What did your 2 1/2 year old love?

[MistyD]

We are taking our DD in December and she'll be 2 1/2. I know she will love it! What did your little one love?

 

[02AggieGirl]

My daughter loved pretty much everything in Fanstasyland. Not Snow White obviously. Magic Carpets. Nemo (the first time did scare her a little though.)
Playhouse Disney and the Beauty and the Beast play. I'm sure there was more but that's all I can think of now.

She didn't like the characters or fireworks though.

 

[Camno's Mama]

Everything!!!

He especially loved the parades, meeting certain characters (Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Buzz...some of the others were scarier to him), breakfast at Chef Mickey's, the Dumbo ride, the Winnie the Pooh ride, Peter Pan's Flight, the train, the monorail, Mickey's Philharmagic.

He liked the Safari at AK, but was a little scared of it. He also was unsure of Pirates, but ended up falling asleep on it, so it was helpful that way! He also went on Goofy's Barnstormer, but was very happy to be off! It was a little much for him.

He has an older brother and is a less cautious kid than his older brother, so we've noticed a real difference between the two. He wanted to ride the rollercoasters and everything...not sure what he would have thought once he got on though!!!

It's a fun age to take them...their reactions are priceless.

 

[TarzansKat]

When my DS was 2.5, which was our last trip, he was a bit shy around face characters. Meeting Aladdin was an experience, but it turned out great and ended up being one of our most memorable trip moments. Just something I thought I'd share so you're not surprised if your little one clams up.

Also, in addition to what's been said, my DS loved the Playhouse Disney show at DHS, any character dining experience was great for him, and sometimes, if you have the stamina he just enjoyed being able to walk around with us out of his stroller, stopping and noticing different things along the way. This was especially fun in the World Showcase, where there's all sorts of neat things to look at, and at the Animal Kingdom on the trails there, he LOVED seeing all the animals.

 

[lady_hlh]

My DD was almost 3 on our first trip, she loved all the rides and the character meals but she also loved the play areas like Donalds Boat, Poohs Playful Spot, the Boneyard in AK. I think the Pooh ride and Poohs Playful Spot were her absolute favorites on that 1st trip. It drove my DH insane that our DD wanted to spend an hour in the Pooh playground but I think that little kids need to have that kind of time for free play.

 

[Neesy228]

she also loved the play areas like Donalds Boat, Poohs Playful Spot, the Boneyard in AK. I think the Pooh ride and Poohs Playful Spot were her absolute favorites on that 1st trip.

My kiddos also loved Pooh! By far a favorite. Since I have boys, Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin was a big hit, but since you have a DD, I don't know if that applies. They loved TTA, I think it was a good "time out" type of ride for them both. Small World, Peter Pan, Jungle Cruise, Dumbo....

They liked the fireworks as long as we weren't too close to the noise. Loved Spectromagic.

Epcot: the Living Seas was a big hit, as was Turtle Talk with Crush. They both enjoyed playing with all the musical stuff in Journey into the Imagination...

AK: The Boneyard (like PP mentioned) and the safari.

HS: The both loved the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids play area (loved)...

At that age, the wonder of it all is great, so we took them on the traditional rides, stayed away from most characters (just didn't want a freak out) and let them nap/drink to their hearts content. As a mom, my favorite reaction is when we put them on It's a Small World for the first time! They don't know where to look first, but their eyes are huge! Have a great trip!!

 

[MinnieForMe]

The automatic flush toilets! I'm not kidding! I think she used every bathroom in the parks!

The Princesses! She hugged everyone she met but especially Snow White.

The Beauty and The Beast Show at DS.

Captain Jack! OMG! She loved him! Her exact words "I love that silly pirate".

The parades!

The Cinderella Gala at the GF.

The splash area at Downtown Disney.

The Butterfly Garden at Epcot.

The Monorail.

The Indiana Jones Show (front row) at DS.

 

[soccerchick]

My daughter was shy around the characters - an autograph book helped "break the ice" when she met them.

She also did NOT like the dark, loud rides/shows. Ariel's show at DS esp. We had to get up and leave.

 

[brandylouwho]

Hmmm

my almost 3 year old loved:
*Small World, Dumbo & Fantasyland in general (although we did not try Snow White)
*Mickeys & Minnie's Houses (something the rest of us can't stand)
*the parade at MGM (I would guess the new parade at HS will still be a hit--lots of different characters)
* Kiliminjaro Safari
* Playhouse Disney
* any & all playgrounds we encountered
* breakfast at Crystal Palace, the pics with Pooh & friends are my favorite from the entire trip

She did not like:
* 3D movies: Philharmagic was OK, the rest she hated, she was especially scared by Honey I Shrunk the Audience
*Haunted Mansion (didn't make it on the ride-the queue scared her & still does at almost 5 years old)
* after HM all dark lines were a struggle to get her to try.

It took her a bit of time to warm up to the characters, but we didn't push her and soon enough she came around.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

DD2 loved meeting the characters the most.
She also loved
Dumbo
all of the play areas
small world
playhouse disney
the parades
mickey and minnies house
treceratop spin
she also liked chasing all of the birds that she saw.

 

[Jack&Ryan'smom]

My DS LOVED, LOVED, LOVED all the characters! He would just hug them all!! He called our hotel room "Disney Home"...too cute! He loved all the character meals...Crystal Palace (he loved marching in the parade), Play & Dine ( He loved dancing with JO JO), and his most favorite was Chef Mickey!!!
He also just loved the HoopDee Doo which I was surprised he liked so much.
What he didn't like...fireworks, being too short for Soarin', the Haunted Mansion(had to leave the ride),and being in a stroller!

Take tons of pictures! The memories are priceless! It was a great age to take him!

 

[ppan77]

My DS loved the character meet n greet in Toontown and the train .
Also loved Indy Speedway, Tea Cups, POTC, Tomorrowland Transit, anything in Fantasyland

He was scared on Buzz and meeting Buzz eventhough he loves Toy Story...I think it was a little early on the trip and dark but by the end of the week he was on Haunted Mansion no problem..we called everything a choo choo ride and he wouldnt hesitate bc he loves trains!

 

[bzzymom]

DD was 2.5 on our last trip. She loved it all. She keeps taling about going to disneyworld, however, i recieved a back injury on the job 13 months ago, and I am still off of work, but I should be going back in the next month or two, I hope. She keeps saying, "When mommy's back is better, we are going to disneyworld!"

She wasn't afraid of the characters, however, she wouldn't go up to beast, he was with belle at the time, so Belle stepped forward and she went right to her.

We did the playhouse disney character breakfast at DHS. It isn't the most fantastic breakfast buffet we have been to at WDW, however, she loved dancing around with the characters. When DS was 2.5 we went to the crystal palace. He really liked that too. The buffet there is a lot better than hollywood and vine in my opinion.

The parades, she loved all of them. She would bounce to the music and wave at the performers.

As far as the shows go, she was fascinated by the tiki birds, voyage of the little mermaid, and playhouse disney. She didn't really understand the turtle talk with crush.

As for the rides, she liked everything she was able to ride. She especially loved the goofy rollercoaster. She was just tall enough to ride it, and we went in the evening about 45 min until the fireworks and it was deserted over there. We got to stay on and ride again several times, and then when more people came to get on, we got off, and got in line and got right back on. She is so funny about riding in the car, when we go up or down a hill she talks about it being like Goofy's rollercoaster.

I can't wait to take her back!