When to travel to Disney World

First off, there is no “best time” to go to Disney World. But there are many factors to consider to get the most for your dollar and create lifelong memories.

Age of Kids

Disney World is an amazing place with activities designed for all ages. So no matter what age your children are when you go, they will have a wonderful time. But each age range will have a different experience that is worth considering when you plan.

0 – 2 years

Traveling with children under two is largely for the parents. Your children will likely be scared of meeting Mickey and the other characters. They will also often be frightened to go on the “dark rides”, limiting you to only a couple rides or taking your turns with your spouse while the other stays with your kid.

But this doesn’t mean that is it a total waste. Both you and child will enjoy just being in the park and soaking up the atmosphere. And you will get some wonderful family photos that your child will enjoy looking at in your scrapbook for many years to come. It is also a great way to take it slow and see the side of the parks that you miss when they are older and you are frantically running around to get in as many rides as possible.

2 – 5 years

Visiting the parks with pre-school children is a special treat. This is the age where they still believe in magic. They are usually old enough to no longer be scared of Mickey and his friends, but still young enough to think they’re real. Much of your time will be spent roaming the park, hunting for autographs from different characters.

Your child will be old enough for the small and even “dark” rides. But they will be too small for the roller coasters. They may retain a couple memories, but most of the trip will simply be the joy of them encountering “real” magic. Just as when they were younger, photos from our trip will be amazing and they will cherish them for years to come.

5 – 10 years

Elementary children love Disney World. Your kids are now old enough to go on every ride in the park. Most of your time will be spent running from one end of the park to the other to ride as many rides as possible. They are now too big for strollers and too heavy to carry. So you’ll need to make sure to plan for some breaks to let the kids rest.

They will still like the characters and enjoy getting lots of autographs, but they are old enough to realize it is a person in a costume. One of the great advantages of taking school age children is that they will form memories that will last a lifetime. Reinforced will some great photos, and it makes for the perfect childhood vacation.

10 to 18 years

Older children and teenagers have a whole different perspective on Disney World. They will be heavily into rides and only see the occasional character. But what they gain most is a chance to be independent. They’re going to want to explore the parks on their own with a sibling or friend. And what better place to do it than the safest place on earth.

With a cellphone or a watch and a meeting place, letting your teenager make their own decisions and venture out on their own is best thing you can do. You will miss out on many of the family photos, but you will help your child develop and build their confidence. They will make their own memories and cherish them forever.

Time of Year

No matter what age you plan your trip to Disney World, one of the single most important decisions on when to go is the time of year. Most people choose to go when their children are school age. Because of this, they usually go during the summer so that they do not miss any school. Another very popular, and thus crowded time is the week of Christmas. However, if you go when most other people do, then the crowds will be at their highest. And the lines will be at their longest.

To get the most for your money and the best experience, travel to Disney World during off-peak times of the year. Taking your kids out of school for a week will not damage their education in the long run, but will provide a much better time and memories. The more you can be flexible on when you go, the better your chances are to avoid the crowds.

As a vague reference, the best times of the year to go are September, Mid-November to Mid-December, and Mid-January to Mid-February. But be sure to do your own research by checking out several different crowd predictor calendars such as Undercover Tourist

Frequency

The last thing to consider when planning your Disney World vacation is how many times you plan on going. If you are able to travel many different times while they are young, you might want to travel at least once during each age range. That way over the years you can experience all of the different activities that they will be into at that age.

Also, multiple trips allow for seeing the parks in different times of the year. Disney has many different decorations and themed parties throughout the year. They are each amazing and the only way to experience them all is with many different trips. Don’t worry, there is so much to do, you’ll never get bored.

However, if you are like most families, you will only be able to make one trip while your children are small. If that is the case, planning is ever more important. Think hard about what age you want them to experience it at. Do you want the magic in their eyes from when they are very little? Or do you want them to cherish their memories and be able explore on their own?

With only one trip, choosing the optimal time of year is key. Even if you stay for two weeks, you will not be able to do every ride and activity in the parks. So it comes down to priority.

Do your research. Plan ahead. And enjoy every minute.

Written by Benjamin Ellefson, who is an experienced Disney World traveler and author of the children’s book The Land without Color. Learn more at http://www.benjaminellefson.com/Land-without-Color/