Best age to take kids

[alexandra uk]

What do you think is the best age to take the children ?

[CATHERINEJONES]

I'm wondering the same thing. Mine are 6 and 2 now and I would not hesitate to take the 6 year old now but the 2 year old is very difficult at the moment and we're postponing our trip until she is 5, by which time she should be over the worst. Also then, we should be able to enjoy a relatively quiet meal in one of the lovely restaurants in WDW. At the moment, I wouldn't even attempt it!!

[keith&carol]

I don't personally think there is a best age because all children are different.
We've been with our Grandchildren many times and the success of each trip depended on our willingness to adapt to what they could cope with and not getting stressed if things didn't work out quite as we'd planned.
On our first trip Rebecca was about 15 months and James was 3. At that time Becca had a phobia about food and screamed every time we went into a restaurant so we just fed her as & when she would eat and took it in turns to amuse her while the others ate - not ideal but it worked. On her second trip the poor mite had a chest infection so had to have a Doctor. She was coughing and throwing up for several days so again we took it in turns to take James to the Parks and looked after Becca so our DD could get at least some sleep each day. Not the way you want to spend a holiday but it's all part & parcel of having children.
As they got older mealtimes sorted themselves out, we were able to have a few days at the beach to chill out as well and it was just a case of them having more energy, liking faster rides and costing more! lol

[angel659]

Hi

I have taken my daughter abroad as little as 15 months admittedly it wasnt Florida until she was 4. All the times on the plane she was excellent and on holiday she was a little Angel.

I took my daugter May this year and she was 4 and was so good its unbelievable. She waited for rides and waited an hour and half for the Fantasmic show and was good as gold. She was nagging everyday to see it again and I mentioned it was a long wait for good seats and she said she didnt mind so we waited another hour and half and again she was excellent. The heat didnt bother her it was 32c out there.

I would say it all depended on how your children are. I would say they would learn very quickly when there out there you should be fine going out there as early as 3-4.

Good luck
Michelle
:tongue: :Pinkbounc :bounce: :tongue:

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Originally posted by alexandra uk
What do you think is the best age to take the children ?

I think it depends on whether your trip will be a once-only trip of a lifetime, or the first of many. If it's once-only I would recommend you wait until kids are 8 or 9 so they are tall/brave enough to ride a large proportion of the rides. If you plan on lots of visits to Orlando I don't think it matters how old they are: there is something there for kids of all ages, and anything they are too young for will wait until another visit.

Regards

Rob

[Madjock]

I have to say I totally agree with Rob.

The first time we went DDs were 8 and 2 next time they were 10 and 4 and when we go back in Oct they will be 11 and 5. Each time has seen a big difference in both in terms of what they can and will ride and each time there is always something new and exciting to try.

Personally I don’t think you could ever say a person is too young (or too old for that matter) for Disney
:D

Annmarie

[patdavies]

Wait until they are 21 and can pay their own way!!

[mandysev]

Hi
Agree with the above first took my kids when they were 3 and 6 and the youngest can't remember it at all.

Second time they were 5 and 8 which was a magical holiday for all of us.

Third time thay were 13 and 16 brilliant because they could go off together and do their own thing. Downside was the expense as they were classed as "adults".

Going again in 4 weeks time will be different again they are now 18 and 15. Probably our last family holiday as oldest is off to uni in October. Can't wait but sure it will be a different experience again!!!

[Scottish_Maleficent]

We first took our 2 DS's when they were 1 year old and 22 months. (yes, there is only 10 months between them....we had no TV ;) ::yes:: :rolleyes1 :blush: ) It was a bit of a spur of the moment thing to go. I think if we had thought about it longer we'd never have taken them so young - but I don't regret taking them from such a young age. Every trip is a different experience for them as they grow older and taller!!

Next trip will be their 4th trip and they'll both still be under 7!!

Cath:p

[trpscooby]

We first took ou DD to DLC when she was 18 months old. She absolutely loved it! We went to WDW when she was just under 3 and then again not long after she turned 4. The best part about the first 2 trips was that we weren't charged anything as she was under 3 three yrs old!:teeth: She remembers pretty much everything about the trips, but I'm not surprised as she goes so often!:) I think that if you are going to be taking regulars trips on long haul flights, it's best if you start them early then that way they're used to the flights and any problems/long waits that occur.

[vernon]

While kids that are under three may not remember much of the holiday I have no doubt that they can really enjoy their times there. It does require a little planning to amuse them. I know my youngest was just over 2 on our first visit, she was transfixed with the light parade and loved the characters. She also really enjoyed the waterparks and pools.

I'd agree with Rob, if it's only going to be a "once in a lifetime" it may be better to leave it a couple of years, but we all know that it's rare that the once in a life time only happens once when WDW is involved ;) LOL . I also think there is a case where you can leave it too late. IMHO one of the high points of taking kids to WDW is when they are still young enough to believe it's all real, IMHO you miss a lot if you delay past that point. These days kids grow up so quick and they are a lot more cynical and knowing than we often give them credit for LOL.

[Night-train]

Our DD was 2yrs 3mths when we first took her. She thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and can remember virtually all of it, particularly the rides she went on and the characters she met. Just looking through all the responses to this thread only convinces me that there is no such thing as taking them 'too young'. They are all individuals and will handle it in their own way, they just need us to provide a little guidance (and stroller navigation skills!) now and again.

[disneyholic family]

any age....each age reacts in their own way and to different things..

my son has been going every year since he was 6 weeks old (granted, that was a tad young, but his 2 1/2 year old sister had a blast on that trip....), and every time he enjoys himself....

my kids are now 17 and 20 and we're about to leave for WDW yet again.....and they can't wait......

so...my answer?....any age is great....just remember that you CANNOT do an entire day at the parks.....even big kids can't...
especially if you go in the summer.....we get there before opening and leave by 1 in the afternoon....any more than that is definitely NOT enjoyable....orlando is too hot and too humid to try to stay in the parks all day....(and we're from a climate even hotter than orlando....no matter....it's not something you can get used to....)

[coppertop]

Everybody's children are different. We took ours for the first time when they were 6 & 4. Any younger than that and I don't think our nerves would have lasted on the plane as I know for a fact that they would have screamed the whole way there.

At 6 & 4, they were not particularly interested in the rides, but loved getting autographs in their autograph books, having their photos taken with the characters and having their passports stamped in EPCOT. We had a lovely time seeing their faces when they saw characters and have some wonderful footage on camcorder of the youngest fooling around with Chip 'n' Dale.

This year when we go, they will be 10 & 8 and I do not think for a moment that they will be bothered about having their photos taken with the characters, in fact, knowing my boys, I think they will refuse! Already, the characters are childish for them! BUT, I do think we are more likely to get our money's worth out of the parks this time because they will be more interested in the rides than anything, and that will keep my husband happy!

So, you see, there is no ideal age. It depends what you want from the holiday. If it is just characters that you are wanting young children to meet, why not go to DLP. We went there when the boys were 4 & 2, and although DLP does not compare to WDW, we did meet lots of characters and the boys did seem to enjoy themselves and it is a lot nearer.

[disneyholic family]

i forgot about the plane part of the trip...
but i was fortunate, my kids have always been pretty easy flyers, despite the 12 hour non-stop flight we have to grin and bear (and that's just to get us to new york)...
god...such a looooooooooooong flight......i think i'm going to go stark raving mad....
anyway, yes, kids will enjoy different things at different ages...