The Best Age to Take Your Child to Disney

Anxious to start planning your dream Disney vacation, but unsure if your child is the right age?  Then you’re in the right place!

Many future park goers are unsure if their child is the right age for Disney.  And in all honesty, there is not just one, perfect age that applies to all children. 

So today, we’re discussing the pros and cons of each age group to help you decide when to take your child to Disney!

Under 3

Babies and toddlers at Disney – so precious!  Watching their amazement during fireworks, interest in the characters, first ride on Dumbo, and those adorable photos.  It’s amazing watching them experience the magic of Disney through their eyes.

And while it’s true your child won’t remember their Disney trip at this age, you will, and those memories will be priceless. 

We recently took a trip with our 1-year-old.  And even though he won’t remember it, we created many family memories and captured some fantastic photos to remind him of all the fun.

But I’m going to level with you, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.  Kids this age are a lot of work!  And it can be challenging at Disney when schedules are disrupted and it’s hot, crowded, and overly stimulating.

Cost

Cost is a major perk to bringing a child younger than 3 to Disney, because they’re free!  These kiddos are considered “guests of Mickey” and don’t require park tickets.  Kids can also eat for free at select dining experiences such as character dining buffets.

If you’re planning to take multiple Disney trips in the future, it’s nice to take advantage of these savings early on!

Height

Another great thing about Disney for this age group is there are tons of attractions your child can ride.  If you see an attraction with no height requirement listed, then you know it’s safe for baby!

If there is an attraction you wish to ride that baby cannot, then you can take advantage of Rider Switch.  This program lets members of your party take turns riding while someone stays with the little one, without having to reenter the standby line.

For a complete list of Disney’s height requirements, visit DisneyWorld.com!

In addition to attractions, babies and toddlers can also enjoy playgrounds, meeting characters, and Broadway-style shows throughout the Parks.  There is plenty to do in Disney for even the youngest park goers!

Check out our Top 10 Rides and Top 10 Shows for Babies to see our favorites for this age group!

The Magic

Disney magic is real to this age group! 

Going into our trip, our 1-year-old was fascinated with Mickey and Olaf.  Watching his face when he met these characters was absolutely priceless because to him it was real.

However, the magic may also be a little too real at this age.  Some children may find Maleficent breathing fire outright terrifying (because it is)!  On attractions there may be periods of darkness, startling surprises, or loud noises that can be upsetting to little ones. 

Even the characters can seem scary to very young children.  Mickey and his pals look a lot bigger in person, after all!  Only you know what’s best for your child in these situations.

We did it all with our 1-year-old, he even rode The Barnstormer – nothing fazed him!  That is, until we went to the Frozen Sing-Along.  That sweet and charming stage show put my son in a frenzy when it started to fake snow in the theater.  Who could have guessed?!

The point of this story is kids may surprise you with what they can (and cannot) tolerate in the parks!

Can They Hang?

This age group may not have the patience or endurance to stay in the parks as long as adults can.  Bringing very young children to Disney requires flexibility with your plans.  Your little one is the boss!  If he says it’s time to head to the resort for a nap, then that’s what needs to happen. 

It’s helpful to know where you can take your little one for some quiet time in the parks.  Check out our Places to Take a Break at Walt Disney World series below!

You will also need to bring a stroller and all the necessary baby gear in the parks, which can be cumbersome.  Check out our Stroller Hacks for Disney to make navigating the parks a breeze!

On the positive side, Disney is really amazing at keeping little ones interested and engaged.  You may be surprised by what a trooper your child can be! 

I was nervous about taking our 1-year-old to Disney, but overall, he complained a lot less less than my 6-year-old! 

Preschoolers (3-5 Years Old)

Preschoolers are so much fun at Disney.  At this age they have a better understanding of the theme parks and what they have to offer.  They may also have plenty of opinions of what rides, characters, and experiences are must-dos!

Cost

Say goodbye to those incredible “guest of Mickey” savings.  Once your child turns 3, you lose the benefit of free park tickets.  And while tickets are slightly discounted for children, the savings are not very significant.  Sigh  

However, children in this age range may order from the kids’ menu at table service dining locations, which can help with savings!

Height

40” is the sought after height for Disney, and many preschoolers reach this milestone.  At 40” kids can ride almost all of Disney’s attractions, with a few exceptions.  This makes getting on attractions much easier, as you don’t have to take turns with Rider Switch.

In my experience, my two tall girls hit that 40” height requirement at age three.  Now, that doesn’t mean your child will be ready for those big thrill rides (Tower of Terror was a bit traumatic), but they can if they so choose!

The Magic

These are peak years for believing in the magic! 

Cinderella Castle is a real castle where Cinderella lives, and Tinker Bell really flies through the sky!

Not only is the magic real to preschoolers, but they can also connect what they see in the parks to their favorite Disney movies and shows.  This makes it even more special when they get the chance to hug their favorite characters and collect autographs.

Can They Hang?

While preschoolers may have more patience and endurance to stay in the Parks, they will still require special care.

Keeping up with normal schedules is important, such as snack breaks and naptime.  It’s also a good idea to still have a stroller as you’ll be covering a lot of ground with those little legs. 

Meltdowns may still happen but are typically less frequent than with the younger age group.

School Age (6-9 Years Old)

If a trip to Disney is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, then this is the best age range to take your child!  They will be tall enough for the rides, and old enough to remember and appreciate the trip.  Depending on their interest, they may even want to help with trip planning.

Cost

9-year-olds and younger are still considered “children” at Disney (meaning 10 and up is adult!  Yikes!).  This age range can still take advantage of discounted park tickets, and order from the kids’ menu at table service restaurants.

Height

The tallest height requirement in the parks is 48” (for Rockin’ Roller Coaster and Tron).  Most school age children are tall enough to ride everything, including these thrill rides.  Yay!

The Magic

Younger kids in this age range may still believe in the magic!  However, this will vary greatly from child to child. 

On our last trip it seemed our 6-year-old had trouble buying into the magic, and her interest in meeting characters was noticeably lessened.  We still had an amazing time and enjoyed many magical moments, but meeting characters wasn’t a priority for her.

Can They Hang?

Kids in this age range have much better stamina and can spend a lot of time in the parks before getting worn out.

Most families can ditch the stroller at this time, which makes navigating the parks a lot easier!  Now granted, some families may still utilize the stroller for convenience.  But in our experience, we have been able to go without and have loved the freedom! 

Kids in this age range will also have a lot of opinions about what they want to do or not do at Disney.  This can lead to some disagreements and argumentative situations. 

For example, my six-year-old was determined to ride Slinky Dog on our Animal Kingdom Day and unable to understand or accept why that was impossible.  This led to a bit of a quarrel and some frustration on my part.  Oh, magical memories!

The lesson to be learned is set clear expectations with your kids, keep calm, and stay flexible.

Ages 10+

Vacationing in Disney with teens and tweens is a completely different experience than with young kids, and in some ways it’s even better!  Big kids can be a huge help with trip planning, spend all day in the parks, and may be more open to unique experiences.

And while it may seem like many activities are geared toward younger children, there are plenty of experiences for big kids, too!  Thrilling attractions, worldclass water parks, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, and Pandora World of Avatar are just a few offerings that may be appealing to this age group.

Getting your child involved in the planning is a great way to gauge their interest while getting them excited for the trip.

Cost

If your child is age 10 or older, they are considered an adult at Disney!  This means full priced park tickets (ouch).

Kids in this age range are also expected to order from the adult menu at table service restaurants.  This can be challenging, as oftentimes kids’ menu entrees are still more appealing to this age. 

But if this situation arises, you can always ask your server if there is anything they can do to accommodate your child.  The answer might be “no,” but it doesn’t hurt to ask!

Height

Most kids should be able to ride all the attractions at Disney in this age range.  Let the thrill seeking commence!

To help you plan, check out our Rides for Thrill Seekers article!

The Magic

If you wait until your kids are in the double digits to take them to Disney, it’s possible a lot of the “kid stuff” won’t interest them. 

A child’s first-time meeting Mickey or riding Dumbo can be a wonderful experience when they are very young, but teens may feel differently.

Granted, this isn’t necessarily the case with all big kids!  Some remain young at heart and never let go of the magic; it depends entirely on your child and their personality. 

It’s important to have a clear idea of what your teen is interested in and plan your vacation accordingly.

Can They Hang?

I think the better question is can you keep up with your child?  Big kids have more energy, and don’t rely on naps to get them through the busy park days. 

And with opportunities like extended evening hours and after hour parties, kids can enjoy the parks late at night.  Maybe even later than us adults can tolerate! 

Big kids may also be more adventurous with dining options that you wouldn’t consider if you were traveling with little ones.  This may include fine dining experiences or international cuisines.

My teen’s favorite thing to do on our last trip was explore the World Showcase pavilions, and that included sampling cuisine from each country!

Check out our Guide to Eating and Drinking Around the World!

What About My Adult Children?

We’ve touched on the pros and cons of travelling with each child’s age group to Disney, but what about adult children?  Have they missed their opportunity to bask in Disney magic?

Absolutely not!  Disney is not just for kids! 

Walt Disney World is also a popular travel destination for adults who love the magic.  It’s common to see honeymooners, bachelorette parties, college graduates, and marathon runners celebrating in the parks.  And as we’ve touched on, there is plenty of fun at Disney for all ages.  So, if it has crossed your mind you (or your adult children) might be too old for Disney – trust me, you’re not!

Final Thoughts

So, while there is not one perfect age to take your child to Disney, I hope this article has helped put some elements into perspective. 

If you’re a Disney-loving family and intend to take multiple trips, maybe those “guest of Mickey” savings are a great incentive to bring your baby or toddler.  Or maybe Disney is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and you want to wait until your child is tall enough for the attractions, and old enough to remember it.

You know your child best, and only you can decide what the right age for Disney is! 

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