What age is the best for first visit to Disneyland?

Joepsycho4 · Post by **Joepsycho4** » Feb Mon 08, 2010 1:54 pm

My wife and I used to travel from SW Washington state to Disneyland 2-3 times a year. That was until we had our twin sons. They will be 1 in March and we were thinking about planning a trip in October (they will be 1yr 7 months). We have been told by family that "they wonâ€™t remember it" and "you should wait until they are older. You are just going because YOU want to and not for the boys." While that is partially true, we think that they will have a blast.

Any suggestions on the best age for a first visit? Any suggestions as to what attractions and shows to see/stay away from? This would be our first trip with kids.

MmeLeota · Post by **MmeLeota** » Feb Mon 08, 2010 2:36 pm

My DH and I took our niece when she was 2, and while she does not remember it at all, we do. We had some great memories (and pictures) from that trip. We were concerned that she would be afraid of the characters, but she wasn't. Not even Goofy or any of the really tall ones. She knew all of the characters and was in awe of meeting them all and getting their autographs.

It was the first time we had taken a child with us and while we love to go on our own, nothing is as amazing as seeing the looks on a child's face when you're there. That's magic!

As far as what to go on and what to avoid, that's going to be up to the kids. Are they jumpy? Are they ok with loud sounds? Are they afraid of the dark?

One of the first rides we took our niece on was Peter Pan since we knew she liked the movie...she hated the ride. I think she wasn't sure what was going to happen even though we tried to explain it. She did however love Dumbo!!!! (not really a fan of the carrousel though)

But even though the kids may not remember it they will have fun right now, and you will have memories and pictures to last forever.

Joepsycho4 · Post by **Joepsycho4** » Feb Mon 08, 2010 3:03 pm

Thanks for the reply! The boys are not really jumpy and have had no problems with loud sounds, though if we decide to go on Haunted Mansion, we will skip the stretching room as the scream hurts even my ears. We will definitly hit Fantasyland first. We aren;t too sure about Pirates though. We are really looking forward to the Tiki Room since the boys love music.

But it all might change in the next 8 or 9 months.

MmeLeota · Post by **MmeLeota** » Feb Mon 08, 2010 4:32 pm

But it all might change in the next 8 or 9 months.

This is very true....for HM and POTC (and any other ride for that matter), my DH taught our niece that anytime she was scared to close her eyes and blow raspberries toward whatever was scaring her...I was skeptical, but to my surprise it worked! We went on HM and we felt her grab our arms and heard her blowing raspberries (especially in the graveyard scene). At the end when we asked her what she thought about it, she said she wanted to go again. For POTC, she was a little scared of the ride overall, but she loved the waterfalls.
Since you mentioned that your boys love music, the Tiki Room is a definite must do!!!! Our niece was dancing up a storm in there!!!!

Pluto23 · Post by **Pluto23** » Feb Tue 16, 2010 9:16 am

The good thing about taking your very young kids to DL is that you will have memories and pictures of them - even if they do not remember.

Start them off with the milder dark rides to see how they handle the dark. Then slowly expose them to the louder attractions. This will let you learn how they will handle various attractions.

Post by **Len90** » Feb Tue 16, 2010 12:40 pm

It might be tough to do. I personally feel that they are a bit on the young side to really enjoy anything. Most of the attractions are dark and might end up scaring them. Secondly, they will get worn out by all that is going on around them and will get very cranky if they don't get that early afternoon nap in.

Secondly, they will most likely not remember anything that happens. They might even be afraid of the characters at times. However, the pictures and memories will be amazing. October weather should not be too bad and crowds won't be an issue at all. Just watch out for the Halloween stuff. It might spook the little ones!

Pluto23 · Post by **Pluto23** » Feb Tue 16, 2010 4:29 pm

Great point Len90 on being scared of the characters. Make sure they watch plenty of the Disney Channel, and especially the House of Mouse. If they know the characters they probably won't be afraid. The characters are experts at dealing with shy/scared kids - do don't force it.

99Soulz · Post by **99Soulz** » Feb Tue 16, 2010 5:05 pm

Our daughter was 1 yr 8 mos old on her first trip and was one of our best trips. I'd say if this was the only trip you were going to take your sons to DL, then wait a few years.....but it sounds like this will be their first of many - Right?

Does she remember the trip? Probably not now (3 years later) but she did for I'd say 6 months after we got back when she kept asking to go back to "Mickey's house"....and it was like she now had a connection with Mickey when she watched him on TV. Now OUR memories of the trip will last forever. Was filled with those little moments that last a lifetime. Kids are pretty smart and it's not too long before they know......shhhh, that there are people in those costumes.....but when they are that young they are immersed with belief.

Our daughter was a picky napper, she would only nap in her crib/bed so it meant we had to go back to the room for that mid-day nap or it wasn't going to be a pretty scene the rest of the day. She was great, and at that age they really don't get a lot of the spooky stuff yet (to them its just a dark room/ride). She loved pirates, and the haunted mansion. I will say stay away from It's Tough to be a Bug in AK.....that will ruin the trip for any kid under 4.

I posted a few pics from that trip - as you can see/imagine, lots of memories.....

Not sure if you can see but she is grabbing Minnie's dress and squeezing her with all of her strength.....

Try getting these off her head while bouncing all over Pooh's Shop.........

and my favorite...............

As you can see I am FOR taking kids at any age....they will know they are in the happiest place on earth (even if it is for just that week) and you will remember it for a lifetime!

Post by **Len90** » Feb Tue 16, 2010 5:37 pm

Wow is your daughter cute in those pictures. Her hugging Minnie is just adorable. I know my cousin was extremely young when he went and he doesn't remember a thing. It is good to see that your daughter developed that connection. Just maybe in a couple more years she will be on here posting with us

MmeLeota · Post by **MmeLeota** » Feb Tue 16, 2010 6:12 pm

99 soulz, your daughter is such a cutie pie!!!!

I agree with soulz that I am all for taking children of any age to the park...they may not remember down the road, but you will.

It would definitely be a really good idea to have the boys watching the movies/cartoons to get familiar with the characters. I think that was our saving grace...our niece knew them all (especially the princesses).

99Soulz · Post by **99Soulz** » Feb Tue 16, 2010 9:16 pm

Thanks Len and Madame, I was loving going through that trip folder looking for pics to post and reliving all the fun we had. Have to make it a point to do that more often......kind of hard with another little one in the house these days to get free time - why I haven't been around for a while on the boards but happy to have found some time over the past couple of days.

Other suggestions I would say are to get on the classics early in the day and then be leisurely the rest of the day - I remember our daughter tiring faster than usual I guess because she was overstimulated. She wanted to keep going but started to get punchy so we started taking breaks before we really needed to and it really helped - sounds pretty obvious but when you are in the parks sometimes the will of wanting to see/do everything takes you over.

boilerbabe · Post by **boilerbabe** » Feb Wed 17, 2010 7:41 pm

Awwwww! 99Soulz what a cutie you have there! Start em young! That's the way to do it!

imaginationcelebration · Post by **imaginationcelebration** » Feb Wed 17, 2010 9:20 pm

I'm glad you started this thread, we have a nine month old baby girl and are planning to go in November (if I survive that long that is). She will be 1 1/2 years old. We have heard the same things from people, but haven't gotten discouraged yet. The way I figure it is this is the time where a baby's brain soaks in new experiences like a dry sponge in a pool and develops all sorts of connections. There is such a huge amount of stimulating things at Disney that even if you didn't go on a single ride, it would still be a wonderful experience for the child and be developmentally positive. Think of all the things her senses will be exposed to (different types of music, all sorts of sounds, visual sensations everywhere, smells, foods to taste, etc.) by just walking through a park or resort. Also lets not forget that the socializing won't hurt her any either. The only thing I worry about is the plane ride to and from....I can't wait to hear how your trip goes!

99Soulz · Post by **99Soulz** » Feb Thu 18, 2010 10:11 am

boilerbabe wrote:Awwwww! 99Soulz what a cutie you have there! Start em young! That's the way to do it!

Thanks! The pics above she was 1 1/2 and in this one she's 3 - what a difference.......they grow up fast!!!

boilerbabe · Post by **boilerbabe** » Feb Thu 18, 2010 10:30 am

She looks like a little princess 99Soulz!!!

I know I've posted on other threads...but I'll say it here again. My parent's starting taking me to WDW when I was 3, we stayed at the Poly (this is why I have a such an emtional connection to this reosrt) and my grandparents (who are no longer with us) went too. I have very vivid memories of this vacation, and they are not from photos. I have read that as soon as a child can talk, they have memory. Never too early to start them on Magical Memories of Disney!!!