We are going to WDW for the first time with my 6 year old daughter. I know that Magic Kingdom will be where we spend the majority of our time, and we need to plan some rest time in for her so that there aren't any melt downs. What are the must-see attractions at the AK, Epcot, and DHS? Anything that can certainly be skipped? Tips, hints, suggestions? :D

AK - Nemo, Lion King, Safari should all be very entertaining for your daughter - I would suggest Expedition Everest and Dinosaur but they may be too intense for a 6 year old.

DHS - Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Muppets (intense ToT and RoR)

Epcot - Nemo in the Seas, Soaring

I would add Tutle Talk with Crush in Epcot and Fantasmic! at DHS.

I'd add Test Track at Epcot (my 6 yo's favorite ride)

My daughter was 6 the last time we were there. She absolutely loved Space Mtn, Splash, Tower of Terror, Everest, Mission:Space, Test Track, Soarin', Big Thunder Mtn. She wasn't yet tall enough for RnR and was really bummed about that.

She has also enjoyed Mickey's Philharmagic, Little Mermaid show, and Goofy's Barnstormer roller coaster, and the Voices of Liberty choir in Epcot. :)

All the above -

The Barnstormer over and over and over again - you will be lucky to escape it within an hour ;) (MK) BTM is easier if you practice on this first.

Toontown characters, especially the princesses. Get there when it opens or wait a LONG time. (MK)

The Boneyard (AK)

All the parades, especially the daytime one at MK.

My 6 year old DD loved Tof T (DHS) and also Saorin (Epcot). But - she had to leave Dinosaur via the chicken entrance and Honey I Shrunk the audience made her a gibbering wreck and we had to make a swift exit from there too. My advice is to know what pushes your own child's buttons. My DD likes physical thrills but visual stuff which plays on an overactvie imagination is a problem for her.

Thanks for the feedback! I had already crossed the "It's Tough to Be a Bug" show off - she screams when she sees flies, but hadn't thought about Honey I Shrunk the Audience. Definitely something to consider...

OK, I like most of those (although Dinosaur totally undid my daughter- she cried for 20 min. It is very rough and lots of shouting and intense fear.)

But here are some ideas for quiet restful stuff- when you think your child needs to calm down. So not if she is raring to go and needs more stimulation.

MK- There are a number of playground like areas for just running around or exploring while parents sit. One of the least crowed would be Tom Sawyer's island. Ariels or Winnie the Pooh play yard in Fantasy land , Donald's boat in Toon town
-The train! But start someplace else then mainstreet if it is crowded- it is about 20 min of sitting and watching as you go around the park.
- Along the same lines the Transit Authority is just the right amount of quiet fun as you go around the park and through other rides- especially good at night.
-My 6 year old son loves the hokey Carousel of Progress. I would have thought it would bore him- and it may other kids. But it is a comfortable sit and rarely crowded

EP- The fish tanks at The Sea and the play areas are fun if you need to just chill out. There is an area with fish from Nemo you can "find"
- In innovations- again if the lines aren't too long. Exibit 6 is a fun game of "prevent the fire" and Exibit #10 plastic works allows you to make a robot (free) as well as design a computer version you run with a wii like pad in a race.
- If your pocketbook can stand it- the Japanese Store is full of great and different stuff.

AK- Hands down my favorite is the flights of wonder bird show. I never miss it and my kids have loved it with a quiet wow! as birds fly overhead. The patter between the hosts is funny as well.

DS- The animation studio has short classes that teach you to draw a disney character- this is especially good if your child likes art- and again a free drawing at the end makes it special. There are also some fun computers in the waiting area that you can "dub" you voices on cartoons.

I like these things because they are engaging, yet at the child's pace. They are things you might miss in getting to the top line stuff- but there is often a need for some different pace things as well. As you know, you have to go with the moment and what seems best. Of all of these, the Flights of Wonder is my favorite and the one do not miss item for me on the list.

Have a great time!!!!

And there is something to be said for a nice bench and a mickey shaped ice cream. Aha I'm really smiling now- 121 days left until we go!