How young is too young???

[Sulley]

I took my 4 month old baby girl this past November and have nothing but great memories.

As long as you work around your babies schedule you'll be fine. Learn where all the baby centers are and plan when you'll need to be in the area (don't put yourself in a position where you'll have to walk across half the park to go feed your baby). And like others said don't be disappointed with you kids reaction, for the most part they're not aware of the majority of what's going on around them.

Remember you are there for you, but limited by him. So don't get upset when you can't ride Splash Mountain because he needs to be changed, or you have to walk out of Haunted Mansion's cue when he gets scared of the lightning in the stretching room. Or my favorite... slept through the parade after you waited 45 minutes for a front row seat so they can see it.

Enjoy it, and accept as much help as you can.

-SULLEY

 

[bgraham34]

My cousin took there 6 month old and they had a good time. She said younger than that and it would have been a problem.

 

[Livi's Mama]

Do it!

I lived in the Orlando area and took my first daughter when she was 18 days old and my second daughter at almost a month. No, I wasn't crazy or endangering my children--no one will touch or breathe on your tiny little baby in a stroller! As long as the weather is nice (not too hot or cold) and you're willing to work around their schedules, babies are great at WDW. I LOVE those baby centers. It's a nice place for the parent to rest as he/she is feeding or changing a child, too.

If you want to go back, I think you should definitely go. The trip will be mostly for you, but one-year-olds love to look at bright, colorful things and experience the out-of-doors, and there's lots of that at Disney. November is a great time of year to go. Just be sure to bring clothes for warm or cold weather and don't push your child too hard. I also recommend bringing a baby blanket and some clothespins. When my kids would fall asleep in the stroller, I would clothespin the baby blanket to the sun shade of the stroller, and they were completely shaded from the wind and brightness/stimulation of the sun and surrounding activity. They napped a lot better that way. We also always went back to our room to rest in the middle of the day.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[PintoColvig]

The family does not have to revolve around the child. The child must learn to adapt. If a child remembering something is the only reason for doing things, then why kiss and hug the child or buy it toys to play with or talk to them if they never will remember. Life is a progressive learning experience.

Read these words again, parents and parents-to-be. There is far more wisdom here than you may realize, especially in the first two sentences. :king:

 

[Glasgow]

We took our daughter at 15 months and the only attractions she didn't experience were the thrill rides (and anything with a height reqt, of course). Just know that meal times and during travel (ie. busses) may get a bit hairy -- those were our only difficult moments since you need to be sedentary for more than 60 seconds!

 

[sbkline]

It is all a matter of opinion, but as for me and my wife, our way of thinking is that if he is too little to walk and talk, he's too little to take to WDW.

For the baby, he won't remember it, he can't enjoy the rides as he will be too little to go on them, or the ones he CAN go on, he's not really gonna know what's going on anyway.

For the parents, they can't enjoy many of the things they can enjoy without a baby tying them down. It's much harder to eat at a nice restaraunt, it's harder to stay out late in the parks, since the baby needs to go back to the hotel to go to bed. On the rides that the child can't go on, the parents either have to skip the ride, or do the rider switch thing and not be able to go on the ride together. I can go on and on with specific examples, but the point, which is not in dispute by either side in this debate, is that the trip has to be majorly modified to accomodate the presence of a baby.

Some people are happy to make the necessary adjustments and that's fine. But I'm not one of them. In my opinion, a baby only weighs you down on the trip and he doesn't even get much enjoyment out of it either. He just gets pushed around in a stroller all day, and he could do that at home.

We plan our next trip for this April and our son will be almost two. Like last year, he will stay with his grandparents, as we believe him to be too young to go yet. We probably won't go at all next year, since we plan to start trying for our second child. So if we go in 2009, he will be 4 years old, walking, talking, able to do some rides, and old enough to comprehend what's going on...so we may consider him old enough at that point to take along with us.

But we're planning on meeting up with another couple in April and eating at the Cali Grill one night, watching Spectro Magic one night and playing mini-golf one night. I just can't imagine trying to have a nice adult meal at the Cali Grill and have to contend with a fussy two year old screaming and pounding on his high chair tray. I can't imagine trying to watch SpectroMagic at 9 PM with a fussy child who wants to be on the move and doesn't like being forced to sit still. Like I said, many people may be perfectly content to modify their trip to accomodate a toddler. But I ain't one of 'em. But that's for each family to decide on their own.

 

[mpaul32001]

Ok, when I saw this thread title, I was afraid to click it...

Thought we would have a WDWmagic member crisis on our hands...

:ROFLOL:

 

[mpaul32001]

^ ^
I Wasted My 800th Post On That!?

:ROFLOL:

 

[Glasgow]

You're happy. Little one is happy. You are in a happy place. That's all I need to know -- I don't care where it is, WDW or not. Being a parent isn't just about their experiences .. it's about your experiences as well.

 

[KaliSplash]

We took our youngest son when he was 4 months old. He had a blast!

OK, so he didn't. He didn't like doing anything outside, it was very bright. I had our nearly 3 year old and my wife took the 4-month-old.

We still had a very good time. Certainly not the best time we ever had. But a very good time.

But then, it's really hard to have a bad time at WDW, now isn't it?

 

[fizzle75]

It is all a matter of opinion, but as for me and my wife, our way of thinking is that if he is too little to walk and talk, he's too little to take to WDW.

For the baby, he won't remember it, he can't enjoy the rides as he will be too little to go on them, or the ones he CAN go on, he's not really gonna know what's going on anyway.

For the parents, they can't enjoy many of the things they can enjoy without a baby tying them down. It's much harder to eat at a nice restaraunt, it's harder to stay out late in the parks, since the baby needs to go back to the hotel to go to bed. On the rides that the child can't go on, the parents either have to skip the ride, or do the rider switch thing and not be able to go on the ride together. I can go on and on with specific examples, but the point, which is not in dispute by either side in this debate, is that the trip has to be majorly modified to accomodate the presence of a baby.

Some people are happy to make the necessary adjustments and that's fine. But I'm not one of them. In my opinion, a baby only weighs you down on the trip and he doesn't even get much enjoyment out of it either. He just gets pushed around in a stroller all day, and he could do that at home.

We plan our next trip for this April and our son will be almost two. Like last year, he will stay with his grandparents, as we believe him to be too young to go yet. We probably won't go at all next year, since we plan to start trying for our second child. So if we go in 2009, he will be 4 years old, walking, talking, able to do some rides, and old enough to comprehend what's going on...so we may consider him old enough at that point to take along with us.

But we're planning on meeting up with another couple in April and eating at the Cali Grill one night, watching Spectro Magic one night and playing mini-golf one night. I just can't imagine trying to have a nice adult meal at the Cali Grill and have to contend with a fussy two year old screaming and pounding on his high chair tray. I can't imagine trying to watch SpectroMagic at 9 PM with a fussy child who wants to be on the move and doesn't like being forced to sit still. Like I said, many people may be perfectly content to modify their trip to accomodate a toddler. But I ain't one of 'em. But that's for each family to decide on their own.

Awww, man...there goes my plan to wear a diaper and let you push me around the parks in a stroller!

Does that mean piggyback rides around Animal Kingdom are off limits too? :shrug:



:lol::wave:

 

[sbkline]

Awww, man...there goes my plan to wear a diaper and let you push me around the parks in a stroller!

Does that mean piggyback rides around Animal Kingdom are off limits too? :shrug:



:lol::wave:

I'm willing to give you the piggyback ride as long as you promise not to fart on my shoulders. :lookaroun

:ROFLOL:

 

[fizzle75]

I'm willing to give you the piggyback ride as long as you promise not to fart on my shoulders. :lookaroun

:ROFLOL:

Don't worry, I won't cuz I really don't want YOU changing my diaper!

 

[DABIGCHEEZ]

It is all a matter of opinion, but as for me and my wife, our way of thinking is that if he is too little to walk and talk, he's too little to take to WDW.

For the baby, he won't remember it, he can't enjoy the rides as he will be too little to go on them, or the ones he CAN go on, he's not really gonna know what's going on anyway.

For the parents, they can't enjoy many of the things they can enjoy without a baby tying them down. It's much harder to eat at a nice restaraunt, it's harder to stay out late in the parks, since the baby needs to go back to the hotel to go to bed. On the rides that the child can't go on, the parents either have to skip the ride, or do the rider switch thing and not be able to go on the ride together. I can go on and on with specific examples, but the point, which is not in dispute by either side in this debate, is that the trip has to be majorly modified to accomodate the presence of a baby.

Some people are happy to make the necessary adjustments and that's fine. But I'm not one of them. In my opinion, a baby only weighs you down on the trip and he doesn't even get much enjoyment out of it either. He just gets pushed around in a stroller all day, and he could do that at home.

We plan our next trip for this April and our son will be almost two. Like last year, he will stay with his grandparents, as we believe him to be too young to go yet. We probably won't go at all next year, since we plan to start trying for our second child. So if we go in 2009, he will be 4 years old, walking, talking, able to do some rides, and old enough to comprehend what's going on...so we may consider him old enough at that point to take along with us.

But we're planning on meeting up with another couple in April and eating at the Cali Grill one night, watching Spectro Magic one night and playing mini-golf one night. I just can't imagine trying to have a nice adult meal at the Cali Grill and have to contend with a fussy two year old screaming and pounding on his high chair tray. I can't imagine trying to watch SpectroMagic at 9 PM with a fussy child who wants to be on the move and doesn't like being forced to sit still. Like I said, many people may be perfectly content to modify their trip to accomodate a toddler. But I ain't one of 'em. But that's for each family to decide on their own.

To bad you won't enjoy the memories of your kids at their young ages because you want to eat at the Cali Grill and play Mini-golf. Newsflash..... restaurants and minigolf will always be there but your child is only young once. Their reaction at 2 will not be the same as at 4 or 5. I am one who believes that once I start and have a family... then the vacations are FAMILY vacations.
My son who is nine has been there 10 times...1st trip when he was 13 months... and yes he had a blast and his sisters were 16 months and 13 months on their 1st visits and they enjoyed themselves. So I had to eat at Rainforest Cafe and Crystal Palace(and still have to each year for them) and actually last year was the first year I got to play Mini golf at WDW, but somehow I wouldn't trade the memories I made with my kids each year for a Filet Migon or a little green dimpled ball, but thats just me.

Anyway, as stated just don't go "commando" stlye and it will be fine. Know that afternoon breaks are going to happen and early nights also. Bringing the folks is a great plan if you could do it. Don't pass the chance to see you child have a blast.

 

[sbkline]

To bad you won't enjoy the memories of your kids at their young ages because you want to eat at the Cali Grill and play Mini-golf. Newsflash..... restaurants and minigolf will always be there but your child is only young once. Their reaction at 2 will not be the same as at 4 or 5. I am one who believes that once I start and have a family... then the vacations are FAMILY vacations.
My son who is nine has been there 10 times...1st trip when he was 13 months... and yes he had a blast and his sisters were 16 months and 13 months on their 1st visits and they enjoyed themselves. So I had to eat at Rainforest Cafe and Crystal Palace(and still have to each year for them) and actually last year was the first year I got to play Mini golf at WDW, but somehow I wouldn't trade the memories I made with my kids each year for a Filet Migon or a little green dimpled ball, but thats just me.

It's your vacation, and if that's how you prefer to do it, then there's not a thing wrong with that. Too bad you don't seem to respect my POV as I do yours. :shrug:

I'm more of the mindset that there's not a thing wrong with husband and wife wanting to have a vacation with just the two of them. Last year, after our 2007 trip, my wife and I were pondering whether or not to bring our son on our next trip. But after watching an episode of "Jon and Kate Plus Eight", my wife told me that she had decided that she wants it to be just the two of us again. Because in that episode, Jon and Kate were leaving their 8 kids behind and going on vacation...just the two of them. Kate said that she doesn't feel guilty about leaving the kids behind while she and Jon go on vacation because she sees it as an "investment in their marraige" by taking a week or so with just the two of them. And that's with 8 kids. I certainly don't think that there is anything wrong with a couple leaving their ONE kid behind to enjoy time alone for a week.

Although I look forward to taking my kids to WDW someday when we deem them old enough, in the meantime, I relish the opportunity to leave ALL responsibility aside for a week. Not just the responsibility of having to get up for work and put the dog out and wash the dishes, etc. But also the responsibility of having to feed and diaper a baby/toddler, and the responsibility of having to have him down for a nap and put him to bed at night, etc. I relish the thought of having a week where the only responsibility to worry about is making sure we make our ADR's on time, and making sure my wife and I have a good time. With the responsibilities of a job and parenthood all year round, I don't see anything wrong with leaving it ALL behind for a week.

No, I won't have the memories of a one year old smiling at Mickey Mouse. But I do have memories of my wife and I alone...just the two of us...enjoying WDW without the stress of having to take care of an infant the whole time. And I cherish the memories that my wife and I have made on our care free trips to "the World", and I look forward to one last trip like that before we start bringing our son along and making more memories of us and our child when he's finally old enough to bring with us.

 

[PrincessMiko]

I just went in December with an 11 month old and it was extremely pleasant. The best advice I can offer is to make sure and take plenty of breaks in areas that he can get out of the stroller and run around. Every 45 minutes or so my nephew (unless he was sleeping) would start getting whiney and antsy. Sometimes we forget that no matter how comfortable they are making strollers now-a-days, it is still hard for kids of any age to sit still for very long.
Oh yeah, another tip... DO NOT get a stroller there. Do whatever you have to to bring your own "land ark" as we like to call it. It is completely invaluable to have an oversized stroller with cupholders, a basket to hold the diaper bag, jackets, purchases, etc., and a reclining back for when your son gets tired. And don't worry about anyone stealing it. I am a nanny for a 6 year old and a 3 year old. We have gone twice a year every year since the oldest was 2 months old, and have never had our very nice personal stroller taken. (just rearranged constantly by well-meaning cast members. Don't get mad at them, they have to do it.) It is a good idea to tie and brightly colored handkerchief or something similar to the handle to make it easier to find your stroller.
(sorry for keeping on about the strollers, I have been dubbed the "stroller nazi" in our family because of how particular I am about it!)

 

[Jheyman]

We took our daughter when she was 6 months old and she loved every second of the trip. You know your child, you know what they can and can't handle. And contrary to some opinions I do belive it can be for them and for you. Will they remember it no, but they will have pictures, videos and stories from you, and they do enjoy it at the moment. I also brough grandparents with us which helped but its not like we were every away from our munchkin. PM Me and ill be happy to talk to you with some tips and stuff if you would like to chat some more!

 

[emmersandjack]

I just went in December with an 11 month old and it was extremely pleasant. The best advice I can offer is to make sure and take plenty of breaks in areas that he can get out of the stroller and run around. Every 45 minutes or so my nephew (unless he was sleeping) would start getting whiney and antsy. Sometimes we forget that no matter how comfortable they are making strollers now-a-days, it is still hard for kids of any age to sit still for very long.
Oh yeah, another tip... DO NOT get a stroller there. Do whatever you have to to bring your own "land ark" as we like to call it. It is completely invaluable to have an oversized stroller with cupholders, a basket to hold the diaper bag, jackets, purchases, etc., and a reclining back for when your son gets tired. And don't worry about anyone stealing it. I am a nanny for a 6 year old and a 3 year old. We have gone twice a year every year since the oldest was 2 months old, and have never had our very nice personal stroller taken. (just rearranged constantly by well-meaning cast members. Don't get mad at them, they have to do it.) It is a good idea to tie and brightly colored handkerchief or something similar to the handle to make it easier to find your stroller.
(sorry for keeping on about the strollers, I have been dubbed the "stroller nazi" in our family because of how particular I am about it!)

I couldn't agree more with your post!

The part about letting the baby out to stretch his or her feet is a very important piece of advice. While it sounds bad, you can almost forget to let them out every once in a while. That's why it's so important to take breaks.
Also, I'm a bit of a stroller nazi myself. I myself am not a fan of the strollers for rent. I know some people need them and like them, I'm just not one of those people. Even if you want to use one in the parks, I always think of what about when you're walking to the bus stops or waiting at the bus stops (like if you stay at the pop, which is the last stop and usually super full and you have to wait for another bus)? Or at the airport or downtown disney? I just think lugging a stroller around is worth the trouble sometimes. Just my opinion :wave:.

BTW-we took my DD for the first time when she was like 20 months and my DS when he was 14 months. Both had some crabby patty moments (like they don't have those at home), but for the most part it was absolutely precious to see their little faces light up. I say go for it, take the little one and enjoy WDW in a new way!

 

[teacup317]

You know, each of you have a valid point. My DH and I took our kids for the first time when they were 10 & 12 mostly because of finances. We really enjoy the fascination of "how did they do that" and the kids were able to take "kid tours" go behind the scenes etc. That gave my DH and I a day to ourselves. The other nice thing about waiting to take the kids was that we were able to let them go to the food court ahead of us and stake out a table, it gave them a little independence and responsibility.

We see many parents at WDW with their small children (and quite frankly they either look like they are having the time of their lives or they looked stressed beyond all comprehension) and yes WDW is for children (young and old) however, sometimes adults need adult time and the opportunity not be immersed in diapers and small child talk all the time. Now for those of you who take their children everywhere, then great....go for it... but don't chastise those of us who want to have a good time sans children.

There is plenty of opportunity in life to spend quality time with your child either at WDW or at home or just riding in the car for that matter. Life and memories are all in what you make of them. I'm voting for time with my kids but time alone with my DH as well. We've been married for 30 years, not alot of folks can say that, we must be doing something right.

Best to all.

 

[BRER STITCH]

There's 43879 Members on this Board as I type this.

The original poster's question was: "How old is too old?"

Expect 43879 individual and unique opinions in reply.

There's no rhyme or reason for disputing someone else's opinion on the topic.
Express yours and move on to the next question.

It's a forum for information and discussion, not judgment and debate...and it seems many people sometimes forget that.

:shrug: