Attn: Experts! Best age??? Please Help!

[whatchawant]

We searched for this topic on the forums, but didn't have much luck -- sorry if it's an old one:

My husband and I want to take our daughter to Disney World (neither of us have ever gone -- oh, weren't we deprived during childhood?), and we want to be sure to take her when she would most enjoy it.

Soooooo....

If you were only able to take your kids once in their lives, what do you think would be the age when they would get the very most out of the experience?

For what it's worth, our daughter is 4, and we were thinking of taking her when she's 5!

Please help, we'll be SO grateful! Thanks!!

 

[AZKathy]

JUST ONCE IN A LIFETIME???????

That is a tough question because you can't just go once! WDW is like that potatochip; you can't eat just one.

Anyhoo, if you must abide by that guideline, then maybe a little older. Think about when your first memories are more vivid. I don't remember a whole lot when I was five, myself.

We took our youngest at 13 months and she had a blast and she has been back to Disney every year since then; she is a true Disney-holic! Her memories are still vivid because we go every year to reinforce those memories. Honestly, if you really enjoy your trip, I guarantee you will go back!!!

By the way, welcome to the DIS! Glad to have you around!!!!!!

 

[tinkerbee]

I think it depends on what you want to get out of the trip. At 4 or 5 the pictures are really cute. They understand what is going on but will they really remember anything?
I went for the first time at 9 and remember alot. I was also able to go on all the rides. Where at 5 she won't be. We took my my niece and nephew this past year 7 and 9. My nephew wanted to do everything where my 7 year old niece wouldn't do anything(she has ADHD).
So I guess it all depends on what you want out of the vacation. Personally I think if you want them to remember and this is the only time you think you are going to go I would wait until she is atleast old enough to remember 7 or 8 maybe even older before they "don't want to be seen with mom and dad"

 

[KathyFP]

My DD (5) loves Disney. Her first trip was at 3 1/2. We have taken her four times. Each year has been great.

By the time she is 5, there will only be a few rides that she may not beable to ride because of the height requirement.

I say plan for when you can afford it. After you do one trip, you will plan for ways to save money to do it again.

(I am speaking from experience. Neither DH or I had ever been before taking DD)

 

[dan-tot]

Folks I think you are missing the key words. Once in a LifeTime. I think 8 would be ok. I was 13 when I first saw Disneyland. Eight would put her in third grade. She should remember everything and be able to experience all the rides she wants to go on.


Dan-tot

 

[campinggal]

I would have to agree with the above poster- for a once in a lifetime trip- 8 would do it.

Old enough and probably tall enough to not be excluded from any rides unless they chose not to go on them for other reasons.

Other reason would be the stamina issue. I just returned having taken my 6 1/2 year old for the first time- purposefully waiting until she was at least 6. I knew I couldn't plan full days and made a point to take long afternoon breaks. We had 5 full days to explore WDW but due to her stamina- we only hit AK, MK (really covered this one at a leisurely pace) and only a few hours at Epcot. At 8, depending on the child, you might not have to worry too much about the fatigue factor.

A cousin took her daughter when she was almost 9 and she was able to do long days because she wanted to.

At 8 or 9 the magic is still very real (and for some it never goes away!!)

Just my thoughts. Every child is so different! It will be a great trip for you all at any age!!!

 

[tjkraz]

Honestly I think it depends upon what YOUR expectations are. You may get responses from dozens of people here who took their children/grandchildren/neices/nephews at varying ages, and few of them will tell you that the child was too young.

If you want your daughter to remember the trip forever, you might need to wait until she is 8 or 10. Stop and think--how much do you really remember from that far back in your childhood?

We took our son for the first time when he was 18 mos, and it was an absolute joy. Over a year later he still loves to watch videotape of our stay, listen to the park music in the car, look at photos, etc. I don't think there is a "right" or "wrong" age for WDW...certainly not one that can be determined by a group of people that don't know your family.

Plan your trip when it suits your needs (financial, recreational, etc). But I suspect it won't be your ONLY visit.

 

[blanq]

A word of warning: we took our DS for his "once in a lifetime trip" when he was 6. He is now 10 and we are heading back to WDW for the 5th time since that 1st trip! Believe me when I say that WDW is a big 'ol vortex that will suck you in for a lifetime!!! That said, I think 5 or 6 is a great time to go, in that most kids that age have some stamina and you can get to see plenty. My DS had a wonderful trip at age 6! I agree with others though, that 8-10 is probably a better age range for a kid to remember the trip, and to take advantage of all the big thrill rides!

 

[FreshTressa]

If I knew I could only go once, I would want to wait until they had a few years to want to go, so about 9 or 10. I mean the longer that they have wanted it, the sweeter it will be.

Then they can go on all rides height wise and are still young enough for magic and old enough to remember it all.

I remember fantasizing about going as a kid and it would have meant so much to me, while my kids have been going since they were babies, so now at 5 and 6 they are already jaded.

 

[swilphil]

I'll agree that for once in a lifetime, 8 is probably ideal. But if there is any chance that you might be able to go at least one more time, I would try to go at 5 or 6 and then go again at 10 or 11. I like the 5 or 6 age because they still REALLY believe it's all real. We went with extended family, 5 kids ages 1 through 11. The look on the faces of the 3 and 5 yo's was priceless. The 9 and 11 yo's were more interested in the thrill rides.

 

[zaxmom]

My philosphy has been to do more budget trips instead of a one in a lifetime. We drive, stay off site, eat breakfast in room, only go for three days, things like that. Mine are only 3 and 5 and we have been three times with our 5 year old. When they are young they do not know what they are missing, this trip will be his first time to Epcot. It's like a whole new vacation. These trips when they are young are really for the parents, we love to watch how amazed and excited they can get. We will try to go every other year untill they are burnt out on it. I think for a once in a lifetime trip, 7 would be a good age. Tall enough to ride Space Mountain, maybe not tall enough for Rock N Roller Coaster. But, they are still young enough (maybe) to feel the magic of it all. The younger they are, the more impressed they are. They will get to meet the REAL Mickey Mouse and so on. At 10, they are not so impressed with costumed characters, they want real roller coasters. Mine already like Universal better.

 

[pintrader]

I ride the monorail on a weekly basis and ALWAYS strike up a conversation with families in the same car. As a rule of thumb this is what I observed.

Children 8-9-10 say they have been to WDW or DL before. When I asked them what they liked they struggle for an answer. When they vfinally come up with one, my next questions is always "Do you remember that or is it just a memory from a phototgraph someone shared?"

Inevitably even the family members pipe in and say while they know their child(ren) enjoyed themselves at an earlier age, they realize the child has no conscious memory of the vacation.

Now let's not forget what the original topic of this post was. This is not a contest to see whose child has the best memory. And I am not challenging what your child enjoyed or remembers. I am simply sharing what I have learned after talking to 100s of families experience based on unbiased observation.

Will your child have fun at 5? yes!! when she is 12 will she have a memory that she can share with you if there is no photo or family members prompting her about what she "should" remember? You know your family best. If I could only take my kids once I would make sure it counted for them. That way they can remember what a good time they had and maybe find a way they can take their family many times with Granma and Granpa.

 

[decker96]

Our first trip with our kids was last year when our DD was 5. She had a great time and remembers most of the things we did. Will she still remember when she's 9 or 10, who knows. So, if you think you'll only go once (although once you've been there I find it highly unlikely that you won't want to return!!) then 7 or 8 may be a better choice. The only thing is when they're 5 they don't really think anything is babyish yet. Our DD, who is now 6, has informed us that she thinks Pooh and Tigger are for babies, when just last year she was thrilled to meet them.

 

[beattyfamily]

Really, only you can answer this. If you 'need' your DD to remember most of it then you might have to wait till 7, 8, or 9 but go before she is ADULT price!

If you want her to have a great time and remember some of it and have it be very magical in that she's really excited about the characters and kiddie rides, then I think 5 is a WONDERFUL age!!!

Our DD's have gone at ages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and age 7 in 18 days! I think each of those ages had their special aspects about them. The younger they are, the more magical, the older they are the more they remember and can ride. They can ride almost everything at 5. Just not RnR and Primevil Whirl and those cars at MK. Actually, when our DD's were younger, they went with the flow more and didn't whine like my older DD does when she has to wait in a line!

I'm sure you'll have fun no matter what age she ends up being when you go! Take lots of pictures and video so she can remember that way too!

 

[whatchawant]

You have all been SO helpful, and we really appreciate it. We plan on having another child at some point, so maybe it would be best to just realize we're gonna be going on multiple trips. Hehe!

Anyway, it sounds to me like everyone is saying to probably wait for memory purposes if we're sure it's the only trip we'd make, but if we'll be going back (sounds like an addiction waiting to form) we should just go on ahead!

You've given us a ton to think about...this place is fabulous. Thank you!

 

[crisi]

Bingo!

If you think you might go again, you may want to go sooner rather than later. You don't want to be saying "gee, I wish we'd have come when she was four so we'd get those really cute character breakfast pictures." Unless you are strapped for cash, you can always find a way to get in another trip if you really want to, but its impossible to turn back the clock to make your child young enough to crawl up into Tigger's lap.

On the other hand, if you really do mean you are going to go once, you want them to be at the age where they have memories. Where they can keep up without naps, stay up late enough for fireworks without getting too cranky. Where they can appreciate things like Epcot, ride some of the thrill rides (Fantasyland is a lot of fun, but there is a lot more to Disney than Pooh and Peter Pan's Flight). But hopefully before teen angst has set in and everything is "boring." Disney - although they have added more thrill rides - is not Six Flags and a lot of teens would just be happier at Six Flags. Eight to eleven (although beattyfamily is right about tickets getting more expensive when they become a Disney "adult" ticket) - depending on the kid.....

Do keep in mind that this board appeals to Disney fans and Disney planners. Plenty of people go for a once in a lifetime trip and don't ever go back. There are even people who go once and don't understand what the fuss is about and think they wasted their time and money!

 

[AZKathy]

Originally posted by whatchawant
(sounds like an addiction waiting to form)

Indeed it is!!!!! Just you wait!

Happy planning for whenever you choose to go! Stick around and get any questions answered right here!

 

[zaxmom]

If there is another baby in your future, by all means you should go now! You will HAVE to go again then. You can't shortchange the second like that. Just Kidding. If you can afford it now, I would say go, have fun, relax. You never know what is in your future. You may win the lottery and go every year, or you may be so poor you will never get to go at all. Let's hope it will be the former for us all. My son is 5 and has not been since he was 3, but he remembers as much as I do about our trip. I probably haven't even developed the pictures yet, either.