Best age for 1st Disney trip?

[Anonymous]

Thinking of doing an extended family trip to Disney world. What's a good age for a kids first time so they can do stuff and not total toddler meltdown city? Other kids going in group are elementary/middle or also under 2.

Trying to figure out if it's worth the expense or to hold off till DD is an age where she will enjoy it. Anyone had luck with a wobbly toddler at the park?

[Anonymous]

I brought my son in his last year of preschool, before K. That's a great time - you can go off season so it's cheaper and fewer crowds, and they are old enough to enjoy it.

[Anonymous]

Save your money until they are at least 7 or 8. They will never remember any of it before, and it is hot and crowded. It can be fun, but can also be very overwhelming for many kids. We went on a Disney cruise when the kid was five, and it was perfect, and then to the actual park when she was maybe 9, and it worked out very well. And we love Disney.

[Anonymous]

Once and done

[Anonymous]

I took DD two months before she turned 11, simply because that's when I was able to afford it. I'd have rathered take her when she was 7 or 8 because at that age she could still go all day and stay up late at night, yet she'd have been sucked into the magic of it more easily. At the age she was when we got there, she was confused and then rolling her eyes each time a Disney employee called her "Princess" to her face.

Despite her "old" age, she wants to go back.

[Anonymous]

We had a great time at 2.75, and again at 4. He completely remembers both trips at 5. More importantly, *I* completely remember both trips. I'm sure he'll forget most of it at some point, but I won't. That being said, the reason those trips worked well is we could set our own schedule and didn't have to keep up with a larger group, so if he was tired we rested, if he needed free play we did that, if he was hungry we stopped and ate...

[Anonymous]

We went at age 3 and considered it a waste. I will wait until the youngest is 6 next time.

[Anonymous]

We took 2.5 yo twins and they had a great time. They remember and talk about the things we did and ask to see the photos regularly (they are about to turn 4 now). They also ask again to go back to "Mickey's House".

As with the other parent, while my children may or may not remember this long-term, I will definitely remember it and how much they enjoyed the trip.

Although there are a lot of fun things that you'll cross of the list of what you can do with a toddler, there are still so many things that you can do with them. My parents have lived in Orlando for 30 years, so I've been a lot, but traveling with my young children, I learned about all sorts of things in the parks that I had not known about or done and it was somewhat magical for me too, to discover a whole different side of DisneyWorld than I was accustomed to. Plus, under 3, they're free, so take advantage of a trip to Disney when you don't have to pay for the kid's ticket.

[Anonymous]

Four, so they can really enjoy it. We went with friends when our child was a year and he loved the characters and the tiny rides. We went again at 5 and he loved it (we didn't even do the character breakfasts, fancy meals or any of that as he only cared about the rides). Any time after 4 is good.

[Anonymous]

I think 7, honestly.

[Anonymous]

If you are only going to go once, I'd say at least 7 or 8 so they can ride mostly everything. But if you plan to go multiple times, the first time I would go would be between 2 and 3 simply because kids are still free before 3. We love Disney so we went at age 2, 4, 9 and we'll go probably when she turns 14.

[Anonymous]

We took a 3-year-old and had a great time.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's so much about age as it is height. Once my DD reached 40" tall she was able to ride a lot of the rides. She was four at the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We took a 3-year-old and had a great time.

I think 9 or later for memories. Best time maybe 6-8

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it's so much about age as it is height. Once my DD reached 40" tall she was able to ride a lot of the rides. She was four at the time.

True but there aren't that many rides with height restrictions; mostly just the big coasters. At 3 (and 38'') my DD could ride pretty much everything. And she was absolutely in awe everytime she saw a character she recognized, especially the princesses. I was shocked by how much she loved it.