When Is the Right Time to Take a Child to Disney for the First Time

This is a good age. Take lots of pix for the moments she won't remember. I took my daughter at about the same age. The great thing is Disney is really kid friendly! You can get a stroller at the park and they have parking areas for them for when you go on the rides. Have a 1-derful and safe trip!

Gee I wish I knew. I have an almost 2 and 3yr old and I am itching to go as I also have a 10yr old who has Never been. I feel so bad for her. We just couldnt afford to go. Now if I wait until the youngest is 5, which I feel is a good age, then my oldest will be "too old".
My 3yr old is old enough to enjoy it now, but the question is, will she remember. I went when I was 5 and dont remember and that makes my mom and me sad. If you are going to spend that much on making a child happy you do want them to remember. So honestly, I would probably wait until she is 4 or better yet 5. Hopefully whenever you chose to take her, she will have a better memory than I.

We actually just came back from Disney. I have two boys...3 1/2 and 1. They both really liked it. Even the 1 year old could ride most of the rides at the Magic Kingdom. We also went to the Animal Kingdom. We skipped Epcot and the Movie Park because they are both more for older kids. The 3 1/2 year old got a lot more out of it then the 1 year old. I would take her at 2 1/2. The rides are geared for young kids at the Magic Kingdom and she will love meeting the characters at that age. The thing is she probably won't remember much as she gets older so if you want to make memories that are going to last then I'd wait until she's at least 4. I don't even think my 3 y.o. will remember much as he gets older.

I took my son just before he turned 3, last April, because he was free for the package deal and we had a blast. He LOVED the Animal Kingdom and Disney World was fun too he rode a lot of rides and loved going on the train and the shows. I plan on taking him back when he's older but he really did have a good time :)

we took our son at 2.5 and he loved it! we would go in the morning, then to the hotel fr lunch and he would nap forever (not a napper). After he woke up, we would head back and get to see fireworks. There are some great rides for this age, and the characters of course! I would not recommend Epcot. Though, some of the other parks were good.

Hi, R.. We have 2 yo twin daughters and are planning to take them to Disney in Sept. There are many, many websites and publications and all of them say that Fall is the best time to take little ones because there are NO lines, etc.

I went when I was 3 years old, and all I remember is swimming in the hotel pool and the hotel carpet. I also remember a toad walking up to me (some character). And that's about it. My family said if that's all I got out of it, they would have taken me to the local hotel to go swimming! :) Even still, I'm sure I had a wonderful time and my mom and grandmother enjoyed taking me. I've been back a couple of more times (high school age and college age) so I was able to get more out of it later.

I am waiting until my youngest is around 4 or 5 so he can remember it. My oldest will be 9 at that time, so I think that would be a perfect time for my family.

I believe that children under age 3 get into DisneyWorld free.

Every kid is different but we took my daughter when she was 3yrs and 4 months. We had an absolute blast! We stayed in the Wilderness Cabins at the camp ground. The cabins have a bedroom with a queen size bed and bunk beds. We rented a golf cart to get around. There are lots of activities at the camp ground and there is a fairy that takes you directly to Magic Kindom.

We didn't try to do too much. When my daughter wanted to ride the same thing over and over again, we let her. It wasn't about seeing everything. It was about experiencing the magic of Disney at her pace, not ours, and it was wonderful! We went to Magic Kingdom 3 days and Animal Kingdom one day. We liked Magic Kingdom at night/evening best. Donald's Breakfast at Animal Kingdom was awesome!

We will definetly do it again! I wouldn't have changed anything about our trip. I really felt like we did it just right :) Hope you have a fabulous trip!

You may want to try taking your child to a more local park and see how she does with rides and characters to get an idea of how she'll react to Disney.

The younger the more magical...they really BELIEVE those people in costumes are the Princesses and characters. On the flip side, it is a harder age to control your child.
I have a 7 and an 8 year old and have been to Disney many times at different ages. The first was when they were 2 and 3. I would do it all again! I have pictures of my daughter with Cinderella (and she believes it) that are precious and irreplaceable.

We just got back from a trip to Disney. We went right before my daughter turned 3. She could not have had a better time. She keeps asking to go back. People told me she was too young but she wasn't at all. I think you would be fine going in the fall.

We went to Disney with our daughter about 3 months before she turned 3 years old and she loved...the best part was that before the age of 3 the kids are FREE - you don't have to buy park tickets for them. You do have to buy park tickets for yourself of course.

we took a big family trip last summer to disney.. my daughter was two and she had the TIME OF HER LIFE!! She has not stopped talking about it since! EVERYDAY!! She talks about the castle and florida... So.. I think the fall would be perfect. They love it at anyage. Have fun! L.

Hi R.,

Any time is the right time to take the child to Disney World.

Go visit your friend. You don't have to go to Disney land.

Spend some time with your friend. That is what is really important, your friendship. Maybe she would like to see your baby.

Good luck. D.

We took my daughter the year before she started Kindergarten. She was 4 1/2 and was very much into the Princesses. We picked that time because we could go before everyone got out of school - so it wouldn't be so crowded. She had a ball and it appeared to be the perfect time! She was old enough to remember the trip, but young enough to enjoy and be in awe. We took her to a couple of Princess breakfasts and her face and memories are priceless!

When you do go, go at the pace of the child - don't try to do it all. You are there for them and let them enjoy at their pace!

a lot of people have already said this and i agree that 5 is probably the best age. at 2 1/2 you will have to push around a stroller because she will get tired of wakling (it's a VERY big park) and waiting in the long lines can be horrendous even without a toddler. while you'll probably take a million pictures, she won't remember it. by 5, she'll be able to walk by herself making the stroller only neccesary if you think so; she'll be able to go on more rides and appreciate it more; and it'll be something she remembers for a long time. however, there are tons of other things to do in florida so if you want to go see your friend i say go for it. look up local attractions or even sea world (it's more of an aquarium than an amusement park), then when your child's older, you can go back and visit your friend again and cover everything else. good luck and have fun florida is a beautiful place =)

I took my daughter to disney when she was almost 2 1/2 and it was great. She could do a lot at that age at all the parks which I was surprised about. The water parks were great. They had smaller tubes for the little ones with smaller slides. She rode down all by herself and I could monitor it well also. We also bought the non expiration tickets because 7 days is too much for the little one. Now, we can go back whenever and we already have the tickets. We are going to go next summer when number two is around 2 1/2 and my first is 5. That should be great too!

I would suggest waiting another year or 2. While at 2 1/12 your child can ride alot of the attractions, some of them might scare her and might leave her not wanting to return. When she is a little older, say 4 or 5 she and everyone else will enjoy it a little more. Though do keep in mind, kids under 3 are free!

We took a trip to Disney when my son was 4 and my twins were 2. We had 4 adults and three kids and it was absolutely wonderful! We only went through Magic Kingdom. I suggest sticking to Magic Kingdom and doing the following:
* get the passes to get on rides w/o having to wait (costs extra;
* have Breakfast with the Characters (also costs extra, and you have to make reservations way in advance),
* don't miss the parade (you'll see all the characters!)
The whole park is super family-friendly. The bathrooms are clean and easy to find. There are places for the kids to play. The park also has strollers you can use... I think they cost extra and they are popular, so plan to get there early.
Good luck on your decision!

I am the mom of 3 & we recently went on our 2nd Disney vacation. The 1st time we went, my daughter was 2 yrs, 9 mos & we went then specifically because it was free for her to enter the parks (& even to eat at buffet restaurants on property :), so it was a big savings w/3 kids. Based upon the ages of my kids & the experiences, I think that 7 was the greatest age for Disney-old enough to walk w/no stroller & to ride everything, but young enough to still buy into the magical thinking. That being said, my daughter had fun when she was 2 (& more fun this time at 5) and there are many attractions geared towards the younger set in the Magic Kingdom. It is also fun to experience it at different stages, so I say that if you want to go, go for it & enjoy the magic. Also, just a FYI, you can take in sippy cups, water bottles, etc & small snacks in a backpack to help keep her fed without breaking the bank. Enjoy!

Me and my husband and the kids just went to Disney in February, for a whole week. My kids ages are 9, 3 and 19 months. They ALL has a blast on many different levels. I wouldn't wait, there are so many different things to see. But one word of adivce. PLAN AHEAD for EVERYTHING. Most things require reservations (for special dinners and such) There are websites that are very helpful, so check them out. Also be aware of going at times when it is going to be very hot, because even if it says 85 and sunny, it will feel like 100 with the humidity, and that is NO fun for anyone. I used to live in FL, and my mom still lives there so we have visited many different times of the year. Late Winter early Spring, and then late Fall early Winter are best as far as weather. Also, I would definately take advantage of the "Fast Pass" for certian rides. Not many people do, because they think it is a pain, but waiting in line with a toddler is horrible. And it is ALWAYS busy and crowded there, there is no "off" season, so prepare to be patient and never be in a rush. Take your time. It is So much fun! We plan on doing our WDW trip once a year!!! I hope this helps! God Bless!

My husband and I took a trip to Disney when our kids were 4 and 2. They had a ball. My son enjoyed the ride over to disney on the fairy, the train ride and all the shows, as well as some of the rides. My daughter who was 2 got a kick out of the characters, riding the different rides, and the shows. They also liked a little place called Dino World. It is one of those cheesy little places off the highway.

L. S.

I would personally not spend the $$$ on park tickets when she's unlikely to remember the trip. I would wait on Disney until she's 4 or 5. However, that doesn't mean that you can't do a lot of fun stuff in Florida. We were stationed in Jacksonville and there is a lot of fun stuff to do with kids without spending big $$. Check out St. Augustine. It a very historical town (including the oldest European settlement in the country) plus they have a great alligator farm and zoological park there that's very family friendly (we have great pics). Children your daughter's age are just as spell- bound by a horse drawn carriage ride (like are offered in St. Augustine) as they are by a ride at an amusement park. Florida also has plenty of beaches, of course. Also, if you're driving down 95, make sure you stop at the "South of the Border" rest area on the border of North and South Carolina. It's super kitschy and fun for little ones, and there's a great little ice cream shop. My husband was sent to Florida several months before I was able to go and so we made that drive many, many times, and it's not too bad. Plenty of rest stops etc.

Hope this helps and enjoy your trip.

Probably depends on your child's temperament and your overall objective. Do you want her to remember it or do you want to see your friends and take some really cool pictures? Is your child easily overstimulated or overwhelmed by crowds? Can your child endure a long stay at the park or will you be ok with cutting your visit short (in spite of the $$) because she's in meltdown mode after waiting in the sun for long periods of time. My nephew remembers every vacation and birthday he's had since he was 2. My son, on the other hand, is an entirely different child. We took him to Disney when he was 2 1/2 and he didn't remember ever going until we showed him the pictures. (He does remember his birthday parties, though. Go figure.) Personally, I really think he was too young to appreciate the magnitude of Disney, although we know he enjoyed it. He squealed and screamed like any 2-year-old on rides. But, he did that for fewer dollars at the county fairs. (Even the playground.) At Disney, he tired easily, so we ended up spending only 1/2 the day there. We went in June when it felt like 100 degrees in Florida. We all were exhausted when we returned from the "vacation." The upside was that we have friends there, too, who we hadn't seen in years. So if you just want to see your friend and still do Disney because you're there, it's a trip you will enjoy, but don't do it if you're looking for your child to treasure the experience or if you want a restful vacation. This year, our son will be 10 and our daughter will be 4 1/2. That might be a bit more practical for the $$ it costs. I'm still debating the matter. I keep thinking it might be better to wait until she's 7 or 8, no longer needing naps, no longer having accidents, and able to voice when she is hungry or thirsty. Even if we go this year, I know we'd go at least one more time before my oldest graduates from high school. It's great to be able to say you were there at different stages in your development. I have some friends who are taking their young adult daughter and teen son this year. They should REALLY enjoy it and remember it forever.

When they can remember it. We took ours when the youngest had completed 3rd grade and the oldest had completed 5th grade. There were babies and toddlers in strollers complete with harried parents. We could get on any ride we wanted. We didn't have to fool with strollers or diapers. The kids could tell us what they wanted to do. They ate what we put in front of them and it was an awesome vacation.

Don't waste your money. Disney is very expensive. Disney is really for older kids...

YMMV.
LBC

On an extended family vacation we took our 1 year old twin boys and their 2 1/2 year old brother just one day to Disney out of the whole week in Orlando. Felt the family pressure to go since we were in Disney w/everyone. There was a reason everyone was free (under 3 free)! It was pretty miserable. We're an active family but it was too much, trying to keep our 2 1/2 year old son from swinging on the rope dividers for the VERY long lines we stood in was exhasuting. We went in October and the lines were just too long for any kids. I know there's a fast pass where you don't have to wait in lines and I'd definately recommend that to anyone who takes children. We're going back on the same extended family vacation this fall but now our boys will be 5, 5, 6 1/2 and I'm still planning on the fast pass. This vacation will be much better b/c all will be able to swim at the pool at the hotel and enjoy the Disney that Disney is known for.
J. :-)

Hi! I think your daughter is old enough to enjoy Disney. We have been to Disney twice and both times one of my kids was around 2 1/2. They loved it! There are plenty of rides for little ones there. The only thing you may find is that sometimes at that age they aren't into the character meet and greets.

M. W

I am a navy wife and stay at home mom to a 5 year old boy and a 3 year old girl.

My husband and I took our daughter to Hershey Park PA when she was 1.5 she was tall enough to ride a few rides but that is when we took her. You should try to check Disney's website on height requirements so you can be sure she will enjoy herself:)

We just went in December. My husband had a conference there so we decided to make a family trip out of it and celebrate my son's 5th birthday - he turned 5 the week we went. He had an absolute blast. My youngest was 20 months at the time. He enjoyed himself but sadly won't remember going.
HAVE FUN!

I personally would not bother bringing a child that young, unless of course you already realize the trip would be for YOU not the child. An almost 3 year old will not remember any of it. My husband was taken to Disney when he was 3 and remembers nothing (and his family never went back when he was older) We just took our girls, ages 6 and 4, this past Fall. I was thinking the 4 year old was still too young, but she did have a fabulous time. We will definitely have to do it again in a couple years so she can actually remember the experience. Some people worry about their kids getting too old for Disney. I think that's nonsense. My 6 year old had a BLAST (and really, so did I, and I'm 35!) Good luck with whatever you do. Oh, and one more thing. We rented the double stroller and it was the BEST idea. May seem sort of crazy that a 6 and 4 year old can't walk, but we were able to cover so much ground. Best thing we ever did.

A couple of things: Disney is expensive and at 2.5 there are lots of other things to do in Florida that she will enjoy just as much or more. If you can hold out until she is 5 to 8, I think you'll get the best experience for your money.

A lot of people are responding with how much their kids enjoyed it at that age but I wonder, how much did the parents enjoy it? We just took our 5.5 year old son and had a blast but there were lots of parents at the park with preschoolers melting down at top volume. Glad it wasn't me. I wouldn't have wanted to take my son any earlier than 4, tops. Even at 5.5 he still needed plenty of down time in the middle of the day. He really only liked Magic Kingdom at this age and some parts of Animal Kingdom. Hollywood Studios and Epcot were of no interest.

One final thing, it will be crowded whenever you go. I saw where one poster said she heard February was good. We went in February and it was crowded and COLD. Much to cold for any water rides, unfortunately. The Fall will be crowded too, so if you do go, schedule character meals in advance and take advantage of fastpass tickets for any rides (though at her age most of the rides don't have fastpass).

it realy depends on what you want out of it.

do you want to be able to have the realy cute pic. or do you want them to be able to remember what they saw and did.

try and remember what your eairlest memory is. most people are around the age of 3-4yold.

also figure out what sort of rides you are interested in and what rides the little ones can do. is that worth your money. if you are military dont for get to ask for military discount.!!!

hope this helps

Have fun.

My kid's first trip to Disney was at age 8. I think this was a good age because they were old enough to enjoy the rides, endure the long lines, heat and all the walking. Most of all they were old enough to remember the trip. We are freqent Disney travelers and find that October is a great time to go because it's less crowded and the weather is comfortable. Folks that I know who have taken younger children under 6 years old have commented that they wish that they had waited till the kids were older to enjoy. The heat, lines, crowd, etc. was a bit much for the little ones.

If she is not afraid of the characters than I think 3 is a fine age to take her. However, if she will be afraid of the dressed up characters than I would recommend waiting a bit. As far as the rides are concerned it is more about height than age and you can check that out on-line. Most of the rides allow you to ride along with her so it shouldn't be a problem. Have fun.

The right time is when they can walk on their own for the ENTIRE day without needing to be carried at all and stand in LONG lines without whining. That happened to be 5 yrs old for my daughter. She has unlimited energy for walking, but I was worried about the lines. I suggest coming up with some silly games to keep your child occupied in line. We played "I Spy" for colors, characters, different colored Crocs. Just about everything! I would also factor in height requirements before visiting. I agree with the other person, you can visit your friend without visiting DisneyWorld. My other suggestion -- if you're going multiple days to the park -- is to take a day off in between. You'd be surprised how content children can be just visiting the hotel pool. Have fun!

R.
It probably depends on the child. We took our granddaughter when she was 21/2 & she loved it. She is now 4 & still talks about going & the things she did & saw. We flew & now when she see an airplane she says we went on one of those to see Disney. Hope she enjoys it whenever you go.
A.

I think 2 1/2 is a good age as far as her enjoying it, however, my husband an dI have 2 girls , almost 3 and 14 months and we do not want to spend that kind of money on Disney until theya re old enopugh to remmeber it, like ages 6 and 8 or soemthing, but that is just us.

Because it is such an expensive trip, if you can wait a while longer, I would wait until she's 4 so she'll remember it better.

R.:

I raised three children and we took them on vacations at all ages but they seemed to enjoy and remember their vacations beginning at age three (3) which will be the age of your daughter if you go in the fall.

Children are such a joy and so trusting and energetic at that age (YOU) will get as much enjoyment out of the trip as she will just watching her enjoy all Disney has to offer children of her age.

Go and enjoy the trip without hesitation and remember to take plenty of pictures. Put dates on the back of them and put them in albums when you return and I assure she will enjoy looking at those albums and sharing them with family and friends even into adulthood just as mine do today.

I will keep you and your family in prayer for a wonderful, funfilled adventure to the fantasy land of Disney.

Sincerely,
B. K. M.
Roanoke, Virginia

Hi! We've taken our older 3 to Disney when they were 5, 3, and a little over a year old, and then again when they were 6, 4, and 2. While we were fine the first time, and the older 2 really enjoyed themselves, I really think that they were more "with it" and had a lot more fun the second time, when they were a little bit older. It is fairly expensive, and for us I felt that some of our money spent on "special" things, like the character meals, was a bit wasted because our kids were just too young. The first time, my 3 year old cried and cried at the Winnie the Pooh characters at our character lunch, so my older one ended up missing out on some of the fun because the characters didn't want to scare her brother. The meal was over $100 for the 4 of us (it's fixed price, so you can't just order from a menu) and even with it being buffet style, we had trouble finding things for my older one to eat since she's unbelievably picky. So you might want to hold off on the character meals until she's a little older.

Or not, you know your child best. :-)

Good luck!

Mary/F., mom to 4 kids under age 9 in the MD side of the DC burbs

http://F..typepad.com

My suggestion is to wait until she is 4 or 5. Before then she won't get much out of it and depending upon her personality (and nap schedule) you might find yourself spending an awful lot of money for a very short visit.

There are many other, fun, things to do in FL that might be more appropriate for a small child, such as petting zoos, outdoor playgrounds, etc.

Even if you just hang out with your friend and do typical kid things you'll probably all have a good time.

Good luck and enjoy your trip! L. E.

About me: Married for 17 years, stay-home mom/writer to 2 daughters, 8 and 2.

R.,
First of all I would like to say, Florida is a wonderful place to visit even if you don't go to Disney World and there are so many places to visit and see, one vacation couldn't possibly find them all.

Now to the question at hand. From experience (Mine) I would have to say a childs first young (under 5 years old) experience to ANY theme park will more than likely be challenging for both of you. You will worry about the crowds and your child not paying attention to them as much as you are and your child will be amazed of everything around him/her (especially if he/she has never been to a theme park) and possibly terrified of the costumed characters.

MY advise from personal experience with a 2 year old Take a picture of all of you at the gate. The first thing we do is explain to the child where we are going and what is expected of him/her. When we get to the park, we identify the "lost parents" booth, and tell the child (several times) what they should do if MOMMY or DADDY get lost. Find an employee of the park, show the child a store with an employee in it, so he/she will remember what kind of uniformed clothing they are wearing. Find a security guard and make a point to tell your child this is a "saftey guard" just in case "WE" get lost from each other. The park is large, so along the way pick out certain sights you think your child might remember, a store with goofy in it for instance, or a specific ride/activity. They are smarter than we think sometimes. Remind them to only talk to those people you introduce them to and the park staff (the ride operators are also good to show your children, they have radios)
However, If you do take your child at this age, do not expect the child to walk up to the costumed characters, they are usually terrified of them - wave at the recognizable ones from a distance and hold your child often to make him/her feel safe and protected. Don't make your child try to experience everything in one day. Use your childs emotions and imagination to run the park the first time, let him/her explore and go where they will, keep a close eye on your child at all times, they are slippery little buggers and can easily get lost in the crowd.

I would recommend taking a backpack filled with healthy snacks don't forget the water and sunscreen (no matter how dark your skin is, the sun somehow shines differently down there) everyone should have a back pack to carry their own things in and prizes when they win there even the 3 year old. Designate someone to be with the child during child rides and switch off, so everyone gets to play (sometimes this can be hard with a husband/boyfriend who really likes to play - trust me I know, but if you designate before going to the park everyone knows they have a responsibility to enjoy the park and have fun and help everyone else to have fun too)- the park food can become extremely expensive and if ingested by a child of 2-1/2 could become quite high energy and sorry to say - as high a crash. I guess I'm trying to say limit the sugar intake for the little one, or you may wind up going to the hotel early, with a migrain and a child that doesn't know why they are kicking and screaming. which reminds me - you should bring some kind of pain reliever - Tylenol, Excedrin - whatever you usually take, and as soon as you feel a headache coming on, take it with lots of water - and try to stay away from the soda for the rest of the day (I didn't take this advise when offered to me and wound up with a migrain for 3 days, trust me this is NOT fun)

It can be a great experience, even at 2-1/2 - although they may not remember this time later in life they will remember it on the way home, and it's worth it. TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES!! our camera was lost in travel luggage at the airport and wound up using disposables (this didn't ruin our vacation, but it did put a crimp in our reserved money) so take the camera on as a "carry on" so it wont happen to you.

I could ramble on forever about how a perfectly planned and executed vacation should be, but I wont bore you with anymore details, send me a message if you want more vacationing tips with young ones.. I've been on several trips mostly driving long distances, with young children and have survived!! Man I should design a T-shirt. LOL

Good luck on your trip. I wish you the wonder of it all!
Aloha
E. C

As a mother of four who’s been to Disney at different stages of all the kids, the absolute most enjoyable and memorable times have been with the kindergarden/5year olds. They are old enough to experience a full day. Play in the pool. Love the characters, shows and parades, and will even enjoy a few rides. An added bonus is they might actually remember some of your visit.

I went with my mother and son when my son was 4. He doesn't remember much, but the photos are priceless. Our finances were good and my mother wanted to see her grandson and go when she was healthy enough to enjoy it. We tied it in with visiting family in Florida and Georgia and took our time since my son was only in preschool. My son was really into Buzz Light Year and The Incredibles so the timing was perfect. If we had waited any longer, he would have not been interested. We only did Fantasy Land and MGM Grand and it was fabulous. Yes we had stress, lines, fighting, fatigue, heat - and we went in mid May. We had a great hotel as a gift from a friend and really did well financially on the trip so it didn't break the bank. I pushed the stroller around and it worked great - an umbrella one. We'd love to go again - now my son is 6. I'd like to go back before he's 8 and do it all over again. Yes we did plan and it helped tremendously. The Unofficial Guide to Disney helped me plan our trip. I say go see your friend and do at least one day at Fantasy Land and get lots of princess photos. Your daughter will love looking at them when she is older. Put her in her favorite Princess Costume and stroll her around. Life is short. And you will know what you want for the next trip :))

Honestly, I think 2 1/2 is way too young. I mean, she won't be able to do all the walking required because of her age and you'll have to get her in and out of a stroller all day. Plus, she really won't remember much of it -- if any of it even a year from now. I think a child needs to be at least 6 to be able to experience everything and enjoy it all and for the parents to enjoy themselves as well. Two year olds still need naps, are prone to temper tantrums and crazy schedules. I think it would make your trip more difficult and not as fun as it could be. Maybe go visit your friend, spend some quality time with her and do day things that the kids may enjoy and save up for another 4 years for a big trip to Disney when your daughter is 6 or 7. My kids are 4 and 3 and a friend of ours wanted to go this year and we just said NO WAY because we knew it would be too much and since it does cost so much we know we'll probably only be able to go once or twice in their childhoods so we want to make it memorable. Your daughter would have just as much fun going to a parade seeing different characters and it would be free. She's too young to know the difference at this point. Just my opinion, but it is something my husband and I have thought about quite a bit. Good luck and hopefully you will still go visit your friend!

Hi R.,

I took my son to Disney last year when he was only 15 months and that was extremly too early. We are actually planning on going again this July and he will be almost 2 1/2. I really think it all depends on your child. I still don't think my son is ready to go back but it is family trip with in-laws and the whole shabang. There is a lot of long lines and walking and for us it will be really hot out. If you do go, just have a lot of paitence! At that age they will probably enjoy the parades the most.

i would say like 5-7 for the first time, but you know what? life is short, take lots of pictures and you enjoy it too. have a great time!

L.

We took my son right before he turned 3, mostly because kids are free if they're under 3! We stayed in one of the cheaper disney hotels while we were in disney so that we could go back to the room for his nap. It worked great. He loved it. We had a couple of tantrums at the beginning, but once he realized that he could go on rides and see Mickey, he had a wonderful time.
A few things that made it easier on us:
using an umbrella stroller-there's lots of walking, even to get to the stroller rental areas. I tried renting one the first day and realized that I had to carry my son for like a mile or more to get to the bus stops and parking lot!
we got a little fridge in the room and got some kid food: yogurt, cheese sticks, crackers... from a local grocery chain
having the hotel room on disney soil was terrific-we used their buses and it was so easy to get around
we went back to the room for nap and my husband and I took turns getting lunch at the hotel food court and brought it back to the room and had a nice, quiet adult lunch together every day! The food was a little pricey (although not as bad as I thought it would be), but it was really good! We ended up having breakfast, lunch, and then a snack most days because their lunches were so big, which helped the budget.
we also went in the fall and there were no lines! We went early in the week and most locals go at the end of the week. We only spent 3 days there and that was plenty. He mostly wanted to ride the same thing over and over. He loved it, but his schedule was off and he started to get cranky at the end.
We had a great experience!!!

Hi R.!
I guess it depends on what you want to do in Disney. Just remember there are a lot of the "Big" characters that scare a lot of children. I've only been once (couldn't afford it when I had my son). I have a very good friend (no children of her own) with lots of nieces and nephews & her rule of thumb is when they turn 8 she takes them (she's been there every year for about the past 8). My sister-in-law's mom lives in Florida & has season passes to Disney & a place called Animal Kingdom. My twin nieces love Animal Kingdom (they're now 13), but have been visiting Florida since they were 3. Heck it might be easier on you to just enjoy the scenery & the time with your friend instead running around.
My idea of a vacation - beach, sunshine & a good book (ok, you'll have to get sandy & play with the baby in the sand) Besides the beach is cheaper than Disney!!!
Good luck & enjoy yourself.

Hi R.,
We took our daughter at 27 months...she absolutely loved it.
There are still plenty of things for small kids to do/see and was mesmorized with the Disney princesses. (We had lunch with them at Epcot Center.) We just came back from there now a yr later and she did not forget the first time and this was even better. We stayed at a Disney Resort which made it worth it since she still takes naps we went back in the afternoon to rest and then back again in the evening. We also took advantage of extra Magic hrs in the am or pm just for Disney Resort guests. Oh and fastpass what you can...and go to flying Dumbo first. As long as you tell her in advance what to expect...darkness, rides, etc...my daughter adjusted just fine. good luck and have fun!

It is expensive, so save your money for later. If you take her several things will happen.
She won't have a good time because of the long/hot days and she can't ride most of the rides. Not to mention the lines.
Whose going to sit it out when the other adult wants to ride a ride?
But the best reason is that she will not rememeber it. Wait until she is older and can get more out of it or you will end up doing it again.$$

She will be just fine. I took my oldest son to Disney World for the first time when he was 13 months old and we went again 6 months later. If it is just you and another person, you won't be able to go on any rides. However, Animal Kingdom and MGM Studios are great places for people with toddlers since there is so much to see. You can also take her on the Kiliminjaro Safari tour which has lots of beautiful animals and plant life you can show to her.

OK, I don't think my 2 cents worth is going to add much value to you at this point, but I felt compelled to write anyway because I took my kids to Disney a few years ago. They were 6 and 8 and it seemed like the perfect age. They were still young enough to think all of the charachters were cool, yet old enough to walk the parks and ride on their own.

As others have said plan, plan, plan. There is so much to do, you really need to narrow it down and reserve WAY early. If possible, schedule a down day to do absolutely nothing! Also, we would spend a few hours in the park then go back to the hotel and nap (even me) and then go back to the park for a few hours. It seemed to work really well for both of my kids and especially for me. We were all less cranky! Whatever you do, come up with a plan because you will be tired!

I hope you have lots of fun.

Perfect age! Actually, all ages are perfect for Disney really. I'm a former Disney cast member (I did resort sales) and can highly recommend that you go in August/September because that's when they usually do their preschool activities in the parks(such as live concerts with the Doodlebops!) Be sure to call 407-W-Disney and ask lots of questions! Sorry, no 800 #! Also, you may want to look in to booking a princess breakfast MONTHS in advance because they do sell out months ahead of time. Have fun!

I have four children, I waited until my youngest son was five. Just because when they are small they don't remember much. He remembers all his favorite parts, they talk about Disney and when they are going back at least twice a month. It's such a wonderful place. We are going back next year. If you look into everything early and explore your options it's not as much as it could be. I hope this helped. Have a wonderful time. Don't forget to visit SeaWorld.

First, don't believe anyone who tells you it is less crowded in the fall. We went last Oct and the lines were just as bad as the times we went in summer. A friend went in Nov and said the same thing. I hear that feb is a good time to go because it is warm enough for swimming but the spring breakers haven't come yet. we're going to try that next time. I think when you go depends on your expectations. We went for my daughter's 4th birthday (birthdays are a good time-they really celebrate it well-and go to breakfast with Cinderella at the castle when you go, it was a highlight). My daughter didn't want to go on any rides until we were leaving and preferred to spend all of her time in the Magic Kingdom meeting characters. She was scared of most rides. If I did it again, I would go a full week, and in the middle of the week take a day by the pool to refresh. Good luck to you!

In my opinion it's too soon. I remember when my son turned three (he's twenty now and soon leaving for Navy!) he was a Sesame Street fan, and so "Big Bird" came to his birthday party. Scared him to death. He cried for the rest of the night. So, kids that age are overwhelmed by all the characters they may love on tv or in their stuffed animals. And really, there's not much for kids under five at DW. By then they can begin to enjoy the characters, the rides, and maybe a show or character breakfast.
Another bit of advise from one who's "been there"...don't rush the years! There are plenty of age appropriate activities and experiences all through their childhood. I'm at the end of that road, yet feel like we're moving into a whole new adventure with our son, but it's never going to be the same. Cherish the years...
L. E.
Virginia