WDW, How old is best?

[DONALD38]

When is is best to take a child, 2 years old or wait another couple of years when their older and can retain more?

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

I would go now. My kids have enjoyed WDW at ages 1 and 2.

If possible, go now AND when they are older!

 

[moppy]

We took our three year old son and two year old daughter in Feb and had so much fun we are going back in Sept for four days....plan for nap times, keep it casual and they will love it!! NESS

 

[2dogmom]

My DD remembers so much from our 2 trips when she was 2. She still talks about details that we don't even have on video or in photos.

 

[carone0318]

This year will be my ds's 3rd trip and he is now 3. We've gone when he was 1 and then again when he was 2. Each trip has been a different but memorable vacation. We also have a dd (7) this year's trip will be her 5th. She has gone yearly since she was 3 and the same with her, each trip has been different and memorable. I think when you take little ones the vacation is different because the focus is on the smaller things in the world, in our case especially characters. Then when they get older as in dd's case, the rides are more the focus. As she reaches the different height requirements, the trips are different.

There is no right answer to your question. The best answer, which is not necesarily realistic, is to go every year !

Through the use of photography and video, you would be amazed at the retention skills of a 2 year old. My dd remembers things about her first trip just before she turned 3, because of the pictures and video.

 

[maciec]

I agree with the PP that there is no right answer to your question.

We took our 4yoa DD when she was 13 months on her first trip to WDW. She went for her 2nd trip when she was 3. Both times were an experience in themselves. In October we are taking her again for the 3rd time along with her 13 month old ds (this is his 1st trip).

You know your kids best and what they like, what they don't like, and how much they can take. Only you can answer the question what is the best age to take them. Plus going to WDW isn't just for little kids it's for us big kids too! I don't care that Caroline doesn't remember. I remember the trip and the whole experience and we video taped it for her to watch and believe me she watches "baby Caroline goes to WDW" all of the time.

Caroline is so excited she can't stand it. Actually, I think that this trip was the reason that she is fully potty-trained. We told her that she couldn't go unless she was out of diapers and it worked.

Now ds has no idea what WDW is, and that's fine, but we want to give him the experience of new sights, sounds, and smells. He is very inquisitive and I think that he will have a blast.

I would however give you this recommendation.....if you go, go for a full week. On our last trip dd was in a funk for a few days and it totally interfered with our plans and we really didn't get to do much. I think with little kids you really need a full week so that you can take your time - you can go at their speed.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

At the younger ages everything is so "real" to them it's great not to miss it. Even as they get to be 5 or so they realize the characters are people dressed up - it's still fun but never more so than when they're 3 or 4.

If you start planning now you should be able to get there by age 3 - perfect! You'll have a year to plan, save and get your child excited about the trip!

Hate to hear people say that kids are "too young" to go to Disney, there really is something for everyone and the little ones really love not only the rides but the parardes, the characters, the pools and the whole atmoshphere.

 

[F1Julie]

I think a 2 year old would have a blast! I took my DD for her first trip at 3 1/2 and after going, wished I would have taken her sooner. A lot of people argue that at 2, a child is too young to remember the trip. Who cares? You'll remember it and those memories will be priceless. Plus, 2 year olds get into the parks free and eat free at buffets.

 

[long4disney]

Any age is a great age!!! We have experienced WDW with two children as young as 1 year old and as old as 10 years old. You get to experience the magic differently with each age. My DD was only 1 year old when we first took her and she did great and was always smiling. We took my DS when he was 2 for his first trip and also had a great time. Just go when you think it is right. There really is no perfect age, unless you want them to be old enough to remember it and not have to worry about cribs and bottles and diapers and all those fun baby items you need to bring along!

 

[DisneyConvert]

Our little boy came along when he was 1 - lots of fun,

And then 4 months later when we took advantage of an amazing offer and stayed relatively inexpensively at All Star.

Then again last year when he was 2 (still free!)

Now once more when he's 3+ in November.

He says he's going to give Mickey and Buzz a big hug!

Don't forget child-swap and character meals!
Nap time is best taking in the stroller.

Fun!

 

[CapeCodFam]

I have to agree with every one else no age is to young. I first took my older two dboys when they were 3 and five (now they are 8 and six) we have been every year since. The baby's first trip was when he was five months old. He loved the characters, rides and the pool. He is now two and going on his third trip. He is so cute with his brothers acting as if he was the oldest brother. Disney is for kids of all ages.

Joy:

 

[HenDuck]

I agree that toddlers can truly appreciate (and remember) Disney trips. We took DS at 3 1/2 to DL and he's ready to go back in December.

I'd say take your little one. Just take it slow and don't expect to see or do everything.

Since we're closer to DL, we've decided to DS there until he's about 8 when we can do a WDW full out, commando, 14 days "do or die" trip.

Have a blast, take lots of pictures and enjoy!

 

[asktriplets]

i'm so glad you all responded! i had just this morning almost posted about my frustration with people telling us we were "crazy" for taking our 3 almost-2 year olds in nov. because it would be "difficult" and they "wouldn't remember it"....

with lots of planning (and help from both sets of VERY excited grandparents who are coming along with us) i think it will be an incredible trip!

we've started introducing the characters (stuffed animals, books, etc), and having them watch winnie-the-pooh movies (my kids love pointing to the screen and shouting out the character names!). i've also ordered the wdw/disneyland disney singalong songs tapes from ebay to allow them a chance to see the parks and the characters.

just this past week we took them on the carrousels at our local zoo and children's museum to get them "used to" rides.
yesterday, there was a person in a green dinosaur costume at our children's museum and my little guy (the more timid of the 3) gave him a high five!!!

any other suggestions for preparing little ones?

thanks! this post made my day!

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

We took our two DS's at 4 and 2 and they LOVED it. They really do get caught up in the "magic" at that age.

One day when it rained at BB, my DS4 asked, "Mommy, is this REAL rain, or DISNEY rain???"

If you can't afford to go very often I might wait until your youngest is 4 or so. But if you plan to go several times, go NOW!!!!

 

[carone0318]

Just a little suggestion to help get little ones ready for a big trip to WDW. We started last year with ds, when he was almost 2.5 yrs old. We had bought the Disney memory game, where you match the cards. Well, the Disney one is all the different Disney characters. Well, he knows all of them now. It was a great intro to the characters for him.