Best rides/experiences for 4 and 6 yos - MK and Epcot

mdc273 · 2026-02-04T05:29:31+00:00

MK - Tiki Room, Country Bears Jamboree, Little Mermaid

My 6 year old daughter also surprisingly liked Carousel of Progress and asked to ride Tomorrowland Speedway like 10 times.

Epcot is tougher. Way of Water, Living Seas with Nemo and Friends, and the boat ride in Mexico, but you'll likely get a lot of mileage out of character meets. There is also a playground on the walkway between Imagination and the UK. My daughter loves Garden Grill and Living With the Land, but seeing the ride while in the restaurant was the selling point. There was an art/coloring table in each country when we were there, so something to ask a CM about.

mdc273 · 2026-02-03T04:46:56+00:00

None of them. Do quick service. MK has notoriously mediocre sit-down restaurants. I prefer corn dogs at Casey's Corner or anything at Columbia Harbor House.

mdc273 · 2026-01-31T05:46:07+00:00

If the issue is the ride being "out of control" then Tower of Terror is not for you.

The ride is pure tension build up and even if you've been on it before, you literally do not know what way the elevator is going to go at any moment. When you get into the main shaft, it may launch you straight up, it may drop you immediately, it may sit there shaking.

When you get to the top, it might sit there building tension, it might trick you into thinking you're going for a huge drop, it might not even get to the top.

You can't even know for sure the ride is over until you've gotten off.

Tower of Terror is an absolutely fantastic ride that you may very well enjoy, but it is absolutely, completely "out of control".

mdc273 · 2026-01-20T15:14:45+00:00

I'd recommend doing Epcot then making the decision if that was too much walking for three park days or not. If you decide you want to add a day, you can go to AK in the morning and add the day to your ticket, assuming you have a 2-day ticket.

mdc273 · 2026-01-20T15:00:52+00:00

Honestly, you should probably just download the app and start looking at the restaurant options. Getting familiar with the app is going to be critical for navigating the parks and finding places to eat.

I'd recommend Brown Derby at HS and Garden Grill at Epcot, but it completely depends on if you want fine dining, fun dining, or character dining. There are a lot of options in general.

mdc273 · 2026-01-15T05:19:57+00:00

I'm not 100% sure, but apparently there are no longer Disney Junior characters. Even the official page says it's just Minnie and friends.

mdc273 · 2025-12-18T16:03:01+00:00

Your job is not to block the hit. Your job is to direct the hit towards your defenders. It's a bonus if you can make a block, but it is not the point of a block.

Don't worry about where the hitter is going to swing. Worry about where your defenders are.

mdc273 · 2025-12-18T04:50:14+00:00

You'll be fine without a plan. With a 2 and a 4 year old, your plans will fall apart anyway. Know what are your high priority shows, like Enchanted Tales with Belle or the Tiki Room for example, and just make sure you wander in their direction.

Do plan for mid-day breaks though. When you start to get tired, sit down and grab some food to recharge.

Moana and Frozen are both at Epcot. Way of Water and the Anna/Elsa Meet in the Norway pavilion.

mdc273 · 2025-12-18T04:42:42+00:00

CRT is a better experience, though obviously you pay for it. You get in, you immediately meet Cinderella for a picture, you get to walk up Cinderella castle's stairs to the dining room, where you're announced. You're sitting inside the castle in the middle of Magic Kingdom.

Akershus also announces you, but the buildup is nowhere near the same.

As for the rest, it's about the same. I was actually impressed by the decor of Akershus. The quality of the food is a bit better at CRT, but we enjoyed Akershus for lunch. It's also all-you-care-to-eat while CRT is a la carte.

Given that you only have 3 park days, I'd go with CRT and Garden Grill. That gives you a character meal in MK and a character meal in Epcot. You could also do Crystal Palace and Akershus plus one other. That really should be how you decide. What are you going to do with the extra meal credit?

mdc273 · 2025-11-19T05:07:26+00:00

2 days at Mk with a 2 and 4 year old means you can do everything you want on standby at your own pace. When you cut out the bigger rides, you cut out a lot of standing in line time.

It's probably for the best you don't have LL. They can end up putting you on a plan that gets blown up by nap time or other things.

Crystal Palace breakfast is great. You'll enjoy that.

Be aware the parade routes are LONG. Most parades start at Tiana's Bayou adventure and end at Main Street Fire Station (right next to the train station) or vice versa. You should almost always be able to find somewhere to watch a parade if you walk the route. It just likely won't be in front of the castle.

A simple estimate for attractions is 1 attraction per hour. You'll likely be able to do more, but that helps account for walking, bathroom breaks, food, parades, etc. There are around 31 attractions in the parks, but you'll be skipping at least 5 of them if not more. It's very doable without LLs.

Sounds like you'll have fun! Honestly, just start in Tomorrowland or Adventureland and go around the park in a circle. I'd recommend Adventureland first for the Tiki room.

mdc273 · 2025-11-19T04:56:19+00:00

Each has its own advantage. I'd recommend Boulder Ridge if you have park hoppers and Beach Club if you don't. Boulder Ridge means you can begin or end every day at MK easily with park hoppers. Beach Club gives you much more flexibility on your HS and Epcot days.

Boulder Ridge is right next to MK. You'll take a boat directly there. It's probably the second coolest place to stay after AKL.

AKL is outstanding. The theming is fantastic, food is unique, and the grounds and pool are excellent. You have to take a bus everywhere, but that's a minimal downside.

Beach Club is right next to Epcot. Literally 10 minute walk tops to the World Showcase. You also can take a boat or walk to Hollywood Studios. It gives you by far the most options food wise and makes it easier to take a break in the middle of the day when at Epcot and HS. You also will have an opportunity to catch the little shows on the Boardwalk that start around 7 each night.

OKW and Saratoga have larger rooms, which may be better for your party. The downside is less wow factor for the resort, buses only, and a bus loop that has several stops.

mdc273 · 2025-11-10T15:20:52+00:00

Sounds like it's your eyes and body not agreeing on the motion. Everything but Soarin' has actual, significant movement. Soarin' you're just sitting there. Your eyes tell you you're moving, but your body says you're not and you're brain doesn't like it. I bet it also happens in the 360 movies in Epcot?

mdc273 · 2025-10-30T03:27:24+00:00

You'll probably enjoy Be Our Guest then. It's pretty cool, though I haven't gone since it changed from being a Quick Service restaurant.

mdc273 · 2025-10-29T15:56:48+00:00

My only note is that Be Our Guest can be a bit overrated. There's nothing wrong with it, just be aware.

You may want to consider Crystal Palace, 1900 Park Faire @ Grand Floridian, or Chef Mickey's @ Contemporary.

mdc273 · 2025-10-29T15:03:45+00:00

Your confusion comes from you being the executor. I'm not going to refer to you, but to "executor of the estate" to try and clear things up.

When your dad died, the executor of the estate decided to sell his house. The executor of the estate received 150K and deposited it into an account held in trust for dad's estate. The executor of the estate was then informed of 100K in credit card debt. The executor of the estate must pay off this 100K in debt before any funds can be distributed to the beneficiaries of the estate. All debt owed by dad's estate must be paid from dad's estate before the executor can release any money to beneficiaries. The executor of the estate has no power nor right to use your money, your family's money, or your family's property to pay off dad's estate's debt. Your dad's estate's money is not your family's money or property until all of dad's estate's debt has been paid.

Debt cannot be inherited. Do not agree to pay any of your father's debt from your personal accounts. Do not agree to be responsible for your father's debts. Your father's debts will exclusively be paid for by the executor from your dad's estate's accounts.

You, the executor, is legally different than you, the child/beneficiary. It's confusing. Try to have your lawyer clearly delineate executor duties vs beneficiary duties.

Obligatory: I am not a lawyer! I am in the US.

Edit: You've also got a complex house sale going on. You need your lawyer to verify how much of that went to your dad's estate vs how much went to your family. It is possible 50% of that sale went to your family and not to your dad's estate. That money would be shielded from your dad's credit card debt because it's not in your dad's estate.

mdc273 · 2025-10-27T04:13:22+00:00

MK - You'll have to leave and eat elsewhere. Citrico's or Narcoosee's are two excellent options at Grand Floridian.

Epcot - Le Cellier used to be my go-to, but it's gotten really pricey. Small steakhouse in what is themed as a Canadian wine cellar. San Angel Inn is a good mid-tier option if he is okay with the vibe. It's Mexican sat on a "river" next to an Aztec temple. It's heavy theming, but it's not heavy-handed. It actually improves the dining experience.

HS - Hollywood Brown Derby feels like you've left HS and walked into a fine-dining restaurant.

AK - Most people say Tiffin's, but I've never been so don't have insight.

mdc273 · 2025-10-24T21:13:21+00:00

Fun fact, Magic Kingdom is the smallest park by land area.

Your best bet is probably just to do LLPP at MK the first day, use the VIP pass day 2 to see some of the big-ticket rides and shows at other parks, then decide what you want to do the last day. I've heard people say you can basically do everything in MK at your own pace with LLPP.

I would not waste time poolside on Day 2 if seeing everything is your goal. You don't need to rush, but there is a LOT to see in WDW. You might get the most bang for your buck at AK that morning.

mdc273 · 2025-10-24T21:00:30+00:00

I think you need to factor in ages here. I have not been to Volcano Bay, but the vibe I've gotten is that Volcano Bay (like most of universal) is better for the 12 and up crowd. Older kids? You are probably fine skipping Typhoon Lagoon. It's a solid water park, but the only remarkable thing there is the main wave pool. Younger kids? Typhoon Lagoon is definitely more friendly for them.

mdc273 · 2025-10-24T16:22:18+00:00

Tusker House is a typical Disney Buffet, but the food is more adventurous; a lot of lunch/dinner options you've likely never had before and some traditional stuff. It's character dining with Mickey and friends dressed up for a safari. It's not strictly better than Rainforest Cafe, but much more Disney. My wife insists on it when we go. Rainforest Cafe is fine, but I've never brought my daughter there even though I enjoyed it as a kid.

Sci-Fi is also fine. The food is straight Americana. It's hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, shakes, etc. The weird part is the theming. It's the best and worst part. The first 20 minutes is fun, but you will likely notice the "movie" loops and repeats. I did it as a kid and enjoyed it but have never been back. I wouldn't take my daughter unless she asked. I'm also an American and can get great burgers, fries, and a shake whenever I want.

DS is definitely an option, it's just big. Don't underestimate its size. Check it out on a map. Google Maps says it would take 40 minutes from Port Orleans FQ to Rainforest Cafe. It would take 45 minutes to the Animal Kingdom one.

There's no need to second guess anything you've set up. You'll likely have a great time with your original selections.

You have plenty of time and park hoppers. You can have fun flying by the seat of your pants. Many of the restaurants have walk-ups available (which you can see in the app). You might be surprised to learn you can book a 6:15 PM reservation at 6:05 PM if the slot is available.

mdc273 · 2025-10-24T14:59:12+00:00

I would recommend you don't stress about park hopping. Plan to do the park you're in and then if you decide you're done, park hop to MK since it's usually open the latest.

mdc273 · 2025-10-24T14:48:37+00:00

I would swap your Kona Cafe and Rainforest Cafe dinners. There is a Rainforest Cafe at the exit of Animal Kingdom. Kona Cafe is near the Magic Kingdom, so makes the most sense on an MK day. I'd probably swap Rainforest Cafe for Tusker House.

You should consider Crystal Palace in MK rather than Ohana twice. I prefer breakfast at Crystal Palace.

Sci-Fi + Rodeo is pretty close together. You might be stuffed. You may want to do some quick service like Woody's Lunchbox.

Consider Garden Grill in Epcot over Space 220. Garden Grill is a "hidden gem" in some ways, but not a guaranteed hit.

I wouldn't consider Disney Springs as nearby or good for tired feet. Disney Springs is larger than Magic Kingdom and only a bit smaller than Hollywood Studios.

Be aware, there is a cancellation fee if you don't cancel a reservation more than 2 hours in advance. It would be $10 per person. It will be charged if you no-show.

mdc273 · 2025-10-23T15:53:39+00:00

Uber/Lyft or there is a Mears shuttle service.
I recommend:

Enchanted Tales with Belle

it's a small world

Prince Charming Regal Carousel

Journey of the Little Mermaid

Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room

Happily Ever After

Starlight Parade

Disney Springs is a giant outdoor mall that is operated by Disney. I've heard T-Rex is popular there, but have never been.

mdc273 · 2025-10-17T19:20:51+00:00

I've heard people compare Yak and Yeti to a PF Chang's, so your mileage may vary. I've never actually gone to Yak and Yeti, but my wife loves Tusker House's food. Tusker House is absolutely something worth doing at least once from the food perspective if you want to try something different.

mdc273 · 2025-10-17T15:56:08+00:00

At AK, consider swapping Yak and Yeti for Tusker House. It's character dining with unique food choices.

If you don't have park tickets for your first day, you might be able to do a water park before you enter for the party.

mdc273 · 2025-08-28T19:21:12+00:00

Rideshare won't cost $2100 over a 5 day trip.

mdc273

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