6 Year old newbie

[jbtaylor780]

My sister and I are are Disney veterans. The last several years it's just been her and I enjoying the park. This year we've decided to bring our 6 year old great niece for her first visit. I'm looking for some advice as to some things a 6 year old would enjoy. I was thinking a character meal but not quite sure if this would be a good idea as she's not a great eater. Bibbiti Bobbiti boutique is out as my niece favors the villains (ie, evil queen and malificent) over the princesses. We do have reserved seating for Fantasmic. For those of you with small children how do you handle World of Color and the little ones being able to see??? Any suggestions and advise would be appreciated. Thanks All!

[Malcon10t]

We take my nieces frequently, and one just turned 8. One thing she really enjoys is her autograph book. She loves getting autographs. Another is pin trading. I got her a lanyard, and started her with about 4 of my traders. She had fun with those, just trading.

As far as the character meals, you aren't going for the food, you are going for the character interaction. If she likes characters, you might check out Minnie's as it is one of the cheaper ones.

WoC, we usually do a dinner and get the dining section. It is easier to get them a good spot. We haven't had a problem with them seeing doing it this way.

Also, take her up to pilot the Mark Twain. Our kids LOVED that!

[leota's necklace]

Bibbiti Bobbiti boutique is out as my niece favors the villains (ie, evil queen and malificent) over the princesses.

No suggestions, but I just have to say that this does my heart good.

[curtsinore]

Have you ever visited Disneyland with a visitor the age of your guest? And how old are you? (This to give you an idea of what may not happen on your visit) For villians, Cruella has an act in front of the firestation and evil queen appearances behind castle.

[missm]

I agree with Mal on the character breakfast and autograph book. We took our niece when she was six and that was her favorite part of the day. We did the Minnie's breakfast and she barely ate anything but had the BEST time. We have pictures of her with so many characters to go along with all of their signatures.

One thing I remember about taking her is that she was nervous about going on the scary rides (Pirates was scary to her). I think it was just the fear of not being with her mom to be honest, we just let her pick the rides she wanted to go on basically.

[tea4two]

When will you be taking her? If she prefers villains over princesses, Halloween Time at DLR is not too far off (9/14 - 10/31). Here is the link: http://disneyland.disney.go.com/events/halloween-time/. She might enjoy the Halloween Party, which will give you lots of opportunities for villain interaction.
If you are going sooner, how about Jedi Training Academy?
Agree with Mal about doing the dining package for WOC (either Wine Country Trattoria, prix fixe, or Carthay Circle, 1 entree and either an appetizer or a dessert) or a WOC picnic. The dining area is smaller, so finding good spots is easier if you are early enough. The picnic fastpass is much less expensive and allows you entry into the non-preferred area before non-picnic guests. Bring something (electronic or not) to help keep your niece occupied during the wait. When we do the dining package at WCT, we get our desserts packed to go and have a little feast while waiting. That and a deck of cards seem to keep our nephews happy.
At DCA, she might enjoy Dancin' With Disney (http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/show...isney-loved-it!). And some kids really like Mad T Party (be warned: it is loud!).

[candles71]

Pressed pennies are popular and inexpensive collectibles for her as well.

[tea4two]

And don't forget to get her a "First Visit" button!

And instead of BBB, do you think she would like to have her face painted?

If she likes animals, the petting zoo is fun.

Is your niece local? If so, maybe you can break things up into several visits so that she doesn't get worn out (and neither do you!). Our nephews are on the east coast, so we would send lots of maps from both parks well ahead of each visit. They would have fun planning which rides they wanted to go on each day and where they wanted to eat.

[Drince88]

Will the Pirates League be open yet when you're there? That might appeal to an anti-princess, and I think it's more reasonably priced!

[jbtaylor780]

Thank you all for the great tips and ideas! We will definitely be putting them to use. We are not local and that is one of the reasons we go during the off season - less crowds and shorter hours. We figure by the time the parks close our niece will be ready for a quick dip in the pool, shower and bed. I will definitly be checking into Minnie's and the World of Color meals for better seating. I love the Mark Twain idea..this is something she would really get a kick out of. I think my sister and I are just excited about taking her as she is to go.

[curtsinore]

When it comes to threads about first time visits by young folks my input is always pessimistic. I have have never had success with first time visitors. My 5 year old son wouldn't step into rides that were dark, three years later I had to sit with his 8 year old friend on the bench outside the exits as the rest of the family went on indy, splash, HM and pirates. Then another visit with a 10 year old that really shocked me about his lack of willingness to ride indy, thunder and splash.Then there are folks here at MP who have 4 year olds who do it all. I think the most important plan is to have a mind-set that what you favor and understand may very well have an opposite reaction from your guest. And I don't think a 6 year old is too old for a stroller! Good luck, I think your trip report would be very informitive for future guests to this site as many folks do seek information about your situation

[tea4two]

You might want to check out MP's Parenting in the Parks forum. Lots of good information and tips to be found there for parents and anyone taking kids to the parks!

[candles71]

Good point about the stroller. The park strollers are up to 80 pounds, if you find she is tiring easily. Renting one towards the end of the week if needed is better at that age than hauling one around the whole time I think, but is my own opinion. My youngest was 9 last year and still needed one by the end of the trip. This year we only went for the 2 days for the Carsland Party and one day at Disneyland. She complained late in the day at Carsland that daddy walked too fast and her legs hurt, so she and I just slowed down, and daddy had to slow down for her. In the dark, it helped knowing where she was.
Buy glow sticks/bracelets before you come. I find them in the dollar bins at Target and Micheal's, as well as at the dollar store. Not only does it save a heap of money, but my kids also share and make friends with kids around them while waiting for Fantasmic, or World of Color. Or I reward little (alright 8ish) girls who tell the teenagers, screaming in Haunted Mansion, to shut up.

[jbtaylor780]

Lots of great ideas! Thank you everyone. Candles, I hadn't thought about Glow Sticks. I will definitely pick some up before our trip. Curt, my sister and I are both in our mid
40's and we are just happy to be sitting on a park bench people watching and taking in the park ambience (Our kids are now adults so it's been quite a while since we've had little ones in the park). We know this trip is going to be about what our niece wants to do (or not) and we are fine with it. If she feel she needs a stroller she will get one.......she will be one spoiled little lady on this trip. Again thank you everyone for your great advice. We are definitely going to be putting it to great use.

[Drince88]

We know this trip is going to be about what our niece wants to do (or not) and we are fine with it.

You got it. I was just coming to see if anyone had given a key piece of advice -- Go at the child's pace! (Which is basically what you said.) Sensory overload can be tiring for some, too!

[josephfive]

When my kids were that age, they loved Tom Sawyer's Island and then Pirate's Lair. I couldn't believe how much time we spent there! They loved riding the different cars down Main Street. They loved the Mark Twain! The monorail and the train too!

What they didn't like was waiting in line where they couldn't see much, so something like a lanyard is good to look at. They didn't like being hot. So a mini squirt bottle fan was good. They got hungry at odd times, so have plenty of snacks.

[candles71]

Snacks that are heavy on the protein. One of my kiddos gets low blood sugar and lots of protein helps. It helps the rest as well.

[jMom]

Turtle Talk with Crush might be fun for her, as well as hanging out for a bit in the Animation building at DCA. Has she been to other amusement parks yet? Is she excited about the trip? How many days will you be there? You might want to talk with her and work up a list of 3 things you absolutely want to do and then hit those early in the day. When I've done that with our kids (who are currently 7 and 9), it works well and the rest of the day feels like a gift and is relaxed.

Re: World of Colour - I bought the picnic lunch boxes so we didn't have to wait in a FP line (you also get a light up bracelet with the kids' meal) and talked to a CM about the best place to go with the kids for the show. She recommended not crowding toward the water with everyone else, but hanging back nearer the esplanade. so the kids could see over them. Because I had the kids on my own and we'd been in the parks for over 12 hours at that point, I had our double stroller, and the kids stood up on this to watch the show. It was our best viewing ever and we weren't blocking anyone.