My favorite part about Walt Disney World is that it truly is a magical experience for all ages. But when you ask for opinions on the best time to take your kiddos to Disney, there are so many varied opinions that you may as well be talking about politics or religion!
People get really passionate about when to or when not to visit Walt Disney World with kids and most people are divided into 2 camps: Team “Take Them as Early as Possible” or Team “Wait Until They Can Remember.” And each team tends to hold long and fast to their opinion!
No matter which team of thought you are part of, Walt Disney World has something for everybody! Today we are going to explore the different benefits of taking each age group of kids to Disney World.
Ages 0 – 2:
This is probably the most highly contested age group for taking kids to Disney, and it just so happens to be my absolute favorite! Yes, the Godfrey fam recently got home from week and a half long Disney World Extravaganza with our kiddos, including a 1 year old and 2.5-year-old – so we are definitely Team “Take them Early!” And there are a few reasons why.
IT’S FREE….For the baby at least!
Arguably the most cost-effective reason to take a baby is that Walt Disney World allows its youngest park visitors (under the age of 3) FREE admission into every park and free dining at buffets/character meals (they can eat off your plate which at buffets is “All You Care to Enjoy.”) That means you could save a lot of money by strategically planning your first trip before your child’s 3rd birthday.
We priced out both going the month before my son’s 3rd birthday (while he was still free) and right after – the price difference was almost $1,000 for our 12-day trip! The significant cost savings is a definite perk of taking a baby or toddler to Disney World.
The MAGIC!
This is my absolute favorite part of taking babies to Walt Disney World. At 1 and 2.5, my boys still believed in all things imaginary and all things magic, so everything about Disney World was still so real to them!
Seeing the magic of Disney through my toddler boys’ eyes will be something that I will never forget! There is just something so special about watching your baby meet their friend Mickey Mouse (who is VERY REAL) for the very first time and riding their first Disney World attraction.
From each character meal to each Cast Member interaction, my boys’ first trip was absolutely amazing! I’d do it over and over again (and we are about to visit again now that they are 1 and 3) — even if they never remember a thing.
Ages 3-6:
For people who are adamant about waiting until their kids are old enough to “remember,” this age range is the sweet spot. Preschoolers are the perfect age and height to ride almost every ride at Disney World (SN: if you have a very tall 2-year-old – like us – they also may be able to do this.) This makes for a really fun trip!
They absolutely will REMEMBER!
I will never forget my 1st trip to Walt Disney World! I was around 4 and distinctly remember being so sad that I was not tall enough to ride Splash Mountain. Your preschooler will be familiar with the characters and old enough to be able to request their favorite experiences like rides and specific meet and greets.
Since our son (now 3) has been, one of his favorite things to do is watch the Happily Ever After Fireworks show on YouTube. His biggest requests for our next trip back are to “see the fireworks” and “the Disney Junior Dance Party.” I absolutely love that he has his very own Disney World favorites from our last trip and that he is counting down the days until he gets to see them again!
And if you have ever had a kiddo in this age range, you will know that they don’t forget anything AT ALL. If you’re dead set on saving your child’s first trip for a time when they will remember going, then this is definitely the age range for you.
The Ease
Taking preschoolers comes with a lot of perks! By this age there are no diapers to change or bottles to prepare — that definitely cuts down on the amount of gear that you will have to haul through security and the parks.
And even though I am a HUGE stroller advocate and will still be pushing my boys through the parks as preschoolers, it is definitely more convenient when your kids are big enough to actually stand in lines since you can’t bring strollers into most ride queues.
The MAGIC!
Oh, what magical world of princesses and cupcakes and Minnie & Mickey is Disney World to a preschooler! There are so many experiences that are special for this age group at Disney. At 3, these princesses and princes are finally old enough (and tall enough) to ride most rides and participate in most experiences.
Many of the shows are interactive, which is perfect for little ones who dance and sing. Bippity Boppity Boutique is a magical place where beginning at age 3, your kiddo can become an elegant princess or shining knight – right your eyes!
Ages: 7 -11
Our daughter was 7 the first time we took her to Disney (and I was pregnant then too!) She had just reached the age where she was so, so easy to travel with! She was tall enough to ride every ride in the park and needed no naps/breaks, so we were able to cover a lot more ground in a shorter amount of time.
This past trip she was 10 and she was basically like a travel companion, not a kid. No demands, no requests; she was literally just down for the ride and grateful to be missing so much school. Lol! Enough said.
A lot of people consider elementary-age kids to be the perfect age for Disney and it is easy to see why!
Older kids travel light!
Goodbye to the days when you need a diaper bag, change of clothes, extra snacks, or even a stroller! Kids in this age range make for a super easy visit to Disney World, in my opinion. They are big enough to ride everything in the park that they’d like, can sit through shows without needing to be in someone’s lap, and are just altogether a really fun age to travel with.
The MAGIC!
I guess you might be seeing a common theme. I believe the Disney Magic was just as alive for my almost 11-year-old! It is a different type of magic than when she was 3, but still something that makes every single trip worth it!
Ages: 12+
This age group is entering magical territories I know not of, but will soon! Since my oldest kiddo is 11, I haven’t taken a teen to Disney World, but we will know very soon just how awesome it is!
But I remember my own experiences as a teen at Walt Disney World, both on school trips and with my family, and it was so much fun! Teens are able to have a lot more freedom at Disney, which means that their parents get to equally share in that freedom.
Older and more independent
I have friends who take their teens to Disney almost every year and love it! You get to further enjoy parts of the park that aren’t as easily enjoyable with young ones – i.e. Food & Wine Festival at Epcot or After-Hours Events in the park – and they are also old enough to ride things alone if they want to.
I’m picturing quick date dinners at the resort hotel alone with my hubby while the kiddos enjoy pizza and a movie upstairs in our room. Or letting them ride Tower of Terror over and over to their heart’s content all by themselves – the possibilities are endless!
The MAGIC!
I will never, ever forget the MAGIC! While many people consider Disney World a destination for small children and their families, Walt Disney created it to be a magical place for everyone. Teens aren’t exempt from the Disney Magic!
There are so many experiences available that a teen would enjoy, from a fine dining experience at California Grill or one of the many deluxe dining restaurants to a Behind the Scenes Tour (many of which one must be 16 years of age to participate.)
And can you imagine the fun a teen would have spending an entire day at the awesome pools at the Disney resorts?? I can’t wait to one day experience Disney through the eyes of my teenagers!
As you can see, Walt Disney World is truly a place of magic, wonder, and fun for kids (and adults) of all ages! No matter what age you decide to take your kids for the first time, I know that Disney still has a world of magic in store for you!
Great article!!!! The best age is right now!!! Every age is magical even if you’re an adult! The first time I saw Minnie Mouse as an adult after having not been to Disney since I was a teenager, I teared up!!! We took our girlies for the first time when they were 2 ‘and 3 and I would absolutely do it again!!! Fantastic article!!!
Thank you! I agree, every age of kiddos would be amazing! Heck we might take the baby as a BABY lol! We can’t stay away!
We took ours at 1 & 3 and can’t stop going! That age was great to test out their like or dislike for the characters.
You’re right about that! Even though Joshua is older, he definitely took longer to warm up to the characters. But Judah loved them right off the bat!