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?

 

[Figgy1]

Ok... so this is my first post ever. I had to sign up after reading this thread. (Been coming to website for years though.) We took our 4 month old and 3 year old daughters to Disney in 2011 and they were great. Baby never really fussed and the 3 year old loved everything and was perfect during of the trip. By far our best vacation yet. We then booked another trip for Feb. 2013 (returned 2 weeks ago) and this one was a disaster. We were in Disney for 7 days and both kids had the stomach flu for the first 4 days. It was awful (felt really bad for mousekeeping and tipped accordingly). Our only solace was the amazing weather (from NY) and beautiful resort (POR). We were able to get to the parks for the last 3 days but my now 2 year hated everything... the noise, fireworks, rides, parades, you name it (only thing she did enjoy was Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor).

My opinion on the original post is to go back to Disney, with or without kids. I know for me and my family, we need a redo. It's hard when you plan a vacation so far in advance, pay tons of money and anticipate a magical time for it to then go horribly wrong. (BTW - if one more person told me to have a magical day 2 weeks ago, I was going to scream.) Kids change so fast, one minute they hate noise and the next they love it. One minute they are not afraid of the dark and the next they are. Don't let what might / could happen affect your
vacation decisions. Try, try again!! (Sorry for the long post)

Welcome! It was a beautiful post!

 

[DrummerAlly]

Ok... so this is my first post ever. I had to sign up after reading this thread. (Been coming to website for years though.) We took our 4 month old and 3 year old daughters to Disney in 2011 and they were great. Baby never really fussed and the 3 year old loved everything and was perfect during of the trip. By far our best vacation yet. We then booked another trip for Feb. 2013 (returned 2 weeks ago) and this one was a disaster. We were in Disney for 7 days and both kids had the stomach flu for the first 4 days. It was awful (felt really bad for mousekeeping and tipped accordingly). Our only solace was the amazing weather (from NY) and beautiful resort (POR). We were able to get to the parks for the last 3 days but my now 2 year hated everything... the noise, fireworks, rides, parades, you name it (only thing she did enjoy was Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor).

My opinion on the original post is to go back to Disney, with or without kids. I know for me and my family, we need a redo. It's hard when you plan a vacation so far in advance, pay tons of money and anticipate a magical time for it to then go horribly wrong. (BTW - if one more person told me to have a magical day 2 weeks ago, I was going to scream.) Kids change so fast, one minute they hate noise and the next they love it. One minute they are not afraid of the dark and the next they are. Don't let what might / could happen affect your
vacation decisions. Try, try again!! (Sorry for the long post)

Thanks for your post and welcome! I totally understand - kids are just unpredictable. I read so many posts of people gushing over their great trips with their infants that I thought that with careful planning, it would be great. I was just really sad when it wasn't. We also had some high points - we loved CSR, the weather was great, we had two excellent meals at the Maya Grill, and some others a long the way. Looking back, I think our issue was the sun - she just hated the sun in a way I've never seen a baby react. We tried everything to keep her comfortable but nothing worked. She's lived her entire life in a frosty gray snow covered New England tundra, so what did we expect?

I agree with you that we need a re-do. I'm afraid if we don't go back soon (the two or three of us) that we won't for a long time... and its our favorite place! I hope you have a happy family re-do vacation sometime soon as well!

 

[Kim6777]

Thanks Figgy and DrummerAlly!! We definitely are planning a re-do, just not sure if it's going to be Jan. 2014 or Oct. 2014. We really didn't like all the construction in MK and may want to wait until it's completed. And same to you, DrummerAlly, hope you have a wonderful vacation, where ever it may be!!!

 

[wdwstateofmind]

We decided we wouldn't take our child until they are 7 and can fully comprehend/remember a lot of the trip...with that being said...

I mean I hate to hijack the thread, but it kinda falls along the line of this...what's the deal with couples having to go to WDW in what looks like the third trimester? I mean we constantly see pregnant couples with no kids in May at WDW and I can't help to think that sitting outside in Florida's 85+ degree heat, that pregnant with the blistering sun, just cannot be healthy for you or the baby...

At the end of the day I always felt they were trying to prove something...

 

[Figgy1]

We decided we wouldn't take our child until they are 7 and can fully comprehend/remember a lot of the trip...with that being said...

I mean I hate to hijack the thread, but it kinda falls along the line of this...what's the deal with couples having to go to WDW in what looks like the third trimester? I mean we constantly see pregnant couples with no kids in May at WDW and I can't help to think that sitting outside in Florida's 85+ degree heat, that pregnant with the blistering sun, just cannot be healthy for you or the baby...

At the end of the day I always felt they were trying to prove something...

Only you know your child my ds was 5 and he was great he remembers everything, helped plan the trip, got himself into a SWW parade he planned his costume for the day he was full on commando for 10 days open til close and we even stopped at Kennedy Space Center for a day on the way down he loved that also and so yours may be ready at 3 or 4 or 12 you just have to see how things go!

 

[wdwstateofmind]

Only you know your child my ds was 5 and he was great he remembers everything, helped plan the trip, got himself into a SWW parade he planned his costume for the day he was full on commando for 10 days open til close and we even stopped at Kennedy Space Center for a day on the way down he loved that also and so yours may be ready at 3 or 4 or 12 you just have to see how things go!

haha...in a way I think we're giving ourselves alone time at WDW until he is 7...as much as we know our child would love it, it's still our place in a strange way...

 

[Figgy1]

haha...in a way I think we're giving ourselves alone time at WDW until he is 7...as much as we know our child would love it, it's still our place in a strange way...

I'm waiting for mine to fly the nest to do tha! My youngest says we can NEVER go there without him he'd miss us too much! This is the little angel that can go to grandma's and not call me for 2 weeks because he's too busy with his friend there! LOL

 

[RandomPrincess]

Every family is different, every baby is different.

My daughter did DL at 9m and 18m and my son did WDW at 11m and my daughter was almost 3. The 18m trip and the almost 3 were the best. No bottles, diapers at 18m but they are only as often as an adult uses the restroom. She really got the magic at 18m everything was so exciting for her. She had read lots of Disney stories by then so she new Tinkerbell, Mickey, Minnie etc. and some Princesses. It was the first trip where she understood it was something special happening. The almost 3 was even better as she knew more about Disney, theme parks etc.

Also by 18m you know your kids personality and temperament. You can better gauge what they will have a negative reaction too.

As for your couples trip I vote for couples F&W got back tot the scene of the crime so to speak and get a happier trip under your belt.

 

[DrummerAlly]

We decided we wouldn't take our child until they are 7 and can fully comprehend/remember a lot of the trip...with that being said...

I mean I hate to hijack the thread, but it kinda falls along the line of this...what's the deal with couples having to go to WDW in what looks like the third trimester? I mean we constantly see pregnant couples with no kids in May at WDW and I can't help to think that sitting outside in Florida's 85+ degree heat, that pregnant with the blistering sun, just cannot be healthy for you or the baby...

At the end of the day I always felt they were trying to prove something...

Personally, I wish I had gone on our vacation when I was later in pregnancy than with our infant. Because of our work schedules we had the choice of going when I was 6 months (or more) pregnant, with our 3 month old, or forfeiting the money spent on air fare. I thought like you that it would be better for everyone if we went with her at 3 months. In the summer its just as hot in Florida as it is in Massachusetts (on average), so the heat really isn't any worse. If you're smart about it, I'm sure its just fine. Assuming you are staying well hydrated and rested, I'm sure its just fine for the baby. We went on a mountain hiking trip when I was 7 months pregnant and we certainly weren't trying to prove anything - just trying to enjoy a last pre-baby trip. I'm sure most people visiting WDW very pregnant feel the same way. After our last trip, I think the people going very pregnant are probably making a good decision if the alternative is with a young baby.

Of course pregnancy is a binary state... but for the purpose of this discussion there is pregnant and then there is "very" pregnant.

 

[Ally_pumkin2princess]

I would love to go to disney and if you guys have never been maybe thats worth a try depending on how far away you live seeing as you only have 4days. If your content with relaxing on a beach and are into a laidback vacation then sandals it is. But since you both love mickey maybe F&W and a deluxe would be best but make sure to look at crowd calendars because I read F&W can get crowded especially on weekends and thats never fun.

By the way my son at 1month with us we planed a 7day vacation had to leave after 2 days. He was crying cranky because of the heat. He was born in philly in February so imagine! Now we went with both him(2yrs) and his baby brother (6months). And they both were happy and didnt fuss at all.