How old should a child be?

[tweetie1]

My daughter and I are discussing taking my granddaughter to Disney World when she is a little older. She is just a baby now so it won't be for awhile. I was just wondering how old do you all think a child should be one their first trip to Disney. We want her to be old enough to enjoy it and actually remember a little bit of it. I know some people take babies, but since the trip will be for and about her we want her to be able to take part in it.

Any suggestions.

 

[Minnie's Pal]

We have taken our children at all ages (from taking them at 1 1/2 to 7 yrs old.) I think the best reaction from them was at 2. Even though he probably won't remember it, my son's reaction was priceless. He was totally in love with the characters. Even though, as they get older, they ride more and are a little easier to manage at the parks, their faces at the younger ages, especially when they see the characters, are priceless! The trips when they were younger are, by far, some of the best memories we've made as a family so far.

I hear alot of parents say they are waiting until there kids are older before going the first time so they will be able to remember the trip (and I understand that.) But I also think, if you can, the experience through the younger stages are great too. Make a scrapbook and journal!

 

[DVCLiz]

I took my daughter for the first time at age 2. It was so dear to watch her face!!!!

She was a very easy toddler, though - willing to sit in her stroller when needed and easy to take on and off most of the rides. if I'd had to chase her much or she was a really wiggly, active toddler, I'd have waited until she was 3 or 4.

 

[SallyfromDE]

I took Courtney when she was 4. She used to have a babysitter that "treated" them with Kids music videos. I bought the Disneyland Singalong and she was Mickey hooked from that day on. She's 18 now and still has the little M&M I kept on my bed. Same thing happened to Kirsta, but she was 2. I took her to see the Disney Ice Show. All she could say was Mickey. She was a few months shy of 3 when we went. She's 6 now and talks about Disney ALL the time. I think as soon as there is recognition, they are old enough. They might now have memories, but I will.

 

[F4disneyfan]

My daughter and I are discussing taking my granddaughter to Disney World when she is a little older. She is just a baby now so it won't be for awhile. I was just wondering how old do you all think a child should be one their first trip to Disney. We want her to be old enough to enjoy it and actually remember a little bit of it. I know some people take babies, but since the trip will be for and about her we want her to be able to take part in it.

Any suggestions.

Our oldest DD was 3 on her first trip and she still talks about all teh stuff we did with her there the other 2 were 6 months old when they went on their first trips. I would not hesitate to bring them at a very young age it really is very little work honestly as for them remembering things I would say age 2.

 

[Micka Mouse]

We went when our DD's were 3 and 8 weeks. I HAD to see the look on DD's face when she saw Cinderella's castle and got to see the Princesses. We stayed for 2 nights, went on about 3 or 4 rides and saw the parade. It was tough with a baby, but we were in Florida, so we (I) HAD to go! I will forever remember the look on her face when she saw Aurora. Completely worth it!!!!!!

We had planned on going back this summer (had reservations and everything), but my little one (she'll be 2 this month) is you-know-what on wheels!

Whatever you decide, you will always remember and cherish her first time!

 

[nicknamy1996]

We've taken our 2 boys, now 5 and 7, once a year since they were 1 and 3 and I'd have to say that no one trip has been the best. It is so much different at each age.

Our first trip the baby was of course too young for anything, but the 2 y.o. had fun with the characters and colorful rides.

Thinking about it 3 and 5 or 4 and 6 may have been the best trips (they enjoyed the rides and the characters)

At 5 and 7 they were able to ride everything and had a blast with that part... but the characters were almost too 'childish' for them. This was a GREAT trip too.

As to the "remembering" part, I went when I was 12 and only remember a couple of things from that trip... by the time they can remember it, much of the magic is gone. Don't get me wrong, if I'm lucky enough, I'll take them back when they are teenagers too. Guess that's the great thing about Disney... fits for so many ages.

If you can afford to go... go! I always argue with my friends who say then want them to be old enough to remember it by saying... why do anything with them? Take them to the park, the zoo, heck play in the yard with them... but they always make the (valid) argument that that stuff doesn't cost a couple thousand dollars. So... if you can afford to go... then go! If you have one trip for a lifetime then you have to pick the right time... but I say hang out on the budget board for a while... figure out how you can get two trips for less than most people pay for one... budget better, save more, change priorities, and find out how you can do more than one trip.

Good luck... have fun!

 

[trennr]

Depends on the Kid...But I would say 3 or older.

Best time I remember was when DS7 was 5 years old. He had a ball the whole time.

DS11 when he was 3 He had a great time and loved the night time Parade and Fireworks.

 

[Darcy03231]

I thought for my kids between 4-6 was the best time. They were old to remember the trip, be able to ride most of the rides, loved all the characters and were still young enough to really feel the magic.

 

[WDWorBUST]

Well DD has been at 13 months, 22months, 24 months, 34months, and 38 months and will be going again at 46 months. I would say the trips from just before age 2 to now have all been equally good. And they were all free (38 months was with a CM so we got free admission)- I would suggest going as close to age 3 as you can and it still be during an "off" season. The child is still free but the magic is so real.

 

[SalandJeff]

We took dd last year when she was 2 yrs, 7 mos. She LOVED it. Loved the characters, loved everything. When we walked into the hotel room, she said "Oh wow". Loved the pool, the parks, the rides.

She still talks about "the vacation", sometimes says out of the blue that she wants to go on vacation. And vacation to her means disney because she says she wants to go see Mickey, Minnie, etc. (I'm training her well to be a Disney addict!). Can't wait for next trip!

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I thought for my kids between 4-6 was the best time. They were old to remember the trip, be able to ride most of the rides, loved all the characters and were still young enough to really feel the magic.

I agree 100%! I took my kids when they were toddlers and of course they had a great time, but they are teenagers now and don't even remember those trips, only what they see in photos. They remember trips from about 5yrs and on-and like you said, they were able to do most everything, so that added to the fun.

 

[sleepingbeauty1979]

We took our son at 18 mos. and it was a blast. He still looks at the pictures (he is four now) and will talk about them. I don't know how much he remembers but we cherished it. He was in awe of everything - from the hotel (Wilderness Lodge) to all the characters and even the monorail. We have gone since then when he was three and will go again this Christmas, but that first time with him was priceless. As many have already said on this thread, our son was a very easy toddler. I probably would have waited if he had not been such a laid back, patient, and easygoing toddler.

 

[bumbershoot]

since the trip will be for and about her we want her to be able to take part in it.

Well, first off, I think the quoted line is putting just a *bit* of pressure on her! She might get overwhelmed and need to hide, and THEN where will you be? I personally was a timid child, and those characters would have just done me in, though I would have enjoyed other stuff. If my mom had made the trip for and about me, I would have crumbled under the pressure.


So for us, we went when WE were ready and the opportunity arose. Of course, we just went down two states to disneyLAND, for one day in the middle of a bigger visiting trip, so the expectations were low to begin with.

And our son, at one and change, had a GREAT time!, and so did we! He doesn't remember *that* trip, but WE DO, and those memories are very good (see my avatar picture for one moment of that trip).

Then we went the next year, and it was even better, AND he remembers it! He continues to "play" Disneyland, especially the Pooh ride (he and DH did go on it three times in a row, while I went on Splash Mountain), and without our suggestions remembers ALL sorts of things from that trip. He was only a bit over 2!


So I say, if YOU guys want to go and have fun, bring her along when she's little. If she's under 3, she's free to get into the parks anyway, so why not?

 

[MSSANDRA]

Right now our plan is to take our DB for his first trip the week before he turns 3. That is the end of October and a great time to visit and he will be free. In reality I doubt I will wait that long. I would love a quick trip down for his first b-day. We last went in January and he was not quite 3 mo so would not take him. Our family rule is anytime after 6 mo is ok!!!!

 

[vy2cga]

We took our daughter just after she turned 3. It was great. She remembers a lot about her first trip to Disney. So much so, that when she went again at 6 she didn't want to do the same things again. Princess. (LOL) People ask me a lot what is the best age to go to Disney and I always say there is no perfect age to go. It's fun at any age and there is something for everyone at any age. We took our son at 9 months and his first Haircut at the Barber shop was priceless. I know he will not remember, so I made him his own photoalbum with pictures of just him on his first trip. If it was going to be a once in a lifetime thing, instead of every few years I would want to wait until they were a bit older so they would be able to ride everything and remember, but honestly who remembers everything about a vacation. Just remember to taylor your vacation to the family ages and all will be fine. You have to be 3 to go to BBB which is fun for little girls. It is a good age to remember the magic and just be happy with what you do instead of whining to go to the pool.

 

[snowman]

We took Carl for his 7th birthday (hard to believe is 13 now) and for us that was absolutely perfect. He was old enough to look forward to the trip but young enough to firmly believe that "cartoons are real Tia". He was wiggly the night before we left and barely slept a wink.....until we hit the air conditioned town car the next afternoon in Orlando. He remembers some of the trip, smaller details he gets from pictures and reading the journal I kept for him, from his POV.

Sometimes I wish we had been able to take him younger, but I am glad we didn't wait til he was older.

Whatever age you choose, it will be the right one for your family. Maybe you can write a journal for her...with her words in it. Carl's has a note about Cindy's breakfast that says "Snow White kissed me on the cheek...YUCK!" because that was the face he made....

Enjoy

 

[queenof2princesses]

Definitely go before she turns 3, you'll regret it if you don't. DD6 went at 8wks (DD9 was about to turn 3), again at 17 months, this time her expressions were priceless...I still remember, she doesn't. They need a lot of breaks this young. Next she was 36months. Perfect age, but 3 months earlier would have been free!!!I think just before the 3rd bday is the perfect 1st time. They may not remember, but you will, and remind them with pics/video. DD6 remembers her trip at 4 1/2. Next week will be her 7th trip for her 7th BDAY

 

[blessedby3]

We took our oldest DD when she was 2 1/2. It was a great trip and she loved every minute of it. She remembered most of the trip because when we took her back at 4 on the land/sea cruise package, she would say "Im not riding that because it was scarry" or "Lets go on that ride because I loved it"!
Definately go before your child turns 3 because you can make lots of memories and you wont have to pay for their ticket!!

 

[Vovoa]

Last November we took our three grandchildren, two year old and two four year olds. They loved every single second and were perfectly behaved. To my amazement, they each still remember even small details of the trip. What is so magical about this age is that they truly believe that Mickey Mouse truly is Mickey Mouse - not someone dressed up in a Mickey Mouse costume. That part of the magic is lost once they get a little older and can never be recaptured. We had such a great time we're all (10 of us) going back after Thanksgiving!