My son is 5, and we've been building up our upcoming August trip for the past couple of months. We ordered the travel DVD, we have looked at websites and watched videos on You Tube of the rides so he knows what to expect, and we've also been having a lot of fun watching all of the Disney movies so he will be familiar with all of the characters. We've also discussed which characters will be there and which will not.
I just told him over breakfast this past Sunday that we'll be having breakfast with Mickey during our trip. He thought I was joking, and he started laughing. When he realized I was serious, his eyes lit up and he got a huge excited smile on his face. Priceless!