DVC with a Baby

[CaptainAmerica]

We didn't have DVC when our oldest was born, but I am extremely pro-going-to-Disney-with-a-baby. Our first trip was when our oldest was about 6 months old. She's now 7 with a 4 year old sister and 2 year old brother, and we've done 11 WDW trips, plus 1 Disneyland, 2 Aulani, and 1 cruise. There's no easier place to be with a baby than Disney. There's never a worry about finding air conditioning, a changing table, transportation, or kid-friendly food.

Lots of people say "wait until they're older, they're not going to remember it anyways." I agree with that if you're planning a once-in-a-lifetime or once-in-ten-years trip, but if you plan to visit frequently, there's no reason not to start early (understanding that your trips will evolve over time).

One thing to consider is whether you plan on traveling with extended family. Any extra adults around make it even easier to travel with babies, and it allows adults to rotate through height-restricted attractions and have even more fun themselves.

 

[HappyThoughtsTees]

We are CA family of five with three young kids, and own at VGC and Aulani. I can't imagine traveling any other way at this point. Having a full kitchen and washer/dryer in the room is incredible. VGC is unique in that there is a direct entrance to California Adventure, and in general, Disneyland is very walkable. We really utilize our villa; mid-day nap/swim breaks, and cooking 2/3 of our meals in the full kitchen. However, WDW is a different animal that I know very little about.

If you see your family vacationing at Disney annually for a long time, would be staying at a moderate or deluxe resort paying cash anyway, and can responsibly afford it, DVC may be a good option. Perhaps rent points to try a DVC stay to see if the accommodations are worth it to you? Good luck, and congratulations.

 

[brazzledazzler]

My wife and I are disney fanatics. We honeymooned at Riviera right before the pandemic. We looked into DVC once we got back but decided to put it on hold. Now we have a baby girl due in July and disney with kids will be upon us real soon. That being said what are your experiences with babies/toddlers at Disney? Does having DVC make the experience more enjoyable/easier? How old were your kids before you took them for the first time?

I’m very pro-Disney with babies and kids. We brought my daughter from 6 months on and now my son, at 3 months! We joined DVC when he was 4 months old, and it’s been a blessing to travel to Disney with DVC amenities.

Kitchenette (or kitchen) in room - perfect for keeping snacks, food, breast milk/formula, etc.

Location - Many parks are walking distance to your room or have quick transit (monorail, Skyliner, boat…). We hate folding strollers to get on a bus. Also, you can leave the park easier for naps.

Decades of fun- The memories are priceless. Kids grow up so fast, it’s nice to know we have these magical few years planned and paid for.

 

[disneymama2019]

If its financially feasible, DVC has made traveling with babies and little kids SO MUCH BETTER. To be fair, any kind of condo/multi room suite/airbnb would bring similar benefits, but at Disney the most affordable way to do that is definitely DVC. We traveled once on a non-Disney trip with our infant to a regular hotel room - no one slept, it was crowded, washing baby things was a pain, laundry was floors away, all around unpleasant experience. A regular hotel room is fine with elementary age kids (unless you've got more than two kids...), but with littles (and tweens/teens) having the space to spread out is invaluable.