Selfish to take a baby to disney world?

DisneyWishes14 · Mar 30, 2015

We took DS for the first time about 2 weeks after his 1st birthday. The trip was for ME! After a year of being stuck in the house, not sleeping and doing all the things you have to do for a newborn/infant, I needed a trip (it's not a vacation with a baby!) and nothing is easier with babies than WDW. I have great memories of that trip. DS was just starting to walk with assistance and he was cruising all around the old Winnie the Pooh playground. We went during F&W and he would fall asleep in his stroller while we slowly walked around WS, enjoying the food and the sights. If you want to go, go! Don't worry about what others say.

Feberin · Mar 30, 2015

I think it really depends on a lot of factors. First of all how often are you planning on returning. If you think Disney trips will be at least an annual trip then go for it. But if this trip will be it for even a few years I'd wait until they're a bit older so they can do more of the rides and actually know who the characters are when they meet them. My daughter was twenty-three months and my son was four when we went on our first trip. We got a lot of criticism for taking them but it was honestly an amazing trip and we can't wait to go back again. However although she still relatively young my daughter really enjoyed the rides and actually wanted to meet Minnie.
I also think waiting to see if your baby is receptive to travel before booking the trip and taking at least some other trip in advance of the Disney trip (even if it's just visiting relatives a few hours away) so you can see how the travel logistics would work makes a lot of sense.

hsmamato2 · Mar 31, 2015

that is a ridiculous thing for people to say.... why not just leave the baby locked in the house for at least 2-3 years since she won't 'remember anything anyway'? I took my kids when they were babies,and beyond. We had so much fun,and I wish I could time travel back to that again! (maybe teens should be locked in the house lol b/c they don't appreciate things like toddlers do! LOL) Do what makes you happy!

KingofJapan · Mar 31, 2015

Wait until they have their most important vaccines. Parents can be selfish and irresponsible when they bring their kids to the parks sick. There are also those wacky parents who don't believe in vaccinations who do not care if anyone is exposed to the illness their child has. Play it safe and just wait.

Momof3WDW · Mar 31, 2015

We took our first when he was 5 weeks old (2009), our second when she was 4 months old (2012) and our third this past Sept 2014 when she was 4 weeks old. We have so many pictures and memories I would not have done it any differently. There are the baby care centers you can go to to relax, feed or cool off if needed. We have been traveling to WDW for 10 years now and I would not stop just because I have young children (who won't remember it most likely), but each trip has been exciting and so worth it.
Enjoy the time with you baby. You will still have to feed and change their diaper no matter where you are. So why not at the happiest place on earth?

Angel Ariel · Mar 31, 2015

Libby6 said:
I recently began thinking of going to Disney world next year, when my daughter would only be about 6-8 months old. No other kids. general reactions so far have been-

"She won't remember anything, and you and (hubby) will be exhausted."

"Why would you want to even go with just a baby, you don't have older kids to go for!"

"She won't have all her shots- too risky".

I totally agree that she won't have specific memories. The measles outbreak at Disneyland does scare me. And it's true we don't have older kids who would really enjoy it- we really were just excited about taking a vacation with our baby and enjoying disney ourselves too (we both love it). Our plan was to stay onsite and spend a lot of downtime lounging at the resort.....is it honestly better to wait a few years?

We took our DD at 8 months, and it was a wonderful trip! Now, we went with extended family (My parents, my brother/SIL and nephews who were 6 and 3 at the time) - so we did have other adults to help. We spent most of the day in the parks (w/the 6 and 3 y/o) - but DD napped well in the stroller so we didn't need to go back to the hotel for that. We used Rider Swap and did the height requirement rides while she was napping. I was exclusively pumping for DD at the time, as she never latched, and I had to take frequent breaks around the parks and find out of the way places to pump. I used a nursing cover and an Ameda Purely Yours pump (which will use batteries, so didn't need a plug). It was a lot, for sure...but seeing DD's face when she met Mickey for the first time *more* than made up for it!

I think my best advice would be #1 - acknowledge that you're going for you more than for baby (which it seems you already are

). And #2 - wait until the baby is born to actually plan the vacation. Wait to see what kind of personality your baby has before you're putting money down on the vacation. Give it a couple of months and wait and see how you are all doing. Maybe take a shorter trip with the baby to get an idea of how Disney might go?

DISNEYFOS · Apr 2, 2015

We took my oldest when she was 4 months old. It was a wonderful trip. For me as a new mom, it was a great easy place to try out traveling with a baby.. There aren't many travel destinations with baby centers every so many feet ;-) resorts/restaurants were so accommodating... Plus she was born in the late fall in New England so she had never seen a flower. We went in early March and she was fascinated with all the flowers... and we loved walking around with her in the stroller.. and we've got some great pictures.

We've gone every year since..so if its a once in a lifetime thing then wait, of course. We are waiting til they are teenagers for Greek islands

figment3258 · Apr 2, 2015

We have taken each of my girls before they were one. We enjoyed every trip and they had a great time. Sure they won't remember it but they love looking at the pictures and we have some of the best memories of them at that age there. As far as the shots there is always going to be a chance of picking up something no matter were u are ur child could get the measles at the grocery store you can't just stay and hide in ur house in my opion at least that's they way we live can't worry about every little thing that could happen and no it's not selfish and we would do it all over again if we could. Enjoy life do what's right for you and ur family.

KingofJapan · Apr 2, 2015

figment3258 said:
We have taken each of my girls before they were one. We enjoyed every trip and they had a great time. Sure they won't remember it but they love looking at the pictures and we have some of the best memories of them at that age there. As far as the shots there is always going to be a chance of picking up something no matter were u are ur child could get the measles at the grocery store you can't just stay and hide in ur house in my opion at least that's they way we live can't worry about every little thing that could happen and no it's not selfish and we would do it all over again if we could. Enjoy life do what's right for you and ur family.

Well I just don't care for those parents who choose not to vaccinate their children. They bring their kids to the parks ill due to their selfish ways. Look what happened in California. Me personally it's not worth it to expose your kids to those things until they are fully protected.

theyoungs07 · Apr 2, 2015

Using this logic, you shouldn't give your child a cake to bury their face in on their 1st birthday...they won't remember it. It's selfish, someone else could have eaten that cake.

We have had kids under one year of age (5-7 months actually) on all of our 3 trips and will again on our 4th this Spring. As they get older they LOVE seeing pictures of themselves with characters as babies...etc. We love their reactions as six-month olds to things like IASM or other fun things. A six month old is a ball to take to WDW, smiling and cooing at all the bright and fun sights! Obviously if this is going to be their one and only trip you might want to wait, but if not then enjoy it! Each trip is different as kids get older. Some folks don't bother going until their kids can ride all the rides height-wise, but that is usually for one and done vacationers.

buzznina · Apr 2, 2015

I will note that all babies are different so you will be the only one to know if it is a good idea. With that said

We have been going to Disney ever since our 1st DD was 6 months old and have not regretted any of our trips. I do not know why they say you will be exhausted, because when we took our DDs at infant ages they were very easy, and truthfully since going with them, we (DW and myself) have really learned to do Disney a lot slower and have enjoyed ourselves soooooo much more. I had the hardest time adjusting since I was the commando type and moving at a much slower pace was very new to me :laughing:

But like I mentioned, not only have I adjusted to the slower pace I really enjoy it much better. Because of all the stimulation that Disney has (sounds, colors, lights, people always moving) we learned that after a couple of park days we needed a non-park day, to just hang out at the resort and pool etc. We have taken videos and photos on all our trips and both DDs favorites are when they were babies and we have to make sure if we watch one we have to watch the other DD baby video :rotfl:

slo · Apr 2, 2015

People are right - the baby won't remember.

What they fail to think about is how much YOU will remember and YOU are as equally important. You will treasure your pictures forever. Your baby will love looking at those pictures when they're older.

My baby was 13 months old on her first trip and we had a magical time. Yes she doesn't remember, but she looks at those photos with joy.

This is kind of a sensitive subject with me, cause it really bothers me how people feel it's ok to state their unnecessary opinion. People need to just wish others to have a good time and to have a safe trip.

Go have fun and take lots of pictures. You'll never have a chance again to take baby pictures with Mickey Mouse

skysummer · Apr 2, 2015

I took my daughter when she was 6 months old...it was an awesome trip and I do not regret it! We will take our 1 month old at the end of the month. I say go for it

MyDizneyBoyz · Apr 2, 2015

We have been going to Disney on/off for ages and every year for the past 14 years. We LOVE going to Disney (so much so that we got married there) and once we became parents, our kids came along for the ride. Most years we drive (from NJ) and since we tend to be rather laid back, go with the flow kind of people, we have always had great trips.

The boys love looking at pictures of themselves when they were younger. They don't care if it's pictures at the beach, Disney, or in the backyard. They don't remember the specific moments in time but they see everyone having a great time and they know it was fun and they were part of that fun.

When they were very young, they spent most of their time in the stroller or in a baby carrier so they weren't being exposed to too much that wasn't airborne.

saraschoening · Apr 2, 2015

I also think that it depends on a lot of different factors.. First and most important.. your baby. Some babies just would not do well on a trip. You also have to factor in length of trip, time of travel, frequency of visits (will this be the ONLY trip or can you afford to do this all the time?) As for vaccinations.. unvaccinated people are everywhere, you can catch something going to store so I really wouldn't let that stop you. Personally I wouldn't have done it as a first time mom BUT if I had a new baby now I would.. . if that makes sense. I sterilized EVERYTHING that my daughter touched until she was two and also had her on a VERY specific schedule so I wouldn't have risked any of that for a trip especially all those germs touching my brand new baby.. But with my second daughter I was not as bad and would have totally taken her as a baby... funny how you overreact with the first child.

momimouse27 · Apr 3, 2015

Oh, gosh. It seriously drives me nuts when people criticize for taking a baby to WDW! People used to do that to us, and my general response was "the baby might not remember it but we will!"

Now, my kids are much older and we have wonderful memories and photos of all three of them-every single one visited Disney before they were 1. Thing is, no matter where you take them, they won't remember when they're that little! But some memories are for mom and dad. If people go with that logic, you might as well ban vacations for the first two years of your child's life! :confused:

rblucy · Apr 4, 2015

I'm with all the people who say go for it! Obviously this trip is more for your benefit, but unless you are never going to leave your house until your kid has all their shots and can remember everything, there's no reason not to. DS was was 10 months on his first trip and it was so fun to see him take it all in.

teacherperkins23 · Apr 4, 2015

I don't think it is selfish. Like others have said you'll remember the trip and it's so fun to look back at the pictures. I went pregnant with my first son, then when he was 2, then when he was 4, and now he'll be 6 this trip. We took our youngest at 4 months old, he loved looking at things.

kcarp36 · Apr 4, 2015

I read a blog where the author suggests taking your child to the 1st Disney trip when they are 8. I think if once in a lifetime then I guess you want the to remember. But I think they can remember even younger and look at pictures.

We took my almost 3 year old last year and when we were sprinkled with Pixie Dust so we could fly on Peter Pan I looked at her and I know she believed we were really sprinkled with Pixie Dust.

How many years do you get before they know it's just pretend? We are taking her back in September because it is so fun to see her face and know she buys into every single bit of the Magic.

jsebsirois · Apr 5, 2015

So bumping this thread! We're planning to go for the first time as parents (our son will then be 10 months old). Sure this thread will give lots of great tips!

Selfish to take a baby to disney world?

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