At what age should I take my child to Disney?

     Disney is not a vacation to be taken lightly.  It can be costly and a bit overwhelming when deciding whether or not to go with your little ones.  Stroller or no stroller?  What if they get too tired?  Will they like riding the rides?   Will the characters scare them?  My twins were about 22 months old when we took them for the first time.  My family thought we were crazy for spending the money on a vacation they were "too young" to remember.

Here are 3 reasons why you should consider taking your children at a young age.

1.  When children are under 2 years old you are not required to buy them an airline ticket.  They can sit on your lap for the flight, thus saving you money.  Now, it is not always the easiest to sit on a cramped airplane with a child on your lap, however, this can be a more cost efficient way to expose your child to traveling and see how they do.

2.  When your children are under the age of 3, you do not have to pay for their Disney park tickets or meal plan.  They are free at Disney.  They are able to eat off of your plate when you are dining out plus you can bring your own snacks into the parks for your little to munch on during the day.  If you decide to order them their own meal, then you will need to pay out of pocket for it.  My husband and I decided to take our children back to Disney when they were 3 years old and while we had to buy the airline ticket, we still saved money on the rest of the vacation.  We often did character buffets where there was plenty of food options for them, plus they were entertained by the characters.

3.  Since my husband and I were the only expense, we were able to work out the kinks of flying and traveling with youngsters while saving some money.  We were able to see the HUGE smiles on their faces when they met their favorite characters and their giggles when riding the rides and still keep the vacation affordable for our family.  While traveling with them at these young ages was not always easy, it was well worth it and I would do it all over again.

By the time we took them back to Disney for their 3rd time at the age of 4, they were Disney pros already and looked forward to the trip.  They knew exactly what they wanted to ride, do and see while we were there.  They talk about every trip and experience we have had at Disney and I know they were not "too young."