Best age

[caperguy]

My first Disney trip was when I was almost 6 and I remember things from that trip and had an awesome time. It's also about the age I'd want to wait to take my own son as I feel they should be old enough to realize what's going on and enjoy themselves (and for the parents to enjoy it too by not worrying about diapers, naps, etc)

I'm wondering what age people found best to first take their child?

(sorry if his thread topic was already done, but I'm new here)

thanks!

 

[candielips]

We just took our DD for her 1st trip a few months ago at 22 months & I wouldn't hesitate on recommending younger ages. Although she won't remember it when she's older, she still does now 4 months later. And the pure joy on her face along w/ all of her "whoas" and "wows" made it our best trip EVER! In fact we plan on returning next yr before our unbornDS is a year.
There are a lot of young children & yes you might have to go and change a bum but WDW has great baby care centers & is def child friendly. Plus she was able to go on almost every single ride we wanted to go on.

 

[tjbaggott]

I think the best age for anyone to take a child for their 1st trip would depend on the likelyhood of being able to do future trips. If I knew this was going to be once in a life time opportunity, I'd wait till the at least 5 or 6. But if things look good for doing a trip every few or so years, then I'd start younger (mainly because making me wait for years is excruciating!LOL). We went for the first time when my youngest was almost 3. DH always said, we'll come back when he's 6, then he'll have the memories forever. He's now 6 and we have a trip booked this fall!

 

[jenb1023]

We took DD on her first trip at age 3 1/2. That was a great age! She was wowed and amazed by everything but was out of diapers and didn't need a nap every day. I agree that if you think you will go again then start young but if it will be a once in a lifetime trip then it might be better to wait until around age 5.

 

[adventure_woman]

My DD was 8 weeks (hehe), and her next trip, right before she turns 3, will be her 4th. Granted, when they are younger you do have to worry about diapers and naps. BUT, I will say I have never had more fun than seeing WDW through my 2 yr old eyes. Also, they are MUCH easier with going with the flow. I remember distinctly hearing a 6-8 yr old having a tantrum - about what I don't know (not wanting to eat somewhere, won't buy me something, I don't want to go on that ride, etc etc.) I was SO GRATEFUL for my little 2 yr old who didn't talk back yet! (Granted - that will be my daughter having trantrums in 3 yrs, so I am just cherishing this time right now).

I agree with a PP, if it is a once in a lifetime trip, go when they are 5-6. If you know you will come back, start as soon as you like!

 

[TwinsinCA]

We started taking the kids to DL at age 4. Since we live so close we've been there many times since.

When they were 5 we took them to WDW for their first (and so far only) time. I think 5 was the perfect age. They were old enough not to need strollers, tall enough for most of the rides, at the peak of their "princess phase", young enough that pulling them out of a school for a week was not an issue, and they remember it.

 

[gregokdisney]

For our first trip, my daughter was 7 and my son was 4. It was the perfect age for her, but he was miserable. He hated waiting for busses, couldn't tolerate the heat, and was happiest playing with his souvenirs in our resort room.

So, fast forward three years. We're going again, My son is now 7. I though it would be great, he's at that magical age! But, I truly think it is all dependent on their personality. He is STILL a fussy kid, hates waiting, can't stand heat or crowds, has no patience and is happiest at home alone playing Legos. I'm bracing myself for some of the same issues.

You just have to know your child and make adjustments - limit time in the park or go back for naps, or provide a way for them to get cooled off, and so on.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Since going to WDW means a cross-country flight for us, we wanted to wait until our boys were old enough to handle it. The priorities for us were: no diapers, no bottles or special food, no strollers, no cribs. We wanted them to be tall enough for everything and mature enough to keep whining and emotional upset to a minimum. We ended up going in 2006 when they were 8 and 11. This might seem awfully late for some people but we are a 7 hour drive from Disneyland and they had already been there several times. We are planning to go to WDW one more time before the oldest turns 18 (he's 14 now). If we could go every year or two, we probably would have taken them sooner.

 

[caperguy]

thanks everyone!

 

[ktlm]

We took my DD last December at 2 years 10 months and she loved it so much that with the 4/3 deal went back again in May when she was 3. It was the perfect age. Everything was real to her and she was so excited and amazed by everything. She is a smart one, so now at 3 1/2 she declared to be last week that all of the Disney DVDs and characters are "fakes" (which I discovered was thanks to Disney for putting a preview on one of the discs for a movie with a voice talent talking about playing a character (jennifer love hewitt for Hunchback II)- and another preview on a different disc where they talk about creating the movie and characters). I'm so glad we went when we did. I do agree that if you are talking about a once in a lifetime time trip, I would have waited until she was a little older. If you are talking about maybe every 3-4 years, I would start young enough that they find everything real and amazing.

 

[Nancyg56]

My DGD was 4 for her first trip to the World. She remembers things that I don't

 

[Colleen27]

If we were talking a once-in-a-lifetime trip, I think 4-5 is the best age. They're old enough/big enough to ride most things, old enough to remember, but still young enough to believe that really is Mickey's House and Cinderella's Castle.

For most of us here on the DIS, who keep going back to the World, I don't think there is a best age. The best age is however old the kids are when we get the urge to go back!

My kids were 4 & 7 when we could finally afford our first Disney trip, and my oldest never really did get into the magic. He was old enough and cynical enough to question the reality of it all, while his little sister was simply in awe of everything. My youngest will be 18mo on her first trip, and I'd have taken her sooner had life not gotten in the way of our plans for a May trip, then of our Sept trip. She's a few days from turning 1, and the last few months have been a delight as far as taking her places. She is alert and interested in everything, loves to swim, loves music, and is still little enough and mellow enough to be happy watching the world go by her stroller, dozing off when she gets sleepy. This would be a perfect age for a first Disney trip!

 

[Colleen27]

Double post, sry.

 

[connorlevismom]

My son is 5 and he has been three times. When he was 2 1/2, 3 1/2 and 4 1/2. By far, the best time we had so far was when he was 3 1/2. I don't know why but it was such a great age to take him. In fact we extended our vacation because we were having such an amazing time. We will go every year with him (except this year) so I don't know about older than 4 1/2 yet. Our daughter will start going at about 6 months.

Kristine

 

[abouley]

My son was just shy of 5 on our last trip to WDW and he had a fabulous time but we still did a stroller and he still wasn't brave enough to go on a lot of the rides. Our daughter was just a little over 2 and she also had a fabulous time and talks about it all the time.

We live near DL so we go a couple times/year there and they are used to being on the go so they handle it well. I don't think there really is an ideal time to go and a lot depends on how often you will go back.

I think I'd probably agree though that around 5-7 would probably be ideal for no strollers, riding most rides, but still feeling the magic!

Honestly though I think strollers are kind of nice...gives me a place to put my stuff and means not carrying a sleepy child home at night because 10-15 miles is a LONG ways for a little one to walk even at 6 or 7!!! LOL! We'll probably go again when my DD is around 5 and likely we'll still have one umbrella stroller for her most likely!

 

[MarriedToAPrince]

We are planning on taking our DD next year the month after she turns 3 for her first trip.

 

[pantherlj]

40" was right for us! My oldest was 7 ... I wanted my youngest to be 40" so she would meet the height requirement for most of the rides. Otherwise, there would have been way too much baby swapping going on. My youngest was just over 4 when we went. It was a great age for both of them.

 

[robinbutterfly]

I think 4 and 5. Everything is still magical to them. The girls still believe in Princesses etc.