Disney with kids

[Heather1979]

I went this April with a 2.5 year old and a 15 month old. We had a blast and plan on returning next year. You just need to go with the notion that you are going for them, and that the trips will change as they get older. No more park commando (well until they are old enough for that!) and nap times were a must. We loved AKL! No matter how old they are when you go, I bet you will enjoy it! Congrats!

 

[DISvirgin1]

We took our daughters when they were 4 and 5. It was amazing. They were old enough to be independent but young enough to believe in the magic.
To be brutally honest, I'm not one who loves toting infants all over, or messing with their schedules (and sleep!!). I know some do it and love it, but it's not for me.

 

[DISvirgin1]

When my twins were born we started wondering when we would take them to WDW. Then they turned 2 (horrible) and then 3(even worse). At 3 1/2 we decided the criteria would be : fully-no-doubt-about-it potty trained, before Kindergarten, no sleeping problems. Now I know there is no way to predict how anything is going to go but we have had practice staying in hotel rooms, have a pretty good idea about their ride preferences, food preferences, interaction with people in dress up and tolerance for tiredness. They will be 4 yrs 9mos when we go and knowing them well enough has made it easier to make a good touring plan (we hope) that will work for our family. This vacation is all about them and we have planned everything around them.
Every family is different and, just like everything else with kids, you just have to decide what works best for all of you.
Congrats on your pregnancy!

I didn't see this before I posted but this exactly!!! Our girls are 14 months apart so not twins but still very close...We did mini trips before so we knew what to expect when sleeping in hotels.

 

[heartse]

DD was 11 months when we first took her to Disney. It was a great time... she wasn't cranky about riding in a stroller, we could hang out in the baby station without a problem, she was bottle fed so no problem there, and she never complained!

Next trip she was 3 yo, and again had a great time, but this time she was afraid of characters and the dark rides. She had a REAL problem with Goofy, but other she just shied away from instead of crying.

Next trip was for her 5th birthday! Still not interested in dark rides, but got over the issues with the characters that we went to see. The next trip was only a couple months later and we discovered that she wasn't completely over her character fear - especially when it came to meeting Mike and Sully. Other tall characters she was fine (Buzz, and Jake from the neverland pirates) but she wanted NOTHING to do with Sully.

Last trip was a couple weeks ago (still 5 years old)... no problems with characters (didn't see Sully or Beast, so don't know that anything has really changed on that front). And is now willing to go on some of the dark rides, as long as we let her cover her eyes when she's scared.

Oh, and one thing we did get for her during the 3 year old trip was a pin on Mickey light. She uses that on the dark rides to give her a bit more confidence.

As far as the hotel... we are HUGE fans of staying at the DoubleTree in DTD. The suite gives plenty of space, and she can be sleeping in the other room while we are up in the bedroom reading or watching tv.