Best age to visit??

[scoobydooby]

Your question of course is completely subjective and dependent upon children and their parents and my answer is equally subjective! For me, the most magical trip for either of my children was their first, when they were 5 and 8. (They were nearer 4 and 7 really, both had just had birthdays). Certainly that experience would make me pick age 5 as perfect.

But that's just our experience

I couldn't afford to take mine when they were babies so all my trips were before they were born or with them from those ages onwards.

 

[zippy99]

Our first trip was in 2008 when the children were 7 & 9 we visited Paris prior to that.

We waited until they were this age as the cost of the holiday at the time was significant (still is really) and we wanted to make the most of our dream holiday....

When we visit in August they will be 13 & 15 and could not contemplate going elsewhere for a holiday!

 

[wilma-bride]

Just out of interest, I asked my DS when HE thought the best time to go was and he said 5 or 6. However, he did say that this year's holiday is the one he is looking forward to more than any of the others. When I asked him why, his response was "It's been a long time coming" - we were at WDW last August

 

[tinks_1989]

Just out of interest, I asked my DS when HE thought the best time to go was and he said 5 or 6. However, he did say that this year's holiday is the one he is looking forward to more than any of the others. When I asked him why, his response was "It's been a long time coming" - we were at WDW last August

Ha ha love his answer about this year.

If any one asked me I would say what ever age I was to make sure I was taken ha ha. X

 

[Dad2Buzz]

My two are 9 & 7, we have purposely waited for them to get to this age, both of them are tall enough to go on almost every ride and are young enough to not get embarrassed.

Although we have spent a fair bit of time in Disneyland Paris with them and they had an amazing time (youngest was 2 or 3 when we first went), although they couldn't go on everything, so no age is a bad age.

 

[MichelinMan]

I would say 7-8 is the right age, but depends on the maturity of the child. My son is a bit of a wimp, so we postponed our trip a couple of years ago, and went to DLP instead again. DS was 7 at the time, but wouldn't go on a lot of rides. Orlando would have been a waste.

This year, at 9, he has just decided he likes the faster rides, and now wants to go on BTM at long last. But he has grown out of autograph hunting now - at 7 he was OK with it, but doesn't think it cool now at 9.

 

[wideeyes]

My daughter has been at 5,6 and 8.
All trips were good. 5 was the best in terms of getting the magic. 8 was good as she enjoyed the rides, and characters. at 6 she did complain more and refused to do things.
I am taking my youngest daughter at 2. my older daughter will be 13 then!

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

Our boys were 2 and 4 the first time we went and 16 and 14 on our last visit and they've been many times in between. Each holiday has been different as they've grown up and different rides become available to them but one thing has always been a constant ........ the characters. They did autograph books for every visit except the last, even at ages 14 and 12 and although they didn't do autographs on our last trip we still did as many character meet and greets as we could and used our photopass+ to the max

I guess what I'm trying to say in a very roundabout way (sorry) is that just about any age is fantastic as the magic of Disney will work on them whatever the age

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

I should also point out the poster will not be able to sit in the exits seats with DD....we were recently on an aircraft where they mad a family swop seats as the daughters in the exit row were under 16 and apparently this is not allowed as they are not considered able to operate the emergency doors under 16.

 

[london75]

Thanks for the advice, its so helpful to hear the realities of how much they can cope with at different ages to get the most benefit from the trip. Obviously the trip is mainly for DD but I wouldn't want to feel like she meant we weren't making the most of it, if that makes sense, it is a lot of money at the end of the day.

He is just under 7ft, in the past we have managed with exit seats, the problem is that no airline has ever allowed us to pre-book them, which means that if we get to the airport and they have all been sold, we can't go, which happened once - its not a comfort thing, its a bones don't bend thing - which certain airlines don't understand and makes me so angry!!

We once flew with Air France and were fine on the way out but on the way back the extra legroom seats were all taken, the only way we could get home was either waiting 2 days for another flight or by buying an extra seat and him sitting sideways across the row with his feet across my lap- it was awful!

I'll have to look into the dreamliner, thanks for the help!

Hi Twissie, I'm only a meager 6'5" but still suffer in economy. We are flying American Airlines indirect this year after years of Virgin Premium and extra legroom are pre-bookable at around £60 per person per leg. We booked the seats in April for £500 each which is a big difference from Virgin in school holidays.

Regarding when, we've taken both of ours right the way from 6 months up every year and sometimes twice a year and I'd say there is no single best time. Every trip is different and brilliant. Sorry.

 

[sammie1884]

Every child is different so its a really difficult question to answer. I first went to WDW when I was 6 and remember every single little detail, it was amazing. My sister was very almost 4 and remembers nothing! However we took DS to DLP when he was 2 and he still talks about it now! We are going in November when he will be 5 and DD will only be 22months. I know that personally this is the best time to go for DS because it will still be magical and he is tall enough to go on nearly all the rides. DD will love the character interaction, and although she will not remember it, we will. We will of course aim to go again when DD is 5.

 

[LeaversOnTour]

We first took our eldest when she was 9 months old, and we have been back every year since. Adding 3 more children to the mix. Our second daughter went when she was 4 months old, and our youngest daughter was just 6 months old when we went this year.

Now our 2 oldest at 4 and 2 talk about disney literally every day and loved every second of it.

Our eldest at 3 (nearly 4) was tall enough fro BTM and ToT etc and absolutely LOVED them! Our 2 year old wanted to ride them but couldnt the cause of more than one arguement!

I think it depends on what kind of parent you are. We have no problem with letting them "flake out" in the buggy and staying for the fireworks etc with them asleep. Others would want to go back to the resort for them to sleep.

Also we werent bothered whether they fell asleep during the day which at home they NEVER be allowed to do.

We also honeymooned at Disney, staying in AKL, we have been back and stayed at PORS and OKW - You may find that if you go when free dining is on SSR is just as cheap as the others when you factor in the food - So you wont feel like your "downgrading" - That being said my girls would LOVE to stay in AoA (as would I )

We hope to go back in December - This time with the addition of another - This is a boy so will add a whole new spin on the whole situation.

With just 1 child maybe it 5/6 ish would be better - But we just could never wait that long - Its killing me the thought of not going in December and we only came back in February

 

[TCO]

Our son will be 3 on his first trip next year, we appreciate its a little young for him to remember it as such but we know he'll love it


We took him to DLP last year and he loved it and still dances like a animatronic when the 'it's a small world' song comes on the iPod

 

[twissie]

Just out of interest, I asked my DS when HE thought the best time to go was and he said 5 or 6. However, he did say that this year's holiday is the one he is looking forward to more than any of the others. When I asked him why, his response was "It's been a long time coming" - we were at WDW last August

I love his answer!!

I should also point out the poster will not be able to sit in the exits seats with DD....we were recently on an aircraft where they mad a family swop seats as the daughters in the exit row were under 16 and apparently this is not allowed as they are not considered able to operate the emergency doors under 16.

This is one of the things putting me off going until she is older, I actually don't like the extra legroom seats for myself (I usually get the seat next to DH right in the door that has less legroom than a regular seat(!) plus on our last flight people seemed to think it was an exercise area and we have a constant flow of people doing strange, strange things right in front of us ) but sitting on my own in turbulence with a young DD on probably her first flight and no help from DH doesn't sound fun!

Hi Twissie, I'm only a meager 6'5" but still suffer in economy. We are flying American Airlines indirect this year after years of Virgin Premium and extra legroom are pre-bookable at around £60 per person per leg. We booked the seats in April for £500 each which is a big difference from Virgin in school holidays.

Thanks for the advice, I will remember this when it is time to book

My advice would be hold off until your DD reaches 5. Although if she has your DH genes she'll probably be big enough for any rides she wants to go on!!!

I think 5 might be the winning age, she will be 2 in a couple of months and is already 3ft so I think she will be more than tall enough by then.

We also honeymooned at Disney, staying in AKL, we have been back and stayed at PORS and OKW - You may find that if you go when free dining is on SSR is just as cheap as the others when you factor in the food - So you wont feel like your "downgrading" - That being said my girls would LOVE to stay in AoA (as would I )

Its the dining that gets me, I loved the room and the location, but a lot of my favourite memories were restaurant related and I'm certain we wouldn't do most of them without the free dining!!

Thanks again for all the advice everyone, it is really helping me