What can 3 year olds do in Disney?

[weirdpaintballr]

Planning a trip for May of 2007--There will be 9 people over 14 years old, and Tyler, who will be just about 2 weeks shy of 3 years old. Any suggestions for what we should try to do?

 

[jwfla422]

In MK there's lots for a 3 yr old to do. Fantasyland has plenty of rides for the younger toddler crowd, there's the new Pooh play area as well as Toontown. Character meet & greets are also fun. My dd didn't like rides then so she was more into the shows/movies at MGM, AK & EPCOT.

MGM-there's the Playhouse Disney show which he should love. He may also like the Muppetvision 3D. My dd loved it at 3 and freaked out at it when she was 4, go figure!! We haven't gone back to it since, but she's very strange that way. He can watch the Stunt Show and the Indiana Jones show.

EPCOT-Innoventions, The Land, The Living Seas (my dd loved this), we spent hrs. looking at the fish, sharks, etc in the large aquariums, the Flower & Garden show has a butterfly tent which is neat and a play area for toddlers (this is in May). Some of the countries have movies, Mexico has a ride similar to Small World.

AK-Dinosaur playground area, the Triceps ride similar to Dumbo, Rafiki's Planet watch, any show in Camp Minnie-Mickey (Lion King Show, Pocahantas & Friends), meet & greets.

Many of these above mentioned attractions and shows and even rides can pretty much be enjoyed by any age. Well, I know the teenage crowd can get a little picky about things --just don't overdue or you will have a grumpy child -make sure he has a comfy stroller so he can catch some afternoon zzzzz's!

 

[OurMsBrooks]

Stop at lots of playgrounds and play areas. There is the new Winnie the Pooh play area in Fantasyland, and a play area that little kids LOVE in Toontown. At Epcot kids love the fountain play areas. The grown-up members of the group can go get a coffee, shop, or ride a thrill ride while somebody plays with the little one.

I'm always surprised how easy it is for older people to get into the fun of Fantasyland. Many in your party will probably have as much fun riding the Peter Pan ride, the Carousel, and (God forbid!) Small World as the little kid will.

Don't miss the Playhouse Disney show at MGM.

Fun for all age groups: Mickey's Philharmagic at MK, Spaceship Earth at Epcot, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin at MK, and Kilimanjaro Safari at AK.

I also have to put in a plug for my all-time favorite ride: the Tomorrowland Transit Authority (formerly the People Mover). I don't know why, but I just love the thing.

 

[weirdpaintballr]

Yeah...The People Mover is awesome during the warmer months...I'm only 14, but Ilike it just as much as my parents!!

 

[HillPete]

My son was 3 weeks shy of his third b-day the last time we went. He loved everything we tried. He rode everything that didn't have a height requirement. He watched every 3D movie with awe, danced with every musical group we spotted, marveled at DeVine in AK and chatted with every animal we encountered (including squirrels, birds and one snake outside our hotel).

A better question is 'What CAN'T my 3 year old do?' The answer: not much. The whole place is designed for the young (and young at heart), so go with the expectation that your child can and will do more than you have the energy for! Have a great trip!

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

My DD was only 3.5 and she went on Test Track, Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Haunted Mansion.

My friends grandson who was just 3 went on all of the above and dinosaur!

If your 3 yo is adventurious you can try anything.

My dd is now 5.5 and we just got back and she went on SM, EE, ToT, RnR, Soarin. She loved it all.

 

[trulygoofy]

The last time we went to Disney, one of my sons just turned 3. He had a great time. He loved meeting Buzz Lightyear and riding the Buzz Lightyear ride. He also liked the Peter Pan ride, It's A Small World, and any fountain. He did not enjoy Honey I Shrunk the Audience, It's Tough to be a Bug, or anything that was dark for very long. I would recommend taking a small flashlight just in case. The only characters he really liked were Buzz Lightyear and Dale. He was afraid of Chip. Some how he always knew the difference!

 

[cwnhokie]

My guys are not very adventurous but there was plenty for them to do. My DS5 liked the shows the most. And DS3 liked everything. We really liked the Discovery club stops in AK and the Kidcots in Epcot. If you want to do anything else at AK do the boneyard last. We got stuck there for quite a while last year when my guys were 2.5 and 4. It's a good break though. Also, definately plan a character meal. We've started a tradition of going to Chef Mickeys on the first night. The kids get to see the characters the first night and you don't have to wait in line. My guys seem to find the characters less threatening at the meals than in the parks. The bigger kids will probably enjoy it as well.

I agree with the previous poster, it's easier to ask what a 3 year old can't do at disney. And the best news is, your little one will be free at the parks and eat free at the buffets, including character meals.

 

[weirdpaintballr]

Well, I don't know what he will want to do, but he willl love to eat! I don't know if he will be tall enough for the rides, since he will not quite be 3....he's a fairly big boy, but he's starting to get taller....

 

[fitzperry]

If your 3 yo is adventurious you can try anything.

Adventurous and tall! My 6yo is barely tall enough for Big Thunder and Splash Mountains, and won't be tall enough for Space Mountain and RnR for at least a couple of years. My youngest was a couple months shy of her third b-day on our last trip, and she wasn't even tall enough for Goofy's Barnstormer. She did, however, enjoy all the Fantasyland rides, Haunted Mansion, POTC, etc. She also loved, loved, loved Mickey's Philharmagic.

 

[Twinprincesses]

I took my daughters when they were 2. We went on nearly every ride at MK except for the ones with height restrictions. The only one they did not like was the haunted mansion.

Epcot was surprisingly fun for them cause they did all the kid activities in the countires.

They loved MGM and we did the Great Movie Ride, Playhouse Disney, Muppet 3d & several others.

Animal Kingdom was a hit cause they loved the dino dig.


Lots for the preschoolers to do

 

[weirdpaintballr]

Thanks for all your help!! Also, does anyone have suggestions about the parades and fireworks?

 

[clonetothebone]

Thanks for all your help!! Also, does anyone have suggestions about the parades and fireworks?

See them all. They are the best!

 

[weirdpaintballr]

THanks for all your help. Do yall think he will br to you to do the autograph books?

 

[ReneeA]

My (then) 3 year old did everything, but he's super tall...he was 44" when we were there and did everything that he was tall enough to go on.

He still talks about Tower of Terror. He liked it, but it scared him and he told me that once was enough. Everything else he wanted to ride 3 or 4 times. Luckily, we went during a slow time and didn't have to wait in line much.

There is a spot here that you can plug in his height in inches and it will tell you what he can't ride. If he's tall enough for the "thrill" rides, start him out slow with everything else and give him the choice whether he wants to try them out or not.

 

[weirdpaintballr]

I'm not related to him at all....We all are friends and we are going on a trip together, but I have no idea how tall he currently is. He won't quite be 3 years old when we go, but as of right now he is a fairly big boy

 

[DisneyDadFaNaTic]

My DS was 3 when we brought him on his first trip to Disney World. The boneyard in Animal Kingdom was a HUGE hit for him. We still have a picture that was taken by a CM/Photographer of him in the Boneyard that is hanging on the wall in our living room.

As far as Parades go, they will love them, but bring a stroller. Two reasons, most people will let you to the front so your child can see the parade, and two it keeps them immobile during the parade. My DS would have been IN the parade if we hadn't had a stroller.

Good Luck! It is the perfect age for them to go!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I have two boys, ages 4 and 6, here is a list of everything they loved to do at WDW when they were 3:

Magic Kingdom:

Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin
Tomorrowland Transit Authority
Carousel of Progress
Indy Speedway
Toon Town (lots of stuff there)
Tea cups
Pooh ride
Carousel
Dumbo
Peter Pan ride
Small World
Mickey's Philharmagic
Country Bear Jamboree
Pirates of the Carribean
Train ride around the park
Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Jungle Cruise
Tiki Room

What I would probably avoid unless he's pretty brave:

Stitch show
Timekeeper
Snow White
Haunted Mansion

What he probably won't be tall enough for:

Space Moutain
Splash Mountain
Thunder Moutain

(this is off the top of my head so I might be missing something)

Epcot:

Spaceship Earth (sort of dark, but my boys liked it)
Living Seas
Crush show (inside Living Seas)
The Land
Journey into Imagination
Ride inside Mexico

What he's probably not tall enough for:

Test Track (I think this is 40 inches)
Mission Space (he'll be too short for this one)
Soarin' (check height requirement on this one, if he's tall enough then I think he'd really like it)

What to avoid:

Universe of Energy (scary dinosaurs and loud sounds)
Maelstrom (dark, scary troll people)
Honey I Shrunk the Audience (big lion, snake, scary stuff)


MGM Studios:

Beauty and the Beast live on stage
Great movie ride
Playhouse disney live on stage
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Who wants to be a millionaire
Light motors action stunt show
Backlot tour (but sort of boring for a kid that age)
Indiana jones stunt show
Toy Story meet and greet
Monsters Inc meet and greet
The Incredibles meet and greet
Stars in Motorcars Parade

What he's not tall enough for:

Tower of Terror (i think it's 40 inches, too scary for his age anyway)
Rockin' Roller Coaster
Star Tours

Animal Kingdom:

Dinoland - lots of games for kids
Triceratops Spin
Dig site
Safari
Rainforest Trail (sort of boring for a kid that age)
Festival of the Lion King
Pocahontas and friends

Things to avoid:

Kahli River Rapids (he might not be tall enough for this)
Dinosaur (scary and dark)
Primeavel Whirl (he's too short for this one)
It's Tough to Be a Bug (sort of scary, only take him if he can handle darkness and 3D effects)
Expedition Everest (he's too short)

I hope this helped. Sorry if I forgot any rides.

 

[weirdpaintballr]

Thanks! Yall have been so much help....I really hope Tyler is potty trained and out of the 'mine' stage by the time we go to Disney

 

[weirdpaintballr]

How should we make our 1hr 55min (ish) flight more enjoyable for the 3 year old?