Magic Kingdom with a 3 yo

[noodleoo]

Is it worth it? We're going to FL to visit my parents at the end of March. During the pandemic, I told myself I'd take the kids (ages 3 and almost 7) to WDW when this was "all over" (LOL). We all had Covid in Jan, so I'm debating doing it. If we go, we'd just go for 1 day. We're not staying at a resort or anything. I looked at ticket prices and almost fainted, looks like it will be $500 for the 4 of us. H and I started watching youtube videos last night and the size of the crowds and lines gave me anxiety. My kids are young, I'd love to take them while they are into the magic of Disney. I feel like DD1 is started to outgrow the princess phase, so I want to take her. But DD2 is so little, we'd have to bring a stroller and I don't think she'll have the stamina for a long day. DD1 is also a shy kid, I don't think she will ride any big rides (which is good since I'm not waiting in 45 min lines with them) but is there enough to do to justify the cost? I know she will go nuts for the castle alone (that's why we picked Magic Kingdom). I'm also really overwhelmed by the amount of "research" i feel like I need to do.

Any tips for a first timer with little kids? Are there rides geared towards the under 5 crowd? Would you go now or wait another year? Any websites I should check out geared towards visiting the park only (a lot seems geared towards spending a whole week there)? Anyone want to plan my trip for me? Some people would find this fun but that's so not me.

[mrsslocombe]

Personally, I think there is plenty to do and see. But I am a huge Disney person and I acknowledge not every else is.

Your three year old will be able to ride everything except for the coasters and Splash Mountain. Magic Kingdom is definitely better suited for small kids than the other parks.

I just went in February and the crowds are high, it took some time getting used to it in a COVID world. There are places to get away from people though. My two favorites are Tom Sawyer Island and the second floor of Columbia Harbor House (seriously...that whole second floor is just people taking a time out). And things like Mickey's Philharmagic (which is a 3-D movie) are a good place to sit and rest for 15 minutes (I have taken many a nap in there).

If you are going for just one day I would buy genie + (which is usually $15 per ticket). It will allow you to skip the wait, which will help when you have little kids.

If your DD1 is shy this might actually be a better time to go. They are currently doing cavalcades with the characters driving by and waving, so you can see them from a distance without the "pressure" or going up to them. And even the princess meet and greets are socially distanced.

[maudefindlay]

Lines can be 45 min plus for the non thrill rides too, just be prepared for kiddie rides to be long. There is definitely enough for? a 3 yr old to do there. Get the app and familiarize yourself with it ahead of time to watch for ride times and order ahead your food.

Pick out your rides that are a must and map out the order to ride them in based on their location to maximize time and decrease unnecessary walking.

[krystee]

We have taken our kids at every age because the ILs live close by, and 3 is so fun!

[nicolewi]

I would absolutely do it. The only hesitation is your date...will it be incredibly packed??? But spring breaks are probably spread out this year with Easter late.

We only took our kids on one Disney vacation so far but I loved it and would love to get back again. Mine were just-turned 4, 6, 8 and 10 when we went. If I were you, with just one day, I'd try to be unambitious with my plan and focus on the things the girls would really like most. Soak up the princess magic stuff while you can!

Things I would try to do:
I don't know what's up with the character stuff now but you could try to do a princess thing of some kind. We did some princess dining, but that might already be booked...may want to look into that. Also not sure how that is working now with Covid.
If your 3 year old is 40 inches, there's a ton you can ride, and if not, still plenty.

I would definitely plan to watch the parade. They will love it.

Rides that would work well for you (there are really so many more, too):
--Carousel
--Beauty & the Beast experience thing
--Little Mermaid
--Peter Pan
--Small World
--Magic Carpets of Aladdin (my then four-year-old's absolute favorite)
--Mickey's Philharmagic

Plus you could to the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse if desired. Get the orange swirl treat things right near the treehouse--they are awesome. We didn't have time for the Tom Sawyer Island thingy but that's a way for kids to run around.

Definitely bring the stroller, let the kid nap in it as needed. We would do a long sit-down lunch for a break and I would recommend that if you can get reservations. Plan your meals in advance so you know where you are going and have reservations for any sit-down dining (if available).

[erbear]

I would not do this. Granted, I’m not a Disney person but we took out kids when they were 4 and 6. It was fun, but neither remembers it 6 years later. Can you just take one kid?

[SusanBAnthony]

Feb 15, 2022 19:56:55 GMT -5 erbear said:

I would not do this. Granted, I’m not a Disney person but we took out kids when they were 4 and 6. It was fun, but neither remembers it 6 years later. Can you just take one kid?

This was my thought. We went when our kids were 7 and 9 and they liked it and everything. But we said to each other at least 10 times a day, with a looking of terror in our eyes, that we were soooooo glad we didn't have a toddler or preschooler or stroller. Especially not a stroller.

I'd consider just taking the 7 year old on a big girl day put and leaving the little with the grandparents.

[nicolewi]

Stroller was no problem for us! We were saying we couldn’t imagine not having one in the future, bc it was so convenient for stashing all the extra stuff (jackets, princess dresses, snacks, water, etc).

[freshsqueezed]

Feb 15, 2022 23:34:17 GMT -5 nicolewi said:

Stroller was no problem for us! We were saying we couldn’t imagine not having one in the future, bc it was so convenient for stashing all the extra stuff (jackets, princess dresses, snacks, water, etc).

I was just talking about this earlier too and saying having a stroller was great!

[sent]

Is your 3 year old into Disney? I took DD when she was 3.5 and she thought everything was so cool. Like she saw the characters and thought they were real. And she also found a giant cutout of Pete somewhere in the circus themed area and Donald's nephews in a window on Main Street and was super excited to spot and see those things too. We also went to Magic Kingdom for only 1 day. I looked at my photos and this is what we did -

Small World ride
Dumbo ride
Winnie the Pooh ride
Mine Train ride
Beauty and the Beast story thing + meet Belle
Tea Cups ride
Met Ariel
Met the 2 Princesses in Storybook Hall
Met Mickey
Met Pluto
Eat ice cream
Watch fireworks (she did not like this and pulled down the hood on her stroller and hid inside)

DS is about to turn 4 and not quite as enthused about Disney in general as DD was. He said he wants to see "all Mickey" when we go. I think he will have fun regardless of what I plan. When they're so small, it's easy to have low expectations and meet them. And just let them discover things along the way. Even if they don't remember stuff, I remember taking them and the silly things we did. Like I tell DD how she was so afraid of the automatic toilets during our bathroom break that she peed in her shorts instead. I had no back up clothes so I rinsed out her shorts in the sink and put the wet shorts right back on her because it was 90 degrees out so they dried in like 20 minutes. And she thinks it's hilarious and I remember it and think it's hilarious too.

IMO the blogs go overboard.

[karinothing]

We just went at 6 an 10. Honesty I can't image going earlier. I don't personally want to pay much to meet characters and you can't meet them really now. They are behind a rope and you can stand in front of them, they will talk to you. But kids can not hug them or anything.

I love it with the big kids. We rode every ride. There was hardly a complaint. No tears. They still got somewhat excited about seeing characters. Even my 10 year old said (after seeing Wendy) "She sounds just like the movie Wendy!). But really I just loved being able to ride rides with them and the fact that food was easy (we ate on the go a lot). They didn't need any breaks (we did rope drop to 8pm).

We loved Disney Genie + but I heard it works better at Disneyland because there are just less people in general

[huckleberry]

100% yes I would go especially with a three year old! We just got back from a weeklong trip with a three year old and five year old. My kids can’t stop talking about it and can’t wait to go back (we will be back for Halloween).

I personally love having a stroller. I can throw all of our stuff in it and don’t have to worry about physically carrying backpacks, water bottles, souvenirs, etc.

I also don’t love the excuse that “they won’t remember it.” But that’s just me, I know everyone is different. They’ll love it in the moment and may not remember it years from now, but you will remember their joy and you’ll have wonderful pictures to look back on when they’re older. To each their own!

Also highly recommend purchasing Genie+ to minimize your time waiting in lines. It will make your day infinitely better and more enjoyable and you’ll feel like you accomplished so much more than without it.

[huckleberry]

Oh and Magic Kingdom is the best park of them all for that age group. You’ll be able to do almost everything - certainly more than enough to fill up on day! If you can swing it, highly recommend staying for fireworks too!

[Wines Not Whines]

There’s plenty for a 3 year old to do at Disney. I agree with others who said having a stroller isn’t a problem. I actually loved when we had a stroller, because my son would take naps in it, and we could stash our stuff in it.

[mccallister84]

My kids are 3.5 and 5 and aging out of the stroller for local events (zoo, science center, etc.). I hate it because now I have to carry everything around! We walked up to the library the other day (0.75 miles) and DD2 told me to leave the stroller because she would walk the whole way - I told her it wasn’t for her it was for the books 😂.

[noodleoo]

Thanks, everyone! I think we're doing it. H and I talked about it and we agreed to keep our expectations low and accept that it *may* suck (it probably will). But our kids are super into princesses and I think they will be amazed and excited just to be there even if we don't do a lot. They are pretty shy too, so not being able to get right up to the characters is probably better for DD1.

Thanks for the tips on rides! DD2 is pretty small and I think she's under 40". I'll have to download a map or something and start planning what we can go on. We also realized the kids have only seen the newer Disney movies, so we'll have to start playing some of the older ones so they actually recognize them when we get there! LOL

[karinothing]

Feb 17, 2022 10:44:26 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

Thanks, everyone! I think we're doing it. H and I talked about it and we agreed to keep our expectations low and accept that it *may* suck (it probably will). But our kids are super into princesses and I think they will be amazed and excited just to be there even if we don't do a lot. They are pretty shy too, so not being able to get right up to the characters is probably better for DD1.

Thanks for the tips on rides! DD2 is pretty small and I think she's under 40". I'll have to download a map or something and start planning what we can go on. We also realized the kids have only seen the newer Disney movies, so we'll have to start playing some of the older ones so they actually recognize them when we get there! LOL

Download the Disneyworld app It has a really useful map with updated wait times on rides.

[SusanBAnthony]

When I had a stroller I think I loved it but now with older kids it's even better because we don't have to carry stuff at all lolol.