What age? Disney World Vacation Question

[thecooperhouse]

We took my daughter to Disney Land last year and it was amazing to watch her face light up with everything!

With a new baby and school we just can't do a vacation this year, so we are thinking about going next year to Disney World.

At what age is the "Magic" still there for kiddos? I know kids enjoy it at any age with all the fun stuff and rides, but the magic and amazement and believing int he characters - when does that end?

[amylynne01]

Whenever they stop believing in Santa and the Tooth Fairy? I'm hoping until 7-8 for the magic. We just went in January, and my girls were 3 and 20 months. If we were planning on only one Disney trip while our kids were young, I'd wait until they were 6-8. But we plan on going every other year, so age wasn't as big a deal. The plan is to go again in January 2013 when my girls are 5 and 3.5. I think that is going to be an awesome age!

Don't forget that kids under 3 get in free at Disney. That made us want to go before our younger DD turned 3 to save a little money. There's no way we can go again before she turns 3, so we're saving up!

[joshmamabear]

I think the "magic" never ends for all ages. We've brought our kids as often as we can to Orlando and Anaheim since they were babies in strollers. I just noticed they were more receptive to all the sights and sounds starting at 2 y/o. When they reached the height requirement for rides, that made it even more exciting for them. DH and I are old YET there is always something to fascinate us when we visit. That makes us look forward to a Disney adventure all the time.

[jolly321]

I think the "magic" never ends for all ages.

100% agree. My son is 10 and the magic is still there. Heck I am 33 and it is still there.

[heartse]

I think the "magic" never ends for all ages. We've brought our kids as often as we can to Orlando and Anaheim since they were babies in strollers. I just noticed they were more receptive to all the sights and sounds starting at 2 y/o. When they reached the height requirement for rides, that made it even more exciting for them. DH and I are old YET there is always something to fascinate us when we visit. That makes us look forward to a Disney adventure all the time.

100% agree. My son is 10 and the magic is still there. Heck I am 33 and it is still there.

Same here! We took DD when she was 11 months old, and that was a bit young. Then we took her when she was 3, and she loved it, but didn't like the dark rides, and she was too short for some rides. We are going again this December, when she's 5, and I think that's going to be very exciting for her. She's starting to get over her fear of the dark, so that will definitely help.

A month or two ago we were looking at pictures of the trip. When she saw the picture of her with Tink she said "That's not the real Tinker Bell, is she?" I think she was cueing in on the fact that Tink was her size, not fairy-sized... because she didn't mention any of the other characters not being "the real _____".

[meems]

The magic never ends! My youngest is 21 & she has been 27 times! My 23 YO, went there for her honeymoon..

First trip for them, DD#1 was 3, DD #2 was 1 1/2.

[heartse]

oh, yeah, I forgot to mention... DH and I went to WDW to celebrate 6 months before our wedding, DL on our honeymoon, DL 6 months later to go to the 50th anniversary of that park, and then to WDW 6 months after that when we went to Florida to visit his grand parents. Yeah... I would say we are a bit Disney obsessed!

[thecooperhouse]

I know she will have fun at any age, but I want to see that look on her face when she sees everything!

[momof2inohio]

We have gone just about every year since my kids were about 3 and 1 1/2. Last year we went and my DD was 8 and DS 11. My son was a bit bored, he loved the rock n' roller coaster and some of the other bigger rides but he is at an age where he isn't into most of the Disney stuff. My DD still had fun but I could tell she was not as excited as previous years. I know they would still have fun at any age but I think the younger kids have much more fun.

[blossomed]

Here is my plan: Age 2.5 we are going to do magic Kingdom - just a day or two to enjoy Dumbo (but mostly because my defination of happiness as a parent is to see your little one on Dumbo) and then at age 5 we will do the big trip!

I took my nieces when they were 4 and 8. The 8YO remembers more but the 4YO was way cuter. The 4YO went on every ride - even tower of terror. Her favorite ride was the bus - you know the one that takes you from the hotel to the park! She knew that meant the beginning of a great day!

I would say based on development of the child - 4-6 will be the magic years. and 6-8 will be the enjoying and remembering years.