What can 3 y/o do at Disney????

[WisconsinDisneyGirl]

My parents are taking our family to WDW for Christmas 08. Our DS will be 9 and our DD will be 3. I was not planning on taking her to WDW until 5 years old (can't turn this wonderful gift down!) like we did with our son. I have to say that she is a handful! What kinds of rides and activies can we do with such a young (and very tiny for her age) child? I know that alot of her time (and mine too) will be waiting for the rest of the family while they are on rides. I love WDW and but am not really looking forward to taking "crazy girl." Any ideas and tips would be great.

 

[LadyShea]

She can ride a ton of stuff at MK, everything in Fantasyland, she can see shows at all 4 parks, they have various playgrounds where kids can run around to the hearts desire, she can meet characters. Really 3 is a great age for WDW!

On the WDW website you can choose to see what is available for Preschoolers, there is a ton!

 

[LisaNJ25]

My 3yos favorite was the Kali River Rapids in AK.

 

[tinkandpan]

It's actually easier to ask- what can't she do? I have taken both my kids since they have been 3 mths and up - my oldest is 6 and youngest 2 now. We never have had an issue. THe only thing the younger one can't do are the height rides, Space Mountain, BTMMR, Splash Mountain, Everest, Soarin, Test Track, Mission Space, TOT, Rock n Roller COaster (or whatever). You get the jist. If your little one has some fear of the dark those might have to be left out- my kids all went through a hating Haunted Mansion phase etc....
We do some splitting up- if older one wants to do something little one can't- one will take her and do something else (ie toontown, a plyaground, a different ride, see a character). She;ll be great.

 

[amberlindemann]

If she likes princesses, she might like the Bibbadee Bobbadee Boutique in MK

 

[GoinToDisney]

I agree. It is much easier to tell you what she can't do because the list is much shorter. We took my dd at 17 months, and she did all but the height restricted rides like Splash, Space Mt, Big Thunder Mt.. When she was 2 1/2, we skipped It's Tough to be a Bug and we will skip Fantasmic this time. Just make sure to explain to her that a lot of the rides are darker inside so that you can see the pretty colors better. You can show her ride throughs on youtube. You'll see, she will have a ball. Just bring stuff to keep her busy like small notebooks and crayons, stickers, little toys. My dd played with $store dinosaurs in lines and while waiting for shows last trip and was very happy.

 

[VandVsmom]

My 3 year old DD loved the teacups - we went on it a lot. She liked a lot of the other rides in Fantasyland as well. DH and I would take the girls in different directions so one kid was not always waiting for another to do the rides they were interested in. SHe liked a lot in Toon Town as well. There is plenty to do there when you are 3.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Why is she going to be spending all this time waiting for other people to go on rides? Use fast pass and child swap to minimize everyone's wait and then whoever is staying with the little on can have fun nearby even if it's just playing with things in the gift shop. Some of my favorite Disney memories are hanging with my, at the time, little one while others were on a "big" ride. Riding TTA, throwing coins in the fountain by Star Tours, playing in the spray jets by Test Track.............. There is no need to just sit around and wait. If you are not sure how child swap works, just let us know.

 

[HelenePA]

Last year there were only 2 or 3 rides my then 11month old son didn't go on... he went on everything and 1 of the 2 rides he missed was because he was asleep. I'm so excited to be able to take him on test track this year! (yes he's tall enough even with out shoes!)

 

[Hoopfamily]

Almost everything, we took my daughter when she was 3 and she did alot of attractions. Some kids like stationary dark rides, but not mine. When we took her to It's Tough To Be A Bug, she lost it but small world teacups etc she was fine. She also loved all of the street performers and parades.

 

[DawnM]

How tall is she?

We just took our 3 year old and since he is over 40" he can do almost everything.

We won't take him on a couple of things again....like the dinosaur ride at Animal Kingdom.....he hated it and cried a lot after it. And he hated haunted mansion, which upset us because we love it! But he liked TOT, Soarin', Star Tours, and pretty much everything else.

Dawn

 

[WisconsinDisneyGirl]

My daughter is pretty tiny at 34 inches. We are not going until the middle of Dec. She has some time to grow yet. Seeing as we area going in the middle of Dec. I am hoping that the lines will be pretty short (that is another thing I am worried about- waiting in lines)

 

[stuffedw/fluff]

We took DS's (3 and 2 at the time) last September. Of all of the rides, guess what was their favorite?? The boat ride in Mexico in Epcot!?!?!? Go figure. I guess they liked Donald. Anyway, there wasn't a line so we rode about 10 times in a row (had to get off and back on again). At any rate, the others in our party were able to enjoy World Showcase at their own pace while we were riding.

 

[ChicagoMommy2Two]

I'm glad I found this thread. The kiddos will be 4 1/2 and 2 1/2 at the time we go and I was worried they wouldn't be able to enjoy alot of the rides. Hopefully DS hits a growth spurt in the next year and he reaches 40'!!

 

[Tigger&Aidan]

We took DS at both 2 and 3 yrs old and he did just fine. The things he couldn't go on because of height restrictions are probably things he wouldn't want to ride anyway because they'd be too scary. We went late Nov/early Dec and both times the lines weren't too bad. Anything that was really long we got a Fass Pass for.....

We used the stroller when he was tired and i took a small backpack filled with small toys, stickers, etc to use if we had to wait in line and he got bored (also came in handy during dinner time....). We also took a midday break from the parks for a nap - that definitely helped to avoid late day meltdowns....

 

[bartleby1]

3 years old is really a very magical age for disney! There will be PLENTY that she can do (anything without a height restriction). And, when your older one is on a ride that she can't go on, you can always find something nearby to do with her instead of just 'waiting'. You will have a super time with her!

 

[disney[xo]sweetie]

3 is the BEST AGE! they can do TONS in MK. everything that would interest them they can ride. and the only things they cant ride, would probably scare the daylights out of them, so it all works out for the best!
And dont think of disney as just rides.
they can see characters, eat ice cream, play games before the parades and have a magical moment! and swimming too!
but remember, if she is "done" and is crying, that means that the heat and crowds is getting to her, she needs a nap and a movie in the room. dont be afraid to have a little quiet time. it will make everybody happier in the longrun, so dont think like your missing out on the fun.

 

[HelenePA]

here this will give you the easy answer

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/height.htm

 

[Grand Canyon]

We used the stroller when he was tired and i took a small backpack filled with small toys, stickers, etc to use if we had to wait in line and he got bored (also came in handy during dinner time....). We also took a midday break from the parks for a nap - that definitely helped to avoid late day meltdowns....

Exactly. The most important part to enjoying the park with a toddler is being prepared. Bubbles and chalk are great, too. Instead of rushing everywhere let the 3 yo set the pace sometimes. My DH says what the kids do is make you see the park as a child. For the kids it's all real. Play in the puddles and fountains. Don't stress the mess. Take time for that nap (and a swim in the pool) at lunch (it also holds the cost of eating in the park down). Then the evening will be more fun for everyone.
DH also says you can't do it all in a week - you have a liftetime to do all of WDW.
And I say - I don't like the scary rides either, so it's a good excuse for me to not ride them.

 

[TaraZ]

We will be taking my DD to WDW next January-- she will have just turned 3. We are DEFINITELY planning on nap breaks!