disney; what age is best? which one -save for euro or worth more for usa?

[sleepdodger]

DS is 3, and starts school in a year
very aware of the hike in school holiday prices I'm expecting camping for a week if we;re lucky for the forceable future, however as I won't have to pay full nursery fees I'm hoping to save a little and put it towards a disney visit; we would have never done something like this, disney was basically hugely frowned upon in both dh and my houses as kids!
DS likes frozen and lion king, and hilst not flly disney dipped does love the drama of it all
I'd love to save for a special holiday one half term (prob feb or oct) during his first year of school - however is 4/5 ok for ages? he's tall so rides would be ok and can walk /run miles but just from an actually enjoying / excitement is this too soon?
I heard euro disney is getting pretty battered these days and v v expensive for what it is - and that clearly more expensive, but disney california and florida are better value in the round…
before I gat sucked into disney's website please can a pro veteran disney holiday booker advise!!
thanks

Ive yet to go to Euro Disney but have been to Florida. I have a three year old and am expecting again. I really am reluctant to take the dcs to Florida when they arent old enough to go on all the rides. I only plan on spending that much once so want it to be financially worth it.

I plan on doing Euro Disney at 2/5yo ish then fingers crossed we can skip Florida Disney and just do all the other theme parks and water parks.

I've been wondering about this too - think I'll wait till DC are older (9&5 maybe) and save up for USA.

I wouldn't take him to California or Florida in half term during his first year at school - he will be shattered and probably need a rest.
Those holidays are really tiring. We took ours to Disney Paris at a similar age 5 and 7(and LEGOLAND) and saved Florida for when they were 10 and 12, as there are lots of big rides and they were able to cope with the long haul flights/jet lag/ busy long days etc.
Our DC are like yours- very energetic handy when you do take him.
And yes you are right Florida (and California-which we visited before DC are better overall but Disney Paris was a good start imo)

We went to Disney world (America, Disney land = France!) when I was 11 and my brother 8, we went on 90% of the rides but db was too scared for a few.. It really depends on how much you want to do the big rides!

thanks for help - looks like when younger a weekend in euro land is possibly better (pre school and school hol??) and wait about 10 years for usa if we can afford it and don't have too many kids then

We did Florida the May before DS started school so he was just over 4. He loved it, went on roller coasters etc and as it was term time the prices were not as bad as you would think.
We knew we would not want to pay school holiday prices for younger child as they cant do all the stuff at the parks. We will go again when he is about 10 I think so we can do all the big stuff with him.

As an aside you can 'switch' on rides at Disney so one adult stays with child and the other rides then you swop with the other parent going in the 'fast' queue so you can still ride the roller coasters but without queuing twice. We found this really useful.

Oh and kids up to about 6 use pushchairs in the parks to save their legs. DS was reluctant at first but soon realised it was easier!

I've taken both my DC to Disneyland Paris since the age of 3 and every year since, sometimes more than once! There is plenty for them to do at those ages and even now my eldest is 8, she still isn't tall enough (or brave enough) for every ride.

Disneyland has all the magic of the US parks but on a smaller scale which means the little ones can enjoy it in their own way IMO. Plus it is that much closer to home meaning a short trip is easy enough to do or it can be tacked on to a longer holiday in France/ Paris city break etc.

Florida is more of a once in a lifetime holiday so I'm waiting until they are old enough to do everything there and make the most of it (and save up the $$$ required!)

Were going to do euro at 6 and 3.... and save America for much older. If they do it when small there's not a bigger one to look forwards to!