How did WDW change for you when you went back with kids?

[skipperdan]

After what seems like a lifetime we are finally planning to return to WDW in late 2023/early 2024. We will be coming with a young family (3.5years and 18month), probably staying for 2 weeks.

We previously loved the dinning plan, going to nice restaurants, riding all the big rides and meeting all the characters. Now I know the next time is going to be very different but I just wondered what everyone else noticed as those big differences? What did you enjoy the most?

We are planning a trial run at DLP (6 hour drive away) at the end of summer so we can get an idea of what it would be like with 2 young children before we drop the £6k (the amount is eye watering and hopefully Disney brings back all the promotions for 2023).

 

[turbolaaf]

After what seems like a lifetime we are finally planning to return to WDW in late 2023/early 2024. We will be coming with a young family (3.5years and 18month), probably staying for 2 weeks.

We previously loved the dinning plan, going to nice restaurants, riding all the big rides and meeting all the characters. Now I know the next time is going to be very different but I just wondered what everyone else noticed as those big differences? What did you enjoy the most?

We are planning a trial run at DLP (6 hour drive away) at the end of summer so we can get an idea of what it would be like with 2 young children before we drop the £6k (the amount is eye watering and hopefully Disney brings back all the promotions for 2023).

I'm going in 3,5 weeks to have the same thing. I went to DisneyWorld with friends about 19 years ago, and this time I'll be going with my family. The amount we are paying is huge (even more then 6K in pounds), but we're doing next to 6 day's of Disney also another week with universal/seaworld/busch gardens. Next to that you could expect the prices to increase within the next upcoming years. What I noticed with planning for our next visit is the planning itself since we're not resort guests. The half our before park opening for resort guests and the ability to book an individual Lightning Lane (ILL) makes it less difficult to try to ride the top 2 attractions.
Keep that in mind. Perhaps when we get back I can tell you some more changes.

 

[DarthVader]

We will be coming with a young family (3.5years and 18month), probably staying for 2 weeks.

Unpopular opinion, but at those stated ages, I'd say they're too young for you and your kids to fully enjoy WDW. At 18 months, the little one really won't have any memory of the vacation, and quite possibly the 3 1/2. I think memories start sticking around closer to age 5. Plus taking young kids will be harder on you and your spouse with regard to wait times 20, 30, and possibly 60 minutes and trying to keep the little ones entertained.

Do parents take their babies and toddlers to WDW, of course, I literally saw a days old baby, the mother was in line with the little one, talking about how young she was. She handed the little peanut off to dad so she could do the ride. I make no judgements on how old to bring kids, but given the high cost of WDW vacations, I'm of the opinion that you want them to have the best time they can have and also remember it. So why not wait until the kids can fully enjoy the vacation? Just my $.02

but I just wondered what everyone else noticed as those big differences?

I went BK (before kids) and WK (with kids). The biggest difference is that you get to see their wonderment as the park unfolds, as they see new things, and characters. What I also recall is that things slow down quite a bit, where as we could go to one end of MK, for something and rush to the other side, and then if we want, park hop to another park. With little ones, they tire sooner, and move slower. IF its hot and crowded that certainly decreased the amount of energy and willingness my kids had to stay in the park. Invariably by late or more likely mid afternoon we started hearing that they wanted to go back to the resort and go in the pool.

As a family, many of our cherished memories are of our WDW vacations, but with young ones, things slow down quite a bit, especially when you factor Fla heat/humidity and crowds. I'm sure I'm telling you what you already know but I'm giving experience.

 

[skipperdan]

I'd say they're too young for you and your kids to fully enjoy WDW

I would partially agree, but we aren't going for them to make memories we are going for us to experience their joy in being there and plan on going more than once while they are kids - It would blow my current 2.5-year-olds mind to meet Mickey Mouse.

As a family, many of our cherished memories are of our WDW vacations, but with young ones, things slow down quite a bit, especially when you factor Fla heat/humidity and crowds. I'm sure I'm telling you what you already know but I'm giving experience.

Thanks for the info, that's exactly what I'm after people with experience. I know we are going to be moving slower, taking a lot more breaks and doing more of the non-ride things. We will be taking Grandparents as well so we can rider swap/take it in turns with the slower things. We will be going to make great memories for ourselves and for our (my) parents.

 

[RememberWhen]

We’ve been before and after kids. I loved seeing my 18month old fall in love with Daisy. And she LOVED riding dumbo. At 4, it’s still a favorite. While she doesn’t have real memories of that first trip she’s seen lots of pictures and loves hearing about it, so we all get to enjoy the memories together.
My kids are 9, 4 and 9 months. We did a trip at the end of February, so here are my general recommendations:
-rope drop and get in to do some fun things before the lines get crazy. We did teacups a couple times and dumbo and barnstormer on an exceptionally crowded day at rope drop with very little wait.
-the baby care centers are great, but not always convenient. It’s helpful to know where the family restrooms are as they can be less overwhelming for a newly potty trained little person.
-our usual plan for the day is rope drop, lunch, hotel, nap/pool/relax, dinner/park time you can adjust a bit here and there, but all day in the park is hard for *me* and almost impossible for the kiddos
-double strollers are huge (generally). If you can do two small strollers (we have a mountain buggy nano. It’s awesome.) or a small double stroller you’ll be happier getting around. Those giant strollers are way too big on the busses.
-a baby carrier might be helpful if that’s something you do sometimes. Especially for transportation when you have to fold the strollers.
In short, take it easy. Focus on stuff the kids can ride and enjoy. We spent a good 45 min to an hour at the front of MK with a popcorn bucket just watching cavalcades roll by and then watching the dapper dans. There’s lots of good stuff that’s not a ride.
Enjoy! And ask more questions if they come up!

 

[NelleBelle]

We went before kids and that's when I knew I wanted/was ready for kids--next month we were expecting! We've gone with both our kids were very young: 1st DS visited at 15-mo, my mom went with to help watch while we all switched off riding. He loved the lights, music, rides (we took him on everything we could). He had his first haircut there. Those pictures are the best and wish we had more of them! Our 2nd DS visited when he was 4-weeks old, older DS was 2.5. We tended to always go with my mom (or my MIL) who would happily watch the boys or take them on something while we waited to ride something they couldn't. There was only one time we went just the 4 of us and that was to DLR while we were attending a wedding. My oldest had his 3rd b-day there and the youngest was 6mo. Our oldest met pretty much all the ht. requirements for the rides at DLR (their SM has a lower ht requirement and rode that for the first time as well as BTMRR) while one of us stayed with the baby. We had a good time taking the oldest on rides he could do and doing things we all could do together. It probably would've been easier at WDW just the 4 of us given there are more shows and slower rides, etc throughout. But I would not change one thing about taking our boys as young as they were. We made many happy family memories. It's been kinda our family's tradition--my parents took me to DL when I was 6-wks old and back then, they just had the CM hold me while the rode SM!! Boy, the 70's were something else!!! LOL

 

[Sbk1234]

We found that transportation was the biggest hurdle for us. It was a chore bringing a stroller and diaper bag onto the busses, especially if the busses were crowded.
We had to take things a lot slower, and spent time in the baby centers. But we still managed to do all the rides we wanted, utilizing baby swaps when possible/necessary. We would take the babies on all the rides they were allowed, including POTC, HM, and such. No problems. No crying issues. Honestly, I've seen more crying coming from older kids on many occasions.
The number one item you will need is your patience.