Do Kids Outgrow Disney Magic? What Happened When We Took Our Kids Aged 12 and 7

From EPCOT to Animal and Magic Kingdom, here's how Disney World continues to level up for kids of all ages.

Figuring out the best age for Disney World can be tricky. If you bring them too young, for example, they’ll only have photos as proof of their visit to Mickey’s homeland. But can a kid actually age out of Disney? This was the question I asked myself when we finally took my two kids, ages 7 and 12, to Disney World in Orlando for the first time this spring.

From previous trips to Disneyland, I knew that my 7 year old was in that sweet spot of soaking in the magic. Not only is he in peak imagination-mode but having recently reached the 48-inch ride height, he reveled in being able to ride the big kid rides (important to a little brother). But I worried that my 12 year old might find all the Disney wonders too "kiddish,” a concern that dissipated as soon as we arrived at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn .

Not only were they charmed by the hotel’s grand old-world style, but as we entered our room, their eyes immediately lit up when they spotted the Alexa device on our nightstand wearing Mickey ears—aka “Hey, Disney.” This in-room assistant amused them with jokes from Goofy, answered questions about the park from Mickey, and—as my 7-year-old accidentally discovered—had the ability to order toiletries, which arrived faster than it took for me to understand that he was serious when he said he asked Disney for tissues. Disney mode was activated for both kids even before discovering the rollercoaster-inspired slide at the pool.

But what would happen when we made our way inside the parks ? From navigating the Animal and Magic Kingdom to discovering our favorite rides, here’s everything we learned on our trip, including (what I feel) is the best age for Disney World.

Reaching New Heights

As mentioned, at 48 inches, my 7 year old was finally tall enough to ride on all the big kid rides. I watched him fearlessly hop on Tron at Magic Kingdom and Guardians of the Galaxy at EPCOT while I held my breath hoping he didn’t fall out of either. Spoiler alert: he didn’t.

Hitting those new heights meant we were able to pack light and leave behind the stroller! I was definitely worried my little one would have a hard time and get exhausted with all the steps we’d walk each day but excitement powered him through—as did lots of treats (hello, nutella and fruit waffle sandwich at Sleepy Hollow Refreshments).

There’s An App for That

While Disney World requires some good planning, they are always working on ways to help families along the way. One of our essentials for the trip was downloading the My Disney Mobile app, which we relied on for keeping track of wait times, making (and changing) restaurant recommendations, and navigating the park. My big kid liked being able to check out the ride times and plan our next move alongside us. This—along with our Magic Bands, which made purchases and park entry a cinch—were a must for our trip.

Truth be told, as perfectly as you may plan, at some point in your trip you will find yourself on a line that will put a pause on the magic. And for that, Disney has introduced the Play Disney Parks Mobile App: an interactive app that gamifies the ride line for you and your kids with Disney trivia and attraction-themed experiences that connect your ride with your app. Excited to see them continue to build out these features.

Surprises at Every Corner

We visited all four parks on our four day trip. While we loved all of them, the park we were most surprised by was Animal Kingdom. The animatronics in the Na’vi River ride were stunning, and while I took the “chicken exit” out due to motion sickness, my kids couldn’t stop talking about Avatar Flight of Passage. Even cooler—even for those who don’t love a gift shop moment—right across from the ride's exit, kids are able to make their own Avatar doll! My 12 year old loved the experience, being able to have his face scanned and choosing his preferred hair, eyes, and more.

On top of that the Kilimanjaro Safari was breathtaking. Home to approximately 2,000 animals– including lions, elephants, flamingos, rhinos and more–Animal Kingdom is a zoo and conservation center, but not like one you’ve ever seen before.

Core Memories Unlocked For All

The thing about Disney World is that there is no such thing as aging out. There is also no right or wrong answer to the question “what is the best age for Disney World?” However, I will say that being older proved a great way for me and my husband to tap into our inner child . Some of my favorite moments were riding the same EPCOT rides I did as a child. I was nervous as I watched my 12 year old on SpaceShip Earth, wondering if he’d think it was cheesy or be as enamored as I was as a kid, but not even halfway through he said “this is really cool,” which really made me mushy as I was already filled with deep nostalgia.

Hollywood Studio also brought back memories, visiting the Indiana Jones live show for one. And to say I enjoyed getting to sing along to some of my favorite Disney tunes at Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage while my husband took the kids to ride Tower of Terror (one of his childhood favorites) is an understatement.

The kids talk about this trip often and I imagine they will for nothing short of a lifetime. Because, whether you want to admit it or not, Disney World is, in fact, that magical.

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