Best Age for a Child's First Visit

[jacobcary1]

Always a pleasure. I hope you get to go in January as well , less crowded and more comfortable weather.

[theBIGyowski]

Some good friends of mine took their daughter (age 4) to WDW this past January. My friend sewed all of the clothes her daughter wore while they were down there...so you know she was going to get some special attention. On one day while in MK they took her to meet Belle when she was telling her stories I am guessing. Anyway, Belle loved what the little girl was wearing and made sure to let her know. The next day they all went to Norway for the Princess breakfast. All of the princesses there came up to the little girl and said "You must be the pretty little girl Belle was telling us about with your adorable clothes!" Now...if that didn't just make that little girl's day and her mom too who made the clothes. It was definitely the trip of a lifetime and one that they will never forget. Heck, the family had such an amazing time that they bought into DVC and plan on going every year or every other year.

So even though kids might seem too young, you never know what kind of impact the CMs and other characters could have on that child's life.

[jacobcary1]

Thats an awesome story. Got to love how the Princesses talked about her.

[Amy]

Some good friends of mine took their daughter (age 4) to WDW this past January. My friend sewed all of the clothes her daughter wore while they were down there...so you know she was going to get some special attention. On one day while in MK they took her to meet Belle when she was telling her stories I am guessing. Anyway, Belle loved what the little girl was wearing and made sure to let her know. The next day they all went to Norway for the Princess breakfast. All of the princesses there came up to the little girl and said "You must be the pretty little girl Belle was telling us about with your adorable clothes!" Now...if that didn't just make that little girl's day and her mom too who made the clothes. It was definitely the trip of a lifetime and one that they will never forget. Heck, the family had such an amazing time that they bought into DVC and plan on going every year or every other year.

So even though kids might seem too young, you never know what kind of impact the CMs and other characters could have on that child's life.

That is such a cute story. Those must have been some pretty impressive clothes! And you're right, all the experiences people have do have some sort of an impact on their lives as they move forward...

[FrankieC79]

That may be the greatest story I have ever heard!! If that was one of my kids and the princesses did that at Norway, I would have welled up and started crying there...and bought the DVC as well, which I still might do. If we have more children it may be the only way I can afford take the family every year or other year.

[Future Guy]

I think I was 3 on my first visit, but then we went every year from the time I was 3 until I was 8 so looking back those first few trips kind of blend together. Great story about the princesses!

[theBIGyowski]

Here are some of the clothes she made...she is very talented and creative. She made different outfits for everything they did. DW is going to get with her this summer to learn how to do some of these things so she can make clothes for our kids one we start having them.

Magic Kingdom


Animal Kingdom


Chef Mickey's


Goofy Outfit


Ariel - Coral Reef Restaurant


Travel to WDW Shirt


Minnie Romper


Minnie - 50's Prime Time Cafe


Princesses (this is the dress that got the complements from the princesses)


Jessie - Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue

[Amy]

Wow! Those are quite amazing ~ no wonder the princesses were talking about them. She is really quite talented

[gullyf]

I am getting the feeling that the age 4 is a good age. Unfortunately, that means I will have to wait until June 2012 at the earliest.

I would respectfully disagree...

Although more work than subsequent future trip when the kids were older, it was a great experience for all of us. Even though both kids have no real memory of that first trip, their enjoyment and reactions 'in the moment' was priceless for us, and we still have pictures and video from that trip to share with the kids (and we often do)...IMO, experiencing WDW through children's eyes can be as much fun, if not more, than traveling without them.

I have to echo and agree with jeremyleo above. Our twins were 19 months on their first visit in December 2004 in the pictures below. Whether they remember it or not, it is a magical time for all concerned! There are caveats of course: you need to go for them, not you. It is a lot of work, you need to take frequent breaks back at hotel, and you need to realize that Tower of Terror is probably out of the question . But it was all worth it, even at that age. As far as them being too young to appreciate it, the faces in the pictures below should put that worry to rest in a hurry. The characters were absolutely wonderful with them, and always made mention of any clothing or other items.

Most of our trips with them as tots were in the spring and fall/winter. School wasn't an issue (our other children are a good bit older and either able to manage on their own or on their own entirely), and not having to deal with the heat and humidity was great, especially since we used homemade rebozos to get around outside the parks. The rebozos worked amazingly well for us until they were 5, though it helps if you are young and/or in decent shape (we were both 48 at the time, but in decent though not exceptional condition). We rented strollers inside the parks as necessary, though not every day.

We have been pretty much yearly ever since, though they have out-grown dressing up (wife made the outfits in picture as well). They are 8 now, and looking forward to going again at the end of June. In place of outfits, they now have signature books they have made with a page for each character, complete with a picture from previous trips.

Regards
Gully

[rphillips14]

I appreciate that fact that the CM's are in the floor with the children, not hovering above them. It means so much to a child to have the character on eye level instead of looking down. The Princesses do that as well so I think the CM's who meet and greet are taught to be at eye level with the children so the children will feel more comfortable. That is another reason that Disney is better than any other place out there.

[Amy]

Cute photos gullyf ~ I have to admit I had to look up what a rebozo is...you managed to carry them around with those until age 5
I also like the fact that the characters interact with the kids on eye level, although I can't imagine trying to get up from the floor gracefully while in the character outfits!

[mindflipper]

It's cool that the costumed CM's get down on the kids' level - but how easy is it for them to get back up?

[Amy]

It's cool that the costumed CM's get down on the kids' level - but how easy is it for them to get back up?

That's what I was thinking when I saw Pooh and Eeyore on the floor. I would be trying to get up and my big ole costumed head would be thumping on the floor most likely

[mindflipper]

Funny thing, I remember how they tell you when you're bonding with cats/dogs that getting down on their level makes you less intimidating and therefore easeir to bond with; it appears the same is true of character CM's when interacting with children too...

[gullyf]

Cute photos gullyf ~ I have to admit I had to look up what a rebozo is...you managed to carry them around with those until age 5
I also like the fact that the characters interact with the kids on eye level, although I can't imagine trying to get up from the floor gracefully while in the character outfits!

Yes, of course they needed less carrying each time we went. As they get older, they ride more with their legs wrapped around your hips, so the rebozo acts more like a third arm just to hold them in.

Almost every character we met got down to kids level for them, even those not in a character suit: Mary Poppins, Peter Pan and Wendy, JoJo, even the Incredibles. Not all got right on the floor, but, like Minnie, at least kneeled, and the kids just ate it up.