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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that a 3 year old would enjoy Florida?

27 replies

Anythingwithagiraffeonit · 22/04/2011 22:54

Disney, universal, seaworld etc.

I think a three year old would looooove it but DH seems to think they won't get any of it, or be able to go on anything.

I'm not talking roller coasters obviously, but really?? A three year old seeing Mickey mouse would surely be delighted?

(our DD is only 6 months btw which is why I don't know... It's about my niece.)

OP posts:
igetmorelovefromthecat · 22/04/2011 22:56

Yes a 3 year old would love it...my family had a house there for 12 years as I was growing up and I saw the looks on my little brothers' faces when they first did the theme parks at that age...definitely not too young.

thisisyesterday · 22/04/2011 22:57

i think they would enjoy it, but i'm not sure they'd remember that much of it.

so, if it's a kind of "once in a lifetime" type thing i'd maybe save it for when they're older.

scotlass · 22/04/2011 22:57

Well I waited till DD was 8 and she loved it. We are going to go when DS is 3 or 4 and believe it will be magical.

Good thing is they are still in buggy so less likely to be tired walking as a 5 or 6 year old would.

There's loads for a 3 yr old to do

inchoccyheaven · 22/04/2011 23:05

Mine probably wouldn't and would have found it overwhelming and the large than life characters a bit scary. Even now at 8 and 10 they show no interest in going. They are probably in the minority though .

Original poster
Anythingwithagiraffeonit · 22/04/2011 23:06

So you think they could still participate? And there would be 'things' for them to go on and do?

(thanks for replies!)

OP posts:
EvilTwins · 22/04/2011 23:09

I went this time last year with my DTDs - they were 3.9 at the time and they LOVED it. They were at the age where they totally believed in everything (ie that REALLY WAS Belle/Pocahontas/Peter Pan, not just someone in a costume) and it was magical. We had an absolutely wonderful time.

They still talk about it, so clearly do remember it all (so far, anyway). We'll probably go back in a few years, and I expect we'll have a totally different experience when they're older.

elphabadefiesgravity · 22/04/2011 23:10

YABU my then 4 year old didn;t enjoy Disneyland PAris which is much smaller with far less walking. He got bored, was scared of the characters and just wanted to go back to the hotel room to play with his toys.

Dd who was 6 at the time loved it but she did get tired. She went in the buggy meant for ds and he insisted on being carried everywhere.

They are now 7 and 9 and wouldboth like to go again.

igetmorelovefromthecat · 22/04/2011 23:13

Yep there is absolutely loads for them to do at that age - lots of rides that they can go on and interactive shows etc, plus all the character parades.

Also you can do 'baby swaps' on the rides that they are too small to go on but the adults do want to ride, only one person has to queue up while the other looks after the kid, then you can swap over without having to queue up again.

scotlass · 22/04/2011 23:14

definately theres things for them to go on and do.

the parades and shows are fantastic too, and the character meet and greets are brilliant. My DD said she was too old for princesses Sad before we went but soon reverted to a princess fan when we were out there Grin

I would just do loads of research before you go to plan things out. I spent ages a while on the internet researching everything and it made a massive difference. We never spent longer than 15 mins in a queue and had booked some slots in restaurants so didn't have to wait with tired hungry DD and grandparents

scotlass · 22/04/2011 23:16

Also having been lucky enough to do disney florida we found disneyland Paris a real let down. Probably would've loved it if we hadn't been to the USA one first.

cat64 · 22/04/2011 23:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Kitsilano · 22/04/2011 23:18

Just got back from 3 weeks in Florida with my 3 yr old and she adored it. The look on her face as she raced around Universal Islands of Adventure, jumped into pools at water parks and gazed at the characters in the Magic Kingdom parade will stay with me forever - whether she remembers it or not.

She cried when we left to drive to the airport because she sad she loved Florida so much...

squeakytoy · 22/04/2011 23:18

There would be plenty there for a 3yr old to do, but as already said, it is not going to be something they will remember at that age, and there will be a lot of rides that they are too small for. I would wait till they are about 7 to be honest to get your moneys worth all round.

Universal is brilliant, but definately more geared to kids a bit older, and the set tour is fantastic.

ihatebiffandchip · 22/04/2011 23:22

I have 2 comments to make... I went to florida age 16 and it was soooooooooo hot, we went in summer, so I would not contemplate florida to do theme parks in that weather. Also the queues were massive, 1 hour for each ride etc...

However, we have done disney paris with a 3 and 4 year old, who loved it, we went in october holidays and weather was pleasant, no need for coats etc but park was quiet so not much queueing, my kids found waiting more thann about 10 mins to be pretty unbearable tbh

princessparty · 22/04/2011 23:39

Disneyland paris is crap!
We took DS1 to disneyland florida the firdt time when he was 2.9.he enjoyed it but got very tired and hot.H enjoyed it alot more the second time at 6.5

VajazzHands · 22/04/2011 23:46

((wades in as the actual authority)) Grin

I was raised in FL and yes, there is an obscene amount to do with kids that age Disney is really designed for the very little ones although there are roller coasters for older kids etc too.

VajazzHands · 22/04/2011 23:47

Second the comments about not going between July-August though. Would be hard for an English baby :)

toody · 22/04/2011 23:55

I am going this year with 2.5 yr been many times so know he will enjoy it and yes i know he wont remember it, i dont really remember my 1st visit when i was 10. Its a good excuse to keep going back.

pjmama · 23/04/2011 00:06

Took my DTs when they were just 2. The sight of my DS running up to Mickey Mouse and clinging around his neck with a glazed look of adoration and awe on his face is a memory I will cherish forever. They loved it and we had a brilliant holiday. We went in October so the weather was pleasant without being ridiculously hot. Not sure they'd have coped with the heat in summer tbh.

bubblecoral · 23/04/2011 00:26

I agree with the others that if you are only likely to do it once in her childhood, then wait. Otherwise, she will love it, there is loads to do for children of that age.

Disneyland Paris doesn't even begin to compare to Disneyworld Florida. Not even close.

Annpan88 · 23/04/2011 01:30

Could go either way. I was taken at 3. Parents said I (who was otherwise a good child) was a nightmare. I never adapted to the time differencE, kept trying to run off and couldn't cope with the heat. They took me again when older and was amazing. I don't tremember anything from the first trip.

Personally I'd agree with your dh but it might be different with your dc

MrsDmamee · 23/04/2011 02:01

Brought my DS to Disney Florida when he was 2.6 yrs. He really enjoyed it.

For the few weeks before hand I had the disney channel on alot for him and mickey mouse club house. That really built up the excitment for him that he was going on a airplane to "mickey mouse house". So when we finally got to Florida and drove under the walt disney sign he shouted out "mickey mouse house!!!!"

He was really into trains and loved the spin from the parking lot to MK on the monorail. And there is a good few rides past the castle geared at younger kids. Dumbo etc..and of course its a small world...if you can stick the tune being in your head for the rest of your stay life

He also loved the Kennedy space center. Universal is more for older kids and my DS1 (12) enjoyed that better than disney.

Going to disneyland California this summer ds is now 5 so I'm hoping he enjoys it even more.

juneau · 23/04/2011 07:58

I don't think I'd go to Florida just to visit Disney with a 3-year-old, as those parks are huge and expensive and IMO kids get much more out of them when they're older. We'll probably take DS to Disneyland Paris at some point and see how he likes it and save a trip to Disneyworld for when he's older.

juneau · 23/04/2011 08:00

Also - I agree with the poster who said the jet lag and heat could be a big problem. We took DS to New York in September to visit my DH's family and he was brilliant (aged 2.10), but it was bloody knackering for all of us.

cory · 23/04/2011 10:14

I am sure they could love, it, but then a 3yo can love a gothic cathedral or an exhibition Renaissance madonnas if you make it fun for them and they are in a complaisant mood. If you are talking about the more sort of active/able to enjoy even if tired or hot/memories for a lifetime- enjoyment, then I'd leave it for a few years. Or just accept that you are going for your own sakes and that the enjoyment of your 3yo is a bonus.

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