3 year old's first trip on Friday!!!!!

[skellitterixx]

My cousins and I are taking my younger cousin on her very first trip to Disney (Magic Kingdom) on Friday! I'm pretty much a regular at the parks (we all live in Central Fl ), but the things I like are probably something a little girl wouldn't care for!

I have an idea what direction to point them, ie, Belle's Enchanted Tales, the Princesses' Meet & Greet, Winnie the Pooh, maybe Prince Charming's carosuel... but where else?

Also, has anyone experienced Beast's castle at lunch time? Are you allowed to make reservations for lunch, or is that just a dinner thing ? thanks!

 

[RedDad]

BOG is QS at lunch, so no reservations. From what I've heard you will need to get in line pretty early depending on the crowd levels.

My 3 year old loves just about everything in Fantasyland (Small World, Pooh and Dumbo are favorites), but she also really likes Jungle Cruise, POC, and pretty much everything she's tall enough for. The one ride that still scares her a little is Peter Pan... I think it's the darkness? The parades will be a big hit as well as Wishes! Depending on her feelings about fireworks, you may want to choose a spot like Tomorrowland Terrace or the bridge to watch (particularly since you can see Tink fly by right overhead!)

 

[skellitterixx]

Sweet! thanks for the ideas!

 

[StarWarsGirl]

BOG is great! But if you're travelling with a three-year-old, don't. Just don't. Unless you enjoy waiting with a hungry, screaming, child. The lines have been averaging 40 mins to 1 hour. While it's great and the ballroom is spectacular, I wouldn't. If you'd like to see it yourself one day, save your money, get a reservation (180 days out, or else you won't get in) and do it for dinner. It's really good and I highly recommend it for dinner. Do Cosmic Ray's instead. The three-year-old will enjoy listening to Sonny Eclipse, and then other members of your group can go get food while she's distracted. And yes, they have good food there.

Anything in Fantasyland is good. Plus the princesses, as you were thinking. Just cover all of the tame rides. Give her the full experience. I'm sure she'll have a great time. #1 pick is Dumbo. It's a kid classic. And also one that I threw a fit waiting for at age 2. But with the new play area, you guys shouldn't have that issue.

 

[bethymouse]

Cinderella's Royal Table? Would that be a possibility? Or Auskerhaus @ EPCOT Norway to meet the princesses? DHS has Disney Junior Live on Stage! AK has Festival of the Lion King and Nemo the musical! Oh! Oops sorry. Just MK! Everything at the MK is great for little ones except of course the "big" rides. Eat at Crystal Palace to meet Pooh & Friends? Taking a trolley ride down Main Street USA? Bibbidibobbidiboutique? Goofy's coaster- used to be the Barnstormer...
Train ride maybe? Magic Carpets of Aladdin? All of the parades...
Have fun! Don't forget to wear a 1st visit button!

 

[luv]

The one thing an honest parent will tell you is that you just never know what they'll like, love, ignore or be frightened by, lol! Three year olds are notoriously picky about everything. And they are big on repeating stuff they like to the exclusion of new experiences.

Stand in front of the Grand Canyon and try to show it to your 3yo and they might very likely behave like, "Yeah, yeah, Grand Canyon. There is a BIG ANT on the sidewalk! I have to see where he goes!"

Do the obvious little kid stuff, but don't be surprised if the kid rides Pooh and then doesn't want to do anything but ride Pooh. I saw a toddler once who was extremely happy to climb on and off a bench. The mom kept trying to talk the kid into a ride, but every time she tried to pick the toddler up, the toddler cried, lol. That poor woman really wanted to go on rides, but the kid was having the BEST time with the bench.

Let them do what they want. If the point is for the kid to have fun and they have fun climbing on a bench, then let them. They're only little for a very short time. Soon, the thrill of benches and and ants on the sidewalk will wear off. Might as well enjoy that while it lasts.

If the child is frightened by characters, don't attempt to talk them out of it or force the poor kid to take a pic, anyway. Understand that the character is as frightening to them a a guy who walks into your house and points a gun at you would be to you. Just let it go.

Don't take a 3yo to see ITTBAB.

That's my advice, for what it is worth.

 

[olinecoach61]

Took a three year old last summer and we lived on the tea cups and dumbo, again, and again, and again, lol. She loved those two, she also like small world.

 

[popcenturylover]

You definitely have to know the child. My DD4 was a month shy of 4 on our last trip.(celebrated 4th b-day) Anyway, she rode everything in Fantasyland that was open. Her favorites were PP, IASW,HM, & the Teacups. We had breakfast at Akershus(her favorite meal/server gave her a cupcake for her b-day without us even asking/had her button on) & dinner at Chef Mickey's. We stayed at AOA in the LMR. We went to MNSSHP & she dressed up as Cinderella in her wedding dress. Things she didn't like were Splash Mnt., BTMRR, & she was a bit apprehensive about POC. She definitely wouldn't ride Dinosaur. We had a great trip & she keeps asking when are we going back?!

 

[popcenturylover]

BOG is great! But if you're travelling with a three-year-old, don't. Just don't. Unless you enjoy waiting with a hungry, screaming, child. The lines have been averaging 40 mins to 1 hour. While it's great and the ballroom is spectacular, I wouldn't. If you'd like to see it yourself one day, save your money, get a reservation (180 days out, or else you won't get in) and do it for dinner. It's really good and I highly recommend it for dinner. Do Cosmic Ray's instead. The three-year-old will enjoy listening to Sonny Eclipse, and then other members of your group can go get food while she's distracted. And yes, they have good food there.

Anything in Fantasyland is good. Plus the princesses, as you were thinking. Just cover all of the tame rides. Give her the full experience. I'm sure she'll have a great time. #1 pick is Dumbo. It's a kid classic. And also one that I threw a fit waiting for at age 2. But with the new play area, you guys shouldn't have that issue.

Like I said in my previous quote you have to know the child. My DD3(almost 4) wanted to meet Tinkerbell soooo bad that we waited in line for 45 minutes! I was the one getting antsy & said are you sure that you want to wait & she said YES, I want to see Tinkerbell!!!

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Like I said in my previous quote you have to know the child. My DD3(almost 4) wanted to meet Tinkerbell soooo bad that we waited in line for 45 minutes! I was the one getting antsy & said are you sure that you want to wait & she said YES, I want to see Tinkerbell!!!

Kids. I'm basing it more off of myself throwing a fit in line for Dumbo at the same age. Now they just have a whole lot more to keep them occupied in line for that ride. My parents are cursing them out, lol.

 

[Zman-ks]

Took a three year old last summer and we lived on the tea cups and dumbo, again, and again, and again, lol. She loved those two, she also like small world.

Mine two...me and my wife have to alternate taking our girls on the rides. Only so much Small World and Teacups I can take.