“Someday we will take the trip to Walt Disney World, but we want to wait until the kids are a little bit older”. This is my most frequently heard statement when people find out I am a travel professional specializing in Disney vacations. When I ask why they want to wait, they usually say something along the lines of “we want the kids to remember it”.  Here is where we have come to the point in the conversation where I whole heartedly disagree! 

But before we get to why I disagree, I ask these questions: Have you been to Walt Disney World? If so, how old were you when you first went there, and what do you remember the most about your trip? 

I was eleven the first time I went to Walt Disney World. As the oldest child of three, my parents were in the camp of waiting until my youngest sister was old enough to remember the trip. So, when my sister was 5, we took our first trip to Walt Disney World for spring break. After that initial trip, my parents took us several times throughout my pre-teen years.  I have vague memories of walking around Fantasyland and also dining at a character meal. I have a vivid memory of accidentally being left in a gift shop while I was shopping for a stuffed Winnie the Pooh. I’m not sure which memory belongs to which trip, but overall, my memories are more about the feelings I had while being there. I loved being in the Disney atmosphere. I loved being with my family doing something fun. I also remember feeling silly for enjoying myself, because wasn’t I supposed to be “too cool” for this? 

Fast forward to me as a parent today, determined that I wasn’t going to wait until my youngest was old enough to remember! We were just going to have to make the trip a few times to make it worthwhile for each of our children individually. I still wanted to wait until our family was complete to take the first trip. So, when our youngest was 14 months old, we went to Walt Disney World to celebrate our oldest turning 6. We had the absolute best time! And guess which one of my three kids stands out the most on that trip in my memories…. my 14-month-old! My biggest take-away from that trip was “I wish we had come sooner”. 

So, let’s circle back to why I whole heartedly disagree with “waiting until they can remember it” to take the trip! There are so many benefits to taking young children to Walt Disney World, so here are my top highlights:

Walt Disney World is not an amusement park, it’s a theme park! So…. what’s the difference? A lot! Walt Disney World is a full sensory experience.  Your little ones will delight in all the sights, sounds, smells, and things they can see and touch while there.  And did you know that kids under age 3 get FREE admission to Walt Disney World theme parks!  Plus, with over 120+ attractions, just about any height can ride!

Another difference in a theme park compared to an amusement park is that while you are waiting in line to ride an attraction, the ride queue is part of the experience! There are fun things to see, hear, and touch for all ages.  As an example, at Peter Pan’s Flight, your journey begins in a delightful interactive queue that invites you into the Darling home. Stroll through the nursery where Michael, Wendy and John sleep—and where Tinker Bell is already causing mischief.  At the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, you can explore Rabbit’s Garden, paint with honey and visit Eeyore’s home. 

Not only are there plenty of ride attractions for little ones, there are plenty of favorite Disney characters to meet and interact with throughout all four Disney theme parks.  From Princesses, Princes, and Pirates, to Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto, Tigger, Eeyore, and many others, there are so many opportunites in the parks to meet favorite characters!

If you’re traveling with infants, there are Baby Care Centers at each of the 4 Walt Disney World theme parks.  These air-conditioned facilities are a great retreat where you can change, nurse or feed your little ones.  You can locate these centers on a park map by looking for the pacifier icon.

And one of the best parts about taking the kids on a Walt Disney World Resort vacation are the on-site resort hotels, which come in a variety of unique themes and options, and include some wonderfully themed swimming pools.  From the larger-than-life icons at Disney’s Value resorts, to the grandeur of many Deluxe Resorts, there are over 20 on-site resorts from which to choose to fit just about any budget and need.

There is a small window in time where the magic of Disney is truly just that…. magical!  Similar to the way truly believing in Santa Claus makes Christmas more magical, I miss the days when my daughter couldn’t wait to visit Walt Disney World so that she could see Cinderella. She was mesmerized by the Princesses, believing with every ounce of her being that she was truly meeting real-life royalty. 

I’ll leave you with this…. one of my favorite quotes about traveling with kids is, “Deciding not to travel with kids because they won’t remember, is like not reading them books because they won’t remember the stories you read them” – Anonymous. 

Take the trip! I promise you won’t regret it!