Birthday trip for 3 year old

[Beckyboo1986]

We've booked a 10 night trip for our boys 3rd birthday. We're staying at CoCo Key and have a rough idea below.

Day 1 (arrival day PM): Collect car, get some dinner at the airport/hotel, early night.
Day 2:Explore local area. Play at water park in hotel. Get some food shopping.
Day 3 (Friday):Visit Universal Studios.
Day 4 (Saturday): Visit Volcano Bay (weather dependent). Possibly also visit another park.
Day 5 (Sunday): Visit Islands of Adventures.
Day 6: Visit Hollywood Studios.
Day 7: Visit Magic Kingdom for birthday boy.
Day 8:Possibly take day off to chill. Use hotel water park.
Day 9: Visit Epcot.
Day 10 (Friday): Visit Animal Kingdom.
Day 11 (departure day PM): Possibly visit a park again or do shopping.

I assume parks are busier at the weekend so thought I'd pop in which days they are.

[Shooby doo]

BB TBH I'd swap your day 2, you are going to be up at UK time & then put that "down day" in between your 4,5,6,7 as that's pretty full on & Birthday boy will spend his birthday "zonked out" in his stroller!
SD

[ajw77]

Agree with shooby doo, maybe put Animal Kingdom as your first day, it's a nice first park, not quite as manic as some of the other parks, lots of animals, shows etc for a 3 year old. Can then aim for rope drop as you'll be up early with the jet lag, and leave early to mid afternoon, when you're all be starting to flag. Then do your food shop afterwards maybe.

Perhaps put your hotel/explore day on the Saturday, after 2 full park days, your 3 year old will be ready for a rest. Also, waterparks tend to be much busier at the weekend.

Then maybe volcano bay on the Monday to break up that 3 day stretch of parks, so your little one is less zonked and more refreshed for his birthday.

Enjoy your planning/trip.

[Beckyboo1986]

Thank you so much. Ok so get straight to a park and explore.

We need to do some food shopping so is Animal Kingdom a full day park? Our hotel is closest to Universal parks so I wonder whether to visit one of those as it's slightly closer.

[Shooby doo]

BB seriously you are going to be awake at 4:00am! Hotel pool won't be open ! You will "flag" later on as your body is still on UK time (takes a couple of days for us)so agree pick an easy park, AK is best in the morning especially if it's forecast to be hot, as it's a park that soaks up the heat.
SD

[Dan_Mol]

Interesting read.

We're doing the 3rd birthday trip in just under two weeks time.

Have park reservations for everyday, if we need to have a down day we'll assess as we go. Water Parks, shopping, off site activities, fireworks etc.

Birthday plan is Hollywood Studios, dinner at Woodys BBQ.

Day 1 (Travel Day): Collect car, get some food, stay up as late as possible to get on US time.
Day 2: Magic Kingdom, not rushing to get up we'll be there whenever all ready to go. Imagine could be up and ready for 6am or 10am it's the unknown with a 3yr old.