How old were your children the first time you took them to Disney?

[DaveO]

My 3 yo has been 3 times my 1 yo 2x.

Quick story.. My DS had visited when we he just 2 yo it was a great trip. He enjoyed everything. This last trip he had just turned three. Our first day from the airport Hyatt we headed straight to Epcot. As soon as we rounded the corner from the toll plaza and DS saw Spaceship Earth he started literally screaming with delight and laughing. At first we thought something was wrong but realized he knew exactly where we were as was very excited. This lasted a whole 5 minutes - we had to hold him back from running to the gates. We had not even stepped into a park yet and the whole trip was already worth it to see him remembering and his excitement of the fun times we had already shared as a family.

My now 1 1/2 yo DS unsolicited says 'Dumbo' and 'Up' to my parents 'remembering' his first trip.

They are never to young if you can afford it.

Dave O.

 

[Disneylovers]

We go every other year. Older DD just turned 6 on our first trip, younger DD, nine months old. DH, 36 (it was his first trip too! I had been to Florida in high school). That was 10 years ago. At every age, the excitement is still there. We leave in 38 days, and I'm not sure which one of us is more excited! My almost 16 year old is the one making up our "agenda" of "must see" attractions at each park, just as she's done for the past two trips.

 

[decker96]

Our DD was 5 and DS was 2 when we took them. They both loved it and I thought both ages were great for different reasons. We can talk to DD about the trip and she remembers most things, plus she wasn't afraid of the characters at all. DS doesn't really remember much of the trip, but the looks of pure joy and excitement on his face when he saw things made it worthwhile for us. During the Festival of the Lion King at AK, we were sitting on the end of a row near the opening where Simba was and the actors in the show were laughing and smiling at him the whole time because he was so into the show. That's something I will never forget, a prime example of Disney Magic!! I can't wait until our next trip, although DH says our youngest DD must be at least 2 (she's 5 months) so we have a little while to wait!

 

[mikifan]

DD were 1 and 3 years old. We continued to go every year since then, (14 and 16 now).

Jeff

 

[Blueberry]

My oldest DS was 9, DD was 7 and youngest DS was 5 at the time...18 years later we are still going to WDW. Our kids now grown, go with us with their kids whenever they can...

 

[cheerdaddy]

the first time we took our daughter was for her 5th birthday and we thought at the time that that was the perfect age to take a child....she is now going on 13 and we've been back every year since....she actually doesn't remember alot of things from that first trip believe it or not, but as others have stated, her mother and I do, and the memories are incredable...she has truly grown up with disney and it's her favorite place(ours too) in the whole world....she plans on getting married there some day!!! maybe if we had taken her when she was 3, we might have thought that was the perfect age, who knows? I'm starting to think that any age is the perfect age for the disney magic....

 

[Alice28]

The FIRST time DS#1 went to Disneyland, he was about 6 1/2 months old. It was pretty easy- he slept in his stroller a lot, and was happy 90% of the time.

The second time DS#1 went, he was almost 4 and DS#2 was 4 months. This was about as good. DS4 loved Disneyland, was a little grumpy when he had to wait in a long line- esp when the ride was in plain sight, like Dumbo. He could see people getting on and off- why wasn't it his turn? But rides like Star Tours he was fine- distracted by the stuff to look at in line. DS#2 wasn't as mild mannered as DS#1 was as an infant, so he wasn't as content to just stroll, but still relatively easy.

We went to Disney World when DS#1 was 5 and DS#2 was 20 months. DS#1 was the perfect age IMHO- he was tall enough to ride almost everything, was pretty patient in lines and just loved every minute of the trip. 20 month old was kind of exhausting at times. He didn't like to sit in his stroller! He would try and stand up, get out, scream, etc. When we were actually on something, like Kilimanjaro Safaris or It's a Small World, he was great- getting there was a pain. But, he liked the rides and loved the characters- it was magical for us even though he was a poop about the stroller.

I'm hoping to go back to one of the Disney parks perhaps next year, when the younger one is at least 3 1/2 or closer to 4. Then he should be raring to go, and can walk with us if he so pleases.

 

[dvcfamily41801]

My son had just turned 1 about 2 weeks before his first Walt Disney World trip. It was incredible, we had such an amazing time. He did get sick and that was horrible, but the Cast Members were wonderful

 

[4greatboys]

Our first visit to Ds #1 was 10 and ds #2 was 7. Two trips later and 2 more ds ds #3 was 2.5 yrs and ds #4 was 5 months his first trip. We are going again this summer (3rd trip for youngest ds) and the boys will be 16, 14, 4 and 2.

 

[Aisling]

Wow, we are a late-blooming Disney family! My DSs were 7 and 13 the first time we went to WDW! Thank goodness theey were still open to the magic even at those older ages, because now they're as fanatical as I am about Disney!

 

[tinkerbell6]

DD was 3 the first time we went to DL, almost 4. Then we went again last year for her 5th birthday, and this year we will be in WDW very close to her 6th birthday. She was a bit tall for her age the first time we went, and made the height req. for most rides. It was hilarious seeing this little one laughing her head off on BTTR while some of the adults were shrieking. She loves the big rides, and the little ones. She doesn't necessarily remember all of her first trip, but still loves to pull out the pictures often.

Lisa

 

[jaysue]

We took DS#1 when he was 3yrs, 4mos old and DS#2 at 5 mos old

DS#1 rode my shoulders most of the time on the first couple of trips and now walks and alternates on my shoulders

DS#2 is in our stroller (we take our own to the parks)

thanks
jaysue

 

[lindsey]

DS was 18 months old his first time to Disney. Like others, he does not remember, but we have video and pictures. Then we went back at 8 times including his 14th and 16th birthdays. We're going in June (he's 17 now)and he's taking 2 friends to share Disney with.

 

[princessariel]

My kids were 10, 9 and 5 years old on their first trip to WDW.

My son who was 5 at the time told me on that trip that one day he would work at WDW. And I said OK. Well, now he does and he loves it! It's his dream come true.

Three of my grandkids went before they were a year old, I think. Now they are 10, 6 and almost 2 and we are taking them without their parents this Dec.

 

[kgforce]

Our DD was 14 months old the first time she went. DW was 5 months pregnant with DS at the time! The first time our DS went (outside of the womb!) was when he was 8 months old and DD was not quite 2 1/2 years old). We went back again about 6 months later, and then we went again in Dec 2003 when DD was almost 3 1/2, DS 22 months. So our DD has been 4 times and DS has been three times. And we live in Texas, so it's quite an excursion, but we've had great trips each time. You just have to take it easy and plan for naps with the little ones. The best thing about taking children under 3 yrs old is that their admission is free! And they also dine free at some buffets.

 

[kapica3]

My DD was 4 1/2 our first trip as a family. That was the absolute best trip of our entire lifetime. She was still thrilled to the point of jumping up and down when she saw something exciting. She danced in the parades, did the hula at the luau and was just in awe of the characters and princesses. The "magic" of Disney is so much more magical for a "little kid". She believed everything.... And best of all she was old enough to go all day without a stroller. Even though she is now 12 and each one of our trips are fun at different ages, and for different reasons, when I think of her at Disney it is still that little smiling 4 1/2 year old face I think of. It was the best trip of my life.

 

[Minniesotaluvsmickey]

CONGRATS!!!
My daughter was 4 the first time I brought her. It was magic! She believed in every character and I will never forget the look on her face when she met her favorites. However, it was hot, she got very tired and there was a lot of whining while standing in lines. She was fine in a stroller but you can't bring them into a line with you. I will never regret that I took her then because I had so much fun watching her. To be honest she enjoyed herself more when she was 6 and 8. She could do more things and had more stamina.
Whenever you choose to make your first trip bring lots of film and capture all of those special moments......you will treasure them always.
Best wishes to you!

 

[JVL1018]

We took our first at 3 months and 10 mos and 13 mos and 19 mos..then took a break and didn't go again until she was turning 3(while at WDW), and her brother was 13 mos.

 

[kadaten]

We celebrated her first birthday there! Kinda neat, actually. DH's parents took us for the baby's first birthday, both for our benefit and hers!! Celebrating her being one year old, and us being one year into that grand adventure called parenthood!!

We all had a fabulous time! She doesn't remember it much, but does look at the pictures She just went back in December having just turned 3, and was joined by her brother for his first trip at 16 months old

As far as I'm concerned, it's never too early! Your expectations just have to change with the age(s) of the child(ren) with you!!

Good luck with your pregnancy and here's wishing you and yours many happy trips to the World!!

Katie

 

[wwithers]

Took DD 1st time when she was 2 1/2. She loved the rides but was TERRIFIED of the characters.

2nd trip she love, love, loved everything.

What was the difference? When we came home from the 1st trip, we bought all of the live action Disney sing-a-long videos (Campout at Disney, etc.). Not only did she get to know the characters as "live acton" friends, she also saw lots of "big kids" playing with the characters.

Before we left we bought a cheap (okay, Disney cheap) princess photo album for her and when we got back I filled it with pictures of her with all of the characters. She loves this and frequently pulls it out to look at.

We are going back this year for her 4th birthday (we also went to Disneyland last year) and she is VERY excited!