When Are Kids Old Enough for a Trip to Disney??

Definitely too young. I was amazed at the numbers of families with kids who were toddlers and younger. I wondered, "Who are they doing this for?" We just went for the first time this spring and my kids are 5 and 7. My 7 year old was fine, but my 5 year old was still a bit young and would have preferred to stay in the pool and skip the parks altogether. Not only is standing in line an issue, but the transportation time to and from parks eats up quite a bit of time, and the heat can be tough for young kids (my kids are wimps). Do lots of research in advance about park times and the best times to go, etc. Also, plan where you want to go and what you want to do as much as possible in advance.

Summers are extremely hot in FL. The tickets are quite expensive. If you go now, they won't remember the event. Wait until they are at least 5 or 6 yr old and can walk and the younger one isn't afraid of costumed characters. You may want to go early in the morning. Come back to the hotel for lunch and afternoon swim to cool down and rest. Go back to the park around 5pm when the lines get shorter and it's cooler.

Disney is great at every age!! My kids are 5 and have been to Disney 5 times already. They remember all sorts of stuff from previous years. It is a lot of money, but it is worth every cent. There is so much to do that you don't ever have to get on a ride if the kids don't want to. We get there as early as possible and head back for a nap mid-day, and then go into the park afterward. We also go in the off season and hardly ever wait in lines. Everything is so magical and the kids are enthralled and inspired and amazed at every single age. I love Disney and we continue to go every year.

We just had a 31/2 y and a 2 1/2 y old at Disney World. They did great. There was plenty of things for them to do and ride. ToonTown and Fantasyland are geared toward the younger kids. Disney has a whole pamphlet on doing DW with kids under 5.

If you go for more than 1 day, get the hopper pass. Then you can go in the morning, take a break and rest for a few hours and then go back in the evening. If you stay at one of the resorts, I suggest either the Contemporary, Polynesian or Grand Floridian. They are all on the monorail and getting to and from the park is a breeze!

M.

I took my daughter last year at two and half. She loved it. That being said we are vacation club members and go regularly. It was the best trip we ever had. But we did take on the attitude that if she needs a nap we would go back to our room and all take one. We loved this because it is rare in the real world that we get this opportunity so that was a huge plus for us. We also did not stress if she didn't get to see everything or that she was too young to do things. We just played it by ear. She was terrified of the characters the first two days then she couldn't get enough. We tried not to force her to do anything she didn't want to. Mt father took me on space mountain when I was four and I still remember how terrified I was. This was because he wanted me to do everything cause he didn't know when we would be back. I can tell you as a four year old I remember my trip and loved it though. I would recommend only going with your kids at this age only if your attitude is going to be laid back. If you want them to experience everything that is offered I would wait. Take care.

I told my hubby that I didn't want to take the kids to Disney until they were old enough to remember the experience, let's say -at least 5. My MIL planned a trip for the whole family and my kids were ages 11,9 and 8. We also had a baby who was 9 months. My BIL and SIL kids were 4, 6 and 12. They ALL had a blast!! The 4 year old would fall asleep in the stroller while we all walked around the parks. My baby is a picky sleeper and unless she's out of her mind tired, won't fall asleep anywhere but her crib or packNplay. My hubby and I took turns staying at the hotel with her for the morning nap. We then met the group at one of the parks and headed home with her around 7. We also, as a group, would go out right away in the morning, come back for some "down" time and for the kids to swim in the heated pools, then went back out later. Sure, the kids might not remember the experience so much when they are 15, but you could always go again when they are more like 9 and 10!! Magic Kingdom has so much to do that you could spend your whole time in just that park! I would also recommend the Fast Pass. I'm sure it's already been mentioned, but in case it hasn't...you pick a ride you want, get a fast pass, then come back in the time slot it gives you. Usually, about 45 min. to an hour later. You get right in with very little wait. We plan to go back when our youngest is older, too. She was only 9 mos when we went in January, but just in the past 6 months, she's changed so much that we were just talking about how much she would LOVE Disney now!! In a way, I think we waited too long. My daughter had a small window when she was in to the Disney princesses. We missed it. My niece was all over it, getting autographs and such, but my daughter was too old. I would have loved to watch her face as Belle approached her and talked to her. Speaking of.....definitely do a meal with the characters. When you book through Disney, they are fabulous about making sure you get what you need. If you want to do a character meal, you have to plan it ahead of time. We did breakfast in Cinderella's castle. The princesses come around your table and will sign autographs - you can buy an autograph book there, or bring your own. It was pretty cool. Sure, my older kids loved Epcot and the rides, Tower of Terror and Rocking Roller Coaster (so did I!!!!!!!), but we kind of missed out on the "magic" of the characters by going too late. Also, the characters don't approach you. You approach them. The ones in the big costumes, like Ballou the bear and the Beast, even Mickey and Donald.....you can go to them, but it's not like your youngest will be sitting there and a big character will come at him. Believe me, Disney knows kids and they make it a wonderful experience. Good luck and have fun!!!

Our kids were almost 3 years and 6 months old when they went to Disneyland the first time.

We just took them to DisneyWorld this past Jan. and they were 2 1/2 and almost 5.

They both still talk about it! They both LOVED it! Since we went during Jan. (off season), the longest we waited in line was for our VERY LAST ride and that was 45 minutes. Most other waits were 15 minutes or less. My son dislikes costumed people as well and had NO PROBLEMS at Disney. It's a kid friendly place!

And we took them on lots of rides. Including Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, etc. They were not scared of any of them!

As for naps. Our kids still USUALLY took them at home but on our vacation we would be there at opening and just stayed at the parks till about 6 or 7 most days and then left. They did GREAT! Neither one got cranky any of the 3 days we were at parks! And the last day we stayed till 9.

We did bring a Jeep double side by side stroller that the kids used pretty much the whole time. But there is stroller parking by almost every ride so it was great! And we left a backpack with our lunch in it on the stroller so it also served us well as a holding spot for that! Didn't have to drag our heavy bag on every ride with us.

HOWEVER, if you are looking for a RELAXING vacation, DISNEY IS NOT IT! Disney is a lot of work. Tons of walking. Planning. Money. If you want to go on a relaxing vacation, take a cruise with your kiddos! We've done that twice now too! IT"S GREAT! We recommend Royal Caribbean. (We were NOT impressed with Carnival as that was a total "party ship".) Take a cruise to the Bahamas on a slightly older ship for a really relaxing vacation. That one was our favorite. And because all food is included, it saves a ton of money! As for excursions, there is plenty to walk around and see for free at the stops!

I think everything depends on the kid. My oldest daughter is 3 and has been to Disney 4 times. She loves the characters and loves to get their autographs. We have been to all 4 parks with her (at various ages), but have found the Magic Kingdom to be the best for younger kids. You could spend 2 full days there and have a great time. If you kids are really into animals Animal Kingdom might be a good idea for you. My daughter did not really care for it.

We always hit the park first and start over in Adventure land and do Aladdin's Carpets, Pirates of the Carribean and Haunted Mansion before heading over to Fantasy land to hit Peter Pan, Snow White, Its A Small World, Winnie the Pooh, etc. Take advantage of the Fast Pass. Buzz light year, Peter Pan and Winnie the Pooh all have them. We try to get a Peter Pan one right away....you can get the next fast pass when the time on you current fast pass starts. For example if the time to come back is between 10:15 and 11:15...so at 10:15 you can get your next fast pass (and you don't have to use the fast pass during the hour window they give you...you can come back anytime after the start time.)

You can always hit the park early in the morning and then do a nap in the afternoon with the kids and go back in the evening. 3 and 4 are great ages for disney. Check out some online sites for deals and "ways" to do Disney on the cheap. Good luck!

I would personally wait one more year...unless you plan on taking them back in a couple years. If your younger one may be afraid of the characters, do not do a character breakfast. My 14-yr-old is still "scarred" from a character coming up behind her high chair at a character breakfast and tapping her on the shoulder with his face right up behind her head. She FREAKED and won't go near "characters" to this day. I think she was 3.5.
They would have fun even at this age, but won't remember it in a couple years. Plus, they tire easily at their age. I think 5 & 6 would be ideal, but like I said, you can always go back!
Here's a great tip for you. When my kids were little, we bought 10 day non-expiring park hopper tickets. When we go to disney, we only spend 3 days at the parks...every other day. We spend the other days at the resort we are staying at, swimming, relaxing and giving the kids a chance to recoup, and on those evenings we go to Downtown Disney or for icecream at one of the resorts and for a monorail ride. It makes the trip more relaxing then trying to cram in 5 or 6 hectic days at the parks with the kids being tired and cranky. Those 10 day tickets are pricey on the front end, but it gave us 4 trips to disney where we only had to pay for lodging and spending money (we usually go every other year or so and still have 4 days left). Also, prices go up almost every year, but your tickets are paid for!
I don't know how people with little kids go for a week and try to cram in 5-6 days at the parks...if they are only going for 1/2 days, they really are not getting their money's worth and it's pretty pricey!
Anyway, no matter when you go...have fun!!

Oh, we went this past year & stayed in a townhome with a resort pool plus our own private splash pool out behind the townhome. When we asked our 6 year old what the best part of her trip to Disney was, she said swimming in the little pool at our house :) Go figure!

My boys will be 4 and 2 in October when we plan to go. My oldest is very tall right now (42") and can get on a LOT of rides. Use this website as another backup plan to find if it is even worth going:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/height.htm

Disney is very expensive and you have to make sure you and your children are ready to take this on. We go to Hawaii every 2 years b/c we have a timeshare there and my oldest (who was 3 at the time) still talks about it. However, be prepared to dump out a lot of money if you are going to stay "on site". We are not going to do this, as I have secured a deal at the Marriott Harbor Lake Orlando for $300 for the week (and it has a kiddie water park!) We priced hotels and this was the best deal for both us and the kids and it gives them something to do other than a plain pool. Look at your options and make sure you are happy with what you're doing cause we now know that believe it or not, going to Hawaii is cheaper than staying on site at Disney!!! We travel constantly, so I am very cheap when it comes to vacations. If you have questions on to how to make your vacation cheaper, feel free to ask.

We did Disney when our children were 2 1/2 and almost 5. It was wonderful! There's nothing like visiting that place with little ones. It truly is magical! They had a wonderful time and we felt it was well worth it!

Your concerns are valid. You need to take time to let them rest or they won't enjoy it. You don't want your family to be the ones dragging crying over-tired kids through the park. That's more of a money-waster than taking a break in the middle of the day.

A website I HIGHLY recommend is called TouringPlans.com. They give you a strategy for how to maximize your time at the parks - which day to go to which park, what order to do things. You can customize the plan based on the age of your children, how many days you have to spend there, and what you want to see. It made a huge difference in how much time we wasted standing in line. We were there when the park opened each day, took a break for lunch/naps, and left by 6-7pm and still felt like we'd seen everything we wanted to see by following their advice.

We also paced ourselves by going to the park every other day while we were there and having rest days in between. We were there a week and spent 3 days in the parks. My kids definitely still remember it as being one of our best vacations ever!

I find it interesting that the people who don't recommend going now are the ones who haven't taken their kids this young and the ones who have all thought it was great! Do it!

The first time we took our kids to Disney they were 3 and almost 2. I was afraid they might be too young and we had the absolute best vacation ever. We had so much fun we took them the next year when they were 4 and almost 3. I think a lot of it (just like anything else) is your expectations. We never did make it to see any of the fireworks as the kids were just too tired which was ok. The first year my daughter was a little shy around the costumed characters but loved the princesses and fairies (not in costumes) . A lot of times we would head back to the hotel in the mid-afternoon for a rest but sometimes they just caught quick naps in the strollers too. Also another big factor is when you are going... if you go during the popular times it might be very difficult waiting in lines. We went in the "off-season" - late September and it was great, hardly any lines. The longest line by far was for Dumbo - like 40 minutes or so. All other lines were less than 10 minutes and a lot of times we walked right on. That is one big plus with smaller kids - you don't have to worry about pulling them out of school. Plus the vacation is less expensive when you go in the off season too.

But again, the biggest factor in the success of your vacation is the expectations - whether it is to Disney or anywhere else! Good luck!

I just wanted to leave one comment for you: Do not believe those parents that state children 3 and 4 will not remember it. My 3 year old nonverbal son with autism remembers our Disney trip over a year later. If you don't think your children will do well there's no harm in waiting but you might be surprised by how things go.

We took our daughter last year (April) when she was 3 1/2 and she is still asking when we can go back. We got the Disney planning DVD and went online and worked out which rides would be suitable and we organized out trip around those. We also took a cheap umbrella stroller so that she didn't get too exhausted. We took afternoon naps (which we all needed) and were able to stay up for the fireworks which she loved! Standing in line wasn't too bad as their are so many other kids to interact with and there is so much excitement. We also had the dining plan (the cheap one) and we had more than enough food (we ended up taking the extra food on the plane trip home). Plan ahead and you will have an absolute blast - we are going back in November we all loved it so much.

in all honesty i would not spend that kind of money and they can't remember that they have been there. don't get me wrong i wanted to take my four year old but i felt like i would give him another year or two before i took him. i know some peole say "oh were going to be on a budget". but when your kids see all the stuff your going to want to buy it for them. my parents said they would be on a budget when we went i was 16 my sis was 6 and they spent almost 3 grand on just us. mind you we went to disney, stayed at the swan/dolphin/ and went on the cruise ( it was the first year it came out) so they spent alot on us! the three grand was spending money!!! i just think let them get a little older so they really remember it! but to each her own. maybe take them to michigan adventures or cedar point first. and those two few hour trips will give you an ideal on how well your children will travel. but what ever you do i hope you guys have a great time!!! good luck!

We took our son for the first time when he was 3 going on 4... he remembers ALL of it... and has been begging to go back every year. We're headed down next fall for "Not Back To School Days".

We stayed for 5 days in the disneyland hotel. Wake up, eat, go to the park. Come back after 1-2 hours, have a swim in the pool and a snack. Park, pool, meal... park, pool, snack, nap. Park, pool, meal. Park, pool, snack. Park, pool, snack, bed.

It was a really great routine, fun & relaxing & no stress & got to stay cool. I used to live in Huntington, so we'd go to Disney all the time (1 or 2 times a month, it's uber cheap for residents)... but it was an all day affair. I GREATLY prefer staying in the hotel.

As far as standing in line... don't by and large. Go on "Fast Pass Rides". You can do 1 fast pass ride per hour. Which is perfect for doing 3 rides an hour. Fastpass, line, fastpass, back to the hotel for a swim/snack.

personally i think it depends on how often you are planning on taking them. i have a coworker who took her daughter at two (a complete waste of money if you ask me, but the same child also pretty much runs the show, not going to bed till 11 or midnight, etc) and they are planning to go again (and she is now 3 and a half) i find it ridiculous myself, but i suppose if they have the money to spend, that's their life. to me that would be the trip of a lifetime so i would wait until my son was at least 8 or 10. i would want him to appreciate it as well as enjoy it. it does sound like a blast though, if you go, have fun!

To be honest it is up to you. That may not be alot of help but what I can tell you is my mom took me to Disneyworld when I was about 4 and when I was about 12. I remember only fragments from the first visit though I do remember being tired, sometimes excited and over overwhelmed. Now alot of people dont remember that age so I am lucky to remember anything at all. I remember our second trip better but I was at an awkward age and the reason behind going wasnt exactly the best reason so my memories are a bit tarnished (seriously, if you are going to give a kid bad news dont give them a great day and then spoil it with the news. Also dont take them to a place you cant have fun because if you complain the whole time it wont be fun for them either!). So you need to ask yourself- do you really want to spend that kind of time and money now when they may not remember it when you could wait a few years for them to be older? If you wait for them to start school they would be more likely to remember going and would still be young enough for it to be very magical. In either case you may want to take lots of pictures that way if they remember they can share on the story telling and if they dont remember they can enjoy looking at the pictures and dreaming about going back! And remember have fun! They wont have that much fun if you dont!

I don't have a definate answer, but we're hoping to go at the end of next year, when my daughter will be 6 and my son almost 4. He likely won't nap then and he's a go go go go kid anyway, and I think that it will still be plenty "magical" for my princess adoring daughter. I, like you, didn't want to spend all the money unless we could be there all day.

We're also thinking of maybe doing a disney cruise instead, as I think that the characters and the fun is what they'd like at this point, not so much the rides.

Hope someone who's "been there, done that" can offer more concrete advice!

It really depends on your kids. I started taking my daughter at 18 months... I fully admit, that trip was more for me than her (although she really did enjoy herself). She took naps in her stroller with no problem. My husband and I took her again when she had just turned 2 and she loved it again. We went back this spring when she was 3.5 and our son was 9 months. She LOVED it. We went without a nap for a few days while visiting the parks (we did naps on non-park days) and she was tired at the end of the day but did OK (normally, she takes a 1.5 hour nap) - and our son napped in his stroller. So I think you really have to guage your own kids' temperment. If they'd melt down without a nap, you may want to wait a couple more years. Or you can visit during a time when the parks are open longer hours and head back to the hotel for a small break mid-day for naps.
Further, my daughter is also scared of costumed characters so we just steered clear of them. She's OK with the princesses, Mary Poppins, and the male character from Aladdin (can't remember his name...) because they have real faces (no masks or major paint on their faces like a clown).
The lines aren't a really big deal - just effectively utilize the fast pass for longer waiting rides. And if you avoid visiting during the very peak times (like Spring Break, etc), you shouldn't have to wait very long in any line.
Again, this is all dependent upon your own kids' temperments. And your own expectations/preparedness. I've seen miserable families in the parks and I was admittedly a bit nervous about our most recent trip (with a 3.5 year old and a 9 month old) - but it ended up being an absolute blast. But I just made sure to pack snacks, water bottles, etc - along with some items to help my son nap in his stroller (teddy bear to snuggle and a beach towel to cover the stroller while he slept) and we were good to go!

The question should be, ARE YOU READY FOR A DAY AT DISNEY? Children require naps during most of their pre-school age. If they are not feeling 100%, it will be difficult to have a great time, rewarding, and bottom line, worth the money and extensive planning that should go into such an endeavor.

The first trip we made with my boys they were 4 1/2 & 1 1/2. We've had annual passes ever since. We've added our daughter to the famly who made her first trip at 17 days old. They are now 9 1/2, 6 1/2 & 13 months. It has been great! The kids do amazingly well. It does take some planning but it can work.

I took my 3 1/2 yo daughter when I was 4 1/2 minths pregnant with my son...she remembers ALL of it and that was 5 years ago (she even remembered I said we would go back when my son was 4 unfortunately I"m unemployed so that didn't happen)......we went for 5 days and stayed on property, I think the only day she took a nap was the first day and that was a travel day also so we were up and at metro at 6 am (though they were long days we enjoyed every minute of them), I say go ahead and go the only thing that disappointed me was her aversion to the characters (took her 3 days to want to get close to one) but if your 3yo is afraid of clowns they may never be comfortable with costumed characters so don't let that stop you from going just know you may not get many pics with the characters (the lines for them were super long anyways)....we went in February and the lines weren't bad, fast pass was great......plan ahead, be realistic in expectations and you will enjoy the trip.

I just came back from Disney and I have a just turned 6 year old boy and a soon to be 9 year old boy. I felt like this was a good age to take them. Disney is very accomodating to people of all ages/cultures/physical ranges/and physical capacities. Your children being the ages they are would probably really like the Magic Kingdom because they have the most age appropriate rides for them. Every park there has rides for them but the Magic Kingdom has the most for their ages. Every night the parks have "magic hours," and a few of them stay open LATE. The heat made it miserable and what we did was take them at night until very late and therefore did not have to wait in lines or miserable crowds of people. You will want to have a meal plan with reservations. You can dine with characters and they come around the table but they don't hang over your kids that way if a child doesn't like the experience it's short lived and non evasive for them. I recommend the Garden Grill at Epcot it had Pluto, Chip and Dale, Minnie and Mickey and they just come by and greet the children. I would take them out SUPER earlier like be there when the parks open. Take them back to the hotel for a quick serve lunch and dip in the pool, have a big snoozy nap and head out for a sit down reservations dinner, (late and give them a snack to keep them from being fussy) then head out for the magic hours park(get a park hopper pass believe me you will need it) and enjoy. Holiday Studio's does NOT have a stitch of shade! The lines are LONG HOT and MISERABLE and most attractions will leave you standing in a line for atleast an hour. My just turned 6 year old (turned 6 the day before we left) could not understand the long lines and it was hard on him. My 8 year old did fine. Also, most of the rides are going to be scary to children your age so just because they tell you they won't be they will be! You'll want to get a few books that allows you to read about the rides ahead of time. Some are jerky, or most at the MK go up really high and come back down. I was impressed at how NICE most all of the Disney employees are to guests. I have to agree with MIRANDA Disney is NOT relaxing you will not be relaxing on this vacation... lots of walking, sun preparation and searching for water and food for cranky kids. No matter the nap times you kids will still get tired. Ours and I saw TONS of others their children were fighting over water or kicking eachother parents argued...we're all HUMAN but Disney ain't relaxing fo' sho'!

Well, if you don't go during peak season, you won't have to wait long in lines. Avoid Spring Break/Easter, mid-summer, and between Christmas and New Years no matter what with kids that young. Anyone doing 7 days of Disney should thrive on 3 hour nap or swim break, no matter what your age!

We took our girls to the Magic Kingdom the first time when they were 6 and 4. The 6 year old LOVED 99% of everything, all the "mountain" roller coaster were a huge hit. The 4 year old, however, did not like the "dark" rides at all, even the tame ones. She did like the teacups and smaller "Goofy" coaster, but avoided a lot of the main attractions, though she was tall enough, so she kind of missed the magic. Both hated the Haunted Mansion. Neither of our kids was up for waiting in long hot lines to meet characters. We also visited Animal Kingdom (which was very fun), and Epcot, which our whole family loved.

Went again now that they're 8 and 10, and the BOTH loved all the main attractions, it was definitely more "fun for the whole family"

I think it depends on your kids. We just took our kids this past June. I have a 2 year old ( just turned 2 in June) and almost 4 yr old ( will be 4 in Aug.). I knew they were ready because they know all the characters and kept asking to go to the castle to see Mickey. As for naps the 2 yr old still takes one nap a day. I just skipped it or she napped in the stroller. We all had a great time. Good luck with your decision : )

Our kids were 6, 4, and 2 when we went and they all had a BLAST!! We didn't push it at any park, and took our time everywhere we went. But if you get in the parks early, you can get the passes to ride later with no wait. We did this for Magic Kingdom and it was AWESOME! We waited maybe a total of 30 minutes that day! It was not a waste of money at all, it was the most amazing trip. We said we would wait 5 years to go back (becuase we went at Christmas and it is SO busy then) but we are looking at going again this spring!! So exciting! Our youngest keeps asking us if we can go back to Disney today :). It made a huge impression on his little mind. They even did great in the long car ride!!

We went as a family when my little sister was 7, I was 9, and my older sister was 11. It was great for my older sister and for me, but my little sister still got pretty worn out, could not go on all the rides, and my dad had to spend a few afternoons in the hotel with her. My husband and I want to take our kids when they are older, but we don't want to go until the youngest is at least 8 or 9. It is also easier for parents to enjoy the trip if the kids are a bit more independent and responsible, especially since it is a strange and very crowded place (not to mention a pricey vacation). I would stick to national parks, unusual museums, aquariums, and zoos for now. They are cheaper and there are usually great things for kids to do and wonderful memory and picture opportunities.

Every age is good for Disney, just the way Walt wanted it :)

Try to find the book "Disney on a Dime" at your library.

Sign up for www.mousesavers.com. There will be a link for www.undercovertourist.com. This will save you $ on your tickets. Try to get at least 7 - 10 day hopper passes. Even if you take a day off in the middle of the week, you can go see fireworks at whatever park you want even the first night you arrive, then you won't feel rushed trying to cram everything in. Its your vacation...RELAX during it!

Rent a house in off peak season. Research ebay. Be sure you are happy with the address from the seller before you reserve. We were within 2 miles of the park entrance. We found a 5 bdrm house last Jan for $75/night. And yes, let your kids have a nap during the day, then they'll be ready for fireworks every night :) Yes, you will have to pay parking each day but you won't have to mess with any bus schedules from Disney transportation and if someone has a meltdown, you can just go take a break. We took a set of grandparents with and they split the cost of the house, which made it even cheaper and was really nice and they babysat for my husband and I one night so we could walk around Epcot in all the countries after everything else was closed, it was so relaxing to just take it all in. No lines in January!!!

Grocery shop for breakfast, lunch, snacks & drinks, they let you take coolers into the parks!

Buy most of your Disney souvenirs before you get down there. Your kids won't know the difference. You can even buy glow necklaces/bracelets at the dollar store before you go so your ready for each night!

It is absolutely magical for the kids and adults...Mickey is used to kids being shy of him, even Winnie the Pooh and friends were so good with my kids, they were hugging him, such a sweet surprise and priceless pictures. I have no regrets!

Hi LIsa-

I am taking my son who just turned 4yrs old 2 weeks ago to Disneyland next week. He has been wanting to go, but I felt that he was too young, we are finally going this year. I just wouldn't want to take baby because you have to deal with feedings, changing diapers and crying.... Honestly I want to say that 4years old is a good age for Disneyland.

I took my daughter to disney when she was almost 4 for the first time. We go every year. Magic Kingdom in Disney World has a whole little area for kids. MIckey's house, etc. Pooh's area. Also MGM Studios (I think they took the MGM part out of the name) has playhouse disney shows with bubbles and all the playhouse disney characters. My daugher never liked the guys dressed up as characters but the playhouse show they are on the stage and the bubbles go everywhere. She absolutely loved it. You need to time it right though. We stayed in Disney. Rented the stroller from Disney because you use it and leave it at the park and can pick up another from another park. We use to go for a 3 hours or so in the morning and then went back to the hotel for nap and pool time. In the evening we'd go out to dinner and my daugher was stil good to go back to the park for more fun. They eat free on the Meal deals and they do cater to kids.

That depends on what your expectations are for your trip.

Our twins are 5 yo and we have been several times, for short periods. The first trip was when they were almost 2yo, for 2 days only. Since then, they have been 3 more times, and each time we kept it to a 4 day trip w 2 or 3 days at magic kingdom only. We also go with family members every time.

Our last visit was on their 5th birthday and it was my favorite so far. They could ride almost everything, don't nap anymore, and can use the potty. They could walk everywhere and didn't use a stroller.

Updated

That depends on what your expectations are for your trip.

Our twins are 5 yo and we have been several times, for short periods. The first trip was when they were almost 2yo, for 2 days only. Since then, they have been 3 more times, and each time we kept it to a 4 day trip w 2 or 3 days at magic kingdom only. We also go with family members every time.

Our last visit was on their 5th birthday and it was my favorite so far. They could ride almost everything, don't nap anymore, and can use the potty. They could walk everywhere and didn't use a stroller.

You can't really go wrong, we have loved every trip to Disney and save our pennies for the next trip!

My parents took my sister and I when we were 3 and 4 - I never remembered going as a kid or as an adult - the only reason I knew we went is because they told us and a few pics. If you have not gone anywhere yet I would try going somewhere a little closer to home first. I have plenty of friends who take their kids to Hawaii, Disneyland and the likes - I on the other hand think it is a complete waste for kids under 5 years old. If you are doing it for you and you think it will fun then more power to you but if you are only doing it for your kids - I am pretty sure doing any activity with them outside of the house will be just as rewarding for them.

I suggest you go to San Diego county - take you kids to Legoland, Sea World and the San Diego Wild Animal Park (or else the San Diego Zoo.) These are all more age appropriate for 3/4 year olds. They will especially LOVE Legoland where they can ride on most of the rides, there is a water play area and lots of hands on playground areas with Legos. My twins are five and and we are just now considering taking them to Disneyland next month - I would not have done so before.

we plan on taking our girls in a few years they will be about 9 and 6 by than. Even though I would love to go now because my 3 year old would be so excited she loves Mickey .

I would say at least five. They have a lot of rides they'll be able to ride if they're tall enough. I would say that you could take a mini vacation to Chicago and take them to Shedd's Aquarium; it's awesome! Or, if you want to get away, fly out to San Diego, their zoo and Sea World are the bomb! I've never been to the Sea World in Florida, but I absolutely adore the Sea World in San Diego. Good luck!

They are DEFINITELY old enough for Disney and you can most likely kiss the naps goodbye the whole time you're there. All of our girls were 3 the first time we took them and they were completely awestruck. Have fun! If you have any questions, we're headed there in a few weeks for our 4th trip with kids in tow (older one is now 9 and the twins are 5).

We started taking our daughter when she was a little over 2 and then went every 2 yrs after that until she was 14.

We always stayed on property at the Polynesion which is on the monorail line and when she was small and needed rest time, it was easy to catch the monorail or boat taxi back to the hotel for a rest.

As she got older, we explored the other parks more.

When she was older she LOVED the rides, in the beginning she was into the characters, etc.

It is a lot of money but we have always had a great time.

We took my daughter last year, like 2 weeks before her 3rd birthday. She LOVED it! It's been 15 months, and she still talks about it.
Her favorite part was meeting all the characters & having them sign her autograph book. She did not however want to ride any rides, but I think that's just my kid, I think its a personal fear of hers. She still took naps at that time, and so what happened is she fell asleep in the stroller at about 3:30 pm. She only slept 1 hour instead of her usual 2.5 hrs, but she slept good that night!
The other thing we did was see shows, she was very intrigued by those.
I say go for it!

Dineyland or Disney World? We just took my 3.5 yr old daughter to Disneyland last week. We did a 2 day hopeer pass at the park and spent the night at a hotel. Besides the fact tht she was sick the 1st day, she loved it and we had a blast. My best advice is to not do the fantasy land rides until later in the evenng, the lines are just way too long. I think it would be hard to do with her at that age if we did not have a hotel room to go back and relax mid day and swim in the pool(and she does not take naps). Our last night we stayed up pretty late and closed the park but we got to do all the fantasy land rides woth little to no wait. If you cannot afford a room then I would suggest to wait until your youngest is 4 or 5, but if you get a room and do a 2 day hopper pass then it is totally worth it and fun for 3 and up. Our daughter is fearless so she went on some of the bigger rides, like Pirates of the Carb (and held her hands up on drops) and haunted mansion, so we did those rides during firework shows (again no lines at that time) and we took the train to get from one end to the other. We hit up Californis Adv during the day, they have a great Bugs Life area which is perfect for little ones.Also in that park they have an Artist studio tat has a Beauty and the Besast librarry (whre you see what character you are most like) Ariel area and you can talk to Crush the turtle. She is still talking about how much fun she had and how great the rides were. If oyu have any specific ?s about Disneyland feel free to mess me adn I can tell you anything about our trip.

I know you asked a few days ago, but I thought I would throw in my 2 cents. We have gone twice with my son. Once when he was almost 3 and once when he was almost 4. I don't regret it one bit! I understand the fact that your kids may not remember much, but I promise that some of it they will never forget. We went in May with our son, and he still will randomly talk about it to people. Telling them all about how much he loved Splash Mountain and how Tower of Terror was scary (for all of those parents that say there isn't enough for you kids to do, I say, have them try everything...the worst thing that happens is they say they don't like it!)! But I think the most important reason to take them when they are young is because it is still MAGICAL!!! My aunt and uncle took their 3 kids at 8,6, and almost 3. While all 3 of them had a wonderful time, my aunt said it was so sad that her 8 year old didn't "buy" a lot of things they were doing (pretending and such)...he was just too old to see the magic! I hope this helps, and have fun (whenever you go)!

Personally, I think they should be at least 4, but alot depends on the child. Disney is overwhelming, especially for us kids over 40. At ages 2 and 3, they are not going to remember it. Just something to keep in mind, it's extremely exhausting to do Disney for a full day, no matter what age. Everyone I know who goes, heads back to the hotel for a 2 or 3 hour break.

Have you take them to Six Flags or some park like that?
That would be a good way to find out if your kids are ready or not.
I think the fact that they take a long nap during the day is not bad, actually, I always recomend that if you are going to Disney you should make sure your kids take some rest other way they get over tired, it also will give you and dad a chances to rest, and believe me, you will need to.
You also should go with the idea that this first vacacion to Disney you will not see everything. The only time I got to see everything was when me and my husband went alone.
With that on mind, Disney is great if you go with the mentallity to see what you can without making your self crazy.
They also have the parent swap, so while one of you wait in the line, the other parent can be with the kids.
I think the only time that is not good to bring kids to Disney is when they are infants, but after that, come on, is Disney!
If you stay at one of the hotels in Disney, you have some extra hours that are only open to people that stay in the hotels.
At the end, only you know what your kids will be ok or not, like I say, you may bring them to a small (cheaper) park and see how they do, however, the difference is that in Disney you can go rest to your hotel when your kids get grumpy and come back later.
Also don,t forget about the outside Disney great things to see and that are open late at night.

7-15 yours r too young plus you have to be a certain height to ride rides don't waste ur money