My daughters and I

[Ryan0311]

I'm planning a trip with my daughters to Disney. Does anyone have any ideas on anything fun for them and easy on me(Just my daughters and I on this trip, single dad, no help from family on this trip)? I already have reservations for Akershus and we are definitely splitting "The Kitchen Sink". Other than that, any ideas?

 

[Nemo14]

How old are your daughters?

 

[Ryan0311]

3 and 4

 

[Dwarful]

Well, if they like to dress up you could do Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Magic Kingdom. Personally, our girls when they were little only wore their Disney Princess dresses for short periods of time...and at Disney we always did a Princess Breakfast and then they would immediately change into park comfy clothes. I would stash the dresses in a locker for the day. It was easier on everyone..this was before the days of BBB so they weren't all glammed up.

Epcot World Showcase - take time to find the characters in each land...like Mulan in China, Mary Poppins in UK.

Story Time with Belle is a great experience for little ones too.

 

[Ryan0311]

Thank you, BBB sounds fun for them. Where is story time with Belle usually?

 

[Dwarful]

I believe it now has a set location near Fantasyland. You can make reservations for BBB.

 

[olinecoach61]

Such a great age, parades and meeting characters will be huge. Maybe another character meal? That way they can see them without having to wait in line. Also we spent a lot of time at the pool and the water play area, my daughter loved that.

 

[englanddg]

Pirates fireworks cruise.

Do the 3p parade from Frontierland...buy a turkey leg about 20 minutes before the parade and split it among the 3 of you as you wait in one of the rockers. Best place to watch it from (I think).

The Luau may be fun for you guys.

With respect to the water parks, Blizzard Beach has a better "Toddler Zone" in my opinion...though I think Typhoon Lagoon is the better park.

At EPCOT World Showcase, not only can you take time to find all the "hidden" meet and greets, but you can play the Perry game. Only thing is...you'll only get one phone. So, be ready to have them "share" it.

At EPCOT communicores...do the piggy bank. Also, stop by the cool spot and "try" a beverly!

If they are anything like mine, they'll love the water play areas. So, be prepared for that. There are several at EPCOT Futureworld, and a large one at Magic Kingdom (Casey Jr's). Put them in clothes that dry easily, and you may even want to pack a small towel (I carry a golf towel generally)...

When you get on rides, you can ask the CM to be seated in the front. However, at those ages, you are going to run into height issues. Pre-check ride heights so you can temper expectations. Also, Child Swap may be something you'll want to become familiar with as the 4 year old may be able to / want to do things the 3 year old can't yet.

Also, they do offer in room babysitting and child care centers. So, that's an option to have a few hours of "alone time" with each child doing something they are more interested in...or if you need some "alone time" for yourself!

Animal Kingdom is going to require a lot of walking, and in the summer it's very hot. You may want to consider a stroller for that park.

Which resort are you staying at?

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Another vote for BBB...but make sure you book ASAP. It can book up pretty quickly...especially the castle location (there's another one in DTD). At their ages, they'd also probably really like the character meal at Hollywood & Vine. I believe Sophia the First and Doc McStuffins have been added to the lineup at that meal. Alternately, you might opt for a meal with Mickey...Garden Grill is our fave of the meals with Mickey.

Beyond that...I like buying my girls LED and glow jewelry for evenings in the parks. It makes it easier for me to keep an eye on them, and they like all of the glowing and blinking. I usually buy stuff wholesale before we travel so we're not spending $$$$ on the ones being sold in the parks.

Your girls might also enjoy getting autographs. While I made my girls' first autograph books, you can easily buy them.

My kids also really enjoy pin trading. I bought some cheap lanyards and pins on ebay along with a few special pins on sale at the Disney store. It made for some pretty fun interactions with cast members.

 

[englanddg]

Another vote for BBB...but make sure you book ASAP. It can book up pretty quickly...especially the castle location (there's another one in DTD). At their ages, they'd also probably really like the character meal at Hollywood & Vine. I believe Sophia the First and Doc McStuffins have been added to the lineup at that meal. Alternately, you might opt for a meal with Mickey...Garden Grill is our fave of the meals with Mickey.

Beyond that...I like buying my girls LED and glow jewelry for evenings in the parks. It makes it easier for me to keep an eye on them, and they like all of the glowing and blinking. I usually buy stuff wholesale before we travel so we're not spending $$$$ on the ones being sold in the parks.

Your girls might also enjoy getting autographs. While I made my girls' first autograph books, you can easily buy them.

My kids also really enjoy pin trading. I bought some cheap lanyards and pins on ebay along with a few special pins on sale at the Disney store. It made for some pretty fun interactions with cast members.

Autographs are a blast. But, a note about getting the Disney ones...the pens are terrible quality. Frankly, the books aren't much better (the elastic that holds the pen to the book likes to snap).

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Autographs are a blast. But, a note about getting the Disney ones...the pens are terrible quality. Frankly, the books aren't much better (the elastic that holds the pen to the book likes to snap).

I believe we brought a pack of thick washable markers for the characters to use when signing. I know a lot of people recommend Sharpies, but I'm not a fan of involving permanent markers.

 

[Dwarful]

Another thing my girls loved doing when they were little...was each having their own throw away camera. Those cheap disposable kinds. Letting them take their own pictures from their point of view. Then when we came home and had the film developed (dating myself huh?) and put them into little books of Disney.

 

[englanddg]

Another thing my girls loved doing when they were little...was each having their own throw away camera. Those cheap disposable kinds. Letting them take their own pictures from their point of view. Then when we came home and had the film developed (dating myself huh?) and put them into little books of Disney.

You can pick up a cheap digital now. I do that for my kid...and just bring it back every year. I think I found it on Amazon for something like 9 bucks. Not the best picture resolution (8 MP, I think)...but, it's not terrible!

Great idea!

 

[3Caballeros]

I'm planning a trip with my daughters to Disney. Does anyone have any ideas on anything fun for them and easy on me(Just my daughters and I on this trip, single dad, no help from family on this trip)? I already have reservations for Akershus and we are definitely splitting "The Kitchen Sink". Other than that, any ideas?

when are you going? Is this their and/or your first trip to WDW?

 

[JillC LI]

If you can up and out early, I recommend that you get to the Magic Kingdom before rope drop, watch the opening ceremony, and then make a beeline to Fantasyland because they are at the age when they will like those rides best, and they tend to have very long waits later in the day. Hit Dumbo and Ariel and Peter Pan as early as possible.

 

[KLeigh]

Don't underestimate the appeal of transportation "rides" - my first trip to WDW was for my 4th birthday and one of my favorite rides was the WDW Railroad around the MK, and going on the Monorail.

Character breakfasts were always a big hit with my younger sister and I, as were the parades, meet and greets and of course Dumbo!

Have a great trip with your girls!

 

[Dwarful]

oh for a long time my girls thought the Tomorrowland Transit Authority - People mover was 'a roller coaster' lol. they LOVED that ride and we loved the break.

 

[Ryan0311]

when are you going? Is this their and/or your first trip to WDW?
We are going beginning of June. We were there last year. But with the whole family. This time it's just the girls and I.


Animal Kingdom is going to require a lot of walking, and in the summer it's very hot. You may want to consider a stroller for that park.

Which resort are you staying at?
Our trip last year was with a stroller and I was drenched. Sun screen and boardshorts this time. We are staying at the Pop Century resort


Your girls might also enjoy getting autographs. While I made my girls' first autograph books, you can easily buy them.

My kids also really enjoy pin trading. I bought some cheap lanyards and pins on ebay along with a few special pins on sale at the Disney store. It made for some pretty fun interactions with cast members.
I got each of them an autograph book for their birthdays(hopefully they don't color all over them). The pins sound fun. I've never seen that before.


Another thing my girls loved doing when they were little...was each having their own throw away camera. Those cheap disposable kinds. Letting them take their own pictures from their point of view. Then when we came home and had the film developed (dating myself huh?) and put them into little books of Disney.
I'm not that young either. Haha. I think somewhere I still have an old camcorder(The giant rocket-launcher looking ones)


You can pick up a cheap digital now. I do that for my kid...and just bring it back every year. I think I found it on Amazon for something like 9 bucks. Not the best picture resolution (8 MP, I think)...but, it's not terrible!
I'll look for some(I'm addicted to amazon anyways)


Don't underestimate the appeal of transportation "rides" - my first trip to WDW was for my 4th birthday and one of my favorite rides was the WDW Railroad around the MK, and going on the Monorail.
Character breakfasts were always a big hit with my younger sister and I, as were the parades, meet and greets and of course Dumbo!
They love the boat ride to Magic Kingdom(they fell asleep on the benches last time)

Thank you everyone for your thoughts so far. Reading all of those has helped and I get excited just thinking about how they're going to love all of that.