Any suggestions on what to do with Myself and 4 year old daughter?

[Mgkcjohnson]

I had planned a very fun filled Disney vacation with my girlfriend. She had never been before so we were going to go and enjoy the World without any kids and do all adult things. We just broke up and are no longer going to go together. Since I paid for the trip, i am still going to go, but now I am going to bring my daughter. Does anyone have good suggestions on what to do with one parent and one 4 year old? I never experienced Disney alone with my child, so I am not sure the best way to tackle it. I have been to Disney many times and my daughter has been twice (both times with me and her mom before we got divorced) We are staying at POR from Aug 27-Sept 3. We have the free dining plan, will see La Nouba and will also go to Hoop De Doo... (my daughter's favorite) I also plan on going to TL. How have other single parents spent their time with 1 child while on vacation?? Thanks for all your suggestions.

 

[ImagineAtl23]

I have your answer.......

For little kids i have two words, MAGIC KINGDOM, its the most classic disney park all 1st timers should go there. Its great for kids and its got some things for adults too....

 

[mrtoad]

I had planned a very fun filled Disney vacation with my girlfriend. She had never been before so we were going to go and enjoy the World without any kids and do all adult things. We just broke up and are no longer going to go together. Since I paid for the trip, i am still going to go, but now I am going to bring my daughter. Does anyone have good suggestions on what to do with one parent and one 4 year old? I never experienced Disney alone with my child, so I am not sure the best way to tackle it. I have been to Disney many times and my daughter has been twice (both times with me and her mom before we got divorced) We are staying at POR from Aug 27-Sept 3. We have the free dining plan, will see La Nouba and will also go to Hoop De Doo... (my daughter's favorite) I also plan on going to TL. How have other single parents spent their time with 1 child while on vacation?? Thanks for all your suggestions.

Every kid is different but my daughter is also 4 so I can give some insight. Now we did not go just the two of, my wife is there too but still I can give some suggestions. If the meal plan lets you do character meals and you can get a PS for one (or even try to just walk up) you really should. My daughter at meal time is a little jumpy usually, even at home. Can't sit still and wants to do something else. If you do a character meal she will most likely sit long enough for you to get a good meal in. Chef Mickey's for dinner is a nice meal.

My daughter loves the MK and also really likes EPCOT (even WS). The kidcot things are ok, but she really did not get into them.

Rent a water mouse from the Polynesian and go for a nice boat ride.

When going to DTD for La Nouba, take the launch from POR rather than the bus. It is so much nicer...

See what she wants to do and if you can bear it, try to do it.

One thing though, you might have more fun than you think just being two of you. Right now when we go on a ride and it seats two in a row, I am the odd one out and go alone as my daughter always wants my wife first. Other than the teacups as my wife can't do them. Anyway, take advantage of the time alone together...

 

[tracyandalex]

a co worker of mine recently went with her 4 year old son. he loved mk, that is where they dpent most of their time. he also loved seeing all the animals at ak. one thing to remember is that she may need to rest more than you, so don't get frustrated. oh, and try to be aware of things that she may find boring. good luck and most importantly have fun

tracy

 

[Cliffordsmon]

Look and experience the "World" through your child's eyes. Think of what is is like to be that small and experience the wonderful sights, sounds and learning experiences that are offered.

Epcot especially is a giant learning experience. Let the teacher and child inside of you come out and play.

Remember you are going at her pace and not yours.

Follow the same schedule you would at home and don't push. Have fun and explore.

My DD was 4 the first time she experience Epcot and the MK. She still loves going because her first visit we went at her pace and followed her internal clock. Other parents would see us smiling and having a great time and asked "what is there to do with a 4 year old"? It's all in the approach.


Have fun!

 

[crazydaveh]

I was at the world with my niece last Christmas. She was almost four at the time and had a blast!

She loved the Magic Kingdom. Fantasyland was her favorite. We did the royal breakfast with the princess characters. She loved this! She wore her own Cinderella dress and modeled it with the real Cinderella for people sitting around us.

She wanted to ride the outside coasters. The only one she was able to ride was Goofy's Barnstormer. We all rode this with her about 25 times. She was an inch short of Thunder Mountian.

She loved Spectromagic! Characters walking around past her bedtime with things like cotton candy and coke to sip on, a 4 year old's dream!

She didn't take well to Animal Kingdom. She liked the animals, but wanted to ride stuff more than take in the sights.

She did like several things at MGM. The Disney Playhouse show featuring Bear and the Big Blue House was a huge success! The kids can dance and sing along with Pooh, Rollie Pollie Ollie (SP?) and now Jo Jo and the gang from Jo Jo's Circus.

She did pass out in the stroller about 1 PM and came back to life around 3. This is when the adults had our fun, but it was fun seeing her interact with the characters!

Have fun and good luck!

 

[Mgkcjohnson]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Like I said before, we have been before and I know her limits and what she does and does not like. I was hoping to get some other ideas that one might not think of.. we will spend time at the pools, water parks and I will certainly rent a water mouse. I did that when I was 12 and forgot all about them!!! Good suggestion. I am very much looking forward to spending the whole week together and watching her soak the whole experience in. Character meals will now be on the schedule. She will love that. She is now tall enough (42")to ride some of the bigger attractions, so I will have to see what she thinks of them when she sees them!!! I know there are tons of things to do and now I am even more excited than I was before!!!

 

[mrtoad]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Like I said before, we have been before and I know her limits and what she does and does not like. I was hoping to get some other ideas that one might not think of.. we will spend time at the pools, water parks and I will certainly rent a water mouse. I did that when I was 12 and forgot all about them!!! Good suggestion. I am very much looking forward to spending the whole week together and watching her soak the whole experience in. Character meals will now be on the schedule. She will love that. She is now tall enough (42")to ride some of the bigger attractions, so I will have to see what she thinks of them when she sees them!!! I know there are tons of things to do and now I am even more excited than I was before!!!

One word of suggestion on the bigger attractions. My daughter is also a tall 4 year old. When we took her when she was 3 she did tons of stuff. She really wanted to do the TOT but we said next time. She talked about it for a year wanting to go on. So when we planned our next trip she wanted to do that first. We took her to MGM on the way to our resort from the airport to do it. She never made it on. The library scene along scared her and then the rest of the trip she was afraid to try many things. She would not go into things she went in the year before and really liked because she was scared. So my suggestion is do everything else before you attempt something like that. It really made for a tough time for us...