Walt Disney World is a big vacation experience, and many families worry about timing their visit right. Whether you’re planning a once-in-a-lifetime vacation or you simply want to make the best choices at every visit, there are some important things to keep in mind.
Walt Disney World is designed to cater to guests at every age, so there’s no solid answer to this question, but there are some guidelines that will help you get the experience that you’re after. Keep in mind that specific ages and averages are suggestions only. You know your children best. As they grow up, you’ll see the key signs that they’re falling into particular categories and getting ready for certain theme park experiences.
For free tickets
If you want to squeeze in a visit to Walt Disney World before you have to add another ticket to your budget, consider planning a visit before your child’s third birthday. While visiting with an infant will add quite a few complications to your visit, heading to Disney World with a child nearing the age of three can be a lot of fun.
Around this age, your child will likely recognize Disney Junior characters, Mickey Mouse and the gang, and perhaps some of his or her favorite princesses or animated movie stars. If you have a brave tot, you can have great fun with character meet-and-greets. Other highlights for visitors in this age range include:
- Pointing out the animals at Kilimanjaro Safari
- Taking a spin on Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Playing in the Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station
- Underwater explorations on The Seas with Nemo & Friends
- The musical antics of the Country Bear Jamboree
For the best character experiences
Preschool or very early elementary age children are often in the best stage for meeting characters. There’s a magic spot for most children between the age where a giant version of Pluto is terrifying and the age where you start to suspect there’s someone inside that suit. This varies from one child to the next. You know your kids the best. When they’re at the height of their magical belief in the Easter Bunny, Santa Clause, and other characters, they’ll also be at a point where reality is just suspended enough for them to truly believe in the princesses, pirates, and cartoon characters that have come to life around them.
Most children will also reach 40 inches in height between four and five years of age, which can create the perfect sweet spot for a fun-filled early childhood visit, as many rides set their height restriction here. For these children, consider enjoying highlights like:
- Character dining experiences
- Epcot’s Kidcot stations
- The Barnstormer (35” height requirement)
- Kali River Rapids (38” height requirement)
- Soarin’ (40” height requirement)
- Star Tours (40” height requirement)
For kid-priced tickets and dining
Between the ages of three and nine, children are eligible for kid-priced tickets, which can put a nice dent in your Disney expenses. This is also the age range for the kids menu at Disney dining locations. While you can typically ask for a child meal for anyone in your party, your buffet prices fall solidly within the adult or child range.
Taking your children to Disney world around the ages of seven and eight is a great way to experience the parks with minimal restrictions on what you can ride, and maximum excitement about the pixie-dusted experience. Pre-teens and teenagers can be hit and miss when it comes to Disney. While there are plenty who will still enjoy theme park highlights, you’re also at a higher risk of eye rolls and requests for independence with older kids.
If you’re visiting with children in this range, you may want to consider including some of these more action-packed highlights in your visit:
- Big Thunder Mountain (40” height requirement)
- Splash Mountain (40” height requirement)
- Space Mountain (40” height requirement)
- Test Track (40” height requirement)
- DINOSAUR (40” height requirement)
- Avatar Flight of Passage (44” height requirement)
If your child isn’t quite ready for the thrill rides, you can still have an outstanding time with activities like:
- Collecting stamps on a passport in Epcot (available in most gift shops)
- Participating in Wilderness Explorers activities at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Getting hands on with the animals at Conservation Station
For a well-rounded ride experience
If your kids are thrill seekers who want to be able to do it all, wait to plan your visit until they’re tall enough to meet all the necessary height requirements. You don’t want to drain your vacation fund for a Walt Disney World visit just to find that your roller coaster fiend is only 39 inches tall. The tallest height requirement at Walt Disney World is 48 inches for Primeval Whirl and Rock-n-Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. While you can ride the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway at any height with an adult, this one has an even higher limit to ride alone. You can’t take off in a car on your own unless you’re at least 52 inches tall.
The average child will reach 52 inches in height around nine years old. You can use this as a general guideline if you’re planning far in the future, but avoid buying your tickets until your child actually hits their goal height for hitting those attractions. To be safe, aim one or two inches higher to account for variances in height sticks. It won’t matter if your doctor deemed your child 40 inches tall if they can’t hit their head on the height stick.
Kids age ten or older will be able to do a little bit of everything around Walt Disney World. If you have pre-teen or teenage Disney fans who enjoy indulging their inner princess or pirate, this is a great age to enjoy some family bonding time, as kids around this age are often swamped with school, homework, extracurriculars, and friends during their day-to-day lives.
With older kids, consider:
- A wild waterpark day trying the most daring slides
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (38” height requirement)
- Expedition Everest (44” height requirement)
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (40” height requirement)
- Rock-n-Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith (48” height requirement)
Whatever age you choose, you’re sure to find highlights to keep you busy during your stay. Remember to stay flexible with first-time theme park visitors and go with the flow for the best vacation experience.
