On
May 30, 2013
Tracy
Asked
Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.
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“
What are some of the best things to do/see/experience at Disney World for a 3 year old? First trip in January and want to make the most of it! Thanks.”
Hi Tracy,
I remember taking my daughter to Walt Disney World at that age, and we had a great time.
I'm not sure which theme parks you are planning to attend, but let me give you some ideas for each park. At Magic Kingdom, you definitely want to check out Fantasyland and New Fantasyland. Rides not to be missed for little ones here include it's a small world, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, and Peter Pan's Flight. All of these rides are gentle enough for your little one, and there will be so much to look at! I really enjoy Epcot with a young child. Be sure to ride The Seas with Nemo and Friends so that your little one can ride through the story of Finding Nemo - but with real fish! Also, you may enjoy Turtle Talk with Crush, where your little one can see Crush talk to children. At Disney's Hollywood Studios, it's got to be Playhouse Disney Junior - Live on Stage!, where characters from Doc McStuffins and Sofia the First, among others, will delight and entertain your child in a lively puppet stage show. Finally, at Disney's Animal Kingdom, Kilimanjaro Safari is wonderful for the whole family. When my daughter was in preschool, she would ask again and again to go "on safari!" to see the elephants and giraffes.
A few other tips for your first trip with a little one. I recommend trying to stay on the child's schedule. If your child still naps, I suggest heading back to your resort for a nap, or at least some downtime, midday. This will lessen the likelihood of meltdowns in the late afternoon. Even though you are going in January, if the weather is nice, consider spending some time at the pool at your resort. Children always seem to love pools! Finally, relax and have a great time. Even if you only see a couple of attractions a day, your child is going to have a magical time on this trip.
I hope that this information is helpful for you, Tracy. Have a wonderful time planning your vacation, and please do not hesitate to ask if you have any further questions.