Bouncing Back from a traumatizing trip

[DrummerAlly]

Back in November, my husband, our (then) 3 month old daughter and I went to Coronado Springs for 4 days. It was a trip that had been booked before she was conceived so off we went. Despite my best planning, it was a disaster. Our normally happy baby hated the noise, the sun, the heat... well... everything. It was a tough trip... but its behind us now! (Disney, btw, was fantastic... our baby just made the trip horrific).

Anyway, my husband and I have decided to set a minimum age of four for all future Disney vacations and that we need a trip somewhere the two of us to recover! Our last trip was so bad that we're thinking of avoiding WDW because we're afraid of flashbacks, but we're both Mickey lovers so its on the table. All of these posts about the declining standards also make me think a trip to somewhere new would be in order.

We're considering a four day trip to either Disney Land (a first for both of us), Universal Studios (though I'm not normally a US fan), A deluxe trip to WDW (AKL, WL, or YC) during F&W Festival, or Sandals (though I'm terrified to leave the country).

We are torn! What would you pick?

 

[bsiev1977]

Back in November, my husband, our (then) 3 month old daughter and I went to Coronado Springs for 4 days. It was a trip that had been booked before she was conceived so off we went. Despite my best planning, it was a disaster. Our normally happy baby hated the noise, the sun, the heat... well... everything. It was a tough trip... but its behind us now! (Disney, btw, was fantastic... our baby just made the trip horrific).

Anyway, my husband and I have decided to set a minimum age of four for all future Disney vacations and that we need a trip somewhere the two of us to recover! Our last trip was so bad that we're thinking of avoiding WDW because we're afraid of flashbacks, but we're both Mickey lovers so its on the table. All of these posts about the declining standards also make me think a trip to somewhere new would be in order.

We're considering a four day trip to either Disney Land (a first for both of us), Universal Studios (though I'm not normally a US fan), A deluxe trip to WDW (AKL, WL, or YC) during F&W Festival, or Sandals (though I'm terrified to leave the country).

We are torn! What would you pick?

If you said Disney was fantastic on your last trip, why let posts about declining standards sway you?

 

[DrummerAlly]

If you said Disney was fantastic on your last trip, why let posts about declining standards sway you?

We saw so little of Disney on our last trip that I wouldn't have known about many of the problems! What we did encounter though, was good. We had very good interactions with staff members. I have noticed some declining standards in past trips, though I don't think it bothers me quite as much as it does some on this forum.

 

[bethymouse]

Well I'd pick a deluxe trip @ AKL or WL ( cheapest of the deluxe).

 

[PhilharMagician]

Sorry to hear about you traumatizing trip. I agree with 4 Y/O being the minimum age. Even at that age some for some children it is simply too much to handle. Many people travel to Disney and say it is no problem with an infant, but not all children are the same and they all react differant and so do the parents. So do what is best for you.

You have some good choices to get away for the two of you. Sandals would be great, but I think I would do the F & W trip and stay @ the YC so you can be close to Epcot. This way you can hopefully put that bad vacation behind you and the two of you can enjoy each other.

 

[RedDad]

Sorry to hear about that. I would encourage you to try again before the child is 3 (mainly because she'll be free!) I see plenty of people with infants under a year at the parks, and I just don't know how they do it. My age limit for WDW trips is 1 year, but every kid and family is different. I personally would wait at least until they can walk and interact with characters, etc.
With that said, our now 3-yo daughter has been 3 times for fairly long trips, with the first at around 14 months, and she did great every time. We had to plan for naps every day, and it's a lot of work, but totally worth it if your kid can handle it. Don't wait too long before trying again!

I agree with PhilharMagician about a couples trip to F&W (though I'd stay at BC or Boardwalk). WDW is a great place even without the kids!

 

[bubbles1812]

Please don't be scared of leaving the country. There is so much the world has to offer. Honestly since you know you'll be going back to the world sometime relatively soon, I suggest a Non Disney vacation. A vacation without the mouse is possible to enjoy. I'd vote for sandals personally.

 

[DrummerAlly]

Please don't be scared of leaving the country. There is so much the world has to offer. Honestly since you know you'll be going back to the world sometime relatively soon, if suggest a Non Disney vacation. A vacation without the mouse is possible to enjoy. I'd vote for sandals personally.

I've been so spoiled by the predictability and ease of vacationing with the mouse. The idea of having to worry about airport transfers, safety, customs, language barriers etc. is what worries me about trying something out of the country. I thought a good transition might be a cruise to some nice caribbean location (maybe even a Disney cruise), but I get nervous in crowds and my husband is very claustrophobic so cruising is pretty much a non-starter for us.

 

[Figgy1]

I'd say do a couples trip to F&W!

 

[bubbles1812]

I've been so spoiled by the predictability and ease of vacationing with the mouse. The idea of having to worry about airport transfers, safety, customs, language barriers etc. is what worries me about trying something out of the country. I thought a good transition might be a cruise to some nice caribbean location (maybe even a Disney cruise), but I get nervous in crowds and my husband is very claustrophobic so cruising is pretty much a non-starter for us.

It really isn't so bad. And if you went to Sandals, language will not be an issue. It's an enclosed resort as well so safety would be less of an issue. Not like it is one of the Mexican resorts. I'd really encourage you to give it a closer look. The mouse will always be waiting and this is your opportunity to explore a little! There is really so much in the big wide world besides Mickey. Get outside that box! I think you and your husband would really enjoy it and it would be quite relaxing. And maybe going to something enclosed and safe like sandals will open you up to trying maybe even Europe someday (amazing amazing place to visit)

Also, as scary as people think customs is, I've never had a problem. Now if you said you were planning to bring back a wheel of cheese and a goat... Ok you may have a problem. But it's a fairly short process if you aren't bringing back anything food or drink wise.

 

[bsiev1977]

It really isn't so bad. And if you went to Sandals, language will not be an issue. It's an enclosed resort as well so safety would be less of an issue. Not like it is one of the Mexican resorts. I'd really encourage you to give it a closer look. The mouse will always be waiting and this is your opportunity to explore a little! There is really so much in the big wide world besides Mickey. Get outside that box! I think you and your husband would really enjoy it and it would be quite relaxing. And maybe going to something enclosed and safe like sandals will open you up to trying maybe even Europe someday (amazing amazing place to visit)

Also, as scary as people think customs is, I've never had a problem. Now if you said you were playing to being back a wheel of cheese and a goat... Ok you may have a problem. But it's a fairly short process if you aren't bringing back anything.

My sister took a solo trip last summer without my niece, she went to the Club Med on Turks and Caicos. That's a closed off resort at well.

Like Bubbles said about customs, if you aren't carrying anything you shouldn't be, you won't have a problem.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Take the Deluxe trip to WDW, reclaim your love for all things Disney, put the disaster in the past and enjoy the trip with DH. Splurge on a couple of things you've always wanted to do, special dinner, tour etc., as a way of building some excitement into the trip. Go and enjoy.

 

[SMS55]

I guess it depends on the child. We took our daughter at 6 months and later at a year and she was ok both. She went on what she could and was fine. We put her on the dark rides when she was tired and she would pass out quickly. At 2.5 my son recognized quite a bit and had lots of fun.

 

[Mrsdonaldduck]

Take the Deluxe trip to WDW, reclaim your love for all things Disney, put the disaster in the past and enjoy the trip with DH. Splurge on a couple of things you've always wanted to do, special dinner, tour etc., as a way of building some excitement into the trip. Go and enjoy.

I i am so sorry you had a stressful time the wee ones are so unpredictable. I do have to say i agree jiminy! We have been going the past 5 years first time my #3 son was 6 months and the other boy unders 5 we stay deluxe club level (less days to offset the added cost) but it makes the vacation easy. I hope whatever vacation you decide that you and your family have an enjoyable relaxing time

 

[nc_disneyfreak]

our first trip back in 10', we took our son who was 3 and his cousin who was 4. aside from one tantrum on our second day, it was pretty smooth. we went again last april with our daughter as well who was 16 months old. she did very well lol...she rode POTC 4 times, peter pan, pooh, small world, the safari at AK as well as many others...you just see what kind of temperment your kid has and make a decision based off that. A month before we went in 12' we went to the nearby zoo for the whole day as a dry run lol...we had the stroller, diaper bag etc and everything went good...so we were feeling pretty good when our plane touched down in orlando...

 

[luv]

I would never take a trip with any kid that wasn't potty-trained if I could help it! I do not blame you for setting 4 as your minimum age!

Leave the baby with grandparents and go wherever you want.

 

[disneysince71]

I'd say do a couples trip to F&W!

ditto!!!

 

[copcarguyp71]

We did WDW with our DD back in '06 when she was three and it was fine. We needed to take afternoon breaks back at the hotel because it was sensory overload and she needed to reset but going back into the parks later in the afternoon was fine.

Each kid is different so setting the bar at four could be too early or not early enough...I would say don't set hallmarks in your head that can be tough or disappointing to stick to.

 

[DrummerAlly]

Thanks everyone! We'll certainly return with her soon enough... but we definitely need to be past the diapers and bottles phase for us.

F&W Festival seems to be the popular answer (as I somewhat expected it to be). We are thinking of the Yacht Club because thats where we honeymooned. No votes for Disney Land eh?

Thanks for all of your responses! It's helpful to hear that there's hope for an enjoyable vacations with children to come.

 

[sublimesting]

Give it another try. We never would have taken a baby, but we took her at 18 months and again at 30 months. Both trips she was absolutely amazing and loved it more than we could have possibly hoped. We're going back again this fall at 3 and a half years. I couldn't imagine all those trips not being in our shard family memory - they were so wonderful for the three of us.

That being said it is a different trip, you go slower, but we just used that to absorb more of the magic. We used to do the parks commando style but family style is more rewarding as we bonded as a family so much more than barrelling through the parks as 2 adults in a semi-drunk, food-coma, commando raid on Disney attractions.