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EPCOT; Mother and Son; Spaceship Earth
  • On Oct 27, 2012
    Mark from ID 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 taking our 4 year old to his first amusment park what are some ideas to make sure he understands he has to stay with us. and what being lost is

    Hi there, Mark!

    While the thought of visiting a theme park like Walt Disney World can be incredibly exciting, there is definitely an element of nervousness that can exist for both children and their grownups.

    At four years old, he is likely able to "get" the idea that it's critical to stay with his grownups at all times, but he might not know exactly why. Without getting into the super-scary aspects of the situation, you can gently but firmly impart to him the importance of always knowing where his grownups are -- and teach him to look for a grownup wearing a name tag, should he lose you. But you can certainly tell him about the number of people / crowd levels, the size of the area, etc.

    Just the solemn tone of your voice and the serious look on your face will be enough to signal that this is big-time information.

    And there are preventive options you might choose. If your little one is a "darter," consider a harness. They come in handy for maintaining closeness. If he'll sit in a stroller, that will also mitigate some of his enthusiasm to run and play.

    You might find that he is so taken with his surroundings and the hugeness of it all that he is more than willing to stay with his grownups, enjoying the amazing experience as a family.

    Have a wonderful time!

    See you later, celebrator,
    -Deborah B.



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Meet the Panelist: Deborah, Florida

As a Florida native, my life has always included Walt Disney World. Now I share that magic with my husband and my sons, ages seven and eight. In between trips to the World, I teach for the Department of English at the University of South Florida. Learn More About Deborah

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