Our son will turn 3 Sept 30th, Late Oct. we are planning a trip to DL. Alot of people are saying he is too young and now I'm having second thoughts. Anyone want to share experiences with their 3 year old??? Good or Bad.
Thanx
Elisabeth

My first trip to Disneyland is when I was 3!! All I know is that I've loved/been obsessed with Disney ever since. :D

My parents told me they had a great time but they also brought my Grandma so she could watch over sometimes so they could go on the "big" rides.

-JRob

I think it largely depends on the temperament of your child--if he or she--is very cautious about new situations, dark places, loud noises or strangers (costumed characters) it may be rough going. However if she is pretty flexible about new experiences, you will all have a ball watching her explore DL.

We've been taking our kids since they were just a few months old and at each milestone children are able to enjoy different aspects of the Park--from character greeting, to Peter Pan and all the Fantasyland rides, to, now that they are a bit older, Big Thunder and some of the bigger thrill rides.

My one piece of advice would be--don't try to do too much with your little one, schedule lots of down time for snacks and drinks, and if possible, a nap back at the hotel. It will make a world of difference to her attitude, as I'm sure you know. It's so sad to see hundreds of three and four years olds just loose it around 5-6pm at the Park because they are too overstimulated exhausted and hungry.

Have a good time and don't let anyone else tell you what to do--YOU know your child better than anyone, and I'm sure you will make some great memories at Disneyland.

Hi,
We just returned from our trip to DL with our 2 year old. I was apprehensive at first also since my son is extremely shy and not very good with new situations, but I was very surprised. He LOVED Disneyland. And his temperment was great. He was wary of the characters and didn't much care for the only 2 dark rides we took him on (Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland). He did, however, love the rides in Fantasyland, especially Dumbo and the Carousel. I would definitely take a stroller and also head back to the hotel for a nap or a swim during the afternoon. It makes a difference. I think your toddler will surprise you. Oh, the parade is a must-see as well!!! Have fun.

To fully appreciate Disneyland, you should be about 7 AT LEAST. That's not to say don't go with you 3 year old . . . I remember when I was about 2 years old riding Small World and The Tiki Room at WDW's Magic Kingdom. They are right when they say "Memories for a Lifetime"

As both a parent and an educator, I find it's very misleading to make absolute comments about children and age guidelines. I would not ever dream to say that anyone should be "AT LEAST" any age to "fully appreciate Disneyland." How does one "Fully Appreciate" Disneyland, anyway? Heck, that would probably make a great topic of discussion on the Disneyland Forum.

That said, I will say a couple of things about three-year-olds at Disneyland.

First of all, I always say that there is nothing wrong, IMO, with anyone going to Disneyland and leaving the kids home, nor is there anything wrong with going to Disneyland with a child of *any* age. (Again, this is my opinion, so if you have a really young baby and have a concern going out in public, please consult your pediatrician for formal advice.) My sons both went to Disneyland for the first time before they were three-weeks-old....

If your plan is to go to Disneyland and hit every single ride, go non-stop through your day, eat your meals at Blue Bayou or Downtown Disney, and/or focus on the Mountain rides, then you're probably better off leaving a 3-year-old at home.

Young children move much slower through Disneyland than older children. Stopping to use the restroom takes longer. Navigating crowds with a stroller takes longer. Eating takes longer. Stopping for naps (really, I strongly recommend this) takes longer. But there are other reasons, to go, also:

Stopping to hug Mickey, takes longer.

Running back and forth across the drawbridge over and over again, making laps around the castle, takes longer.

Enjoying Tom Sawyer's Island, takes longer.

Riding some rides "Again!" because they were really really fun, takes longer.

Being younger does not mean that Disneyland is less magical or that you can't appreciate "all" the magic. Heck, I'm sure there are many older people who can't "fully" appreciate Disneyland as well as many three-year-olds.

We were at Disneyland yesterday. The look on my almost three-year-old son's face on the teacups was PRICELESS. (AVP and Tony can back me up on this one...) He begged to ride Dumbo, Autopia, and the DL Railroad. In the past we've thoroughly enjoyed Small World, Casey Jr (which he asked for yesterday but we didn't get around to,) Mickey's House, etc, etc.

Like Lisap said, much of this depends on the temperament of the individual child. However, I would never automatically tell a parent to not take a three-year-old to Disneyland.

If three-year-olds were too young to enjoy Disneyland, I'd be out of a job-- or at the very least, my job would be much smaller.

Have a wonderful trip in October. I know you will.

Adrienne K

Originally posted by adriennek

First of all, I always say that there is nothing wrong, IMO, with anyone going to Disneyland and leaving the kids home, nor is there anything wrong with going to Disneyland with a child of *any* age. Adrienne K
So true!! There are so many levels on which to enjoy DL. We feel very fortunate to have a least one time a year to leave the kids at home and just go to the Park as couple. We always have a wonderful time...but find ourselves saying "Wow, there's Snow White--I wish the baby were here to talk to her" or "wow, wouldn't the kids love this parade" etc. etc.

That said, there is a part of me that feels so relieved when I can walk right past Fantasyland and over to the grown up rides we never find time to do when we have the kids. That sounds bad, but it happens so rarely I can't feel too terrible.
:D

When I said 7, I meant not afraid at all of any of the attractions, not feeling like you will die (my 5 year old brother thought he was gonna die on Splash Mountain, while on the big drop). When I was 7 and I went to WDW, I wasn't scared of anything. I had a great time, but that was because I was mature enough to experience everything, and not be scared.

Originally posted by Lacrosse Boy
When I said 7, I meant not afraid at all of any of the attractions, not feeling like you will die (my 5 year old brother thought he was gonna die on Splash Mountain, while on the big drop).

Like I said, I think this could spark a lot of discussion.

Just because a person is 7 doesn't mean he/she will not be afraid and just because a person is under 7 doesn't mean he/she will be afraid. Like I said, I will never give specific age guidelines because every child, like every adult, is so different.

And who's to say that one must not be afraid of attractions to fully appreciate Disneyland? I would dare to say it's nearly impossible to go on EVERY attraction at Disneyland in one day, anyway. And many people who visit for multiple days still wouldn't hit every attraction because those favorites would becken them to come over and over again. On discussion boards like these, frequently the topic of "what have you never done at Disneyland" comes up. So going on every attraction should not be criteria for "fully enjoying Disneyland."

As I detailed earlier, I believe that my son is able to fully appreciate Disneyland on a multitude of levels. When we visit a theme park, we schedule our day to best accomdate his needs (read: naptime!) so that he *can* "fully" appreciate his experience, by our definition of that. We don't at all feel cheated by doing so. (And as I detailed earlier, we also believe there's a time and a place for different kinds of theme park experiences.)

I understand that your definition of "Fully appreciating Disneyland" means that a person would not be scared to go on any attractions. Obviously, we disagree on both that definition and granting an age-guideline to it.

Adrienne K

Originally posted by Lacrosse Boy
When I said 7, I meant not afraid at all of any of the attractions, not feeling like you will die (my 5 year old brother thought he was gonna die on Splash Mountain, while on the big drop). Your 5-year-old brother? Sheesh! *I* used to say that going down Splash Mountain's drop!!!!!!!!! :D :D

But, if you siad to your husband: "Honey, how about a trip to Disney World?" you could get the same response from your 3 year old as "Honey, how about a trip to Alaska, sleep in an igloo, and use a dog instead of a car?" I think that young kids respond to a happy, cheerful sounding voice, so that's why you might get the same response.

Lacross Boy -- I don't mean to pick on you, but something like this is truly dependent on the family. There is no hard and fast rule of what age is best for a child. If you're talking about "at what age does the average child develop to a certain level," that is one thing. However the issue of taking young children to the parks is more complex than that, primarily because of the following reasons:

1. The vacation may not necessarily be just for the enjoyment of the child. If this is a FAMILY vacation, the expectation is that other family members will enjoy being at the park, too.

2. To many parents, it doesn't matter if the child isn't old enough to remember all the rides it went on. What they take enjoyment out of is being there for example, when the toddler stands up for the very first time... in Fantasyland, or a child becomes completely enamored with a rain puddle in the parking lot at Disneyland. It's all part of a bigger picture of enjoying life, and to these folks, it isn't such a big deal that the child might not remember meeting Mickey Mouse.

What *IS* important is that parents realize that children (even those 7 and up) have limits and cannot run ragged for 14-hour days. Children have different needs and schedules, and as long as parents are willing to go by the children's itinerary, there is nothing wrong with taking young children to the park at a very young age.

You know Lacrosse Boy -- I, too, used to be in your camp. My first trip to Disneyland, after dreaming and wishing and hoping that I would one day meet Mickey in person, was when I was 10 years old. I used to think that it was impossible for a very young child to enjoy the park.

...but I've grown up since then, and I understand a lot more about what it means to be in the park with a very young one. Yes, what the child will remember does differ from that of an older person. But that does not diminish the enjoyment a child -- or moreso, a parent -- can have in the park.

Originally posted by Elisabeth
Our son will turn 3 Sept 30th, Late Oct. we are planning a trip to DL. Alot of people are saying he is too young and now I'm having second thoughts. Anyone want to share experiences with their 3 year old??? Good or Bad.
Thanx
Elisabeth

Hey...Sept 30th is my birthday too...:D :D :D

How many years plus three? I'm guessing 21+3.......

Originally posted by Lacrosse Boy
But, if you siad to your husband: "Honey, how about a trip to Disney World?" you could get the same response from your 3 year old as "Honey, how about a trip to Alaska, sleep in an igloo, and use a dog instead of a car?" I think that young kids respond to a happy, cheerful sounding voice, so that's why you might get the same response.

We took my niece to DL when she was 18 mos old. Since then, every time I see her, she asks me the same question: "Go to Disneyland?" Actually, it comes out more like: "Go Dineyland?" She knows the difference, believe me. Once she got older it was: "Get in car, go to Dineyland, see Mickey!!!" And also: "See dollies!" (it's a small world), and (breaks my heart) "See bears!" - The Country Bear Jamboree.

She makes us watch our Disneyland Fun video over, and over, and over ad infinitum. She didn't get to do everything on her two trips to the happiest place on earth, but she totally appreciated and loved going.

I think it's true that certain attractions need to be put off until a child is old enough to enjoy them, but that age is different for every child. My first trip to Disneyland was at 2 and a half, and I remember it clear as a bell. Dumbo, Storybookland and the Carousel were all attractions that I visited on my very first Disneyland excursion. I think it's that trip, as much as anything, that sparked the love for Disneyland that I carry to this day.

Disneyland has something for *every* age group - that's what makes it so special, at least in my opinion. Discovering new attractions year after year makes it even more magical. A seven year old may be be physically able to enjoy all the rides - but appreciation is something different.

Just wait until you take a two-year old on his/her first trip - then you'll see what I mean :)

amynicole22 that's a great story and a good point. LisaP, its actually 18 + 3 but thanx for the compliment. So instead of a Churro, coming Sept 30th you can buy me a drink

;)

I'll just stick a bottle of Tequila in the stroller--booze is so expensive at the Park...


;)

Doesn't matter where it comes from, as long as it ends up with me...jk...anywho.....back to the topic at hand.

Yes, back to the topic...
As a PARENT, if I ever catch you with the aforementioned beverage before your 21st birthday, I'm going to put you over my knee...

And that's why you are a great mom!!!:D

take the three year old!!!!

Yes, take the 3-year-old. You're never too young or too old for Disneyland. We were taking our 2 kids all the time, even as early as 3 weeks old. Even though it's been a year since the last time we went, our soon-to-be-3-year-old remembers it and asks when we can go back.

Be sure to make time for rides that he'll like too. Although he may not want to take a nap, he'll get pretty pooped out. Be sure to spend a moment in the late afternoon to do some quiet things and you'll soon find him sound asleep in the stroller. If your son is potty trained then be sure to make plenty of stops for him.

We took our son on the Gadget Coaster on his 3rd birthday and he loved it so much that he HAD to do it again. (If I remember correctly it's an age limit, not a hight limit on that ride. Must be at least 3 years old.) That was his first exposure to a fast ride. He loves the Tea Cups, Autopia, Small World, etc. The drops in the Pirates scares him, but he lives through it and likes watching the pirates. A little fear never hurt anyone. ;)

Originally posted by Bill Catherall
We took our son on the Gadget Coaster on his 3rd birthday and he loved it so much that he HAD to do it again. (If I remember correctly it's an age limit, not a hight limit on that ride. Must be at least 3 years old.)

You remember correctly, Bill, but the policy was very recently changed. Gadget's Go-Coaster and Matterhorn now both have a height restriction only-- that's 36"

We'd planned a special trip to ride the Matterhorn for Matthew's third birthday, but in a desparate move on my part, I recently changed the requirement: Matthew thinks that people who ride the Matterhorn must wear underwear and potty in the toilet.

No flaming your moderator, please ;)

Adrienne K-
Sometimes a Mommy's gotta do what a Mommy's gotta do.

Originally posted by adriennek

Matthew thinks that people who ride the Matterhorn must wear underwear and potty in the toilet.


Heehee! :D Hopefully he isn't potty trained before he's 36" tall. :)

Matthew thinks that people who ride the Matterhorn must wear underwear and potty in the toilet.

Actually, Adrienne, I believe that IS a requirement....

:D

Originally posted by Bill Catherall


Heehee! :D Hopefully he isn't potty trained before he's 36" tall. :)

Matthew's big-- he hit 36" about a year ago....

Adrienne K