When is a good age to Bring your child to Dinsey for the 1st time??

[Miss Inga Depointe]

I honestly think this has a lot to do with your financial situation, practically speaking. If you can afford to go every year, then providing you make lots of provisions for the baby (not too hot, lots of rest, etc) then go as much as you like whenever you like. Who cares? But if you can only take a few trips in your child's lifetime, I'd wait until they were 4 or 5.

 

[fitzperry]

for me, i would not take my children before the age of 5, as i do not think they can understand and appreciate everything, but once they turn 5 look out cuz we will be going all the time after that.

Have to say I totally disagree with this. Our oldest is 6, and she's been twice--the first time was shortly after she turned 3, and the second was last fall. Dd2 also joined us on that most recent trip, at which time she was 2.5, and I am itching to go back soon because I so desperately want to do it again while while we still have a toddler. Our 6yo is tiny but big enough to to BTMRR, Splash, Soarin', etc., which is great fun. But I need someone who still WANTS to go on all the Fantasyland rides with me, and I fear that soon I will be dragging her around saying "you're riding Pooh with me whether you like it or not!" Also, the character experience is different with a younger child. Don't get me wrong--my elder dd still adores it, but the look on a 2 or 3 yo's face when she gets a hug from Pooh or Mickey is worth the price of admission alone.

That being said, you do have to adjust your expectations when traveling with little ones, but that's true no matter where you go, and staying home for several years is simply not an option. We've taken many trips with our kids, and for my money, Disney is hands down the best destination for us with them at this age.

 

[bellebud]

just my opinion, BUT... first of all, forget about all the "wait until the age where they'll remember the trip" advice... how much of a vacation, or anything, does anyone remember from when they were 5yo, 7yo, even older. You mostly remember tiny bits and pieces, and would 'remember' more from looking back at pics and videos. My dh and I went to disney and seaworld on our honeymoon, and when we went back to seaworld 10 years later with the kids, we both couldn't remember one thing about having been there 10 years before, when we were both in our 20's! We seriously asked a worker if they had moved the park, if it was the same park... don't know what happened to us there. even our days in disney from our honeymoon - i don't really 'remember' tons of stuff - moreso from looking back at pics.

now, if you were only going once or twice in your child's life, then yes, of course wait. but you've been going every year and will probably continue to go, so just go with your baby when you're comfortable going. i looked at it this way - will i do nothing special as a family with my babies because they won't remember? or will i only do "inexpensive" vacations with babies in tow, even though i want to do a disney vacation? it's silly. if you're going to disney only for the child, then wait. but that's not your case - you've been going without children. you and dh enjoy disney yourselves - now you'll just be pushing a stroller and taking more breaks. it's great in a whole new way - you're forced to go a little slower and maybe see things you would have ignored before. you can do parent swap for any big rides you really want to hit, you can go on a few tame rides with the baby (small world, mexico ride, living with the land, etc), you can really enjoy your resort, enjoy the world showcase and dtd shopping and browsing, and just enjoy the magic of disney. the big rides you might miss out on are only a small part of being at disney (at least to us).

i'd say wait and see what temperment your baby has (btw, congratulations!!) and decide then when to go. you might be wanting and needing a vacation, or maybe you won't be able to imagine leaving your house for a week with your baby. really depends on the baby.

i also looked at it this way - my babies/toddlers were going to have their moments of need/tantrums/etc, whether i was at home, in the local mall, or at disney. so where did i want to be??? disney!!!

hth! Liz

 

[bicker]

Besides: Aren't we bringing them along so we can enjoy them having a good time?

 

[joshsmom]

DS was 5 on our first trip.

 

[Disney Spaz]

As you can see by my countdown's I am due in May with our little princess and then in November we are taking her on her first trip. She will never rember the magic but since we have 2 DS's who are 16 & 15 this may be one of the last major family trips for all of us and we wanted it to be together. Even though she won't rember anything the pictures of her big brothers holding her up next to the characters and feeding her at CP will one day mean something to her and my DS's will always remeber it too. I say go for it at any age past 6 months. Yes they won't remember it but the pictures and stories can be shared when they are older. Plus until 3 they are free so why not enjoy these times before you hear, "Mommy I want that and that and that and that...."

 

[bgdiznee]

We took our kids for the first time when the oldest was 4 and the baby about 13 months. For us this was perfect. With having the baby along it forced us to a much slower pace that allowed the four year old to really go slow and take it all in. I totally agree with the posters who mention sometimes older children while enjoying DW don't have that absolute unguarded joy thats so apparent on the face of a preschooler. But every family is different and you will know as a parent when the "right" time is for your children.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

It really depends on the child. I wouldn't even consider bringing my oldest child until he was 4. Our middle child also made his first trip when he was four. We weren't planning on taking our 2 yo dd that visit, but my in-laws backed out of watching her. We all were surprised when she enjoyed the visit far more than anyone else!! A good friend of mine took her 11 month old dd, and they both had a blast! She loved meeting all of the characters and seeing some of the shows. Just keep in mind that taking little ones to WDW is far, far different from an adults-only trip. We've found that the best family visits are the ones where dh and I have focused solely on making the trip enjoyable for the kids. Thus, for every family trip we make, we take a short adults-only trip just for us!!

 

[auwoo]

Let's See... We took DS when he was 4 months old and it turned out to be a big mistake. Mainly because we went in December and they had record lows with lots of rain. DS got very sick and we had to take him to a walk in clinic and ended up spending several days in the room taking care of him.

But, since then we have taken him at:
23, 26, and 29 months

Sure he won't remember these trips but, every time we have gone, he has learned and advanced so much! We have all had a blast (including DD10) and he is now a Disney expert at the age of 2 & 1/2. He sings "Yo Ho, Yo Ho A Pirates Life for me!" all the time! He loves everything about Disney and cried last time because he wasn't big enough to ride Star Tours. The other day he declared that he wanted a Turkey Leg for supper. He had a hard time understanding that we couldn't just go to Disney World to get a Turkey Leg, (we got him a chicken leg and told him that we can only get those at home!).

When we were there in January of this year, we pasted the Dole Whip stand and he started singing a song about wanting a Dole Whip! He might not remember these things but, we will and I think that he benifits from the expierences just the same.

I don't remember when my parents were potty-training me and I sure am glad that they didn't wait until I was old enough to "remember" to start trying!

Take your baby when ever you are ready, you will adapt and they will too! It's just so much fun!

By the way, we just changed our dates for our summer trip so that we will be there for the opening of the new Pirates ride! DS would be heart broken if we didn't get to ride Pirates!

I second the get in as many trips before they turn 3 thing! Why wait until you have to pay for them to get in before you take them!

Congrats on the new Mouseketeer!

 

[isyt]

I could be a bad example but my oldest went for the first time at 4 months, My 2nd dd went for the 1st time at 9 months and my ds was a Disney at 4 months also. I always wanted them to fit into my life!! 4 months was easier because it was only bottles and 9 months I did lug around jar food also. I do have great memories of my oldest sitting on Minnie at 4 months, my other dd sitting on Grandmas lap at dinner. They were all great and we loved every minute. Although my youngest is now 4 and has been 13 times, so I may not have the best advice, these vacations are definetely for us as well as the kids!!!

 

[lclark0621]

Whenever you want to!

We took DS for the first time at 9 months old & it was great. The only problem for us, was my DS was formula fed, and he could not tolerate the powder mix. So we had to have the ready to use stuff. That was tough to lug around, but completely do-able. Carrying it during the day was a breeze. It was bringing it TO florida that was the tough part.

DS's eyes lit up at everything. He loved it all & we loved it to. It was really a magical trip.

He went again at 21 months, and in 2 weeks when we are there, he will be 31 months old.

Both the past trips have been wonderful! And I am sure this next one will be to.

Babies are completely & totally portable. Most will sleep anywhere at anytime. Dont listen to people who say "they wont remember or wont get it". Blah Blah Blah! Kids dont remember their first few Christmas's or Birthdays either, yet we still have them!

When you want to take your child, take your child! And have fun!!

 

[THEDISFANS]

It's never to soon. I think in the womb is a good time for the first visit. Start them on the road to being a Disney fan if you go every year let them get used to the place.

 

[bytheblood]

Many disagree, but for us, we waited until she was old enough to remember and not be afraid.

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

I think reading all the posts on this thread should convince you of the one "right" answer - you should go when YOU want to!!! Whatever you think is the right age is the right age. If you are excited to take a baby but your head says it might be too much work, take the baby. Your excitement will probably compensate for the extra work. If you feel you "should" take a three year old, but really want to wait until s/he is 5, wait. You'd probably take the 3 year old and find lots of reasons while you're there to prove you should have waited.

Disneyworld seems to be more a place of the heart than the head. I say if your'e ever going to follow your heart, it should be to the Magic Kingdom!

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

Again, we can't assume that there will be trips every year or even ever again!

I know a lot of husbands that say, "We're only doing this once!" (I know there are plenty of men on this board, but where I live, the Dads are not always so Disney friendly).

If a couple both loves disney, go for yourselves and have fun whenever and often. But if you think this might be the only trip for awhile, I'd still wait until they were 4 or 5.

 

[johnvree]

I remember struggling with this question. I believe the Unofficial Guide suggests 7 or 8 as an ideal age. I think by that age, you risk that the kid(s) will be too cool for things like Dumbo and characters.

We brought our kids for the first time when they were two and four. I am sure you could make a good argument that two years old is too young. At two, much of what Disney has to offer will be lost since many attractions are too scary or the child is not tall enough. We knew this and went anyway. All I can say is that when my two year old daughter ran up to the first character she saw - Geenie from Aladdin - and gave him a great big hug, we knew we had made the right choice for us. (I felt differently when my DD had a temper tantrum at the ESPN Zone during a live broadcase ) .

As others have said, it is a personal decision and will vary by family.

 

[VSL]

We live in the UK so when we (my BF - future husband - and I) have children we'll probably wait until they're potty-trained, can walk, etc. I imagine it will just be an incredible amount of work if we were to visit with an infant from the UK, so we will be waiting. It makes sense for us.

Hey, we might even wait until they're tall enough to do all the rides!

However, if you live closer (ie, in the US) and visit often and always plan to, then I'd say go whenever you feel ready - that would make sense for you.

 

[Uuaww]

Remember, even if they are too young to remember the trip, they will always remember the feeling of when they were there.

 

[eblack0409]

DH and I don't have kids yet, but we have discussed this topic, since we will want to go every year....we figure we will take "adult only" trips until our child is about 5 or 6...that way they are old enough to understand Disney and hopefully not be scared of Mickey!!!

 

[dizagain]

Well...3rd child is not even born yet and I have already COMPLETELY changed my tune...

DD's went for first time at 7 and 9 - absolutely PERFECT trip, they were so into the magic. We took them again last summer at 9 and 11 - again PERFECT trip and they are just as into the magic as ever.

I have always been the "why in the world would anyone ever take a baby to WDW?" kind of gal. Well #3 is on the way in August and DD's are already planning his/her first trip...and I'm helping! Actually I think we will wait until age 2 which will make DD's wait 3 and 1/2 years between trips this time, but who knows? We may go sooner if we can! Any time you feel is right for you is perfect. If it really is a "once in a lifetime" trip, I would wait until 5 or so, but I know our "once in a lifetime" trip didn't turn out to be - we're hooked!