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what age seemed best
- Thread starter Bonnet
- Start date
Nemo14
Well-Known Member
We started taking DD at 2 and DS at 9 months, and even at that age I think they both had a great time. It all depends on what your definition of "enjoy" is.
mickeymousefan
Member
we just took our 15 month old who loved the characters and who enjoyed herself, granted she will not remember going but the look on her face was enough to make my trip awesome
GenerationX
Well-Known Member
There are plenty of activities a 3 year old will love at WDW. We took our boys for the first time when they were 2, 4, and 6. The loved the playgrounds (Boneyard, Honey I Shrunk the Playground, Tom Sawyer's Island), many of the ride-through attractions, and the character meals.
Have fun! :wave:
Have fun! :wave:
Coree
Well-Known Member
We've taken DD twice now--once at 14 months and once at 28 months. The earlier one was better because she loved experiencing everything. Thist last trip she was much more timid about things. I think she'll be better again next time when she's a little older and has outgrown (I hope) some of the shyness.
happymom52003
Active Member
On our first trip with the kids DD was 12 months and DS was 4 years. They both did great and loved every minute of it. Even at 12 months of age my DD was so into everything....she had so much fun! And of course my DS was just in heaven.....at age four he was old enough to anticipate the trip, and he was still at that magical age where everything is very real to them.....he will remember that trip forever. We had a similar experience to Coree on our second trip with the kids....DD was around 20 months and she was a bit more timid. She still did great, but got a little scared on the darker rides, and took a little longer to warm up to the characters. Her next trip she was 24 months old...same thing....a little timid, but still had a blast and did great. I think it is just that "stranger anxiety" age. We are leaving in a couple of weeks for WDW and she is now 33 months....I am thinking that she will probably do great. I say go whenever you would like....you really never know how they are going to do until you try. All kids are different. But I truly believe they can never be too young for Disney World. Even if they do not remember much about the trip, YOU will. Just keep her on her regular eating and sleeping schedule as much as possible, and do not over do it. Take breaks and go back to your resort to rest in the afternoons. Put quality above quantity.
I have photos (and memories) of my daughter's trips when she was around 2. (We live 3 hours away, and before she started school, and before Orlando traffic became unbearable, we stayed with relatives so went every couple of months.) She was able to enjoy so much; it was well worth the trip.
coltow
Well-Known Member
DS has been 3 times 8months, 22 months and 2 1/2. He had fun at 22 months, but he REALLY remembers the trip he took at 2 1/2. He still talks about as if it were last week and it was 18 months ago. He remembers some rides and shows. It probably helps that the pictures I took on that trip are my screen saver. Bt now that we are planning our next trip with his little brother he tells me what rides he thinks he brother will like (small world, buzz, train, etc) and what rides he think his brother won't like (haunted mansion).
This has to be the number one question that gets asked on these boards and unfortunately there is no one right answer. IMHO as long as your baby is out of the hospital he/she is old enough to go. My youngest's first trip was at the ripe old age of 10 days old. I am sure she remembers little to nothing but me and my family have incredible fond memories of that trip. The problems come when parents think that they can do the parks in the same manor with a small child as without. You must do the parks at your child's pace. Do not force them to do rides or see characters if they do not want to. Make time for naps, playgrounds, pools etc. If you try to do MK commando style wiht a 3 year old your child will have a full spaz attack by 2:00 PM and make your life miserable.
DS has been 3 times already, when he was 1, 3 and just recently 5.
He enjoyed his trip when he was 1, as much as a 1yr old could.
When he was 3, he was afraid of the characters, but enjoyed everything else, except the 3-D shows.
Just last month, he had the best trip ever, enjoying all rides, characters and shows.
It depends on the child.
He enjoyed his trip when he was 1, as much as a 1yr old could.
When he was 3, he was afraid of the characters, but enjoyed everything else, except the 3-D shows.
Just last month, he had the best trip ever, enjoying all rides, characters and shows.
It depends on the child.
mousefan1972
Well-Known Member
My daughter is the same way. She is 4, and has been to Disney 4 times since her 3rd birthday. She remembers the rides, the resorts we've stayed in, the character meals, etc. She talks about things that happened nearly a year ago (March '07) as if it were yesterday. My son is 2, and also has been 4 times since his 1st birthday. He doesn't have the memories she does, but each trip with him has been different as he's gotten older. This past trip (got home a week ago), we discovered he's a monorail enthusiast. Who knew? And the pictures we have of both of them are priceless.
KC82271
Active Member
My DD is 30 months and has been 3 times - 10 mos, 22 mos and 29 mos. We have tons of pictures and video of each trip and she re-lives each trip at least weekly. We are going again in April and she knows it and is already going through the Birnbaum book and her pictures telling me what she is going to go back on and what she doesn't like.
As someone mentioned earlier, you have to go at their pace. My last trip, I missed out on all of the shows. DD doesn't like to sit that long, so when she got antsy, I got up and went outside. Most times she got her nap in at that time. With a group of 6 adults who just want to run, it was tough. I needed to accomadate her, and I did. It made the trip worth it.
My only gripe I had about this trip was her 2.5 hour plane ride spaz attack. She doesn't like the dark and being confined to the car seat. She screamed the entire flight. Unfortunately, our April trip was already planned to fly home at night, so I am going to have to grin and bare it!
As someone mentioned earlier, you have to go at their pace. My last trip, I missed out on all of the shows. DD doesn't like to sit that long, so when she got antsy, I got up and went outside. Most times she got her nap in at that time. With a group of 6 adults who just want to run, it was tough. I needed to accomadate her, and I did. It made the trip worth it.
My only gripe I had about this trip was her 2.5 hour plane ride spaz attack. She doesn't like the dark and being confined to the car seat. She screamed the entire flight. Unfortunately, our April trip was already planned to fly home at night, so I am going to have to grin and bare it!
My kids have been at every age. They've been every few months of their life since they were babies and now they are 4 and 6.
The best trip was when my 4 year old (then 3) reached the magical 40 inch mark. Once everyone in your family is 40 inches or taller you can ride nearly every ride together as a family. The exceptions being: Rock N Rollercoaster, Space Mountain, Primeval Whirl, and Expedition Everest.
So though my kids have always loved every trip, the fun level greatly increased around age 3.5 for both of them.
NewfieFan
Well-Known Member
This is good advice! I think this is the number one question and it can get a little HOT sometimes. But I agree with Master Yoda - you can take any child to WDW as long as you go at their pace!
My son was 3 years old on his first trip last year. He loved it and remembers everything (he remembers more than we do)! He wasn't really into the rides that much - he's a little afraid of the dark and loud noises. So we didn't force him to ride anything that he didn't want to. But what he was into was the characters. He loved them all!!! We prepared him before we went so that he would know that the characters are large and taller than him. The first time he saw a character he wrapped his arms around it (it was Chip or Dale) and gave it a hug - so sweet. That's the stuff you'll remember forever! But all this being said, every child is different. A good friend of mine took her 3 year old and he loved the rides but was afraid of the characters, go figure! So, I guess you'll just have to test the waters yourself!?! My son really enjoyed Epcot too - so try everything, you never know what they will like!
msmith
Member
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showpost.php?p=2492289&postcount=35
23 months, then 35 months old, and he is going back now in April @ 3 1/2 yrs old.
We haven't told him yet... I'm not sure if we will tell him, or since we drive through the night... Maybe we'll just let him wake up in the car and figure it out.
23 months, then 35 months old, and he is going back now in April @ 3 1/2 yrs old.
We haven't told him yet... I'm not sure if we will tell him, or since we drive through the night... Maybe we'll just let him wake up in the car and figure it out.
msmith
Member
During our honeymoon trip (April/May of 2000), we came across a couple pushing a stroller... They were beet red from the sun and sweating profusely. Unfortunately, so was their child... Couldn't have been more than 6 months old, in a diaper only, and baking in the sun... My wife being a nurse (@ a pediatric ER) was extremely concerned and pointed out the situation to a CM.
We saw the CM later in the afternoon and found out that the family was from overseas and was not at all prepared for the south Florida climate. The woman was actually wearing wool socks
.Regardless, they found another CM that was from their country and had them work out the details in how to be better prepared especially with a small child for the remainder of their trip.
wdwmomof3
Well-Known Member
I really think that any age is fine. Your trip will be a little different each time. When they were little we would focus on the things that they enjoyed then, and now that we are all above 48 inches our next trip will be even better.
If you go when they are small, it just gives you another reason to go back!:lol:
If you go when they are small, it just gives you another reason to go back!:lol:
CAPTAIN HOOK
Well-Known Member
There is no definitive answer here - as you'll probably have guessed from reading all the previous posts. All kids are different, will react differently and want to do different things. Likewise all parents will have their own ideas about what age their kids enjoyed themselves most.
You can only find out when you take them that first time.
Personally - my eldest was just under 5 and had the time of her life, my youngest was 23 months and she hated all the characters
You can only find out when you take them that first time.
Personally - my eldest was just under 5 and had the time of her life, my youngest was 23 months and she hated all the characters