At what age do they start to appreciate...

[Forevryoung]

I am writing this to mainly prove a point to my Aunt and Uncle- They are not Disney people at all (and I cant see them ever going to be honest). They are wonderful but they are more "weekend in Paris" or "week in St. Thomas" people. This wasn't a problem until they had a baby. But now I am plotting to kidnap my baby cousin to take her to Disney . At what age do they really start to notice things and can really enjoy it? two and a half? three? or older? She will be a year old next month so I am getting just a little ahead of myself

it's fun to dream though

 

[mjmcca]

I have a 4 y/o boy and a little girl who wil be 3 on Friday. I have gone a little disney crazy in the past year and took htem in August Ocotber and Feburary. Both of my kids say they want to go back to Disney World.They love it.

 

[FreeTime]

Take the baby as soon as you can. Get you a Disney allie while they are young! Seriously, we have been taking our kids since they were babies and at 3 & 5 I think they appreciate it now. they look forward to it with us and understand that if they want to go so often that Mommy has to work. Maybe you could try at about 3.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I took my oldest when she was 3 1/2 and she was definately old enough to appreciate it all and at the time she was very shy (didn't talk at school) and would only watch Monsters Inc. no other Disney movies. She loved it. Loved all the characters and still remembers that trip 2 years ago.

I took my youngest when she was 11 1/2 months and she had a great time but I can't say she appreciated it. She LOVED Tigger. We went again when she was 21 months old and while she was more difficult (wanted to walk everywhere!) she had a better time. She still LOVED Tigger!

My middle child turned 3 on his first trip. He remembers that trip a year ago and was actually much better behaved/easier than I expected a bit of wild little boy to be.

Enjoy the dreams. Your cousin is lucky to have you. My DD has a cousin who's parents are very nutty/crunchy-nothing wrong with that but it was just so funny to see my DD dress up her cousing in princess wear when I know she doesn't have anything like that at home. They live in MN so we only see her 1 or 2 times per year but I have a feeling they will be good for each other!

 

[Colinsmom]

My DS went for the first time at 2.25 years old, and it was a perfect time for him! He still talks about details of the trip 3 months later and looooves to look at the photo album from the trip. We're going back in September, right before his birthday! I will admit, though, that it was hard dealing with naps and such - hopefully he'll be less nap dependent in September.

I say, definitely get in a trip before she turns 3 while the park and buffets are still free for her!

 

[Forevryoung]

I have a feeling I will kidnap her right before her 3rd birthday because that pretty much gives me two years to plan
There is nothing wrong with my Aunt and Uncle. Its ok that my Uncle does not like parades or the circus and this child will probably know all the major paintings in the Metropolitan Museum of Art before I take her to Disney. It is perfectly acceptable that they live 10 blocks away from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Route and they never go (we stay at their apartment) Thats what much older cousins like me are for!

 

[tmarquez]

My daughter's been many times, her first was at 10 months. Although I would say she had a good time each time, the first visit that made a lasting impression on her was at 2 years 3 months. This time was different in a few ways: she remembered things way after the trip, she told people (family, friends) about the trip afterwards, she formed favorites (Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Peter Pan).

Now we live about 45 minuted from Disney so we go quite often. She is 2 1/2 now and she knows how to get to the rides she wants to go on, where she likes to eat, and of course every place that has spraying water!

I'm sure every kid is different, but for us, even at 10 months it was worth going.

 

[Trinity721]

We took DD when she was 10 mos and she loved it. Granted, she didn't really know where we were or what it was all about, but she loved seeing all the new sights and just being with Mommy and Daddy. I'm sure your baby cousin would love being with you at WDW. DD is now almost 3 and we are going in April if all goes as planned, and she is the perfect age IMO. It's a different experience when you take a child to WDW, you see it through their eyes.

Maybe you could convince your cousins to stay at the Grand Floridian, it sounds like they'd appreciate a resort like that. If they don't want to go to the parks maybe they'd take advantage of the spas, afternoon tea, etc. Perhaps even a stroll through Epcot's WS? And maybe they'll change their minds, when they see how much their child loves such a magical place. Who knows!