The Perfect Age To Bring Your Children...

When they are old enough to pay their own way.

I am a firm believer that any time is the perfect time to enjoy Walt Disney World with your kids. There is simply no such thing as "perfect" so just prepare, go, and have fun!

My favorite age of doing Disney with my kids was when they were 3. All the trips when the kids were 3 have some of my best memories.

True story, Vettelover!

I'd say either 2 years and 11 months (when they're still free). If you're going to go multiple times, start from when you can stand to deal with meeting their needs and navigating 3-5 miles in parks simultaneously. If you're only going once, make sure that they are tall enough to ride everything they might want to ride.

I think 5 and 7 sound perfect too! They will be old enough to mind their parents and stay up a bit later, but young enough to still believe in the magic

I agree Katie..Anything under 3 I think they'll be hard to remember what happened..

The first time I went with my daughter and her family my granddaughters were 3 and 5 and there was a few meltdown moments. The next time we went my granddaughters were 5 and 7 and what a difference.

Amen!

We're taking our little one for the first time when she is 2-1/2 years. At that age it is probably more for us since she won't remember anything, but I am ecstatic to have the memories of seeing her in the park for the first time and getting pictures with some of the characters. We also know we will need to be much more laid back and let her schedule dictate what we get to do and see. Now we are planning on taking her back several times as she grows up, so if this were her once-in-a-lifetime trip I'd probably wait until she is a little older.

Our first trip my kids were 6, 5, and 4. My youngest doesn't remember anything, my middle remembers some but not all, my oldest remembers everything (down to wetting her pants on Dumbo ) so my vote is 6 at the youngest if you really want them to remember the trip. That said, I loved having my kids there at the ages they were and I wouldn't trade that for anything. The innocence and excitement of really young kids is really great and a memory I treasure.

The memories of watching the little ones glow in the magic is worth all of it. We took my niece to DL before she was one. When she was awake and bouncing around to music it was awesome. She has no memories but I smile every time I think of it.

That's it!!!! Blondie is going back when she gets a job!!!!!

Blondie was 5 her first trip. Then we went a few months later and she was there for her 6th birthday. She did fine on both trips. I heard the "get a stroller" story from several people but we never did. She got tired a couple times but a snack and a sit down for a little while fixed that. There is so much going on she didn't want to miss ANYTHING! She will be turning 8 right after her first Disney cruise!

The First time I went I was 5 - honestly I cannot remember much of the trip however we do have pictures which help and I would say that's the perfect age!

Even for the little ones, the 3 and 4 year olds, you can't be sure what they will and won't remember. Some little kids have pretty good memories, and if something makes a huge impression on them, they'll remember. Maybe not all the details, but enough so it will be a cherished memory for the rest of their lives.

I think personally, if it's 3 or under, then it's only remembered by the parents. I mean, my parents took me to Disney for the first time when I was 2 but I don't have any memories of that. Otherwise, I do think kids will be more likely to remember when they're a little bit older when they'll actually remember interacting with the characters or their first ride on Space Mountain. So I think 5-7 age range works perfectly. But that's just me though.

I was about 6/7 weeks old and my brother was almost 3. That was our first visit. My brother remembers little from that trip, but we have tons of pictures and when he sees the pictures he remembers some things. My parents never let children stop them from traveling. We were in tow all the way and loved every minute! Once my parents honeymooned in Disney World, they were hooked!

I am torn by this one as we waited until ours went first with the school music trip. But in honesty, while there are kids having a ball and their family with them ( my brothers were about 10ish when they went), I also see the little princess dressed to the hilt in glitter being literally dragged thru the parks crying because they are past their tolerance point and you can almost hear the parent mumbling ("I paid $#@&%# dollars to put on this show and I am getting every dime out of it!!!!) No one is having fun at that point, including those of us watching the show.

We ate at Liberty Tree Tavern with our family for dinner (not our brightest choice as we liked the lunch menu) but while we were "trying to order" there was a very young child, maybe 1 or 2, who my children now refer to as "Devil Child" that screamed, not whimper, not cried, not cried and then hiccuped and then slept, but SCREAMED SO LOUD NO ONE COULD TALK....ALL THROUGH DINNER. Once in a while an adult would take the child outside and he would calm down, but then they would return and IT STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN. This happened FOUR TIMES during dinner alone. It was so bad the wait staff offered us the dessert as take out (family style that is not allowed). What I don't understand is if this child was disturbing soooooo many people that they broke their own rule about take out, why couldn't someone in charge ask, plead, or offer that family a take out.

My husband will never go back, not because he didn't like the food, but he just twitches when the name is mentioned.
For those going, it's important they know their children's tolerance points, how often they need naps and breaks, and what is their fears (as best they know) so that all can have a good time and want to go back again...and again...
Sometimes the money they are spending isn't for the child, it's for them.

Nice, and the age seems about right for a young princess with her royal father. Those are nice memories for both.

I was more referring to the two year oldish or younger ones that M&D are spending a fortune on for which they(the kiddos) will have pictures but no memory.

Just got confirmation we will be taking the 7 and 4 year old niece and nephew. Excited but hoping I can keep them rested enough to feel comfortable. And avoid melt downs.

DS will be just barely 2 when we go. Although we have to pay full price for his plane ticket, he gets into the park for free and is allowed to eat off our plates for free. I know he won't have any memories of the trip, but I know he will have fun (with plenty of breaks in between ) I've been showing him ride videos and he keeps smiling and saying 'Desmond ride it too!' So I am just excited to see the look of excitement on his face when he gets to ride Dumbo or the Magic Carpets! So although I don't think it's the 'perfect' age, I'm still confident we will all have a great time as long as we keep his belly full and give him plenty of rest

Truthfully, I think it depends on the child. The first time we went with my niece and nephew, my niece was 5 and my nephew was 2. My niece loved the princesses and the characters, but was afraid of many of the rides. My nephew however, was totally brave and nothing bothered him. The second time we went, my niece was 8 and loved everything, but my nephew, who was then 5, was afraid of everything. It was so weird.

45

Took my "Kids" when they were 62 and 60 ... Just the right age.

They cameback at 64/62 they again at 66/64 ..

Lol... ...Yeh..Nice one sir...

I heard the advice once that if you use the excuse that you want to wait until your kid is old enough to remember it, you might as well apply that to everything and then you'll never be doing anything with you child until they're school age! Just because they won't remember it doesn't mean they won't enjoy it in the moment and isn't that just as important?

Perfect age....hmmmm. That would be legal drinking age. I'm just kidding. Or am I? Of course I am. Maybe.

Nawwwwwwwwwww.....

I totally agree! There is no "wrong" age to visit WDW. I think it really comes down to parenting skills v. children. I wasn't allowed to run around like a brat in restaurants and act like a fool. My parents made me behave and I knew better. children will only do what you let them...

Gonna say it again - you can't be sure a 2-year-old won't remember Walt Disney World. Most might not remember anything, but a few kids will retain at least some memory of an experience that huge and amazing and wonderful. Seriously.

But even if they don't remember a thing, I think the pertinent questions are, will they enjoy the trip? Will they have fun? And will it be a cherished memory for YOU? If the answer is yes, go for it.