!! A coloring on computer lab (choose a character and then colors for a palette). Also voice overs that little ones could do with parental help. We must have spent 45 minutes in there.

At AK:
You can pick up a 'passport' (free) to get stickers for all the kidcot stops. Very interactive and good for toddlers, I thought. The Boneyard has a giant sandbox. Again, last year they spent 45 minutes playing in.

This year we really enjoyed Innoventions, too. We looked at lots of stuff that we missed last year.

Not a play area, but the Storytime with Belle attraction was wonderful. DS5 got picked to be Gaston and was adorable! Very sweet show, and my kids loved it. They were not doing the Sword in the Stone show this year, but we have pictures from last year of them trying to remove the sword.


And don't forget the Jammitors in Future World, Epcot. We got Junior Jammitor stickers at the end of the show. Very good percussion!

And the drummers in Japan (and candy lady) is /are great. They also have a tin toy exhibit in Japan my kids liked last year and this year.

And the giant troll in Norway. Great photo op! DD9 says there was a Thomas the Tank engine train table in England's toy store last year and this year.

 

[VolleyballQt07]

Might this be the one in Norway that Lisa0503 just mentioned? I have no idea as we haven't spent much time in WS yet!

Nope not this one...It was something different.

 

[VolleyballQt07]

If that during the Flower and Garden show in April/May then it was temporary...

Is this the one you're thinking of? (link to picture)

http://www.wdwinfo.com/Photos/FG_misc/pages/Flower-Garden-img_3505.htm

You know that could be it....We went last in June 04 which I'm t hinking was the tail end of the FGS that year...That may have been it. They had a little tent set up for a craft (not the mask..this was to make suncatchers I think) so it very well could have been that...

 

[AWilliams]

Thanks so much for all the great info!! I'd love to see more pictures of these areas! We always avoided them before we had kids

Thanks!! Amy

 

[MaidMarian]

I think I remember seeing something about Bruce the Sharks House play area in the Living Seas at Epcot. Anyone been to that or know if its still open with the remodel?