Do you think 5years old is a good age for a first trip to Disney??

[Figaro30]

Just curious if people had to pick and choose how old their child would be on their FIRST trip to disney do you think it would be 5, 6, or 7???
My nephew is going to be about 5 3/4 years old when i take him. His mother is not sure if he's maybe too young to be able to really enjoy WDW. What does everybody else think about this???

http://lisasclipart.bizland.com/images/figaro1.jpg
'81 - Cont.
'88 - Disneyland
'89 - Maingate East
'91 - CBR
'94 - CBR
'95 - CBR
'98 - BC
'00 - WL
'01 - OKW

[tednvon]

I think five is just great....the ages that struggle are about 1 to 3 years when the kids are real active but have trouble really focusing on al the disney stuff....and frankly will remember little or nothing about the trip....at five they can go on a lot of the Magic Kingdom rides and enjoy the Disney touches....If you go in summer they will still need a break from the heat and a good PM rest.....Just my humble opinion after many many fun trips with kids and grandkids..Ted

[MaryT]

I read somewhere that kids don't really 'appreciate' the experience until age 7 or 8. I guess it all depends on what you mean by appreciate. My niece was about 3.5 when I took her for the first time and she still remembers things about that trip (she's now 13). I've been with a child as young as 2 who, the next year when she was 3, remembered things from the year before and talked about them before we went back to Disney that year. I think you just need to adjust your expectations to sort of 'go with the flow' when the child is that young. (lots of rest and a good stroller)

It is also easiest, if at all possible, to stay on site (on the monorail if you can) with kids that small. When they get older, they don't need to go back to the room as much, but it is very handy when they are little.

[pnelson]

We have taken my son when he was 3, 5 and 7. Five years was definitely are best trip. At 3, he had a lot of tantrums and missed a lot. At 7, he loved it and went on everything, however, he was a little more grown up. At 5, he went on everything but was still young enough to ride Dumbo and get really excited. I guess, my best memories are when he was 5 because it was majical for me!

[padams]

just went to WDW last month with ds age 5. It was magical. I am sure you will have a wonderful trip.

[sha_lyn]

if handled correctly I don't think any age is too young. Our DD was 2 1/2 on our trip (one yr ago next week), and she still remembers a lot of it. She had a great time, no tantrums, and was albe to do almost everything there

<font color= red Comic Sans MS> All Star Music-April 2000 </font>
<font color= purple font= Comic Sans MS> Shades of Green- May 2002 </font>

[roliepolieoliefan]

I think it depends on the child. We originally were going to wait until DS was 5. But decided to take him this year, he was 2 1/2. We all had a great time. Just tonight, he looked at me and said Mommy, I miss Mickey.

[minnie mouse]

We have taken my oldest daughter to Disney ever year since she was one, and she will be 5 in the fall.

And I think every age holds something special for the child and the adult with them.

So I think 5 is perfect!!!

[musical2]

My daughter is going on her fifth trip in May and she will be just shy of 4 years old. She had her 3rd and 4th trip when she was two year old and she had a wonderful time with the characters. She remembers her trips as a two year old, because she talks about it often. She loves to watch the videos of those trips. All she can talk about lately is the trip to WDW in May and seeing the characters again and wearing her princess dress.

Five years old is an excellent age to go.

Bart

[elgerber]

I don't think anyone is ever too young for Disney. That said, I think 5 is perfect. My dd was one month shy of 5, and she was in heaven!!! She talks about some aspect of our trip everyday, since we got home about 3 1/2 months ago.

Erika

[Valerie-Ann]

We had the <font color=red>best</font> time when we took DS 4 years ago. He was just about to turn 5. He went on all the rides with me and DH. It was so much fun! Since DD wasn't born yet, it was just the three of us.

Does he remember most of it? NO. BUT, I DO!! :) Plus, we have all the photos, including the one of all of us on Splash Mtn.

I always said that I'd wait till DD was closer to 5 till we went again, but I just couldnt' wait that long. We'll be going again this May - DD is 2 1/2.

~Valerie

[BuckeyeBelle]

Five is an awesome age for WDW! The child is still into all the Disney stories and fantasy, but they can also ride most of the e-rides *if* they want to. If you wait until the child a few years older, they might start pooh-poohing the fantasy stuff because they think they are too big for it. I took an eight and a ten year old earlier this year, and they didn't even want to set foot in Fantasyland because they said it was for "little kids." (Like me - LOL!) There's a substantial chunk of Disney Magic that's best appreciated while they are still small. IMO, no age is too young, but five is perfect. Hope they have a great trip!

[Figaro30]

Thanks everyone for your terrific input. I appreciate the comments and will be sure to pass them on to my sister to help reinforce that it will be a great trip, which I'm sure it will be!!

Thanks again. ;)

http://lisasclipart.bizland.com/images/figaro1.jpg
'81 - Cont.
'88 - Disneyland
'89 - Maingate East
'91 - CBR
'94 - CBR
'95 - CBR
'98 - BC
'00 - WL
'01 - OKW

[mormol]

we just got back a few weeks ago w/our 22 month old and 5.5 year old. She LOVED it! She also loved it at 3.5, although we didn't do too much other than fantasyland and MGM shows when she was 3.5
This trip I bought them both a disney autograph book and the big fat pens and the 5.5 year old was OBSESSED the whole trip with getting autographs!
SHe was so excited to see the characters. The rides were okay for her, she is a bit timid and was actually scared on the Winnie the Pooh ride! (you know how heffalumps can be lol) but she LOVED the shows, this trip we did ANimal Kingdom and she loved that too. SHe loved the character meals, SHOPPING (unfortunagely) and most of all getting as many autographs as she could. SHe got something like 28 but insists we go back cause Rafiki had to go before she could get his!
A classmate of hers, who just turned 6, actually loves going on all the scary rollercoasters! I think 5-6 is the perfect age as they are still a bit believing that the characters are real (although mine didn't believe in the ones in full mask costumes but ones like Ariel and Cinderella, well of course they were real!

[GlenelgMom]

Hi! We went last month for the first time with our 4 1/2 yr. old DS...it was wonderful! Everything was magical to him....he was thrilled with the rides, seeing the characters, the Sword-in-the-Stone ceremony, even Cindy's RT for breakfast. We have the best pics of him and the Princesses...he's totally smitten with them!
I think you just have to be wise to your child (or your nephew) and know when to take that pool break, when to call it a day, take a rest, etc. It's such a huge experience and easy to become overwhelming for anyone of any age (especially on those hot Florida afternoons). But is it worth it to take them when they're young: YES!!!
Have fun!

[gtaylor]

Our experience has been with a 4 and 6 year old was its great for them, great for mom, dad and grandparents but not much memory for the kids. At 7 and 9 again, great and you can do more but not many memories for the 7 year old....Greg

[BuzzDad]

I have been with two different 5 yr olds on their first trip. It is a PERFECT age because they are old enough to understand what's going on but yet young enough to get excited and caught up in Disney Magic. Take lots of video of the child's experiences (not just the scenery) and he/she will remember it always.

[Sharmaine]

Haven't been, but we are going this year with kids who will be 4 1/2 and 7. My personal opinion, the 4 year old is a little young. But, I don't want to make the 7 year wait any longer. I think she is at the perfect age - but that age doesn't last long.

At a certain age, and as I remember for myself this was about 8, kids develop a much more realistic perspective on life. A little of the
ability to experience things in that magic way that little kids do, disappears. Think Santa Claus.

My daughter knows what Disney is (thanks to TV and friends) and is old enough to appreciate what a big deal this trip is. She can anticipate and plan, and thats half the fun. She understands its a one time thing too. And she's still young enough (I hope) to see Disney through a kid's eyes - where I might meet a man in a mouse suit, she'll meet Mickey Mouse. At least that's what I hope.

My son...well. He has an idea of what Disney is, but he really doesn't understand what a big deal it is. Its just some place we are going. Out of the blue, he has, on different occassions, informed me that he's scared of airplanes (this was a casual revelation) , and that he doesn't want to go to Disney because its too hot there (that would be Grandma talking). He just doesn't entirely GET it.

So, I would say 5 3/4 is not "the" ideal age - if you really want the maximum first-and-only time Disney experience bang. Another year of maturity will allow the child to more fully appreciate the trip. But, if you are going to take him regularily, then might as well go this year. We've been taking our kids to local zoos, safaries, theme parks etc since they were babies, and have never had any problems sticking out a sunrise-sunset day in the parks. 5 year olds certainly like this stuff, they just might not completely appreciate what a big deal it is

[aimeesmom2]

I think age 5 is a great age!

It really depends on the actual child though... Personally my little one is not going until she is 5 yrs old... I hear many complaints about this especially from my own parents, however I know how she is... meaning that she tires very easily, can get very cranky and is scared to death of the characters... We go to Six flags and she freaks out when she sees Bugs Bunny or Tweety... The characters there only hang out at the front of the park and at wdw they are all over.... I personally do not think she is ready and just prefer to wait.. I figure that is alot of money to spend and for everyone not to have a good time.. I think she would be overwhelmed with everything.. She is just 3 yrs old, so I figure for the next 2 years it will just be me and my 2 older kids..

I dont make it a point to exclude her from our other trips that we take, its just this one is so expensive and I want everything to be right and want her to also enjoy it...

Good luck in whatever you decide.. :)

http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/vltdisney/spinheadblack.gif http://www.wdwinfo.com/sites/family/beerchug.gif
http://www.wdwinfo.com/sites/family/baby21.gif http://www.wdwinfo.com/sites/family/longt.gif WHATZ UP!!??

[Tigger2U43]

I think that is a great age to go. We took our daughter there for the first time when she was 5 yrs. old. Just remember to schedule nap time in there and try to keep them on a schedule that is close to what they are used to and you should be fine.

[buzz5985]

We just returned with my 4.5 year old son. He believes all the characters are real. One day we came home to the Hotel (ASMo) to find his stuffed animals Big Dog (dalmation) and Lucky (dalmation) sitting in the chair with the remote in their lap watching TV. A little while later we heard Connor talking to Big Dog "I knew you were alive" Connor is a big Toy Story fan, so this showed him that all his toys are up to mischief while we are gone.

[PattiPB]

We have taken our children since I was pregnant with the first one! The have been to DL and WDW at every conceivable age, and every age is the perfect age. DD will turn 7 at WDW in June, and she remembers being in the NightMagic parade at DL at age 2 1/2. DS will be 5 in July, and his memory is nowhere near as clear. Other DS will be 3 at WDW this June and he definitely knows what he means when he say DAILY: "Are we going to DizzyWorld today?"

BUT!!!!! For a once-in-a-lifetime trip, my opinion would be wait until between 6 and 8 years old. Old enough to enjoy everything and still believe just a little, but still get it for kids prices!!!

JMHO---which you can tell even I don't take, since we have AP's for DL, WDW and USF!!!

Patti

[tar heel]

We think 5 is just about perfect for a first trip. All three of our boys went for the first time when they were 5 (well,the little one was two weeks away -- we couldn't wait). They're old enough to do almost every thing, can do a lot of walking but are still small enough to carry, and believe totally in the magic.

[Moliphoenix]

% years old is the perfect age for a first time to Disney World. I went when I was 6 (though I'd been to Disneyland when I was 1 1/2 and dont remember a thing) My cousin was 2 on her first time, she's gone about 7 times and she just turned 6 this year. There are plenty of rides that a 5 year old can go on (though I dont recommend Dinosaur, we took my cousin on that when she was 5 and she cried the whole time).

Molly

8/93-Port Orleans
4/95-Port Orleans
8/98-Port Orleans
11/98- Carribean Beach
4/99-Carribean Beach
8/99-Old Key West/Boardwalk Inn
2/00-Disney Institute
8/00- Coronado Springs/Old Key West

[Moliphoenix]

5 years old is the perfect age for a first time to Disney World. I went when I was 6 (though I'd been to Disneyland when I was 1 1/2 and dont remember a thing) My cousin was 2 on her first time, she's gone about 7 times and she just turned 6 this year. There are plenty of rides that a 5 year old can go on (though I dont recommend Dinosaur, we took my cousin on that when she was 5 and she cried the whole time).

Molly

8/93-Port Orleans
4/95-Port Orleans
8/98-Port Orleans
11/98- Carribean Beach
4/99-Carribean Beach
8/99-Old Key West/Boardwalk Inn
2/00-Disney Institute
8/00- Coronado Springs/Old Key West

[Moliphoenix]

The only thing you shouldnt do is leave on kid behind. My aunt thought her youngest daughter (Betsy) was too young (she was 2 or 3) so she left her at home with our grandmother. Then, she told her that she did go, and Betsy believed it. Then, Betsy was looking at pictures and she said "where was I on that f'eakin' vacation!"

8/93-Port Orleans
4/95-Port Orleans
8/98-Port Orleans
11/98- Carribean Beach
4/99-Carribean Beach
8/99-Old Key West/Boardwalk Inn
2/00-Disney Institute
8/00- Coronado Springs/Old Key West

[mum4jenn]

It really depends on your child.We thought we would wait until my dd was at that age too but her first trip was at 18 months and she still talks about it almost everyday.She went May 99,Nov99,April 00,July00,and Dec00.We have a trip planned in May of this year and we might go in a couple of weeks also.She has always loved Disney and remember different thing that she did on different trips and will remind us that "no we did not do that on that trip...we did it the time we went on this time.

Leesburg,GA

[JerseyJanice]

Five years old is a premium age for WDW!

We just took our 4 year old, and we all had a blast. He thinks the characters are real! So cute!

He went at 2 1/2 years old and was a joy then, as well. Don't listen to the curmudgeons that say to wait until they're 8 or 9. By then, they start losing their belief in magic.

You should have seen my son's face when the animatrons on the wall in the Country Bear Jamboree started talking! I thought his eyes would pop out of his head. It was great!

[Kevs mom]

We are getting ready to go for our 2nd family trip 10 days from now. The last time we were there was in 1996 when my DS was 4 (he was 2 months away from turning 5) and DD was 2, this will be our other DS (who is 3) first trip and he is sooo excited! My oldest son, who is now 9, remembers some of our last trip, he sure did have a great time while he was there and did wonderfully with all the walking he had to do, my DD (now 7) of course dosen't remember anything of that trip (except for the videos and the photos of the trip which they still love to look at even 5 years later - can't wait to make a new one!) Anyways I think 5 is a great age to take him, I think he'll love it and remember it!

[waller]

Hi. My son is six years old and we have gone every year since he was three. Go and have a great time!

[DinaF]

My son is 4 1/3 now but he'll be just 5 when we go in November. (DD will be 7) As of now, DS is chicken about almost everything, from loud noises, to the dark, to little kiddie roller coasters (however, he'd happily climb out on the roof). But I know he'll adore the characters, the monorail, the train, Dumbo, and if we do all the mild things first, I hope we can work our way up to a little more challenging stuff. I just have to accept that he may never want to try certain attractions (he already has a "no go" list, and DH and DD might have to do most rides solo, or we'll switch off. I am bringing earplugs for him so MAYBE we'll be able to enjoy fireworks and loud rides like Pirates together...but we're GOING! DH and I can't wait any more!

[gingajane]

I think that Disney has something to offer each age group. I think for the wee ones it offers wonderful, positive stimulation, precious family time and many opportunities to try out social skills. For your 5 and 6 year olds it is a slice of heaven; the world is full of possibilities and the line between reality and imagination are wonderfully blurred. Immersing the kids in this world of fantasy and fun I believe provides building blocks for their young minds. Only my opinion for what it is worth!!MJ

[Took]

It depends on the child.

Our five yr old has been to WDW many times beginning at 18 mos.--and she has loved it EVERY time. We have videos which she watches over and over. She does not have tantrums and meltdowns partly because we give her the breaks she needs (some kids may not need them, but she definitely does). She is good in restaurants and is unafraid of characters, which helps. She also enjoys most of the rides (she is still too short for Rock n Roller Coaster but, at 47" high, she can and will ride everything else (in fact, she insists on it).

BUT she went to WDW two different times with cousins this past year. They were not nearly as "aware" of the trip nor nearly as well behaved. One 6 yr old was quite testy and another 3 yr old was fussy about everything except Dumbo. Maybe they should have waited to go.

Go with your gut feeling. We have memories (such as her, at age 18 mos. kissing Mickey on the nose) that we wouldn't trade for anything.

[yeartolate]

We have ben taking our DS to DL and WDW since he was 2 (ok once when he was 5 months gestation!!)Every trip was wonderful for various reasons. The real fun began with WDW at 4 1/2 he bought into everything.

Our basic tip for totally enjoying every trip has been pacing ourselves. We take advantage of Early Entry and ALWAYS come back to nap/rest/relax/recoop from about 11 am to 3 pm.
We don't "commando tour" If we have our own agenda, we send the little guy over to the Neverland Club and have grown up Disney time. :cool:

[savannah]

I think any age is great, but lets face it, some families this is a once in a life time thing and can't go every year, like us! :( But I do think ages 5-8 are ideal, they seem so caught up in the magic, although some of us adults are too!!