Young Kids and Disney: Is It Worth It?

[ExClub]

I thought this article was interesting, especially for parents considering a trip to Walt Disney World.

Young Kids and Disney: Is It Worth It?
By Jeff Opdyke
Wall Street Journal Sunday: Love & Money
August 13, 2006

Here it is, August 2006, and my wife, Amy, already knows where we're going for our family vacation next summer.

Disney World.

Amy is convinced that our daughter, who will be turning 4 next summer, is just the right age for her first visit to the Magic Kingdom. But I'm not so sure. Based on prior experience at the park -- as well as horrifying scenes I've watched unfold between parents and children at other amusement parks -- I'm torn by the idea of spending a small fortune on a week in Orlando.

Part of me understands why Amy wants this; part of me wonders why anyone would want this. Disney and young kids can be a dream vacation. But it can also be a volatile mixture -- a nightmare vacation filled with endless lines, rides that are off limits, and children and parents too exhausted and cranky to enjoy much of anything.

So it is, then, that as Amy sings M-I-C-K-E-Y, I can't help but see those placards throughout the park showing how tall you must be to jump aboard each ride. Only, I'm wondering how old must you be before Disney is really worth the money and the effort.

At what age, in other words, is a child simply too young to do Disney?

http://online.wsj.com/public/article...nal_primary_hs

[ocnative1964]

I think it depends if you are a local making a day trip, with a drive of 30-60 minutes. vs a long range visitor who will be driving or flying a thousand miles, and staying for a 3-7 day deal.

all kids are different of course, but i will say our kids we had a much better and more fun trip with a 4 year old daughter and 11 month old son, than this last trip with a 7 year old and 3 year old.

it was much more difficult. the first trip we had 2 familys and occsionally grandparents to baby swap etc, which got us more E ticket time. and just had a much more rounded out trip, also the 11 month old boy would go on anything and not care, all about colors sounds and movement. where as as a 3 year old he was much more fearful of things that were unexpected, so it was alot of "baby" rides for him...


all kids are different, we may go back for a day if we are there anyhow, but out next mega trip to the park will be when they are in the 12 and 8 range or even older.

just my thoughts.

[Dignan]

I've been to the parks with 4 year olds on two occasions and both times everyone had a blast. I think it's a great age to take them. Then again I am neither's parent and didn't have to do any long distance travelling. I can see where that would be a challenge. Also there were enough adults to do something else with the 4 year olds when the older kids and other adults wanted to go on something the short ones couldn't.

[smitty-78]

Yeah it is harder to take kids at certen ages but they still have fun taking it all in.We took ours and ages 3 and 1 and they couldn't go on some rides but they were happy to go on the ones they could.

[Mortimer]

I think it's magical even for very small toddlers and even possibly infants. Sure they can't ride on everything, but it's the sights and sounds that make the place magical and the experience magical. For the smallest ones, the memory of the trip is more for the parents.

For toddlers, they have the characters, that is always a big deal to them. They can even go on some of the rides.

We took our 1st child when she was 18 months, sure she doesn't remember much of it first hand, but she absolutely loves now to look at the pictures and videos we took of her having a grand time then. She can relate to it now too, because she has been back a few times since she has grown up a little too.

I think it's worth it and definitely an important memory for the family to have.

[Dignan]

I've seen pictures of being there when I was around 4. I was the cutest child on the planet, BTW. I don't remember it but I looked pretty happy. It must have had an impact. Look at me now!

[Briguy1314]

I know im in the minority, but Ive always thought big planned DL trips should happen when the kids are old enough to walk on their own for most of the day. When they are old enough to remember it. Its more for the parents when they are any younger, which is fine. But its hard when a family spends so much money, and then gets upset when their kid cant ride something, or they have to seperate due to a crying child or height requirements.

[Pinocchio85]

I think it is definitely worth taking young kids. I was 4 months old when I first went to Disneyland. My parents had a great time taking me. They enjoyed the pictures and bringing me along with our large family.

To me it's irrelevant if a child remembers something or not. They can still enjoy the sounds and sounds. Having worked with children and studied their behavior, this type of stimulation is very healthy for them. It does not matter if they remember or not.

[Donillini]

Yeah, I would say let the kid be able to walk before taking them to the Magic Kingdom. Obviously, 4 year olds can walk so you should have fun! The thing that will make or break the day is her attitude while in the park. I too have seen kids and parents that have to be out of their minds. If your kid is generally a happy child, then you should have a blast. If not, well, you are in for a very long day!