What age do you think is the best age to take kids to Disney? Why that particular age?
We want to take our girls but not for a few more years. They are only 2.5 and 4 now, but debating what age would be the best.
What age do you think is the best age to take kids to Disney? Why that particular age?
We want to take our girls but not for a few more years. They are only 2.5 and 4 now, but debating what age would be the best.
cantaloupe / 6687 posts
We went to DL when she turned 4 and while she had fun I think it was pretty exhausting for her
We went to DW when she was 4.5 and just those six extra months made a huge difference. She absolutely loved it and loved all the rides (splash mountain, 7 dwarves mine train, Matterhorn, test track, etc)
I met a grandma when I had jury duty who has taken each of grandkids to Disney (she has 5) and she said 7-8 was the perfect age in her opinion bc things are still magical and they have the endurance to go a full day
pomelo / 5866 posts
We took LO at ages 2.75, 3.75, 4.75 and 5.25.
I say all of the above. Each was special and I (now) love Disney. If I had to eliminate one (because I can't choose just one) I would eliminate the youngest one, 2.75. 3.75 was magical and that was the age we bought the Photopass. She learned a lot at 4.75 though and was very open to the learning experience and climbing all over everything. So I guess 4 would be the best age if I absolutely HAD to choose just one.
cantaloupe / 6885 posts
I'm in the "any age is a good age" camp. We took DD at 2.5 last year and she had a blast, she talks about it every day still and remembers so much. It was much much easier and more enjoyable than I anticipated. She got a lot out of it. That said I personally wouldn't do any younger than 2, seems like more work than vacation to me, though I know people who have taken babies and it was fine.
We are going to go again this March when she is 3.5 and I can't wait to surprise her at Christmas when we tell her.
If you're only going to go once I would do 6 years old... still young enough to believe in the magic but old enough to meet most height requirements and not have to worry about naps, strollers, etc.
pineapple / 12053 posts
man... we went at 1y9m, 2y11m and i have to say that i'm looking forward to when we go at 4y even more. under 2 was crazy because she couldn't handle the line waits, but weighed so much to wear her, almost 3 was awesome, but exhausting for her and us as she had a lot of opinions on what she did and didn't want to go. she's been asking to go back for months and we're gonna wait until after busy season and go for her birthday and i think it's gonna be awesome because she'll be able to hang without a nap (although she'll be exhausted!) but i think will be more into trying new things.
ETA: we also took our 5 week old DD2 and she was absolutely the easiest age.
pomelo / 5628 posts
40 inches is the main cut off for rides, so if you can't go often, choose by height!
kiwi / 556 posts
I'm in the minority but I typically think over 5 at least. This is mostly because for us Disneyland is basically a once-in-a-lifetime expense and I would like my kids to remember it. I took my sister for the first time at 9 and it was absolutely awesome. I could reason with her and she knew exactly where she wanted to spend her time and there was never an issue of bathroom emergencies or napping issue or meltdowns. She could go on almost all rides and she was still young enough that Disney was magic. Just an awesome trip. 7+ is what I'm aiming for but I know it's hard when your kids are spaced out. But I will say my husband and I aren't Disney people so it's not like we're eagerly anticipating when to take the kids (more like putting it off for as long as possible!).
Plus if you live nearby or can afford to go several times I could see going a lot. I have friends in Southern California with annual passes who go like 6+x per year. I went once as a kid and I was around 7-8 and loved it.
coffee bean / 40 posts
My daughter is 4 and I would love to take her now because I love Disneyland but honestly, I think she is still too young and 6 or 7 would be a better age. She hasn't seen a lot of Disney movies yet so the characters (besides the princesses) don't mean much to her, and I don't think she is ready for many of the rides. I have taken her on kiddy rides at the local amusement park and by 5-6 rides she was done, and I think a little motion sick.
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
I personally think elementary school age and up! I mean, I went at like 14 for the first time and loved it, went again as a senior in HS and loved it, and went as a college student multiple times and loved it
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
All ages! I think there is something for every age.
We've brought our son at 2.5 and 3.5 and he had a blast the second time...the first time he was kind of startled about the characters, but we wouldn't have known if we didn't try.
We asked if he wanted to go last year and he said Disney was for babies, lol. I didn't go until I was in middle school and I think I was too old. My husband went as an adult when I was pregnant (he must have been 33 or so) and he loved it.
pomelo / 5866 posts
@looch: I also went in middle or high school and didn't love it but loved it as an adult.
eggplant / 11861 posts
I think it depends what you are wanting, for them to remember it, go all day, ride all rides?!
We plan to go when DD is 3 and DS will be 1
We live 2hrs away from DW
If it were out of state I think I would wait until 4-5
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
@808love: I was too cool for it, you know? I think my attitude at that age was just terrible.
pomelo / 5866 posts
@looch: Same!! I was a good little girl in elementary but went sassy by 8th grade. I was like, it is hot and I don't want to stand in a line. Get me out of here. ---So seems like we have an agreed 'not a good age' for Disney!
honeydew / 7488 posts
Disney is good at any age, but the last time we went at age 7.5 and 4.5 was awesome. No naps, no strollers, we went early and did all the night parades and fireworks. It was a long day, but the kids were excited and powered through it. My DS was tall enough to ride almost all the rides and my DD was tall enough for everything. I expect next time to be even better when my DD is braver and not freaking out over the coasters (she still did them but didn't like them all).
pomegranate / 3314 posts
For us, I wouldn't consider until my daughter is at least 5. It's such an expensive trip and I would want her to be able to fully appreciate it. I'm not a huge Disney fan myself, so it's not like we will be going several times over the course of her childhood.
eggplant / 11716 posts
I would love to take my 3.5 year old now. I think she would loooooove it. But we also have a 1 year old who still naps twice a day, so I don't think it would be as enjoyable with her yet.
eggplant / 11824 posts
I’m another vote for ‘no perfect age’. If your LO is obsessed with Disney characters at 4 and you wait until they are 8 and they are no longer into any Disney characters, is 8 still a better age just because they might remember everything more and go on more rides?
LO has gone at 14 months, almost 2, 3 and we’re going in January when she will be 4.5. All have been great trips, although obviously she got the least out of it as a baby. The last trip though at 3 – LO is princess obsessed and we went to the BBB boutique and she was SO INTO IT. There were hardly any girls in there over the age of 8 when we went and the older ones were so clearly less into the experience than the younger ones. 3 was also an awesome age for meeting characters, although that probably depends some on the kid.
My LO is extremely cautious and won’t go on most of the rides (and definitely no roller coasters, even the baby ones), so height isn’t really a huge motivator for us.
I don’t think you can go wrong taking them at any age. I think it’s more about managing your expectations and planning around what you want and expect to get out of the parks. Do you expect to stay from sun up to sun down in the park going on every single ride? Are you ok with having to skip some rides or maybe leaving early because of naps or meltdowns?
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