Which show is more suitable for preschoolers, lion king or Finding Nemo?

[Disneybiginner]

first time WDW trip in Jan 2018 with 2 DDs, 5 & 2, is it easier to take a midday break (Contemporary), or just go half day?

Must do ride is the safari, maybe river ride at Pandora if have FP+, and one show if no time for both. Not necessary need to see RoL. The girls have watched both movies, don't have preferences to one or the other.

Also, I hear the animals are more active in the early morning, what about early evening, say around 5-6pm?

Thanks you so much!

More back ground information. We will stay at Contemporary. Per our touring plan, the day prior to AK day will be a full packed MK day till park close. The day follows AK day will be a late start HS day since we will be there only for those princesses related shows and F!. So we are in doubt if the kids will get up early enough for rope drop AK after that full MK day. Hence the half late start day for AK comes in mind.

 

[Lothlórien]

They are both great shows for all ages. We have seen smaller kids scared in both, so it really depends on the child.

 

[Kellykins1218]

Lion King is fun but Finding Nemo is our favorite & we see it 2-3 times each trip. We always do the safari 1st thing so not sure how the animals are later.

 

[Klayfish]

first time WDW trip in Jan 2018 with 2 DDs, 5 & 2, is it easier to take a midday break (Contemporary), or just go half day?

Must do ride is the safari, maybe river ride at Pandora if have FP+, and one show if no time for both. Not necessary need to see RoL. The girls have watched both movies, don't have preferences to one or the other.

Also, I hear the animals are more active in the early morning, what about early evening, say around 5-6pm?

Thanks you so much!

Great questions.

As to the half day vs. midday break really depends on the children. If they aren't night owls, then I'd start in the morning and just go until they're done. If they are night kids, then do a midday break. Our kids never stayed up past 8pm or 8:30pm when they were little, so a midday break wouldn't have helped us much. We just did 9am to 3pm and called it a day (went to the pool late afternoon/early evening).

Honestly, both Lion King and Nemo are great for kids. Lion King is more "action" and somewhat interactive with the crowd, but Nemo is a great show too. You won't go wrong either way.

As for the animals in the safari, it really is random luck. They're not necessarily more active in the morning vs. afternoon or early evening. We've had some amazing safaris in the morning, and some relative "duds" too. Just luck of the draw. Perhaps ride it twice. First thing in the morning, you can walk on with no wait. Then use a FP+ to do it again. Line will go back down to nothing again late in the day/evening.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

While Finding Nemo is MY personal favorite, Lion King is shorter and more interactive, so when making that same decision for my own 3 1/2 year old, we went with Lion King

 

[tlmadden73]

I did AK with my son when he was 2. (before Pandora). It was a good park, for a preschooler.

We got there early, did Safari first thing, walked around the forest trail, saw the Lion King (he loved that show . .it is very exciting and larger than life) and then went to Planet Watch for the train ride and the petting zoo.

After that we had lunch, walked around a bit and then my son zonked out in the stroller and we never saw the Nemo show and he missed Dinoland as my wife and I went on rides with other friends while he napped.

We then went to a late lunch (4:00 PM) (they didn't have dinner then) at Tusker House. I would highly recommend that character meal. He loved it and was excited to dance around the room with the characters. Was probably the highlight of the day for us all.

I'm not a huge "leave for an afternoon break" type of person. We've been successful with my son napping in the stroller for 90 minutes when he was 2 (and again when he was 3) in the parks.
I would just go .. do as much as you can before lunch .. see how they kids fair in the afternoon and "take it easy" .. find a place for relaxing and napping .. then do a few more things and leave shortly after dinner so they don't stay out too late.

 

[jpeterson]

I would vote Lion King. Just more happening to keep little eyes busy. We've done both with my 3 year old and 5 year old twice. The 3 year old has yet to stay awake for the entirety of Nemo

 

[mum2four]

Definitely LK! We find The Nemo show a bit boring. LK is fun, interactive and fast moving. I also think it's a little shorter, time-wise.

 

[SaintsManiac]

We haven't seen Nemo yet, but my 5 year old LOVED the Lion King. We took her to see the full musical last year because she loved it so much.

 

[ucfknight]

I'd definitely vote for Lion King. It is shorter, more varied, and more interactive with the crowd. The Nemo show is too long and too slow.

 

[FigmentFinder]

I vote for Nemo. When my son was younger, he was very scared by the fire dancer.

 

[Disneybiginner]

Great questions.

As to the half day vs. midday break really depends on the children. If they aren't night owls, then I'd start in the morning and just go until they're done. If they are night kids, then do a midday break. Our kids never stayed up past 8pm or 8:30pm when they were little, so a midday break wouldn't have helped us much. We just did 9am to 3pm and called it a day (went to the pool late afternoon/early evening).

Honestly, both Lion King and Nemo are great for kids. Lion King is more "action" and somewhat interactive with the crowd, but Nemo is a great show too. You won't go wrong either way.

As for the animals in the safari, it really is random luck. They're not necessarily more active in the morning vs. afternoon or early evening. We've had some amazing safaris in the morning, and some relative "duds" too. Just luck of the draw. Perhaps ride it twice. First thing in the morning, you can walk on with no wait. Then use a FP+ to do it again. Line will go back down to nothing again late in the day/evening.

Thank you for your suggestions. The only concern I have is that we will have a packed full day at MK the day before, so we don't want get too stressful for our AK day. I personally lean towards get the park late and stay till close. The next park day will be HS, which doesn't require an early arrive also, so I think we can get away by letting the kids stay late. Both of the are night owls at home.

 

[helenm29]

You could actually do both but I'd say Nemo would be right up their ally...there are a lot of big and loud things going on in the Lion King

 

[Disneybiginner]

While Finding Nemo is MY personal favorite, Lion King is shorter and more interactive, so when making that same decision for my own 3 1/2 year old, we went with Lion King

Thank you for your suggestion

 

[Disneybiginner]

I did AK with my son when he was 2. (before Pandora). It was a good park, for a preschooler.

We got there early, did Safari first thing, walked around the forest trail, saw the Lion King (he loved that show . .it is very exciting and larger than life) and then went to Planet Watch for the train ride and the petting zoo.

After that we had lunch, walked around a bit and then my son zonked out in the stroller and we never saw the Nemo show and he missed Dinoland as my wife and I went on rides with other friends while he napped.

We then went to a late lunch (4:00 PM) (they didn't have dinner then) at Tusker House. I would highly recommend that character meal. He loved it and was excited to dance around the room with the characters. Was probably the highlight of the day for us all.

I'm not a huge "leave for an afternoon break" type of person. We've been successful with my son napping in the stroller for 90 minutes when he was 2 (and again when he was 3) in the parks.
I would just go .. do as much as you can before lunch .. see how they kids fair in the afternoon and "take it easy" .. find a place for relaxing and napping .. then do a few more things and leave shortly after dinner so they don't stay out too late.

The concer I have for midday break is the time consuming. It will easily take an hour each way to the hotel. We will have our double stroller with us, so the kiddos will have a spot to rest their feet.

 

[Disneybiginner]

I would vote Lion King. Just more happening to keep little eyes busy. We've done both with my 3 year old and 5 year old twice. The 3 year old has yet to stay awake for the entirety of Nemo

Thank you

 

[Disneybiginner]

Definitely LK! We find The Nemo show a bit boring. LK is fun, interactive and fast moving. I also think it's a little shorter, time-wise.

Thank you

 

[Disneybiginner]

We haven't seen Nemo yet, but my 5 year old LOVED the Lion King. We took her to see the full musical last year because she loved it so much.

Thank you

 

[Disneybiginner]

I'd definitely vote for Lion King. It is shorter, more varied, and more interactive with the crowd. The Nemo show is too long and too slow.

Thank you

 

[Disneybiginner]

I vote for Nemo. When my son was younger, he was very scared by the fire dancer.

Thank you for your input, we will keep that in mind.