What age for a daughter's first WDW trip?

[DisneyDaver]

My first child (daughter) was born last week and I can't wait to share my love of WDW with her! What is the earliest age people would recommend for a girl to enjoy a trip to WDW? My wife (who's attitude toward WDW is pretty indifferent) thinks no earlier than age 4. I'd like to take our little girl earlier, but only if she would enjoy it.

I'd appreciate any thoughts or input from your experiences with your kids.

 

[katins7]

May I tell a story? When my daughter was 2 we took her to a local fair. We were so excited to watch her experience all the excitement. We constantly pointed out new attractions: "Taylor, look! Look, Taylor!" She did seem excited. Then she shouted, "Look, Mommy! Look, Daddy!" and pointed excitedly at...a garbage truck. We realized then that at that age just about everything is new and exciting. So we have never regretted not be able to take her to Disney at that age. Not to say you shouldn't, of course! Just keep in mind that toddlers are probably equally excited by a trip to the supermarket. As a PP said, it's really more for the parents when they're that young.

We ended up going when that daughter was 10 and the younger was 7. It was extra-magical because they "got it" by then. They knew how special this trip was and had had years to pine for it.

edited to correct ages for first trip -- I can't believe I remembered it wrong!

 

[BigRedDad]

The situation is different for everyone. We wanted to wait for our daughter to be older. She had just turned 2. Arguing with my dad to take her and they join us, I finally caved in. She does not remember anything from the trip. However, she had so much fun and the memories are priceless. The other unknown benefit at the time was that my dad passed the last day of that year. I think he knew he had cancer, was keeping it secret, and going on vacations with everyone in the family. We did take a second trip that year over Thanksgiving. She remembers a few things from that trip and one was being bitten by a duck (not Donald, but a real one). Duck wanted her food, snapped it, and got her finger too.

 

[disneydad1000]

We took our son when he was 2 and we had a great time. Just remember that with kids that young you are really taking the child for your benefit and your memories when they are that young because in all reality the child will really not remember anything. For us it was priceless as we went with grandpa and he passed away when my son was 7 so we have memories and pictures that we would never be able to get again.

Another plus to kids being under 3 is that they are free!! No park ticket or meal plan required.

Excactly!!

 

[Disneydreamer23]

My dad was 18 months and we're going back this year she will be 2 1/2 she was perfect and loved it! We stayed for 2 weeks! I am pregnant and will be taking my son in September he will be 10 months !

 

[graphite1326]

Well we are completely different than everyone here and when people ask me I tell the this; I waited until my youngest was 6 (my oldest as 9). He (the youngest) was tall enough to go on all the rides (and did) and we as a family remember our trips. Honestly do you remember much when you were 2 to 4 years old?

 

[graphite1326]

May I tell a story? When my daughter was 2 we took her to a local fair. We were so excited to watch her experience all the excitement. We constantly pointed out new attractions: "Taylor, look! Look, Taylor!" She did seem excited. Then she shouted, "Look, Mommy! Look, Daddy!" and pointed excitedly at...a garbage truck. We realized then that at that age just about everything is new and exciting. So we have never regretted not be able to take her to Disney at that age. Not to say you shouldn't, of course! Just keep in mind that toddlers are probably equally excited by a trip to the supermarket. As a PP said, it's really more for the parents when they're that young.

We ended up going when that daughter was 10 and the younger was 7. It was extra-magical because they "got it" by then. They knew how special this trip was and had had years to pine for it.

edited to correct ages for first trip -- I can't believe I remembered it wrong!

exactly

 

[math mathson]

My daughters were 3 and 6. My kids are tall and go on every ride. The 3 year old was not tall enough for some rides but went on most at 3 years old. I'm lucky. There is so much there for little ones even without going on all the rides

 

[LdyApxr]

I'm probably in the minority here since I have never been to WDW(NorCal gal, Disneylander LOL) but for my sons, I did not take either of them to Disneyland until they were 6/7yrs old. I took my oldest(26 next week) with my nephews who were 10 and 7 and then for my second son we went when my oldest was 16 and had just graduated Devil Pups at Camp Pendleton and figured a stop at Disneyland was in order(not exactly the best idea with a teenage boy who had just lived 2wks on MRE's whew! LOL) and we took our younger son who was 7 and my 16yr old niece. I just always wanted everyone to enjoy the trip and since I was a single mom with my older son and decided we would go when he could do most of his own walking. LOL My boys and I love all things Disney but my husband is a take it or leave it kind of guy. Whenever we plan a trip we hear "Disneyland? Can we do something else?" and then we get there, sit by the pool. have drinks, and the boys do their own thing(now that they are old enough) and he ends up saying "I'm so glad we came" LOL Next May is our first WDW trip and yep, my husband is belly achin' already about it but we know how that goes. LOL It will be us, our two sons, my older son's girlfriend who is graduating vet school in April and our 13yr old niece.

 

[graphite1326]

I'm probably in the minority here since I have never been to WDW(NorCal gal, Disneylander LOL) but for my sons, I did not take either of them to Disneyland until they were 6/7yrs old. I took my oldest(26 next week) with my nephews who were 10 and 7 and then for my second son we went when my oldest was 16 and had just graduated Devil Pups at Camp Pendleton and figured a stop at Disneyland was in order(not exactly the best idea with a teenage boy who had just lived 2wks on MRE's whew! LOL) and we took our younger son who was 7 and my 16yr old niece. I just always wanted everyone to enjoy the trip and since I was a single mom with my older son and decided we would go when he could do most of his own walking. LOL My boys and I love all things Disney but my husband is a take it or leave it kind of guy. Whenever we plan a trip we hear "Disneyland? Can we do something else?" and then we get there, sit by the pool. have drinks, and the boys do their own thing(now that they are old enough) and he ends up saying "I'm so glad we came" LOL Next May is our first WDW trip and yep, my husband is belly achin' already about it but we know how that goes. LOL It will be us, our two sons, my older son's girlfriend who is graduating vet school in April and our 13yr old niece.

I pretty much had the same attitude when we went to WDW for the first time. I think your husband will be pleasantly surprised.

 

[LdyApxr]

I pretty much had the same attitude when we went to WDW for the first time. I think your husband will be pleasantly surprised.

I am sure he will be. He does it every time. Even for the things he looks forward to. Must be something about his upbringing. We are like polar opposites when it comes to the way we were raised(and probably that we are 15yrs apart). His parents were of the Seen and Not Heard variety and my parents were of the House Needs Cleaning, Let's Go To The Lake variety. LOL For him everything will take too much time, too much effort, won't work out and I am the Let's Do It and If It Does Not Work Out Then Lesson Learned. California vs Upper MI? Age? Who knows but we make it work. LOL Thankfully, when it comes to parenting we agree on just about everything and he makes a concentrated effort to not become his parents. Kind of like when I wanted to paint the kitchen of our new house and he went on and on about how it was going to be a mess for weeks(literally he thought weeks for a very small nook-like kitchen) so when he was at work, I went to Home Depot, got everything, came home, painted and had everything done by the time he got home. He was stunned. But that didn't stop him from trying to argue when I wanted to paint our bedroom. LOL

 

[Disneykings]

Congratulations on your New Arrival. We took our daughter to DLP when she was 3 years old and regretted it. She was terrified of all the characters and would only go on a handful of rides. BUT, we went back when she was 4 years old and she had an amazing time. She was begging to see the characters even when the queues where well over an hour long. She has been to DLP now 4 times and is heading to WDW for the first time for her 8th birthday. Now she is more into the roller coasters but I am still persuade her to do a few characters meets. Yet think of the amazing photos you could have to show her guests at her wedding when she is much older

 

[Courtney6682]

My daughter was 17 mos her first trip...loved the characters and loved the rides she was able to go on. LOVEDDDDD Chef Mickey's

 

[HouCuseChickie]

First off...CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Second...there is no right or wrong answer, but there is one very compelling argument on going before they turn 3. -----> They're FREE!!!

We went twice when my younger one was 2 strictly for this reason. I wouldn't be concerned about potty training. Mine was potty trained on her second trip, but in diapers on her first. I still spent about the same amount of time in the bathroom and still had to carry around either tons of diapers or lots of changes of clothes in case of accidents.

Every kid is different...so anything else beyond the basics is going to hinge on that child. My kids were never stroller nappers and really benefited from nap time back at the room until nearly age 5...but this also was a nice break for the grownups and it enabled the kids to stay late in the parks for fireworks and EMH. So again, age doesn't really factor in there for me either. I will say that the sensory overload of the parks impacted her more as a younger 2 year old, but it was still MAGICAL! She truly believed she was meeting Mickey and Cinderella. Height requirements also weren't a big deal until her big sis hit 40", which wouldn't be an issue if this is your first.

 

[RandomPrincess]

We took our kids right before they turned 3 - because they were free! My son technically went at 11 months but it was only because his sister was almost 3. We also knew this wasn't a once in a life time trip. If it's once in a life time I say lower Elementary School.

 

[LdyApxr]

Yep. it's all just personal choice really. Some kids do well with characters from early, early on and others are terrified(seen both), some kids are outgoing at birth(my two), some kids do not want anything to do with anyone other than mom or dad. I supposed my philosophy comes from being the 4th of 5 kids and never going to Disneyland as a kid. My first trip was after I turned 18. It is one of my best memories as it was my cousin(12 days older than me) and I staying at the Disneyland Hotel all by ourselves and doing our own thing. I often wish I could have shared Disneyland with my parents but by the time I was 22 they were both gone. So instead I share it with my nieces and nephews(took three of them when they were all little along with my older son) and my own kids. Can't wait until May to take our first ever WDW trip! Age has taught me that on property is a luxury I am more than willing to pay for and having great kids who enjoy themselves but do not act like braindead heathens. LOL I would NEVER turn my nephews(15 and 12) loose ANYWHERE like I could the older kids and my 17yr old. Learned that lesson the hard way. LOL

 

[lyssehm]

My daughter was 4 when we first took her. She remembers a lot of the trip because we still talk about it. However, I was less than 2 on my first trip (Disneyland) and went frequently. 20something years later, I don't remember any of those early trips at all. My first actual park memories are from around age 7...crying in the line for Snow White's Scary Adventure because it was raining. That being said, no matter what age, start planning your strategy for meltdowns NOW.