Best age to take son for the first time?

[Random Villains]

So me and my wife are expecting our first on November 27th, yes, Thanksgiving.

And we are already plotting and planning their first trip to Disneyland. At what age is the perfect time for them to go?

 

[IBLarsen]

First, Congrats on the baby! Second, I am certainly no authority on this subject, considering we are just now taking our children for the first time at ages 5(ds) and 3(dd). My main reason for planning our upcoming trip (Sept 30-Oct 4) is to take my kids for the experience before they get any older. I think kids get different things from the trips at different ages. I really wanted to experience the pure "magic" thru their eyes. At this age, they still think the characters are real and to me seeing Disneyland thru the eyes of a child will really bring out the magic of the place. Now of course I hear people say they want to wait until the kids are old enough to really remember it and to ride absolutely everything. I think older kids will get more out of the rides, but the younger kids really light up in a special kind of way. I would not have hesitated to take my kids even younger, a lot of people on the dis board have taken their kids much younger and can give you a better idea of what their experiences were. I have NO doubt that my 3 year old will be just as excited as the 5 year old, and even at 2 they both would have been in Heaven had we taken them. I don't know that there's a right or wrong age, just depends on how often you are able to go and what you expect from the trips with kids.

 

[Jenn1116]

That depends... We have a great pic of my baby brother sucking Dopey's nose! He was still an infant. I took DD for the first time when she was 2 with my Best Friends and her 2 yr old. We have this fantastic picture of them hugging each other in front of floral mickey. They both have the happiest most excited faces I have ever seen in my life... and we hadn't even gone inside yet! Their joy was definitely magical, and I'm so glad to have picture. But she doesn't really remember it so much. Last trip she had just turned 4 (Feb 08) and now every couple of days she brings up DL and we talk about it. So that's a lot of fun.

So I say... it's never too early, even if they don't remember!

 

[mousemom11]

Congratulations on your impending arrival! May you have many years of wonderful Disney memories with him or her.

We started taking our kids when our youngest was 18 months. She was able to do many of the rides in FL and Bugs Land in DCA. She loved the parades, but was rather leary of the characters. DH and I did the parent swap and single rider lines for most of the headline attractions. I'm glad that we waited until she was old enough to be aware and appreciative of what was going on around her. She's 7 now and remembers a few things from the initial trip.

We've really enjoyed seeing DL through their eyes at different ages. IMO, it's never too early to start the Disney Indoctrination!

Here she is on Triton's Carousel

Here she is with her favorite interactive exhibit - the TV at the GCH! We had the buttons blocked off on our TV at home, so she was in heaven.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Congrats - my advice - go early and often when they are very little! We did!

We may not be the best example, but our daughters were at DL within the first month of life - oldest after just 1 week. We always wore them in the sling, so people wouldn't touch them or get to gushy. People don't tend to violate any personal space rules when you wear your kids! Some folks just thought I had a bag - not a baby!

We then went monthly after that point and gauged a lot of physical and emotional development on how they responded to rides. At 5 months, both girls could follow and track activities from both sides and the ceiling of Small World, although #2 preferred to give up her nursing session so she could really enjoy it!

The younger they baby is, the more you will be able to do! Take advantage early on. You can still do Pirates and Haunted Mansion because the smaller they are, the less aware of "scary" they are. We had to stop both at 18 months with our oldest. You can also take better advantage of rider switch. The baby is flexible. You can breastfeed on some attractions - although I preferred Small World and the Animation Building Lobby and the Aladdin Musical in DCA.

The older they get, you have different complications. Potty training really throws a wrench in things, believe me - going though it now! I enjoy the photos of my girls as infants with the characters and in various locations. They are memories that I would never give up or do differently!

Nancy

 

[HoneyBee06]

Congratulations.

I don't have kids yet...but I'll give my two cents.

I think it depends on the child and the parents. There are a lot of factors. for example, if you live far away and you're only able to go every few years or something...I'd probably wait until they were at least 5ish. But if you're able to go often, just about any age would work.

We used to live 10 minutes from Disneyland so we know the park backwards and forwards. We live in the midwest now, but still try to make the trip out there once a year (for Disneyland and to visit family.) We plan on taking our kids there even when they are babies. The park isn't that big so it's not too overwhelming with a small child...especially if you're really used to the park. And if you don't mind missing out on some of the rides...then any age is fine. I'd be perfectly happen just walking around the park and not going on any rides...so I think the park with a baby would be fun.

However, we've decided we won't be making at trips to WDW in Florida until our kids are at leat 5ish. It's a lot more walking. A lot more getting on and off buses and travelling between parks. I imagine that would be a lot more difficult with a small child/baby than Disneyland.

Just remember...if you take little ones to Disneyland in the winter, it DOES get colder at night. Dress your kids appropriately. It always drove me crazy to see little bald babies with no hats on when it was chilly outside. Sometimes I saw parents wearing hats and gloves and yet their children weren't in warm clothes at all. So frustrating!

 

[CrazyDuck]

I'd say wait until they can walk. Not necessarily walk all day but enough to get around. Once they can walk they will have a little more coordination and balance that will help them stay upright rides like the carousel and such...

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

My son was 14 months old his first trip. But I'd say he really got in to everything and really enjoyed it around 3. After that it only got better every year, and with every new ride he was tall enough to get on. Now he's 10, which means every ride!

Congrats on the baby!

 

[dizneekrazee]

Congrats on the baby!!!

I think any age is the perfect age, as long as the baby is healthy and can spend time away from home. All of our kids went at different ages. My oldest didnt get his first trip until he was almost 3. My second got his first trip at 9.5 months, and my youngest got his first trip at 3 months. The younger they are, the easier the trip is. I would take them even younger if the opportunity arose. Just make sure mom is feeling up to it first!!

HTH!!

 

[Sleepless Knight]

I'll add my congratulations on the blessed arrival.

I don't believe there's a "perfect" age to take them for the first time. It can vary from child to child. My nephew was 7 months old and loved eating character noses at WDW when we went in 2006. He'll be three on an upcoming Disneyland visit in December and will enjoy things on a different level(he can't wait to see Mickey at his house).

The only trick is that you don't know how small children will react to characters. I was obsessed with Mickey Mouse(still am for that matter) when I was two, but when I saw him in Disneyland, my parents say I was terrified of the gigantic mouse. Roughly 6 months later, they took me to his 50th birthday party and I was just fine with him, so you never know. My nephew who loved the noses of the fur characters was indifferent at best, not at all happy at worst, when we saw Cinderella and Prince Charming on the same visit.

 

[ballarinamom]

Congratulations! Babies rock!!

I think too you have to think about how far is the travel? It's not so much the baby AT Disney as much as getting the baby TO Disney.

We first took DD for her 3rd bday. She had been to Sea World and Six Flags probably 50 times by then as we live in San Antonio. So the rides were not as big of a deal as the Disney "thing". She had seen EVERY Disney movie about 100 times by then and was an expert on all the characters. She had that WOW moment when we hit Main Street. She kept asking where the castle was and when she finally saw it for the first time, DH and I started to cry because it was such an awesome expression. She's been several times since and still loves it but that first WOW moment will always be our favorite!

 

[davidsprincess]

Congratulations!!
Our daughter was 1 week away from turning 2. We had started to prepare her for the trip 3 months in advance. We started to watch as many disney cartoons as we could. (a nice change from Dora!! ) She fell in love with Cinderella and Aurora. It worked out like a charm! As we were walking up to the gates, DD was calling, "I'm here Cinderella, where are you? I'm coming!" She ran up to each and every character and gave them big hugs. Not once was she scared of them. We were only able to go for a day and a half. She did really good on our only full day there. We basically opened and closed the park without going back to the hotel for a nap. If she was tired she just slept in the stroller. She even liked the fireworks and Fantasmic!. DH and I didn't go on any rides that she couldn't go on, and it was awsome to view Disneyland through her eyes.

We leave again in 12 weeks and she has been talking about Disney for months. It will be interesting to see her reaction to everything now that she is a year older. For us, taking her at a young age was great! She is a very easy traveler and easy going in general (loves to fly and sleeping in a strange place does not bother her). You and DW alone will be able to judge when your child is ready. What works for you may not work for anyone else.

Again, congratulations and have fun!

 

[bonofreak]

I started taking my kids when they were close to age 3. They did great. I also took my oldest grandson for the first taime at the same age. It was just perfect.

 

[KayR]

You can take kids at any age, just go with what works for you and the child.

If you are wanting the child to have a great experience that they would remember, I would wait until almost 2.

Here is a little story showing why I would recommend two as a great age for DL. We have been going to WDW for several years (since my son was 2). My DD went at 5 weeks (with an across country plane ride!). One time, my DD was 23 months - we went at the end of August and they were having free concerts by children's groups at that time to encourage visitors in the quieter times. We got to see The Wiggles in concert twice at MGM Studios (as it was known then). We also took her to see the Lights, Motors, Action stunt show for the first time then. For the longest time after that trip, she would talk about The Wiggles and the Stunt Show. Eventually, she stopped talking about it, we thought she had forgotten about it all.

We were back in FL that Thanksgiving (DD would have been 27 months) and we went back to MGM Studios - as soon as we had got inside the park she kept asking to see The Wiggles. Especially when we walked passed the Indiana Jones theatre (as that is where The Wiggles played). It just amazed us that at 2 years old, she remembered so much (and over such a relatively long period). She hadn't asked about it for weeks before the, nor when we went to any of the other parks. Just when we went back into MGM studios. That amazed me (and still does to this day!).

So, if you want to take a trip to DL for the child, I think 2 or 3 is a great age to consider the first trip. If you want to take a trip for the Big Kids (i.e. mom and dad) then any age works! Just make use of the baby swap for the rides you want to do!

BTW - we are taking our DD who is now almost 4 to DL for the first time at the end of August. (and its because I need a Disney fix!!!)

-Kay

 

[talie95]

I think any age is a good age for DL, although the younger they are the more stuff you have to cart around with you (bottles, diapers, baby food, etc.) We took our dd, Madison (now 6 years old) for the first time when she was 3. She had an amazing time! Then 2nd dd came along(Ava) and since we didn't want to deprive Madison of DL we took Ava for the first time when she was around 18 months and she had the best time! She wasn't afraid of any of the FL rides (I guess she was too young to understand some of the scary stuff like in Snow White) and she absolutely loved the parade!! We have video of her the first time she saw the parade and it is absolutely priceless!! The good thing about DL is that it is soooo kid/baby friendly. Besides the rollercoasters they can pretty much go on every other ride, including Pirates and HM (which are her favorites by the way!).

Now they are older (3 and 6) and we have AP's and I must admit it's a lot easier now that they are older since we don't have to pack as much with us at the park but I wouldn't give up those early experiences for anything. I know Ava won't remember her early visits to DL but I do and I know that in that moment she had the most magical time.

My neighbor just had a baby about 6 months ago and said that people were telling her not to bother with any theme parks(DL included) until she was 5 yearl old but I told her that DL is different than a lot of other theme parks and if they want to take her ealier, she'll still have a great time!

Congrats on your new arrival and here's to many wonderful DL memories!

 

[avalon451]

Congratulations! You're beginning a big adventure.

I have to say that I'm amazed and awestruck by those parents who took their babies at 1 week, 1 month, or even 6 months. At 1 month postpartum, I was a zombie not fit for public appearance-- let alone organized enough to coordinate travel arrangements and haul all the baby support system stuff along on a big trip! Wow. When my kids were newborns, I thought it was a major accomplishment to get out of the house and go to McDonalds.

Anyway, I read somewhere, and I liked the sentiment-- that if you are taking your child as an infant, you're not doing it for your baby's sake. You're doing it for your own. Which is just fine, but I guess I wouldn't kid myself that I was doing it for my baby's benefit. I would say DL is not the ideal vacation for a baby; babies like routines, and you're likely to be knocking them out of their comforting daily routine. It's not like it's really bad for them or anything, but really, it's for your own delight of the experience of introducing your baby to your favorite place. Babies like to see lots of colors, listen to music, etc. So they'll probably enjoy it, at least until overstimulation sets in. Then they will likely get fussy and cranky, and you might get frustrated at how limited you are by your darling little dictator.

Wait a minute, I just realized. I think DH is that same way. Gets overstimulated, fussy and cranky. Who's the baby here?

I think toddlers, at one year-18 months, can understand so much more than they can articulate, and they can really enjoy the experience! They won't remember it when they get much older, but it will add to their experiences and give them lots of new sensory input.

3-4 is when they'll really start remembering it. What a fun age. Our kids were 5, 10 and 12, and they each had fun in their own way. DD5 was wide-eyed with wonder. DD10 was excited, enthusiastic, hyper, hopping all over and cracking jokes and generally having a ball. DD12 was acting like she was too cool (well, besides feeling under the weather which didn't help) but she loved the sense of freedom when we let her decide what to do, and to ride the big rides. I haven't seen her so excited for a long time, as when she rode Space Mountain 3x in a row! She was grinning and laughing like crazy! She is so excited for our upcoming trip!

You'll have a wonderful time with your son at any age. Enjoy the ride!

 

[talie95]

Congratulations! , I thought it was a major accomplishment to get out of the house and go to McDonalds.

Me too!! I don't think I got out of my pajamas for at least a month! I am always amazed when I see women out with a newborn with makeup on and everything....they must be a better woman than I!!!

 

[PRINCESSplazola]

congrats mama ! how exciting to be expecting!
the first time i took my son to DL was on his first bday! i knew i wanted him to celebrate his bday there from the second i found out i was preggo! and now thats our new tradition to go every year on his bday i would have taken him sooner, but we just didnt have the money at the time, being a young married couple with a new baby. it was always on my mind though! i say as soon as you feel ready, you should go! a baby at any age will enjoy DL just by being out and about, and there's just so much to see!
congrats again!!

 

[PRINCESSplazola]

Me too!! I don't think I got out of my pajamas for at least a month! I am always amazed when I see women out with a newborn with makeup on and everything....they must be a better woman than I!!!

hahaha im with you....i was always in pjs for the first couple months. i was so big and swollen, make-up wouldnt have helped me anyways some women are lucky and look amazing right after giving birth...sadley i wasnt one of them hahahahaha

 

[heatherleigh]

I think 2-yrs old is perfect. That's how old my middle son was on his first trip. We brought our baby last year when she was 16-mos old. She was kind of a pain, but she fell in love w/ Disney and Minnie during that trip. She still loves anything Disney, so she took something away from it. I would probably not take a small baby. In fact, we're leaving our new baby home w/ the grandparents on our trip this winter.