At what age did your kids start to lose the magic?

[cmrdgrs]

For my DD she lost that loving feeling in the way you describe at around age 8 or 9. Now that she is 12 she is starting to complain about going to Disney. She'll go and we have fun, but there is resistance.

Me I love to go, I don't tire of it, but my kids want to do other things now besides Disney. So, we have been renting points and trying to break up the Disney trips spacing them out more.

 

[MandiC]

Last year we went with our 7 and 9 year olds, there was a definitely difference between how my 7 year old enjoyed Disney and how my 9 year old did. My 7 year old still seemed to think it was magical. My 9 year old loved it but it was different.

 

[*pixie*dust*]

DS is 9 and still gets excited for our annual trip "home"

 

[momof2n2]

We never behaved as though characters were real, so we never dealt with that.

I think the WOW wore off around 9/10(?). They still enjoy themselves, but they also love swimming at the rental property and going to Gatorland just as much.

 

[tcherjen]

My kids still love it! Oldest will be 20 in May. They love our vacations here.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

Our kids (with the exception of our 14 month old) have been to WDW twice and I can definitely say my twins (who were 11 years old on our last trip in 2013) weren't in awe with it all like they were on their first WDW trip. Something definitely happens around 10 years old. They still enjoyed it and had a magical time, but I agree with another poster that the magic evolves as they start to become interested in other things. DD13 says she still loves Disney and wants to try a Disney water park and either MNSSHP or MVMCP next time, but she is pushing for an all inclusive beach resort in Mexico even more . DD8 is my thrill ride junkie and always talks about the Tower of Terror and Expedition Everest but has recently expressed an interest in a Disney cruise. DS6 is in kindergarten and says he still loves Disney but refuses to wear any Disney character apparel to school anymore (that's a whole other issue ), he frequently asks if we can go back to LEGOLAND (we spent a day there on our last trip to WDW), and has recently expressed an interest in going to Universal because he found out that the Despicable Me Minions, Spiderman, and Transformers are there . I think our family will always have a good time at WDW because it is such a great family oriented destination with something for everyone, but I see how we are starting to evolve as the years go on. I am really excited for my toddler to experience WDW for the first time and especially when she gets to the age where she really marvels at all the experience offers.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

My kids still love it! Oldest will be 20 in May. They love our vacations here.

Your kids may still love it, but I doubt they have the same magic that a young child does. I'm 30 and wdw is certainly my happy place, but I don't look at mickey in awe and think the princesses are real.

 

[HockeyIsLife]

My kids are a special case because they were both adopted at an older age. My oldest was 9 when we got her, and my youngest was 5. They are 14 and 9 now.
My oldest knows that it is someone dressed up, but she still gets so excited to see the characters. But she wasn't afforded a real childhood in those younger worlds, and I think wants to hold on to it.
My youngest was more on track for her age group, she still wants to believe, but she has questions about it being "the real" Cinderella, etc. And this was the first year she noticed that Santa looked different at the mall when we waved to him from the Santa they saw and sat with.
But we are totally Disney people. Disney is magical in general, and as an "adult" I feel like being in the Disney "Bubble" makes you suspend belief.
Dont worry. Being there will be magical at 2, and at 14. It will just be a different trip. You daughter will appreciate the shopping and the small details as a young woman, and you can bond over that!

 

[KateMW]

I'm not sure our 10 year old ever thought the princesses were real, as she always mentioned they were drawings when we watched the movies, but there are tons of different things to love about Disney. We haven't been since she was 7 and aren't going until she's 11 {next March} but it will be the first trip for her little bro, so that will be magical too!

 

[laughinplace199]

My kids are 15, 13, & 8, they've been going to WDW every year or two since they were babies, and they haven't lost the magic. I don't know exactly when they stopped believing that the characters were real, but that didn't affect the "magic" for them.

Our next trip is in August and I just heard the older two talking about which restaurants we are going to eat at this trip and the little one was poring over the park maps last week. They can't wait until August!

 

[DaniMoon]

My oldest was 19 last trip. He didn't go. Not exactly sure when he lost his "magic" . . . but he wants to go to Universal when we plan that trip.

 

[woodynjessiesmomma]

We were talking about ODS's birthday meal for our trip this year and checking out character meal options online tonight. He is 6 and turning 7 this fall. We were watching a video and he asked why the characters don't talk and I asked why he thought they didn't. He said because they are really just costumes. I said yeah and they would lose their voices talking to so many kids. He paused a minute and said they aren't costumes, the characters are real. So he knows, but wants to pretend. He asked a lot of Santa questions this year and I did the same by asking what he thought.
It's a little sad that my sweet boy who was so excited to meet characters he ran up to hug Marie, even though he didn't know her at all, is growing up
:-(

 

[tcherjen]

Your kids may still love it, but I doubt they have the same magic that a young child does. I'm 30 and wdw is certainly my happy place, but I don't look at mickey in awe and think the princesses are real.

Yes, I suppose you are right. My

Your kids may still love it, but I doubt they have the same magic that a young child does. I'm 30 and wdw is certainly my happy place, but I don't look at mickey in awe and think the princesses are real.

I am truthfully not for sure mine ever looked at the characters and thought they were real. I don't know though. I agree with you it is my happy place too. It gives my older ones a chance to be silly and have fun with our youngest. It gives me a chance to let stress from life go and relax. I guess that is what makes it magical for us. For that, I don't think the magic will ever be gone.

 

[100AcreWood]

For my DD she lost that loving feeling in the way you describe at around age 8 or 9. Now that she is 12 she is starting to complain about going to Disney. She'll go and we have fun, but there is resistance.

Me I love to go, I don't tire of it, but my kids want to do other things now besides Disney. So, we have been renting points and trying to break up the Disney trips spacing them out more.

We're in the same boat. My dd is 12, will be 13 at our next trip. I told my dh this is probably our last trip for a while. She is happy to go but not as excited as before. My younger two are 6 and 8 and they are beyond excited to go back to Disney this year.

Now, if you want to book a Disney cruise that is a different story. She loves the cruise much more than the parks.

 

[DizDaD7]

Let's put it this way....I didn't get bit by the mouse until my 30's...This was part of our honeymoon trip, & I know I still get excited for each & every visit.
My D twins, are 11 now & they still can't wait to go either...Even w/ the fact that they've been 8 times, including DLR. That doesn't matter to us or them. We may not tour the way we once did ( Commando style 24/7 ) but we still manage to try and hit all the rides, no matter what..There are a few now that my DS doesn't care to do but, that's not because he lost the magic, he just isn't into some of them anymore.., Now DD will hit everything, & I mean EVERYTHING with me.....

BTW We still do an occasional Character meal now n then, and they still enjoy the antics at places like HDDR, or 50's p/t, or WCC.

So all in all, I'm hoping that they as well as I don't ever lose the MAGIC>

 

[mrsmarilyn]

Don't get me wrong, even now at age 30, Wdw has some magic to it. But when did your kids stop believing in the characters, stop getting that little thrill, start asking to do more grown up parks?

Ours is still little (2) but I'm already dreading the day she doesn't get excited about disney. Right now, when a movie comes one, she screams "Look, fireworks, and Cinderella ' s castle, and Disney world!" And its just such pure joy and enthusiasm.

How many years of that pure joy do we have left ?

Mine are turning 14 on out next trip and they are ready to go tomorrow. Still lots of magic here!

 

[MouseLover]

My DD just turned 18 and has all the magic still. We walked out of MK on our last night last June with tears streaming down her cheeks. She requested & received a custom-made Elsa dress for Halloween. On our last trip she insisted on meeting A&E and Peter Pan. Today she made an Olaf snowman in our yard --she's been waiting all winter on enough snow to do that. I keep saying to her "you know those characters aren't REAL, right?" She just grins. This year we are required to meet Gaston. She truly loves Disney and hopes to be in the college program in a year or two. I think she will always keep the magic! Maybe your child will too!