Best Age for First Visit

rick2vick · Post by **rick2vick** » Oct Sat 01, 2005 9:47 am

Our two boys were 6 and 8 when we took them to WDW the first time. I think they were at the perfect ages. What does everyone else think is the best age for a child's first trip to Disney World?

RiaLucia · Post by **RiaLucia** » Oct Sat 01, 2005 11:59 am

I chose 7-8.

Since school age children are back in school, we don't see as many of them around Disney at this time of year. I just spent several days with my mother in the parks last weekend and noticed a much higher ratio of adult groups, couples, and families with very very young children than families with school-age kids.

My observations are this: stroller-aged little ones are a wonder to watch when they're being immersed in pixie dust, but for every child waving enthusiastically at Pooh there are two having a melt-down from the heat and lines. I think it's more worthwhile to wait until the kids can handle walking, waiting, and standing for extended periods of time, not to mention simply remember the experience much more than they would than if they were 6 years or under. I use myself as an example. I had been to DLR several times when I was young (toddler to seven years), but I have one or two spotty memories of it at best. My first visit to WDW was when I was 8 and I recall that pretty well. Old enough to understand the concept of "wait" and to ride any ride, young enough to still be completely taken in by the magic.

It seems to me that the only reasons parents bring their wee ones are either for themselves (as though they need a reason to go!) or because they have no choice (like children varying in age and unable to leave the younger one(s) with someone they trust). Come tantrum time or the fifth time that day they folded up that giant stroller for the bus ride, I'll bet they're re-evaluating the situation!

Post by **js3901** » Oct Sat 01, 2005 2:03 pm

I chose the 7-8 range as well. While I'm all for taking the kids when they're younger (I was taken down there when I was 6 months old), I think to be courteous to others, you should wait for 7-8. What I mean by that are: stollers, noise, and general aggrevation of bringing the youngest ones there. The strollers can be a menace in the peak times, especially if you rent one down there. Tose things are like monster trucks that don't help the back of my heels or my like of moving quickly too well. infants/newborns and toddlers are a bit too much to handle in a park situation as it is, with the crying, temper tantrums, and general want to rebel against the parents because it's "funny". It can get annoying when I'm trying to each and there are 50 kids screaming at the tops of their lungs and/or running around bumping into me every 30 seconds. If the kids become tough to handle, the parents seem to (sometimes) become more upset, causing a scene or looking like a disgruntled postal worker about to snap. I don;t want to be around wen that happens, as it makes me (and I'm sure you too) a bit uncomfortable in the situation, and you tend to look away and walk rather quickly.

7-8 seems the perfect age group as they're generally better behaved and yet still full of energy to do just about everything...

TestTrack · Post by **TestTrack** » Oct Sat 01, 2005 2:08 pm

I said 5-6 but I think it is dependent on the child. You just want them to remember it. But I think 5-6 year olds can definitely remember an experience, just as a baby can be affected by things before they are born. Its more of a mental effect than anything else.

G2-4T · Post by **G2-4T** » Oct Sat 01, 2005 10:13 pm

7-10 depending on the kids. Any younger and they don't get it and the rest of us have to put up with screaming tots and miserable stroller drivers. They get nothing out of it at that age. At this age they understand the rides, are tall enough usually to get on most everything they would like, aren't freaked out by the characters, etc. My first visit was when I was 10 and my sis was 8. Perfect ages.

mickster68 · Post by **mickster68** » Oct Sun 02, 2005 5:56 pm

I agree, it really depends on the child. We were a tad reluctant to take our boys when they were 3 & 4, but ended up going twice that year. They were great. They were able to ride nearly everything and took it all in stride. We were actually quite surprised! Also amazing is the fact that they still remember details about that trip, over 2 years later. We're all going again in December, and they're helping with the planning! They're now 5 & 6. Hopefully this trip will be just as memorable...

mikesatregis · Post by **mikesatregis** » Oct Mon 03, 2005 10:49 am

I said "Directly there from the hospital" but I wasn't really serious. lol

Although I will go with the "It depends on the child" we took my son when he was 14 months and it went well. Of course he didn't remember a thing - but thats ok because WE did.

Lots of pics and we had a lot of fun as well.

We kept the days short and tried to not push at all - lots of looking and shows - not a big "Ride" trip - but that was nice all in all.

Post by **subsonic** » Oct Mon 03, 2005 11:02 am

If I have kids, I'm not taking them until about 4-5. I want to make sure they are at least 40' tall to get onto some of the better attractions.

Post by **spaulo** » Oct Mon 03, 2005 11:17 am

As young as possible. Don't think it won't have an effect on them. Bring their grandparents, and grammy and gramps can watch the little tyke while the new parents ride the rides.

I know people says stuff like "But they can't understand, they don't know," etc... hey. Disney magic is Disney magic. I've seen a 9-month-old's eyes light up at Mickey Mouse, and it's awe-inspiring.

MouseMan · Post by **MouseMan** » Oct Mon 03, 2005 1:09 pm

Wow!!! I think a lot of people here are related to Scrooge McDuck!! Thanks spaulo for bringing a little sanity to this discussion. All this complaining about strollers and talk of the kids not remembering doesn't cut it with me.

I agree that the kids really don't have "memories" of the trip before they are 5 or so depending on the child, but they don't remember anything before that date. So does that mean you don't have birthday parties, go see fireworks, go to the zoo or anything because they won't remember?

My daughter will be 10 when we go next. She has memories of going when she was 8 1/2 and 6 1/2 but not really when she was 8 mos., 4 or 5. But she loves looking at the pictures and videos of those trips. And my wife and I and both sets of grandparents have great memories of the trips. When they are young you take strollers everywhere, so having them at Disney is no biggie. It's just that part of life you deal with.

Sure I look forward to going to Disney without the kids again. But there is no bad age to take a kid to Disney World!

GoofyInOhio · Post by **GoofyInOhio** » Oct Mon 03, 2005 1:51 pm

We took our daughter when she was 2 and 3 and she hardly remembers it, but it was a blast for us to watch her at the parks so we can remember that. I can remember going when I was 6, but I don't remember the times before that. So I chose 7-8. I think that's when kids really start to remember things and you can do more rides and restraunts with your kids as they get to this age.

RiaLucia · Post by **RiaLucia** » Oct Mon 03, 2005 4:26 pm

MouseMan wrote:Wow!!! I think a lot of people here are related to Scrooge McDuck!! Thanks spaulo for bringing a little sanity to this discussion. All this complaining about strollers and talk of the kids not remembering doesn't cut it with me.

I wouldn't say so much that I'm being a Scrooge as I'd be willing to put up with far less trip, ah, how shall I put it, "risks", for lack of a better term. I don't think little ones get absolutely nothing out of a trip to Disney, 'cause they're often smiling when they're there, aren't they? But as for me, I'd want to make it all as easy on myself as I possibly can. I won't go a-strollering when I don't have to.

That said, there are plenty of cons an older child can bring to the table, like the "gimmies" when you go near the merchandise and other behavioral things.

But hey, it's all in what you're willing to deal with. I, a recent college grad and not a parent, would not be willing to put up with that much at this point!

MouseMan · Post by **MouseMan** » Oct Mon 03, 2005 4:54 pm

Well, I don't blame anyone for not wanting to go "a-strollering" when they don't have to. But a lot of people do, and parents usually love their children even when they have to be pushed in a stroller, so we all have to share the park.

The "gimmies" point is well taken. Previous trips had been filled with requests to buy this or that.

I have a tip to share that worked out well for me that put an end to the constant asking for stuff on our last trip. Just before we set off on our last trip I gave each of my kids (4 and 7 at the time) 50 Disney Dollars. I told them they could spend it on anything they wanted to at WDW. The only rule was that they could not come back to me for more. The each received 20 Disney Dollars from a grandma so that gave them each 70.

They spent the whole trip asking me how much money they would have left after spending it on such and such a toy, but no complaints or asking for more. I was pleasently surprised and just yesterday my daughter asked me if she gave me 5 dollars would I buy 5 Disney Dollars for her from the Disney Store. She wants to save up some of her own for our next trip. It seems we curred the "gimmies".

AKLRULZ · Post by **AKLRULZ** » Oct Sat 08, 2005 7:41 am

We had all three of our kids there when they were 2. I'd probably not personally choose to bring an infant but I dont' see anything wrong with brining kids of any age. My kids may not remember their first visits to WDW but we do and I'll treasure the memories of having them down there very young forever.

mjs805 · Post by **mjs805** » Oct Fri 14, 2005 5:33 pm

I voted 5-6. We have been taking our two boys since they were 1 and 3, but this last trip (they were 5 and 7) was the first trip that they both remembered specific things about the trip. On previous trips, the little guy could tell you he went to Disney World, but when asked what he did there, he would say "I don't know".

This is also the first time they started asking "when are we going back?" as soon as we got home.

Mike

Subsonic Radio

Best Age for First Visit

What is the best age for a child's first visit to Disney World?

Best Age for First Visit