Would you take an under 5 to Disneyworld Florida?

[HollyGoLoudly]

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.

We took our two year old daughter and older brother to the Florida theme parks some time ago. The little girl loved it-there was plenty for her to do-but all the entertainments she could participate in were simple small children's stuff such as you get more cheaply in the UK. The big splendid rides and entertainments passed her completely by.
It was a waste of money frankly-and she doesn't even remember it.
I think it depends on whether you can afford it.
P.S. She hated the lengthy nightly Disneyworld firework display.

We took 4 and 2 year olds and had a blast. Then 2 yr old doesn’t remember it but loves the video and loves talking about it. 4 year old remembers more but we all had a wonderful time. I don’t remember every second of it either - that’s fine, I don’t regret going either!

Just pick your time of year, where you stay, and don’t expect to do 8am-10pm in the parks every day. Staying local so you can go back for a swim and a nap in the middle of the day is preferable as an adult anyway, and even more so if you have children.

Ah ok, well following on from my post earlier then, if you're only going once, I would be inclined to wait a little, but... my DD was 6 when we went and she was sooo into all the princesses, but she's nearly 9 now and it's been a good 18 months since she was into that stuff, so you want to time it perfectly. For her, 7-8 would have been a bit late, but they're all different. You just don't want to miss that window :)

I made a mistake earlier, my youngest was 3.5, not 4.5, but my other points re height etc still stand.

Do you have other kids to consider?

Yes agree with windswept also got to make sure they aren't too old.

We took DS when he just turned 7 - it was a great age - able to walk everywhere, but still young enough to get the magic and love the character meals and collect their autographs. There is also a surprising amount of things to do at Universal for a younger age group - and not at all busy because not as popular with younger DCs.

We're not great in crowds so we didn't watch the parades or the fireworks but loved everything else.

But now DS is 12 I doubt he'd thank you for taking him to Disney world and would probably claim it was babyish and much prefer Universal Studios.

Echoing others re: whether it will be a one time trip or not.

We took DS to Disneyland Paris when he was 2, yes he loved the "characters" (mainly tigger and mickey!) but I hadn't appreciated until we went back recently (he's 10) that he literally cannot remember ANYTHING about it!

He spent most of the recent trip saying things like "when you and Dad came last time..... was this the same/was that like that/did you do x"

If we'd spent thousands going to Florida and not just Paris I think I'd have been a bit gutted!

My honest advice was you'd be do DLP for the magic while they're young, you can get cracking deals during term time.

Then save up and do the once in a lifetime Florida trip when they're 7-10 kind of age.

I'm nagging DH for a Florida Trip in the next couple of years

We are taking 3 yo and almost 1 yo in October. We went to legoland today and we were so disorganised, which is handy in a way as going to be soo organised for WDW! We’re only going for a day as it will be a LOT for the kids, and there is so much else to do in florida. So we’re just gonna do Magic Kingdom.

We just got back from 2 weeks there with an almost 2 year old and 4 year old. We had a fab time but they were both too young really (the trip was funded by grandparents or we would have left it several years). The 4 year old didn't want to go on any rides, didn't want to meet the characters and was scared of the fireworks so we spent half the time trying to convince him to do things he wasn't interested in. It wasn't too hot so we were ok just wandering around and taking it in turns to do things and use the child swap but if it had been the height of summer it would have been pretty miserable.
Personally I would wait a few years unless money isn't really an issue- if you can easily afford it then I'd do it but factor in lots of rest breaks and don't put too much pressure on yourselves to do too much
We had Universal tickets too so DH and I got to go on plenty of adult rides and used the child swap - I preferred that to Disney!

We went to Florida when kids were 4 and 6. Both enjoyed the place (and want to go back). I enjoyed most the nice hotel with really lovely pool area. When ever we weren't at Disney we were swimming.

We are planning to go again when they are 8 and 10 and visit universal studios. And of course the same hotel :)

DS2 had his fourth birthday in Disneyworld. If I had the choice I would of taken him when he was older. He wasn't into Disney at all so all the characters were lost on him

DS1 was nine when he went to Disneyworld (younger for Paris) and I think he got more out of it at that age

DH is about to start building a hotel in Orlando so he'll be going for business regularly over the next couple of years. I'm running out of excuses for not taking my kids to Disney...

We went when my DS were 4 and 7. Would've preferred maybe a year later but their school had an extended October half term so we took the chance to go then.

October was a great time of year, not too busy at all. They had a great time and both remember it very well a year and a half later.

Epcot and Hollywood Studios were the highlights, but they liked the Magic Kingdom much more than I thought they would (they've never been into anything Disney). They keep asking when we can go back, might try and go again in a few years and do Universal instead. If I had the money I'd go to Disney again though!

We also chose not to go to the Kennedy Space Centre as we thought 4 was too young, but we did do an airboat ride!

I’d decide go!
We’re taking baby DS to DLP next May (18mth old then) and then planning to take him to Florida in October 2020 just before he turns 3 and we have to pay for tickets for him! If all goes well we’ll also have an under 1yr old baby if we’re lucky enough to conceive a sibling for him!
It’s a fab age, absolutely loads to see, do and enjoy!
I never understand the ‘not old enough’ to remember viewpoint...I first visited almost 30yrs ago at the age of 11yrs and still don’t remember! But I know I enjoyed it at the time - surely that’s all that matters.

You just don't want to miss that window

windswept I don’t think there is a window. As I said, I went when I was 4 and I don’t remember any of it. Neither does anyone else I know who went so young.

Parents who go with young children seem to go for their own reasons, so they can see the joy on their children’s faces. And while that’s nice and the children clearly enjoy it at the time (and of course, incredible photos), they aren’t going to remember it.

I went again at 14/15 (with DLP trips in the intervening years) and it was amazing. So magical.

There isn’t an age limit for Disneyworld. DH and I are going back next year and we’ll be early thirties; we can’t wait.