Suggested Ride Order with 4 Yr Old?

[IBLarsen]

Hi all, I'm a DL Veteran, but it's been 2 years since we went. A friend is asking for very last minute help for her family's first trip with a tall 4 year old (who will ride anything). They will be there next Sat and Sun. They only have 2 days, and will do MaxPass and park hoppers. My plan was always to start with Peter Pan (that backfired last time)..
I know there are differing opinions, but without my having a ton of time to go through a create a thorough plan like I do for my family, I'd love some quick suggestions of ride order to get her started.
They have made reservations for Storytellers at 11:20 and will take an afternoon break.
Thanks!

 

[lalasmama]

How tall? That could affect plans a lot.

 

[IBLarsen]

How tall? That could affect plans a lot.

Sorry, I mentioned 'tall' but should clarify, she's about 45 in tall, tall enough for everything but Incredicoaster and Indiana Jones I believe.

 

[chickapin parterre]

flip a coin.....heads tomorrowland first thing......tails ROA area....with maxpass...it is not making much of a difference now on sending runners back forth like the manual typewrite days.....have them skip peter Pan, what new family wants to mess with that mess. Since you have not been to Disneyland with Maxpass and if you have not been reading here....Maxpass is the new hope for great touring.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

I'd have them check out Disneyland Daily, honestly. Her plans are pretty solid.

If that doesn't appeal, I have a 5-year-old who's 44" and a thrillseeker, and this is usually what we do if we're doing a pretty full day of rides:
We almost always start at DL because Maxpass is more useful over there in the morning IMO. If they don't want to do that, I'd start at DCA on Saturday and DL on Sunday so you're opposite the early entry.

2. If it's a MM day (Saturday), we book Space Mountain FP first and start "on the left," with BTMR, Pirates, Jungle Cruise... we book Star Tours and Buzz to fit around the same time as Space Mountain, then we head over to Tomorrowland and knock out all three of those. We don't like Nemo. Sometimes we do Autopia, depends on wait. Depending on crowds and FP return times, we then sometimes bundle Roger Rabbit, Small World, and Matterhorn... but we keep an eye on RSR return times and make sure we book that one for an afternoon return time at some point.

3. If it's NOT a MM day (Sunday), we start in Fantasyland with Alice (unless you can be one of the first people on Peter Pan, we never bother with that first), Dumbo, either Casey Jr or Storybook, and then any of the others. We grab a snack and eat it in the Peter Pan line a little later in the day - we'd rather wait 35-40 minutes when ALL the Fantasyland lines are long than wait 30 minutes when we could have done 8 other rides in that time (which is what happens if you head there first but aren't in the very first group). On this type of day, we usually make Matterhorn our first FP since we'll be right around there, and then we just move on to booking whichever land we feel like heading to next.

Either way, we do Disneyland all morning and head over to DCA at some point. Honestly, I'd probably start at DL both days in their position, and Saturday I'd do everything except Fantasyland/Toontown, and then Sunday I'd just do those and any repeats... then both days, head over to DCA after the break or brunch or whatever and do that for the afternoon, then head back over to DL in the evening with whatever FPs were still available over there. If they book RSR one day and GOTG the other, they'll probably be able to fill in Toy Story, Soarin', and Grizzly after them between the two days (as long as it's not too crazy crowded)...

Anyway, not sure if that's helpful or not... but that's what we do.

 

[IBLarsen]

I'd have them check out Disneyland Daily, honestly. Her plans are pretty solid.

If that doesn't appeal, I have a 5-year-old who's 44" and a thrillseeker, and this is usually what we do if we're doing a pretty full day of rides:
We almost always start at DL because Maxpass is more useful over there in the morning IMO. If they don't want to do that, I'd start at DCA on Saturday and DL on Sunday so you're opposite the early entry.

2. If it's a MM day (Saturday), we book Space Mountain FP first and start "on the left," with BTMR, Pirates, Jungle Cruise... we book Star Tours and Buzz to fit around the same time as Space Mountain, then we head over to Tomorrowland and knock out all three of those. We don't like Nemo. Sometimes we do Autopia, depends on wait. Depending on crowds and FP return times, we then sometimes bundle Roger Rabbit, Small World, and Matterhorn... but we keep an eye on RSR return times and make sure we book that one for an afternoon return time at some point.

3. If it's NOT a MM day (Sunday), we start in Fantasyland with Alice (unless you can be one of the first people on Peter Pan, we never bother with that first), Dumbo, either Casey Jr or Storybook, and then any of the others. We grab a snack and eat it in the Peter Pan line a little later in the day - we'd rather wait 35-40 minutes when ALL the Fantasyland lines are long than wait 30 minutes when we could have done 8 other rides in that time (which is what happens if you head there first but aren't in the very first group). On this type of day, we usually make Matterhorn our first FP since we'll be right around there, and then we just move on to booking whichever land we feel like heading to next.

Either way, we do Disneyland all morning and head over to DCA at some point. Honestly, I'd probably start at DL both days in their position, and Saturday I'd do everything except Fantasyland/Toontown, and then Sunday I'd just do those and any repeats... then both days, head over to DCA after the break or brunch or whatever and do that for the afternoon, then head back over to DL in the evening with whatever FPs were still available over there. If they book RSR one day and GOTG the other, they'll probably be able to fill in Toy Story, Soarin', and Grizzly after them between the two days (as long as it's not too crazy crowded)...

Anyway, not sure if that's helpful or not... but that's what we do.

Super helpful, Thank you!! They are going to start in DL on Saturday, simply because you can't take a 4 year old to DL and NOT see the castle first thing I appreciate your feedback, this is a great starting point!

 

[ExcitedMama]

I’d also recommend any character interaction and entertainment too. I’ve taken mine since they were toddlers and they loved the parades and characters. My son loved Jedi Training at 4 and my daughter really wanted to do it as soon as she was old enough. My princess loving daughter needed her fix too. Those moments can be really special and worth planning into a schedule.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Don't forget to allow time for repeat (and repeat) rides! At 4, both of ours would gladly do certain rides over and over (and over...). So if a particular ride seems to be a winner, take the time to do it again. Those moments are really special.

 

[lalasmama]

One morning, I'd consider doing the Toon Town rounds when it opens--we had Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto visits all done in less than 20 minutes by going at opening.

Edited to add: TT opens an hour after regular park opening, so you can use that first hour for rides, then knock out TT meets and rides as soon as TT opens.