Age that your kids will "remember" WDW

[mm6mm6]

I just had to post this once. Cuz it's a pet peeve of mine with friends and co-workers who talk about taking their kids to WDW once they're old enough to "remember" it.

What age would that be? It's an excuse to not go each year. Most kids can't remember going to WDW when they were 10-13.

I think kids should go before they realize that Cinderella and Buzz and Woody and Mickey and Minnie are just people in costumes.

The "magic" and the "memories" are for the parents' to see the smile on their child's face when they first see a Princess or an animal character!

When my DD5 saw the castle and met Cinderella, she thought that was really Cinderella. When she met Minnie, that was really Mickey's girlfriend!

Now that DD is 9, it's still fun, but that "magic" is gone. But I have the memory!

TAKE YOUR KIDS TO WDW BEFORE THE MAGIC DISAPPEARS!

Anyone agree with me?

I guess I'm sick of hearing other husbands say how they're going on another family fishing trip instead of WDW because they want their kids to "remember" it. Ugh.

-Steve

 

[powellrj]

It depends. If you plan on going back every couple of years take them when they are younger, but if you are only going to go once or twice than I would wait until they are older.

We have been taking our kids since our oldest was 4 or 5, while my DB has never taken his kids because he only plans on taking them once and he wants them to be able to remember their trip.

His kids take really cool trips all the time so who I am to tell him where to take his kids on vacation.

 

[fromscratchmom]

I guess I'd totally agree with you if my husband had used that as an excuse to not take us to Disney, but as it is, I see both sides of the issue. I was blessed with a lot of travel as I was growing up. There were definitely some great plusses to it, inspite of the fact that I don't remember everything from all of those trips. The farther back you go, the less I remember. Disney, age 3, barely any memories at all.

But as an adult making adult financial decision, travel is expensive and deciding to save on travel for a few years and splurge on it a bit more when the kids are older has some good stuff in the pro collumn of the tally sheet too! We are just planning to take our kids to Disney for the first time this December, first time as a family that is. My kids will be 6, 9 and 15 at that time. My 15 year old son has gotten to go twice, but not in the last 8 years. I happen to think that it is working out pretty well for us and don't mind at all that part of some people's thinking on "too young to remember" influenced our decisions a bit. I can't wait to show my girls WDW for the first time and I know that they'll remember parts of it later. Now we have more money to spend on a nice trip and can handle that and also cope with the fact that we will have to buy a new car or van soon too. And we can do this without living in fear of what unexpected expenses might come up. God willing we won't have any terrible illness, or accidents or damage to our home in the near future (or any future for that matter), but it is nice to know that we'll survive it if something happens. Rather than traveling on credit and hoping to cover everything that comes up.

 

[kj2mom]

We are leaving tomorrow for our first (maybe only) trip to Disneyworld. I planned the timing carefully. My children will turn 5 while we are there, they are not in Kindergarten yet so I don't have to worry about school. In the future the times I would go would be school vacations and we all know the crowd levels then.

We are going now and if they remember it then great and if they don't that is ok too! They are soo excited to fly on the plane and see everything that they have already made this trip a great one and we don't leave until tomorrow morning.

Cherish each day, you never know what will happen tomorrow, next month, next year. After tragically losing someone very close to me the lets wait mentality has pretty much left my vocabulary!

 

[Tosie]

I don't think it matters whether *they* will remember it or not. *You* will and you should treasure those memories. We took our kids to WDW for the first time when they were three. Ds has little to no memory of his trip, but dd remembers quite a lot of her first trip. And we have tons of pictures to show them.

I am lucky I guess - I am married to a Disney "lifer" so for us there really is no other vacation, LOL!

 

[KristinU]

Well, my DS was about 19 months old the last time we were there and my cousin, Cristina, was there on the College Program. She lives in Arizona and goes to school there, so this was the only time my DS has seen her. We had breakfast with her at Crystal Palace and visited her a couple of times when she was working the shops in Frontierland.

Last week when we were there a little short of a year later, after walking through Frontierland and Adventureland we stopped and got a Dole whip. We ate them in sight of Crystal Palace - DS al of a sudden says "hey, where is Cristina?" DH, my mom, my dad, and I were all just floored! So he did remember pieces of a visit from when he was about 1.5 year old.

Do we go to WDW just so he can remember it? Absolutely not. We go because we love it there and now enjoy seeing him have a fun time too. I really agree with the OP, especially if you're blessed with the ability to go fairly regularly. I do think I'd try to wait until a little older if it were a once in a lifetime trip...but then again you are never guaranteed of what will happen tomorrow.

 

[belle&beast]

Well, my DS2.5 turned 2 in WDW in January on his first trip, so I think as long as you are ready, take them! As far as being able to remember the trips, I have 2 scrapbooks full of pictures and hours of video to watch and he seems to remember everything so far! Plus, he was FREE, so why not!

I do understand why others choose to wait, it just was not for us. We had a really smooth trip and would do it again in a heartbeat and are planning for 2008. We all want to go back even sooner!

 

[mecllap]

It's really fun to have photos of kids when they're little and at various ages with the characters and key photo spots, to see how they've grown -- and even if they don't actually "remember" each trip -- they are influenced by having happy times and learning how to travel.
My sister and I are in our 60's and can't remember much of our first trip to Disneyland; we're not sure if it was actually in 1955 when the park was new, or in the next year or two. 1957 is the first booklet I still have -- when I was 12, and I can't claim much in the way of memories, except that our favorite aunt and uncle took us there and it was wonderful. And there are no pictures of our first trip. So, my "first memories" date to very late teens/early 20's when I was stationed in San Diego and CampPen in the mid-60's. My daughter's first trip was before she was 1, and I wish I had more photos of that -- to compare with the ones of her son at age 13 months at WDW. The scrapbook pages with DGS at 13 months compared to age 6 are priceless to me -- whether or not he will have actual "brain memories" when he's older or not. And the photos of DD and DGS at about the same age, 30 years apart are fun. He will have tons of photos of all his trips!
(So, I think it's just a lame excuse to say wait til the kids are old enough, I guess those people don't want their own memories -- but then, since it's practically a life-long enjoyable part of my life, I guess I'm biased in favor of trips to Disney at just about any age!).

 

[TheGoofster]

I was about 3 or 4 the first time we did WDW (back in 72 or 73), to be honest I don't remember much of that trip, but I can guarentee you one thing - I had a whole bunch of fun.
IF going to Disney is only for the memories, then sure, wait until they are at least 5 or 6. BUT, if having one of the greatest times in the world is more important, than don't worry about the ages - just have a stinking good time, and later on tell your kids how much fun they had.
And remember, there is almost nothing more enjoyable to a parent, then seeing their children having fun. And as another poster mentioned isn't it a lot more fun when your kids still believe that tinkerbell really can fly!!!

 

[MayMom]

Oh my God - I totally agree with this....it is always parents who are trying to get out of spending the CASH that say this (IMO). My neighbors said this right before the 2 of them went for a week to gamble in Las Vegas and left the kids with their granparents....UGH!

I have posted on this subject before, but I am a special education teacher. I have many (sadly, too many ) years of classes and training into children's development and the development of intelligence. A child will become more intelligent based on the environment that they are exposed to and the experiences that happen to them in early developing years of their life. I always think of this when I wonder if my kids are "too young" for an experience. There is no such thing as a wasted experience in a child's life! They are little sponges soaking up the encounters and environment they are exposed to....

On a totally selfish and personal note....if I die tomorrow, one of the best memories that I have is the look on my little girl's face when she saw the castle for the first time. Our lives are so fleeting....why not go to Disney for the memories that YOU will cherish and not worry about your kids remembering it? They can take their own children one day and those memories will be more important to them than any others that you gave them.........

 

[FormrCastMbr]

I took DS8 to Disney for the first time when he was 5...and he remembers more than me...the littlest or wierdest detail...he remembers. It surprises me sometimes what he comes up with...the other day out of the blue he was talking about the first room you enter in th Haunted Mansion and the pictures...in detail...WOW!

People will always have their opinions about when to first bring your kids to WDW...but their opinions don't count. Families need to do what they feel is right for their own families...it took me 33 years to accept this...I was always one to let people bother me and I would get stressed...now I do my own thing and don't care what people think...

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My youngest will turn 4 next month..she last went to Disney before she turned 3. She remembers being there, remembers different things we did and is quite familiar with the parks (she's been a few times since she was 4 months old).

 

[PirateKitty]

I have memories of visiting WDW when I was 3 years old. I remember my uncle taking me on 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea! I was crying soooooooooooo hard. I even remember what I was wearing that day! May parents are amazed that I remembered any specifics about that trip, especially because they lost the pictures years ago...I've never seen them.

 

[jennilouwho]

You know, I went to Disneyland for the first time when I was 12 and I don't remember more than 2 or 3 things about that trip, 15 years later. I've decided it's better to just go when you want to go and enjoy the moment.

 

[JenEeyore]

While I do sort of "get" both sides of the issue, I tend to side with "take them now while they believe the magic". My DS is 4 1/2 and we are planning our trip next month which will be his 7th trip to WDW starting at 8 months old. I realize we are on the extreme end since we are DVC members and can make it work more often than average, but he does remember specifics of many of our trips, and the memories for me are priceless. We have all our trips in photo books, and that is one of his favorite things to do - look at the Disney Pictures. That is now he remembers. He doesn't remember the 8 month old trip, but he LOVES seeing the pics of him in his Eeyore hoodie "costume" outfit that everyone loved him in. and he LOVES seeing the pictures of him at 2 with various cast members and characters that he totally believes in. He remembers most of the rides specifically at this age and the ones he can't wait to go on when he is tall enough, and the ones he loves now. I say if you can make it work, don't wait for the magical age- it is now.

 

[Becky2005]

I think it really all depends on your family dynamics.

Personally, since I had an age range of 10 - 1 when we went it was a pain to have to drag the diaper bag around, stroller, etc... Yes, he loved it and it was great but if he was my only child, I would not have chosen to take him to Disney as a 1 year old. It was a lot of coordination to make sure the older kids got to do what they wanted to do and still let the little guy have some time to be a little guy.

Honestly, between all my kids, I thought the 8-10 year old was the greatest to take and felt that was a perfect age with watching my kids. Old enough to enjoy the rides and still young enough to enjoy the magic but it all depends on the personality of your kids too. My DD is very big into characters and I think she always will be. We went to eat breakfast with Tony the Tiger this past summer and she absolutely loved that part of it but was bored with the rest of the Kellogg's visit since she felt too old for that.

My DH & I went through this and he wanted to wait until our youngest was 5. We had planned to go then not knowing #4 would make an appearance, I put my foot down on that one that I was not going to wait until the youngest was 5 now because my oldest would then be 15, I thought that was a little old for the first visit.

For us, it's not an easy visit, it cost us a TON of money to go being a family of 6 and having us have 3 adults basically since my DD counted as an adult for everything. If we lived closer it would be one thing but we don't. Next time we go it will be 4 adults and 2 kids. I really don't want to go again until the little one is about 5.

If I happen to win the lottery anytime soon, my ideal situation would be to take each child individually since we do have the wide age span.

It's whatever works for your family though, there are too many variables. I went 1 time in my life before this growing up. I think I was 5. I do remember a couple things from the trip.

I will say though that the time between 3rd & 4th grade *MUST* be the time to go around here. My 4th grader had to bring a family picture the first day of school, he brought one from Disney. We had parents night about a week later and they were all up for everyone to see. I think I saw about 25% of the classroom family pictures were from Disney. I saw some Chef Mickey ones, ones with Mickey, I just started laughing thinking -- this must be the timeframe for people taking their kids there. Either that or we have a lot of people around here that really like Disney (seemed everyone I knew was going last summer though).

 

[mm6mm6]

Looks like this issue tickles some emotions on both sides.

One thing I'd like to add is that I'm talking mostly about us "DisBoarders" who go to Disney Parks on an annual or semi-annual basis.

And I am comparing that to the friends, co-workers, and neighbors who go to the same fishing trip every year or leave the kids with the grandparents and drop $2000 in Vega$ twice a year.

My wife's brother has never taken his family on a vacation of any kind EVER and his kids are now 11 and 13. But he has his $2000 pool table and his $2500 giant flat screen and his car and and and and and it's always something tied in with "they won't remember it yet."

 

[TreslovesWDW]

I say there is no right age. I went to Disney World for the first time when I was 10. For a long time I remembered rides but never remembered where I went on them. When I was 24 I went on my Honeymoon to WDW my husbands first time,but when we were there I started to remember being on these rides before,Just bits and pieces about MK did I start to remember. I was looking all over for that submarine ride I had loved that one,so I thought it was somewhere else I had been on it. WE then took our 6 year old ds and 2 year old dd in 1999. In 2005 we took ds12 dd8 dd5 ds3. Now my 12 year old said he remembered some things but my 8 year old did not also my 5 year old was just happy it really was her second time there she was in my belly last time..lol Now we are going in December ( can't wait )and my youngest remembers everything when I talk about Disney he gets so excited,he loves Splash Mountain,he gets so mad when he talks about why was the fox holding the bunnies ears,and thinks Chip and Dale are just the funniest because during Spectro magic they were falling backward while playing the piano. It does amaze me how much he remembers and the others remember also. Even though there is no set age to take them so that they will remember the best part is seeing their faces light up when they see the castle and Cinderella for the first time. Just that is worth taking them when they are young. It is the little things like my son 3 would only let Cinderbrella as he calls her sign his book at breakfast or at dinner when she came over to the table for a second time then realized it when to him and messed his hair and said good-bye to his how he got all red and almost fell under the table. Or how I did not want my 5 year old to go on tot since 8 year old and grandmom took the chicken elevator, the whole time I thought she was crying but she was just laughing so hard,and now that is the first ride she wants to go on in December. Got to love the memories, Sorry this is so long but just don't ever think your to young or to old to be at Disney World.

 

[fromscratchmom]

Well, I said that I have very little memory of the trip from when I was three, but from what others have said I guess I do at least have snatches of memory that are more than some people have of anything from that age. I can remember a bit of riding haunted mansion at a young age and I think it is was that trip and I definitely remember watching the people getting on the boat to go to the Polynesian and not being able to get on it. It as 1973 and we stayed off property I think. I don't remember behaving badly about it, just having a deep quiet emotion. And that was the start of a lifelong dream to stay at the Polynesian someday, which we are not going to get to do on this trip we are planning. But I'm going to keep enjoying the dream and I'll do it someday!

I also agree with the person who said that if she won the lottery, she'd take each child seperately. I would definitely do something similar, maybe not complete separate trips, but at least a nice long stay with my mom and their favorite baby sitter coming along so that I'd have a full day alone with each one, while the others were having fun too. What a great idea! And I love to have something to dream of doing. That is part of the Disney magic for me.

 

[mister.toad]

We took our daughter when she had just turned 3 and everyone said it would be a waste as she will not remember it. Well that did not matter to me. What did was she enjoyed it and we (my wife and I) get to remember it.

We surprised her and never told he where we were going. My wife and I had been many times together and never stopped at one of the shows at the castle. We came up and Cinderella's Surprise Cellebration was about to start and we could not get through the castle so we stayed. When the characters came rushing out, both my wife and I were in tears watching our daughter's enjoyment.

Flat out one of the best moments of my life.