The world Disney It is a universe full of color, magic, light and music for children (and adults too, of course).
They enjoy the characters they already know about television so much that it is hard to avoid the temptation to schedule a trip with them to the park Disney.
However, many parents doubt what will be the best time for them or when they can find out what is happening. We were at Eurodisney during the Christmas season of 2008 and that is why I will try to answer the question I ask: When to go to Disney with the children?
Our trip to Disney
We were 3 or 4 months pregnant when my wife thought it would be a good idea to make a trip "farewell to an only child" (something like the child bachelor party) for our son Jon.
The reason really was the least. We had not traveled for years and Eurodisney is a trip that always inspires young and old, so we scheduled a trip for Christmas.
Jon was 2 years and 10 months old when we traveled to Paris, spending the night on the train, bound for Eurodisney.
We were there three days and two nights on a beautiful trip in which we had a great time, so much, that this year we will repeat.
“It's too small to go”
When I told people we would go to Eurodisney I received a grimace of "good, but ..." that was accompanied by the phrase "it is very small, you will not find out."
In part, only in part, they were right. At that time Jon was still taking a nap during the day, so there were several moments, situations and experiences of Disney that he could not see or enjoy, because he was asleep.
However, three days go a long way, and surely a child under three years does not need to see everything that is offered in a theme park, because children do not have the adult feeling of "this we have not yet seen", but they have a more childish vision based on "look at everything I've seen," which was a lot.
The stroller
One of the problems of going with young children is that you have to throw, on many occasions, pram in case they want to sleep or if they are tired.
Many people take their own strollers and many prefer to use the park's strollers. There in Disney you can rent, (in fact it is not a rental since when you return the stroller you return the money), although we prefer to take ours for the comfort of our son, since those there are made of plastic.
When we went to an attraction we folded it and left it somewhere more or less visible and where there were other strollers (it was not very difficult because it was all full of them).
Disney food
The food is not too wonderful, everything must be said. Most restaurants offer quick menus with pizza, potatoes, hamburgers. At first you enjoy eating a pizza with the shape of Mickey Mouse, but when you have been with that type of menu for three days you ask for a plate of vegetables.
Children enjoy these meals a lot (what am I going to tell you), so at the level of taste buds and quantities, it is likely that there is not much problem.
Disney at Christmas
As I have explained, we went during the Christmas period, that is, “high season”. He looked like a real anthill, we had to wait half an hour and three quarters to eat in some places and there were very long lines to see anything.
Even so, what we could see, we savored in quantity. Jon too, and, as they say, we were happy to see him happy.
Disney at Christmas is also Disney really. Snow (lying) falling, immense Christmas tree, all decorated, Christmas carols playing, Goofy dressed as Santa Claus ... Come on, that the entire Disney universe acquires a plus of magic by adding the spirit of Christmas.
However, as I said, the fact that there were so many people made us affirm that, as we had already seen Christmas at Disney, "next in the off season".
When to go to Disney
Finally answering the question that leads this entry, I tell you that to Disney you can go anytime, although I, by the experience, would put the minimum in 2-3 years.
At that age they already know many of the characters and are able to recognize them and even take pictures with them without crying.
They have a pipe, enjoy a few days with dad and mom and see all the color and atmosphere of the movies that, after a while, have seen.
The best age to go to Disney
However, if someone told me that they only plan to go to Disney once and ask me what is the best age, I would answer that The best age to go to Disney is between 4 and 6 years old.
At that age they are able to enjoy everything for many hours, with hardly any rest (it is usually the parents who request a dead time) and continue to see everything with the fantasy and magic that childhood eyes have.
After that age, around 8 or 9 years, when they understand why the giant Mickey in front of them does not gesture, the thing loses a little grace and charm (although surely they will have a great time too, of course).
Disney in Summer
Seeing what happened in high season, we have decided that next year, in June, we will all go to Eurodisney again. Jon will enjoy it even more, because he will remember what he has already lived and will relive what he sees when he puts on the video of that trip or looks at the photos we took. Aran, probably, will not find out much, because he will have 18 months, but there is no problem or at least we do not see it. As I responded then to everyone who told me "it's too small to go": “We will go again from here at a time” (total, the only trips we make are with them).
Photos | Flickr (samlavi), Flickr (samlavi), Flickr ()
In Babies and more | The Year of Mickey Mouse has started at Disneyland, Get free tickets to Disney parks in 2010, The Disney Playhouse website
