What to See with our 2 yo?

[SalandJeff]

After 15 years of trips to WDW as a couple, we will be going in May for the 1st time with our 2 year old dd. We cannot wait to see our favorite place through her eyes!

Obviously, this will be a different experience for us. We will have no problems at MK, but what do your toddlers enjoy at Epcot, AK, MGM (if anything)? Are there any "not to be missed" with a 2 year old. She is very active and sitting still (like for a show) is probably not something we will try this trip.

Thanks for any input!

 

[BlondeAlligator]

We just took our DD for the first time last october...just like you we have gone many many times as a couple and were really excited about having our little girl see WDW! She loved it! Here are the things she loved:

AK: She loved Dinoland...there's a triceratops ride (thinks Dumbo), carnival games & the Boneyard (big playground). Warning: the Boneyard is big and can be difficult for the little ones to get around in...rope net ladders, long slides...there's only one way in and out, but we did a tag-team approach with one person on the ground at all times so that when she came off a slide she wasn't alone. She also loved the tigers in Asia...

MGM: I know you said shows probably wouldn't work & we thought the same thing, but Disney shows are sooo different. I highly recommend Little Mermaid...my DD loved the effects! Also at MGM, the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground. Much more toddler-friendly than Boneyard, but two adluts still necessary in my opinion.

EPCOT: The Living Seas was closed when we were there, but I know she would have loved it. She loved the Land, Imagination, and Soarin' (she'd really tall, though &^ I'm not sure a 2yo would be able to ride). I think there is a play area at Mission Space, but we didn't make it over there so I'm not positive.

DTD: The Lego store has a really cool play area outside that she enjoyed for hours!

Basically any ride was cool with her...for that matter, any ride, character, statue, balloon vendor, duck, shop...you name it she loved it! Don't forget to make ADR for character meals...we did several & I'd be happy to advise there, too, if you want.

I hope this helped. Don't forget Toontown at MK...there is so much cool stuff there that DH and I never did as a couple...and some very special opportunities to meet the characters.

Have a great trip & PM me if you have any more questions!

 

[CEDmom]

Our DD was 2 1/2 when we took her for the 1st time. Epcot turned out to be her favorite park with AK a close 2nd. In Epcot she enjoyed the different street performers and got to meet several characters in a much more low key setting than MK. She actually had a complete meltdown in MK and we had to leave after about 2 hours. I think it was just too much stimulation. In AK she loved seeing different animals and just being in nature.

 

[dman11]

Our DD was 2 when we went in November and loved everything from the pool area at the hotel to the bus rides to the parks in the morning. There was really not much she didn't like with the exception of "It's tough to be a bug" and "Honey I shrunk the audience". I would HIGHLY recommend skipping those. She did love Mickey's Philharmonic at MK, in fact she made us go in a couple of times.

At MGM - I would also recommend Playhouse Disney Live, especially if she watches TV. She fell asleep at Beauty and the Beast and loved Fantasmic. We sat in the second row and she loved it.

At AK - She loved the Dino ride thing that is like Dumbo. The Safari was a favorite too. Also, all the little shows that CM's put on around the park were a very nice change of pace for her.

At EP - This definitely was her least favorite place of the 4, I can't really say she enjoyed much there. There is a miniature train setup in front of one of the countries that she absolutely loved but that was about it. Some of the street performers she was really happy with. Also, the Living Seas was partially open when we were there and she thought that was ok.

Hope you enjoy everything and take in every moment because they change so quick!!

 

[disneyandme]

Don't miss Playhouse Disney show at MGM. A show, but very interactive and kids are up bouncing around.

 

[gianna2006]

Some great tips from Blonde Alligator!!! We celebrated my DD 2nd birthday there! She, along with her big brother (5 at the time) also loved Spaceship Earth (she didn't move a muscle) and the Living Seas was a huge hit. We only went to MGM for a few hours and to see Fantasmic and were sorry we spent so little time there. The biggest hit, however, was Animal Kingdom. We all loved the animal exhibits and the boneyard was loads of fun. She also loved the bumpity-bump-bump of the Safari ride!!! Little bonus with Animal Kingdom is all of the nice shade...makes for a much cooler day for everyone!!

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5/06 Finally a DVC member going DIS all the way at Saratoga Springs!!!

 

[lovethattink]

My 21 month old loves all the parks. The only thing he doesn't love is the table service dining. He does not have the patience for it. He does ok at the buffets and counter service.

As for the parks...

Animal Kingdom: He adores the animals. He enjoys Kilamanjaro Safari, the Lion King Show, he loved the Tarzan show but sadly it is gone, the characters, etc. He did not like the bug show one bit.

MGM: He loves the Voyage of the Little Mermaid show, the stunt show, the great movie ride, the characters, the bear in the big blue house, the computers after the animation attaction. I'm sure there is more, but we didn't get a chance to do more here.

Epcot: He has been on every attraction where there is no height requirement. He loves the fiber optic lights in the side walks at night time. He likes watching the performers at the different countries. (He makes it through most of the show if not all of it.)

 

[skuttle]

We went to WDW with our 2.5 year old DS in December. This was our first time with DS. DH and I had been 4 times before, including for our honeymoon in 2000.

MK: He loved most of Fantasyland...Dumbo, Carosel, Pooh, Small World, Peter Pan. He loved "driving" the car on the speedway...gave me a headache, but he enjoyed it and I grabbed the wheel as much as I could! He also really enjoyed playing at Pooh's Playful Spot, especially the water area!

Epcot: Our Epcot day was really rainy and he slept a lot of the day, but we did do Spaceship earth and Living with the Land. He enjoyed both.

AK: Loved the walking trails to see all of the animals, especially the tigers since you can get right up next to them. Loved the safair and triceratop spin. Really enjoyed the Lion King show...cried to leave when it was over!

MGM: Loved watcing Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid, Playhouse Disney, the new stunt show, and even pressing the buttons at WWTBAM.

He played at the playground at lego land for about an hour!

He loved all of the parades and fireworks, and wanted to meet every character he saw, no matter how many times. He really enjoyed having the autograph book!

 

[Contrariwise]

Not to be missed:
Any and all boat rides (my DS2 especially likes Norway and Mexico). Living Seas of course. Spaceship Earth is a nice break for the parents

Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground in MGM- could NOT get him to leave! Beware though- this isn't a rest for the parents, you will end up climbing through tunnels and up stairs (and quickly back down) with a toddler or risk losing them!!

Safari, Affection Section (petting zoo) and "Dumbo" ride in AK.

If you are leery of shows I would actually leave out MGM's Playhouse Disney- DS tired of it toward the middle and I ended up wrestling him through the rest of the show (trying so hard to keep him "inside the yellow line!").

 

[SalandJeff]

Thanks to everyone for these great ideas. A lot of these things will be firsts for us also. Can't wait to get there!!!!!

 

[kldmom2000]

When we went in Dec. '04, my younger DD was 26 months. She LOVED everything-my then 4 yr old DD was afraid of the rides, the characters, etc..... Things my 2 yr old liked:

Downtown Disney and @ Magic Kingdom Toontown-letting her get soaked in the spraying water-I remembered to bring a swimsuit for Toontown, but had to carry a soaking wet snoozing toddler back on a very frigid air conditioned bus to the hotel... She also loved playing with the Mr. Potato Head accessories at the store in DTD... at the Magic Kingdom, she loved most of the rides esp. Goofy's Barnstormer, Winnie The Pooh, Dumbo, the carousel, etc.... she really loved meeting the princesses in Toontown....

MGM-She loved the Playhouse Disney show Also loved Fantasmic! The Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground was a hit.

EPCOT-She loved Journey into Imagination, the Princess breakfast in Norway, Innoventions, the soda spot where you can test funky tasting sodas, she wanted to see Crush in the Living Seas pavilion, but my 4 yr old was having a meltdown, so she never got to see the movie

ANIMAL KINGDOM-she LOVED this park just as much as the Magic Kingdom-favorites here were the Kilamanjaro safari ride, the Lion King show, meeting the characters outside of the Lion King show, It's Tough To Be a bug movie, etc.....

We're going back Oct. 2007 when they'll be 5 and 7... hoping to do and see much more than our first trip w/ them!!!