I've got 2 days at DW with a 2.5 year old, I won't miss...

BlueRidge8

We leave for DW in two weeks and until yesterday our plan was just to get non-hopper park passes and go to MK both days.

Then my sister (who is a cast-member) called yesterday and talked us into the hoppers because with her discount it wasn't much more.

So now I'm trying not to over-think what to hit during our short trip. With your toddler, what top 3ish things would you try to include? If it helps, we are staying close to MK and are on the monorail, so it will be fairly easy to jump from one to another (except AK)

 Thanks

acaudill75

I think you should go to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. Save Epcot for when LO is older. I would stay with the little kid friendly rides likes it a small world and try to take in the "shows" that you don't have to wait too long for. There's nothing worse than standing in line with a small child. Also, Animal Kingdom was a hit with DD1, although she fell asleep in the Lion King show, which was really good. The Safari ride she loved, because of all the animals, real and animatronic. I wish I could tell you the names of the rides we took her on, but I just don't remember. She even loved the Haunted Mansion at 10 months old!

klondikebar

I'd probably just stick with MK for a 2 day trip. I would hop to Epcot for lunch each day. Magaritas!

littlestjerry

Oooh, please do an update when you return because we'll be taking DS next year when he's 2.5, and I'm a little nervous about how he'll do. I actually think a toddler would like Hollywood Studios more than Animal Kingdom. Doesn't HS have those Disney Jr. shows? But, maybe just 2 days of Magic Kingdom would be best since that's definitely the quintessential Disney experience.

GrayGhost13

Honestly, at this age, anything in DW is totally awesome and mind-blowing to them, so I'd try not too push too hard or do too much and burn yourself out, but take it easy, try to get fast passes and/or go to attractions with shorter lines wherever possible (pps' suggestion about shows having quicker queues is spot-on, BTW) and just relax and soak up the environment.

The last couple times we were at MK, I think my DS' favorite things were meeting Donald and Goofy (a.k.a. "quack quack" and "dawg" to him!), riding the train, drinking a LaFou's brew at Gaston's Tavern (we never let him drink juice so that was like whoa! for him), and some of the parades or shows with music.

Hollywood Studios has some good toddler-oriented stuff (Disney Junior show, Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground, Toy Story ride and--my kid's favorite but may be too loud for some--Lights Cars Action). However, it's a bit of a PITA to get from there to MK (since DHS is not on the monorail), so I'd probably skip it unless you want to spend a full day there.

Epcot will have the Flower and Garden Festival going on while you're there, and they have some special play areas for the kids and special food tasting booths set up. If you're there mainly for DD, then you might want to focus on MK, but if you want to use your park hopper, you could hop over on the monorail and get some snacks and drinks at Epcot and see some of the gardens while you're there.

Have fun! The weather's been pretty nice lately, so hopefully it will be good for your trip and the crowds won't be too crazy with spring breakers. GL!

BlueRidge8

GrayGhost13:

Have fun! The weather's been pretty nice lately, so hopefully it will be good for your trip and the crowds won't be too crazy with spring breakers. GL!

Awesome, thanks all!

I'm fully prepared for the ridic onslaught of people though I've kinda resigned with DH's schedule, we'll never not be there with the whole of the earth.

Our plan is to have our top 3 to-do's both days and knock them out as early in the day as possible then just go with the flow for the remainder.