What to do 1st thing at MK w/4-yr old?

[Mommyofaprincess]

Haven't been to WDW since '98 and this is the first time as a parent! There are new rides at MK since I was last there, and I wondered which typically have the longest lines (think Fantasyland-type, not Space Mountain for our 4-year old DD). What should we head for first? Which should we try to get FP for? There are no EMH-AM while we are there, but we will have a PM EMH at MK, but I'm more concerned about working out the details for when the park opens.


Leaving in 8 days. Cannot sleep!!!!!

 

[bjscheel]

I think a lot of people say head for Fantasyland and get on Dumbo first because the lines get so long. Plus it's at the back of the park, you will avoid the people who dawdle at the front.

We leave in 3 days! Our first trip- maybe an expert will come along. I printed out the free sample touring plan on touringplans dot com for girls age 4-8. You might check that out. We have breakfast with Cinderella an hour after park opening so we are heading for Fantasyland first in order to be near the back castle entrance.

 

[JESW]

The first thing we like to do is ride the train. It would be a big treat for your DD to see the park before she went on any of the rides. My kids are 6 & 10 and still love the train first thing.

Jill

 

[Miller1412]

We went straight to Fantasyland with our 4 year old. My DH hopped on Dumbo with the kids while I ran to get a FP for Peter Pan's flight (very slow loading and long lines later in the day). We knocked out the majority of attractions in Fantasyland in the first hour we were there. But...if you think your 4 year old will want to do Aladdin's carpets as well...you might want to do that early too. There's no FP for that and it is basically the same ride as Dumbo...same slow loading too.


Good luck! You'll have a great time!

 

[paigevz]

Dumbo, then Pooh, then Pan..............in quick succession, you can get all done within 30 minutes..........then grab your fastpasses for Buzz Lightyear................visit other Fantasyland or Toontown while waiting for Buzz. This is what we did before our son started riding the mountains and it worked like a charm!

 

[DisneyPhD]

We are another head right to FL and get in line for Dumbo (always 1st ride) then we will do Pooh or peter pan (or get fast pass for them) I think we might do small world pretty early too since DD is dying to go on it again and it might have bigger crowds then normal (normally it is a walk on).

We are going in 6 days with a 4 year old too, so maybe we will see you around!

One thing I am detrimined to do this trip is Tom Saywer Island. We always plan to when it gets busy, but always head back to the resort instead. This year we will! I think it would be great with a 4 year old.

Start slow, don't do anything that might be scary at 1st ( like HM) and work your way up just in case. My friend did that as like the 4th ride and her son wouldn't go on anything else the rest of the trip.

Toon Town is good to hit when it opens (lots of charaters and a playground, also goofy rollar coaster.) We like to see Areil early before the line gets long too. It is fun to play over there, even if your son isn't a big merrmaid fan.

Have a great trip. I just got a lime green mickey tag from Home Depot to put ont he stroller to identify me!

Can't wait!

 

[jl3614]

We have found the longest lines in Fantasyland are for Dumbo, Peter Pan, and meeting Ariel. My 4 yr old DD likes all those, along with the Pooh ride.

 

[disneyfreakjackie]

You MUST walk your little princess down Main Street to see the beautiful castle!!! Then straight through the castle to Fantasyland than right on to Toontown!!!

 

[jckdisneybound]

My DD loves, Dumbo, Pooh, Teacups, Mickey's Philharmagic, then off to Toon Town for Goofy's Barnstormer and if the lines are too long some Character Meet & Greets.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Yep... first thing to do is walk right down the middle of Main Street and thru the castle to Fantasyland. I would recommend Dumbo first, then Pooh, Pan, and IASW. Follow that up with Philharmagic and you have got yourself one magical first 60-90 minutes in MK. One thing I would recommend is to take your time going down Main Street. Especially on the first morning, it really must be savored. Dumbo may be too crowded by then, but you'll be fine for everything else.

 

[partyofive]

I think a lot of people say head for Fantasyland and get on Dumbo first because the lines get so long. Plus it's at the back of the park, you will avoid the people who dawdle at the front.

I have heard this too! Head for the back of the park! It will be our 1st trip too...we will probably be some of the dawdlers!

 

[julia & nicks mom]

Straight to Dumbo

I alsways wondered why people waited in that line until I went with a 3 yo - if we go there first - it saves us 30-40 minutes later in the day - of course we usually ride it several times as the day progresses so at least once I don't have to wait in line

actually - before you go to Dumbo - stop in Tinkerbell's treasures and see if you can wake her up - the Dumbo line would not get that bad that quick!!

 

[luv2nascar]

our princesses first trip at 5 1/2 we got checked in late & grabbed a bite at food court. Got to MK in time to see afternoon parade and headed right up Main Street to see the castle. It feels like your in disney once you see the castle. I was 32 years old and got tears in my eyes first time I saw the castle. Planning on crying again in June .

 

[southjerseymom]

What I learned from my last Disney Trip in November is - take your cue from your kids. Disney excels at scaring the bees wax out of kids. Good vs Evil etc. If you don't ease them into the whole deal they can get upset enough to be afraid the whole trip. Dumbo is good to start. The Carousel. I like the Tea Cups - then move up to Pooh, Peter Pan etc. Snow White is definately too intense. Mickey's PhilarMagic scared my DS4 because of all the sensory effects. He hated the smells and sprays. My DD 2 loved it. Going back May 20th to the BC for the 1st time. Hope to enjoy SAB, relax, and let the kids lead the way. PS Whatever you do do not stay in Fantasyland during Wishes. We go trapped there last time and it was like being in a war zone. My kids were terrified. Took them three days to watch Wishes from the beach at the Poly. Live and Learn. Have a great time!

 

[Aidensmom]

We head to the left and go to Adventureland first, because most people tend to go the other way. We get on Aladdin's Magic Carpet Ride (DS3 actually likes this better than Dumbo - to him its neater to be on a magic carpet than an elephant) and then go to the Treehouse and the Tiki Birds. From there we head to Country Bear Jamboree. We can get all this done within the first hour, or maybe a few minutes more, because we are basically the only people on that side of the park. It is a bit crowded when we make it around to Fantasyland in the afternoon, but we get a fastpass to Pooh, DS doesn't mind skipping Dumbo if he rode the Magic Carpets, and the teacups line, even when really long, actually usually moves pretty fast (never have waited more than 25-30 minutes). Also, that puts us near Toon Town at the time of the day when he is really ready to get out of his stroller and run around, so we spend 30 minutes or so on the playground there.

 

[dismom9761]

Don't forget to take him to Buzz Li ghtyear ride. My friend"s DS3 and my DD6(atimid 6 year old)rode this ride 4 times in a row w/o a wait early in the morning.Thet still talk about it.