Dl vs DW - age related

[Bossy22]

So, I am a Disneyland nut! My wife and I went a few times before we were able to have kids (we have since adopted 3 beautiful girls) and I fell in love with the adult side of the park. I just love the fun and getting to be a kid all day long! Now that I have my girls it is even worse. We have went 3 times in the last 2 years (my kids are just 5, just 4 and a newborn). That is a crazy amount for us as it has been basically our whole travel, recreation, etc budget for years. We are going to wait a couple of years till our next visit (its already killing me!) but really want our youngest to be 2.5 as that is such a fun age! My sister is actually on her way back from DW right now and I started thinking, maybe we should try a DW trip instead, just to mix it up. We looked at the maps and such and thought, I wouldn't want to do that with a 2.5 year old! Can't nip back to the hotel in 10 minutes, can't hop parks in 1 minute. We still would like to go to DW, but we think you wouldn't want to do it with toddlers who need naps and breaks! What is your opinion? Does age matter for which park to go to? or are we just DL bias because we love it soooooo much!!!

 

[VandVsmama]

If I had a 2.5 yr old, I would be going to DL instead of WDW...just for the sheer convenience of staying at a motel a 5-minute walk away from the park entrances and the ease of park hopping.

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

As much as I love WDW, I wouldn't want to do it with a toddler. Even a preschooler is still pretty young. I absolutely love DLR with little kids - so easy!

 

[cmrdgrs]

We actually went in the opposite direction Bossy22. We started traveling first to WDW and shifted to DL. But, really we shifted to DL because we live in Phoenix and can drive to DL. I love so many things about DL, but the close proximity of the parks to the hotels is awesome. However, for me, if I had to fly in order to go to either park, I would probably pick WDW over DL.

Since you have to fly to either one, and this is an expense for you to go to either park, I wouldn't rule out WDW. Yes, you do have to take buses or the monorail. But, its not that bad.

To me, WDW is awesome and DL is awesome. Two completely different entities and there is no comparison between the two.

 

[Canuck16]

We have not done either with small kids but my BIL's have done DL with their small children and stayed at a Good Neighbour hotel right across the street from the entrance so they could easily walk back to their hotel for a much needed break.

WDW is a totally different animal as you have to rely on transportation to get to and from the parks.

We love both DLR and WDW but the ability to walk to the parks at DLR small children is such a bonus.

Whichever route you decide to take you can't go wrong as you will be at Disney either way

Have a great trip with your family!

 

[rms123]

We did WDW when DS was 1 and DD was 5. I can't tell you how difficult it was. Everyday, wait for a bus, travel 30 min on the bus. Then repeat to go back for naps and then back for the evening. All while having to empty the stroller to collapse it. Take sleeping babies out of it, etc. my DS decided the first night he was done with transportation and screamed for an entire ride. That was fun. DL has so much to offer and is so little kid friendly.

 

[ClaraOswald]

So, I am a Disneyland nut! My wife and I went a few times before we were able to have kids (we have since adopted 3 beautiful girls) and I fell in love with the adult side of the park. I just love the fun and getting to be a kid all day long! Now that I have my girls it is even worse. We have went 3 times in the last 2 years (my kids are just 5, just 4 and a newborn). That is a crazy amount for us as it has been basically our whole travel, recreation, etc budget for years. We are going to wait a couple of years till our next visit (its already killing me!) but really want our youngest to be 2.5 as that is such a fun age! My sister is actually on her way back from DW right now and I started thinking, maybe we should try a DW trip instead, just to mix it up. We looked at the maps and such and thought, I wouldn't want to do that with a 2.5 year old! Can't nip back to the hotel in 10 minutes, can't hop parks in 1 minute. We still would like to go to DW, but we think you wouldn't want to do it with toddlers who need naps and breaks! What is your opinion? Does age matter for which park to go to? or are we just DL bias because we love it soooooo much!!!

We've been to DLR and WDW without kids. This upcoming trip will be our first Disneyland visit with our son (16 months old.) We've already decided that we will NOT go back to WDW until our son (and any future children) are a bit older. We'd like them to be out of diapers and preferably tall enough for most rides. Also...no stroller.

It's just a personal preference though. I know a lot of people love WDW with babies and toddler but it's definitely not for us. We really like park hopping and the idea of hauling a little one and a stroller and a diaper bag off an on buses...plus just the bus to get to and from the park...seems like a major hassle. It's annoying enough for 2 adults.

So yeah...I, personally, wouldn't take a 2 or 3 year old to Disney World. Disneyland...heck yes!

I think if you don't know the ease of Disneyland...maybe WDW wouldn't seem so bad. But if you're used to the park hopping and walking back to the resorts at DLR...WDW could be a bit of a shock, in a way.

 

[thatgrljme]

Never been to DW and until my son no longer requires a stroller I'll stick to DL. As stated above I heard its a bigger hassle to park hop so I'd rather have as little to carry as possible while there.

 

[demare]

I have many WDW trips under my belt and only one DL trip. That being said, I have taken my kids as young as 1 (we celebrated my youngest's first bday there). My oldest went for the first time just a month after he turned 2. You can easily plan to take toddlers. We didn't do it this way when they were younger, but if it's in your budget, I'd stay in one of the resorts that is close to the park you spend the most time in. MK resorts, it's easy to get to/from MK, and Epcot is a pretty easy monorail ride. I prefer the Boardwalk resorts, but we spend more time these days at DHS and Epcot.

 

[mrsbicewdw]

We are picking DLR for this trip specifically because of my kids ages. At almost 5 and 2.5, it will be so much easier to walk across the street to our hotel and easier to get around smaller parks. I love WDW with all my heart, but it is MASSIVE. We are saving it for when our kids are out of "have to take a nap or doom approaches" ages.

 

[AZMermaid]

I have not taken small kids to WDW and we live in Phoenix so we can drive to DL, but to me, DL is a lot easier for young kids because of the reasons listed above. If you were staying at a Monorail resort, so you had pretty easy access to MK, then maybe WDW since you have to fly anyway, but we don't plan on visiting WDW until my kids are at least 5, probably 6, so we don't have to deal with strollers, accidents, diapers, bad sleeping, etc etc.

 

[keltiesmom]

We haven't done WDW with little ones just as adults. We have however done DL with little ones and have decided not to do wdw with the kids until the youngest is as least 5. We don't want the hassle of strollers on busses. We are a family of 6 so we don't fit into a standard room so the only resort in our budget is animal kingdom so that means busses to everywhere. I do however wish that DL had the magical express because not having to collect and handle my luggage is priceless with kids in an airport! I am sure it can be done but with 3 little ones in your case I would stick to DL until they are older.

 

[mrsbicewdw]

We took our niece at age 5, and she was pooped after one day. Just as a gauge. We had to rent a stroller the second day just to give her a break. And she was/is a very active kid!