AK shows for preschoolers: Lion King or Finding Nemo?

Disneybiginner

Mouseketeer
Joined
Jul 19, 2017
(I have posted this at Attractions board earlier, got some suggestions, want to post on the family board as well.)

first time WDW trip in Jan 2018 with 2 DDs, 5 & 2, is it easier to take a midday break (Contemporary), or just go half day?

Must do ride is the safari, maybe river ride at Pandora if have FP+, and one show if no time for both. Not necessary need to see RoL. The girls have watched both movies, don't have preferences to one or the other.

Also, I hear the animals are more active in the early morning, what about early evening, say around 5-6pm?

Thanks you so much!

More back ground information. We will stay at Contemporary. Per our touring plan, the day prior to AK day will be a full packed MK day till park close. The day follows AK day will be a late start HS day since we will be there only for those princesses related shows and F!. So we are in doubt if the kids will get up early enough for rope drop AK after that full MK day. Hence the half late start day for AK comes in mind.
 
I am following, i am also going in Jan 2018 the 17th to the 24th.

Sorry i don't have any input but i hope someone does.
 
Our kids last year (same age as yours) were captivated by lion king. It's a spectacle. Finding Nemo was ok but didn't get the same reaction.

We usually took a mid day break for naps and if the kids energy was good we headed back out after. Some days we just relaxed at the pool or just watched cartoons. It's a lot of money to just watch cartoons but we didn't want to burn out the kids mid-stream.

Have a great time!
 
When he was a preschool kid, DS loved FN but I think FOTLK is really better. It's much livelier and involves the kids more. Both are good. With a preschool age kid, we did the safari and Dino Land with out the Dinosaur ride. He loved the Dino Spin ( Dumbo as a Dinosaur), and the Dino Dig Playground. He also loved going out to Planet Watch, ridding the train and doing the activities there. The walks to see the animals are also great to do. Pandora is certainly going to be worth a visit and the boat ride there is supposed to be very cool and family friendly thought we missed it by a week last trip so no first hand experience. The Flights of Wonder show is also very cool. I think you are going to want more time there than you might think you will.
 
The FOTLK show was a big hit with our three year old DD. She was mesmerized. Dinoland is a fun area for preschoolers too, especially the Boneyard play area and Triceratops Spin ride.
 
Both my kids loved Lion King (they were 16 months and 4.5). Only the 4.5 year old liked Nemo.
 


Last year, our 2 year old was obsessed with the finding nemo musical. He was a little scared during fotlk.
 
Our 2.5 & 5 yr olds liked both shows. Lion King was a bit more interactive and intense since it focused more on live, human performers. Nemo was a bit more passive, sort of like watching tv, it was darker and the theatre seemed cooler, which was amazing at 2pm.

I cannot say enough good things about the Boneyard play area in Dinoland. The dino dig site is completely shaded, with seats for the parents, filled with pea gravel instead of sand (less mess) and only one way in/out. The only thing that could have made it better for the parents would be a bar.

Our boys are early birds, so we choose to RD and to leave the parks between 2-3 depending on their moods. Some days we went back at night, some days we didn't.
 
I'd vote for Lion King. Kids fell asleep both times we went to see Nemo. The Lion King show is fantastic.
 
My girls were 5 and 3 last year when we went and we could have skipped the lion king show. They we not impressed at all. They loved the Nemo show and still mention it every once in awhile.
 
Our grandkids liked Nemo, because of the interaction-they loved getting up and marching around playing instruments.
 

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