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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Would you take an under 5 to Disneyworld Florida?

64 replies

HollyGoLoudly · 04/06/2018 11:16

Just that basically. My thoughts were it was too young - between the heat, the walking, the activities, the excitement etc. I would be worried its a very expensive way to end up with a cranky kid who didn't enjoy it as much as they would if they were a few years older. I was thinking more like 7/8 would be the youngest I'd consider it.

Would love to hear stories from people who have done it and the pros/cons of taking them young vs later on in primary.

OP posts:

Imjustalittlemeh1 · 04/06/2018 13:13

We took our ds who is 4 to Disneyland Paris this year, we ended up hiring a buggy for him as he was so tired. Had to carry a massive bag of snacks and drinks (Disneyland was very expensive to eat and drink) . We left his younger brother 20 months at home and was so glad we did, queuing etc would have been a nightmare, keeping him entertained whilst waiting for his brother etc would all have been very tiring on top of the amount of standing and waking you do.
We want to take them to Disneyworld but have agreed to go when they are older so 8 & 10 ish.
My parents took me when I was 7, i remember it and loved it.
Why not try Disneyland Paris first, shorter journey, cheaper etc

MorganKitten · 04/06/2018 14:28

I went at 4 I think - my first SD was from Florida so on a family holiday we went. I didn't go back to Disney (California because its a nicer state and all round better weather and other things to do) until I was in my 20s

tillytrotter1 · 04/06/2018 14:58

Why do people hire buggies? They charge a fortune, the first day of any US trip involves a trip to Walmart or Target to stock up on picnic box etc., were I travelling with a young child, I'd also buy a buggy. Why not take your own, they usually don't incur a charge on the flight. If you buy one, please don't wait until you're in the car park to open the box, we spent ages once helping a lady undo the cable ties holding her new buggy together!

AllyMcBeagle · 04/06/2018 15:03

If you do go, go in mid-January. You can just walk straight onto some rides without a queue and there are rides that you'd have to queue up for hours for in the summer which only take 10 minutes' queuing at that time. The heat is also much more pleasant.

But generally I think it's expensive and they won't remember it so wouldn't bother myself.

Minniemagoo · 04/06/2018 15:04

It depends on whether its the trip of a lifetime. If its your only shot then no, older would be better but if its something you can afford then definately do. We've taken the kids every few years and its been wonderful to see the different reactions. Until DS (youngest) was 7 we only did Disney but last time we did Universal, he was 9, and it was a much bigger hit.
I think the youngest we took them to Disney was 18 months, which they don't remember but they definately remember after about 3.

MrsJayy · 04/06/2018 15:07

To be honest we were a little overwhelmed and underorganised that is why we hired park buggies she didn't have a pram to take and we had no hirecar to get to shops the hire wasn't that expensive

Newspeak · 04/06/2018 15:08

We took my DS two weeks before he was 3. He loved it! Was the first time he had been on a plane which he loved. It just takes a bit more planning when you go out (snacks, water etc). The only annoying thing is you have to leave your pushchairs in set buggy parks (sometimes a little distance away) so if taking a little baby would definitely take a sling. My DD was 8 and if you are only going once in a lifetime this is the perfect age. Old enough to enjoy and remember it but still believe in the magic. We are going again in 4 years so my DS can have the same experience at DD.

SheGotBetteDavisEyes · 04/06/2018 15:08

I wouldn't. Sure, they'll have fun, but they'd only be able to access half the experience. That said, I think I'd probably have to have a gun to my head to go to Disneyland all, so I'm probably not the best person to ask

Original poster

HollyGoLoudly · 04/06/2018 15:08

Lots of useful info and things to think about. Pretty sure it would be a once in a lifetime thing on our budget so I am leaning even more towards waiting until they are older. Thanks everyone!

OP posts:

Newspeak · 04/06/2018 15:09

Once in a lifetime definitely 6-9 years old. It is magic at any age though.

hungryhippo90 · 04/06/2018 15:11

My DD didn’t go until 9, but I hope it’s ok I weigh in with my opinion, there was the most darling little girl in front of us queuing to see the princesses who must have been about 4, and she was SO into it. She seemed to be far more taken in with it than my 9 year old, it made me feel guilty that we waited so long.

That being said, if it’s a once in a lifetime trip it’s worth waiting until your child is bigger, but if not. I would be tempted to go, be at the park for rope drop, do a couple of fast passes In the parks whilst it’s still fairly cool, head to water parks during the peak hours of the day, lazing in the lazy river! Grab a bite and head to the parks again in the eve with a pushchair, hop on a few more rides or take in the fireworks.

Rivers of light could just be the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen (it’s in animal kingdom) if in Animal kingdom of an evening please please book your Pandora N’avi river for 7:30-8pm ish. The land will light up around you!

VodkaKnockers · 04/06/2018 15:14

We are planning out 3rd trip next yr and youngest DS will be 8. Previous trips he was 4 and 6 and still talks about the 1st trip.

Definitely either buy a buggy or take one with you. It's $15 a day to hire in the parks but you can pick up one in target or Wal-Mart for around $25. We did this on our 1st trip and it was well worth it and you will plenty of other parents doing the exact same thing. There is a LOT of walking involved. WDW is massive!

WhatToDoAboutWailmerGoneRogue · 04/06/2018 15:21

My parents took me when I was 4. While I apparently loved it at the time, I don’t remember any of it.

It’s nice looking at the photos, though. Especially the character ones.

Original poster

HollyGoLoudly · 04/06/2018 15:23

@hungryhippo90 Ah your post is making me think again! Guess DP will get a say in it too (maybe ) but just the though of seeing their faces light up makes me lean towards going sooner. It's a nice problem to have I know, so want to make sure we make the absolute most of it.

OP posts:

usernotfound0000 · 04/06/2018 15:34

I think if you can afford to go again, then I would. For us, it'll be a once in a lifetime thing so I want to wait until youngest DC would be 7/8. If I could afford to go every year, I would!

lostinsunshine · 04/06/2018 15:35

Op, you can find other cheaper ways of making their faces light up. You can light them up like the Disneyworld adverts when they are a bit older.

WeaselsRising · 04/06/2018 15:36

We took DD to Disneyland Paris at 4 and again at 6. It was enough for her at that age, and not too far to travel.

First went to Orlando when she was 9. By then she was big enough to go on most of the rides but still young enough to want to see the Princesses. I would say around about 8 is the perfect time.

Idontbelieveinthemoon · 04/06/2018 15:39

As others have said if it was a one-time-only trip then no, I'd wait. If it's something you could repeat in a few years time then yes.

We took both DC to Florida when DS1 was 7 and DS2 2. It was fabulous and they enjoyed every minute. I don't doubt neither will remember specifics in years to come but to be honest I'm more concerned with having fun now than remembering fun in 10 years time.

Jamct23 · 04/06/2018 15:41

We fly to Florida on Thursday with our 2 year old daughter! (3 in July) Next time we go we will have to pay for her park entries, we have done Disney land Paris just before she turned 2 and she absolutely loved it! We will be taking her pram so she can rest whilst we are wandering in the parks x

Loubilou09 · 04/06/2018 16:07

My own opinion is that once they are past 7 or 8 there is not much point going to Disneyland. The rides are all for much younger children and a lot of it is queueing to see the "stars" of the shows etc. I would take a child at 4-8 but that's it. Never go in the summer or March/April but go January time whilst it is nice a quiet and nice a cool and while you can - there are going to be many years to come when you can only go in the summer holidays. Busch Gardens is the best park ever for all ages and so overlooked in favour or Disney so definitely check that out - it is only an hour down the interstate and so worth it, in January you will have the park to yourselves....

Quartz2208 · 04/06/2018 16:10

Yep DD went just before 3 and then every year since she was 6 DS was 3 when first went. 4th and 5th trip later

Each one has been different (DD loved Donald Duck, then a couple of princess years now it’s fast rides and Harry Potter)
DS has had dr Seuss beauty and beast and marvel

Strangely the one constant is Soaceship Earth

Character meals were staple none planned this time

PolkerrisBeach · 04/06/2018 16:10

We took our youngest when he had just turned 4. Probably a bit young, but we had to consider the older children too. Although he was not using a stroller at home we ended up buying one in the States as he struggled with the walking. He loved most of the rides and even at 4 could go on things like the Tower of Terror - it was only things like Expedition Everest and the Rock and Roller Coaster he was too small for. He did get tired but we used that to our advantage - early start and a few hours in the park from 9am to 12 noon, back to the villa for a nap and chill out in the afternoon, then dinner and back to the park in the evening for the entertainment some evenings.

watsonio · 04/06/2018 16:14

We first went when my DDs were 5 and 3, it was a full on princess spectacular the vast majority of the rides were perfect in Magic Kingdom in particular. We went again when they were 7 and 5, this time our 7 yo was more of an adrenalin junkie so was a bit more tricky and we had to split up a few times to meet everyones needs. We are going again this year when they will 9 and 7, both want to do EVERYTHING from princess autographs to the big rides, but I think this is because they know what it has to offer. For a first trip I would go with no younger than 3 but no older than 7!

Oblomov18 · 04/06/2018 16:16

No. I'd leave it till they were a bit older, 6 or 8 atleast.

MrsOsM · 04/06/2018 16:58

We took DD when she was around 18 months because it all been planned although not booked before I fell pregnant. We weren't going to go (there was myself my now DH my dad, mum and sis) my parents were keen for us all to go and bring DD so we did. We got married while we were there. DD had an absolute blast and to be fair didn't do much walking, spent a fair amount of time in a push chair.
We plan on going back in a few years time when DD2 is a little older.

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