Best age for daughter's first trip?

[Seaera]

Thanks so much everyone for your responses. Her first trip certainly won't be her only trip to Disneyland, I imagine we'll try to make it down there every two years or so after. I was just looking for an ideal age for her very first magical trip where she'll enjoy the whole experience!

 

[brenda1966]

So many people talk about going when the "kid will remember it".

Well, I say, who cares if they remember it. I remember it!

I remember the look on DD's face the first time she touched the fur of one of the characters. I remember how excited she was to fly in Peter Pan's ship.

It doesn't matter to me if all her memories are just from the photos I took because I'm building memories for myself of how magical Disney was to a 3 year old.

 

[lexmas]

So many people talk about going when the "kid will remember it".

Well, I say, who cares if they remember it. I remember it!

This is how I feel too. Because, really, there's no guarantee they're going to remember anyway. My family went when I was 5 and my siblings were 11 and 9. Guess what? NONE of us remember it! Maybe a minute here or there, but that's about it. Nothing spectacular. But my parents sure do, and I always loved looking at those pictures! So even though my siblings were older they don't remember at all, and I feel like they must have missed some of that Disney Magic from being older, because they don't love it like I do!

 

[tiggerluva4]

Hi, I think any age no matter how young your child is is good for a Disney Land trip as long as you can afford it. My parents took me when i was just a couple months, and the rides like its a small world, and the little train by the teacups are perfect for young children. Disney does a great job of incorporating young ones so no matter the age your child will have a blast!

 

[Aust]

We went in October with our 2 DD's, aged 3 and 6 - I wanted to take them when they were young enough to still believe in the characters and the magic. It probably was better for DD6, as she could go on more rides than DD3, but DD3 still loved it. And seeing both their faces when they met the princesses was priceless. I am hoping it's not their one and only visit, they have both asked when they can go back, too bad we live in Australia and it took a year to save for this trip!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks so much everyone for your responses. Her first trip certainly won't be her only trip to Disneyland, I imagine we'll try to make it down there every two years or so after. I was just looking for an ideal age for her very first magical trip where she'll enjoy the whole experience!

I'm not sure you can figure that out for anyone.

This is how I feel too. Because, really, there's no guarantee they're going to remember anyway. My family went when I was 5 and my siblings were 11 and 9. Guess what? NONE of us remember it! Maybe a minute here or there, but that's about it. Nothing spectacular. But my parents sure do, and I always loved looking at those pictures! So even though my siblings were older they don't remember at all, and I feel like they must have missed some of that Disney Magic from being older, because they don't love it like I do!

I went to DL as an older child, more than once, and I remember almost nothing about the trips. I'm the oldest of the siblings, but just the other day my younger brother was saying that his only real memory of another brother (the brother I was talking to has estranged himself from the other sibs and our dad) is getting onto the subs at DL at 6 years old. I have NO idea what he's talking about, because I don't remember that trip in any way shape or form. And I would have been about 20! So there's a possibility I wasn't along for the trip, but shouldn't I remember THAT?



So anyway, OP, you're only a little way north of me. And the exchange rate works for you now, yes? So I'm not sure it would cost you much more than it costs us to get down there, with that exchange rate in mind.

We went when DS was 1.5 years old, though it was a day-trip inside of a bigger trip to visit my brother. We enjoyed it, loved it, he was easily "worn" around and nicely under "control".

We went again the following year when he was around 2.5, again, a day trip inside of a bigger brother-visit. It was terrific! He was more aware of things, and even though he had more of an opinion than the first time, even that was fun.

Best part about those trips was that DS was free to get into the parks. Can't beat that!

A few months after the second trip, he suddenly started talking about it, he remembers more than we do unaided. Dh had a co-worker who refused to take his kids until they could remember, and his kids were 8 and 11! Talk about not having much confidence in his kids!

That said, along with the Disneyland stuff, I barely remember my own honeymoon cruise, that I planned, helped pay for, and looked forward to immensely. But I was exhausted in every way, and it turned out I was one week into pregnancy, and I was passing out at 8pm every night (I missed the chocolate midnight buffet!!!). So even into adulthood, going with the memory thing is a tricky thing...

Then this September we went just to Disneyland (6.5 days, no brother-visiting), and he was almost 3.5. He loved it even more!!! He continued to show that he remembered things from previous visits, and actually started to talk about things from his FIRST trip. Which is spooky.

And we went again in December and it just gets better.


I know that some of his enjoyment is because he's getting older, but I couldn't possibly even TRY to separate that from the building-block sort of effect that each trip has had. It's layered, so I can't say that he would enjoy it just as much now if we had NOT gone before, you know?

Go when you want to go. Let go of the "perfect visit" thoughts...I kind of figured that this December trip was going to be beyond perfect, and I was that almost crying, very upset, "why won't you listen to me" mother more times than I care to admit (and many more times than I admitted in my trip report, LOL). It wasn't perfect for him, it wasn't perfect for me...if I'd fully had that expectation I would have been devastated, instead of just super-annoyed at the whole situation.

Have fun, whenever you choose to go!

Oh, and taking DS twice when he was free made paying for him when he was 3 MUCH more palatable.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

We took our first trip in 2006, when our oldest DS was 6 and the youngest 2. Both boys had a wonderful time. My older son was nervous about the characters, and a bit shy, but the younger one leapt into Goofy's waiting arms, and from there on out happily greeted every character. It was magical, especially for me to witness, since it was also my first time.

We went again this last fall, and while we still had a great time, DS7 was less interested in meeting characters and more into the thrill rides. Fortunately for me, DS3 was still into the magic of the place, and still loved meeting the characters.

I think the younger years, when the kids still believe in the characters and the magic, are the best time of all to go. Yes, DS3 still naps and can't go on many rides. Soon enough he will be all about the thrill rides and I won't be able to meet the characters anymore. I'm going to go as often as I can in these early years!

 

[silence]

We took my DS for the first time when he was 18 months. My DD went for the first time at 6 weeks.

We typically go once a year, though, we have been 3 times this past year, but we have AP's now so we are trying to go more.

When my daughter was almost 3, she "got" it and LOVED our visit at the parks. She hugged all the characters and loved all the Fantasyland rides. Since that visit, she talks about going back ALL the time, even more now since we go more often. She goes on all the rides, including all the "mountain" roller coasters.