Ideal Age - Consideration for the Future

[mickey7879]

You could do what we did and start your family WHILE at Disney! Brought back our own little souvenir! Anyway! Haha! We first took my son when he was 6 months old.....hadn't planned it, but were sick of the weather so the next week we were in Disney! He had soooo much fun! He LOVED the characters.....smiled so big and just liked to laugh at them.....also LOVED It's a Small World. Our next trip was when he was 15 months old. He loved running up to the characters and almost knocking them over! Not scared at all.....although he didn't care about seeing "people" dressed up like characters, ie the Princesses. I always vowed that in no way was I going to be one of those parents who stood in line to see characters.....well, I was "bored" one day while dh was riding ee over and over and over again, so off to Camp Mickey and Minnie we went. Just before we saw Mickey, dh got there and I was so glad he did. He just ran right up and wouldn't let go of Mickey! After going to see Minnie, Goofy and Donald and getting the same reactions, we knew we just HAD to stand in more lines to see the look and happiness on his face! We knew right then that this trip was "priceless"! Now we are going again in Sept when ds will just have turned 2 in August....3 trips in just a year and a half!

I know other people have their own ideas on how old a child should be before they visit Disney. Some say to wait until they will remember the trip, etc. I say you should take them at any age. Even if they don't remember trip, you will remember those memories and the look on their face the first time they see Mickey. I don't even remember all the trips I've been on or everything I've ever done, so I don't see the big deal on my child not remembering a trip.

Disney makes it mostly easy to take little ones. I love the baby care centers at every park to change diapers, nurse or use the high chairs and watch Disney movies or to use the kitchen. They have lots of stuff for purchase if you forget anything for them. I'd love to see them add more changing tables or to put some in the family/companion bathrooms, but other than that, there is LOTS of things for even babies to do there!

Take your own stroller too!

Also like others have said, just plan your next trip, if you are pregnant, have a baby or toddler, you'll still enjoy yourself!

 

[noname70]

Mine have been going since infancy. The most fun for me was 2 1/2. They believe everything and just light up.

 

[tink68]

I personally did not take my little one until he was 3. Mainly because I wanted to wait until he was potty trained. :lol: But I think any age is ok because even if they do not remember it you will. Have fun. :wave:

 

[WDW_Emily]

My parents took me when i was only 6 months old. i of course remember none of it but my mom said it was one of her favorite trips to WDW.(we drove that year)
The first trip i remember though was when i was 3 we flew down that year and i remember watching the Little mermaid show at least 4 times and loving when the bubbles came down. You can really go when the kids are any age. My sister's first trip was when she was 2 and although she doesn't remember, me and my mom always tell her about how she squeezed all the characters noses and how she told tiger to bounce(and he did)

 

[robbwilder]

We took our son at 18 months. He really liked it especially the fire works. The one thing that took us 6 months and 3 more trips to realize that he needs to burn his energy more. We wernt paying attention as much so it was Stroller arms ride stroller arms ride stroler arms ride. This trip we are going to let him play at poos play ground go earlier in the day and then let him get back to the hotel to blow off some steam and tehn back to the parks. I think it will be much more tolerable for him that way.

 

[Deadmanwalking]

I always enjoy hearing parents tell the stories of how much their little X month old (pick any number under 3 years) enjoyed the trip.

I'm sorry but in general you could take any X month old to the local mall and push them around and they would be just as happy.... better yet if your X month old starts crying and screaming in the mall it wont bother people that are on their vacations like it will when they are in Disney.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate kids... but I do have a problem with parents that for cost reasons decide to bring X month olds under the pretense that the trip is for them when in fact it is for mom/dad/or siblings.... I also have a problem when I am there in the middle of summer when I know I'm halfway to a heat stroke and I see some "loving parents" with an infant that looks two more like a cooked lobster than a baby (frankly it makes me want to call the local department of child services).

To me if the child is under 3 he/she shouldn't be there... if you do take them at those very young ages then at least be honest and admit its for you and not them - and do yourself a favor find a sitter to keep him/her at home and enjoy the trip not make it a nightmare for people around you.

 

[rct247]

My suggestion is anywhere from age 4 or 5 to age 10-11.

My mom went to Disney World in 1972 when she was about 13 years old and remembered it, but my mom's sister was only a few month's old. They never went back as a family and my aunt doesn't remember a thing obviously.

I went when I was 10 and when I was 12. 10 years old was still magical. 12 years old, I remember thinking I was "too good" to go hung some of the characters.

As much as you want them to enjoy the magic, you also probably want them to be able to get the most of out of it. Have the memories, be able to ride most the rides, most of all be able to hug and talk to their favorite characters.

When you take into the account the amount of walking, the heat and humidity, the strollers, the special foods and nap times. My opinion is that although it can still be a great visit, an infant or young toddler could also have its headaches.

I think one other important thing is let the kids know their options of rides and shows so they can tell you what interests them. If you want to do everything and drag them to each thing on an super planned schedule, it can also result in headaches. A Disney vacation after all is usually for the kids, so let them do a bit of the planning if they can.

 

[KC82271]

I agree with everyone - there is no right age. We took DD at 10 months - because we were disney freaks. But our problem is we have now created a disney freak in our daughter. We are only back 3 months next week - and at 4 years old, she is already asking when we are going back. But for the last 2 years, we have done April/May and November - so she is mentally ready for booking the next trip.

One bit of advice I will give for traveling with a baby - take it very slow and go according to the babies schedule. Don't plan on staying out all night and going early. You need to let the baby sleep in, and don't overtire them!

Take a ton of pictures and videos and the baby will "remember" the trip for years to come! My daughter looks at her's usually once every week or two. It's great!