worried about Honey I shrunk the kids playground

[PRINCESS VIJA]

I think my kids would love the playground, my DS 6 could navigate the area, but I am very worried about my extremely adventurous DD 2 1/2. I read on the attractions board that you can easily loose sight of your kids. Whenever we go to parks, I always have an eye on my children. Should I skip the temptation of the playground all together? I couldn't bear the thought of not keeping track of them. Vija

 

[sha_lyn]

Last yr my DD was 2 1/2 and had a great time. It is very small compared to other play areas I have seen and they seem to be very cautious about not letting children leave the area alone. Most of it is pretty easy to figure out where they will end up at. There was one area off to itself that was very good for the smaller ones. I know it had a small slide and a small cave to crawl through.

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[kimartyraye@att.net]

Yes, you can, and I did, briefly, lose track of my then 5-1/2yo DS! (Going this time with now 13yo DS and now 3yo DD) Totally freaked me out! Have the entire episode on tape as well! Anyway, if and/or when you do lose sight of them, it WILL only be briefly, I'm sure. THEY know what they're doing AND they pretty much remember where YOU were when they left. Try not to panic and move around from your base point of departure unless you know, in advance, where they're coming out and then tell them you'll meet them there! Show them in advance, if you know, where they'll come out and, be there. I'm not sure the above tip about kids leaving the area alone would be very comforting, the concern, I think is that they leave with someone else! Right?

The small cave and small slide I remember. 2 slides, I think, actually at the same cave. Anyway, Adults can actually fit thru almost all of this park (I think) with the kids, if you wanted to!

Relax & Enjoy!

 

[erinch]

who panicked--and a CM was right there to administer TLC and help find mom. The 6 year old could be very helpful in helping little sibling navigate through.

(I think I bribed big brother to take little sis thru, then I took her out for a drink while he played some more)

 

[padams]

I followed DS age 3 through the tunnels and slides.

 

[robinb]

Oh yeah ... it's not like the tunnels and slides were fun or anything .


-- Robin

 

[melk]

My advice is to take a peek in yourself first and see how crowded it is. We walked blindly into the most chaotic, crowded place on earth (it seemed). It didn't take us long to lose our 2 kids and we were very stressed out. I realize there is only one exit and the chances were small that they would be taken out but I was afraid they could be scared in a tunnel somewhere or hurt, etc. Even my DH who never panics, left all sweaty and red and said "Never again!" <IMG WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="15" SRC="/infopop/emoticons/icon_redface.gif" alt="red face">

 

[pajamommy]

We didn't find it hard to follow our 2 y.o. and 4 y.o. around. One parent took one kid, and the other took the other kid.

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[robsmom]

We took our not quite two year old there last month. Can't tell you how important it was to let him run around and burn off some steam. I think the risk of losing you kid in this area is actually lower than some of the other theme park play areas. As others have said, there is only one entrance and it is "guarded" by a CM. The CM also told me that they have raised the walls of the area because kids were climbing over! When you first go in, head to left. This area seems to be built in smaller proportions for the little guys. Have Fun

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[KangaT]

The first time we experienced that playground, I freaked out. Doesn't help that I'm mildly claustrophobic. Then we talked to a CM. Found out there's only one way in - and a CM makes sure that NOBODY exits through the entrance. And there's only one way out (through a rather narrow walkway). DH kept up with our younger DS (2.5 y.o.) and I walked over to the exit. Sat up on some rocks to the side watching everyone as they left. Kids couldn't possibly get out without going past me.

It's hard to let them run wild and free like that. (As my DH puts it - "You're such a MOM!") But it's good for all of us once in a while. And there aren't many places in this world as safe for kids as WDW.

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[casmanuel]

This wouldn't work with a 2.5 y.o., but was great for my 5 y.o.: as soon as we got into the playground, the first thing I though was, we could spend the rest of the day looking for him in here. So I had him take a good look around. I pointed out a landmark to him, I think it was a wheelbarrow, and told him THAT was where dad and I would wait for him. It worked great! He even checked in with us a couple of times before dashing off again.

 

[ilisa]

I was also worried (our daughter was 19 months at the time) until I found the spot that Sha_Lyn described. As you enter the playground, it is way over to the left, I think. It was very quiet there and our daughter was able to play on the slide to her heart's content without being run over by other kids.

 

[eeyore0662]

My daughter was 6 when we went, and I tried to avoid that playground like the plague! Not because I was worried about her getting lost, or run over, but because I knew I would NEVER get her out of there. Imagine my genuine relief when I realized it was closed for rehab! In the summer there is a self limiting timing factor called UNBEARABLE heat that will get the kids out faster, however in December that is not the case. Haven't figured out how I'm going to get around it in May, though

Have a Wonderful day, Eeyore

 

[Paula H]

I took DD (22 Mos.) and asked the CM at the gate where the area was that was for smaller kids. I found it easily and it's tucked away a little so it wasn't a problem keeping my eyes on her. The problem we had though was with the bigger kids trying to go down the little slide - DD was knocked over and pushed. I was very disappointed and thought maybe a CM should be in that area to steer the bigger kids away.

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[jamsmom]

Fisrt year, I lost site of my son and quickly decided I did NOT like this playground. My son, however, determined this was the only place he wanted to be! Last year I was much calmer about the whole thing and they also changed the EXIT, so I felt better. He would spend HOURS in this place and in Dino-Dig. I just make sure I have a game boy game or word search with me.