[amanda_p]

What is a good age for Disney World? I am trying to figure out when we can go! For some reason, I cant get it off my mind. Also, if we went after Thanksgiving, Is that a good time to go?

[2Bulgarianbeauties]

I was just there with my 4 and 5 year old. They loved magic kingdom, but were scared on most of the rides. I would say age 5 is great. I think 3 might be a little young. 4 was OK, but my 5 year old got more out of it.

As long as it is not a school break, that sounds like agreat time to go. Warm, but not too hot.

Kay

[Katie63011]

I am not planning on it until at least five. It's so expensive, it won't be a yearly visit fur us so I would rather wait until the kids got more out of it.

[KimOH]

We took my son when he was 3-1/2 I thought he would be too young to enjoy it -- but it was truly magical. He was just in awe of everything. It was so neat.

He had been afraid of costumed characters (from street festivals we'd been to, etc) so we purposefully avoided the characters the first day. Near the end of the day, DS asked "Doesn't Mickey Mouse live here? Where is he?" So we went to to see Mickey and he smiled so nicely for the picture.

He also was the first one ready to go from the hotel (we stayed on grounds) and the first to lead the search for "hidden mickeys." We've been back for a couple of 1-2 day visits since then (DS is 6 now) and it's always fun, but we haven't had the magic of that first visit. He still remembers things from that trip, too... things that aren't in photos, etc.

DD will be 3-1/2 in November, and we're planning a trip for early December. (Maybe we'll see you there?) After thanksgiving and the first couple of weeks of December are considered Value Season, I think... one of the least crowded times of year.

Going with a young child is a different experience. You sort of have to go at their pace and realize that you won't see everything. (We rode It's a Small World and Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin four times each, but there were a lot of things we didn't ride/see at all.) But it was truly a wonderful experience.

Here is my favorite photo from that trip. From our character breakfast.

[sak9645]

I took my daughter when she was seven. It was perfect.

Sharon

[MominPA]

I took my oldest when he was almost 4 years old ( a month and 1/2 before his birthday) He had a great time.

We brought him back when he was 8 and we still had a good time, but I thought is was easier on us when he was younger. At 4 he went with the flow and 8 he had more opinions on what he wanted to do. Also he was too old for a stroller so we got my feet are tired and had to stop more frequently. Also at age 4 it was more magicalto him and at age 8 is was more about the rides.

We are going this year again. It will be Adam's first time and he will be 4 1/2. Josh will be 9. It is a good year to go since it is Josh's last year to be pay the child rate and Adam I feel is at a good age to go. I might be renting a double stroller since I have a feeling big brother will be wanting to hitch a ride from time to time.

[beckyww]

Really recommend "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World." The authors detail attendance records, traffic patterns, recommendations for maximizing riding, etc. If memory serves, the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is light. The week between Christmas and New Year's is very heavy.

I wouldn't take a child until he or she was at least five years old - preferably even a little older. Our girls were 7, 9 and 11 when we went - good ages.


Becky
The Woodworth Family in Beautiful San Antonio TX

[mschweber]

My daugher loved it at at 2 3/4 but most people were suprised at how much she was getting out of it. Just about everything is free under age 3 so they are not expecting them to like it all that much. We are going back at the end of the month and she can not stop talking about it (it is always we are going to Disneyworld tomorrow - well no it is in a few weeks).

[angelkisses0102]

I answered on the other thread but just wanted to mention here...DS has never been scared by any of the characters...from his first visit at 10 months (he was pretty clueless of them at that point) up until the present at 3.5 yo. DD was scared to death of them on her first visit shortly after she turned 2...but she still had fun. The absolute best experience for her so far (we are annual passholders so we go several times a year) was at about 3.5 yo. It was truly a magical experience for her. Also, now that I think of it...DS had a great time right around turning 3 as well.

Honestly as long as you set proper expectations for the trip based on the age of your child and the crowds/weather at the parks...it will go fine. I will again mention staying at a monrail or boat access hotel is a HUGE plus in my book.

Have fun planning...makes me want to go right now...but we now have to plan around school vacations...

[GCS]

We leave on Monday with DD who is 2 years 8 months and DS who is almost 5 and a half. I really set this up for him as I expect her to not remember too much of it. I figure we'll go back again in 3 years when she is his age and it will be a completely different experience.

They are both really excited about it. I have tickets for the Princess and Pirates party and it is all they can talk about.

I bought the Fodors Walt Disney World with Kids book (2006). It has some great tips. I let you know how it goes and what we would do differently! Our expectations aren't really high. We just thought it would be fun to expose them to it now and to get away from the cold, cold weather we've got here!

Christina

[kizibits]

I live in Florida and have an annual pass. I took my daughter Alivia when she was 14 months. She enjoyed the day, but didn't really get anything out of it other than a nice day out with mommy. We did get some really cute pictures of her with Minnie, Pluto and Goofy. I plan on going regularly as she grows up.

One nice thing if you are there with a baby--they have special air conditioned baby rest stops set up in each of the parks with changing tables, high chairs, private rooms for nursing, microwaves, extra supplies (food, formula, diapers, etc.) and people there to help you if you need it. They also have video rooms where older kids can chill out for a bit while you deal with the baby. I really appreciated having the opportunity to use those baby rest stops.

They also allow you to do what they refer to as "baby pass" with regard to the rides. I was there with a couple friends and they would go on a ride and request a baby pass. As soon as they got off the ride one of them would come sit with the baby while the other one and I rode the same ride using the baby pass--which meant we got to go to the front of the line. It was really nice!

Jeana

[lovestruck]

I have not read the other posts..........we started going when my older son was two! We had a blast! We've been more times then I'd like to admit over the last five years and each time was just as enjoyable yet different. So if you are dying to get your little one there now, it'll be great and then just go back in a few years when he's older.

[Chris3148]

We just went three weeks ago with our 2 1/2 and 4 1/2 year old daughters. They LOVED it! Of course the older one will have more memories of the trip, but the younger one loved every minute of it.

We just went at their pace which I think is so important. When they were tired we left to go back to the hotel, when they were hungry we ate, when they wanted to wait 10 minutes in line to see Mickey we waited, etc. We did go in January for a reason too, it is so less crowded at that time. We didn't wait more than 15 minutes for anything in any of the parks, it was so worth it. Plus my Siberian beauties are not fond of the heat, so 70 degrees during the day and 55 at night made them a lot less cranky!

Also, neither one of them were scared of ANY characters, photo attached! And they loved all the rides, but we did not put them on Snow White or the Haunted Mansion this time. Maybe in a few years, we plan to go back every other year and always in January!

Good luck, we love Disney!

[KKR213]

Just jumping in from the Guatemala boards and am glad that people have had positive experiences taking little ones to Disney. My son is 16 months old now and I would love to take him in either August (he would be 23 months old) or December (27 months) but was worried he might be too young. He loves Mickey Mouse and my sister is an admitted Disney freak and goes every year. We would love to go with her this year. Time to start planning!

[jkkclinton]

Thanksgiving week is the least busy time of the year I was told. That is when we travelled and it was perfect...busy but we never waited longer than 5 minutes for a ride.