Good ages to bring kids to WDW

[castle_now_please]

We are going in Dec and my DS will be 3 and I am planning on being about 5 months pg. As far as the best time to take them, I think it also has a lot to do with the adults taking the child. Even though I know I am going to want my son to experience every magical thing at Disney, I will have to constantly keep reminding myself that will never happen.

I went to Disney the first time when I was 3 and I do remember parts of it. My parents said it was wonderful. They took us back when I was about 8 and my brother was about 10. That was the summer EPCOT opened. (I think that was my parents mistake!) All we did was whine saying that our feet hurt and we were hot. My dad made a vowed never to take us back again! (Just for the record, we've been back many times!)

I say GO!!

 

[MAGGIED]

I think that at different ages your expectations should just be different. When my children were younger we loved the interaction with the characters and took things at a much slower pace. We planned days by the pool so they could play, we scheudled meals early so they could get to bed earlier. As they got a little older we extended our time in the parks and enjoyed their reactions to "thrill" rides and now that they are teenagers we have a much different experience with them. My DD and I do spa treatments, the boys golf, we can do tours that I have always wanted to do but the kids were to young.... we have enjoyed each stage and each time we have gone to WDW with the kids... I must confess though now that they are older it is way easier and we do have much more fun with them but I wouldn't trade any of the memories for anything.....

 

[mrsltg]

With our older dd we planned a mega trip for her 3rd birthday. We had 11 days of bliss trying to keep up with our energizer bunny. It was fantastic. She is now 5 and out last WDW vacation included her ds, then 7 mos. I was a little worried about how she would handle it. She LOVED it. She loved everything about it. Sure there were times when she'd get a little cranky. We would carry her instead of having her sit in the stroller. We had to go on some rides two times so that dh and I both had a chance (older dd thought this was quite a plus!!!). When the baby would get sleepy she'd sit herself as far forward in the stroller as possible and grab the tray on both sides. Eventually she would face-plant into the tray and sleep like that for 20 minutes. She would wake up again and be ready to go. She didn't want to miss anything! I think she was grateful when we turned off the lights each night and she could sleep. She would sleep like a rock all night and be ready to go all day again! It was a fantastic trip. We're going back in Dec. when older dd will turn 6 and baby will be 18 mos. We'll get a whole new spin on things when she wants to walk... I can't wait!!!

Erin

 

[Lovemy3babes]

This one is weighing on my mind too. My son will be about 3.5 if we go when I would like to. Sounds like that's a good age though!

 

[kizmac]

I've had kids there at all ages and I say if you want to go now....GO! As long as you don't look at it as a once in a lifetime trip, because naturally the kids will enjoy it more and remember more the older they get, but when they are little, it will be you who takes in the most magic. There is nothing like watching your little one interact with the characters or to be amazed at all the sights. Those are all memories that even though my kids won't recall, I will treasure forever. Believe me though, they do remember and enjoy more then you think by looking through all the pictures from past trips.

Go and enjoy the magic! You never know what the future may hold.

 

[Lisa10]

I would say wait until your youngest is at least in first grade. We just went in January for the kids first time and ours are 10, 8 and 6. They need to be able to wait patiently and HAPPILY in lines. They need stamina to walk alot HAPPILY. I think they need to be at least that age to be able to truly appreciate where they are and what they see, to be excited and stay happy the whole time. Disney is magical, but it is also overstimulating and physically stressful for a person too young. We saw so many screaming, crying kids stuffed in strollers for hours pushed by unhappy stressed out parents carrying bags of diapers, sippy cups and half their house around. You have all this time ahead of you to save all the money you need for a great Disney vacation when they are old enough. We had the most fabulous vacation - we'll be going every year now.

 

[golden1]

I think it is fine to take young children as long as you keep your expectations in check. We are going on our first trip this December when our kids will be 4.5 and 2.5. It will be a shorter trip (5-nights) and since we are touring in the off season and with my in-laws, hopefully it will be less stressful. My older dd will love it and remember it. My ds - probably not. That's okay! I agree that the trip probably won't be as enjoyable as it will be when they are in grade school, but they would have missed out on so much by then. One trip now just so they can enjoy the "baby rides".

 

[MayMom]

I have posted this before, but I always think of it when someone asks this question. I read a book once that stated that a child's intelligence begins at an extremely young age and will increase rapidly as he/she is exposed to new experiences and these experiences are explained. When a small child is allowed to explore a new and exciting environment (especially one as child-focused as Disney) it will expand and widen their view of themselves and the world around them. As the book stated (I have it at home and I'm not sure what the title is) this begins at an extremely early age (before many people realize). So in many ways - a Disney vacation will increase our children's mental capacities...


IMHO - I believe that Disney is for our kids - no matter what the age. At 18 months, they believe in the magic and they are enchanted by it in a pure and innocent way that only comes from a child's eyes. I can't imagine people going to DISNEY, of all places, and saying that there were too many babies and young children. If you don't see that magic in a young child - you don't understand what Walt Disney saw when he created this most magical place! Sorry if I'm on a soapbox....