How old to go to Disney ?????

[DDuckVols]

My wife and I are expecting our first child in about a month. We can't wait to take him to Disneyworld !! We went last September for the first time since we were kids and we absolutely loved it. My wife knew how great it was going to be, but I must admit I was a little skeptical. Not anymore. I had an absolute blast and I can't wait to go back. Anyway.....When did some of you guys take your children to Disney for the first time. With hindsight being 20/20 when do you wish you would have taken them? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks !!!!

 

[brendaziz]

Well- my oldest we waited a whoppin 10 months b4 taking a trip w/ him!
then w/ my 2nd- we did a trip when he was about 5 months.
I'm pregnant w/ my 3rd right now and we're going in August- so he'll be about 2 or 3 months when we go.
But he's my 3rd and babies get easier the more you have- cuz you realize that the big ones are the hard ones! `

I totally understand wanting to wait til kids are a little older- but for me- Disney is the EASIEST place to vacation w/ a baby. Everything is tailored to people w/ kids and seeing even a 1 year old's face light up on a ride is SO much fun!

I think the longest I would ever want to wait is when a child is 2 or 3- but that's just me, cuz I'm obsessed and I want my kids to be obsessed to!

With your first, I wouldn't even begin planning a trip until baby is at least a few months and you know their personality a little bit But I think that just newly toddling age (1-2) is a great time for a first trip!

My just turned 5 year old is getting ready for his 6th trip and my almost 3 year old will be going on his 4th trip.

Now that I read that, it all seems kinda over the top!

 

[maxie]

My youngest was 3 months.

 

[BrightScouter]

Our youngest son was with us in a tent at Ft. Wilderness when he was 6 months old. I would say that anytime they are out of diapers, they are old enough. so many attractions are built for very young children, you can start them early. too many people seem to want to wait until they are "old enough to remember it" Many times, they wait too long and they are too "mature" (cool) to allow themselves to admit they enjoy it. My son doesn't remember much we did on that trip when he was three, but he does remember some.

 

[littleelvis]

We have been taking all of our kids since they were 2/3. We didin't take the our younges when he was a baby but that was our choice. People have always said "why do you take your kids a 2 or 3 they won't remember it" I will 100% disagree with that. My son is almost 4 and still talks about the rides and what he went on. We are going back Feb 10 and can't wait.

You never too young to be taken to Disney.

 

[Ava]

DDuck, my partner and I are in the same boat as you - our first DD was just born on April 30th and we've been plotting her first trip to WDW since before she was born! Haha. We've decided to take her for the first time just before she turns 3. That way she will be old enough to do a good portion of the rides, but she'll still get in and eat for free. If someone else wants to foot the bill we'll take her earlier, but if we are paying we want to wait until she's old enough to do more. We live in NY so to go to WDW is a good week-long vacation for us.

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

I'm probably unusual, but we waited until the kids were 4. DDs first trip will be in December and we have been 2 times without her since she was born. This allowed DS, who is now 12, to enjoy Disney without having to keep the schedule of a small child. And to her a week at Grandma's was almost as good as Disney.
So do what works best for your family.

 

[devinfl]

I took my son on his first trip when he was just over 1, just a day trip he had fun.
At almost 2 we went back and he had a blast (stayed 5 days)
At almost 3 we went back and he had even more fun (5 day trip)
now this year he will be almost 4 and I swear bringing him just gets more fun every year.
they will have fun at WDW no matter what age they are but every age is a different expierence.
Last year my son was big enough for Kali and that was so exciting to him, this year he is 41" so he will be riding ALOT more rides, both of us are so excited for that!

 

[DDuckVols]

DDuck, my partner and I are in the same boat as you - our first DD was just born on April 30th and we've been plotting her first trip to WDW since before she was born! Haha. We've decided to take her for the first time just before she turns 3. That way she will be old enough to do a good portion of the rides, but she'll still get in and eat for free. If someone else wants to foot the bill we'll take her earlier, but if we are paying we want to wait until she's old enough to do more. We live in NY so to go to WDW is a good week-long vacation for us.

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter. Hope everything is going well. We are thinking about taking him when he is 3-4 yrs old, but I could definitely be talked into taking him earlier.

 

[kidneygirl]

My ds was 4 weeks old when we took him Disney. I strapped him into the carrier (Beko Butterfly) and wore him the whole time. He did great!!

 

[Ava]

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter. Hope everything is going well. We are thinking about taking him when he is 3-4 yrs old, but I could definitely be talked into taking him earlier.

Thank you! She is doing wonderfully. Congratulations on your good news too! I went to WDW for the first time when I was 3, so for some reason I feel like that's a good age. We're going to try for just prior to DDs 3rd birthday because having her get into the parks for free and eat for free is just too appealing.

 

[RMulieri]

Mine was 4...and I have no regrets. It was an absolute BLAST. She remembers the trip entirely, rode alot and WALKED without a stroller, diaper bag ,sling etc. and she was POTTY trained.I know lots of people take brand new babies and infants and that is a personal decision..But I decided it wasn't a vacation for ME or DH if we had to lug a nursery with us.

 

[pdarrah]

My ds was 4 weeks old when we took him Disney. I strapped him into the carrier (Beko Butterfly) and wore him the whole time. He did great!!

Wow! You beat us by 2 weeks. Our DS was 6 weeks for his 1st trip (had he been on time, he would have been 8 weeks.) That was by far the EASIEST trip we have had with him. He has been to WDW about 2 times per year ever since and is now 10 years old. Of course, when you go with an infant, the trip isn't really for them - it is a treat for mom & dad! Part of what got me through a really bad delivery & recovery (24 hrs labor followed by emergency c-section ) was knowing that I would be going to WDW soon!

We certainly didn't try to do a "commando" style trip with an infant (or even with a toddler) but we all had fun and as someone else has said in this thread - Disney is one of the easiest places to vacation with a baby.

pdarrah

 

[Tina G]

Our daughter was 5 years old on our first trip. I should also mention that it was the first trip for DH and I as well. I think it depends on a few things. If you personally love Disney, then you will probably want to take your child earlier. Just keep in mind that any trip before the age of 3 or so, the child will really have no memory of it. They'll get to experience it and have a great time, but they won't remember much afterwards other than seeing photos.

We waited until age 5 because we wanted to not deal with strollers, diapers, etc. Also, we considered it to be a very special trip and we wanted our daughter to really get a lot out of it and be able to experience pretty much everything.

I'm sure most go well before age 5 and now that DH and I have been there several times and have really enjoyed it, I'm sure we would go sooner if we did it again. However I know we would not have taken her before age 2-3. I guess it just depends on whether you are planning to make it a yearly-type regular vacation or a special every few years vacation. I like the comment about taking them just before they turn 3 so they are still free but are older and able to experience more of the attractions.

 

[chicagoshannon]

We just came back with our 2 year old. She was just over 2 when we went. It was PERFECT. She had a blast! I am so glad we went when we did.

We took her to Universal last year when she was about 10 months old. It was fine but she had so much more fun being 2.

 

[DDuckVols]

Mine was 4...and I have no regrets. It was an absolute BLAST. She remembers the trip entirely, rode alot and WALKED without a stroller, diaper bag ,sling etc. and she was POTTY trained.I know lots of people take brand new babies and infants and that is a personal decision..But I decided it wasn't a vacation for ME or DH if we had to lug a nursery with us.

You make some very good points. I want him to remember the trip and be able to ride the rides that he wants to ride. I'm also beginning to understand the amount of "things" that are required when you have a child. Our son is not even here yet but it seems like half of our house is filled with baby items. I'm sure traveling with a baby is going to be an experience for us in and of itself.

 

[smiths02]

I went to Disneyland with my son just after he turned 1. My family is from So Cal, so we were visiting the area and went for one day, not a vacation just to go there. It was fun because I love Disneyland...honestly, though, it meant nothing to him...I mean sure he thought some stuff was fun, but he thought the local Farmer's Market was fun too

We have not been on any vacations since...

We are going to go for my son's 3rd b-day. We will get there when he is 2, so still free on all accounts (AND we can have 5 in a room).

Some people say older when they will have memories. Studies of memory will tell you that most people's first memory is somewhere around age 3. So maybe DS won't remember it, but how awesome would it be if when he is 70 Disneyworld is one the first things he can remember from his childhood?

Anyhow, if YOU like Disney and have the money, it is an easy place to go with a baby/toddler...if you want a magical "first trip" thing, I would say wait until your child has some language, so 2-3. (It is also theorized that memories begin to form more permanently at this age due to language development).

At nearly 3, my son is very verbal with a good memory...he is even looking forward to the trip and can tell you when we are going and highlights of the plans...this is much better than if we had gone a few years ago...and he is still FREE! (At 3, he also has enough life experience to know the characters and yet still really believe that we are eating with Mickey Mouse...at 18 months, this would have been a giant rat at our dinner table...at 8 this will be a guy in a Mickey Costume). So while I say just before 3, I think for something truly magical---between the ages of 2 and 6 for a first trip.

Sorry this is long, but also wanted to add that before the 12 month mark, he was easy to take anywhere (he would just nap however, still nursing, etc.)...after around 14 months until 2 1/2 there was a lot of training on how to act in public (hold hands, danger, waiting in line, restaurant etiquette, etc.)...Anyhow, it was fine to take him at 12 months (in a carrier), he will be fine at 3 years...it might have been iffy at 18-30 months in terms of naps/eating out/scared of things/can't go on certain rides, etc. So I have to disagree with the potty trained comment...Not potty trained/breastfeeding=easy to take ANYwhere....starting to potty train and walk and all solid food and cranky=difficult to do anything (a trip to Wal-Mart takes planning and skill )...potty-trained, walking well for periods of time, enough language to begin to reason with (i.e. how to wait in line and why we wait in line, etc.)=easier to travel with again

 

[WVParkfan]

Disneyworld isn't just about the kids. It's about you and your wife, too! If it means that much to you (like it does me), then do it for yourselves!

Incidentally, on our second visit to WDW, our daughter was 10 months old. She took her very first steps in a room at Coronado Springs Resort. She's almost 9 years old now, and (of course) doesn't remember that. But, my wife and I will never, ever forget. And that's what I mean. It's about lasting memories for each and every one of you... not just the kids.

 

[dlaushey]

My ds was 4 weeks old when we took him Disney. I strapped him into the carrier (Beko Butterfly) and wore him the whole time. He did great!!

You beat us by a week. Our third child was lucky enough to go at 5 weeks on a quick trip. We had guest from Japan that wanted to visit WDW. We had annual passes that year so we volunteered to take them for a weekend visit. DW hadn't been able to ride any of the big rides for a while so she got to enjoy everything she had been missing and I got some quality time with my DS!

 

[hmgray95]

DS turned 3 months while we were at Disney last year. Honestly, a Disney trip with a young infant is very easy (as long as Mom doesn't mind being very tired if she is still nursing during the night!). They sleep most of the time, are only fussy when they are hungry, and are easy to pack around (as long as you have a stroller or a front carrier). We found it was easiest to put him in the stroller for longer trips (like between the "lands" at MK or AK) and then park the stroller once we were in a spot where we were going to be hitting a lot of rides in the same area and put him in the infant carrier then. That way neither of us got tired arms holding him while standing in lines and we had free hands to deal with DD age 4, and most of the time, he could ride on the attraction in the infant carrier as well. The only downside we found was that not many of the restaurants had the infant style highchairs, and not all restaurants could accommodate our double stroller. But there were only 2 restaurants that I recall we ending up having to hold him while we were eating, so even that wasn't too bad.