Best age for 1st Disney trip?

[Anonymous]

5/6.

[Anonymous]

I would consider height if you have multiple kids. When my son was <40" he didn't fuss much about not getting to go on Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, etc, but it might be different if there's an older sibling who IS getting to ride. A baby won't care (although you'll have to do parent switching), but if I had two kids close-ish in age I'd want them to have access to the same rides.

yourfirstvisit.net has some interesting discussion on the best age for a Disney trip, especially if you plan to be one and done and are doing it purely "for the kids." Although honestly if I knew I hated Disney I just wouldn't go. We've been multiple times because I find taking DS there a very enjoyable and easy getaway option for me.

[Anonymous]

Is the choice here to let the rest of the family go without you, or are you considering advocating for the other kids not to get to go during their childhood so that your kid can be the right age? While I think that under 2 isn't the age I'd pick for a once in a lifetime trip, I also wouldn't pick high school, and if you wait a few years, that's going to be the age of the other kids. It sounds like going right now is the right compromise for the age span as a whole. If you want your kid to have a trip they can remember, you can always go back in 4 or 5 years.

There are lots of things that an under 2 can't do at Disney, but there are also lots of things that they can do. Meeting the characters at character meals, playing on the playgrounds and splash pads, riding some of the simpler rides, seeing the shows, looking at the animals at Animal Kingdom and Animal Kingdom Lodge, and playing in the pool. It could be a fun trip.

I would also say that under 2 is a far better age than 3. Under 2 my kid was happy in the stroller watching the world go by, could nap on the go, and wouldn't have been upset by being too short for rides. At 3 none of those things were true. Plus once you're potty training or newly trained the lines are really problematic. Plus 3 year olds have to pay at Disney. So, if you're thinking of waiting a year or two, I would discourage it.

[Anonymous]

I agree with five or six years old.

I've seen plenty of 2-4 year olds overwhelmed and weeping all through the day there. ITs just too much for them.

[Anonymous]

When they are over 40 inches tall so they can go on most of the rides. Age wise, I'd say 5 is as early as they will remember, says the mom that took one at 4.75 and one 3.75, and 4.75 y.o. had much more fun because she could go on most of the rides and remembers some of it at 10.

[Anonymous]

Disney parks are designed for 8 year olds. FYI

Signed,
A newspaper reporter who used to cover Disney

[Anonymous]

OP here-- the rest of the family would go. Id stay home (or lounge by the pool) with the little one while others went to the park. Those tickets are so expensive, with your advice it doesn't make sense to pay for them for myself and DD who will probably be tired and miserable by 11 am.

I'll wait til she is closer to 6/7.

Thanks!!