Best Age for DL & DCA

[ClassicPooh2]

I have always said I would never take a "little" person to Disney, but now that I'm a parent I can't wait to take my little girl. (she's only 2 months)
My husband and I have always gone WDW, but thought that maybe it would be better to start slowly at DL with her and go when she is older to WDW. Does this sound good? Bad?


HELP!!!!!

We're missing Disney!!!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[Michelle]

I don't think there is a best age, when they are young it's really more for the parents than the kids. I would go as soon as you feel ready to travel with a baby and deal with all the associated hassles (and joys!) of doing so. Your little one won't really enjoy or remember much until she is 3 or so, but that doesn't mean you should wait until then to enjoy the Disney magic yourselves.

 

[IandGsmom]

I agree that it really depends much on you and your kids. My twins were 2 when we first took them and alot of people thought we were nuts and we would not be able to go on much. They were wrong. We spent most of our time in Toontown & Fantasyland and had a blast. I think we (My DH and I) went on one E-ticket ride the whole time and I never even thought twice about it. Try and watch the parades and you and your husband could always "Babyswap" and go on the rides like that. Ask the CMS at the front of the ride about that as they usually let you go through the exit to avoid the long lines, at least they did when we did.

 

[marciemi]

I wouldn't take a "baby-baby" if you know what I mean, but we took our kids at some point with an 18-19 month old (different kids at different times). That was actually a glorious time, because as a previous poster said - it was so much fun for us (the parents). I just remember one staring at the big "Pooh" character in awe, another just overwhelmed (in a positive way) by the big Coke Cups at the All Star resort in FL. So it's definitely the little things, but if you don't go then you'll never get to see them at that stage enjoying it in the same way.

A warning about 3 year olds - twice we've gone with a 3 year old and both times they were terrified about every ride with "scaries". This could be a little darkness, lightning, loud noises, etc. I remember standing in lines assuring a kid there would be no scaries while he screamed and tried to get out of the line. Rides I swore wouldn't be scary (The Land at EPCOT) would have a 30 second scene that would leave him terrified for the next hour. Meanwhile my 18 month old at the time was perfectly calm, as long as Mom or Dad was there to hold on to him. So this age, at least with my kids, was really iffy. Old enough to understand scary, but not to deal with it.

On the sad side, by the time we went back again, my oldest was 6. He tolerated Dumbo, Character Breakfasts, etc. with his younger brothers, but when I suggested he put them in his journal for 1st grade he was making, he was mortified - "I can't write that - everyone will make fun of me!" So they grow up too fast (maybe it's different with girls!) Had we not gone when he was little, I wouldn't have all the fun memories before he got too "cool" for this stuff. Now he's almost 11 and we're going out to DL for the first time & I don't know how he'll do. At least we're doing MM so he can do some cool rollercoasters too!

But overall I'd go when she can walk competently and notice/be fascinated by her surroundings and just realize you'll have fun but may not accomplish great things!

 

[WDW2002]

IMO, 2.5 - 3yo is a good age for a "first trip."

 

[tink2dw]

I feel that 4 and 5 are perfect ages as they,the kids, still believe in magic and are amazed by it all. But I am 49,I believe in magic and am amazed by it all, over and over again. My 14 yr. old thought she was too,old to have fun at Disney,but she learned that you can have Fun at any age IF you BELIEVE and that Disney is for All Ages!!

 

[Nik's Mom]

Hello,
We recently took our 3 month old and now have annual passes. My best advice is to utilize the Baby station. I am a nursing mother, but too shy to do it in public. The Baby Station offered a great shelter for me and the baby. If your baby nurses, there is a private room available. Even if you just want a quiet place to bottel feed, they offer comfortable chairs for that too. It even has high chairs! The best part is that they have very large padded changing tables. And those tables are so clean! It even has small toilets. That became a life saver when our newly potty-trained son was to afraid to use the big toilets.
I think that your baby will just enjoy being outside, especially if the weather is nice.

 

[diznee25]

Just my opinion: My father took me to DL when I was 6 yrs old and I still remember it quite vividly (sp?) I think between the ages of 4, 5, and 6 are when children will build memories of those vacations and remember them as they age to an adult.

Even now I remember being 6 yrs old, riding Pirates of the Carribean and then eating at Blue Bayou, the restaurant themed after that attration! Oh.....I haven't been at that restaurant in 18 years but the memories live in me as if I were at it yesterday...



Take your child when they are a baby, it's priceless. Take them as older children, it's priceless. If you take them as babies just remember to take them back when they're older so they have memories of a family vacation at WDW!