Reinforcement needed!

[sea3668rn]

People husband works with (and several friends) are telling him that taking our kids to WDW for my daughters 5th birthday will be a complete waste. My son will be 2 weeks shy of his 3rd birthday. They told him that there is a lot of "documentation" that the best time to take them is ages 8-10, and taking kids that young is pointless. Of course, my response is the we will take them at ages 8-10 too! Anyone who has taken younger kids want to weigh in on your experience? PS- he's never been to WDW, so he has no idea how great it is.

 

[bradisgoofy]

Just an FYI - Both my granddaughters have been going to WDW since they were 6 months old. One is now 15 months and the other is 7 years. They both celebrated their 1st birthdays at Chef Mickey. Even though they won't really remember it, we sure will !

 

[mmbl]

People husband works with (and several friends) are telling him that taking our kids to WDW for my daughters 5th birthday will be a complete waste. My son will be 2 weeks shy of his 3rd birthday. They told him that there is a lot of "documentation" that the best time to take them is ages 8-10, and taking kids that young is pointless. Of course, my response is the we will take them at ages 8-10 too! Anyone who has taken younger kids want to weigh in on your experience? PS- he's never been to WDW, so he has no idea how great it is.

My kids were at that age of their first visit:
oldest and youngest were 4 yrs. and a few month
the middle child was 2 and then almost 6 for his second. They all loved it! We raised Disney lovers! They all go as often as they can; the youngest having done the College Intern Program as well. The grandkids get their first trip next spring and will be 6 and 3. Mine have great memories and we have great memories and pix!

 

[Gorechick]

I can only attest that part of what others say is true. We took our 7 year old twins for the first time last summer and had a blast. At their age, they had stamina, could eat a variety of foods and try new, were tall enough for almost all rides and attractions, could stay up later, could behave appropriately at dining and in lines and really take in and remember the whole experience.

 

[mcuoghi]

My DH's family is the same way. When we go in Dec. DD will be 4 1/2 and DS will just have turned 3. And I tell them, what about me and my memories? My children love Mickey right now. My daughter is starting to get into her princess phase. They believe that all of this is real, that it's magic. That Mickey is really there, not just a person in a costume. I want to see them enjoy that magic while they still can.

Plus, my daughter still remember things we did last summer and the weekend trips we went on. While she may not remember every detail, not everything will be lost. In fact, I still have memories of my first trips to Disney--I can remember standing in front of the big tiki looking faces in Frontier Land and taking pictures there. I also can remember sitting on my dad's shoulder's watching the 15th anniversary parade.

You will go and have a fantastic time

 

[livndisney]

People husband works with (and several friends) are telling him that taking our kids to WDW for my daughters 5th birthday will be a complete waste. My son will be 2 weeks shy of his 3rd birthday. They told him that there is a lot of "documentation" that the best time to take them is ages 8-10, and taking kids that young is pointless. Of course, my response is the we will take them at ages 8-10 too! Anyone who has taken younger kids want to weigh in on your experience? PS- he's never been to WDW, so he has no idea how great it is.

Ask for copies of the "documentation".

Unless your friends or your husband's co workers are paying for the trip-I would not give their opinion too much thought. If you and your husband take your children to WDW that is YOUR business.

 

[ktlm]

I do not believe that your husband's co-workers have ever been to WDW with the pre-school set. If they had, they would realize there is nothing like it in the world. I think my favorite trip was DD's first trip when she was 2 years 10 months old. Everything was absolutely real and magical to her, and she spent an entire week with a HUGE grin on her face. The interactions with the characters when they are 5 and under is adorable- they believe in the characters and the characters make a huge fuss over them in some instances. They can go on most of the rides as most don't have height requirements. Even the ones with height requirements, by age 4 they are usually 40 inches and can ride most of them-- if they are little thrill seekers. Some kids you can't get on the thrill rides even if they are 10 years old, so waiting is just silly in my opinion.

They start realizing that characters and things are not totally "real" at a young age these days. In kindergarten other kids were already telling DD that the characters weren't real. An 8 to 10 year old, certainly doesn't totally buy into the magic, although WDW is still magical even to older kids. DD is 7 now, and I wouldn't give up those 5 and under trips for anything. It is a little bit of a different trip now, she still loves the characters, but there is something just totally special about the way the characters interact with the pre-school set.

If you were only going on 1 trip in their lifetime, MAYBE I would say 8-10 (but that is a toss-up because I still wouldn't want to give up the younger trip magic), but if you are going more than once, I would totally say you MUST have a 5 or younger trip!

For those who say the kids won't remember, YOU will remember. WDW is fun for the grown ups too. And YOU will remember how happy they are. That is like saying don't bother having Santa come because a 2, 3 or 4 year old won't remember Christmas anyway. DD (7) can still give us specific details about her 2 year old trip, even though she is 7 now, but even if she forgets that trip, I won't forget. Seriously, who says, "Don't bother doing anything that they enjoy or makes them happy at age 2 or 3 because they won't remember it anyway?"

 

[bumbershoot]

If the ONLY reason you are going is "for the children" then yes it's a waste. I you are going for the family, or for you and the kids are coming along, then it's not.

And for kids remembering...I don't remember much of my honeymoon. Should we not have had one?

 

[Kingdome8]

My 9 and 6 year old have each been 3 times
First time was ages 4 and 1.
And this past April we went and took our third child who just turned one.

I think some people just don't enjoy it like others do. I hear people at my work say the same things.
"why go, they won't remember?"
But I will and my kids do remember and they
Love looking at all the pics and books we made.
I think I enjoy the trips as much as my daughters if not more

 

[ktlm]

One more thing to add --- I can't imagine going with my 8 to 10 year old for the first time and looking at all those 3 to 5 year old dressed up little Princesses having the time of their lives and not being sad and wishing that I had not missed out on that. By 8 to 10, most girls are totally over the Princesses. My niece was done with them at age 6, and deemed them too babyish. My DD is still going strong with them at age 7, but last year in 1st grade she got some push back and peer pressure from some girls in her class who told her they were for babies and she shouldn't like them. Luckily my DD is a strong-willed independent kid, who told those girls she would like whatever she wanted to like, and she liked Disney princesses!

 

[monorailsilver]

Our kids were 15 months, 22 months and 2 1/2 for each of their first visits. They don't remember but we do and IMO it is no different then taking them to a park, a local amusement park, an aquarium, the mall, etc.... When they see something and their face lights up that is priceless.

My kids all went to a restaurant at that young age and also when they were 4ish. They never misbehaved while we were eating. I know some kids do but mine are well behaved when out and we get told that often.

Don't listen to the co worker. I think he/she is jealous.

 

[sladphie]

My kids were 3 (1 month shy of 4) and 20 months the first time we took them. I grew up in a family where we were fortunate enough to go every year (from Ohio & Michigan!), so I never gave any of the naysayers a second thought. As many others have said, it's all about your family's memories. And since you are already planning more than one trip, why not go while the magic is still there?

The first time your kids get to hug Mickey or Buzz or a princess and you see their faces, it's totally worth it. I still remember my toddler DD leaping from her stroller, yelling "Mickey!!".

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using DISBoards

 

[powellrj]

When people say that, they are talking about a once in a lifetime trip. If you are only going to go once in their life (childhood) then yes, you should wait until they are older, but if you plan to go back every few years than going at a younger age is fine!

 

[kmb584]

I really don't like people who offer ill, and often times unwarranted, advice.

Is there an absolute perfect age to bring a child to WDW? Who knows. According to both Google and Bing, there have been no "studies" conducted on the matter let alone official ones. I honestly believe that any age is perfect but under different circumstances.

If it's going to be a "once in a childhood" trip, I would make sure that the children are old enough to cherish the memories. I'd say that anywhere from 4-10 would be ideal.

If the trip doesn't fall into the above, kids are going to be at the perfect age for every trip! My daughter is 4 and has been to WDW 6 times with #7 in October. Her first vacation was at 15 months and, no, she doesn't remember it [nor did I expect her to]. She has fleeting memories of when she was 2 and 2 1/2. From 3 on she remembers details that even I don't and by 3 1/2 she was able to fully navigate all of the parks and often gave directions to people looking at maps.

I think that almost 3 and 5 are FANTASTIC ages for a first trip. You're little ones are still young enough to believe in the pixie dust and magic. But they're also old enough to be able to remember the vacation too. It's the best of both worlds and tell you DH that there is nothing more magical than seeing WDW from the eyes of a young child.

 

[sea3668rn]

Thank you thank you! I know I want to make Disney a trip every few years because I firmly believe it is different every time. My first trip was at 3.5 and I remember parts of it. I know my son may not remember, but my daughter has a scary good memory (she told me the other day what we did on Christmas Eve 1.5 years ago- she had just turned 2 at the time) so I know she will remember enough for it to be worth it. Honestly- the last time I was in Disney was 20 years ago and it is pretty fuzzy. .

 

[jillgunter]

Our first trip our DD was 3 1/2, she loved loved it! Tell your DH to stop listening to his coworkers who I bet most of them havent taken kids before. Disney is magical and will be different at each age. I love seeing how my DD takes everything in so different, she has been at age 3, 4, and 5. Did the Disney Cruise at age 6 and now back to Disney at age 7. Wait till they are to old, and they arent into the characters as much anymore.

My DD remembers so much. She talked about doing the piggy game at Epcot the other day and she wants to do that again. Good memory! She did it at age 4 and 5.

 

[ilovejack02]

I took my youngest at age 5 , my oldest had been several times and was 20 at the time, so he didn't go on that trip . My oldest trips were when he was in middle and high school , so it was fun , but not magical. Our first trip with our 5 yr old was amazing .. tell your hubby to stop listening to co workers ! I can see three being a great age too . We took youngest DS again at age 6 and then this year at 10 . This year was frankly kind of a let down , yes we had a ball ,but the "magic" was gone . He loved meeting some of the characters in DHS , but he knew they were people in costumes of course. Now I will say seeing Austin aka Ross Lynch in AK was pretty exciting for him and the fact that it was on Everest and then again in gift shop , which is DS10's fav ride now that he is older was pretty stinking exciting .

Don't listen to others and go when you want to go , if your 3 yr old needs naps, then just plan for it . The only way to keep the magic going is to keep everyone real rested !

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

People husband works with (and several friends) are telling him that taking our kids to WDW for my daughters 5th birthday will be a complete waste. My son will be 2 weeks shy of his 3rd birthday. They told him that there is a lot of "documentation" that the best time to take them is ages 8-10, and taking kids that young is pointless. Of course, my response is the we will take them at ages 8-10 too! Anyone who has taken younger kids want to weigh in on your experience? PS- he's never been to WDW, so he has no idea how great it is.

Yes, you see, it's quite simple.....ITS NOT THEIR MONEY....and they have no room to talk about what decisions your family makes,

your money, your family, your plans, your time, your decisions !

We started going to WDW for our little guys 2nd b-day. It was an amazing trip. We went for an entire week. We went to every park, had a few half days and it was an awesome time

 

[Funfire240]

Yes, you see, it's quite simple.....ITS NOT THEIR MONEY....and they have no room to talk about what decisions your family makes,

your money, your family, your plans, your time, your decisions !

We started going to WDW for our little guys 2nd b-day. It was an amazing trip. We went for an entire week. We went to every park, had a few half days and it was an awesome time

I agree with this! Our first trip DS was 16 months and DD was 3 1/2. Everyone told us we were crazy because they would never remember it (of course though DD does mention things every now and then which shocks us) but anyways, DS will never remember BUT DH and I have memories that will last a lifetime. WE will remember the first time they saw Mickey, Pluto petting him when abhe was sleeping, etc. They won't remember but we will And I wouldn't trade those memories for anything - they are absolutely priceless.

 

[elaine amj]

When people say that, they are talking about a once in a lifetime trip. If you are only going to go once in their life (childhood) then yes, you should wait until they are older, but if you plan to go back every few years than going at a younger age is fine!

just what I think.

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