The Right Age To Take Your Kids To Disney

What is the right age to take your kids to Disney?  Umm…now!  Okay, maybe you were looking for a more considered answer. Of course the answer is going to be different for every family, but here are some things you might consider:

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1.  Memories

Perhaps the most common comment people make about taking young kids to Disney is, “They’re too young to remember it.” That might be true.  Are they also too young to remember that you rocked them to sleep at night, that you blew bubbles for them to pop, and sang silly songs with them in the car?  Probably.  Not everything we do for and with our kids is so they form distinct memories of the event. Some things we do help build their worldview and our relationships.  Besides, you’ll remember, and you’ll take adorable pictures.

2.  Packability

How easy is it going to be to get your kid and all the family gear from home to the parks and back?  Will you need a travel crib, diapers, wipes, car seats, booster seats?  Can your kid carry her own stuff, or are you going to have to haul it all?  When our kids were little, we had a ton of gear. We had to use luggage carts at the airport and check several bags.  Now, everyone (mostly) carries their own carry-on and a personal bag.  It was still worth it back then, but I’m certainly glad to be able to travel lighter now.

  • Cute kid at Disney
  • Carousel, Disneyland, California Adventure
  • Disney Trip Surprise

3.  Potty talk

It is much easier to take a toddler in diapers to the parks than it is to take a recently potty-trained kid.  Potty-trained or not potty-trained sounds like a binary question.  You are or you aren’t, right?  If you’ve been there with a kid, then you know it’s not.  A recently potty-trained kid may still have accidents and either doesn’t have to go (even when there’s a convenient bathroom) or has to go RIGHT NOW (even though you just stopped 10 minutes ago and now there’s no bathroom in sight.) 

So should this keep you from going to the parks?  If you and your kid are game, you can make it work.  Come to an agreement that you are going to stop to use the bathroom more or less after every ride or two and that your kiddo will try to go.  I can also tell you from personal experience that if you sprint through the park holding a toddler and mouth the word “bathroom” at any cast member, they will be able to read your lips from far off and point you in the appropriate direction. 

If you are in line for a ride when your kid has to go RIGHT NOW and you have to abandon the line, talk to the Cast Member at the entrance to the ride as you leave. They may be able to help you.  We had to abandon the line at Radiator Springs Racers once. A Cast Member helped us rejoin the rest of the family in line when we returned.

4.  Stamina

We were just starting to watch the fireworks one night when our preschooler announced he wanted to return to the hotel and go to sleep.  So we did–while I tried to watch the fireworks over my shoulder as we crossed Harbor Boulevard to our hotel.  The littles don’t have the stamina that adults have, and they are far less stoic.  Our strategy has been to allow ourselves as many park days as we can manage. That way we don’t have to push ourselves too hard.  We make rope drop in the morning, take a long midday break at the hotel, and stay as long as the kids are game in the evening.  It also helps to keep mealtimes as regular as possible and carry a few snacks.

5.  Sensitive stuff

Kids get overwhelmed and cranky pretty easily.  In addition to getting plenty of sleep and regular meals, they need breaks from the stimulation and demands of fun in the parks.  This can be swim time at the hotel, or just spending a long stretch at the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail where it’s quieter and there are no long lines.  When the kids were small we brought along Peltor Junior Hearing protection so they could turn down the volume on the world.  They asked for these fairly often, and gradually outgrew the need.

  • Disney Parks cost
  • Toddler Travel
  • Kids riding the teacups at Disneyland.
  • toddler travel

6.  Ready to ride 

Keep in mind that some rides have height requirements.  Disneyland’s height requirements can be found here, and Disney Word’s are here. If your Cars fanatic is 39 inches tall in his tallest shoes, you might want to postpone the trip till he’s gained that last inch and can ride Radiator Springs Racers.  Kids also go through different phases where they are more and less ready to ride wild or scary rides.  Some kids just get more adventurous as they get older, and some will suddenly stop wanting to ride roller coasters or the Haunted Mansion and then be ready again in a few years.  You may be able to guess this based on how they do at the local park or carnival, or it could just surprise you.

Height requirements, Disneyland Resort
Finally tall enough!

7.  Too old? 

As far as our family is concerned, you are never too old for Disney. However, an older kid or a teen who has never been to the parks may not know that yet.  They picture being forced to wear Mickey ears while riding Dumbo with a lot of little kids.  They may get excited for the trip if they realize they can ride Guardians of the Galaxy–Mission:  Breakout, eat their own body weight in churros and corn dogs, and stay out till midnight.  A good strategy may be to get their help in researching and planning so they can find the things they are interested in.   If you have the time and inclination, you can also throw in other teen-friendly area attractions such an Angels game, a trip to the beach, or a Hollywood tour.  And, after a few park days, they may willingly ride Dumbo while wearing mouse ears.

For more on this, check out our articles on Taking Teens To Disney.

Toy Story Midway Mania at Pixar Pier, Disneyland Resort
Never too old!

8.  The Money

Disneyland trips are expensive.  When I was growing up, my dad explained to us that there was only so much money available for recreation and entertainment. He made a deal with us.  We never spent money on fireworks on the Fourth of July, and we never went to the local fair.  Instead, we saved that money for Disneyland, rode really great, safe rides, and watched their fantastic fireworks.  My brother and I thought it was a good trade. 

Our family always did a road trip instead of flying, because that was cheaper for us. We never stayed at the Disneyland hotel, and we brought home few souvenirs. My parents made budget-friendly choices such as eating at the Hungry Bear instead of The Blue Bayou.  The whole family had a fabulous time and always looked forward to our trips.  For us, getting to go every year or two was more of a priority than getting to do every special upgrade.  Clearly, every family will have different budgets and different priorities about how to spend their money.

My mom and my brother, riding Big Thunder, “back in the day.” I don’t think going budget kept us from having fun.

The Bottom Line

As I’m sure you’ll agree, the right age to take your kids to Disney is different for every family.  The best answer is probably that you should go when you can afford it and when you think you’ll have a great time.  I bet you will.

What do you think is the right age to take your kids to Disney?  Please scroll way, way down to leave a question or comment below.

Ice Cream, Disneyland, California
It’s been a decade, but we still remember eating ice cream on the bench while we watched ducks walking around Main Street.

For more articles on the Disneyland Resort, please click here.

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