What is best age for first trip?

[PollyannaMom]

I was just wondering what people thought. I was thinking around 5 (right before starting school). They are potty trained at this age and will remember most of the trip. What does everyone think?

I think that's perfect. I certainly see nothing wrong with taking kids younger (and older) if you go a lot, but I agree with you about 5 being the most magical age we've gone at - old enough to do quite a bit, remember stuff, have some stamina for the day, but young enough that it's still really "real" to them.

We've done 2 day trips while visiting relatives in Florida (at 1.5 and 7) and both were absolutely fabulous, but 5 was DS's big whole-vacation, stay-on-property trip, and I was really happy with that decision!

 

[EnchantedPrincess]

We took our kids on their first trip when dd had just turned 4, and ds had just turned 2...everyone had a blast, and the kids asked to go back again..and we are going back next month. When we told some friends we were going to Disney World, a few told us we were crazy to take them that young...but we didn't regret it a single bit. The expression on my ds's face when he saw Mickey, and how he just ran right up to him and gave him a big hug...that was priceless! The reaction would be different if we had waited till he was older to go. My dd was just thrilled to see the princesses..

 

[troynkasey]

There's truely something for everyone. We took our daughter at 7 months, a year and seven months and this year she'll be 2 years and 7 months. The previous two trips have worked out great. She had a ton of fun last year and remembers bits and pieces. This year she'll remmeber more. Its all on what you want out of the vacation. If you're looking for a long-lasting memory and don't plan on going back, then I say wait until they can enjoy everything. So they can ride most of the rides and get the whole experience. If you plan on going back soon, then go now and enjoy it now and then enjoy it again in the future.

I will say my daughter has enjoyed different parts of it each time we go.