Do you think 5years old is a good age for a first trip to Disney??

[buzz5985]

We just returned with my 4.5 year old son. He believes all the characters are real. One day we came home to the Hotel (ASMo) to find his stuffed animals Big Dog (dalmation) and Lucky (dalmation) sitting in the chair with the remote in their lap watching TV. A little while later we heard Connor talking to Big Dog "I knew you were alive" Connor is a big Toy Story fan, so this showed him that all his toys are up to mischief while we are gone.

 

[PattiPB]

We have taken our children since I was pregnant with the first one! The have been to DL and WDW at every conceivable age, and every age is the perfect age. DD will turn 7 at WDW in June, and she remembers being in the NightMagic parade at DL at age 2 1/2. DS will be 5 in July, and his memory is nowhere near as clear. Other DS will be 3 at WDW this June and he definitely knows what he means when he say DAILY: "Are we going to DizzyWorld today?"

BUT!!!!! For a once-in-a-lifetime trip, my opinion would be wait until between 6 and 8 years old. Old enough to enjoy everything and still believe just a little, but still get it for kids prices!!!

JMHO---which you can tell even I don't take, since we have AP's for DL, WDW and USF!!!

Patti

 

[tar heel]

We think 5 is just about perfect for a first trip. All three of our boys went for the first time when they were 5 (well,the little one was two weeks away -- we couldn't wait). They're old enough to do almost every thing, can do a lot of walking but are still small enough to carry, and believe totally in the magic.

 

[Moliphoenix]

% years old is the perfect age for a first time to Disney World. I went when I was 6 (though I'd been to Disneyland when I was 1 1/2 and dont remember a thing) My cousin was 2 on her first time, she's gone about 7 times and she just turned 6 this year. There are plenty of rides that a 5 year old can go on (though I dont recommend Dinosaur, we took my cousin on that when she was 5 and she cried the whole time).

Molly

8/93-Port Orleans
4/95-Port Orleans
8/98-Port Orleans
11/98- Carribean Beach
4/99-Carribean Beach
8/99-Old Key West/Boardwalk Inn
2/00-Disney Institute
8/00- Coronado Springs/Old Key West

 

[Moliphoenix]

5 years old is the perfect age for a first time to Disney World. I went when I was 6 (though I'd been to Disneyland when I was 1 1/2 and dont remember a thing) My cousin was 2 on her first time, she's gone about 7 times and she just turned 6 this year. There are plenty of rides that a 5 year old can go on (though I dont recommend Dinosaur, we took my cousin on that when she was 5 and she cried the whole time).

Molly

8/93-Port Orleans
4/95-Port Orleans
8/98-Port Orleans
11/98- Carribean Beach
4/99-Carribean Beach
8/99-Old Key West/Boardwalk Inn
2/00-Disney Institute
8/00- Coronado Springs/Old Key West

 

[Moliphoenix]

The only thing you shouldnt do is leave on kid behind. My aunt thought her youngest daughter (Betsy) was too young (she was 2 or 3) so she left her at home with our grandmother. Then, she told her that she did go, and Betsy believed it. Then, Betsy was looking at pictures and she said "where was I on that f'eakin' vacation!"

8/93-Port Orleans
4/95-Port Orleans
8/98-Port Orleans
11/98- Carribean Beach
4/99-Carribean Beach
8/99-Old Key West/Boardwalk Inn
2/00-Disney Institute
8/00- Coronado Springs/Old Key West

 

[mum4jenn]

It really depends on your child.We thought we would wait until my dd was at that age too but her first trip was at 18 months and she still talks about it almost everyday.She went May 99,Nov99,April 00,July00,and Dec00.We have a trip planned in May of this year and we might go in a couple of weeks also.She has always loved Disney and remember different thing that she did on different trips and will remind us that "no we did not do that on that trip...we did it the time we went on this time.

Leesburg,GA

 

[JerseyJanice]

Five years old is a premium age for WDW!

We just took our 4 year old, and we all had a blast. He thinks the characters are real! So cute!

He went at 2 1/2 years old and was a joy then, as well. Don't listen to the curmudgeons that say to wait until they're 8 or 9. By then, they start losing their belief in magic.

You should have seen my son's face when the animatrons on the wall in the Country Bear Jamboree started talking! I thought his eyes would pop out of his head. It was great!

 

[Kevs mom]

We are getting ready to go for our 2nd family trip 10 days from now. The last time we were there was in 1996 when my DS was 4 (he was 2 months away from turning 5) and DD was 2, this will be our other DS (who is 3) first trip and he is sooo excited! My oldest son, who is now 9, remembers some of our last trip, he sure did have a great time while he was there and did wonderfully with all the walking he had to do, my DD (now 7) of course dosen't remember anything of that trip (except for the videos and the photos of the trip which they still love to look at even 5 years later - can't wait to make a new one!) Anyways I think 5 is a great age to take him, I think he'll love it and remember it!

 

[waller]

Hi. My son is six years old and we have gone every year since he was three. Go and have a great time!

 

[DinaF]

My son is 4 1/3 now but he'll be just 5 when we go in November. (DD will be 7) As of now, DS is chicken about almost everything, from loud noises, to the dark, to little kiddie roller coasters (however, he'd happily climb out on the roof). But I know he'll adore the characters, the monorail, the train, Dumbo, and if we do all the mild things first, I hope we can work our way up to a little more challenging stuff. I just have to accept that he may never want to try certain attractions (he already has a "no go" list, and DH and DD might have to do most rides solo, or we'll switch off. I am bringing earplugs for him so MAYBE we'll be able to enjoy fireworks and loud rides like Pirates together...but we're GOING! DH and I can't wait any more!

 

[gingajane]

I think that Disney has something to offer each age group. I think for the wee ones it offers wonderful, positive stimulation, precious family time and many opportunities to try out social skills. For your 5 and 6 year olds it is a slice of heaven; the world is full of possibilities and the line between reality and imagination are wonderfully blurred. Immersing the kids in this world of fantasy and fun I believe provides building blocks for their young minds. Only my opinion for what it is worth!!MJ

 

[Took]

It depends on the child.

Our five yr old has been to WDW many times beginning at 18 mos.--and she has loved it EVERY time. We have videos which she watches over and over. She does not have tantrums and meltdowns partly because we give her the breaks she needs (some kids may not need them, but she definitely does). She is good in restaurants and is unafraid of characters, which helps. She also enjoys most of the rides (she is still too short for Rock n Roller Coaster but, at 47" high, she can and will ride everything else (in fact, she insists on it).

BUT she went to WDW two different times with cousins this past year. They were not nearly as "aware" of the trip nor nearly as well behaved. One 6 yr old was quite testy and another 3 yr old was fussy about everything except Dumbo. Maybe they should have waited to go.

Go with your gut feeling. We have memories (such as her, at age 18 mos. kissing Mickey on the nose) that we wouldn't trade for anything.

 

[yeartolate]

We have ben taking our DS to DL and WDW since he was 2 (ok once when he was 5 months gestation!!)Every trip was wonderful for various reasons. The real fun began with WDW at 4 1/2 he bought into everything.

Our basic tip for totally enjoying every trip has been pacing ourselves. We take advantage of Early Entry and ALWAYS come back to nap/rest/relax/recoop from about 11 am to 3 pm.
We don't "commando tour" If we have our own agenda, we send the little guy over to the Neverland Club and have grown up Disney time.

 

[savannah]

I think any age is great, but lets face it, some families this is a once in a life time thing and can't go every year, like us! But I do think ages 5-8 are ideal, they seem so caught up in the magic, although some of us adults are too!!