What's your favorite age for DL?

[Zoemakes5]

I hear all the time from people "when is the best time to take my kids" to DL (or WDW). I think everyone has their favorites.
For me, even though there really is something special about each age, my "favorite" is around 3-4. At that age, everything is so magical, they can communicate with you and seem to just have so much fun.
What's your "favorite age"?

 

[Redcon1]

My DD is eight and my DS is five. These were a great age for both.
My DD is still young enough to enjoy the princesses and other characters, yet old enough to start enjoying the bigger attractions that she can ride with her daddy, like the bobsleds.
My DS, is only five, but going on 30, so even tho he's too small to go on the bobsleds and such, he still appreciates everything the park has to offer and very often adds his wry observations to what's going on and what he sees.
He's quite a stinker!

 

[DLovinFam]

We will be taking our 3 yo in a couple of weeks (he will be 4 in 4 months) I can't WAIT for him to experience his first DL trip!! My two dd's were ages 5 and 8 the last time we went. It was their first time and it was so magical for them! Of course every time we go it's magical!

 

[Glynis]

It's so hard to say what the "best" age is. I have loved every time I've been and every time I've taken my kids. Even though they've all been there at least once, there's always something magical about it.

I took my niece to DL when she was 4, and we had a great time. She was still at the age where everything she saw was "real" to her. Mickey, Minnie, all the other characters. She honestly believed that they were alive and living in Disneyland. She fell in love with some of the Barbies that were being sold in the toy store by Small World, and when she got home, her mother told her they would go to the "Barbie Store" (Toys R Us) and get her one. She was so excited to go to the Barbie Store, but when she got there just cried her eyes out. Her mother asked her why, and she said, this isn't the real Barbie Store, Where's Mickey, Where's Minnie?

 

[Zoemakes5]

It's so hard to say what the "best" age is. I have loved every time I've been and every time I've taken my kids. Even though they've all been there at least once, there's always something magical about it.

I've had tough times when I lived out in CA with family members and friends whose first time at DL was in their pre-teens, teens, or early twenties. All they have tended to see are the crowds, the high cost of everything, and not enough "big" rides. I personally think that for "maximum" enjoyment of DL you either need to go there first as a child or go there first with a child.
The only time I've not enjoyed has been when I got sick at DL!

 

[vascubaguy]

The age factor can be extremely different depending on the child. My nephew HATED Disney at ages 2 & 3. My mom took him to WDW and then to DL. She said when they walked in DL, they turned around and left within an hour. He wouldn't ride or do anything, and he wouldn't go near any of the characters. I think he was just overwhelmed by all of the people. Can you imagine being that small and all these people around you?

Now, we took him back to WDW this year (he's 4 now) and he LOVED it. He didn't want to leave. He wanted to ride everything, of course he was still a little short for some he wanted to do. However, he still wanted NOTHING to do with the characters.

 

[quiltymom]

It does all depend upon the kids -- or the family, for that matter. I had already "Disney-washed" my kids before our first trip to DL when DS was 5 and DD was 3. They were troopers, going from park opening to closing, loving every minute (except for the fireworks. Too loud!). And they still remember things that happened then. Amazing.

We've since been to DL again as well as a trip to WDW, and we're constantly being asked, "When can we go back?" I want to say tomorrow, but....

 

[Vanvmom]

I say age 40 is PERFECT for it! Did I mention I'll be there right after my 40th birthday? Actually, we've taken the kids at all ages (even 4 months old - which I must admit is easier than at age 2 yrs). My kids loved it at all ages - very fun to re-live all the excitement through the all believing eyes of children.

 

[amyup]

My first son went at 18 months and loved it, my second went at 9 months and enjoyed it as much as a 9 month old would. My kids are now Disneyland fanatics and feel like its been FOREVER since we've been, they are counting down the days until our Nov trip (they are now 3 and 5 DL veterans).

But I would say the best age for DL is any age! I'm just as excited as the kids when we go!

 

[da disney fans]

My parents started taking me to Disneyland as an infant, and now, at age 26, I've probably been to Disney at least 30 times. I think because they started us so young, we were old hat by the time we were 3 or 4, and none of us kids ever had issues the crowds or anything else. We're all fanatics in our family, and now I'm teaching my DH to be just as obsessed (he went for his first time at the age of 23, on our honeymoon!).

I hope that when we have kids, we can start them young so it's not so overwhelming when they're toddlers/young kids.

 

[abby]

I took my DD in april and she was almost 5. Although she either couldn't or wouldn't do some of the big rides she had a great time. I did get her on the Matterhorn twice and BigThunder Mt, RR once, she had a great time and is begging to go back.