On
Jul 6, 2011
Sarah from TX
Asked
Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.
Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.
“
We are headed to WDW for the 1st time this Christmas (dec. 23-28th). We have 3 boys ages 2 -9, what are some must see / do things we need to cram in during our 5 day stay at the park?”
Hi Sarah:
I'm a parent of two boys, ages 5 and 4, and I would love to share some of my family's must-dos for our Disney World vacations. Your family may have different tastes, but hopefully these recommendations will be a good start to planning your trip.
Among many other things: at the Magic Kingdom, we always ride the Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan's Flight, Mickey's PhilharMagic, The Haunted Mansion, and it's a small world. At Epcot, we take in Spaceship Earth, Soarin', Living with the Land, and tour the countries of World Showcase. Our must-dos at Hollywood Studios include Toy Story Mania, Star Tours and Muppet Vision 3-D. At Animal Kingdom, our family always rides the Kilimanjaro Safari and visits Conservation Station. As you enter the parks, pick up a Times Guide for parades and show schedules throughout the day.
Of course, every family is different, and to have a successful trip, you will have to take your childrens' likes, dislikes, and comfort-level into account. Also, some attractions have height restrictions. To that end, consider taking advantage of Rider Swap on select attractions. Rider Swap allows guests with youngsters too small or hesitant to ride a certain attraction to take turns riding the ride. The guest waiting with the child can then "swap" with the other adults in their party to ride the attraction without waiting on line again.
If your boys are anything like my sons, they love pirates. Make a reservation for your older boys to be transformed into pirates for the day at The Pirates League. Simply call (407) WDW-CREW (939-2739) for reservations (theme park admission required).
For a fun dining experience, think about a character meal such as Chef Mickey's. Another idea is the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, which is a vaudeville-style dinner show featuring favorites like fried chicken, smoked bbq pork ribs, fresh corn bread, and strawberry shortcake.