My 4 year old asks pretty much every day to go to 'the Disney castle' as he puts it LOL. We just had another baby (2 months old) so had originally thought to wait until the youngest is at leat two. But now I am thinking that it is a long time to wait for the older child and that going with an infant would actually be much easier than a mobile toddler that probably wouldn't be able to go on many rides or remember anything.
I am curious how old your kids were the first time they went? We would of course plan to go again when the youngest is older.
TIA!
We went when my oldest was 5,6 and 8 and my youngest is 2.5 yrs younger. I would go now. And then go again in a couple years. I am a big proponent of not putting things off until that "perfect time". You never know what life has in store for you.
my kids were 13 and 15, and I cringed when I saw all the people with babies and strollers. I know making memories is great, but what a hard vacation that probably would be!!
We went when our daughter was age... 2,4,6,8,10,12,&14
ALWAYS stayed at the Polynesian, love that place.
We went in 2010 when they were 9 and 10. I agree with Jane - we saw the people hailing the big diaper bags and strollers-what a pain in the ***
By that age they will remember it and were old enough to go on all the rides. I probably would have taken them a year earlier but it all just worked out that way.
Just a week ago, we went to Universal and Sea World - so they are 12 and soon to be 11.
Wait a little bit longer, 4 yr olds really don't care much about the rides and can still get pretty tired and cranky. It is alot of walking and patience to stand in the lines. They also don't seem to remember much about it but I found out that when they are 6 it is much better. We lived in FL and all enjoyed it more after they were 6.
Stepsons first Disney World (FL) trip was when they were 6 and 7 - those were great ages, they could go on most of the rides, they didn't tire so easily, and they still remember it.
Went again last year, stepsons were now 16 and 17 and our daughter was 3.5. Then we did Disneyland (CA) last month with our daughter, now 4.5. She was able to do most things and had a blast both times - and still remembers it!
my son was 4 and my daughter was 7 weeks old. we go pretty much every weekend :) theres some rides the baby can do.
Good question! I have been wondering this as well! My kids are 4.5 and 2.5 and I'm sort of itching to go, but my husband wants to put it off another year or two! :( I'm hoping to make it happen maybe this fall or next summer before my oldest starts Kindergarten! She is so into princesses right now, I'd love to capitalize on it! ;) Have fun if you go!
We go frequently. The youngest child I brought was 4 months old, the oldest was 6. Disney with an infant was pretty easy. I just strapped him to me and we went on everything the older kids could go on. A toddler will be able to go on almost everything in the park, as well. Just not the coasters and few other select ones that have a 40" limit. I think I would prefer taking an infant over a toddler.
We just went to Disney World in May, my daughter is 4 and my son is 2 1/2. It was great for my daughter because she is SO into the princesses, but for my son, not so much. For my daughter, the experiences of meeting the princesses and going to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique were great, but rides were just okay. My daughter would have been able to ride a few of the more grown up rides but she was too scared and my son could only ride the typical carnival type rides like Dumbo or tea cups. We could have stayed home and gone to one of our two local amusement parks and saved thousands of dollars. If I could do it again, I would have waited until my son was at least 5. He won't remember it and my daughter probably won't remember much either. It was a fun trip, but not for the money. That said, I can't wait to go back when my kids are older, I think it will be a blast and I think the money will be worth it then.
My daughter was 3 1/2, and we took my niece and nephew who were 12 and 15 1/2. They all thought it was magica, although for different reasons. My daughter didn't care much about the rides. For her, it was about the characters, the parades, the music, and the fireworks much more than about the rides. My niece and nephew LOVED the rides, the parades, the music and the fireworks and cared nothing about the characters, castle, etc. There is something for all ages, but I will say that it was priceless to see my daughter's face so many times throughout the trip because she was still young enough for the magic to be magical.
We watch Disney Channel, and they show the parks and cruises on a regular basis. She tells me everyday that she wants to go there. My standard response is that we have to wait our turn and that there are lots of boys and girls waiting to go too. Hopefully we'll go back soon, though; I want to go too.
4th grade and 6th grade the first time.
10th grade and 12th grade the last time.
Next time, Mr. and I are going -- the kids can meet us there! LOL!
We are taking our rising senior to Harry Potter World at Universal in the spring for a long weekend.
We live large!
LBC
Age six and up is the best ! The trip will be remembered. It is easiest for the parent.
My daughter and I went 3 weeks ago. She is older and it WAS WONDERFUL.The only thing I had to carry was my pocketbk. We spent 10 hrs in each park.
I actually felt bad for the parents w/ the screaming toddlers. It was super hot, humid and crowded. Everywhere I turned, a little one was crying and the Mom was trying to console the child.
It's a great place to go ! I had so much fun. In my opinion, it's best for a child in 1st grade or older. The castle thing is probably a phase.
11 and 13. I wish we would have been able to go when they were a little younger.
7 and 3. the former 7 year old has some cool memories, the 3 year old none at all.
you're so right about the infant. toddlers are much more nerve-wracking.
if you plan to go back again when they're older, can't hurt to go now!
:) khairete
S.
I took my 5 month old to Disneyland and it was no big deal. I obviously couldn't ride everything with her but was able to ride on It's a Small World, The Mark Twain river boat and do a couple of the shows with my baby. My hubby and I just took turns riding with our other 2 kids who were 3 and 5 at that time. The bonus with Disney is with newborns/infants they have a specialized baby center where you can nurse your babies, purchase diapers or baby food etc... They truly do try to make sure everyone is comfortable while at the parks. I say do it!:)
My kids were 6, 4, and 2 the first time we could afford to go. We were going to go when they were 5, 3, and 1...but hubby lost his job and we couldn't afford it.
We had planned to go again when they were 8, 6, and 4, but hubby and I both got new jobs a few weeks before we were supposed to go.
As of now, we have a room booked for next March to go back, but that's assuming nothing big happens!
I saw tons of families there with little babies. 2 is a great age to go too though and they will remember it...if your child is anything like my youngest. He still tells me all about it and he is 5 now. So basically, go whenever! I think it's fun for all ages and even if the baby can't go on a lot of rides, they will still be there and it's a great family memory.
When they could pay for it themselves! Seriously. Four kids and I had been
pretty sick so lots of medical bills. I think the youngest in the family should be 7. Disney is very overwhelming for little ones and all they want to do is
go back to hotel and swim in pool. It is also expensive so you really want them to enjoy the experience.
Go! Disney is great for kids of all ages. We went when our girls were 6 and 4 the first time, then 10 and 8 the second time. I often wish we would have gone when they were even younger. There are so many things I know they would have adored. And we will continue to go as long as we can afford and I can convince DH to go. (Though he really enjoys it, he's not the Disney fanatic that I am).
Seriously, your 4 year old will love it. She may not go on all the thrill rides, but there is so much she can do. A significant portion of Disney rides are fairly tame. The more adventerous of a kid she is, the more she will get out of the attractions. But no matter what, she will have a blast!
We waited til 5yo. The first time I took my daughter she was 5, my son was 1, but we were visiting relatives in Florida, so my mom offered to keep him while we did a two day side trip to the parks. We took him when he was 5.
This way they are able to walk all day, go to the bathroom, and we didn't have to carry a big tote of baby stuff. They both loved it and it was great to see the wonder. The last time we went I think they were 9 and 13 and it was fabulous. We were at the parks from open to close, no whining, etc. They just wanted to go-go-go and we really got our money's worth!
