Age dilemma- should we go now or later?

[molenda]

I am thinking about a May trip to Disney this year. I have three kids, the youngest are twins--almost 4 years old, and I have a 7 yo. My dh wants to make me happy, but he is worried that our kids will find the whole thing exhausting-- & will whine alot about waiting in lines, etc and will want to spend the whole time at the hotel pool. He's also concerned about dealing with all the meals. He read the chapter in the Unofficial Guide to WDW called "The Ecstacy and the Agony" which basically says that some parents of young children might be taking the trip for themselves, and are not realistic about what their kids can handle. He thinks I might be disappointed with how things turn out.

I don't know!! I'd like to try it at a slower pace and then go again in 3-4 years, and do older kid stuff. I'm dying for a change of scenery and my 7 yo would love it. DH thinks we won't get our money's worth. We want to stay on a monorail property--maybe 5 nights. Or should I compromise and go in another year or 2? (Incidentally, DH went to the MK at age 14 and didn't find it to be magical. He prefers roller coasters and stuff.)

Thoughts?

 

[Pixiedusttravel]

I think it all depends on how long you're staying. If you are planning a "quick" trip, where its all rush, rush, rush, of course the kids are going to whine. (I'd whine too!)
We have taken both our boys since they were babies, and the key to the magic is to pace yourselves! If you can afford to stay a little longer so you can take your time with the parks, you will see that your family will have the time of your lives. Also, try to pick a time of year that's not too hot and not overly crowded!

 

[mdsouth]

I am in a similiar dilema as you. My DS is 8 and DD 21 months old. We are planning on going this year. I know my daughter may not get much out of it, but I feel that it is the best time for my son. I want to go when he is still in that wonderful stage where he can still enjoy lots of the things that are geared for the younger kids. If I wait till my DD is older than he will be a preteen or teenager and WDW will not have the same affect on him for for his first visit. I am hoping my DD will take things in stride, especially since I am trying not to plan to much. I intend to take things slow paced this time and am not planning on visiting all the parks. I just have to decide what parks will wait for later. I am making some preliminary plans and expect to make modifications to those plans once we are there.

 

[mommystieg]

I am in a similiar dilema as you. My DS is 8 and DD 21 months old. We are planning on going this year. I know my daughter may not get much out of it, but I feel that it is the best time for my son. I want to go when he is still in that wonderful stage where he can still enjoy lots of the things that are geared for the younger kids. If I wait till my DD is older than he will be a preteen or teenager and WDW will not have the same affect on him for for his first visit. I am hoping my DD will take things in stride, especially since I am trying not to plan to much. I intend to take things slow paced this time and am not planning on visiting all the parks. I just have to decide what parks will wait for later. I am making some preliminary plans and expect to make modifications to those plans once we are there.

On our first trip, DD#1 was 9 and DD#2 was 26 months and we had a wonderful time!! (So much so that we bought DVC after we got back home). We stayed for 9 days and were able to divide our time between all the parks (we spent 2 days at Epcot and 3 days at MK). There really is no perfect age, you know your kids best. You do need to pace yourself according to what you think your kids can handle. DD#2 would nap easily in the stroller so we did not go back to the room for a nap every day. Don't think your DD won't get much out of it--our youngest remembers lots of things from her first trip--like Cinderella kissing her cheek and "Yo Ho, Yo Ho". Go and enjoy watching your kids soaking up all the magic WDW has to offer.

 

[fanofdisney]

On our first trip, DD#1 was 9 and DD#2 was 26 months and we had a wonderful time!! (So much so that we bought DVC after we got back home). We stayed for 9 days and were able to divide our time between all the parks (we spent 2 days at Epcot and 3 days at MK). There really is no perfect age, you know your kids best. You do need to pace yourself according to what you think your kids can handle. DD#2 would nap easily in the stroller so we did not go back to the room for a nap every day. Don't think your DD won't get much out of it--our youngest remembers lots of things from her first trip--like Cinderella kissing her cheek and "Yo Ho, Yo Ho". Go and enjoy watching your kids soaking up all the magic WDW has to offer.

Where was your cute picture taken at?

 

[mdsouth]

Thanks for the input. We are surprising the kids with the trip, but I have been planting seeds so that my youngest DD nearly 2 will enjoy it along with DS8. Both of my kids love watching the House of Mouse. My DD also loves Pooh. I am just worried about how tiring the trip may be for all of us. My DD has a physical disorder. She has very weak leg muscles so she cannot stand on her own. She will need to be in a stroller or carried by me and my DH. Plus, we will be taking my MIL who is in her late seventies. So, we definitely are planning on going back to the resort for breaks. We will be staying at CBR.

 

[Deesknee]

We took our triplets at the age of 3yrs 8mnths. They loved it. If you want them to have long term memory of it video some parts of it. Our kids still remember stuff we've long forgotten about until they remind us. We've been several times since, and they seem to remember a little bit from each trip. They are almost 14yrs. now.
Our 1st 2 trips we stayed on the monorail. The contemporary wing the first year. The tower the 2nd yr. It was very convenient. We usually go in Nov. or Oct. Last summer we went in July. The fall is a much slower pace. We always take a midday break either for a nap or in the pool. (or both) Don't expect to see everything. Just enjoy what you do get to see.
Again we've been several times with our kids, but the first and second (ages 3y8m & 4y8m) were the best. All of them have been special in different aspects(sp?), but when they were 3-4 EVERYTHING was truly magical to them. I don't know about you and DH, but for me if it's magical to my kids, it's magical to me.
Many people on these boards have been alot more than I have and have alot more info than I. I stick by it though 3-4yr old is the best.
We even took our new baby when she was 11mnth (that was last July trip)
Feel free to pm me if you would like.

Good luck.

 

[Tiggernut_jadie]

My DD was just 4 when we went in November - and she LOVED it! WE did take a stroller which meant she didn't get too tired but we had no whinging or moaning whatsoever - and we often did whole days without a break! DD is tall for her age which meant she could go on most of the rides - but she also really enjoyed the parades and, by far her favourite thing, meeting the characters.

IMHO 4 is a GREAt age to go!!!!!!!

 

[Kanga1]

My DD will be 4 when we take our trip in May and we are going to WDW BECAUSE she is 4!!! She is SOO into the princess thing right now (how many times can she WATCH those movies while wearing her lastest princess dress?) and she is so excited to finally "meet" and "hug" the characters. This trip will be all character based - I will be scheduling 9 (count them NINE!) character meals. She will never be 4 years old again, and by the time we get to Disney again she will be too old for the princess thing.

We plan on taking her again when she's 10 or so (earlier if we can afford it) and concentrate then on rides and Epcot, etc. For now, it's all make-believe...and dreams that come true.

 

[BevS97]

I think 4 is the perfect age - and for the record, I hate that chapter in that book, I think it is the most negative thing ever written, and it's in a book for people who want to go to WDW already or they would have never bought it.

Sure you do some people acting like that, but if you are reading a guidebook, and doing research before you go, then you should have enough information to enable you to have a more sensible holiday.

I would advocate staying somewhere a little cheaper and staying for as long as possible - we always stay for 2 weeks as we fly over from the UK (I realise that is unusual for Americans to have such a long trip).. But truly, every extra day you can stay will make for a more relaxed and enjoyable trip. If we are getting tired, then we leave the park knowing that we will come back another time, so it doesn't matter that we didn't see it all today.
The kids do like to swim, so we do that most days, nothing wrong with a morning swimming and heading to the parks around 11 and staying till late, or heading to a park early, and coming back for a break and having a late afternoon swim,

What I am trying to say, is that it's your vacation, there is no rule that says you have to spend every minute of every day in a park. You do need to just accept that you won't use your tickets to their maximum potential though - we buy APs, so we don't worry about have we got a full days worth out of our pass today, if you start thinknig like that then you will get stressed.

Have a great trip,

Bev

 

[Ahrizel]

Go! Your kids are at the age when it is all real and magical to them, your oldest may not be in the next trip. This isn't your once in a lifetime trip, you're going to do it again. Take your time and realize that you may not be getting on a lot of the big rides. Is that not getting your money's worth? Depends on your prospective. If your looking at it as a magical first trip to Disney with your little ones, and are able to realize that this trip is basically for them, you're okay. If your dh only likes coaster maybe he can take the older one on some of the bigger rides, and not be disappointed himself when he isn't riding the coasters. I would also try for a week down there if possible, will help the urge to 'do as much as possible'. Your kids may want to spend a great deal of time in the hotel pool truthfully if it's hot. That's not bad, but you have to define what you want out of this trip, and your and dh both should agree and realize ahead of time what that is. But you can definitely have a good time with the little ones.

 

[lemondog]

My DD will be 4 when we take our trip in May and we are going to WDW BECAUSE she is 4!!! She is SOO into the princess thing right now (how many times can she WATCH those movies while wearing her lastest princess dress?) and she is so excited to finally "meet" and "hug" the characters.

DITTO!! Our oldest will be 4 and I cannot imagine a more perfect age. She is sooooooo into the Disney Princesses right now. She would watch the videos sunup to sundown if I would let her, and she has worn her Snow White costume so much it more or less has disintegrated around her. Our twins will be one month shy of turning 2, so a little young IMO, but no way will we let that damper our vacation. Besides, there is plenty for them to find magical, even if they don't remember it. We plan on taking it slow and planning our trip around their needs and schedules -- that means lots of time spent at MK, character meals, parades, and downtime at the resorts. We are also planning to go in January when crowds are lower and it's not so hot.

Have a great time!

Angela

 

[Nank]

We are going in September when my DS will be 4 1/2. We plan on pacing ourselves and not killing ourselves to get to every single thing. We will do what we can, when we can and if he can't keep up, we'll go hang out at the pool.

I really want to go at this age when he LOVES characters. He will just about die when he sees all of those characters in person. It won't be the same when he is 8 or 10 or 12. Hopefully, we will go back again when he gets older and a few more times after that!

 

[dreamingdisney]

We are in May too!! My DD is 4 and my DS is 12. I think this is the perfect age to go.

We go to DL several times a year and now that my DD is 4, I can really see the "magic" in her eyes as she takes it all in. It's fun for me just to see her so excited! Also, this fall, my DD is starting kindergarten, so this wiill be one of the few times we could take a trip like this in May and not worry about pulling her out of school.

This is our first trip to WDW and we are definitely going to take it slow and pace ourselves. A stroller is an absolute must - so are frequent stops and downtime!! If my DS wants to go on a lot rides, my DH can go with him while my DD and I take it easy.

I think you will all enjoy yourselves if everyone picks some activities that they really want to do - and don't worry about the rest. Part of the magic is just being together!

 

[Brina]

We took our twin boys when they were 35 months (just shy of 3). Our mantra the entire week was, "we are here for them, we will come back another time and do more." Repeat as neccessary through out the day, and then sit back and enjoy the look of awe on your children's faces.

 

[mommystieg]

Where was your cute picture taken at?

We had that picture made at the Kodak What If! Labs in the Imagination pavilion. It's at the exit to JII --- they have lots of neat backgrounds. Check it out the next time you are there!!

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

There are so many differing opinions as to what age is best for taking kids to WDW. I think that as long as you are prepared for what your children can and cannot do (and it sounds like you are) you will have a wonderful time.

My dd was 5 for her first trip. I made sure I had a stroller for her when she got tired and I carried small snacks with me so she could munch when she was hungry. It was a wonderful trip.