Which parks/how long with ages 3 & 6?

[log]

Going to be there beginning of April for 7 nights at Swan (arriving Sat and leaving following Saturday) with kids ages 3 & 6:

Should we go to Animal Kingdom? Epcot? MGM?
If so, how many days would you spend in each of these theme parks (given you had 7 days)? Would anyone spend all 7 days in MK without checking out these other theme parks?

Also, is it worth spending day at SeaWorld with kids these ages?

thanks in advance.

am i missing anything else?

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

We went in July with 2 kids age 4 and 2. Here's what we did along with my opinion We were also there 7 days.

We spent 4 mornings at MK from opening until lunchtime. We did a PS for lunch or late breakfast every day and then returned to the hotel for naps. Around 5:00 we would head out, eat dinner, and hit another park. We did one afternoon at Epcot, one at MGM, and the other two we returned to MK and stayed for the fireworks.

Our other 3 days--we did one day at AK, 1/2 day Blizzard Beach, and 1/2 day Epcot; and one day MGM. That was perfect for my boys--we were able to hit the high points of those parks.

Sea World is wonderful for that age IF your kids like shows--you can judge that by how they do at Disney--Beauty and the Beast, etc. My older son LOVES Sea World, but my younger one is not yet interested in the sit down and watch shows. Also the "rides" at Sea World, except for the flume, are not geared towards little ones. But if you think your younger one would be interested, it is a wonderful slow-paced way to spend the day.

The best thing we did while at Disney was to hit the parks at EE and to do PS. We did about 8 character dinners and that was one of my boys' favorite parts of the trip. It was also nice to be waited on for lunch instead of counter service.

Also, we would not have made it happily without a daily nap. The boys slept (and mom and dad too!!) from 2-4 every day. That way we could easily stay out until 9:00 to see fireworks, parades etc.

Hope that helps some!

 

[CEDmom]

I'd recommend exposing them to all the parks and letting their interests guide you. When we were down last May DD surprised us by enjoying Epcot the best and MK the least. By spending time in each park early on it allowed us to revisit our favorites during the 2nd half of our trip. Just a tip, bring your DS's bathing suits and towels into Epcot. The sidewalk fountains are not to be missed.

 

[ceecee]

Do them all, my DD loved all the parks when we started her at age 3. She still does......We love Epcot and she always makes a mask every year, that's a must do for us. AK has a great parade as does MGM and of course MK. I would say do it all especially if you are planning to do 7 days of parks. We weren't overly impressed with SeaWorld but many people are.

 

[geffric]

My children have always loved SeaWorld, petting dolphins, and rays.. the play area and see the animals - penguins, sharks etc.. it is a more relaxed day and the kids just loved it..

on the other hand, when the kids were real little we didn't go to Epcot, as there isn't as much to do for then little ones as MK or AK.

 

[DisneyArk]

We went for a week in Nov and my boys are 3 and 5. They loved all of the parks at WDW. We spent 2 days at Magic Kingdom, 1 day at Epcot, 1/2 day at Animal Kingdom, 1/2 day at MGM, 1 day at Typhoon Lagoon. Then we asked the boys where they wanted to go back to and they said Animal Kingdom and Epcot! So we split another day at those parks and spent the final day at MK.

My 5 year old really loved learning things at Animal Kingdom and Epcot. He loved making the mask at the Kidcot centers in Epcot WorldShowcase. We used a stroller for that and ran from one country to the next during 1 evening.

I would agree about trying to get to the parks early. We didn't make EE, but we got there at 8:00 and were able to do a lot before the parks got crowded at 10:00. If you have time to read about the attractions at each park and determine which ones your children will like then I think your days will go smoother. Be flexible with your schedule, but have a basic plan. +


Your children are the perfect ages to really feel the magic!

 

[JRLATL]

Couldn't agree more with Jessethecowgirl ~ those afternoon naps are key to an enjoyable trip for everyone. Even if you don't want to sleep, use the time to go for a swim, or just relax. We do the same with an early start in the morning and then going back out after we are refreshed in the late afternoon or early evening. You're going to have a great time.