I hear this a lot: What’s the best age to start taking my child to Disney? Is it worth it if they don’t remember it? Which age has the most magic? I’ve taken my kids to Disney at most ages, and it really depends on what type of trip this is. Is this a once-in-a-lifetime dream vacation? Or are you planning to visit more than once, or make Disney a yearly (or more than once a year!) trip? How far do you have to travel? Are you planning to go for a week or longer, or just a quick weekend? Are there older siblings to consider? 

Of course, the answer for everyone will be different. As Disneyland locals, we still waited until almost 2 for our first child’s first visit. With our next child, we didn’t take him until age 2.5. And we waited until our youngest was 5 to do an all-out, week-long, cross-country trip to Disney World in Orlando.

But the great thing about Disney is that there is truly something for every age. Here are my considerations when deciding whether to take kids at each age, and my top recommended attractions for each age! (Also check out my tips for a successful Disney trip with young kids here!)

Infant (0-12 months): Along for the Ride

At this age, much like a child’s first birthday party, it’s really more for you than them. Yes, your baby may soak in some Disney magic, giggle at a character and have their first taste of ice cream, but you’ll also be navigating naps, avoiding the sun and heat, dodging crying fits and overstimulation, changing diapers and preparing bottles. And you can’t bring strollers in line for rides. In my case, I opted for a day at the park with my 4-year-old, and left my 7-month-old at home. 

Ideal for: Shorter trips, cooler months, planning to visit again, visits with older siblings

Best Attractions for Infants:

• Slow-moving dark rides where you can hold your baby like Small World
• Bigger, slow-moving attractions like the Railroad and Mark Twain Riverboat
• Character meets for the photo opps!

Age 1: It’s More for You

As babies become toddlers and start to walk, run, talk and interact more, there’s definitely more for them to enjoy at Disney. That said, we took my toddler for his first visit at age 22 months, and while we had a fun day, we went on 2 rides and his favorite things were a fountain and a bubble wand. It felt like it was really more for the adults; I think my son would have had just as much fun going to a local park or children’s museum. At least we got some precious photos!

Ideal for: Shorter trips, cooler months, planning to visit again, visits with older siblings

Best Attractions for 1-Year-Olds:

• Slow-moving dark rides like Small World, Winnie the Pooh, Little Mermaid
• Railroad and Carousel 
• Parades
• Toontown play area (although they can get a little overwhelming with older kids)
• Character meet & greets
• Character meals (1-year-olds are free!)

Age 2: The Magic Begins…

This is where things can start to get pretty magical, but it can be hit or miss. One of my kids liked Disney at age 2.5, but he wasn’t very into rides and was still a little overwhelmed by the whole experience. My other kiddo, on the other hand, has been a thrill seeker from the start and loved his first Disney trip, also at age 2.5. You’ll still be mostly limited to any-height rides, but there are so many of those to enjoy, plus other entertainment like shows and parades.

Ideal for: Shorter trips, planning to visit again, more adventurous kids

Best Attractions for 2-Year-Olds:

• Slow-moving dark rides like Small World, Winnie the Pooh, Little Mermaid, The Seas with Nemo and Friends
• Railroad and Carousels 
• Outdoor rides with more motion like Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, Dumbo, Inside Out’s Emotional Whirlwind, Jungle Cruise, Mad Tea Party, Pixar Pal Around (I’d suggest the non-moving buckets, but my 2-year-old loved the swinging buckets which terrify many adults!)
• Slightly more adventurous any-height rides like Finding Nemo Submarines, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan, Frozen Ever After (Florida only), Webslingers (California only)
• Parades
• Carousels
• Shorter shows like the Disney Jr. Dance Party and the Tiki Room 
• Toontown play area
• Character meet & greets
• Character meals (2-year-olds are free!)

Age 3: Magic Time!

There’s a reason Disney starts charging for tickets at age 3; this is when the real magic begins. Preschoolers tend to get more excited about meeting characters, exploring more rides, have a longer attention span for shows, and maybe more stamina for the days overall. Your 3-year-old might be able to ride 38” rides like Millenium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run and Seven Dwarves Mine Train, or 40” rides like Soarin’, Star Tours and Star Wars Rise of the Resistance. Measure them right before your trip so you can see what they’re able to do! 

Ideal for: Shorter trips, planning to visit again, more adventurous kids

Best Attractions for 3-Year-Olds:

• Anything listed above for 2-year-olds, but remember that character meals are no longer free.
• Baby coasters like Barnstormer (Florida only)
• Outdoor rides with more motion like Astro Orbiter, Tomorrowland Speedway/Autopia
• If your child is at least 40” tall: Star Tours, Rise of the Resistance, Millennium Falcon Smuggler’s Run, Soarin’. 
• Shows like Festival of the Lion King, Finding Nemo (Florida only), Mickey’s Philharmagic, Turtle Talk with Crush
• Play areas like Toontown and Tom Sawyer Island, Redwood Creek Challenge Trail

Age 4-5: Sweet Spot

With kids this age, you’re getting into a slightly easier park experience. You’re probably moving beyond as many potty emergencies, and you may be able to get through park days without a nap. By age 5, my kids could often handle a 12-hour park day or stay up late to enjoy nighttime entertainment, and we usually went without a stroller. They may be tall enough for more thrilling rides like Avatar Flight of Passage, and may be brave enough to try Space Mountain or other grown-up roller coasters. We took my 5-year-old on all the smaller roller coasters (and also Tower of Terror, but he still hasn’t forgiven us!). But despite moving towards more grown-up rides, the magic is still so real for these ages!

Ideal for: Longer trips, may not be back for a while

Best Attractions for 4- and 5-Year-Olds:

• Anything listed for 3-year-olds, but remember that character meals are no longer free.
• Video Game type rides like Webslingers (California only), Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters and Toy Story Midway Mania
• More motion-oriented rides like Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and DINOSAUR (Florida only) and Radiator Springs Racers (California only)
• If your child is at least 44” tall: Flight of Passage (Florida Only)
• If they like to draw and can concentrate for about 20 mins: Animation Academy/Experience
• Bigger kid coasters like Slinky Dog Dash and Seven Dwarves Mine Train (Florida only), Big Thunder Mountain
• Shows like Festival of the Lion King, Finding Nemo, Country Bear Jamboree, Beauty and the Beast and Indiana Jones (Florida only), Mickey’s Philharmagic, Disney Jr. Dance Party

Age 6-7: Maybe Even Sweeter

You’re likely moving beyond the stroller age, and your kids can stay up a little later and are maybe more adventurous. Take advantage of the extra stamina and sense of adventure to explore some nighttime or more thrilling attractions.

Ideal for: Longer trips, once-in-a-lifetime trips

Best Attractions for 6- and 7-Year Olds:

• Nighttime shows like fireworks, Fantasmic and World of Color (California only)
• Kilimanjaro Safaris (Florida only)
• If at least 46” tall: Indiana Jones (California only)
• If more adventurous: Space Mountain, Matterhorn, Goofy’s Sky School (California only), Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Mission: Space (Florida only), Grizzly River Run/Kali River Rapids
• Shows like Monsters Inc Laugh Floor and Feathered Friends in Flight (Florida only)
• Exploring the country pavilions in Epcot

Age 8-10: Still Got It

I haven’t yet found the age where my kids are too old for Disney parks, and I hope I never do. My 9-year-old was over the moon excited for his first trip to Disney World. This age group still can have a kid-like mentality, love meeting characters (even though they know they’re not real) but can hang more with the adults for an extra-fun adventure.

Ideal for: Longer trips, once-in-a-lifetime trips

Best Attractions for 8- to 10-Year-Olds:

• Most attractions I’ve listed for ages 2-7 can be enjoyed by older kids and adults, particularly those with height requirements. Attractions you can skip for ages 8-10 I think are: Disney Jr. Dance Party (geared towards preschoolers), the Mater and Luigi rides in Carsland, some of the “flying in a circle” rides like Dumbo 
• If they’re adventurous enough, coasters like Incredicaoster (California only), Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Expedition Everest, Rock n Roller Coaster, TRON (Florida only)
• If they’re adventurous enough, thrill rides like Tower of Terror (or Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission Breakout in California, which I think is a level more thrilling than Tower of Terror in Florida)
• Exploring the country pavilions in Epcot

Be sure to read my tips for taking kids to Disney to make sure that, whichever age you choose, your day flows smoothly and your kids feel that Disney magic!