Does anyone else get asked why you would bring a toddler or younger to DW?

[Honeybee83]

My husband and I plan on taking our daughter to DW next fall (2014). She will be about two and a half at the time. The overwhelming response that I've gotten is "Why would you do that, she won't remember it". Does anyone else run into this. I've never visited "The World" with a child in tow but isn't the point to have a great time as a family? Even if she doesn't remember a thing about it, I still will! Ok... Rant over!

 

[Woodmnky]

My son is 2.5 and has been on 3 cruises and we are taking him to WDW just before he turns 3. Whenever we have encountered this type of thinking, I politely remind people that it is ok for little kids to have fun even if they don't remember it in 20 years. My son loves looking at his picture albums and tells me the stories that go with them. If I thought something was a once in a lifetime thing I would wait a bit, but since WDW isn't for us we will take our toddler and have fun in the moment.

 

[KWithers]

That statement has always bothered me! Who made this rule that they have to remember it? If they're having fun, that's all that matters to us. DD just turned 4 and she's been on 2 cruises and has been going with us to WDW since she was 2. I want to enjoy this time in her life when she still believes in the magic and wonder of it all, so we visit as much as we are able.

 

[Tinkerdreams]

I took my daughter when she was 2 1/2 and she talked about it for a long time after.

Just took my grandaughter to WDW last year when she was 2 1/2 and everytime I see her she talks about it.

They had a very good time and I wouldn't trade the expressions on their little faces as they experienced Disney for any amount of money. Go and have a fabulous time and remember to watch the expression on her face as she sees all the going's on in the World!!

 

[pikaboo27]

My DS is 18 months and he's been to Disneyland 8 times (we live in Norcal) and in 10 months we are taking him on the Fantasy. We get "he won't remember it" all the time, and our answer is always, "but we will."

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I totally get why people choose to take small kids to WDW. We decided to wait until our kids were older since it involves a cross-country flight. Our choice was to wait until we could go without bottles, strollers, etc. However, if people want to take younger kids and enjoy themselves, more power to them! Doesn't bother me at all. We did take our kids to Disneyland when the youngest was 2, but we can drive there. It involved packing everything into the car rather than lugging it through the airport.

 

[sb682]

I think people who say this believe that if you're going to Disney, it's a trip meant for the kids alone. But anyone of any age can have fun at Disney, so it's no different from going to the beach or the mountains, and no one would question your motivation for taking your DD those places. Plus, she is old enough to enjoy the rides and characters, young enough to believe it's all real, and she's free! What's not to love? I agree with PP, I think the best response is, "I'll remember it even if she doesn't, and that's why we take pictures."

 

[dsneprincess]

Constantly!, we just smile and continue planing, because ""we are going to WDW!!!"

 

[GagesMama]

My simple answer is "I have more fun when my son is with me." Most people stop being obnoxious then, especially my "mommy friends" who are constantly leaving their kids with sitters.

 

[corneredbycorn]

I think the only reason we haven't gotten it (we are taking 20 month DD in just over two weeks OMG!) is because my husband and I went in May by ourselves. We've never taken a trip closer to a year and a half apart so I think they know it's important to us to take her now and have realized they just shouldn't question it.

I was asked once about something unrelated and I told them I probably shouldn't be taking her to the zoo either since she won't remember it. That seemed to be a good way to get the point across that, just because she won't remember it doesn't mean we won't have fun or that we won't remember it.

 

[barnhijl]

In about to take an almost 1 yr old to WDW here in a few days

Those ppl are just jealous lol, but really we plan to take our LO as often as we can afford too so I see no reason to hold off. She is going to be celebrating her first birthday there she might not remember but she will have a blast and there will be some great photos

It also helps that I'm bringing my parents who will probably get to hog my daughter which = Alone time for me and DH which we NEVER EVER get lol win/win

 

[bigbabyblues]

Never been asked, but I would just say it was a family vacation and he/she is part of the family.

 

[Infamousmare]

We waited to take our first trip to WDW until oldest was 5 and middle guy was 3.5; however, our reasons were different. Our daughter was medically fragile and our son was autistic (he had improved by the time we went, but still needed a LOT of support to get past the sensory overload that is the Magic Kingdom).

We got pregnant with baby #3 while planning our second trip and wound up doing WDW with a 3-month-old our second trip. I had TONS of people tell me I was crazy for taking a baby - she'd never remember, what a pain for me, and so on. Honestly? It was a wonderful trip. She was teeny, rode around in the sling and was content with mommy carting her around. DH and I were able to take turns doing rides with the older two and had a ball b/c MIL was with us and couldn't wait to have baby time (I'd have milk pumped and kept in the 'fridge at our villa so MIL could take her back for naps and feed her sometimes). It was a great trip.

We went again last year when baby was 14 months old. She loved riding in her stroller, holding our maps and we were able, again, to take her on some of the kiddie rides and switch off entertaining her while we rode bigger rides. She LOVED the characters and had just as much fun as older brother and sister. Nope, she'll never remember that trip. BUT I WILL!

We leave for our 4th annual trip in 30 days. Mommy will have all these lovely memories to share with her, even if she forgets every single, solitary detail.

 

[Angel Ariel]

My husband and I plan on taking our daughter to DW next fall (2014). She will be about two and a half at the time. The overwhelming response that I've gotten is "Why would you do that, she won't remember it". Does anyone else run into this. I've never visited "The World" with a child in tow but isn't the point to have a great time as a family? Even if she doesn't remember a thing about it, I still will! Ok... Rant over!

Yep..I just tell them we're not going for DD, we're going because DH and I want to, and DD goes where we go.

 

[Crystal824]

We say because it is illegal to leave her at home alone She is three and has been to WDW 4 times; the first of which she was 9 months old.

 

[disneyshan]

This drives me crazy too! I bring my kids cause I know they'll have fun. No, they probably won't remember it, (my 3 and a bit DS remembers our last trip) but my husband and I will have those memories and photos that will last our lifetime. I'll never ever forget my son's reaction when he met his first character (Pinocchio!) and I'll never ever forget his look of complete wonder when he saw the castle and I'll never ever forget his complete stunned silence when he met Mickey and couldn't believe that he was actually meeting his favorite cartoon character! Nor will I ever forget the moment where my second DS met Minnie and fell instantly in love!

 

[msmama]

My son doesn't REMEMBER what he has for breakfast each morning. Should I stop feeding him?

By their logic I should!!

 

[farrahalex76]

My son doesn't REMEMBER what he has for breakfast each morning. Should I stop feeding him?

By their logic I should!!

That is hilarious. I love it. So true.

 

[BenbowInn]

Our favorite family vacation was when DS was 8 months old. We went to Georgia and had a wonderful time. DS may not remember but we sure do!

I will never understand the line "they're too young to remember". DS will never remember the hours I held him watching him sleep as a baby, he will never remember the hours I spent reading to him since the day he was born, he will never remember his first few birthdays or Christmases, he will never remember all the times I crawled around on the floor with him or kissed his boo boos away.

Does the fact that they won't remember mean that we should do nothing beyond providing food and shelter for our children? That's just ignorant, parents are always doing things their young children will never remember and we do it because it makes us feel good. Like singing a song our children like or splurging on toys they will never remember or making funny faces to crack them up. If someone told me that I would ask why they buy their young kids toys since "they will never remember".

 

[PS03]

We have twin girls that just turned 4. They probably will not remember any of it, but I am going to remember their faces when they see the castle or Cinderella for the first time. Priceless. BTW, we are 30 days away from that moment and I think I have been planning this for the last 4 years and nine months. This dad is going to have a hard time keeping his eyes dry.