First Disney World trip at 4, or wait until they're 5

[TWK]

Personally, I think 4 is the best time, they aren't in school yet, and everything is real to them, so the magic is real, and they are just in awe of everything. We are trying to bring each of our kids when they are 4. Next time our youngest will be just 5, but I think it will still be fine. Last time we went our oldest was 7 and it wasn't "magical" anymore, she knows the characters aren't real. And my daughter who is 6 also knows they aren't real, and has known for a while, so I feel like it is really important to hit them when they still believe.

In regards to remembering it, I went to Disney World twice as a kid, once when I was maybe 7ish and once when I was 11 I think... I don't remember a thing about either time. If they are having fun at the moment, and you take lots of pics, it will be worth it.

 

[ebradley23]

We took our son on his first trip when he was 2y9m. He doesn't remember everything, but he has some very specific memories. Randomly he'll blurt out about how Sully was wet when he got to dance with him. We went to the Halloween party where there is a Monsters Inc dance party. Sully is my son's favorite character, and I clearly remember him standing there star struck when he saw him for the first time that night. The fact that he recalls the detail about Sully being wet (it had rained that night) is a bonus.

I can say my son rememberS more from our trip last year (3y9m). He remembers that ToT has scary parts and "makes his belly hurt". He remembers our costumes for the Halloween party (Marlin,Dory and Nemo). He remembers riding "Hi Ho" (7DMT). There are a ton of others, but those are a few off the top of my head.

Your child may not remember everything, but there will be some special stuff that sticks. Plus, your memories will last a lifetime.

 

[Mskay1216]

Diddo Ktlm!!!

its funny.. we've been taking my 4yo since he was 1.. and now my 2yo since she was 15 months.. and we're going again in Aug (yes huge Disney fans)
and people tell me all the time that its a waste because they won't "remember" it.. well I believe in that..

you'll be surprised how much they remember.. my motto is this..(just me 2 cents now) Life is too short... if you have the means to do it--than do it.. there is nothing more magical than seeing your little one(s) face light up and see their excitement or even tears if they're a little scared.. you go with their flow and just have fun... they may get tired early--go to the resort and regroup.. just know you might not see or experience everything but make the most of what you can do.

hey they may not remember but YOU will... with everything going on in the world.. make each moment count.. and if it can be a magical moment--even better!!!

 

[happymommy]

I don't understand the mentality of waiting until they remember it.

My first trip I was about 7, and I recall only a bit of it. I do recall falling in love with Disney, and my folks apparently had the opposite reaction. I've been so many times since then, but not until I was an adult.

Our first family trip (after we went a few times before having kids including our honeymoon) my kids were 2 and 4. My younger one has great memories of it at 2; my older one has no memory of it. We, as a family, had such a great time though!

We went on other trips, especially when my older one was a baby - we lived on Oahu so took him hiking on the Big Island, to Kauai, to Maui, to Waikiki for weekend getaways. It wasn't about him remembering it, it was about us having time together as a family.

Go when you are comfortable, but there is no guarantee they will remember it at 18 (I went with my mom and aunt at 19 or 20 or so, have little bits of memories of it but we had a blast).