Tuesday Travel Tip - When to Take the Kids

I hear this questions all the time..
What is the best age to take my child on a Disney vacation?
I'm not sure there is a right or wrong answer to this question. I believe it's more of a personal preference for you to make based upon your family vacation style.

I personally took my first Disney vacation at eight years old and have many fond memories of my trip. I remember Chip and Dale terrorizing me at the now Cape May Cafe character breakfast and my dad humming "It's a Small World" the entire trip.

As a parent, I took my son on his first trip to WDW at 23 months old. I was met with many negative comments about taking him because he wouldn't remember it or he wouldn't be able to ride anything. We went again when my son was about 3.5 years old. He was tall enough to ride almost everything and we had another great trip. We are now planning his third trip for his 5th birthday in January.


As you can see, we are not the typical Disney vacation family. My husband and I both love Disney and learning new things about the parks. We have both been many times and always find something new or interesting. We have passed this love to our son and he is already a Disney lover at the age of 4.

So here are some of the pros and cons as I see it on taking a toddler or pre-schooler on a Disney vacation..
PROS
-You get to experience Disney in a whole new light. Seeing the joy on their faces as they meet their favorite character is priceless.
-Let's face it.. Disney is made for families. If you have a kiddo in diapers or run out of baby food, they have great baby care centers in each park.
- They are free until they turn 3! My son's first visit was free other than souvenirs. He rode on the plane for free since he was under two (barely!) and he was able to eat off of our plates at many of the restaurants.
- Kids can really ride a lot of ride! Many rides don't have any height restrictions at all. If your child isn't tall enough to ride parents can do a rider swap where one stays with the kid while the other rides and then switch.
CONS
- Naps are necessary! You might not be able to get as much done as you like.
- Meltdowns happen..
- Hauling lots of extra stuff like a stroller, car seat and other baby supplies.
- You may have to enjoys rides on your own.

As I said before, it's really a personal preference that is for you to decide. I can't put a magic age out there that will be perfect for your family as everyone is different. If you are the type to go to Disney multiple times, I say take the kids at any age. If you are the one and done type, I would wait it out.

Regardless of your opinion, keep it to yourself at the parks! On my last trip I was encounter by a very rude woman at the Animal Kingdom who said that kids shouldn't be allowed in the parks if they need a stroller. Seriously? My son was enjoying his popcorn while we pushed him along and her kids were running to keep up with her. I just have to wonder who will have fonder memories of their family vacations..

Plus you get adorable vacation pictures like this. I plan on getting a picture of my son with Mickey at O'hana as long as he'll let me.