Great article in The Wall Sireet Journal- when to take kids to WDW

[magicmama]

Our Sunday paper has a section in it that includes articles from the Wall Street Journal. I read this article - "Young Kids and Disney: Is It Worth It?" by Jeff D. Opdyke.

It's an interesting article about what parents expect from a Disney trip and how differently their children can perceive the same Disney trip. I think what he says works for anyone, whether you go solo, or with grandchildren, kids, freinds, relatives, etc,; especially when you taking someone for the first time.

I couldn't find a free link to the article online but if you have online access to the Wall Street Journal - read the whole article. I'll quote the last sentence here -

"What you're ultimately paying for with young kids isn't their memories of their own fun, but the joy you get in watching your child sort through the adventure."


Let the Magic continue - - -

 

[rinkwide]

There's currently a debate going on in another thread - way off topic - on "how young is too young" (might be worth renaming your thread since the WSJ link won't work).

Anyway, there's certainly an age where the trip truly becomes the child's and not the parent's. At what age that occurs is debatable and probably varies widely. I think renowned Walt Disney World expert Mike Scopa does a nice job summing it all up in this article:

Old Enough for Mickey?

 

[lsutigger2]

My Dh and I are taking our GN who will be 16 months at the time of the trip. Most of the folks I tell, say "She isn't going to remember." But guess what, there will be other trips, I hope. I am going into this trip with my eyes wide open and no expectations. We'll do what is best for her. BTW, her parents, her nannie, her grandparents and my DH and I are all going. 7 adults and one 16 month old, I think we can handle it and everyone have a good time.

The first thing I said to her the first time I saw her was, "I can't wait to take you to WDW!!"

Thanks for the link to the article.

 

[mwehttam]

"What you're ultimately paying for with young kids isn't their memories of their own fun, but the joy you get in watching your child sort through the adventure."

That is exactly how DW and I look at it. We are expecting our first child in the begining of November and if everything goes as we plan, we will be going "Home" next July when the baby will be 8 months. Many, especially my family, are "But the baby won't remember anything." We try to explain that that is not the point. That it is DW and myself that will remember the look on his/her face when all the new experiences happen. It doesn't help that no one in my family has ever been to WDW so they just don't "get it."

So hopefully DW, myself, and DS or DD will be going "Home" July 07 for close to two weeks (need to use up two years worth of points before the end of that month )

-Matthew

 

[crisi]

I'm 39, and I have a hard time remembering last week.

As Disney regulars, we don't bring our kids to Disney to create indelible memories, we take them to Disney because its an easy vacation to take with pre-teen kids. I don't expect them to remember everything, but I will get to watch them. The photos I have of the trip when my kids were toddlers are priceless.

And, as regulars, their memories build. They may not remember SPECIFICALLY riding Peter Pan's Flight the first time, but they remember they always ride it. They may not remember being two when they are seven, but they remembered being two at four well enough to do some planning on what they wanted to see.

 

[browniemtb]

"What you're ultimately paying for with young kids isn't their memories of their own fun, but the joy you get in watching your child sort through the adventure."

This is it in a nut shell. We've been taking our kids since they were in diapers. My 6 year old will be on her fifth trip this November. I must admit I love Disney, but I really love watching my girls interact with the characters...at dining and in the parks and also their faces when we get off the rides. I wish I could see the park through their eyes.......believing that when they see Cinderella that they believe its really her and not a ficticious charater...same with Mickey and Minnie. As master card puts it.......it priceless.......and DVC lets our family enjoy it as much as we want.
Brownie

 

[riggins]

My Dh and I are taking our GN who will be 16 months at the time of the trip. Most of the folks I tell, say "She isn't going to remember."

We've been taking our kids to Disney regularly since they were both infants and the "they aren't even going to remember" line is my biggest pet peave. If we only did things with our children that they will remember, we might as well leave them in a closet until they go to kindergarten. Our trips are about us having fun as a family and while the kids might not remember riding Dumbo that day, they are going to grow up knowing that time having fun as a family is a priority for us, and that's what I really care about. So, as I plan my 5-year-old's 12th trip and my 3-year-old's 7th trip, I will tune out the naysayers and have a great time.

Thanks for the article, especially the last line!!

 

[Granny]

If we only did things with our children that they will remember, we might as well leave them in a closet until they go to kindergarten.

Now that's harsh!

We let ours out when they turned 4!

I am surprised that one group of people can advise another on this type of decision. Clearly, it's up to the parents to determine if it's worth it. And the worst thing would be to have people go if they didn't really want to be there with a young one. That "other thread" that rinkwide mentioned had posters who were almost chastising a person who chose not to take his/her children to WDW until they were "old enough". I think that goes beyond stating an opinion, IMHO. YMMV

 

[magicmama]

The article rinkwide referred to is similar but the article I read had a little different viewpoint. (thanks for pointing out the other article rinkwide)

The writer (a dad) remembered when he took his 6 year old son to Disney. His memory of his son was as a frustrated 6 yr old that wasn't tall enough for some rides and afraid of others, etc. But, he asked his son about what he remembers and his son only remembers the fun, excitement & riding rides with his parents.

The dad is trying to decide if his 4 year old daughter is old enough to go. The mom says taking a trip to Disney with a 4 year old and a 9 year old is "as much about the memeories she (the mom) wants for herself as they are about the memories she wants for her daughter."

The writer goes on to conclude that even if the daughter is young, and may not remember the trip, the parents will get the memories out of their daughter's first encounter with Goofy and Minnie. And he ends with the sentence previously quoted before -

"What you're ultimately paying for with young kids isn't their memories of their own fun, but the joy you get in watching your child sort through the adventure."

I think the magic memories can also happen when we take relatives, friends, etc. (no matter what age) with us to WDW and watch them experience the magic.

I just thought it was an interesting article and hoped others would have access to it.

Keep the pixie dust going!!

 

[mmmcq]

We didn't take our older DD's until they were 4 and 2.....but that was more a financial and scheduling issue then a vacation choice or a "do Disney/not do Disney" debate. When we finally took the girls...well then we couldn't stop and ultimately sold our vacation home and bought DVC points (we weren't using the home but 2 weeks/year and I was too tired of managing two properties).

My youngest DD, who will turn 7 at WDW this fall, was at Disney when I was 3 months pregnant with her (she definitely didn't remember that trip!) and then again when she was 6 months old. She has no memory of that trip, but I remember her in my front pack sleeping as I sat outside Buzz Lightyear at 11pm on an "E" night while my giggling DD's and DH went in and out of that ride for a straight 45 minutes. To this day they still talk about that night and my youngest DD loves to hear that she was "there".

We haven't been to WDW since 4/04 (when my youngest would have been 4) and yet she talks about WDW all year long. She reminds us of things we have to do on our next trip.

Our upcoming trip in November is a surprise right now for my kids so when my youngest DD mentions something Disney I have to refrain from laughing or saying "yes we'll do that in November".

 

[Honeymooner04]

lsutigger2 - I told my daughter the exact same thing!!!!

 

[shellbelle1971]

If we waited until our new baby (due end of December) was "old enough"--like maybe 5 or so--before taking a family trip to WDW, our oldest DS would be 18 years old before he got to go!

Like others have said, its not about any one person's magical experience (although those do happen.) It's about all having fun TOGETHER! Sure there's some give and take--DS 13 laughs and says "Oboy! I can't wait to stand in line for Dumbo!" BUT he's saved up enough $ to pay his own admission to the Comedy Warehouse (he's an aspiring comedian himself.) DS6 measures himself at home every day, *hoping* he'll magically be tall enough to ride Expedition Everest with the "big kids" (he won't be, and will probably cry about it) BUT will love Wishes. I HATE the idea of not going on Mission Space (again!) because I'm pregnant (again!) BUT I know I'm going to love every minute of watching DS3 playing in the "Donald" area of the SSR pool with his Grandma--even if he doesn't remember any of it.

Everyone understands that they will get to do some things they enjoy, may have to do some things they'd rather not, and may need skip some things they'd really like. But at the end of a week at WDW our family is closer for having had experiences together.

So to my way of looking at it, we're all "old enough" for WDW in our family. I hope we never get "too old" for it!

 

[Mr. Disney 652]

We got the same "won't remember" reaction from my family when we took our DS at 18 months. The funny thing is, he actually remembered some things...I'm sure the pictures he liked looking at of our FAMILY vacation helped!

The following year we took my parents for 4 nights. They really quickly realized it was about our son and not just "stupid Disney" anymore. My DS, now 3, is always pulling stuff out of his brain from our trips...from the Light House at OKW where he left his pacifier for Mickey to give to the new babies, or the big slide at the Lego Store. It always amazes me how much he actually remembers, and that is ALL that matters!

 

[bobbiwoz]

A friend recently told me that we shouldn't think we're going to take the youngters to Disney for their sakes. The children are 1 1/2, 2 1/2, 3 1/2, and they are all Capricorns like me, the DGM, and one even shares my birthday! This friend (and she is a friend) says that we're going for ourselves because they won't remember anything. I was stunned! I really couldn't think of anything to say, except maybe we'll have the memories, and she said "Well, sure, but that's for you!" She talked as if we were selfish for putting the kids through the stress of going to WDW!

Gosh, I wish I had that moment with her again. There was another friend with us that day, and when I finally recovered, a day or two later, (I am slow), this other friend got my "earful."

When my DS's were little, I sang to them, told them stories, brought them to construction sites to watch the big diggers, and most importantly told them and showed them that they were loved. Do they remember any of these specific things? Since they don't, are you saying that I shouldn't have done them? These children were born into our little family, and these are things we did. We went to Disney, and went to the beach. We raised our children, and they are 32 and 29. Now it's the 32 year olds turn, and he and his DW asked to go to WDW with us. We're going to give it a try. We know that it won't be the end of the world if it isn't one perfect moment after the other. Sometimes going to grocery shop, going to church, even going to the park is stressful on all of us, and sometimes they are not. This is life.

We live so far from each DS. Being with them at WDW in a nice DVC villa is really all WE need. We have few things scheduled, like 3 meals with characters over 5 days. Sand/water toys have already been delivered to our villa for the DGC. When the DGC are asleep, we can give their DParents some time out together within the context of our little larger family, at a place that actually has lots of fun things to do!! So the trip isn't ALL about the DGC, it's also about their parents, and my DM, the DGGM and the rest of our family.

This trip falls within a family legacy, who we are and what we do. The DDad of the 3 says how much he enjoys the memory of the single time we all went to WDW with his extended family. My DSis has a photo time with Disney Photographer scheduled, for good or bad, this vacation is being documented!!

Bobbi

PS. Both of these friends have been to WDW with me/family. They are both complete park commandos, and we have to schedule times to be together, maybe a breakfast one day and a dinner the next. I can "see" where she's coming from, so that's why they are friends, I wouldn't do it their way either.

 

[crisi]

We got the same "won't remember" reaction from my family when we took our DS at 18 months. The funny thing is, he actually remembered some things...I'm sure the pictures he liked looking at of our FAMILY vacation helped!

The following year we took my parents for 4 nights. They really quickly realized it was about our son and not just "stupid Disney" anymore. My DS, now 3, is always pulling stuff out of his brain from our trips...from the Light House at OKW where he left his pacifier for Mickey to give to the new babies, or the big slide at the Lego Store. It always amazes me how much he actually remembers, and that is ALL that matters!

He will lose it. Or what he will remember is remembering. My kids don't really remember their trip when they were 2 and 3 (they are almost 7 and 8 now). They do have some memories of remembering that trip - from photos or stories.

But they hang onto what seems like real memories to me for quite a while before their little brains dump them. Its only been fairly recently that they've lost toddler memories.

 

[LSchrow]

A friend recently told me that we shouldn't think we're going to take the youngters to Disney for their sakes. The children are 1 1/2, 2 1/2, 3 1/2, and they are all Capricorns like me, the DGM, and one even shares my birthday! This friend (and she is a friend) says that we're going for ourselves because they won't remember anything. I was stunned! I really couldn't think of anything to say, except maybe we'll have the memories, and she said "Well, sure, but that's for you!" She talked as if we were selfish for putting the kids through the stress of going to WDW!

Gosh, I wish I had that moment with her again. There was another friend with us that day, and when I finally recovered, a day or two later, (I am slow), this other friend got my "earful."

When my DS's were little, I sang to them, told them stories, brought them to construction sites to watch the big diggers, and most importantly told them and showed them that they were loved. Do they remember any of these specific things? Since they don't, are you saying that I shouldn't have done them? These children were born into our little family, and these are things we did. We went to Disney, and went to the beach. We raised our children, and they are 32 and 29. Now it's the 32 year olds turn, and he and his DW asked to go to WDW with us. We're going to give it a try. We know that it won't be the end of the world if it isn't one perfect moment after the other. Sometimes going to grocery shop, going to church, even going to the park is stressful on all of us, and sometimes they are not. This is life.

We live so far from each DS. Being with them at WDW in a nice DVC villa is really all WE need. We have few things scheduled, like 3 meals with characters over 5 days. Sand/water toys have already been delivered to our villa for the DGC. When the DGC are asleep, we can give their DParents some time out together within the context of our little larger family, at a place that actually has lots of fun things to do!! So the trip isn't ALL about the DGC, it's also about their parents, and my DM, the DGGM and the rest of our family.

This trip falls within a family legacy, who we are and what we do. The DDad of the 3 says how much he enjoys the memory of the single time we all went to WDW with his extended family. My DSis has a photo time with Disney Photographer scheduled, for good or bad, this vacation is being documented!!

Bobbi

PS. Both of these friends have been to WDW with me/family. They are both complete park commandos, and we have to schedule times to be together, maybe a breakfast one day and a dinner the next. I can "see" where she's coming from, so that's why they are friends, I wouldn't do it their way either.

great post, bobbiwoz
it's not the exact memories (like lil 8 month old johnnie remembers being kissed on the check by goofy?! ), but the warm & fuzzies from days just being with one another, seeing the silliness & lighthearted fun that WDW brings out in all of us.

just say "white porcelain" (need to watch Fla TV for that) or "red light" (DH didn't notice one ), or "papa chicks" (what certain ppl in our family, who really don't listen , THINK others are calling palm trees ) or a host of other seemingly inconsequential things, & the family memories pour back & everyone starts grinning.......

 

[DonnaL]

We first took our grandson to WDW when he was 2 1/2.....a trip which was in all honesty "half and half" ......some very stressful hours and some very enjoyable hours, but, I still wouldn't trade it for anything. He went again at 3 1/2 and remembers a lot more than I would expect from that trip. He'll be 5 a month today and we're taking him again in 1/07......he and I had a conversation just the other day about our upcoming trip.......he distinctly remembers staying at the BWV and having a beautiful view of ToT (we were on the top floor canal side) which at that time he called the "big purple scary house" at night and which he also insisted be the first attraction we went to at MGM, which he also insisted he ride, much to our amazement. He's quite disturbed that we're not staying at BWV for this trip, but, I explained to him each resort has something different and I'm sure he'll enjoy VWL .....even though BWV may always be his favorite due to that first very special memory of ToT. The whole family is going in January, but, I would also like to squeeze in a four day trip later next spring (maybe next May) just DH, myself and Gavin sort of as a sendoff before he starts kindergarten next fall. I have to run it by my daughter yet..........

 

[skelooch]

I've been taking my Grandaughters since 9/02 when I first became a member, there were 4 at first. When the 5th came along she made her 1st trip at 3 months, and this year made her 5th before she turned 3. It has been a complete joy to watch each and every one of them grow up with Disney. They all Love Disney, as I do, and can't get enough.

 

[SoCalKDG]

Kids are free when less than three, why wouldn't you take them.

My daughter is 4, has been to WDW 3 times and DLR over 60 times. She is a huge Disney fan. Now my 11 month old might be a different story. She doesn't like the tram ride to the park. Oh no.

 

[VLee]

I was not able to take my kids to DW like I wished (they did go a couple of times with my parents), so I am now making sure my grandkids get to go often. We started when they were 3 and 8 months--got the same spill about them not remembering....ha!
We have since returned at least 7 more times in the last 3 years and their memories have always been fresh. We look at pictures, movies of them there, and play games like "what is your favorite ride, character breakfast, etc.--which constantly keeps the trips in their minds. They tell ME about their trips and all of the shows. We listen to Disney music and they "act" out the characters. We are constantly planning our NEXT trip and are on countdowns.

Memories totally depend on the individuals; you certainly can help retain those memories by using the memory aids, such as pictures, discussions, etc.
Next trip in September!