Strategy for MK with 7,5,3 yr olds

[remfam5]

Our family was at the World in Oct 2005 and now have friends that are going in 2 weeks. Please help me give their family (kids: 7,5,3 yr olds) the best strategy for Magic Kingdom!
I know , I know, I know.... Go to Dumbo first! But, from there... WHERE???

Thanks!!

 

[KarenCPA]

I have 3 kids within 5 years of each other also. They are teens now, but we have been to WDW a dozen times over the past 15 years.

1. Rent strollers - well worth the investment for tired kiddie feet and tired mommy and daddy backs. 2. Divide and Conquer - one parent takes one or two kids somewhere for a while. 3. The monorail can be the coolest ride of all. 4. Don't obsess - if kids want to play in the water at Ariel's for an hour, oh well.

karen

 

[knovak]

I agree with the Divide & Conquer concept.

We went last year when DD's were 2 and 5 and are going again in May. My 3 year old will be afraid of some rides that the 6 year old enjoys like Haunted Mansion and Stitch even. So, I send her with dad and I do other rides with my 3 year old.

I found you can plan and plan when they are this age - but the majority of our week was spent at MK and doing what they enjoyed, over and over again. That's okay though, it's all about them.

 

[JRawkSteady]

I have always said, if you have kids, Fantasyland should always be first...because once the park is filled, you'll be waiting on 60 - 90 min lines, when it's completely unnecessary

 

[remfam5]

Thanks for the replies! I agree with them all.
But, I would really like to give them a more specific itinerary. Not like TGM specific, just something like:
1. Dumbo
2.peter pan
ETC...

Thanks!

 

[remfam5]

 

[LBKMAMA]

if I were doing Fantasyland first (I hade 6 & 5 boys and then girl just 2 so we head to Adventureland first), but my sister was the opposite and went to Fantasyland...I know she did line for Dumbo and sent husband to get Fastpass for Peter Pan, ride Dumbo, ride Snow white, Small World before they get crowded, depending on Fast pass time ,Carosuel, then Peter Pan. Then be in line for 10 am at Ariel's Grotto.... (this was a EMH morning).

We went to get Fast Pass for Jungle Cruise did Alladin, Pirates 2x, Splash, BTMR, back to Jungle then over to Fantasyland for DD2 (we were able to get FPass for PP, then we hit small world, carosuel, lunch etc...and did PP finally.
We found as long as we got to Fantasyland by 10:30/11 we were still okay with most lines and using FP. She did miss ariel's grotto and Dumbo (she did Alladin instead). Then as we headed over to Tommorowland we grabbed the Pooh FP and took her back later by herself.

I'm not usually a divide and conquer mom...I feel like we all need to compromise. It's a FAMILY vacation. My boys are pretty good if they do Pirates first! We use the FP as best we can and walk ALOT.

WE do AK and MGM, but honestly with those ages MK is just their favorite! We could probably spend 4 out of 6 days there easily and they wouldn't be bored. We'll see this year if this all holds true...boys are getting bigger and DD knows who the princessess are now, but on the up side she's a very tall little girl and she may be able to do some of the rides with us this year which would help!

 

[Tam1067]

The Unofficial Guide website (touringplans.com) has some specific plans for the age groups you're talking about--telling you to go in a particular order on those Fantasyland rides. It worked for us last time; we avoided a lot of the lines and this was in July. Some of the plans are free online while others require a subscription fee.

And have a great time. My kids were 6, 4, and 1 when we went the first time--it was a blast even though we didn't "do" everything we'll be covering this time.

 

[remfam5]

if I were doing Fantasyland first (I hade 6 & 5 boys and then girl just 2 so we head to Adventureland first), but my sister was the opposite and went to Fantasyland...I know she did line for Dumbo and sent husband to get Fastpass for Peter Pan, ride Dumbo, ride Snow white, Small World before they get crowded, depending on Fast pass time ,Carosuel, then Peter Pan. Then be in line for 10 am at Ariel's Grotto.... (this was a EMH morning).

We went to get Fast Pass for Jungle Cruise did Alladin, Pirates 2x, Splash, BTMR, back to Jungle then over to Fantasyland for DD2 (we were able to get FPass for PP, then we hit small world, carosuel, lunch etc...and did PP finally.
We found as long as we got to Fantasyland by 10:30/11 we were still okay with most lines and using FP. She did miss ariel's grotto and Dumbo (she did Alladin instead). Then as we headed over to Tommorowland we grabbed the Pooh FP and took her back later by herself.

I'm not usually a divide and conquer mom...I feel like we all need to compromise. It's a FAMILY vacation. My boys are pretty good if they do Pirates first! We use the FP as best we can and walk ALOT.

WE do AK and MGM, but honestly with those ages MK is just their favorite! We could probably spend 4 out of 6 days there easily and they wouldn't be bored. We'll see this year if this all holds true...boys are getting bigger and DD knows who the princessess are now, but on the up side she's a very tall little girl and she may be able to do some of the rides with us this year which would help!

Thanks! That is what I was looking for. Now I can forward this on to them as a basic beginning.

I totally like your plan about doing Adventureland first. My kids will be older when we go in 2007 (8 & 11) and I think they'll want to do Adventureland first. I'm sure that they will still have their favs in Fantasyland, but I agree with the whole "BEFORE 11am" theory!
ALTHOUGH... I LOVE to start the trip with our FAVORITE attraction**** MICKEY'S PHILLHARMAGIC**** So we may have to do some running between Lands!

 

[LMC]

My suggestion:
Go to Fantasyland first. FP Peter Pan and go ride Dumbo, then go to Philharmagic, winnie the pooh, snow white, small world, return for your peter pan fp.
Visit the grotto early if you have girls, the boys can go to then new pooh play area. Don't forget to go to Tink's Shop (near the castle) if you have girl so she can find Tink. My boys (10 and 5) enjoyed it too.
When you are done in Fantasyland, go by the tea cups, if it's your "cup of tea" and ride that. If the park is not packed to the gills, this would be a good time to visit Toon Town; if the park is packed return later that night but watch for Toon Town closing time!
Then go over to Tomorrowland. Get FP's for buzz if it's busy. While you wait, ride the speedway cars, the tomorrowland transit, get a bite to eat. Stitch is there but my kids don't like it. The two older ones may be up for Space Mtn (may need a FP on this one) if they are tall enough.
When you are done here, go to Splash Mtn and Big Thunder and FP one of those. If the other has a minimal wait (20 min or less) do the stand by. You can see country bear jamboree over here. Use your FP if the time is available and/or move on to adventure land. We don't do too much in AL so I am not sure which attractions have FP. I know the jungle cruise does.
If your little ones are like my 5yo, the best attraction will be the monorail ride. My little guy rides it the most. He likes the fast rides too, but he just LOVES the monorail!!!!
Oh, and make sure you have fun!

 

[Wendy1953]

Our family was at the World in Oct 2005 and now have friends that are going in 2 weeks. Please help me give their family (kids: 7,5,3 yr olds) the best strategy for Magic Kingdom!
I know , I know, I know.... Go to Dumbo first! But, from there... WHERE???

Thanks!!

Enter into Fantasyland
Visit Dumbo, Peter Pan's flight, get fast pass for Mickey's Philharmagic, visit Winnie the Pooh, use the fast pass at Mickey's Philharmagic, and then break for lunch, take the train to Frontierland and go on or get fast passes for Splash Mountain or Big thunder railroad.....off to Adventureland...go to Pirates of Caribbean, check your time for fast pass on BTM or SP.....Magic Carpets, and Jungle Cruise, should be around parade time...watch parade then off to tomorrowland...fast pass Buzz, go on Space Mountain, and then back to Buzz and use the fast pass.....dinner time, night parade and fireworks....off to hotel and bed!

 

[remfam5]

You guys are all AWESOME!!
Thanks for the game plans! I appreciate it!