Babys and Disney

[T16GEM]

Hi all,

just looking for some views from those of you who have kids and go to Disney, I was wondering what you think the youngest age is for taking kids there? DH and I are thinking about starting a family and wondered how long it will be before we can go back!!

I was 9 when I first went but bearing in mind the flight etc what do you think?

Thanks
Gems

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi,

We took our young son first when he was 10 months old.

Probably too soon to be honest.
Although we have been going virtually every year since - he is now 8 - I would ideally children start to appreciate the attractions etc say any age from 4 upwards, but having said our son had been 3 times by the time he was 4!

It can to a degree depend on when you go, we tended to go off-peak so it was not as busy or as hot, this does help when you have a really young child.

 

[Bexx]

We took our first DD to DLP when she was 2 1/2 - she LOVED it!!! Now we're taking her and her sister who is now 15 months to WDW in just over a fortnight. Not looking forward to the flight, but I'm sure the rest will be fine as we're staying in a villa at OKW, which means we have all the facilities that make life easier, like a microwave and a fridge. But I couldn't comtemplate spending two weeks in a hotel room, with two young children - though the short trip to the DLP was okay when we just had the one.

I'm glad that our younger DD will have been walking for just over a month by the time we go (a late starter - bless her!), as this makes it much easier when she gets fed up of sitting in her pushchair, she can have a little toddle and stretch her legs. Also the fact she is now eating proper food and we don't have to rely on baby food and formula is great. I don't know how much she will get out of this trip to WDW, though I'm sure there will be a lot of things she will enjoy looking at. I've no doubt that our older DD, who is now 4 1/2, will have a great time. But the main thing is, I'm not going because I think our children will enjoy it, or necessarily think this is a good age to take them. I'm going because I want to go!! Take any children you may have in the future when YOU want to go and when you feel you can cope with it - don't worry about setting an age limit

 

[T16GEM]

Thanks guys,
I am mainly just worried about them getting tired etc and also the flight, it's a long one for me to cope with let alone a little one.

 

[catherine]

DH is from California, so our youngest DD had been doing transatlantic flights since she was six months old. We have never had a problem. As long as you are prepared for the flight with the things that a baby needs, there shouldn't be a problem.

She was also six monthe old when she first went to DL, she loved it. In fact she said her first words while we were on that trip. Personally I think that it was due to the stimulation.

I know that some people think that it's not worth taking babies and young chidren on these types of trips because they don't remember them, but I say go for it. My DD's love looking at photo's etc. from the trips that we took while they were younger

 

[debbyLL]

i took my youngest when she was 9mths, the pictures and video we have from them is irreplaceable. we flew from manchester to gatwick to orlando int it was our longest flight but the dd2 was fine with her bottle. we went out for meals and she slept by the table in her pushchair, castmembers characters alike could not do enough, really was a special holiday. btw it's not as if she was a good baby at home

 

[Miffy2003]

I think all the advice here is good Gems
Also it's about how comfortable you feel when the time comes, and doing it when you think baby (and you) are ready

 

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

DD first went when she was 2 and it was amazing and very special but it has been every year she has been.
I am pregnant and we are missing DIS now, so we are thinking of booking for xmas when beanie is 6months old but NOT sure yet.I think it goes off how you and beanie will cope at the time

 

[Peebee]

We took Ryan when he was 5 months old and he had a great time, especially meeting the characters and splashing around in the pool. The flight was a little tricky at times, especially when we hit turbulence - skycots are great apart from the fact you have to take baby out when the fasten seatbelt light comes on.

We're going again with Emma at approximately the same age this year, so I guess it can't have been too bad before and we've had a wonderful time watching their reactions to everything going on around them.

Good luck on starting a family!

Paul

 

[Flo_and_co]

On my first trip my kids were 9 months and 2 1/2 years old. They were both great on the flight (make sure you get a sky cot for the little one!).

The toddler probably got more out of the trip than the little one, but they both had a great time!

Flo

 

[FloridaSam]

dd2 was fine with her bottle. :

LOL

What was in that bottle?!?!?!?! :

My youngest was 6 when he first went to Disney, this was due to finances rather than an age thing!

At every scary ride, he'd ask if was scary, we'd say "of course not son", he'd do the ride, come off saying "that was scary" we'd go to the next ride and start the scenario over again!

God, what an evil mother I am! But he loved the rides his favourite being Tower of Terror!

Sam xx

 

[DisneyBB]

Our DD2 is now 4 and she is going on her 4th trip in 12 days. Each holiday has been different as she changed in age. The first time she was 13 months old and I paid for a seat for her on the plane. I just couldn't put her on my lap for 9 hours. She had a special seat so she could be strapped in. Our DD1 is 6 years older so it would have been mean to make her wait until DD2 was old enough. We now take out Annual insurance with no excess as one of them needs a trip to the docter over the holiday (touch wood, not this time I hope). This will be our first holiday with out a pushchair for 4 years. We are going to make her walk! If we had a pushchair with us she would just want to sit in it all the time. It also means that we have to carry our own bags, as the pushchair held everything.

When ever you decide to go, you will have a great time. Disney is set up for babies, toddlers etc.

 

[fizz13]

I just came back with my kids, DD5, DS3 and DS1. DS5 was great, got loads out of it and could enjoy everything (she loved Space MOuntain and Tower of Terror!). DS3 did enjoy it but he tired easily and was prone to temper tantrums. He wanted everything NOW! DS1 was a joy and loved the characters. He loved all the rides, especially the little drop on Pirates of the Carribean. However he hated lines and it was a chore to carry him through attractions and shows as he did not want to sit still for things like Philarmagic. Our arms really did feel the strain at things like The Living Seas at Epcot because strollers are not allowed inside anywhere.

Verdict: we had a great time but were exhausted and have made a vow not to return until none of them need a stroller anymore ie. in about 5 years. I think 1 child will be a lot more manageable than 3 anyway and I would go when either baby is light enough to carry round (before 6 months) or is a confident walker (18months on). Any time you go will be wonderful though and they have great baby care centres.

Hope this helps,
Claire

 

[nattyk]

we went last yr for the first time with my 2 kids age 3 and 15mths and had a great time (I was also 24weeks pg) and we are going back this yr (cos i did not get to do any rides due to being pg) so ages will be 4, 2 and 8mths...

Nat

 

[SammieG]

In many ways when we first took our son - it was the easiest trip. Our son is now just 5 and about to take his 9th Disney trip. (thats about 6 months of his life he has spent at Disney!!)

His first trip was when he was just one year and he loved it. We called it the "follow the finger" trip as wherever his finger pointed we went. He loved the characters- and enjoyed the rides that he did. Every trip since then he has got more out of it.. but also he is more difficult as he has his own mind. Now he ONLY wants to go to Epcot and play on the mission space game or worse still - go on Spaceship earth! However, I think you can get something out of it at any age.

if you are taking a young child... you absolutely must take a parasol. That heat is something else with little ones.