What did your 3-6 year olds enjoy the most?

[MLIndy99]

What parts of Disney World's Parks did your 3-6 year olds enjoy the most?

What should we stay away from?

 

[lizally]

We just got back yesterday with our 3 1/2 yr. old twin girls. The enjoyed meeting the characters (Mickey & Friends and the Little Einsteins) the most. They also enjoyed the Donald Duck ride in Mexico and the Nemo ride at Epcot, and in the Magic Kingdom they liked best the carousel, the teacups, and Goofy's Barnstormer.

As for what to stay away from, our girls were terrified by the Maelstrom in Norway! They said they did not want to go back on that "icky, scary ride."

 

[mickeylove2]

My 4 & 6 year old girls loved meeting the characters, they both loved riding Tower of Terror, my 6 yo liked Space Mountain, the both like Soarin', basically most of the rides were a hit. They both really enjoyed pin trading, although it took a few days for my 6 yo to really get into like her sis. They liked stopping at the kid cot stations at Epcot doing the masks and passport books, my 6 yo liked stopping and getting her pic taken by just about every statue or other neat looking object through the world. And they love, love, loved the Princess tea party we went to!

 

[TMB1203]

My 4 yo always loves the character meet and greet.
He doesn't like "scary" rides (any of the mountains), HM, TT,
He loved the Monsters Inc. Laugh Factory, Buzz Lightyear, Carousel, really almost everything in Tomorrowland and Fantasy Land.
He didn't really like much at MGM.
Loved Crush at Epcot.

 

[DizzyErin]

All of Fantasyland for sure!! Meet and Greets ... My DD when she was 5 absolutely loved looking for all the Hidden Mickey's aswell

 

[MNdisneymom]

I'm divorced, so my DS has been with me (at 3.5) and with my ex (at 4.5). On the trip with me, he couldn't be bothered with the characters...not scared, he was just too busy to be bothered. (Although I am such a mean mom, I made him pose for one picture with Mickey ) He was also only 38.5 inches, so no big rides for him. He loved everything else though--from the Barnstormer, to POTC, to the HM...and his big favorite, Illuminations. (The kid is still obsessed--we watch it on YouTube and listen to the CD quite frequently.)

This last trip, I wasn't with him, so some of the info is sketchy...but he was really excited to be able to do the big rides...then chickened out on TOT!! (He now claims that he is waiting to go back and ride it with me, ahem...) He loved BTM, and was crushed that Splash wasn't open. He liked TT at Epcot, and was bummed that he was still too short for MS. He also never got to go on Soarin' (his name is Soren, so he really wanted to go on "the ride that sounds like my name") but never made it there because the lines were too long (and my ex doesn't understand the concept of Fast Passes, snort!). He also decided that the characters are pretty cool--they ate at the Garden Grill at Epcot, and he liked that. (Maybe because he was sitting still to eat anyway...)

All in all, it was interesting to see how he had changed in his interests in just over a year between trips. That speaks to the importance of early (and often!!) trips to the World while the kiddos are young !

 

[McKelly]

Fantasyland, the resort pool and Flights of Wonder(?) at AK. They also enjoyed the KidCot stops at Epcot. They didn't love the characters, they are more on the shy side. They wanted to see them, but did not want to be approached.

 

[mickey2minnie1]

My 5 year old daughter loved Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, It's a Small World, and Philarmagic. She also liked Soarin'.

She did not want to go near Snow White Scary Adventure or any bigger attractions.

She loved it and had a wonderful time. She really loved the Spectromagic Parade at night with all of the lights.

 

[mikamah]

My 4 yo turned 5 while there absolutely loved meeting characters and getting their autographs the best. Didn't matter how long the line was, he patiently waited. Second favorite thing was the Dumbo ride, Alladin's carpets, and the triceratops spin at AK. He did not like anything remotely dark and loud. Wouldn't go on Buzz, and got a little frightened on pooh. He's toughened up a bit, and has big plans for this april trip.

 

[SmallWorld71]

DD4's favorite things from our last trip (according to her)

At MK- Slash Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Peter Pan, Pooh Bear ride, Small World, Dumbo
(avoid Snow White)

At AK- The safari, Kali, Maharajah Jungle Trek
(avoid ITTBAB)

At Epcot- Test Track, Soarin, Nemo ride, masks at Kidcot stops in WS, ride in Mexico

Studios- Playhouse Disney characters, HSM Pep Rally
She loved meeting the characters at all the parks.

Favorite meals- Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey's, Cinderalla's Gala Feast

Of course, all kids are different. My daughter loves the milder thrill rides.

My advice: start slow and see how they react to the milder rides before moving on up to the bigger rides. Same is true of the characters, if they are shy, stick to ones they know before approaching any unusual characters.

 

[Bork]

DS 3.5 loved meeting the characters. He was a little tentative at first, but after a few he just loved them. But he was scared of Monter's Inc because they were so big.

He also loved getting "smushed pennies". He loved getting pennies from each country in Epcot.

MK - Small World, Pooh, Peter Pan, Buzz, Pirates, Big Thunder Mountain, Peoplemover, Carousel of Progress, Magic Carpets (but didn't want to do Dumbo), Country Bears, Tom Sawyer Island, Swiss Family Treehouse

Epcot - Test Track, Soarin', Mexico boat, Turtle Talk, Maelstrom, Spaceship Earth, Biergarten

DHS - Playhouse Disney, Beauty and the Beast Show, Catastrophe Canyon, HISTK playground (Totally freaked out on Tower of Terror, he was so excited to go on it, too!)

AK - Safari, Triceratops Spin, Nemo Musical, Rafiki Planet Watch

 

[chip007]

We just got back from a week with DD4. She says her favorite thing was meeting the princesses, but I think it was all the attention she received from wearing her Cinderella dress that Grandma had made for her. (she wore it 4 of the days we were there)

She loved getting the characters' autographs this year, especally Peter Pan and Captain Hook. But did not like any of the rides "in the dark" like POTC.

 

[LaraK]

My kids also loved the character meets (we did as many character meals as possible to avoid lines) They got into the autograph books last time.

In terms of rides, I'd say that my DD's favorate is Tower of Terror. My son's is Buzz Lightyear.

 

[LuvOrlando]

-

 

[katiesmom2]

Our kids are 3 (boy) and 5 (girl). We just got back and they loved:

Character meals - we went to Chef Mickey's breakfast, Norway princess breakfast and Crystal Palace dinner

Rides - Buzz Lightyear, Dumbo, Alladdin Magic Carpets, Small World, Carousel,
Peter Pan, Indy Speedway and Mickey's Philharmagic, Pooh
They LOVED the Norway ride - I think it was the two fun drops that
they called "slides"

They really enjoyed Teppan Edo (Japan at EPCOT). They had fun watching the cook make our meal and they learned how to use chopsticks

Our whole family really enjoyed the Pirate and Princess Party. We walked on every ride - no waits! The kids enjoyed dressing up too.

The parades and fireworks are always "must do" for us too.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Manda]

I'm pretty sure this varies wildly based on child... my son loves fast rides, but hates anything loud or startling. He thinks he likes characters, but he's scared of everybody except Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto. He doesn't like Soarin' because of the scene where the jets come in - too loud and startles him. He refuses to ever ride Haunted Mansion (ghosts scream at him) or Splash Mountain (doesn't like to be splashed) or Peter Pan (no clue why) or Maelstrom (scary troll) or Bug's Life (big Spider) or Voyage of the Little Mermaid (Ursula's too big and loud) again.

Other than that, he'll do most anything else. His favorites are Small World, Pirates, Goofy's Barnstormer, BTMRR, Buzz, Nemo (but I have to warn him that the scary party is coming so he can close his eyes), Test Track, Mexico ride, and the Beauty and Beast show. We ride Goofy's and BTMRR a million times, I think. LOL. Additionally, any of the Dumbo-esque rides - Dumbo, Aladdin, Astro Orbiter, Triceratops Spin.

Okay... an awwwwwww moment... I just asked DS (4) which rides/shows he liked best on our last trip and he said, "Anything I ride with my Mommy." Awwwwwww...

 

[brandylouwho]

My 3 (almost 4) year old daughter loved:
At MK:Fantasyland (but not Snow White) , Mickey & Minnie's House, Jungle Cruise, all the Parades, Barnstormer at Goofys
At AK: the Safari, Nemo Musical, Parade, Boneyard, walking around looking at the animals
at Epcot: Nemo ride, turtle talk, living w the land, playing in the fountain area near the entrance to test track
at the Studios: the Parade, meeting Lightining McQueen & Mater, posing for pics on the speeder by Star Tours (she was too little to ride the ride), posing in the car by the Sci Fi Restaurant

She almost went on in the Haunted Mansion, but freaked out as soon as the line got inside (grandma had to take her out the escape door), after that she was very hesitant to enter dark areas (and there are many lines that you end up waiting in dark-ish areas).


She likes to talk about Goffy's Barnstormer (it was her favorite even though she was a bit scared) and she asks a lot of questions about Haunted Mansion, I think she really wants to work up the courage to try it next time (she'll be 5).
She was not too keen on the 3D movies either, although Philharmagic went fine.

This kid is usually a little shy and them warms up fine, so she is not totally extroverted, nor totally afraid of everything either.

 

[PrincessKell]

Well, we haven't been to WDW, but at DL My dd loved TT, Fantasy land, all the princesses. Minnie mouse ( but that took some time) Its a small world and pirates.

She didn't want anything to do with Goofy, Pluto, Donald...etc. She just is not ready for them. However, she says when we go next time (she doesn't know we are going in May yet. hehehe) she wants to Meet Goofy, Pluto and Stitch. She didnt want Stitch last time even thought we went to breakfast just for HIM!

She just turned 6 thursday. she was 5 last time we went. and 3.5 the first time she went. She didn't want anything to do with any characters except the Princesses.