First trip-age 3 or wait until age 4?

[leahlefler]

We are taking ours to WDW for the first time at ages 7 and 9 (since it will be a rare event, and not a yearly trip for us). We typically go to DL in California, even though we live in NY, because our family is all in California. My older DS has been to Disneyland at ages 15 months, age 4, and age 6. My younger DS went at ages almost-3 (he was 1 month shy of turning three) and again at almost-5 (1 month shy of turning 5). I will say our favorite trips were when the kids were tall enough to ride the 40"+ rides, because they are thrill seekers and love the roller coasters. Age 4/5 was awesome with my boys and they loved EVERYTHING. Almost-three was also fun, but if I could only go every once in a while, I would do 4 rather than 3.

 

[5stljayhawks]

SwanVT2..... it is never to early to take the kidos to WDW.

Why you say, if you wait YOU will miss the age stages of the kids as they transition through disney. I understand some folks WDW is a life trip then I recommend 6-8 age, but if you think there is a chance of 2 trips before for 8 YO , then go... once a princess hits the off button, there is not getting back untill they start to think about marriage. high school.

I am a disney junkie, former cast member and disney planner with excel sheets that would make any bean counter smile... yes I even have a disney christmas tree.

What gets me is that most people take vacations each year and they exclude part of the disney experience of their kids growing up at disney. We have been just about every other year and dude it rocks. My littlest one who turns 7 in Jan has been 3-4 times. Sure at .98 years she doesn't remember but she also didnt cost anything, shes just along for the ride. As they all are before the age of 3.

This morning, I turned on the TV and there was I was jumping up and down singing frozen songs, although I only gave the movie 2 out of 5 snow flakes. It was the disney parade on TV. It just happend that my mom was also spent the night. Disney is about making memories not only for kids but adults as well, 4 years to the day there I was with my family walking down main street hand in hand. Life dreams coming true, then reliving them for free.

If the means are there, go and live. Go when school is in, the lines are
shorter. Also set up a date night with your other and put the kiddos on the day care at the poly. Book it two hours longer than you think.. Live life..

HLS

 

[Feberin]

We went when my son had just turned four and he LOVED it. It was defiantly still magical and he was all about the characters. He was tall enough for a lot of the rides although he was too nervous to ride most of them. I do agree with others that it's never too early. My daughter had a wonderful time at just shy of two years old. But the experience he had at four was really magical and I think he enjoyed it more than he would have at three years old.

I also agree with what somebody else mentioned that it's better to go once potty training is firmly established. At three years old my son still needed to use the potty frequently and when he said he had to go that meant right away. By four he was able to hold it if we were near the front of a line, which was a big help.

 

[Disneylover99]

We went for the first time as a family when my daughter was 3. She loved it! I vote age three.

 

[SwanVT2]

well, my daughter is potty trained. Now, would June be OK right when I get out of school? I'm a teacher so can't go on off vacation times. Or should I just wait until April, 2016 if the weather is less hot for toddlers?

 

[5stljayhawks]

June can be hit or miss, crowds and temp. If April is spring break, then crowds are about the same.

If you are planning pool time I would go for june as blizzard beach on a 50 or 60 degree day can be down right frigid. We were there for about an hour or so before we left. also you are right at 180 days for fast passes and meals to june still works

 

[StirlingSilver83]

well, my daughter is potty trained. Now, would June be OK right when I get out of school? I'm a teacher so can't go on off vacation times. Or should I just wait until April, 2016 if the weather is less hot for toddlers?

We went in June once and the temps were in the mid 90s all week and with fl humidity it was not so fun. Plus it poured rain everyday at 3:00! And the crowds were insane. This was all in the first 2 weeks of June. We hardly got to do anything we wanted to do. We are never going back in June again. Our last trip was in April and the weather was great! It ran in the 80s all week with low humidity (lower than June) and the crowds were doable. We got to do everything we wanted and more! We are going again in April next year. I think when we plan our family trips April will be the month for Disney. Honestly we much preferred April to June. Now the crowds for u might be the same as our June trip though bc u would have to go during spring break. We try and pick an off week in April to go

 

[Mousemommy1]

April is our favorite month to go!!

 

[laughinplace199]

well, my daughter is potty trained. Now, would June be OK right when I get out of school? I'm a teacher so can't go on off vacation times. Or should I just wait until April, 2016 if the weather is less hot for toddlers?

That depends on when in April you're going and when Easter is.

Looking at your screen name, I'm guessing you're in Vermont? In MA, most kids get the third week in April off. Most of New England has this week off too, and maybe some places in NY, but the rest of the country does not. It seems as though many other areas of the country either have their break in March or it's tied to whenever Easter is.

If your April break isn't around Easter, then I'd go in April. The weather is absolutely perfect and the crowds aren't bad. We used to go every April vacation until DD went to a new school that has a March break.

 

[SwanVT2]

Yes, we are in VT! Our April break is the last week of the month (not around Easter) so it sounds like this is the time to go. Plus i got a pin code in the mail through the end of April. Will be interesting to see what rates I get. Just hope the plane tickets are not sky high.

 

[laughinplace199]

Yes, we are in VT! Our April break is the last week of the month (not around Easter) so it sounds like this is the time to go. Plus i got a pin code in the mail through the end of April. Will be interesting to see what rates I get. Just hope the plane tickets are not sky high.

Can you take a personal day before or after the break so that your dates are slightly off and not Sat-Sat or Sun-Sun? That's what we used to do when we went in April. The airlines seem to know when the school breaks are and they price accordingly. We found that going Fri-Fri or Mon-Mon was more affordable.

Which airport do you fly out of?

 

[SwanVT2]

Out of Burlington, VT. School won't allow me to take a personal day attached to a vacation week! So flights are super expensive.

 

[happymommy]

Where else do you vacation?

We've taken our kids on trips since they were infants (son at a few months all over Hawaii, as we lived on Oahu, and DD I flew alone with her and DS when she was 3 months old and he was 2 years old).

I believe the sooner you travel with them, the better they travel! My son by 3 had flown so many times.

We took our kids together when they were 2 and 4 for 11 nights to Disney. It was the best time ever! First time I took them without my DH was the time they were 4 and 6, and it started a fun tradition of me taking them sometimes alone (honestly, way fun). Disney is the easiest place to take little ones! It's all geared to make it easy. I say go when you have the time - you can't get the time back in life. If you can't do it, then wait, but if you can, why wait?

 

[baseballnut]

well, my daughter is potty trained. Now, would June be OK right when I get out of school? I'm a teacher so can't go on off vacation times. Or should I just wait until April, 2016 if the weather is less hot for toddlers?

We went this past July 4th week with our 3yo DD. Simply awesome! And the heat and crowds weren't issues because we went early, took a break to go back to the resort for lunch and to swim and nap, then stayed out late. And we had Chilly Pads to cool us down...because one day was miserable, lol, and those really helped. But she wasn't complaining at all. Have fun!!!