When did you go/are you going to Disney?

[erinshelley21]

What were the ages of your children when you went to Walt Disney World? Or Disneyland even. 

We just got back from our beach vacation yesterday, so naturally I'm thinking about future vacations already. Disney being the main one since MIL went with SIL and her kids while we were gone. DH and I have always had a "youngest child will be at least 4" mindset in terms of when we would like to go to Disney World. MIL thinks DS will be too old at that point. He will only be 7, almost 8 if we go in the fall, if we go when DD is 4. Right now DS is 3 (4 in December) and DD is 7 months. It needs to be at least 2 years from now in order to save enough money for the trip.

I went when I was 6 and my brother was 4. My mom said those ages were great. I don't remember too much of the trip. Just a parade, meeting a couple characters and riding a few rides. We only spent 1 day there though and didn't stay in Disney. This was also 22 years ago.

[k3am]

We took the kids last winter. DD was almost 4 and DS 7 months. DS obviously doesn't remember it. It was magical for DD. We are headed back in February DD will be almost 5, DS will be 21 months. I don't think he'll remember it again, but he's free.

[phdmomma]

We took the kids when DS was 4 and DD had just turned 1. It was fun, but a lot of work. My in-laws were going also which was nice with the extra hands. We are taking the kids for spring break this year, and DS will be 6 and DD will be 3. I think that it will be fun, you just need to reset some expectations of seeing everything in the park and staying from opening to closing. We are staying offsite this time, which I think will be nice.

[katrine05]

We went when DD was 2. It was not the main purpose of the trip though. We went on a family cruise. My grandfather paid for our flights and the cruise. We decided to tack on another week and do Florida attractions since we were already there. It's a long trek from the Canadian Prairies. She had a blast, she still talks about all the characters she met. We only spent one day at Disney World. Not sure when we'll go back. We'd rather an all inclusive beach vacation.

[twinmomma]

We went last year when the girls were four, and it was incredible! I didn't think we'd go when they were that young, but man, it was perfect that we were able to! Everything was still so magical to them, it was really special. I don't think they would have "gotten it" as much had they been any younger, but I can see that same magic and excitement carrying on for the next few years at least. Granted, my kids are all about imaginative play and will believe anything you tell them, so it's easy for them to get hyped up. Will they remember a ton of details years from now? Probably not, but they had such a good time while we were there, it was worth it.

[186momx]

I went when I was 16 and it was okay but I was in the awkward age of not an adult but not a kid. My parents didn't want me off on my own so it was all family all the time. My sister was 6 and I remember having to carry her a lot. We did open to close the 3 days we were there and she was just tired of walking. Too big for a stroller but not able to handle all day walking. She remember very little of the trip now. She really want me and my brother along with DD to go with her in 2 years as a 20 year memory lane thing.

DD is scared of characters. We haven't gone for that reason. At 6 I think we would run into the same walking all day problem plus she is on the short side so until she grows another inch or so she will be really limited to rides. It is super expensive and I want to wait until she can have the full benefit of the parks and remember it.

[sandandsea]

We took ds1 to DL right before he turned 3 and again at 4. We are starting to plan the next trip to see when we can get back. Ds1 is 5.5 and Ds2 is 1 now. We will probably go sometime in the next year, but not sure exactly when. But we are in CA so it's easier. And it was amazing both times and DS absolutely remembers both trips.

We will probably wait a few more years to trek to FL. Maybe around ages 9 and 5 for the boys. I think we will do the Disney cruise when the boys are 7 & 3.

[waverly]

We were in Florida already as that has been our winter vacation spot the last 3 years. This year, following the spring break school schedule the flights are supper $$ so that tradition may go by the wayside.

So anyway, DD was 2 and DS was 4. She was free, and H got a disney CC which gaves us $100 off, so it was only $200 for the day. I know still expensive. But everything else was part of the rest of our Florida vacation so I don't count the house we rented or flights into the cost for Disney.

We plan to go back one day, ages are not super important to us because even adults like Disney, so I don't think you outgrow it. I probably went 3-4 times as a kid because my Grandparents lived in Florida and had the annual pass for residents.

The place I want to go is Harry Potter at Universal Studios, and I definitely think the kids have to be older for that especially since they both get scared easily.

As far as the walking, DD was in the stroller and DS did the ride along (standing).  At the end of the day 9-5 he was soo tired.  He was sitting on the standing thing just like a limp noodle, but they both did great.

I might go again at 6 and 8 or 7 and 9 and any age above that.  

ETA- We did Busch Gardens last year and DD (4) walked from 10-6- no stroller.  We were amazed.  But lines were short there at that time. 

[akafred]

I only have one. We went when she was 4.5 (which was PERCECT timing IMO as she remembered a lot, but was still young enough to believe it was magical). I took her when she was 6.5 and she could sort of straddle the ages. I don't think 8-9 is too old to enjoy it at all, but it won't be magical like with a 3-6 year old.

[erinshelley21]

Okay I'm feeling better about 4 and 7. sandandsea, I like the idea of a Disney cruise soon. If we were going to take the first offer we got for the agency, I told DH I wanted to take a Disney cruise next year.

[covergirl82]

We went for one day to Magic Kingdom (WDW) when the kids were 3 and 4.5, and that was a great. We went for a week long trip to WDW (stayed at a Disney resort) when DD was 5.5 and DS was 7. Those were pretty good ages. No nap times, no strollers and they will be able to remember going.

We are going again next year, when DD will be 2 months away from turning 8 and DS will be almost 9.5. I know it won't be as magical as younger ages, but I know there are still things they will enjoy, and maybe we'll go to Universal for a day on that trip. Then we're going to go one more time after the Star Wars land opens, right around when DD turns 9 and DS is 10.

[mellym]

We went when DD1 was 2.5 and we loved it so much that we went again last year when DD1 was 4.5 and DD2 was 2. They both still talk about the trip and want to go back to Florida. It was magical and we're already talking about when we are going to go again when DD3 is born.

[justcheckingin73]

I’ve never taken my kids but I went when I lived in Florida around age 5 or 6. I don’t remember a lot - just bits and pieces of getting Minnie ears, a cup and maybe some rides. And a poncho. Apparently my dad insisted on my sister and I wearing ponchos for some reason. 

[waverly]

Oct 12, 2017 14:36:40 GMT -5 justcheckingin73 said:

I’ve never taken my kids but I went when I lived in Florida around age 5 or 6. I don’t remember a lot - just bits and pieces of getting Minnie ears, a cup and maybe some rides. And a poncho. Apparently my dad insisted on my sister and I wearing ponchos for some reason. 

Was it raining? I was older maybe 9 and I remember it raining and the ponchos and ending up at the Bear Jamboree where they serenaded my mom. Lol!

[sunbutter]

We went when:
1. DS was 5 and DD was 1.5.
2. DS was 6 and DD was 2.5.
We will go this March when:
3. DS is 9 and DD will be 5.5

First, 7-8 is not too old. 4 is great because you can probably still use a stroller if needed but she will still be old enough to get excited. A 4 year old may be able to skip a nap.
So it is fine if you wait till then. Having said that, I enjoyed taking a toddler. Disney is set up for families so bringing a baby/toddler is easy and fun.
As for memories, I went when I was 17 and barely remember it so.....

[sunbutter]

Oct 12, 2017 13:31:18 GMT -5 waverly said:

We were in Florida already as that has been our winter vacation spot the last 3 years. This year, following the spring break school schedule the flights are supper $$ so that tradition may go by the wayside.
. 

Flights to Orlando at spring break this year are obscene. I have been watching and hoping with flight hopper. I actually had to book three of the flights last weekend (had to apply credit from a trip to Puerto Rico to something) and it was hundreds of dollars cheaper for me to fly first class home rather than in the main cabin🤔. Flight pricing drives me bonkers.

[kbw]

We went when I was 12 and my brother was 8. My mom refused to spend the money knowing she could only do it once pushing a stroller, stopping for naps etc. Plus she wanted us to remember it.

Honestly, I loved it still at that age. Sure I wasn't as into the princesses as I would have been when I was little but we still have pictures with characters like Mickey etc.

And we really got to enjoy Epcot more than we would have if we were younger.

[campermom]

First time was 5 and 3 and I was pg in my 2nd tri with my youngest.
Second time was when they were 7, 5 and 18 months.

Both were awesome. I don't care what anybody says, I'll bring a toddler to Disney. We didn't want to wait. We get military park hoppers and stay at Shades of Green so it's relatively affordable for us and that might impact my decision compared to paying so much more though. Yes there were diapers and napping in the stroller. But it's magic!!

Also we are a family with some serious energy-we can start at sunrise and keep going all daylong, have some dinner at the hotel then head out for fireworks. I just brought a giant stroller sit and stand and still had the mei tai wrap for night time. It went really well.


Oh also we drove 14 hours each way LOL. We have endurance.

[Edwardo123]

We have gone twice and are going again in December. The first time, my oldest was 4, and we went for a week. It was awesome. Last fall, I took advantage of a cheap flight and went with a friend and her 7 year old. My girls were 7 and 2. It was for a long weekend and the Halloween party. We are going in early December with an 8 and 3 year old for ten days. We love Disney and like that it's easy with kids. We will likely go back in another year or two. When our youngest is 8-10, we would like to travel internationally. Until then, we will stick with the convenience of condos at the beach or Disney.

[ilovelucyvv]

We are going next year when DS will be 3 and DD will be 5. The Disney World part of the trip will be fairly short and it will mostly be Disney cruise.

[shakinros]

Oct 12, 2017 13:43:15 GMT -5 akafred said:

I only have one. We went when she was 4.5 (which was PERCECT timing IMO as she remembered a lot, but was still young enough to believe it was magical). I took her when she was 6.5 and she could sort of straddle the ages. I don't think 8-9 is too old to enjoy it at all, but it won't be magical like with a 3-6 year old.

Same on 4.5. It was the absolute perfect age for DD. We did only one day - drove over from Tampa in the morning and back at the end of the day. DD walked from about 10:30-5 with no issues. She was a champ.

I have a conference in Orlando in march and I want to go back to Disney maybe for two days this time. DD will be 5.5.

[polecat8]

We went a few years ago when DD was 4. She was a trooper. We went from morning till night with no issues. If we were tired, we sat down and took a rest. There were a few things that we really wanted to do and the rest was just exploring the parks. We went with my entire family (parents, brothers and their spouses/kids) and stayed in the cabins at Fort Wilderness for a week. Everyone split off and did their own thing for the most part and my parents would pick a family to hang out with for the day. We went in early December when the weather was comfortable and the parks were decorated for Christmas. We had such a good time (so good that that is where DS1 was conceived).
We want to go back, but we want to wait until DS2 is about 3 or 4 years old and we don't have to worry about diapers or strollers.

[twinmomma]

On the stroller front, I highly recommend renting a City Mini Double stroller for your trip from an outside vendor, instead of getting one of the park strollers. Way more comfortable for the kids, and depending on how big your kid is, I could totally see a 7 year old still fitting in it if he gets tired from walking around. I didn't think dealing with a stroller was bad at all, and it gave us a place to stuff a small cooler with lunches and snacks to help us save money in the parks.

[justcheckingin73]

Oct 12, 2017 17:45:09 GMT -5 waverly said:

Oct 12, 2017 14:36:40 GMT -5 justcheckingin73 said:

I’ve never taken my kids but I went when I lived in Florida around age 5 or 6. I don’t remember a lot - just bits and pieces of getting Minnie ears, a cup and maybe some rides. And a poncho. Apparently my dad insisted on my sister and I wearing ponchos for some reason. 

Was it raining? I was older maybe 9 and I remember it raining and the ponchos and ending up at the Bear Jamboree where they serenaded my mom. Lol!

I don’t think so which makes it funnier. They were cotton too so they wouldn’t have kept the rain out. 

[2chatter]

Disney isn't something we have done - but the kids do want to do a day there if we go to San Diego for summer vacation. Even the 13 year old wants to go - for the rides. We have also considered a Disney cruise but I don't know that I would enjoy the immersion. But I hear they are fun for all ages too.

[erinshelley21]

I think MIL was trying to weasel her way into going with us since she knows it would take a couple years to save and if she went with us she would help pay. I told DH last night I want it to be just the 4 of us unless a grandparent wants to FULLY fund the trip lol.

[mustardseed2007]

There is no wrong time to go to Disney.

The last trip was the hardest for us - my kids are 5 and 3. They just fought with each other too much. But it was still a great trip.

I love going with really little kids, actually. You will not run out of things to do even though they can't do the big roller coasters.

[yummmy]

I agree with mustardseed2007 there is no wrong time for Disney!!!

We took DS when he was 10.5 months old, this was a 2 week trip with 3 days at Disney, a 7 day Disney cruise, and 4 days at Disney.
Then we went when he was 35 months (last trip while he was still free!! haha) and that was 8 days at Disney.
Our next trip is planned for April 2019 when he will be a month shy of 5 (but I may try to sneak a trip in before then), that will be another 2 week Disney and Disney Cruise trip.

Each age has its ups and downs, but as long as you, and your kid, are go with the flow then it all works out. DS remembers the cruise and will talk about things that he saw, that I don't have pictures of so I know he remembers, and he talks all the time about the last trip in April. It's a magical age and was a ton of fun to watch him experience it all.

I would say go when you can and make what you can of it!!

[callmekd]

We just got back from a week at Disney. DD1 is 4.5 and twins are 8 months. We also met cousins there who have a 3 year old and 7 year old. The 3&4 year old girls had a blast doing all the princess stuff and the 7 year old (boy) did the things he wanted to do (we divided up as necessary). We brought my mom with to help with the babies (i.e. Take them back to the room for naps etc). We also had a stroller for all the kids -it's a ton of walking even for the 7 year old. We rented a double from king.dom strol.lers. At least once or twice I thought we were crazy for being there with kids at these ages but it was a lot of fun. I don't think we will go again until the twins are 3-4.