How old before they go to WDW?

[phanomouse]

In your opinion how old should a child be before you take them to WDW?

 

[crusoe2]

We took our DD when she was 6 mo. old. We had a great trip and will never forget her reaction to Cinderella - priceless. So I think it's fine to take even infants. However, we did wait until she had gotten a couple rounds of immunizations before we took her.

 

[riggins]

My oldest went on her 1st trip at 9 months, then at 16 months, again at 27 months and is going on her 4th trip Saturday at 31 months. My youngest had her first trip at 6 months and will go again when she's 19 months. At each age, they've enjoyed different things. Quite frankly, babies are easier to take than toddlers, but toddlers get more out of it.

So, all that said, I don't think there's a minimum for how old they have to be. If its a once in a lifetime trip, I certainly would wait until they were older, but if you'll be back, any age is great. I have a friend who took her 3-week-old and she said they had a great time.

 

[Twigs]

I voted for 2 and older. I have twins and Dh was always saying lets take them to Disney. I just couldn't stand the thought of it. The first few years were so hard, especially from dinner to bedtime. We could never go to dinner later than 5pm with them as they just never handled it well. We took our first trip there with them when they were 4 almost 5. But if we had older children or if we had any after the twins, I am sure we would have gone with a younger child for the older one.

 

[goofy4tink]

While I voted for 2 and older, it's really up to each family to decide what works for them. My first trip to WDW was in '99 when my dd turned 6. She actually celebrated her birthday there. But, I digress. That trip was so much fun. SHe was, IMHO, the perfect age for WDW. SHe didn't need a stroller, she could stay up later. I always see families with younger kids and they just don't always look like they're having such a great time. But, like I said, just my humble opinion.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I think it depends on the family. What may be good for one may not be good for another.

My son was 9 and I was 33 when we took our first trip to Disney in August 2001. I wanted to take him when he was 5, but was afraid he'd wouldn't be able to do all of the rides. I felt we would only do Disney once. I wanted to be sure we experienced everything. For us 9 was a good age. He was the right height for everything and he was only afraid of a few things. He was able to walk around the parks without getting tired. He didn't need a nap in the middle of the day.(but, I did) He knew the chararcters weren't real,but he still enjoyed meeting them. Our trip was great, we had a blast. I left knowing someday we'll go again.


We're taking out second trip in April.

 

[Ellester]

Both my girls have been early, one when she turned two the other at 18 months. I wouldn't trade those trips for the world! My oldest is 5 now and already knows the characters are just "people dressed up" and it's all pretend (although she still has a great time). When they are under 3, they buy into it all! Seeing my 2 yo kiss Daisy Duck was so sweet! I do agree it depends on each kid though.

 

[Lollipop Mom]

I agree that it's different for every family AND that a lot of it depends on if you will be back often or if it's a trip you may only take once or twice. We just brought our kids for the first time last month. They were 3½ and 21 months and we had a fantastic time! For us, they were just about the right age. It worked out well in that they weren't afraid of the characters and that was the "really real" Pooh Bear and Mickey. They had enough stamina to really enjoy several hours at a time in the parks and going early, taking a mid day break then going back was appealing to DH and I and allowed them to maintain their daily routine. It's true that my 21 month old probably won't remember the trip, but seeing him literally run into Pooh's arms and collapse on himf or a hug was absolutely priceless and a memory *I* (as well as my DH and my parents!) will treasure forever even if he doesn't remember it. I'm sure we will be back often given that my 3½ year old can now talk of little else.

I have good friend who have taken infants and had a fantastic time. I think with that, it's all about the attitude you approach it with.

I guess my answer is that ANY age, from 1 month to 100 years, is a perfect age for Disney!

 

[Denine]

The right age is whenever you want to go!

Our DD is 16 months and is going on her 5th trip to WDW next week. Her 1st was when she was 3-1/2 months old.

 

[onecoolmama]

I think 6 months and up is good. Actually, if I could have taken my kids at 6mo as oppose to 13 mo that wold have been better. My kids walk by 9mo and my daughter was quick by the time we took her. At 6mo she would have been stimulated enough to be entertained and content enough to stay in her stroller.

If you can do it earlier then 6mo more power to you...i just didn't have the engergy to walk the parks then.

 

[babygarrettsmom]

I vote for any age also. We've been taking ds since he was 6 months old. I do think that he had the best time the last two trips we went on. For example, when he was 22 months, he rode Goofy's Barnstormer for the first time (a friend wanted to go-NOT my idea!). He never even had a reaction to the ride - just like "OK..." Now, he just turned 3 and LOVES the Barnstormer and just added a new one - Splash Mountain!! ("Go 'gain, Mommy, go 'gain!!) He talks about our last two trips daily! He has his own AP now, so that's a big deal, too.

But, kids of all ages love the characters!

Around our house, the morning wake up call is: "Mornin' Mommy! I free (3) now! Go see Mickey Mouse! Get ticket, go see Spwash!!" I do hate telling him we can't go everyday!!

Whatever age, they'll have a blast!!

 

[sm4987]

I vote for 2 and older. I just personally think they remeber so much more, and as a family, time can be more enjoyable.

 

[LeahA]

I've been taking my youngest since he was 1-1/2 and he is now 6 1/2, he also has a 3-1/2 year old brother and a 6month old brother.

My baby will be, by far the easiest to take care of on the trip. My 6-1/2 year old will be next, and the 3-1/2 year old, the most difficult.

I think between 2-1/2 to 4-1/2, 5, were my most challenging years.

We are going in 57 days, driving 22 hours and taking all 3 kids, it will have it's challenges, but, we'll have fun, we always do.

Good Luck!

Leah

 

[disneymama73]

Our first daughter went on her first trip to WDW when she was 6 mos. People looked at us like we had two heads and told us how brave we were and how impressed they were that we would travel with such a little one. That was one of the easiest and best trips we've ever had. The video is priceless! Emily loved the characters and is almost always giggling about something. I will never forget it. Now that she is almost 5, she has realized that the characters are people dressed up in costumes, and I'm so grateful we didn't wait until that magic was gone.

Our second daughter went on her first trip to WDW at 4 mos. And although she had severe reflux, that was a great trip, too. Once again, people looked at us like we were crazy with a 2-yr-old and a 4-mos-old. But for us, it was a great trip.

On our next trip, we will have a 3-mos-old with us (due date July 11). My older kids will be 3 and 5. We can't wait! I wonder what kind of looks will get this time!

I think people should do what makes them comfortable. But I think most would be extremely surprised at just how easy it is to take a baby to WDW!
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[disneydude]

We took our DD at 4 months the first time. My DW is due in the beggining of August and we already have a 2 week trip booked in late November.

 

[liznboys]

I voted 0-6 months because I really don't think it's too soon to go!

We didn't plan on taking our kids until our youngest was 4 years old. BUT, in the winter of 2003, we got WDW fever and decided to go for it! Our boys were 3 years old and 17 months old. Boy were we glad we decided to go!!!!!!!!!!! They both had SO much fun! It was a lot easier having a toddler there than we thought it might be. Everything just went extremely well!

Our next trip will be in March of 2005 so our boys will be 5, 3 and our newest one will be turning 1 year old that month. We can't wait!!!

 

[campingcorgi]

As I told the pediatrician when he said it seemed like a waste to take a 7 month old to Disney--she goes because we are going and it's against the law to leave her at home alone!

Any age is right for Disney!!