Best Age for a Child's First Visit

[Soarin08]

I was two months shy of turning 7, my sister was three months away from turning 5 when we first went. Seemed to work fine for our parents, but then again, they are the type of parents who actually disciplined us and we didn't act like monsters in the parks like half these kids I see do. My brother was also 5 on his first visit and did fine.

And we also didn't have tanks for strollers either, as I recall. Which was bound to have made it easier as well. Collapsable umbrella strollers, and only one in 1997. My sister and I had to take turns.

[mindflipper]

I was two months shy of turning 7, my sister was three months away from turning 5 when we first went. Seemed to work fine for our parents, but then again, they are the type of parents who actually disciplined us and we didn't act like monsters in the parks like half these kids I see do. My brother was also 5 on his first visit and did fine.

And we also didn't have tanks for strollers either, as I recall. Which was bound to have made it easier as well. Collapsable umbrella strollers, and only one in 1997. My sister and I had to take turns.

Your parents sound quite sensible in my opinion....

[Soarin08]

I was two months shy of turning 7, my sister was three months away from turning 5 when we first went. Seemed to work fine for our parents, but then again, they are the type of parents who actually disciplined us and we didn't act like monsters in the parks like half these kids I see do. My brother was also 5 on his first visit and did fine.

And we also didn't have tanks for strollers either, as I recall. Which was bound to have made it easier as well. Collapsable umbrella strollers, and only one in 1997. My sister and I had to take turns.

Your parents sound quite sensible in my opinion....

My mother doesn't put up with anything, believe me. I'd say she is sensible... with my dad along for the ride, poor guy.

My only complaint about going at a young age is that I wish I remember a bit more of it than I do...

[mindflipper]

...it happens to all us - childhood memories of the parks slowly fades away as we all get older...

[Polynesian Princess]

My parents first took me when I was about 2 years old. While I don't have any specific memories of that trip, my parents remember it very fondly and say that it definitely stuck with me - I insisted on only wearing dresses after seeing the girls in the stage shows twirl around. They said I also constantly talked about going back and how I was going to dance on stage with Minnie Mouse (my hero ). The following year when I was three they took me back and sure enough, I DID get to dance on stage with Minnie Mouse. I distinctly remember that to this day - it's the earliest thing in my life that I can really remember and it's one of my favorite Disney memories.

I think the under 3 yr old crowd are really just too young. I never understand why so many take babies under 1 yr old so much to the parks...

A lot of those babies/toddlers are younger siblings of a child who is old enough to enjoy it. I'm the oldest of four with large gaps in age between all of us (there's a 15 year difference between me and my youngest sibling). Now I have great parents and had a great childhood, but they put off a lot of trips and such because "we'll do that when *insert current baby's name* is old enough to remember it!". And most of that stuff we never actually ended up doing because once my youngest sister was old enough to enjoy it, I was in college and then getting married. So I respect and understand parents that drag along a little sibling for the oldest child's benefit, knowing that the younger sibling will have their turn to enjoy it in just a few years.

Also it may not be as big of a deal to delay a trip until the baby is older for those who are going to take their kids on that "once in a lifetime" trip and never go back or those that only go every 3+ years, but those who are obsessed (like all of us here ) and go yearly or more often, that would be a loooooooooong time to go without being at WDW. You're adding in the time from the last trip + 9 months of pregnancy + 1-4 years so the child is "old enough", then you've usually got those pesky younger siblings to account for by then. I know my husband and I won't make it that long when we have kids and will be one of those (crazy? ) people carrying the baby around.

[mindflipper]

I can understand the situation where you describe when there are more than one child, but I see a lot of people with just one child - a baby under 1 yr old - taking them to the parks. I can't see what they get out of the parks that age...

[Soarin08]

I can understand the situation where you describe when there are more than one child, but I see a lot of people with just one child - a baby under 1 yr old - taking them to the parks. I can't see what they get out of the parks that age...

I'll never forget in 2009 at Saratoga when we had the family dining and the baby was ONE WEEK OLD. It was just the parents and baby, no other children (I had to ask, my curiosity got the better of me). Why would you do that??? And they weren't locals, as I recall, I could understand that a little better.

[jenko]

I visited disneyland paris first when it opened back when i was 3, and I have only 2 memories of it

1, walking in main st for the first time and meeting the penguins from mary poppins

2, we got there at night, my parents hadnt told me where we were going and they claimed we were lost and that they were going to ask for directions, we went into a hotel and i sat down in the lobby and watched dumbo on the TV, then tigger came along and my suspicions were raised at this point, then my dad told me

Memories like that stick with you forever, but other than that I cant remember much so if you do take them when theyre young you NEED to take loads of photos else they wont remember the magic. I'm planning on taking my kids to Florida (being British its a bit more of an effort to get there) when theyre 5

[Amy]

I visited disneyland paris first when it opened back when i was 3, and I have only 2 memories of it

1, walking in main st for the first time and meeting the penguins from mary poppins

2, we got there at night, my parents hadnt told me where we were going and they claimed we were lost and that they were going to ask for directions, we went into a hotel and i sat down in the lobby and watched dumbo on the TV, then tigger came along and my suspicions were raised at this point, then my dad told me

Memories like that stick with you forever, but other than that I cant remember much so if you do take them when theyre young you NEED to take loads of photos else they wont remember the magic. I'm planning on taking my kids to Florida (being British its a bit more of an effort to get there) when theyre 5

I think you hit on the most important part, lots and lots of pictures. Even if you can't exactly remember something, a photo will sometimes jog a memory.

[mindflipper]

Do you remember which hotel you were at?

[rphillips14]

I think the best time to take a child is about 4 or 5. Yes, I know they likely won't remember it but YOU will and the joy you have out of that trip will last YOU a lifetime. Few experience's are better than enjoying Disney with your Children for the first time. Plus, you will most likely make later trips and they will remember more and more as they get older.

[jenko]

I do remember the hotel, it was the Seqouia Lodge hotel, whenever I go back there i remember where I sat and watched dumbo haha! I think the thing with taking them early is they will still always want to go back, and I still do to this day, if you want your kids to be disney nuts like yourself, get them in there early!!

[Soarin08]

I do remember the hotel, it was the Seqouia Lodge hotel, whenever I go back there i remember where I sat and watched dumbo haha! I think the thing with taking them early is they will still always want to go back, and I still do to this day, if you want your kids to be disney nuts like yourself, get them in there early!!

Agreed! I think that's what happened to me... between my first visit at age 6 to having Disney birthday parties from my 1st birthday to my mom dressing me exclusively in Disney Store apparel... yeah.

[mindflipper]

I do remember the hotel, it was the Seqouia Lodge hotel, whenever I go back there i remember where I sat and watched dumbo haha! I think the thing with taking them early is they will still always want to go back, and I still do to this day, if you want your kids to be disney nuts like yourself, get them in there early!!

I didn't get to visit that one, but the pictures looked great. Have you been to the Wilderness Lodge at WDW yet? I was wondering how close the two resorts are alike...

[TTA Traveler]

I think the best time to take a child is about 4 or 5. Yes, I know they likely won't remember it but YOU will and the joy you have out of that trip will last YOU a lifetime. Few experience's are better than enjoying Disney with your Children for the first time. Plus, you will most likely make later trips and they will remember more and more as they get older.

This is my sentiments as well. I think the best age for a child is when they can walk and talk (especially acknowledge characters). Who knows, maybe it'll be memorable for you?


Though I don't see the harm in taking them if they're 2 and under. Hey, they get in free! Though it can potentially ruin the fun for the parents. If I were a parent and could pawn them off the grandparents I might just do it.