Disney with a 4 year old or wait till he's 5?

[bsmartin2000]

I am wondering what would be the best age to go to Disney. My Grandson will be 4 years 2 months when we thought about going, but I am now hearing that I would be better off waiting a year till he was 5. We can only afford the one trip in the next few years so we need to make this one count. Any suggestions as to when would be a better time for everyone?:wave:

 

[Mukta]

If this will be your only trip for a few years, I would wait until he is 5.

I would wait until he is fully potty trained, doesn't take naps anymore and can handle stimulation without getting scared.

 

[Bri1121]

I guess waiting makes more sense. My first reaction is just go, he will love it and he will remember. My daughter went when she was 4 years 4 months and at 6 she has many memories of the place. With that being said we are going again this summer so I never really thought about it.

At 5 he will be able to ride more rides most likely and his memories might be better remembered. I guess it matters who you ask. If you plan on only going once you might even want to wait a little longer. But there is something magical about how the kids experience Disney World. Especially before they realize that there are people in those costumes and they are not really the characters! My daughter will turn 7 during our next trip and I dread the day she second guesses if those are the real princess'! I know its coming because we already talk about animation, cartoons and "real" people shows!

No matter when you go you will love it and so will he!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

The difference between 4 and 5 is not huge unless he's on the shorter side. Basically, if you're not going to be able to take multiple trips while he's young, make sure he's at least 40" when he goes. At either age, memory retention is going to be comparable, the rides deemed too scary or inappropriate for a young child will be the same at both ages (i.e. it would be cruel to put a 4 or 5 yr old on Tower of Terror or Dinosaur just b/c they're tall enough- and even a very tall child at that age would still probably be petrified of Space Mtn or RnR), and most 4 yr olds are fully potty trained or potty trained during waking hours to make that a non-issue.

My older one was 4 yrs 4 mos on her first trip- she was under 40"- had been potty trained for long enough to not make that an issue- she had a total blast and while it's only been a tad under 5 months since the trip- she still remembers quite a bit. She insisted we take her on Snow White and she and DH insisted she go on Haunted Mansion- which she's asked that we NEVER do again, but other than that it was GREAT! She's also starting to show signs of being over the Disney princess fad and moving on to Barbie- so I'm happy we went at age 4 when she was in peak princess mode. I've heard that with boys- moving on from Cars characters to Hot Wheels is the progression you might see if you wait until he's 5.

Another consideration...at 5 he might be in Kindergarten, which would greatly limit your trip windows...especially if he lives in a state with strict attendance laws. i.e. I could face court time if I pull mine out for more than 2 days in a 6 wk period. You'd at least be able to guarantee a trip during value season when crowds are low if you went before he entered Kindergarten.

Good luck with the decision!!! :wave: I'm sure he'll have a great time no matter when you go.

*one other thing- a pp noted naps, but a lot of 4 yr olds have dropped their nap. I actually think most elementary age kids and younger benefit greatly from a break time each day while at WDW rather than attacking the parks. So I think you're going to need to allow for break/nap time each day at either age...IMHO.

 

[Magical Dreamer]

Wait for sure....

Our youngest was 5 1/2 on our trip last year and it was soooo enjoyable.

He was a real trooper with 0 meltdowns and he really had fun everyday.

We also went when he was 4 but this last trip was really better....the independence and maturity of a 4 year old to a 5 year old is substantial.

Besides if you wait the Fantasy Land expansion may be completed.

 

[JillC LI]

We waited until our kids were 5 and 7 for our first trip primarily because we did not want to have to deal with strollers. By 5 years old, both our kids were great walkers, and we were able to spend full days in the park without either one having a meltdown or needing a stroller. They were both still young enough to believe in the "magic" and they had looks of awe on their faces the entire trip, so it seemed like the perfect age to us. Plus they both remember that first trip clearly.

 

[rwdavis2]

My issue with young (below 5) kids is that they probably won't remember anything. So I would wait until at least 5, maybe 6. They may enjoy it at 4 (mine did) but they will not remember it.
Bob

 

[charmmy]

On my first trip I just turned 5 and I have very spotty memories of it. I don't think they would remember anything before 5, but if you want to go this year, by all means do it. If you can wait, that's fine too, and they may remember more of it. But either way, it will still count and they will have a blast. Take tons of pictures, and be sure to save mementos for them.. just recently my parents sold their house, and out came the boxes. I found one of the old Minnie Mouse souvenir buttons, a folded up Mickey/Minnie mylar balloon with Mickey weights on the string still, a park map, park tickets and even the old parking pass. It brought back some memories.

 

[RobnRachal]

We waited until our kids were 5 and 7 for our first trip primarily because we did not want to have to deal with strollers. By 5 years old, both our kids were great walkers, and we were able to spend full days in the park without either one having a meltdown or needing a stroller. They were both still young enough to believe in the "magic" and they had looks of awe on their faces the entire trip, so it seemed like the perfect age to us. Plus they both remember that first trip clearly.

Ditto!

 

[Bri1121]

The difference between 4 and 5 is not huge unless he's on the shorter side. Basically, if you're not going to be able to take multiple trips while he's young, make sure he's at least 40" when he goes. At either age, memory retention is going to be comparable, the rides deemed too scary or inappropriate for a young child will be the same at both ages (i.e. it would be cruel to put a 4 or 5 yr old on Tower of Terror or Dinosaur just b/c they're tall enough- and even a very tall child at that age would still probably be petrified of Space Mtn or RnR), and most 4 yr olds are fully potty trained or potty trained during waking hours to make that a non-issue.

My older one was 4 yrs 4 mos on her first trip- she was under 40"- had been potty trained for long enough to not make that an issue- she had a total blast and while it's only been a tad under 5 months since the trip- she still remembers quite a bit. She insisted we take her on Snow White and she and DH insisted she go on Haunted Mansion- which she's asked that we NEVER do again, but other than that it was GREAT! She's also starting to show signs of being over the Disney princess fad and moving on to Barbie- so I'm happy we went at age 4 when she was in peak princess mode. I've heard that with boys- moving on from Cars characters to Hot Wheels is the progression you might see if you wait until he's 5.

Another consideration...at 5 he might be in Kindergarten, which would greatly limit your trip windows...especially if he lives in a state with strict attendance laws. i.e. I could face court time if I pull mine out for more than 2 days in a 6 wk period. You'd at least be able to guarantee a trip during value season when crowds are low if you went before he entered Kindergarten.

Good luck with the decision!!! :wave: I'm sure he'll have a great time no matter when you go.

*one other thing- a pp noted naps, but a lot of 4 yr olds have dropped their nap. I actually think most elementary age kids and younger benefit greatly from a break time each day while at WDW rather than attacking the parks. So I think you're going to need to allow for break/nap time each day at either age...IMHO.

What?!?! You could face court time for taking your kid from school. That is crazy!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

What?!?! You could face court time for taking your kid from school. That is crazy!

I know- it's nuts! We had to cxl our ski trip over this. A number of states are moving towards extremely rigid attendance policies...especially with government funding being cut and tied directly into attendance. This is the exact wording I found from the Texas compulsory attendance law...

Fails to attend school on 10 or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same
school year or on three or more days or parts of days within a four-week period.

So basically, more than 2 unexcused absences in a short period of time will land you in hot water...and it's tough to get them excused (well, of course it also depends on school district and administrators).

A violation is a class C misdemeanor and you can be fined up to $500 per offense. It's my understanding that stiffer penalties can be enforced if it continues to be a problem + I've heard many teachers can be really ugly about it- i.e. making it difficult on the child. What's even more nuts- the law goes from pre-K to 12. Of course you have to be in public pre-K and kindergarten, but still- enforcing this kind of law for 4-6 yr olds??? And I thought I was just going to have to worry about insane conduct marks for a 5 yr old (like my friend's daughter's recent- catching too many ladybugs and picking clover (which is permitted) during recess ).

 

[erinshaneb]

My issue with young (below 5) kids is that they probably won't remember anything. So I would wait until at least 5, maybe 6. They may enjoy it at 4 (mine did) but they will not remember it.
Bob

I am not sure this is true...although I have a horrible memory and can't remember much of when I was a kid, my daughter has a great memory..we took her in September and she was 4 and she remembers EVERYTHING...Now I do have a photo album that i made of the trip, but she doesn't look at it often..she talks constantly about the parades and the rides and the MNSSHP and so on...i think some of it depends on how much you "live" it at home too...we still have to listen to the music from the MNSSHP everyday when we got to school...

 

[erinshaneb]

I know- it's nuts! We had to cxl our ski trip over this. A number of states are moving towards extremely rigid attendance policies...especially with government funding being cut and tied directly into attendance. This is the exact wording I found from the Texas compulsory attendance law...

Fails to attend school on 10 or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same
school year or on three or more days or parts of days within a four-week period.

So basically, more than 2 unexcused absences in a short period of time will land you in hot water...and it's tough to get them excused (well, of course it also depends on school district and administrators).

A violation is a class C misdemeanor and you can be fined up to $500 per offense. It's my understanding that stiffer penalties can be enforced if it continues to be a problem + I've heard many teachers can be really ugly about it- i.e. making it difficult on the child. What's even more nuts- the law goes from pre-K to 12. Of course you have to be in public pre-K and kindergarten, but still- enforcing this kind of law for 4-6 yr olds??? And I thought I was just going to have to worry about insane conduct marks for a 5 yr old (like my friend's daughter's recent- catching too many ladybugs and picking clover (which is permitted) during recess ).

WHAT ?!?!?! My understanding was they didn't really enforce or "dictate" til the kids were in middle school..I live in an area outside Houston and already plan on yanking my kid out of school in September..She will be in Kindergarten..if the state has a problem with that then we have bigger issues to deal with..What, she's gonna miss "the art of finger painting"?..It es me off that they can dictate what I can do with my child, but if I was illegal I could do whatever the heck I wanted...I have to pay $180 a month for pre-k, bcuz I don't qualify for pre-k and they are gonna tell me when I can take my kids..not a chance..i will home school before I let that happen..and I know there are some of you out there that are saying "wow all this over a disney vacation?"...that's not it, it's the principal..she's MY kid and if I feel she is doing well enough in school to miss a couple days that's MY right..as a mother, as the provider, as the END all of decisions...

**stepping off soapbox with head down** (sorry)

 

[HouCuseChickie]

WHAT ?!?!?! My understanding was they didn't really enforce or "dictate" til the kids were in middle school..I live in an area outside Houston and already plan on yanking my kid out of school in September..She will be in Kindergarten..if the state has a problem with that then we have bigger issues to deal with..What, she's gonna miss "the art of finger painting"?..It es me off that they can dictate what I can do with my child, but if I was illegal I could do whatever the heck I wanted...I have to pay $180 a month for pre-k, bcuz I don't qualify for pre-k and they are gonna tell me when I can take my kids..not a chance..i will home school before I let that happen..and I know there are some of you out there that are saying "wow all this over a disney vacation?"...that's not it, it's the principal..she's MY kid and if I feel she is doing well enough in school to miss a couple days that's MY right..as a mother, as the provider, as the END all of decisions...

**stepping off soapbox with head down** (sorry)

Trust me- I feel your pain. I too am just outside of Houston and it all comes down to your school and district...i.e. how closely they choose to follow this law. With all of the cuts- a lot of schools are cracking down really hard. I know some people who have had no problems, while I know others who have had their day in court. Most schools won't crack down as hard if they're below TAKS testing age (or whatever the name will be next year), but I know people who have gotten in trouble with first graders and been given full on tongue lashings with threats of full punishment for the next infraction for kids in kindergarten. I even have a friend in the Meyerland area who had to fight taking his child out for a religious holiday...another first grader. It's nuts and now I see why so many people home school up until high school in TX.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I am not sure this is true...although I have a horrible memory and can't remember much of when I was a kid, my daughter has a great memory..we took her in September and she was 4 and she remembers EVERYTHING...Now I do have a photo album that i made of the trip, but she doesn't look at it often..she talks constantly about the parades and the rides and the MNSSHP and so on...i think some of it depends on how much you "live" it at home too...we still have to listen to the music from the MNSSHP everyday when we got to school...

I totally agree with you. Our older one remembers the bulk of our December trip. The reality- my first trip was at age 11 and I struggle to remember much of the details. So I really think memory is a non-issue.

 

[bmarkelon]

I always have the go with the little ones vote. Both sides of this debate always have strong arguments. I think ultimately it's up to you and which decision you feel is best for your family. My kid's first trips were at 14 months, 11 months and 7 months....they get younger and younger!
We go each year with our 3 so I have experienced every age up to 6 now. In my opinion the most magical trips for them are in the 3-5 range. So you are right there, you are past naps and potty training which is great!
I say go for it!! But you can't go wrong with either of those ages, it will be an amazing first trip either way!! :sohappy: