What is the right age?

[Raven66]

My DH and I made the decision to wait until our DD was 5 (she is now 10) before we took our first trip. We had such a wonderful time. She was all go go go. There was only a couple of rides that she wasn't tall enough for. She remembers that whole trip and that was back in the days when we drove, we fly now. We were in the parks open to close, we would ask her if she wanted to go rest or get a stroller and she looked at us like we were insane.:lol: She still does:lookaroun We won't be going back until Feb. 2008, and we can't wait.:sohappy:


Have fun on your trip and take lots of pictures, that's what I did and we look at them all the time.

 

[shoppingnut]

We took my nephew at 2 1/2 and he still remembers some things, maybe not alot, but we have photos to fill in the gaps. Also, after getting home from the trip for the longest time, he would leaf through his autograph book looking at all the signatures.

You're never too young or too old to go to WDW.

 

[calicommando]

We took our son last year when he had just turned 2. We're going again 4/28 and he's so excited. He has a LOT of memories from last year. As far as what he'll remember 5 or 10 years down the road, I don't know. But as far as I'm concerned, it makes no difference. The expression on his face the entire time we're there makes it all worthwhile.

 

[WDWFigment]

I went to WDW eight times between the ages of two and fifteen. I don't remember anything from the first trip, and don't remember everything from the last trip. But I know I had a great time when I was two based on accounts of others. But I don't think it's about how much the child will remember. Even if they don't retain the memories, you'll have your memories, stories, and pictures for them later in life.

 

[Pixiedust1393]

I was 1 or 2 when I took my first trip to WDW, but I rememeber a LOT when I went when I was 5. My brother is 5 now and he's been 4 or 5 times already and he talks about it non-stop, just like me.:lol: Your daughter will definitely remember a lot of details, and I'm pretty sure she'll be skipping from ride to ride with you! She should grow one more inch by next year, but if not you can always buy some shoes that raise her up a little bit.

 

[mousebymarriage]

Both of my kids were 6 months old when we went for the first time. My son who is now 5 1/2 can't wait to go, the last time we were there he was 3 1/2 and he remembers a lot of the trip , I was amazed! Don't worry about your daughter being only 39inches, kids usually grow at leat an inch in one year, she'll be fine!

 

[Mori Anne]

Our son was 1 1/2 and our daughter was 4. They had a great time. Fabulous time in fact. Do I care if they remember the trips to WDW, no. It would be nice. However, I live in the moment. Just as another poster said, I will say the similar. I love seeing the expression on my kids faces at wdw. That makes it worth the trip worth taking with my kids.

As for the right age??? You are your child's parent, only you can decide. As for me, my son was 1 year old, and we don't regret the decision for him to come to WDW.

 

[Cole'sMom]

There is no right age. I took my son at 10 weeks old and we are going back in May when he will be 10 months old. We are starting him early-many CM said they have never seen such a young baby at WDW. I didn't know if I should have been proud or worried that he was going so early. He absorbed everything like a sponge. He smiled and laughed when he saw Pooh for the first time at Crystal Palace. He got Mickey ears that were way too big for him-but fit him now. He loved everything. I think at 5 years, she will remember a lot. It will be memorable for your family forever. I would think she will grow an inch in a year-there is usually a growth spurt around 5 years. Whatever you decide, have a great time when you go!

 

[autigger]

Seriously, each family has to decide what is best for them. Some of my favorite memories are times that my children don't remember, but I remember them.

Life is short and unpredictable. If you have the time, money, opportunity, and inclination to do something fun and wonderful today....DO IT!

I could not agree more. Excellent advice.

My wife and I took our children two children in September when, at the time of travel, were a week shy of turning three and one and a half respectfully.

We had an absolute blast.

Just remember to take it at an appropriate pace. For us, afternoon naps were very helpful.

 

[PurpleDragon]

Just a bit of perspective, my parents took me when I was 3-4 months old. They were going for my sister who was 3 at the time, but I came along fro the ride. IF memory serves me correctly we went almost every other year from that point on.

Its all about family memories, not just the childs. Its about the parents being able to experience WDW thru their childrens eyes as well as the children getting their first experiences there. Its simply a matter of when you think your child is ready. :wave:

 

[Nut4Disney]

We took my son to WDW for the first time when he was 10 months old. He is now 4 and has been 9 times. He probably doesn't remember anything from before he was 3 but we do. In addition your children are part of your family and if you decide to take a family vacation to WDW they should be a part of that too. My son does remember alot from the past 4 or 5 trips though, even small details I don't remember. Don't underestimate how much your child will retain from a trip. They are like sponges. In addition we look at pictures and videos of past trips and talk about past trips alot which help him to remember. One of his favorite things to do at nite is for me or my wife to just lay next to his bed on the floor and just talk about WDW with him until he falls asleep. My daughter is 17 months old and has been 3 times, but she is still too young to remember anything from the trips, but we remember what great times we've had their as a family and that is what is important.

 

[H20Babie]

Next week will be my son's 7th trip to the world in 6 years ... he'll be 6 this summer. The first time was "in utero", then 9 months, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5.

I remember walking around, 7 months pregnant, and talking to him :lookaroun, and him kicking to the music, etc. At 1.5, he was toddling, and making beelines to whatever caught his attention, mostly the characters. At 2.5, he was enjoying the rides and totally mesmerized by the shows. By the time he was 3.5, he was pulling me around to his favourites! And at 4.5, we ditched the stroller and had a tag-team system in place . Finally, for our next trip, we made a paper chain so he can count down the days, and I let him pick the resort (from values and moderates). He has even helped plan our days and picked the character meals.

I think that any age is a good age; every age brings different experiences.

 

[Mori Anne]

For anyone who is trying to figure out if 1-2 is too young for WDW, here is a picture of my son that I will never forget. He had so much fun at WDW. He is 2 in this picture. He had the same fun time at 1, I just thought I would post the more current of the pictures of him at Pooh's Playground.

 

[vicbomb5]

Honestly any age is good to go even the very young. I was 3 and my sister was a baby when we went for the first time with my parents and went just about every other year since, we didn't always skip years though

i'd say any age above 3 is best. The idea age group I'd say would be between 6 and 11 because then they could go on all of the rides too while 3 year-olds may be restricted a bit.

 

[scorp111]

I measured her last night and she turns out to only be 39"...a lot of the 'funner' (is that a word?) rides have a 40" height requirement. Hoping that she sprouts an inch in a year's time!

My DD will be 4 in July, and I measured her this morning, and she appears to be about 40 1/2 inches. We have a trip planned next month, so it would be nice if she could ride a few more rides.

As far as your original question, everyone has to make that decision for themselves. The upcoming trip will be my DD 8th trip to WDW (and we have never lived closer than 10 hours during her lifetime, in fact her first 4 trips, were from Canada)

Does she remember all of them? Of course not!

But do we ??

Absolutely!

(This will also be DS (13 months) second trip to WDW, and he also went to DL last May)

 

[jalpcm]

5 year old's have a blast!

Your 5 year old will have a blast! When we go in October this year, it will be my 5 year old daughter's fourth time to Disney. She's had a great time everytime. Go and have fun!


:sohappy: :sohappy:

 

[Dagger]

The right age is whenever you bring them. (But I would probably wait until the cord has fallen off. :lookaroun )

Seriously, each family has to decide what is best for them. Some of my favorite memories are times that my children don't remember, but I remember them.

Life is short and unpredictable. If you have the time, money, opportunity, and inclination to do something fun and wonderful today....DO IT!

There are many people around who have postponed something until the "perfect" time never realizing until too late that it was really now or never. (due to tragic circumstances)

:sohappy:

We went for the first time when our DD was 16 mos... the next time will be 25 mos. Honestly, if/when we are blessed with more children, I would go while pregnant, but would want to wait until they were at least 6 mos. before going again. What, you thought I was gonna say a year? :drevil:

Oh, and like the previous poster, here's my 16 mos. old (with my 28 yr old dh) having a blast... it might be your memories --rather than theirs-- for now, but isn't that enough?

Spectacle of lights

video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3O6cvAaTfk

 

[vadsnylvr]

I think it depends on the child. My daughter's first trip was at age 3(almost4). The next time I took her she was 5. At 3, the trip was more exciting just for pictures. She doesn't have many memories of it. At 5, she was excited! She knew all the characters, could ride all the rides she was interested in, and had a BLAST! So for her 5 was the perfect age to be first mesmerized by Disney. We have been back several times and in 49 days we'll be returning!:sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy:

 

[disneycouple]

the age is up to you and what you want to spend your time doing. do you want to ride thrill ride or take the time to go to toontown and see mickey.

 

[jesserin]

I love all the kiddo pics guys! So CUTE!!!

Just to throw my hat in... No age is too young, my daughter loved disney at 7 mos., 8 mos, and 17 months. And we're planning to go back before she turns 2. She LOVES the characters... dances and plays and just has a great time!!!