Best age to take child?

[emkat]

Hi all,
This is my first time in this section, so hopefully you will be able to help me. I'm thinking (wishing) to take the myself, DH and DS to WDW in a while but am wondering what is the best age for a child. As we will be flying a reasonable distance has this put anyone off from taking a young child on this trip? I'm kinda torn between having a trip whilst he is still quite young and probably enjoying the pool/beach/running around - or waiting a few years until he can appreciate the whole 'disney' experience of the rides/setting etc. What do you all think??

emkat

 

[kristieuk]

That's a tough question, because it depends on so many things! There is so much for children of all ages (!) to appreciate, and they will take different things from it depending on their age.

How old is your son? Do you anticipate going only once in the forseeable future? If that's what you plan, then perhaps wait until he's 6 - 7 or so because he is more likely to carry his memories with him for a long time. If you think you would go back many times, then I don't think they can be too young to start, as long as you take it slowly and perhaps spend half a day at a time doing the parks.

We first took took our dd now 6 when she was 3 months old, but just did MK. We have been every year since, but we only do a couple of parks per trip because we prefer a beach based holiday.

I know it depends a lot on the individual child, but we have travelled long haul with dd countless times, and she has developed into a cultured and very adaptable little girl. I wouldn't hesitate to take any future children we have back to WDW and elsewhere from their baby years. Most planes have seatback tv's and there are plenty of activities you can take to occupy a child.

That is a very convoluted reply, and maybe no help at all, but I think especially as you only have one child, the world is your oyster, and you should go for it.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We first took Joshua when he was 10 months old, which is too young really.

I wouldn't discourage anyone from taking their child to Florida irrespective of their age, naturally the older the child the more they would appreciate - I guess if I had to give an age I would say anything from 5 years old upwards.

Really we are ALL big kid's when we go to Orlando.

As for the flight , yes it is a long time but we have always found that we cope perfectly okay, just prepare and bring some favourite comfort toys, we even take a portable DVD player to keep Josh occupied.
I am not the best flier either but we have always coped and it would never put us off going.

One thing I would say, if you are taking a very young child to Florida I would strongly advise you avoid the busy and very hot summer months, it will make it much easier if you do not have to go during the school holidays.
We enjoyed a few years of that but now have to go in August.

 

[tartangirl]

I think it will depend on how often you plan to go. If this is an only visit I would wait until they are 9 or 10.

We first went when DD was 4 and DS 6 which is too young if it's to be an only visit. We went to DLP (or Euro Disney as it was then) before to avoid the long flight. I think we could easily have taken them before being tied to school holidays but we weren't aware about how easy it was getting top notch villas and staying in a hotel with 2 young kids (both fussy eaters) didn't seem like a good idea.

I dont think the flight is that bad as it is easy to make it pass quickly. The key for me is always getting direct flights as it is the hanging around airports with tired kids I find unbearable. We drive to Manchester for direct flights. This is good as the kids can sleep in the car on the way down and back.

Remember that Disney is a great place for adults so even if your DS is too young to remember you'll still have a wonderful time and out of school holidays it's possible to get very reasonable rates.

 

[susan1]

hi
i got flamed apallingly when i suggested an appropriate age to take children to disney. it seems the people from the u.s. view these things differently to us! i ventured an opinion that i wouldnt take a child until they were at least 8 or 9yrs old and didn't need an afternoon nap and got a very nasty reply among many saying "pity the poor child who hasn't been to disney by the time they are 5yrs." so be warned

 

[jtlover]

We first took our daughter for her 6th birthday - but she doesnt remember it.

Only you can decide what is best - just bear in mind that there is so much to see that you need to do research into what you want to see first and then work out whether your child is too young to cope.

 

[TinkTatoo]

I don't think there is a wrong age to take kids - they will get something from it no mater how old they are.

We first took DS when he was 3 and DD was 2 it was slightly different for us as we didn't know at the time that they had autism so ours wasn't a typical experience. However they did loved all the rides aimed at younger kids (they still do ) and had a great time swimming. We took them again when they were 5 & 6 and every year since. They enjoy it every time and each time there are new things for them to do and try.

As for the flight - we take plenty of distraction toys and they cope no problem.

If you do plenty of research you can have a great trip no matter what the age of the child. We have all said our first trip to Orlando is a "once in a life time" holiday and most of us are still going back so you mights as well go for it sooner rather than later

 

[disneyholic family]

i agree that if this is a once in a lifetime trip, it's a good idea to wait until the child is about 10 years old......

but if you're planning on going every few years, then really any age is fine...

my son's first visit was when he was 6 weeks old....granted that was a bit young , but he's been every year since then and each time has enjoyed it immensely.....he's now 18 and my DD is 21, and they both still prefer going to WDW to anywhere else in the world (and they've been to lots and lots and lots and lots of interesting places all over the world, so they have a basis for comparison)...

but if you think you'll only make it there once, then you should wait....

 

[Miffy2003]

It really depends on the child to be honest! I know that sounds very flippant, but I first took my DDs at ages 3 & 6 and to be quite honest the 3 year old seemed to get a lot more out of it than the 6 year old!

My DDs have been three times now at 3 & 6, 5 & 8 and 6 & 9 so we have covered a range of ages! Each trip has been very special for different reasons because they like to do different things at different ages. For example at 3 years old my youngest DD would have been happy spending the entire trip meeting characters. it was absolute magic for her (and us!) to see her interracting with them

How old is your DS emkat? Are you based in the UK?

Welcome to the Dis

 

[Ali and boyz]

I don't think it maters to be honest . any age. we have taken our sons right from age 1 and they are now 15 and 20 . No age caused a problem. Obviousley when they were really small (1 etc) they don't remember but we do and we have some great pictures

 

[Dimplenose]

From the point of view of the child remembering the trip then 7+ would be best - BUT my best trip was when DD was 4 and was completely absorbed into the magic, I have such special memories of that time.

Libby

 

[KayleeUK]

Emkat - Welcome to the DIS

We our taking our son on his first trip this year and he will be 10 months old, we plan to return often after this visit

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

We have taken our little 'un since he was three months old, he is now almost 4 and is a WDW veteran. You just tailor the holiday to suit the age of the child, no biggie

 

[Soprano]

Hi all,
This is my first time in this section, so hopefully you will be able to help me. I'm thinking (wishing) to take the myself, DH and DS to WDW in a while but am wondering what is the best age for a child. As we will be flying a reasonable distance has this put anyone off from taking a young child on this trip? I'm kinda torn between having a trip whilst he is still quite young and probably enjoying the pool/beach/running around - or waiting a few years until he can appreciate the whole 'disney' experience of the rides/setting etc. What do you all think??

emkat

Hi emkat

There is no "best age" I think. There is something for everyone at all ages. We took our 2 and 3 year old last year and they may forget all of it in the years to come, but we have some great photographs and 90 minutes of camera footage sitting on a dvd.

People who say they are wait until their child is the "right age" miss out IMHO. They make it sound like you can only go once in your life! Disney being a "once on a lifetime" holiday is long out of date. Sure, its harder for some to find the money and it may takes years. But once? Very unlikely for the average person.

I see the OP's point about being concerned about long haul flights, but my two were fine. They didn't sleep or get restless. My boy could be a bit of a handful at the time, but even he was fine.

Since we all get up ealry for the flight, I found they were less active than normal, thankfully! We fly with Virgin, so they had their own seat (paid extra, well woth it. Couldn't have one on a lap for 9 hours!) and their own TV to watch cartoons. Give them some crayons and stickers, their quite for ages.

If I were you, I'd go now AND when they are older.

 

[UKDEB]

Just go when you want to go. Don't worry about a 'right' age: your kid(s) will love it whatever. Our girls were 7 & 5 when we first went and we all have never-to-be-repeated lifetime memories from that trip (and each one since). They are now 21 and 18 and love Orlando and WDW.

Without a doubt, they both enjoyed the pool as much as anything else for the first few trips, but I have some heart-wrenching video footage of them meeting the characters (and so much more). Just do it.

 

[emkat]

Hi again,

Thanks for all your posts After giving it some more consideration we will probably leave it for a couple years 'till he is a bit older. He is currently 3 and will probably try DLP first and then WDW. I don't know whether we would go back again, i have been a couple of times previously and loved it - but my DH and i really love the outdoors (yosemite, etc) and can't wait to get back to nature
Although i know that DS would much prefer Disney

Thanks for all your replies
emkat

 

[happytraveller]

Hi, i've taken my kids as young as 6 months old.The flight did'nt seem to bother him at all.Personally ,i too agree there is no right or wrong age,you just have to tailor the holiday accordingly as other posters have said.In honesty i have found the older my kids got the more they lost appreciation, of the whole orlando experience.Remember,the photos will hold the memories for ever, so i'd say go for it

 

[minnie29uk]

Hi all,
This is my first time in this section, so hopefully you will be able to help me. I'm thinking (wishing) to take the myself, DH and DS to WDW in a while but am wondering what is the best age for a child. As we will be flying a reasonable distance has this put anyone off from taking a young child on this trip? I'm kinda torn between having a trip whilst he is still quite young and probably enjoying the pool/beach/running around - or waiting a few years until he can appreciate the whole 'disney' experience of the rides/setting etc. What do you all think??

emkat

I took my son when he was 11 ,omths.He had a great time and we love looking through the pictures to remind us of everything.
He went again at 23 months and 32 months.
In 2005 he was there for his 3rd birthday and my daughter ,16 months went for her first time.
The 3 of us are going again this April.Each time there are a couple more rides thay are tall enough to try and they never tire of all the shows either.
It is nicer now my son is not so scared of the characters.So each time had added to our Disney experience.

I believe - never too young and never too old!!!

Lynn

 

[Shooby doo]

If we are just talking WDW then I would say 6-7,don't get me wrong Ds was 3 on our first family trip & we got some great photos but I'm sure if you asked him what his fave part of the trip would be ,it would be the Hotel Pool!!
I also think that those extra few years help them to last longer on the long days.Still at the age where they can still be immersed in WDW & get on the majority of the rides. However if we are including IOA (US isn't so height restrictive) & BG then I would add another couple of years on.
SD aw:

 

[Shane]

Personally, I dont think there is an age whats best to take your child, I would say a few years old though so they can actually "Enjoy" it rather than being in a push chair allday.

I first went to disney when i was 7-8 years old, to be honest I cant remember a thing but I know it was great, i went back when i was around 11-12 and that was an amazing experiance!