Having been to Disney World a few times now, I have curated the best list of awesome Disney World Experiences for ages 3-5
There really is so much to do here, I would spend multiple days at this park (if you can fit it into your trip)! There are endless amounts of fun for all ages, and this park has the most rides.
For this trip, we had dinner at Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen in Adventureland, and it was really yummy! We had actually been there before and loved the experience, and I would recommend it again.
Definitely don’t miss on Dole Whip at Aloha Isle! (Tip: Skip the long line by order your Dole Whip with mobile ordering. Use the My Disney Experience App on your phone!)
Best Rides: Our girls’ favorites are Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Dumbo, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion (may be scary for little ones – our girls thought it was scary last year and amazing this year), it’s a small world (classic!), Peter Pan’s Flight, the People Mover (it’s a great one to give your feet a rest), and Journey of the Little Mermaid.
There are a lot of fun things to do in Epcot with kids! Even though the World Showcase is geared a little bit more towards adults, it’s still fun to go through it with kiddos and it’s a totally family-friendly experience. Don’t skip out on the French Bakery (Les Halles) in France!
You can meet Anna and Elsa in the Norway Pavilion (and then go on the Frozen Ever After ride). There is also a princess character dining spot in Akershus Royal Banquet Hall. Turtle Talk with Crush is a fun interactive show to catch that all the little ones will love and there is an aquarium there!
Best Rides: Spaceship Earth, Frozen Ever After, The Seas with Nemo and Friends, and Soarin’ Around the World (some who are afraid of heights may want to skip but our whole family loves this ride). If you’ve got adventurous little ones, try Test Track (there’s no drops, it just goes really fast at the end – both the girls loved it) or Mission Space (Green Mission, the less intense mission).
This trip we discovered that there are lots of fun things for kids to do in Hollywood Studios! Many of which are shows and experiences. It’s a fun change of pace from all the rides (don’t get me wrong, there are still rides to be rode), and a nice break from the heat. Not to mention, we absolutely love the new Toy Story Land.
Another new experience for us was the Disney Junior Dance Party. This is an absolute must-do with little kids! Super fun and interactive show with tons of your favorite characters that take the stage. Lots of dancing, singing, and even bubbles.
Best Rides: Toy Story Mania, Alien Swirling Saucers, and if your kids are feeling adventurous – Slinky Dog Dash! Caroline particularly loved this ride and rode it three times!
The Festival of the Lion King show is our favorite show in Animal Kingdom. It’s got singing, dancing, acrobatics, puppetry, and animatronics. It’s got a wonderful mixture of the Broadway play vibes (think traditional African costumes with puppetry) and the animated characters.
We tried Yak & Yeti for the first time in Animal Kingdom and I have to say it was our favorite meal the entire trip! This pan-Asian restaurant served up some delicious flavors and was great for the whole family. If you’ve never tried this restaurant before, put it on your list!
Best Rides: Kilimanjaro Safaris, Na’vi River Journey, and TriceraTop Spin.
If your kids are feeling adventurous (and they meet the height requirement), you all must do Avatar Flight of Passage! It is one of the most popular rides in all of Disney and is a really incredible ride. Our girls enjoyed the ride but had to be reminded to look to the side if they ever got nervous (that seemed to help them).
Disney Springs is a wonderful area of shopping, dining, and entertainment – no park admission required! We had a wonderful breakfast at T-REX Restaurant (the girls absolutely loved it). And you can’t miss the world’s largest Disney store – World of Disney!
The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is a MUST in Disney Springs. Something about little girls getting fun hair and makeup just makes my heart so happy. If you’re unable to secure a reservation in Magic Kingdom, definitely go in Disney Springs. It’s just as magical and was a total pampering experience for the girls.
They also have packages for boys where they turn them into little knights! It was so cute to see all of the boys getting “knighted” in the boutique.