What to do with 4 yo while DSis rides coasters?

[Maureenmouse]

My DDs are 4 and 6. The 6 YO is 44 inches so she can now ride all of the coasters in MK. My almost 4 yo is just 37 inches so she's unable to ride the coasters. We'll get a child swap at each ride so my DH and I can ride, but what can my 4YO DD do while bib sis and other parent ride? My 6 YO still loves all of the fantasy land rides, so I don't want her to miss them, but I need some ideas. I figure it will be at least and hour for BTMR and Splash Mtn.. Maybe that much for each. Also Space Mtn. Any ideas. We'll have our cell phones, so we can keep track of each other.
Thanks

 

[Perdygirl]

First of all, use fastpasses for the big rides and you will signifigantly reduce the time that lil' sis has to wait. Since she is younger, would it be a good time for a small snack and rest? Otherwise you could try to plan to hit the big rides during a parade that big sis is willing to miss, or you could try to find out what characters might be near by. Also, don't forget that most rides have a gift shop at the end. My kids always want to spend time looking at the toys and souvenirs in the gift shops.

Have a great trip!!

 

[janette]

Fastpass will drastically cut your wait times. The shops often have places to play. Space Mt used to have a ride vehicle in the shop, she can even get in.

There is a small playground between Splash & Big Thunder. A nice place for a little one to spend some time.

 

[Belle1962]

For Big Thunder railroad and Splash mtn--there is a little play area under the train tracks, near the bathrooms. She can play there.

Space Mtn area: ice cream break!!!!!! Or watch the people driving on the speedway and wave to them. Or ride the Tomorrowland Transit authority system and "look" for other parent and DSis in Space Mountain. Or do Buzz (using fastpass). If you time it right there might be a band playing nearby.

Test Track and Mission Space: Playground area in Mission Space

Rock n Roller Coaster and ToT (since Mom and dad can ride themselves): ice cream time and potty breaks. Too far to do Honey I shrunk the kids playground.

 

[disnut8]

Definitely do the FastPass option. You can get four FastPasses - even if your youngest can't ride, you can get an extra pass. We did this with our granddaughter. She wasn't riding much of anything that trip. So you'll have four FastPasses - your husband can ride with your oldest, then you can ride with her right after.

There are a lot of little things you can do with your youngest. When the others were on Space Mountain, I took the granddaughter over towards Cinderella's Castle and just walked around the Rose Garden and looked at the serpent topiary. We sat at the old Swan Boat area. Well, I sat - she ran around and worked off energy. At Twilight Zone, my husband sat with her. Literally. On the ground and they ended up talking to another little girl about all things Disney. From a five year old's perspective. My husband said it was the most interesting conversation he's ever heard in his life!

I guess the thing is - don't plan on anything. There's enough to see and do without a plan. FastPass will really cut down on the waiting times.

 

[merryweather30]

I can totally help with this one. We took our daughters last year. They were 4 and 6. When my DD6 was able to ride and DD4 was not tall enough my DH and myself took turns and took the DD4 on something else. For example Primevil (sp?) Whirl in Ak DD6 loved, we took DD4 on the Tricerotops ride that she really enjoyed.

Also, we skipped RnR, Mission Space, and Space Mtn. We were all able to ride ToT, Splash Mtn, Big Thunder.

My DD4 is quite short but made the height requirement for these rides. We
started off with Goofy's Barnstormer and when she loved it we moved on to Big Thunder. She is pretty adventurous I guess.

Have a great time! These are the perfect ages for an unforgettable trip!

 

[tjmw2727]

My dd's are two years apart as well so we were in this situation a few years ago. There is usually something nearby for the younger one to do even if its a re-ride.

At Splash and btmr you can do the playground under splash or take the boat to tom sawyer island for some fun. We often did the country bear jamboree if a show time was coming up. For Space mtn we would re-ride buzz or if the line was too long ride the TTA and or get a snack.

You could even hit some of the fantasyland rides that don't have as much of a line for re rides with your youngest. IASW usually dosen't take too long nor does the carosel so maybe the 4yo can choose a favorite for a re-ride.

At MGM while older sis rode TOT and or RnRC one parent would take the younger one to Beauty and the Beast or the Playhouse Disney show and or do an ice cream. Some of the playhouse disney characters wern't appealing to my oldest so that was a good time for meet & greets the older dd wasn't interested in.

At AK there are lots of trails to walk and explore with interesting things to pass the time. The discovery stops are fun as is the show jsut outside the tusker house.

Honestly, some of the best times I had were with just my youngest exploring while dh and older dd did a ride. It was a nice realaxed mom & me time!

Enjoy
TJ

 

[Dizneydaz]

Before my DD6 would ride ToT, here's what we did: Since we usually hit ToT first thing after arriving the wait isn't too long along with the baby switch (we do get a fastpass though for next ride) we only end up waiting 20 mins. or so. My DD doesn't eat breakfast when she first gets up so we bring along a baggy (or small box) of cereal and we sit outside the exit outside of the gift shop while she eats. One time she spilt some cereal and now we have an almost ritual of feeding the little "birdies" who come out. It's very pleasant sitting there and feeding the birds.

Sometimes, a few minutes before I expect my mom to come out (or if it's hot ) we'll go inside and wait in the area where the ride pictures are displayed. This way she could see grandma on the ride and we know she is coming out soon. We do this at alot of the rides she won't or can't ride. This works for us.

 

[Maureenmouse]

Thanks for all the ideas. DD almost 4 is just 37 inches, so she won't be able to ride any of the coasters except the Barnstormer. Maybe we'll take the train to Toontown and ride that while DD6 and DH ride something else. I wonder if that will work time wise?