This was our first trip and my kids are 3, 5 & 7. My 3 yo had fun and loved meeting all the characters, but I wouldn't say he was super excited. My other two were definately excited about the whole trip.
IMO, five or six is the perfect age, especially for the first time or if it will be your only trip. My DS and DD have both been at these ages and I think this age is most "magical." They can do pretty much anything (some exceptions on the roller coasters) and they are young enough to "believe" in pirates, princesses, and pixie dust.
We chose to go when our youngest could go on the rides she'd want to go on after witnessing a little girl turned away from a ride back in '92.
I wonder if the height requirements have beeb lowered since then because I remembered the little girl being bigger than 40" or 44" for the typical thrill ride.
We just got back from our first "family" trip. DS is 8 and DD is 6.
DS got to go on everything he wanted except for Expidition Everst and that was because he couldn't find an adult to take him). He even did Summit Plummet. A bonus for US was that he was still a "kid" on the Dining Plan. He loved the thrill rides, but he was also really in to Character autographs and he was old enough to "blush" around the Princesses. He was interested in World Showcase, which we mostly missed.
DD is a small 6 and was just 44" tall. She was measured a few times, but "passed" each time. She passed up most of the thrill rides - her choice - but was fascinated by Space Ship Earth, of all things. She was old enough to stay awake for Fantasmic, Illuminations and the Fireworks at Disney but young enough to sit on my lap and sleep on the bus trips home. Her favourite quesion was "Is that real?".
These are the ages I also recommended to my sister for her kids' first trip.
I wanted to wait until our girls would be old enough to remember stuff, but DH was really anxious to take our first Disney trip. Someone that DH works with said something that stuck with me....The first trip is for the parents! LOL But it's true. There's something about seeing your very young children awed and amazed by all the magic Disney has to offer.
We took our girls for the first time when they were 4 and 15 months, and the pictures, videos and memories are worth every penny we paid! Our oldest DD remembered a little bit from that first trip. We went again when they were 6 and 3, and it was just as much fun as the first time because it seemed entirely new for our youngest. Our girls are 8 and 5 now, and we are all just as excited about going as we were the first time. I think the "best age" is whenever you decide to go...although I probably wouldn't wait until the kids were teens because nothing you do with your parents is fun when you're 13! LOL
We went last summer and my kids were 6 & 9 1st time for them. My 6 yr old when she was younger didn't like characters but she loved them now. She was still afraid of the 4-D shows like "Bugs Life" though. Her favorite ride was "It's a small world". I've seen them young as a week old to senior citizens. It's funny what kids will remember. We stayed in a cabin near Mt. Rushmore when my youngest was like 2.5 yrs old. I remember we just potty trained her that summer before the trip and took her potty chair with us just in case. Of all the pictures we took of the monument she told us she remembers the little pool. What pool? They had a small wooden barrel hot tub we went into. It wasn't anything fancy or worth taking pictures of but she remembered that. LOL At whatever age you decide to take them I'm sure you and they will have a wonderful time.
This was our first trip and my kids are 3, 5 & 7. My 3 yo had fun and loved meeting all the characters, but I wouldn't say he was super excited. My other two were definately excited about the whole trip.
Good luck with your planning.
Christine
IMO, five or six is the perfect age, especially for the first time or if it will be your only trip. My DS and DD have both been at these ages and I think this age is most "magical." They can do pretty much anything (some exceptions on the roller coasters) and they are young enough to "believe" in pirates, princesses, and pixie dust.
However, I think any age is perfect for Disney!
HTH!
Susan
http://www.beentheredonethatgoingback.blogspot.com
We chose to go when our youngest could go on the rides she'd want to go on after witnessing a little girl turned away from a ride back in '92.
I wonder if the height requirements have beeb lowered since then because I remembered the little girl being bigger than 40" or 44" for the typical thrill ride.
We just got back from our first "family" trip. DS is 8 and DD is 6.
DS got to go on everything he wanted except for Expidition Everst and that was because he couldn't find an adult to take him). He even did Summit Plummet. A bonus for US was that he was still a "kid" on the Dining Plan. He loved the thrill rides, but he was also really in to Character autographs and he was old enough to "blush" around the Princesses. He was interested in World Showcase, which we mostly missed.
DD is a small 6 and was just 44" tall. She was measured a few times, but "passed" each time. She passed up most of the thrill rides - her choice - but was fascinated by Space Ship Earth, of all things. She was old enough to stay awake for Fantasmic, Illuminations and the Fireworks at Disney but young enough to sit on my lap and sleep on the bus trips home. Her favourite quesion was "Is that real?".
These are the ages I also recommended to my sister for her kids' first trip.
Cathie
My dd was 6 and ds was 4 the first time we went. The trip was especially magical for my dd, so that was a perfect time for us.
But really, any Disney trip is wonderful! :-D
Have fun planning!
I wanted to wait until our girls would be old enough to remember stuff, but DH was really anxious to take our first Disney trip. Someone that DH works with said something that stuck with me....The first trip is for the parents! LOL But it's true. There's something about seeing your very young children awed and amazed by all the magic Disney has to offer.
We took our girls for the first time when they were 4 and 15 months, and the pictures, videos and memories are worth every penny we paid! Our oldest DD remembered a little bit from that first trip. We went again when they were 6 and 3, and it was just as much fun as the first time because it seemed entirely new for our youngest. Our girls are 8 and 5 now, and we are all just as excited about going as we were the first time. I think the "best age" is whenever you decide to go...although I probably wouldn't wait until the kids were teens because nothing you do with your parents is fun when you're 13! LOL
Amy
Amy
If your kids do not mind costumed characters then I would say go now!
We just went in MArch w/ my 12 yo, 5 yo & 3 yo.
We went last summer and my kids were 6 & 9 1st time for them. My 6 yr old when she was younger didn't like characters but she loved them now. She was still afraid of the 4-D shows like "Bugs Life" though. Her favorite ride was "It's a small world".
I've seen them young as a week old to senior citizens.
It's funny what kids will remember. We stayed in a cabin near Mt. Rushmore when my youngest was like 2.5 yrs old. I remember we just potty trained her that summer before the trip and took her potty chair with us just in case. Of all the pictures we took of the monument she told us she remembers the little pool. What pool? They had a small wooden barrel hot tub we went into. It wasn't anything fancy or worth taking pictures of but she remembered that. LOL
At whatever age you decide to take them I'm sure you and they will have a wonderful time.
Kathy