The best age for Disney World: 5 things to consider before your first

Trying to find the perfect age to take your child to Disney World is quite understandable. In fact, we get lots of people writing us asking our opinions on what we think the best age for Disney World is.

Wanting to go when your kids are likely to enjoy it the most is a totally reasonable goal.

Because every child is different, we recommend taking little ones whenever the adults feel comfortable taking them on the trip.

To get you started thinking about what the ideal age is for the little ones in *your* family, here are 5 things we think you should consider.

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Trying to find the best age for Disney World? Consider these things.

Our gut reaction when people ask us how old their kids should be before they take them to Disney World is “whenever YOU are ready to take them.” But, alas, we know that isn’t the most helpful.

There is no one “perfect” age, though.

There are lots of different factors and for each family the answer will be different.

First we are going to go through one by one each of those factors, and then we’ll sum it all up with a pros and cons list of these factors by age group.

Believing in the magic

Just thinking about this one makes my eyes all misty.

Many parents want to make the first journey to Disney World while their child still believes in the magic.

And, for a lot of families, this is the driving factor for their trips.

You may find your little one suddenly fascinated with all things Mickey or Star Wars or Toy Story or pirates or princesses, and you want to let them experience those things first-hand while they still believe all the way to their little toes that what they see is REAL.

It is true that many adults that love Disney World still believe in the “magic” but there is just something extra-special about seeing that magic through the eyes of a child.

Being able to remember it

This one is a biggie.

One thing we often hear is that people want to make their first trip when their child is “old enough to remember it.”

Again, this is totally understandable. It may feel like you are wasting your money if you take a trip when your tot is too young to recall it.

But you know who will remember it? YOU.

When I was in the 3rd grade, I know that we drove from Oklahoma all the way to Florida to visit family. It was our first big family vacation.

And I remember bits and pieces, but the thing that helps me remember any of it at all are the photographs and stories my parents and grandparents told me about that trip.

The same is true for my kids’ first trips to Disney World. They were older (1st and 3rd grade) and while they remember a lot of little things, what they remember the most are the memories captured in the photographs and our favorite stories that we have repeatedly shared from that trip.

So while I absolutely understand wanting to wait for a first trip until the child is old enough to remember it, it is important to keep in mind that more often than not the memories that “stick” for kids (and adults!) will be the things that become part of your family’s shared narrative.

If you have a child who is on the young age, use those precious pictures from the trip to make a photo book and include your favorite tales from the trip in it.

Add it into the rotation of bedtime stories. Kids love “remember when…” conversations.

All of that will help kids of all ages latch on and remember those favorite memories for years and years to come.

Price

One of the biggest factors almost everybody weighs when planning a trip to Disney World is the price.

And, the truth is, the younger the child is, the less expensive (in general) it is to take them to Disney World.

Take, for example, tickets:

Disney divides their tickets into 3 different price categories:

0-2 free
3-9 child
10+ adult

As long as your first day in the parks is before your little one turns 3, they are free for your entire trip.

Same thing if they turn 10 during your vacation – as long as they are 9 when your vacation starts, they are still considered a “child” price-wise for your entire trip.

So, depending on the age breakdown of your child(ren), it may make sense to plan trips just before the 3rd and/or 10th birthday cutoffs.

Same thing for dining.

Kids generally have smaller appetites, and those smaller appetites mean less money spent on food (which can be a huge cost savings!).

Of course, there are some expenses that smaller kids might have that older ones wouldn’t (like stroller rentals) so make sure you consider all expenses if cost is a driving factor for you.

Personality

When it comes to personality, it all boils down to one thing when trying to decide the best age for Disney World: you knowing your child best.

Have a little one that is in a stage where they hate crowds? Maybe wait a bit to go.

Toddler that hates riding in a stroller? Might be worth it to hold off until their little legs can handle more walking.

Walking up Main Street in Magic Kingdom | What is the best age for Disney World?

If you’ve never “tested the waters” at similar experiences to Disney World with your child, perhaps give that a try before spending a ton of money on a Disney World vacation.

True, there is nothing that is exactly like a day at a Walt Disney World park, but you can do things like visit a local zoo, or theme park, fair, etc.

See how they do. You may be surprised!

And, if you are a repeat Disney World visitor, keep in mind that it isn’t unusual for you to find that your kid that totally adored everything about Disney World last year suddenly hates everything this trip. (This is especially true with kids and characters).

Even if you know your child is ready to tackle all that is Walt Disney World, you may want to adjust how you tour.

We have some great ideas in our Trip plan for doing Disney World with a Toddler post. Lots of the suggestions there are great for kids of all ages!

Height

Disney has a bunch of attractions that are perfect for the entire family. But, they also have some thrilling rides that you have to be a certain height to ride.

If you have a child that you know is a thrill-seeker, and you worry that they may be heartbroken that they can’t ride an attraction with a height requirement, you may want to wait to go until they can ride the big rides, too.

If this sounds like your kiddo, make sure you know which Disney World attractions have height requirements before you make any final decisions.

Pros and Cons for Each Age Group

Infants and babies (up to 1 year)

Pros:

Free (no ticket needed)
Plenty of things you can ride in each park with a baby
Taking a baby forces you to slow down and interact with the park differently – which can be a great thing for some Disney World repeat guests
Although the baby may not remember it, you will

Cons:

They won’t remember it
It can be difficult to stick to a schedule when at a theme park
Unless you have multiple sleeping areas (like a Family Suite at Art of Animation), bedtime can be challenging since everyone will be in 1 room
Strollers can be a hassle (baby wearing is a great option, though – just be mindful of the heat, since that can be tough if you aren’t used to it)
Unless your little one can sleep in a stroller or in a carrier, it can be difficult to catch the nighttime entertainment due to bedtime

Toddlers (1-2 years old)

Pros:

Free (no ticket needed)
Plenty of things you can ride in each park with a toddler
Toddlers start recognizing their favorites and believe in the magic
Even if your toddler won’t remember the trip, you will remember it

Cons:

Stamina; toddlers can’t go all day, so they’ll need frequent breaks
They likely won’t remember it
It can be difficult to stick to a schedule when at a theme park
Unless you have multiple sleeping areas (like a Family Suite at Art of Animation), bedtime can be challenging since everyone will be in 1 room
Strollers can be a hassle
Unless your little one can sleep in a stroller, it can be difficult to catch the nighttime entertainment due to bedtime

Preschooolers (3-5 years old)

Pros:

Very likely to still believe in the magic
Although the ticket isn’t free at this age, it is discounted
Preschool age kids are more likely to really get into the parks, interacting with the characters, etc.
Good chance that your kids will have some memories
Depending on how tall they are, some preschoolers will be tall enough to ride some of the bigger attractions

Cons:

You’ll likely still need to take breaks (which isn’t always a bad thing)
It can be difficult to stick to a schedule when at a theme park
Unless you have multiple sleeping areas (like a Family Suite at Art of Animation), bedtime can be challenging since everyone will be in 1 room
Strollers can be a hassle
Unless your little one can stay up late OR sleep in a stroller, it can be difficult to catch the nighttime entertainment due to bedtime

School age (6-12)

Pros:

Very likely to remember lots from the trip
Most should be tall enough to ride everything – including the more thrilling rides like Space Mountain and Rise of the Resistance.
Tickets are discounted for kids 6-9
Kids this age have better stamina and can likely hang in the parks for longer stretches without getting worn out