Kids under 3

[mcurtiss]

[Warning: Curmudgeon ahead.]

I'm not so sure that the number of small children in the park has changed -- only the ridiculous number of unnecessary, ugly strollers, which take up so much space that it begins to "feel" as though every guest has three babies with them, when in the "old days," they were far less prolific. This is, in part, because now we're looking at 4 parks (3 of which have giant footprints compared with the original, MK) instead of one, with the addition of park-hopping meaning that families are walking up to 10 miles or more per day. Little legs can handle the Magic Kingdom in a day -- any of the other parks, not so much. I also tend to think that today's toddlers are a little less fit and hardy, and tend to be more coddled, than their forbears, meaning that they're less capable (or their parents tend to think that they're less capable) of walking long distances. Not only that, but our cultural notions of what it means to be a "prepared parent" have changed to the point where strollers are considered "essential" to help carry all the "stuff" that people "have to have with them" for even a short visit to the parks -- God forbid we venture into a First World amusement park with anything less than 10 pounds of Goldfish crackers, three spare outfits per person, a case of bottled water, six camera bags, a portable rain shelter, a full-sized First Aid kit, and a large shipping crate to hold souvenir purchases! (Of course, I am speaking in hyperbole, but I swear I have seen families dragging around Disney World with nearly that amount of excess baggage.)

I support the "3 and under free" rule, because it makes sense and is in line with what other amusement parks and restaurants do, and I don't think it necessarily leads to a larger number of little ones in the parks. As for the flood of strollers for children old enough and well enough to hoof it -- I'm agin' it.

I think a lot of it now has to due to people's dollars being stretched thin and parents trying to maximize their vacation value. As kids, we rarely stayed at the parks from dawn to dusk and beyond, but I think now there's a push for people to max out they stay in every way possible (which is fine) but then people go into full combat mode and pack everything imaginable in order to keep their 12-16 hour long Disney party going.

Not that its wrong, its just not how I approach vacations.

 

[yellowb]

You can discuss the 3 and under free policy as it relates to the proper time to bring a child for their own Disney experience, but don't forget a lot of the 3 and under crowd are younger siblings of age appropriate children, and I don't see a lot of people leaving behind their youngest just to bring the older kids.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Kids 3 + under ( and even those who sneak in under the radar) dont normally carry a lot of cash with them and are too young to sign credit card receipt so Disney can get away with letting them in for free.... since their parents have to pay for everything for them.
Although my 3 yo dog did get an application for a credit card once, I refused to let him get it though...

 

[ScarletBegonias]

The Free under 3 thing actually is the reason we returned in April this year after going only 6 months earlier in September of 2015. The fact that she's free saves us a decent chunk of money (which we use on all of our food). On our next trip, she will be 3.5 and we've decided that after that point, our trips will likely be only every other year.

And I don't mean to keep on with the stroller debate either, but we could not go without a stroller. We rent one when we arrive and rely on it heavily during our trip. Most 2 year olds cannot walk all day, or even a quarter of the day straight without needed to sit/rest/sleep. Now that we have FP's and ADR's to get to from the other side of the park, I'm glad we have a way to get there without a child who refuses to walk because they are exhausted. She was 22 mons this trip and really didn't want to be in stroller, and guess what? She was in EVERYONE's way! She stops in the middle of the road, swerves in all directions, cuts people off..ect. So no matter what, people are going to complain. Complain because she's in a stroller, or complain because she cut them off while they are walking! We just try to stay courteous and aware with our stroller and I really don't think we are causing a major issue.

 

[DisneyFans4Life]

You can discuss the 3 and under free policy as it relates to the proper time to bring a child for their own Disney experience, but don't forget a lot of the 3 and under crowd are younger siblings of age appropriate children, and I don't see a lot of people leaving behind their youngest just to bring the older kids.

Nope...and with one child stroller aged and one child maybe too old...if you have a double stroller...why not let the older one rest from time to time.

And while we're on the subject...what is everyone's opinion on what is "too old" to be in a stroller?

 

[mcurtiss]

Nope...and with one child stroller aged and one child maybe too old...if you have a double stroller...why not let the older one rest from time to time.

And while we're on the subject...what is everyone's opinion on what is "too old" to be in a stroller?

to me, if its the primary means to get from point A to Point B, I'd say older than 4-5 is pushing it (ha, get it!?).

If its used to help give breaks over a long day, i could see 6-7 being reasonable.

Personally, I don't believe that the stroller should act as a sherpa though. If it can't fit in a few small backpacks, we don't need it.

 

[ScarletBegonias]

I am not a parent yet so have little knowledge, me and my Fiance talked about our DW trips and both agreed we do not want to take our future kids to the park if they cannot walk on their own. To me there is no point of a child going if they cannot remember it.I know they cannot walk as far but you have to know your child, take many breaks through the day or something, idk. Also i feel like you can blame people in the wheelchairs and electric scooters. I understand if someone cannot walk and need one, thats ok, but i feel like some people get them that are just too lazy to walk, is that just me?

My nephew walked at 7 months. Seriously. Just because they can walk, doesn't mean they won't need breaks and naps. I do think there is an age when strollers become less about need and more about convenience, but I do not see strollers as a bad thing for the first several years. I know plenty of adults that struggle with all the walking at Disney, let alone small children who have probably never walked half that much in one day. If you are waiting for a day when your hypothetical child will walk all day and not complain, you will wait for years LOL

 

[mcurtiss]

I am not a parent yet so have little knowledge, me and my Fiance talked about our DW trips and both agreed we do not want to take our future kids to the park if they cannot walk on their own. To me there is no point of a child going if they cannot remember it.I know they cannot walk as far but you have to know your child, take many breaks through the day or something, idk. Also i feel like you can blame people in the wheelchairs and electric scooters. I understand if someone cannot walk and need one, thats ok, but i feel like some people get them that are just too lazy to walk, is that just me?

my daughter walked almost every inch of every park at age 6 with some piggyback rides thrown in for good measure. When researching, we considered the stroller route, but was glad that we didn't.

Yeah, I personally wouldn't bring a kid to WDW who has no chance of remembering the visit, but at the same time, sometimes its about what the parent remembers and experiences. If a parent has intentions of making multiple visits so the kids can experience things at an older age as well, I say more power to them.

 

[Chef Mickey]

I think the definition of "kid" should be changed to 0-7 and everyone else pays adults prices.

By the time a kid is 7, they already can do everything and many of them weigh more than an adult, eat more, and make more noise.

 

[Andrew C]

To me there is no point of a child going if they cannot remember it

I disagree here. I am not going to deprive my child of joy and fun just because she will not be able to remember in the future. When I took my 3 year old in April, she had an amazing time...I could see it in her face. She was 100% excited the entire trip with all the sights and sounds. She has many opinions of where she wanted to go and what she wanted to do during the trip....She still asks to go back at least every other day without either my wife or I even bringing Disney up. Of course, she isn't going to remember much, if any, of the trip. But that should not be a reason why she cannot have a good time, in the moment, at this stage of her life. Every moment she has early on, whether at school, on a vacation, or just playing with toys around the house is going to help to develop her personality and traits that will stick with her her entire life. And most of these early events in her life, she will not remember, at least consciously.

 

[Chef Mickey]

To me there is no point of a child going if they cannot remember it

This makes zero sense to me. Do you not do anything nice for your kids or include them in any activity due to the fact they won't remember it. I don't remember what I ate last week, but I bet I enjoyed it.

Kids don't remember 90% of their childhood, but it doesn't mean you put them in a box and don't do things for them. You think they'll remember that 1st birthday? Or even their 5th birthday? Don't even start talking about Disney is different because it's so expensive. Add up everything you do for your kid until they're 10 and they'll remember less than 10% of it.

I've been to Disney 60 times and basically don't remember any one trip in particular. So what? I love it while I'm there and so will a 1 year old.

Ridiculous argument that SO many people pull out because they just want to cheap out.

 

[Disney.Mike]

I'm going to have to Chef Mickey on this one. Kids under 3 may not remember all the details but they will remember that they enjoyed time with their family. All 3 of my kids went when they were 2. Though my oldest first trip was to DL because I was stationed in San Diego. She is about to turn 9 and she remember peeing on herself at Ariels Grotto when the princesses came out. She was a month shy of 3 years and had been potty trained since well before 2.

My 6 year old remembers her great grandmother going because of the ECV (she was a wrecking machine in that thing) when she was 2 1/2.

And my youngest (now 3) talks about the ToT and the mountains when we went when she was 2 in December 2015.

But even if they dont remember. So what, I do.

 

[ScarletBegonias]

This makes zero sense to me. Do you not do anything nice for your kids or include them in any activity due to the fact they won't remember it. I don't remember what I ate last week, but I bet I enjoyed it.

Kids don't remember 90% of their childhood, but it doesn't mean you put them in a box and don't do things for them. You think they'll remember that 1st birthday? Or even their 5th birthday? Don't even start talking about Disney is different because it's so expensive. Add up everything you do for your kid until they're 10 and they'll remember less than 10% of it.

Ridiculous argument that SO many people pull out because they just want to cheap out.

I was going to say this, but you said it for me. Thank you.

My daughter who's not even 2 yet had an amazing time on both of her trips. She still remembers and obsesses over it when she see's the pictures. It brings great joy to our lives, but no, she probably won't remember it 5 years from now, but we will, and she can look at all the photo's we've taken and know that we did things with her even when she was small.

and to be fair. I'm 30 this year. I went to Disney when I was 18 (an adult!) and do not remember a fair amount of that trip.

 

[FettFan]

Not only that, but our cultural notions of what it means to be a "prepared parent" have changed to the point where strollers are considered "essential" to help carry all the "stuff" that people "have to have with them" for even a short visit to the parks -- God forbid we venture into a First World amusement park with anything less than 10 pounds of Goldfish crackers, three spare outfits per person, a case of bottled water, six camera bags, a portable rain shelter, a full-sized First Aid kit, and a large shipping crate to hold souvenir purchases! (Of course, I am speaking in hyperbole, but I swear I have seen families dragging around Disney World with nearly that amount of excess baggage.)

Amen. Parents these days act like the neurotic Weimareiner owners in Best in Show.


GO BACK TO THE HOTEL AND GET BUSY BEE!

 

[Disney.Mike]

Yeah I think the parents are the main problem. I've seen family with 1 young kid and one preteen with a massive double stroller. I've taken double strollers the past few time i've went, but I have took smaller maneuverable ones.

But when people bring the entire nursery into the park with them with a stroller that is the size of a smart car is kind of over the top

 

[DisneyDoug85]

This makes zero sense to me. Do you not do anything nice for your kids or include them in any activity due to the fact they won't remember it. I don't remember what I ate last week, but I bet I enjoyed it.

Kids don't remember 90% of their childhood, but it doesn't mean you put them in a box and don't do things for them. You think they'll remember that 1st birthday? Or even their 5th birthday? Don't even start talking about Disney is different because it's so expensive. Add up everything you do for your kid until they're 10 and they'll remember less than 10% of it.

I've been to Disney 60 times and basically don't remember any one trip in particular. So what? I love it while I'm there and so will a 1 year old.

Ridiculous argument that SO many people pull out because they just want to cheap out.

YES! thank you! This is exactly my response whenever i hear the "they won't remember it" argument. look, to each their own and all that. But its completely ridiculous to not do something because 7, 12, 15 years from now, they won't remember it. guess what? i went to disney 5-6 times between the ages of 13 and 21 and i can't really pin point many specific moments. But, i know that I had a blast each time and came out of that a HUGE disney fan. I have since taken my 2.5 year old daughter who had the time of her life, and now almost 3 years later still constantly asks when we're going back because she misses Mickey, the Princesses etc. I have just made plans to visit again in october when she'll be 5.5 years old and my son will be visiting for his first time at just under 2.

You simply can't recreate the magic and excitement and joy of a young kid at that age seeing his/her favorite character for the first time. To all those that refuse to take their kids until they're 7,8,9, you're missing out.

 

[Disvillain63]

Kids under 3 remember the trips, maybe not specifics so much. Our GS who is 3 asks to go to Disney. My DH and I stopped in Marceline and his parents told him that we were at the Disney museum; he thought we went to WDW without him.

As for being free, once they turn 3, they pay. Disney's policy is under 3.

We take one umbrella stroller when we take the grandkids. They are now 3.5 years and 2.25 years. We have been using one stroller since January 2015. We take a small pouch with diapers and such. As soon as they are both potty-trained, we won't take the pouch.

 

[Weather_Lady]

YES! thank you! This is exactly my response whenever i hear the "they won't remember it" argument. look, to each their own and all that. But its completely ridiculous to not do something because 7, 12, 15 years from now, they won't remember it. .

I agree -- just because your 2-year-old won't remember the look on their face the first time they saw Mickey, that doesn't mean YOU won't, and that it won't be a memory you treasure forever! Even if the kids don't remember their earliest Disney trip, the parents certainly will, and if taking their babies and/or toddlers to Disney gives them joy, then why not? (Granted, DH and I waited until our kids were old enough to be potty-trained and capable of going stroller-free to take them to WDW, but that was because making the trip was going to be a financial sacrifice, so we wanted to wait until the entire family could get maximum enjoyment out of it. If we'd had the means to do so, I'm sure we'd have gone earlier.)

 

[Noellikechristmas]

To go back to the original question from the OP...I don't think the under 3 rule is the issue. It is a combination of strollers being bigger and older kids that should be walking are still in strollers.

I agree with this. On the flip side, I feel for any parent carrying their 6 year old out of the park because they'll walked 10 miles and their legs are jell-o.

As for taking kids under 3, I agree with @chefmickey . I took my 14 month old and she'll be almost 3 when we go again. Even at 1, she had a great time. I would not let the fact that she may not remember it stop me from booking a vacation to Disney.....I admit, it's selfishly for me, too

 

[Chef Mickey]

YES! thank you! This is exactly my response whenever i hear the "they won't remember it" argument. look, to each their own and all that. But its completely ridiculous to not do something because 7, 12, 15 years from now, they won't remember it. guess what? i went to disney 5-6 times between the ages of 13 and 21 and i can't really pin point many specific moments. But, i know that I had a blast each time and came out of that a HUGE disney fan. I have since taken my 2.5 year old daughter who had the time of her life, and now almost 3 years later still constantly asks when we're going back because she misses Mickey, the Princesses etc. I have just made plans to visit again in october when she'll be 5.5 years old and my son will be visiting for his first time at just under 2.

You simply can't recreate the magic and excitement and joy of a young kid at that age seeing his/her favorite character for the first time. To all those that refuse to take their kids until they're 7,8,9, you're missing out.

Totally. It's code for, "I don't want to pay for it."