What age did you first take your child to Disney World??

[CozumelDisneyFan]

18 months, and since once or twice per year.... every year there are "new" rides and experiences that he is interested in.... it kinda morphs....

 

[Coconut36]

DLR here but they first went at 4 and 7. I would not have taken them much younger personally as I feel it would limit what they could participate in/ride. That's just my personal preference considering the spacing between my kids. Obviously if there are older kids going I would view that differently in regards to taking a younger or under 1 kid.

 

[amyren]

We took DD for the first time just a few days after her first birthday. We didn't know what to expect but we had an awesome time! She's now 4 and we just got back from our 5th trip (She's also been to DLP and on 3 Disney cruises). You could say that first trip totally hooked us on Disney.

It definitely wasn't the same as being at WDW with just DH but we had a great time! My recommendations... take it easy enjoy as much as you can with your child (fantasyland, character meet & greets). If possible stay on the rail... so convenient. Take breaks and head back to the room for naps daily. Travel in the off season (lower crowds & temperatures).

I'm now expecting baby #2 and we will definitely be back when he is around 1. For me 1 is ideal bc he should be weaned from nursing and down to one nap a day!

 

[MissMichigan]

I don't have kids but I know I went the first time at 4 years old. My parents said I was really good and they didn't think I was too young. I believe my little brother was a little older (maybe 6 or 7) the first time he went.

If/when I have kids, and finances permitting, i'd like to try to take them the first time around 5.

 

[usd2bmd]

My DD was 6 the first time we took her. I loved it. My husband had been when he was a kid but it was my first time as well as my daughters. we were instantly hooked and I had all of the sappy reactions to everything...cried the first time I saw the opening at MK, cried on Main St USA...But I loved it.

 

[auntie]

If we're talking one child...I think four is a nice age to visit.

That being said, we first visited as a family when we had a six week old, a 4 year old and an 11 year old.
If we waited for the perfect age for one child, it wasn't for another. Sometimes you just gotta go with the flow. I think that's what so nice about a Disney vacation. There is something for everyone, and there really isn't a bad age.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

My kids were 4, 5 and 8 the first time. I never wanted to take a stroller or an infant in the heat so we waited.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Daughter was 5, son was 2.

 

[FINFAN]

Our DD was 1 week shy of her 5th BDay, but our DS was 10 months at the time...and walking We were there over Memorial Day so crowded and long hours. DS out lasted DD every night~ we have pic's of her sacked out in his stroller at 1 a.m. and he is walking along side of it They both did great, and we were off-site at the Holiday Inn Main Gate I think...it was 17 years ago.

eta: The trip we took when they were 6&10 was one of the best tho...did a split stay ASMU/CR and stayed 8 nights total. They were at a great age of not needing naps, but still young enough for everything to be believably magical

 

[Talking Hands]

Took my first daughter at age 2. Our second daughter went at 3 months. It was sine with both. When we went with a 3mo old my husband who doesn't like rides would keep her while i did rides with the 4yo. We stayed at Ft Wilderness cabins so when we went back to the cabins there was plenty to do for the 4 yo and hubby and baby would nap. We took our time and we body wore the baby so a stroller wasn't necessary. Also we live in So Fla so we knoew we didn't have to do it all in one trip.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

If we're talking one child...I think four is a nice age to visit.

That being said, we first visited as a family when we had a six week old, a 4 year old and an 11 year old.
If we waited for the perfect age for one child, it wasn't for another. Sometimes you just gotta go with the flow. I think that's what so nice about a Disney vacation. There is something for everyone, and there really isn't a bad age.

I agree. When you have multiple children, the best age for one isn't going to be the best age for another. Out of my four kids, I want to say that our last trip (which was our first family WDW trip) was the most "magical" for our youngest DD who was 4.5 years old at the time. She was young enough to really marvel at everything in the parks and be excited about seeing the characters, plus she was both able and excited to ride many of the headliner attractions (Splash Mountain, BTMRR, Test Track, Soarin') since she was over 40 inches tall. Looking back, I really wish we could have taken our oldest two children to WDW for the first time when they were between the ages of 4-6 years old; but it was not in the cards for us at that time. Like the pp stated, there really isn't an age that's not good for WDW. WDW is truly a vacation destination for the whole family with something for everyone

 

[NC State]

We took my daughter when she was 7. No diapers, no bottles and no naps. It was great because we "all" enjoyed the vacation. No melt downs.

 

[Ginny Favers]

We took our daughter when she had just turned 3 and broke the 40" threshold.

 

[blana]

We took both kids when they were 2, but we may head back down when our soon to be 3rd is only 1.5 due to the age of the oldest. (Got to get him back before he turns into an adult, don't you know. ) DNiece was 1.25 when we went as an extended family & I think it was fine, although her parents didn't really want to curb their own fun & wouldn't listen to me about child swap, so the poor thing ended up sitting on the curb RIGHT outside the exits alot, until I could conVINCE MIL to come with me to do other things. (I was expecting at the time, so I couldn't ride the fun rides either. I tried to get the others to do Child Swap using me (not showing yet) and who ever was staying with DNiece so everyone could ride twice except whoever stayed with DNiece each time. I got shot down. Then on the last day we were all there together was asked by these same people if I had ever heard of such a thing. *sigh*)

 

[SC Minnie]

We took my daughter when she was 7. No diapers, no bottles and no naps. It was great because we "all" enjoyed the vacation. No melt downs.

DD was 6 and we waited for the exact reaons. There is no way I would want to lug a stroller around WDW. But we only have 1.

 

[Bonnie151]

We took DS to DLP when he was 2, 3 & 6 (DD was 3). The first trip to WDW was when DD was just about to turn 2 and DS was 5. They both had great times as toddlers! I'd been a bit worried about DLP when DS was 2 but he loved it! He was a bit too young to get scared by any rides and begged to go on the Haunted Mansion and Pirates over and over again (not to mention IASW, good grief, over and over and over again! "Pretty Ladies! More Pretty Ladies!")

DD sort of accidently went on ToT when she was 3. Mmmm, that didn't go so well....

She loved all of the shows at WDW and the fireworks!

 

[Colleen27]

They both had great times as toddlers! I'd been a bit worried about DLP when DS was 2 but he loved it! He was a bit too young to get scared by any rides and begged to go on the Haunted Mansion and Pirates over and over again

We found that to be a nice plus of taking DD3 at such a young age - she wasn't old enough to be scared the first time she rode the dark rides, and now that she's getting to an age where she does understand fear all those rides are familiar so they're not scary. My older DD, now 10, was 4 on her first trip and terrified of any ride that you couldn't see from outside... Not just Haunted Mansion or Pirates but even Nemo, Spaceship Earth, etc.

 

[popcenturylover]

We took our youngest when she was 8 months old. It was so easy with her except, all of the stuff you have to bring with you! The 15yr old and 17yr old were more of a problem than the baby!

 

[MamaLema]

12 months, 5, and 7

The challenge with the 12 month old was that he hated getting his picture taken so all his pictures are from the back or side view

Other than that, it was awesome

 

[sbell111]

Our kids were 13 months and 2 years during their first trip to WDW, however, my daughter was seven months old and her brother was -5 months when we went to DLP after a baltic cruise on the Magic.

At those young ages, the trips aren't really for the kids. They are for everyone else. While it is still fun to see how a baby or toddler reacts to a huge mouse or a princess, they'll never remember it.