Is a 4 year old too young to go to Disney World and really enjoy it?
Would they get burned out fast and need to go back to the room more often then say a 6 or 7 year old?
My in-laws want to give this special trip to us with them coming along to share the joy of LittleOne discovering Disney World. I just don’t want this trip to turn into a real dud.
Can anyone give some recommendtions? Thanks.
This is more of an IMHO than a General Question.
bibliophage
moderator, GQ
I asked my mom about this because I was four when I first went to Disney World. She said that I enjoyed going, but that I got tired a little more quickly and we needed to take a few more breaks. Not necessarily trips to the hotel, but just finding a place to sit and rest for awhile. Also, my mom said that I was scared of a few of the attractions, but I was a very nervous child, so your experiences may vary.
We took ours at just under one year.
His grandfather was really against it, since he’s a skinflint.
But he spent the day with him, buying him everything in sight, and declared it a perfect day.
I think the kid would go for it. Recently, we went on a four-day cruise on the Disney Wonder. My 4-year-old loved it, but I think she liked being with the family and seeing new things with us, rather than anything to do with Disney. (We don’t have a VCR or any of the movies, so she has not been indoctrinated into the Disney culture yet).
But don’t be surprised if what the kid likes to do is not what you’d think he/she would like to do. Probably one of the best times we had on board was when we sat quietly in the lobby and she could watch the elevators go up and down in their glass tubes.
As for Disney World, you’ll have to be prepped for a tired, hungry child at some point in the day. You know best how quickly how tired he or she will get.
Oh, and bring lots of film, so you can show the kid years from now, “See? You’ve already been there. You don’t need to go again.” 
A few days ago, I was on a Southwest flight from Orlando (home) to Buffalo (home home). The flight was PACKED with infants and toddlers – the special assistance line was far longer than the three lines for “regular” passengers. The flight was nearly unbearable – I had three crying toddlers, to the front, side and behind me. Non-stop, through the entire flight.
Before this degenerates into a “I hate kids on a plane” thread, I’ll say that one of the first things I said to my parents when they greeted me at Buffalo Niagara International Airport was “what’s the point?” That is, why bring someone who’s two or three years old to Disney World, when they’re probably not going to remember any of it? For me, the earliest vacations that I had solid memories of were when I was six and seven years old. Sure, a three year old will scream in delight at Mickey Mouse or Pluto, but what would they remember in a few years?
I think the folks who take infants and toddlers to Disney are taking the trips more for themselves, not the kids. A trip to Disney World ain’t cheap. Wait until a child can not just enjoy the vacation, but appreciate and remember it.
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A four year old is not to young to enjoy some of Disney World. But all the kids under 10 are going to get burned out and crash a lot quicker then the adults. I’d say get to the park early and go where you want to go. Then in the afternoon when it gets really hot go back to the hotel room for some down time. Then later in the evening go back and enjoy the park some more.
THat’s awful nice of your in-laws. I’d arrange a specific time for you and your in-laws to spend time together at the park. Then they can go do their thing while you and the kids go do your thing. If you try dragging the kids around all day you’re all going to end up being pretty miserable.
Another suggestion, don’t take the kids on the haunted mansion. Last time I went the younger kids were screaming before the ride even started.
Marc
My first trip to Disney World was when I was about four and half. I had a great time and 17 years later, I remember it vividly. I think four is the perfect age for a kid to really go nuts over meeting the characters and riding things like Dumbo and Mr. Toad. And as far as taking breaks and resting goes, if you have a stroller, that’s what waiting in line is for. 
Personally, I don’t think it’s such a big deal if the kids remember it when they grow up. I think it’s important that they have a great time while they’re at an age where they can really let go and enjoy themselves. They’ll remember it long enough to be the envy of the sandbox set, at least.
I didn’t go to Disneyworld until I was an adult, but my parents took all of us kids to Disneyland regularly. I remember the trips vividly, and they are favorite memories. We often went on Christmas Eve. I remember when I was about 4 or so, that I admired a toy mermaid in one of the Main Street shops, but my parents didn’t get it for me. Much to my amazement, this mermaid ended up in my stocking on Christmas morn! Man! That Santa got around!
And I was only 4 or so. No - I don’t think 4 is too young. I think it’s a great idea.
I would say that it depends on the child, but in general, I don’t think 4 is too young. My family spent a week in Disney World a couple of years ago, and my 2-y.o. and 5-y.o. nieces loved it. The younger one wasn’t able to do much more than ride in the stroller, gawk at the sights, and take naps, but the older one was able to ride most of the rides and thoroughly enjoyed herself (the Tower of Terror at MGM made her cry, though; I wouldn’t take a 4-y.o. on that one). The kids also got a big kick out of meeting Mickey and the gang. We did one of those “meet the characters” lunches in the Magic Kingdom and got to meet Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, etc.
We also made sure to reserve time for the adults on the trip to do things without the kids in tow, usually early in the morning or later in the evening. Of course, someone had to stay with the kids, so we usually flipped a coin or drew straws. As long as your expectations are reasonable (even the most energetic and excited kid is going to get tired and irritable at some point), there’s no reason you and LittleOne can’t have a great time.
Pesch, thanks for the film idea. I hadn’t though about using that as a reason not to have to take LittleOne back. Disney is very expensive.
From what I’ve been reading so far you all are mostly saying just make sure that LittleOne just gets pleanty of chances to relax between doing all the things to do at DW,
and make sure that grown-ups(?) get rest too.
I’m worried about the plane ride too. I know we’ll need lots of thing to distract her. And I hope if she gets boared enough, she’ll sleep. But you never know.
I suppose it depends on how good a memory the child has. I vividly remember going to an amusement park in southern MA, which closed before I was five years old. However, I went there several times, so that might have a bearing on it too.