Anyone ever regret taking baby/small child to Disney?

[Dizneydaz]

I waited until my DD was 2 and 9 months before her first trip to WDW. She did really well. No tantrums. We figured out early on that planning nap time in the room didn't work. She just fell asleep when tired in her stroller.

She wasn't afraid of the noise but then we had already taken her to DLR many times by then.

The one problem we did have was with the automatic toilets. Shortly before our trip to WDW she got scared by one at DLR. She wouldn't sit on one for about a year after that.

 

[chrisw127]

Yes. My twins were very easy at 10 months old and that trip went really well. However, the following year, at 22 months, they were really had to take to the parks (wouldn't nap, didn't want to be in the strollers, lots of tears) and they barely slept at night. The whole trip was a mess. Even our older child was miserable because he didn't get any sleep--and we were in a three bedroom condo.

Our issue wasn't so much noise, but the fact that they wanted more independence than we could give them. I also think they just weren't ready to sleep anyplace but at home.

I will say, the next year they were great.

 

[aleshad01]

Older DD was 4 for her first trip and earplugs made the difference between terrified of Philharmagic and loving Tough to be a Bug. She used them until she was 6, at Disney, at the movies, for fireworks, at concerts. Having learned the hard way with her, we were prepared with younger DD, who was 16mo on her first WDW trip - with her earplugs she was comfortable enough to fall asleep during Illuminations, on Haunted Mansion, and all manner of odd places. Like her sister, she also uses them at home for loud situations and they always make the difference between scared and interested/happy.

My youngest's first trip at 16mo was our best Disney trip ever. She just had so much fun looking at everything, splashing in the fountains, dancing to the music. She was in total awe of everything and at almost-3 still talks about things from that trip and her second visit (at 30mo). It was a slower pace than going with just our big kids (13 and 9) but that was part of the beauty of it - we saw and did things that we never noticed before because with just the older kids we'd always kept up a faster pace.

Where did you buy the earplugs at? Thanks!

 

[aleshad01]

Thanks again everyone for the replies and advice. He is a pretty easy baby its just the noise issue that had me worried. After him crying at the dolphin show and people singing Happy Birthday to him. Hopefully the earplugs will help. I will also have his binky and blanket along.

 

[momto2js]

Do a search for noise reduction ear muffs. They sit on the outside of the kids ears and have been a god send for our noise sensitive kids. We MAY even attempt a fireworks show this year with them.

 

[Colleen27]

Where did you buy the earplugs at? Thanks!

CVS. They run about $3 for 10 pair of foam ones or $4ish for 6 pair of soft silicone, and it is really just trial and error when it comes to which you and your little one will prefer.

 

[*Seanaci*]

My son was the same way at that age. So, when we took him to WDW at 14 months old, we avoided the loud shows. The rides weren't too big of a deal because there was so much for him to look at that he was visually stimulated.

 

[stackyallred]

I was in your shoes this time a year ago, only my DS (who was 10 months at the time of our trip) loved loud noises and loved all the stimulation. However, he was a very colicky baby until he was bout 8 months old and he is very regimented (only sleeps in a completely dark room with no noise, always naps and goes to bed at the same time etc) so I was very afraid that going on a trip like this would be difficult. But, we had my MIL and SIL to help DH and I and they all kept telling me to not freak out and that we'd never know how it would be until we tried. I am a high stress person but I really try to stretch myself and not be so worried about everything regarding DS so I said OK... That being said, there were some MAJOR meltdowns. But, I can honestly say I AM SO GLAD WE DID IT! The memories are wonderful (DH and I had gone every year for 6 years prior to having DS so I am so glad he is now a part of that tradition!) and he did have a great time. But he was a baby and he wasn't afraid to show it at times We made a pact before we went that we would stick to his normal routine/schedule and that we would not over do it. We stuck to our pact but there were just some times where he was tired much more quickly than usual (so we would head back for a nap after only doing one ride) or when he didn't like that he had to get in or out of his stroller. It was tiring but there are some very specific moments (seeing him watch "Wishes" in total amazement or seeing him grin and bounce to all the songs at Playhouse Disney) that made any difficult moment worth it! I hope you have a WONDERFUL trip!

 

[aleshad01]

My son was the same way at that age. So, when we took him to WDW at 14 months old, we avoided the loud shows. The rides weren't too big of a deal because there was so much for him to look at that he was visually stimulated.

We will probably have to avoid the loud shows as well this trip which is fine since we have seen them and will see them again. Hopefully he will be fine for the rides. That has been my worry.

 

[aleshad01]

I was in your shoes this time a year ago, only my DS (who was 10 months at the time of our trip) loved loud noises and loved all the stimulation. However, he was a very colicky baby until he was bout 8 months old and he is very regimented (only sleeps in a completely dark room with no noise, always naps and goes to bed at the same time etc) so I was very afraid that going on a trip like this would be difficult. But, we had my MIL and SIL to help DH and I and they all kept telling me to not freak out and that we'd never know how it would be until we tried. I am a high stress person but I really try to stretch myself and not be so worried about everything regarding DS so I said OK... That being said, there were some MAJOR meltdowns. But, I can honestly say I AM SO GLAD WE DID IT! The memories are wonderful (DH and I had gone every year for 6 years prior to having DS so I am so glad he is now a part of that tradition!) and he did have a great time. But he was a baby and he wasn't afraid to show it at times We made a pact before we went that we would stick to his normal routine/schedule and that we would not over do it. We stuck to our pact but there were just some times where he was tired much more quickly than usual (so we would head back for a nap after only doing one ride) or when he didn't like that he had to get in or out of his stroller. It was tiring but there are some very specific moments (seeing him watch "Wishes" in total amazement or seeing him grin and bounce to all the songs at Playhouse Disney) that made any difficult moment worth it! I hope you have a WONDERFUL trip!

I'm glad to hear that you were like me, having second thoughts but went anyway and had a good time. That is what I hope for.