What age do you think kids will remember their trip?

[msmama]

My son can't remember what he had for breakfast by lunch time so if I waited for him to REMEMBER a Disney trip, we'd never go!!

(That said, he's about to turn 7 and go on his 6th Disney vacation).

 

[EmilyS90]

I went when I was 8 and remember it fairly well. My daughter is turning 5 on our trip and I'm not totally sure she'll remember all of it but hopefully the highlights will stick until we go back.

 

[Minnesota!]

I went with my parents when I was 9 and remember very little - tiny snippets of our hotel (off site), watching Liberty Belle Riverboat while eating Nachos, and being rained on in Epcot.

I remember no rides, no meals, no character interaction.

I also went when I was 14 and remember barely more than that - just riding Splash, the massive crowds, and the monorail to Epcot.

So...I don't think you can put a good age on it.

I say start them super young so that the memories build.

Also - the trips at young ages are more for the parents then the kids...seeing their awe at the smallest of things...amazing. They might not remember Pluto playing Peek A Boo with them at Garden Grill...but I sure will!

 

[Mousemommy1]

I went with my parents when I was 9 and remember very little - tiny snippets of our hotel (off site), watching Liberty Belle Riverboat while eating Nachos, and being rained on in Epcot.

I remember no rides, no meals, no character interaction.

I also went when I was 14 and remember barely more than that - just riding Splash, the massive crowds, and the monorail to Epcot.

So...I don't think you can put a good age on it.

I say start them super young so that the memories build.

I should have added that to my response as well...I went at 7 and 12 and have a few specific memories but really the memories are more from looking at our old photos and videos. But, I know I fell in love with Disney as a child so obviously the "in the moment" moments had a profound impact on me.

I do remember being at the Polynesian and Contemporary (just visiting because we were staying off site) and thinking how lucky the people were who got to stay there...and vowing to stay on site when I was older....which I always have, lol!

 

[ScarletBegonias]

To be fair, my first trip I was 9, and my last trip I was 18 and I still don't remember much so to me, that's not a reason not to take a smaller child. My nephew has been once a year since he was born. His first trip was at 10 months. By the time he was two he wanted "to go back to the Castle" I'm not sure how much he actually remembered it, but he did remember the Castle, and that it was fun.

My DD will only be 15 months old on her first trip, but I'm sure she will have a good time! My Husband and I will always remember this trip, even if she doesn't, and we will have a ton of pictures to look back on later!

 

[Funfire240]

We've taken our kids since they were 3 1/2 and 1 1/2. Every now and then they blurt out different things that surprise me from the trips. I can say DS doesn't recall teh first 2 (the younger sibling) as the other day we were looking at our pictures from AOA when he was 2 1/2 and he kept saying he wanted to go there and couldn't understand why he was in the pictures with cars (although he talks about when Alice kissed him - but that could just be because the picture hangs on our wall). They may not remember everything but I can tell you every detail from the trips with them and their reactions to everything - and to me those are priceless memories.

With what the PP said, I went when I was 12 and again 14. I remember a lot more from the first trip then the second so it just depends.

 

[sunflowerfields]

I went to Disneyland 52 yrs. ago when I was ten. I feel like I remember most of the trip in good detail.

 

[pixiemama91]

We took my DD when she was 2 and again when she was 3. She doesn't remember the trip from when she was 2 but she still talks about the trip when she was 3. She is 5 now and still can recall specifics about the trip. She even remembers things I didn't necessarily recall. We are going again this year and I am sure she will remember even mOre. Our 6 month old obviously won't have a Clue but it will be nice to have the photos and memories.

 

[Crystal824]

My four year old remembers much of what happened during our last trip (She was almost 3). With that being said, if you are taking your kids to WDW only once, I would wait until they are around 8. They should be able to remember the trip at that age. Yes, the magic of characters is gone for most kids. However, they can do and appreciate all the attractions. They can walk around and shouldn't have as many melt downs. They won't be afraid of some attractions like preschoolers will.

Having said that, my 4 year old has been to WDW 5 times. We are about to take our kids again next month. This will be the baby's first trip. She will be 10 mo. I really don't buy in to waiting until they remember it. They won't remember their first Christmas or birthday, but I will I do see the relevance in waiting until they are older if this is to be their only trip.

 

[Jewel3k]

My little guy who is just now 6 remembers his trip from when he was 3 and 5. Will he remember them in detail when he is an adult? No idea. Has he talked about Disney World since he first went when he was 3? All the time. I'm not sure I would want to take a child younger than 3 because of all the things you have to do while traveling with toddlers and infants. If I lived next to the parks or it was an easy drive I'd re evaluate.

 

[Lupeix]

I think it depends on the kid. We went when DS was 2 and 1/2 and he does remember specific details about the trip, like meeting Winnie the Pooh. It is hard to say how much of it is because he saw the pictures, I think looking over and talking about it when you get back does help them keep those memories alive. On the other hand he has been asking to go again and pointed out he didn't go to Epcot, which really tells me he remembers because we only did AK and MK last time. He is 4 now, he does have a ridiculous memory though. When the binky fairy came and took his paci he was talking about it for like a year.

 

[pjacobi]

My daughter does not remember much from our first trip when she was 2 years, 11 months. However, I certainly remember how we all had a fun family vacation together and could not wait to come back next year!

Over the next several years, I got to watch my daughter progress from Dumbo to Tower-of-Terror.

Why condition any of our family activities on how much my daughter can remember?

-Paul

 

[pinkprincess30]

My youngest had JUST turned 5 when we went and he still talks about the trip! He brings up specific memories like "Remember when me and Grandpa did...." and "this time I'm not going to be scared of California Screamin' like I was before PLUS I'll be tall enough". It is a very magical age! He is 9 now. Time flies!

 

[Simba's Girl]

Depends on the kid

Not sure what trip my oldest 2 remember, but my youngest (8) continually talks about going on a "mission" in WS to find cinnamon rolls. That and the "gidable" (a made up word) trees out the window on our drive down. This was from a trip 5 years ago in January.

 

[sharona]

It really doesn't matter if they'll remember it, they'll enjoy it at the time and YOU'LL remember it forever.

 

[blackpearl77]

We went when my son was 2.5. He's 4 now and has some memories of it. But probably because we look at our trip pictures all the time so he's probably remembering what's in the pictures. My first trip was when I was 4 and I barely remember anything from that trip.

 

[Jing]

I should have added that to my response as well...I went at 7 and 12 and have a few specific memories but really the memories are more from looking at our old photos and videos. But, I know I fell in love with Disney as a child so obviously the "in the moment" moments had a profound impact on me.

I do remember being at the Polynesian and Contemporary (just visiting because we were staying off site) and thinking how lucky the people were who got to stay there...and vowing to stay on site when I was older....which I always have, lol!

One of my clearest memories from a Disney Trip as a kid (age 6?) was watching a stary-eyed couple get off the monorail to Polynesian. I assumed they were on their honeymoon and I thought "I can't wait until I'm a grown up and get to have a honeymoon." I have yet to stay at Poly but I told hubs we are doing a big anniversary trip there someday. It may not be the kind of magical memory parents think about their kids having, but it's a memory!

 

[smitch425]

Our youngest was 1 1/2 mos. shy of being 3 on our first family trip, and he remembers quite a bit. He also started reading when he was 3, so his brain may have been a bit abnormal. Lol! I would go before they begin school, just so you could pick any time of the year to take them without worrying about missing anything.

 

[tzolkin]

I should have added that to my response as well...I went at 7 and 12 and have a few specific memories but really the memories are more from looking at our old photos and videos. But, I know I fell in love with Disney as a child so obviously the "in the moment" moments had a profound impact on me.

I do remember being at the Polynesian and Contemporary (just visiting because we were staying off site) and thinking how lucky the people were who got to stay there...and vowing to stay on site when I was older....which I always have, lol!

This is kind of what I'm thinking. I know my kids remember their early trips, but maybe that's more from seeing the photos and talking about it? (I will ask for an update about what they really remember tonight.)

I do know my youngest remembered clearly our first trip for several years (not sure if he still does). Our first trip he was a week shy of 2 and did not speak at all. To me, he was a "baby" and we were really going for his older sisters (just turned 4 and 9.5 at the time). When he started talking and when we went back the following year, he would mention specific details from the first trip. These were not things the rest of us had brought up, so I am certain they were his own memories.

That said, I wouldn't take a child for the sole purpose of them having clear memories of the trip. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think they can remember the "feeling" of being at Disney (or wherever you travel) and something about spending joyful quality time with their family will remain with them even if they don't have vivid memories of the specific moments.

Also, I'll just throw out the selfish aspect of taking a young child on a magical trip. I have memories of all those little moments. There are so many memories that just a passing thought can make me smile, laugh, or cry. Whether or not the kids remember those moments doesn't change the fact that they are cherished memories for me. If we had waited until they were older those moments never would have happened. We still enjoy our trips, but my 16yo is not going to look super proud getting her first haircut or ride "It's a Small World" with her mouth open and eyes wide in wonder or believe everything is magical. I am thankful that I had the opportunity to take them when they were young because I remember moments from those trips every single day.

 

[disneywithbaby]

We took DS at 2.5 and DD was 4.5. first DS was free so why not take him, I have memories that will last forever in my mind of how they loved small world and how my son kissed Ariel as she flirted with him at breakfast and how I took them on "a special trip around the world" at Epcot to see France. Or when we had a very bumpy landing on the plane and my DS kept his arms high in the sky and said "I love this roller coaster!! Let's do it again" and the whole plane had to laugh bc we were all terrified, but not a 2 yo. Will they remember it (they do now only a yr later) probably not most of it, but I will.