Baby due this Aug, when to go in 2012?

[ercrbc]

We are due with baby #3 this August, and I am torn trying on when to plan our 2012 trip.

I am looking for advice from those that have traveled with babies. What age did you find them to be easiest? If we go in the Spring we will have a 6yo, 3yo and 6-7mo old. If we wait til late Summer or Fall it will be 7yrs, 1yr, and our son will be 4 in Oct.

I have tossed around the idea of doing a long weekend (thurs-Mon) in Feb/March and then going for a week in early Dec. I am also considering a week in late May, or maybe a week in Sept when crowds are low? I really don't know!

Any suggestions from those of ya'll that have been there done that with kids these ages? Thanks!

 

[letitsnow]

I would suggest going when the baby is less than 3 months. We brought our daughter when she was almost a month old and the travel was great. She slept most of the way, she also slept most of the time while in the parks. We were able to still attend to our other 3 kids.

This last time when we went in November we came across alot of mothers with babies around the same age. Most were about 5 weeks old. Everyone says that is the best time for them to go too.

We also returned to Disneyland in June when my daughter was 6 months and it was still easy. It just depends on how early your baby will start teething. We also took her at 11 months and she wanted to walk everywhere! But she was more aware of her surroundings and enjoyed herself. We had to stop a few more times on the way down because she cried on the way.

 

[hakepb]

I found appx 6 months to be very enjoyable. Alert enough to enjoy some of the sights, and still likes a lot of stroller time.

I think it becomes much more difficult when they start crawling and want to experience more on their own power.

 

[HotdogDncrs]

We took our son to WDW for the first time when he was 4 months old. That was before we were DVC members, so it was a little more inconvenient not having a kitchen to sterilize things, but we managed with a kettle and small basin that we took from home. Another downfall was that he wasn't sitting up on his own yet, therefore when we went out for TS meals he wasn't able to sit in the wooden highchairs most of the restaurants had. We tried using blankets to prop/support him, but it didn't work, so my hubby and I took turns holding the baby during meals. Some restaurants were great, and let us bring our stroller in with us (especially when he was sleeping), but others told us that there wasn't enough room to accommodate our request (yet I have seen 5 year olds sleeping in strollers in lots of restaurants since that trip). It all depends on where you are eating, and what table they can put you at.

Despite these challenges we will be heading back in a few months with our now 2 1/2 year old and his baby brother who will be 3 1/2 months old. The park piece is quite easy if you have a good stroller or baby carrier. Our eldest son loved sleeping in his stroller (we have one that reclined with the push of a button and faced us which was great in crowds).


Good luck

 

[DVC SSR Owner]

These people must have good babies. My son did not sleep through the night until he was 9 months old, so that would not be a great vacation for me! We waited until my son was almost 3 before we took him with us. We left him st grandmas and we had time alone as a couple. Very relaxing!

 

[PrincessAndrea'sMom]

My daughter was five months old for our first trip. I went very well! She was not sleeping thru the night yet, but I was used to it by then. The baby and I took one of the bedrooms, while my husband and then five year old son were in the other. They needed more sleep than me, LOL! She loved the sights, songs and bright lights. We went with no expections of getting it all done. We did have a kitchen and that helped out alot. We just went again when she was 18 months old. Again, its all about what you expect out of the trip. You will not be able to move around as fast and get as much done, but if you go in knowing that, you will have a great time!

 

[Gowahoowa]

We took our 3 month old on his first Disney trip this past August. It was great. Granted, we had some moments where he couldn't quite fall asleep in the room or in the stroller and was crying, but it all ended up working out.

We had table service meals everyday and he slept through most of them. The only wrinkle with table service is that a few places won't allow the stroller in the restaurant even if the baby is sleeping. So we had to hold him during dinner which really wasn't too bad. Chef Mickeys and Crystal Palace still had the "old fashioned" infant chairs which are awesome. You have to ask and most places will let you squeeze a stroller in if your baby is sleeping. So it works out. On the stroller, we clipped on a battery powered fan which kept him cool during the day and filled up our day pack with what he needed for his 2-3 bottles, diaper changes, and change of clothes.

We had a great family vacation!!

 

[ercrbc]

Thanks for all the replies! I don't think I would consider a trip prior to the baby being 6mo, just knowing what a nightmare baby my son was in the early days, he had reflux, issues with cows milk proteins and awful ear infections. He also didn't sleep all night until 8months. I am hoping for a magic baby this time that sleeps all the time, but I am realistically anticipating that not to be the case Plus I can't imagine taking a small infant to WDW in the heart of cold/flu season....

I am thinking that in March maybe it would be okay...by 7months he/she will *hopefully* be sleeping good and on a predictable eating/nap schedule. I have seen pics of people taking them around in the Bjorn carriers, ect. And they can sit up in high chairs at restaurants. Seems doable to me

How are the crowds in March vs May? I am leaning that way right now but DH wants to go when it is empty (like our Sept trips). We are taking our trip this year in June. I just hate to wait over a year to get back!

 

[hakepb]

For the combination of crowds and weather, I think May is a better time, plus you get the Flower and Garden festival @ EPCOT. May pretty much guarantees you highs of at least 80. March can still vary widely from nice to chilly, and can mean lots of layers/bundling.(I recall an April 1 with highs in the 50's)
I think March crowds depend a lot on Easter and spring break schedules. May gets busier around Memorial day and as schools let out..

 

[rillsung]

I agree that a 6mo old will be easier than a 18mo old DD was almost 6mo last year and slept a lot and stayed in the stroller a lot. This year at 18mo, she wanted to walk and even wandered off a couple of times. My older DD was almost 4 this trip and she did great too. She is still young enough to sit in the stroller when we needed her to, like to rush to the other side of the park, but she did great walking too.

 

[dsneygirl]

We took my DS at 3 months, 5 months and 10 months. He was the world's easiest baby so he just slept in the stroller and DH and I kept on trucking. At 10 months he was much more active but in some ways it was easier as he was into real table food not baby food so I didn't have to cart baby food around.

We booked the trips for 3 months and 5 months knowing we could postpone if there was difficulties but he was such an easy baby it was no problem.