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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Disney Florida - ideal ages for first visit

20 replies

Fairydustandsparklylights · 29/04/2023 14:13

Disney Florida question - I know this is totally subjective but I’m just after peoples personal experiences please.

Was there a stand out age (or age range) that when at Disney, you remember thinking this is the perfect age? I know there will be pros and cons for different ages but I’m really undecided when to go for the first time.

Both children love rides so we would be there as much for that as for the experiences, atmosphere and characters. It wouldn’t be a once in a lifetime trip as we plan on going a few times, most probably 3/4 years apart.

At what age would you go for the first time? My dc are currently 3 and 5. I want to strike the right balance between capturing the magic and being able to go on lots of rides.

Thanks in advance

OP posts:

minipie · 29/04/2023 14:19

How are they at queuing ? We are only just contemplating theme parks now with ours (age 10 and 8) because they were SO bad in queues, even short ones. Other kids seem to be able to wait quietly!

mondaytosunday · 29/04/2023 14:35

Between 5 and 10. Under five they might not reach height requirements on some rides and will get tired/cranky/bored, over 12 and it's a bit embarrassing to be with your parents going on rides!

Mightyouandiconfabulate · 29/04/2023 14:39

I would say 7-10, mine have no recollection of holidays before that age, they remember every detail of our Florida trip and could get the magical excitement 100%.

Watto1 · 29/04/2023 14:40

One thing worth bearing in mind is that Disney charge adult prices from age 10 (!) so worth doing the trip before their 10th birthday.

SingAlongAndItMightJustGetYouThrough · 29/04/2023 14:43

8-11 and again as teens

OrigamiOwls · 29/04/2023 15:39

I'd say when they are both tall enough to do all the rides they want and can reliably walk all day without a stroller

WhatAmIDoingWrong123 · 29/04/2023 15:42

Interested in this! Would anything take an 18mo on the flight and to Florida? I think our baby is much too young but others want to do it.

JulieHoney · 29/04/2023 15:45

WhatAmIDoingWrong123 · 29/04/2023 15:42

Interested in this! Would anything take an 18mo on the flight and to Florida? I think our baby is much too young but others want to do it.

We took a 15m toddler, she had a brilliant time. You can do Child Swap - one of you queues, the other plays with the toddler in the play area by the queue, then the first person takes over with the toddler and the second person jumps the queue to go on a ride.

Our older two had a fabulous time and the baby was no bother at all. Handled the fight just fine.

WhatAmIDoingWrong123 · 29/04/2023 15:50

JulieHoney · 29/04/2023 15:45

Our older two had a fabulous time and the baby was no bother at all. Handled the fight just fine.

Show quote history

That’s really helpful, thank you :-)

LT2 · 29/04/2023 16:17

I'm wondering the same (I have many years to go yet as only first DC is here and is under 2! But i'm excited to dream ahead!).
The one time I went as a child I was just short of turning 9. I remember it well so it was a good age. I remember wondering whether I was too old to do the meet and greets (looking back as an adult, of course I wasn't!).

I reckon 7 would be my ideal age for the youngest.

Tayegete · 29/04/2023 16:21

We took ours at 8 and 11/12. Any earlier and they wouldn’t have remembered it. They could do lots of the rides but still enjoyed meeting the characters and filling up their autograph books. Would love to go again if only it wasn’t so expensive now!

feelingrubbish2023 · 29/04/2023 16:38

For Florida I'd say when they are both 120cm as I think at that height they can ride all the Disney rides (not universal as theirs are higher) it's a long way to go if you can't go on all the rides.

maranella · 29/04/2023 16:41

We went with ours at 4 & 7, 6 & 9 and 7 & 10 and tbh they were all good. Our younger one was (is) tall and completely reckless, so he wanted to go on all the rides. He's been on Space Mountain (the Disneyland Paris one that turns you upside down) and the RocknRoller Coaster (ditto). If you love Disney and theme park rides then you'll pass that love onto your DC, but if you want them to remember it, I'd say they need to be at least 6 years old.

HermioneWeasley · 29/04/2023 18:58

I’d say a min of 5 years old so they can cope with the jet lag and walking

Original poster

Fairydustandsparklylights · 30/04/2023 07:16

Thanks for your thoughts. I think I’ll wait until 6 and 8. I’m thinking of doing Disneyland Paris in the meantime maybe so they can experience it when still little.

OP posts:

cushioncovers · 30/04/2023 07:20

As others have said. The queues are long, the heat is intense and there's height restrictions so best wait until they can cope will all of that.

timetochangethename · 30/04/2023 10:01

They are the perfect age for dlp, we did that a few times when ours were young then did Florida when they were 11 & 8 which was perfect.

Mindymomo · 30/04/2023 10:16

We first went when my boys were 3 and 6. It was great, the 3 year old slept in pushchair in the afternoon so we could do things with the older one. We loved it so much we went again 2 and 4 years later. We went with in laws and stayed in a villa, so stayed in one day and went to theme park the next.

maranella · 30/04/2023 11:29

Disneyland Paris is a great way to try them out and see how it goes and the Eurostar train direct to the gates is brilliant if you live in the SE. The Ratatouille ride is one of my favourites too and it's only at DLP.

aintnospringchicken · 30/04/2023 13:07

We took our DC to Florida and Disneyworld when they were 7 and 10.
I thought that was a good age to take them. They could cope with the queues(went in January)and alternated a day at a theme park with a day at the villa or visiting Kennedy space station or another non Disney attraction.

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