Going to WDW with small children?

[DisneyPrincess5]

I know what you mean! I have this memory of me dancing as a little kid outside of what used to be a toy shop maybe behind the castle in the early 80's with some guy playing an accordion. But I honestly have no idea if I remember that because I *remember* it, or because I saw it on an old home video at some point, heh.

:lol: I know...isn't that weird?!

 

[GMan123]

We're going in June and taking our daughter for the first time. She just turned two! We are super excited and have no problem taking it at her pace. I think the big thing for me is experiencing some of the kiddie rides that I don't remember doing as a kid, since I can go on as an adult with my child! It will be a new way to experience Disney!

 

[3girlswdwdreams]

I think the real question is not "How old should a kid be on his/her first trip" but "Are you willing to do what it takes to let a child that is X enjoy a trip to WDW."

This absolutely hits the nail on the head... if you are there to run from eticket to eticket doing parent swap with a one-year-old.. then, yeah, it's probably a terrible experience as your cousin described.

but if you are there to experience all the wonders of Disney WITH your children, follow their cues, etc then it can be a very magical experience!!!! we did a trip with our 5, 3 and 1 year olds.... a week without even one meltdown or sour note.... it was a vacation my husband and I will treasure always and though our kids eventually will not remember the specifics of the trip...for now they still talk about it all the time, love to look at the pictures and most importantly I believe all of our life experiences help mold who we are... and I so happy we were able to do this with them. We were there for the experience as a family..and geared our trip that way.

There is no perfect age... it's what's right for each family... because there is nothing like seeing Disney through a one year old's eyes, or a five year old's, or an eight year old's, or an eleven year old's.... you get the idea....

 

[EaglesfanNJ]

Hey Figment, fellow Jersey/Disney fanatic here. Wanted to chime in on your original post, i can only speak on my rationale and decision making on my upcoming trip, it does not mean i'm right and anyone else is wrong, as they say..... to each his own.........

As you're already aware (but others not familiar with this area may not be) we have many options for vacation spots, Jersey Shore, Poconos, etc. My wife and I are first time parents, baby was born July 2007. Obviously we didn't go on vacation last summer and have been looking forward anxiously to this vacation season. Like everyone else, the big decision is "Where do we go?" We priced out trips to the shore, Ocean City MD, North Carolina, etc. And let me tell you this, I literally booked my Disney vacation for 1 week for the same price it would have been for me to book a shore house for 1 week. And with the shore house, that's all you get, the house. You still need entertainment, food, souveneirs, etc. With Disney the price i got was for a stay at ASMU, dining, park hoppers, transporation, etc. So when it came to $, it made complete sense.

Now many of the pessimists will ask me all of the time "Why take her to Disney, she won't remember it" Oh ok, so if i take my 1 year old to the beach she'll remember it? I feel bad your cousin had a poor time with their 1 year old, i'm sure too that it has everything to do with each individual child and family in regards to how they will react.

My wife and I have done several Disney trips together in the past and had the times of our lives, and as another poster said, why change that now because there is a baby. We're going into the trip WITHOUT our "Park Commando" style as we've done in the past, open to close, hit all attractions at all costs, etc. We will let our baby dictate our trip. We will also for the first time go back to the room for the mid day nap, lunch, swim, whatever we feel like. Returning to the parks for a nice (free) sit down meal, parades, and fireworks. If she's cranky, we'll do what is needed to correct it, if she's loving it, even better. We go with an open mind knowing we will not complete everything.... the point for us will to be there as a family for the first time, creat memories, take a lot of pictures, and know that we are blessed to be able to take our daughter there in the first place....the way this country is, many can not go anywhere. Yes, down the road when another child comes along, we'll wait until both are older and take another trip.

Finally, i've ALWAYS made another argument to play devil's advocate that taking a 1 year old may be better than a 5 or 6 year old. I will not have to deal with the "daddy buy me this, daddy buy me that" after going through every single store in Disney, and exiting the attractions. I will not have to deal with the meltdowns when i need to tell her no. And of course, right now she's free in regards to park tickets/resort/and food.

Again, everything i brought up above, there is always an exception and someone will have a rebuttle for, i only speak for our situation.

 

[KC82271]

As I have said many times my youngest daughters first trip was at the ripe old age of 10 days old and we had a great time. The people that have a terrible time are taking an infant or a small child to the parks and are trying to do exactly what they did before they kids. When you have a little one you can not run from one attraction to attraction from sun up to sun down. You have to take things at your child's pace. When they want to eat you eat, When they want to rest you rest. This is a sacrifice as a parent that you simply have to make. If you can't or won't make that sacrifice then don't bring a kid to WDW...simple as that.

On the plus side by being forced to slow things down a few notches we have enjoyed that parks even more. When you are not hitting WDW like storming the beaches on D-Day you notice all the details and begin to appreciate the parks on a much higher level.

100% in agreement with Master Yoda.

My DD was 10 mos old, 22 mos, 29 mos, 3 years, 3.5 years, and now going on 4 on each of her trips. Each trip was a different experience. There were a few times over the years that I asked myself if I was really that crazy, but yes I am. We have always enjoyed going, so why change that when a kid comes along. This is the life we are used to, so she had to get used to it too.

As said above, you have to do everything at their speed - but you see things you never saw before.

One benefit I have when my husband goes is we usually get one night out alone - and all we do is go to dinner. My mom is my permanent Disney companion, and she is on every trip. I ask her for a few hours one night and we go to the clam bake. It's not like we even go to a park.

When the time comes, I bet you will do the same - if you are a die hard.

 

[dixiegirl]

As I have said many times my youngest daughters first trip was at the ripe old age of 10 days old and we had a great time. The people that have a terrible time are taking an infant or a small child to the parks and are trying to do exactly what they did before they kids. When you have a little one you can not run from one attraction to attraction from sun up to sun down. You have to take things at your child's pace. When they want to eat you eat, When they want to rest you rest. This is a sacrifice as a parent that you simply have to make. If you can't or won't make that sacrifice then don't bring a kid to WDW...simple as that.

On the plus side by being forced to slow things down a few notches we have enjoyed that parks even more. When you are not hitting WDW like storming the beaches on D-Day you notice all the details and begin to appreciate the parks on a much higher level.

Exactly ,I could'nt have put it any better myself!!! Sounds like us!
Having gone since our girls were 11months old and even very preggo one time , I could'nt imagine not taking them at those ages...But it is true about pacing yourself, You do see the people with the kids screaming and the parents are yelling and running around trying to be commando.. Every year that we've gone it does get better and better, but looking back at their first visits as babies and toddlers those visits are truly priceless...

 

[mousebymarriage]

My children have gone to Disney almost every year since they were 6 months old. My DD is now 12 and DS is almost 8. We have family in Florida (near FT.myers) and when my DD was little we would spend a few days at their house and then all of us would head over to Disney for a week. Once my DD got to be school age I didn't feel comfortable taking her out of school for almost 2 weeks so we trimmed the trip to 1 week and the family just meets us there for our mini "reunion". The way I look at it is, most kids have melt downs whether there home, at the mall, grocery store or at Disney. If a melt down is gonna happen it doesn't matter where you are that's the beauty of toddlers and little kids. If they have a melt down just let them do it, who cares. DO NOT give in, let them get it out of their system, hey sometimes even I feel like screaming and having a tantrum. Once their melt down is over the kid is usually o.k. .Don't be embarrassed if your kid has a tantrum do you know how many I have seen in Disney? The number is astonishinhg, your child isn't the first and certaintly won't be the last. Parents just need to remember that kids can only handle so much and you have to pace yourself based on your childs temperment. For us, Disney is just as much for us as parents as it is for them, sometimes I think my hubby enjoys it more than the kids.

 

[toystorymaniacs]

This absolutely hits the nail on the head... if you are there to run from eticket to eticket doing parent swap with a one-year-old.. then, yeah, it's probably a terrible experience as your cousin described.

but if you are there to experience all the wonders of Disney WITH your children, follow their cues, etc then it can be a very magical experience!!!! we did a trip with our 5, 3 and 1 year olds.... a week without even one meltdown or sour note.... it was a vacation my husband and I will treasure always and though our kids eventually will not remember the specifics of the trip...for now they still talk about it all the time, love to look at the pictures and most importantly I believe all of our life experiences help mold who we are... and I so happy we were able to do this with them. We were there for the experience as a family..and geared our trip that way.

There is no perfect age... it's what's right for each family... because there is nothing like seeing Disney through a one year old's eyes, or a five year old's, or an eight year old's, or an eleven year old's.... you get the idea....

Very well put! :sohappy: I have a 7 year old and a 2 year old, both of them were 9 months old on their first trips. We have made many trips and each one at each stage brings something new and wonderful.

 

[disneyliv85]

My parents took me to Disney at 18 months and 3 years. I remember only a little bit from when I was 3 but my parents still talk about the memories they made with me (like screaming when I met Goofy even after I begged to get in line to meet him! sorry mom lol) Plus they were one of the parents lugging around those huge cameras! Growing up I used to love watching that video of us at Disney. Heck, I still do now at 23!

Next month I will be taking my daughter who will be 16 months old and I can't wait to make some memories! Hopefully karma doesn't hit me and she screams when she meets Goofy :hammer:Oh well! Memories

 

[mickeymatt]

Ok so I dont have any children yet :sohappy:but plan to have a few. My question is about people who go to WDW with infants or very small children. I dont want to offend anyone Im just curious. Why dont you wait till the children are older? My cousin just went with a one year old and said it was a terrible experience. With having to ride swap to rided the rides and it was just an over all hastle. I proball wont take a child to WDW till tey are at least 4 or 5 so is it reall worth going to WDW with such smaal children or should you wait till they are older?

Why would you go without kids? Because you enjoy it, right. Many of us were going to Disney before the kids came along and we want to continue to enjoy it even after children come along. I see what you are saying and believe me, I have heard all the criticism about how my daughter won't remember any of this but I can tell you she has been going since she was born and through the years she has retained many memories (she will be 5 in July). I have enjoyed every moment with her there and I even enjoy the parks more because as some have said you slow down and go at their pace. It wasn't until last trip that we rode some E tickets. Now my daughter can ride everything so I am looking forward to next trip. My daughter still talks about Soarin'---it's her favorite ride!

 

[kitten2299]

We took our DD at 8 months old and everyone said the same thing why are you going shes not going to remember anything you are going to have a terrible trip well they were WRONG we had a great time. DD loved the characters, we went during Star Wars weekend DH HUGE fan , she loved every ride she was on we knew right away we had a daredevil on our hands when on Dumbo she laughed when we were up as high as it could go and would start to whine when we lowered it till we were up high again. We took her again at age 4 that was a great trip also and she remembers more things than I do and we are going to be going in Oct for her 6th bday and she is asking if we are going to go on BTR this time since last time it was broken and she wants to go on Splash Mnt again and hopes that I will get sprayed with water from the frog again.Your kids will get out of the trip what you put into it and if you talk to them about it and show them pictures they will not forget the magic.

 

[dragongirl]

My daughter first went at the age of six weeks. And the trip wasn't for her, it was for me because I'd only been to WDW for five days before getting sidetracked for ten months and wanted to get to at least the eight day mark on my AP.

She has been there since at 10 months, 22 months, 2 1/2 years and 3 years. 2 1/2 and 3 is when she really started to get into it and remembers it very well. At least as well as she remembers that Target has free cookies for kids. She even talks about what she didn't get to do during the last trip and has a list of things she "needs" to do for next time.

There has always been someone in my party who hasn't liked certain rides and if everyone likes a ride, I go someplace else with my daughter and have a different experience. I am not disappointed at having missed the attraction either. I've discovered a whole new Disney World beyond the eTickets and now go for the characters and all the little things like I used to go for the attractions.

Also, I find "If you eat your dinner, you'll grow big enough to go on Soarin' next time!" to be very effective. Soarin' has become such a big goal to her that she freely tells everyone when they ask me if she's a "good eater" that she eats lots of "vega-bles" so she can get big and go on Soarin'. Proving that:

1. Adults should never talk about a little kid when they are right there as if they can't hear.

2. Disney World is more conducive to broccoli consumption than covering it with cheese.

 

[Erika]

I think there are a lot of good points made here and a lot of it depends on your family and the sorts of things you typically do.

If a Disney trip is something I can afford to do only once every 10 years, then yes, I'm going to wait until the child is a little older. But if it's a place I get to on a more regular basis, I'm bringing the kids!

We took our daughter to Disneyland at 2 (admittedly probably much much easier with a young child than WDW due to its smaller size). I'm not really concerned about how much she will or won't remember because she had a great time while there, and we did too. Having a baby hasn't stopped us from going to museums, zoos, state parks and monuments, the Grand Canyon... sure, they are different trips with kids than without, but you plan accordingly. You know your kids and you go with what works best

With another baby almost here we'll be taking him at an even younger age, probably before he turns 1. He won't remember anything, but his older sister certainly will.

 

[kerrie]

My kids first trip was when my son was 2 1/2 and my daughter was about 1 and two months they had a great time. it was great

 

[GSpiff]

Everyone notices kids when they're screaming and yelling and having tantrums, but very few people ever recognize the kids who are quiet and enjoying themselves, and there's a lot more of those kids than the screaming ones.

I took my son to Disneyland at 11 months, and I'm taking him to Disney World at 20 months. He may not remember a second of it except the millions of pictures and hours of video I'll undoubdtedly have, but that doesn't mean he won't enjoy it. One of the best feelings I get is watching him explore the world around him and watching his face light up at new experiences that spark his brain for the first time. It's one of those things you just don't understand until you're a parent yourself I found out. Plus, it's free for him to travel, and how can you beat that price??

 

[toystorymaniacs]

ok, so who knows what they remember and what they don't but I can tell you we were laying in bed the other morning and my two year old looked at me and said, "Mommy I want to go ride the tea cups" so obviously he has some understanding of WDW. Of course now I have to get him to understand that we are not going until September.