What did your 3 year old love at wdw?

[Jennygt]

We took ds when he turned one and we are plannign to go back this year as he turns 3. I was wondering what things 3 year olds really loved. Last trip he just went where we did for the most part, but now he has his own agenda lol! Just wanted some insight from others who have been with this age group. Thanks!

 

[SCHBR'smom]

My DD#2 was three when we went last June. She loved the Buzz Lightyear ride and Goofy's Barnstormer. She also really enjoyed seeing the characters. At AK, she really enjoyed Kilamanjaro Safari's. She just told me that she liked going to the hotel, too. She also mentioned Goofy, again. That one made quite an impression. It was her first roller coaster.

Have a great trip.

 

[stacy6552]

Its a Small World was a biggie. BUzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin was good too.

That was the age that our son opened up to the charactures mid-trip. He'd been really looking forward to dinner with Cinderella but freaked out the whole time. We have an older child so we couldnt skip the charactures the whole trip, but at the LTT one night the switch flipped and he opened right up to them.

 

[~Kristina~]

At 3 Buzz was a huge hit with our ds. Actually, at that age, everything is a big hit. We let our kids tell us where and what we're doing once we get down there. They love it!

 

[mom_to_2]

My son was 1 month shy of 3 when he went for the first time. He had an amazing time!!! His favorites included -

the characters!,

at MK: Goofy' Barnstormer, Dumbo, Buzz Lightyear ride, Peter Pan ride, Poohs honey pot ride, Its a small world, Philharmagic

at EP: the live music, kidcot stations, turtle talk with Crush

at AK: the triceratops ride (that is just like dumbo),

at DHS: Muppets 3D show @ DHS, seeing the cars characters!, PLAYHOUSE DISNEY LIVE (a MUST see for that age!!)

swimming!!!

I know there was a lot more- and we didnt by any means do everything- but this is what stands out to me as the things he thoroughly enjoyed.

 

[J3nn78]

His favorites were (I just asked)
Big Thunder Mtn
Splash Mtn
Dumbo
Toy Story Mania
Test Track
Tower of Terror
Soarin


Yes, I have a daring 3 year old.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

Definitely Goofy's Barnstormer coaster... and Playhouse Disney!!
Those are the 2 musts.

 

[Jennygt]

His favorites were (I just asked)
Big Thunder Mtn
Splash Mtn
Dumbo
Toy Story Mania
Test Track
Tower of Terror
Soarin


Yes, I have a daring 3 year old.

WOW I won't even go on TOT! Was he 3 almost 4 or closer to 3?

 

[raysnkaysmom]

WOW I won't even go on TOT! Was he 3 almost 4 or closer to 3?

LOL.. The first year my daughter was almost 3 and too short for TOT, but loved Barnstormer. The next year, at almost 4, she was tall enough for TOT and we rode it 5x!! She loved it!!! Now, at age 8, she's my little daredevil and trying to talk my BF into riding it and he's terrified... lol

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

We just got back. My 3-yr-old loved Small World, Peter Pan, Snow White (he went on that over and over), Buzz, Toy Story Mania, Buzz, the safari, Nemo and the boat ride in Mexico.

 

[LadyShea]

We just took DS for his 3rd birthday. There are probably differences between just turned 3 and almost 4.

I think his favorite thing was Playhouse Disney at DHS. He was singing and dancing with familiar characters and just had a wonderful time.

Close second was Wishes.

He also loved meeting Buzz and Woody.

Don't get me wrong, he liked it all and then some, but those were the things that put the wonder and adoration on his face most.

 

[ilandrazdsw]

Everything!!! Except Dinosaur.
We started her on the bigger rides, rather then Barnstorm like some suggest. She got off the rides saying things like, "yahoo," "that was awesome," and "can we ride again?"...Even ToT!
She LOVED Pooh, Snow White and Peter Pan. They (DS5 too) insisted on the Magic Carpets several times (shorter lines than Dumbo). POTC was another biggie and they would start singing the song when we entered the line and wouldn't stop until we got to the gift shop...Sorry everyone! HM was more funny than scary. They also liked riding the train around the park. Test track and Soarin were both YaHoo rides.
She ADORED the characters. We did mostly Character meals on the D-DDP thinking they would get their fill there...NOPE, she wanted to love each and every one (we didn't wait in the lines for those we saw at meals though unless they were very short). DS was over the characters/pictures by day 4 of 9.
She enjoyed the parades and the show infront of the castle (that we saw waiting for the parade).
We saw Loin King twice (and she was chosen to participate in the little parade), Nemo, Little Mermaid, Beauty & the Beast, and the stunt show. Oh, and Country Bear Jamboree...she liked it, DS not at all!
If they were tall enough for the rides we would encourage them to try it at least once. The rides that some children find scary (knew thanks to the boards) we would prepare them for and point out the fun/funny aspects.

Have a TERRIFIC time!!!

 

[libinatorsmom]

Our DD was 4 when we went... She loved the characters!!! Loved the shows (Beauty and the Beast at DS was her fave).... Loved the entire atmosphere... and loved Slash Mtn... though her dad wasnt too sure... HA HA HA... she had a great time and we are planning a 2nd trip for 2010

 

[dismagiclover]

We've taken all of our kids when they were 3 or 4 and all of them loved the characters! We visited Mickey, Pluto, and Goofy in every park. Our last trip my 3 year old thought Pluto was his very best friend. He'd even reach for hugs during the parades! He also liked Dumbo, It's a Small World and the Safari quite a bit.

 

[WLfamily]

My daughter was 3 when we took her for the first time. She loved Winnie the Pooh, Playhouse Disney, Dumbo, Buzz Lightyear, ToonTown, and swimming at the resort. Other than that she was just happy to be there at all! The really great thing is that I watched her experience it all for the first time at 3. We went back when she was 7 and she didn't remember the first trip, I got to watch her experience it again for the first time! It was so magical to watch her expressions at both ages. This year she will be 10 when we go, can't wait to see how she reacts this time! Have a great trip!!

 

[mom2faith]

So some of this is repeats, but we just took DD4 (who was 3 at the time):

MK - Goofy's Barnstormer, Dumbo, Peter Pan's Flight, POTC, Splash Mountain (but only if I was on it too, did not like going alone with Daddy - I think she liked being wedged between us), BTMRR

AK - Kali River Rapids (we wore ponchos and she loved it), Kilimanjaro Safari,

DHS - Playhouse Disney, Muppets 3D, ToT (loved it!!), TSMM

Epcot - Finding Nemo, Soarin' (loved it),

Meals - CRT, O'hanas (she loved the hula dancing), 1900 Park Fare (her favorite), Chef Mickeys

Did not like:

MK - Railroad (she thought it was boring), IASW (fine by me),

AK - Dinosaur (too loud and scary)

DHS - nothing

Epcot - she just did not like it, thought it was boring

Meals - She was good at everything, she even liked the Food Court at the ASMo

Here is a link to my tips: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1953731

This should cover everything

Have fun!!!

 

[james'mommy]

When we took DS at age 3 he was really into Buzz Lightyear ride (still is). He really didn't like the characters. But he put up with them at Character meals.

 

[vs1023]

Hailey turned 3 in Sept.

MK:

Teacups - absolute fave
Dumbo
Aladdin carpets
Carousel
Astro Orbiter
Characters

AK:

Dinoland play area
Safari
Petting zoo
Lion King show

Epcot:

Spaceship earth
Nemo

Hollywood Studios:

Playhouse disney show

 

["Cinder" Ella's Mom]

Mickey's Philharmagic!!! Plus, my kids loved Chef Mickeys...really any character meals that allowed them to interact with characters.

 

[dolfinjuls]

My daughter was almost 3.5 when we took her. Her all time fav was probably the resort pools!

But at the parks I'd say:

MK: Carousel, Dumbo, Aladdin's Carpets, Barnstormer, It's a Small World, and Peter Pan
HS: Playhouse Disney show, TSM
Epcot: Soarin', Nemo, Turtle Talk w/ Crush and Figment
AK: Safari, Rafiki's Planet Watch, Lion King and Finding Nemo shows

She loved watching the parades and meeting the characters as well. She still tells me how she didn't like the fireworks!