Doing Disney World with Young Kids
Tips on Rides and Attractions When Taking Preschoolers to Disney
Suggestions on what to see and do with small children at Disney World.
A lot of people think taking a preschooler to Disney World is not worthwhile. The truth is that there is a lot for really young kids to do. The majority of the rides and attractions suitable for this age group are found at Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, so plan to spend most of your time there.
Rides
There are rides that really young children will want to do over and over again such as Peter Pan’s Flight (you go up in the air but very slowly), Dumbo the Flying Elephant (also up in the air but you control the movement), Mad Tea Party (just don’t spin the center circle too much), The Barnstormer (not as fast as it looks), Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin (you travel in a slow moving car and shoot laser guns), the Magic Carpets of Aladdin (similar ride to Dumbo), and Snow White’s Scary Adventures (not scary).
Soaring at Epcot is a simulation ride. If you are taking young children, sit in the last row of the set of three rows as it does not propel as high into the air – only a few feet. After that you don’t move, you just feel like you are. Also at Epcot, the Seas with Nemo and Friends is another slow moving ride around a giant aquarium. The fun part is getting your picture taken with statues of all the Nemo characters outside the auditorium.
Your kids may make the height requirements for certain rides, such as Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios, but it doesn’t mean that they should ride it. Small children don’t understand that it is a ride and that they are not really in danger.
Attractions
The Boneyard at Animal Kingdom allows your kids to explore caves and dig in the sand for dinosaur bones. Pocanhontas and Her Friends is a fairly short show where she sings songs from the movie and interacts with live animals. The Festival of the Lion King is very entertaining, but it is a long show. The kids will like the music, the acrobats and the giant Simba. It’s Tough to be a Bug is a funny show for kids, the only thing that may scare them a bit is at the end when the bugs “run” across the seats. Nemo the Musical is also a good show for young kids as the characters actually come out into the audience.
At Magic Kingdom, the Country Bear Jamboree has the bears come alive and sing various songs. But Mickey’s ToonTown is probably the most preschooler friendly with Mickey and Minnie’s houses that kids can explore as well as Donald Duck’s ship and a toddler-oriented playground.
Talk with Crush at Epcot is in a small theater setting where all the kids sit on the floor at the front of a giant tank and a computer animated Crush talks with the kids. This is not a pre-taped show. Crush really does see the kids in the audience and asks them specific questions. At Hollywood Studios, Beauty and the Beast Live is entertaining, but long, Voyage of the Little Mermaid is short and sweet, but Playhouse Disney Live on Stage is probably the show young kids will like the most. Parents and kids sit on the floor and are entertained by a live stage show featuring various playhouse characters.
Character Experiences
A great place to get photos with the characters without waiting in long lines is to go around the back of the Judges Tent at Mickey’s Toontown Fair. Check the Times Guide but a variety of characters will enter out of the back, not really visible to the rest of the crowd.
You will meet a lot of characters just outside the entry gates of Animal Kingdom towards the end of the day, such as Meeko, Timon and Pumbaa.
If you can't get into Cinderella’s Royal Table, there are other ways to see the princesses. The Princess breakfast, lunch and dinner at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall at the Norway pavilion has all the princesses, including Jasmine, Ariel, Belle, Snow White and Cinderella, stop at your dining table, talk and pose for pictures.
The country pavilions at Epcot also host a lot of the Disney characters. You will see Jasmine and Aladdin at Morocco, Mulan at China and Belle and the Beast at France.
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