Dealing with the young and the restless at Disney World

Editor’s note: This is the third in a six-part Q&A series on “Bringing the kids to Disney World.” Today, Orbitz’s Robin Gallagher presses Jonas Lehmann-Karp, of The Walt Disney World Moms Panel, on what to do with antsy kids.

Find a great playground for little ones near Mickey’s House in Toontown.

Q: Where in the parks can I take my kids to expend some energy in a safe, confined environment? My kids love to run, climb and explore, and it would be nice for me to be able to relax for a few minutes.

A: As a parent to two youngboys, I appreciate that each of the Disney World parks has at least one play area for younger guests to enjoy and burn off some of the energy they might store up while waiting in line.

There are several areas in Disney’s Magic Kingdom that are dedicated for little ones to run around. Our favorite is Pooh’s Playful Spot, a 6,300-square-foot play area located in Fantasyland. This area features a kid-sized house, log slide, crawl spaces, and a soft floor. Adults will enjoy the tree bench, where they can sit and relax while keeping an eye on their young ones.

There is also a toddler-sized playground located near the entrance to Splash Mountain. We also enjoy this playground because it’s near restrooms and is a quick walk to the nearby Magic Kingdom railroad. After some play time in the playground, our family hops on the train for a loop around the park or we hop out at one of the several stops along the way.

In Epcot, there is a small-but-fun indoor playground in the Mission Space building. Just enter the building through the regular ride line and ask a Cast Member to direct you to the Space Base playground in the post-show area.

In Disney’s Hollywood Studios, our boys often play in the 11,000-square-foot larger-than-life “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” play area. This play area boasts slides, mazes and giant blades of grass.

At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, we enjoy The Boneyard, a dinosaur-themed playground. The Boneyard features a multi-level maze, climbing areas, tunnels, and a large shaded sandbox where kids can dig up “fossils.”

Finally, several of the Disney resorts have play areas and planned activities for younger guests.