have you taken a 3yr old and wish you hadn't?

[lexiluke]

We had planned on waiting until our son was 4yrs before making another trip to the world (our daughter is 8yrs and has been one other time when she was 4yrs). However, we would love to take advantage of the FTP. DS will turn 3yrs in August, so he'll just barely be out of his two's.

Has anyone ever taken their toddler and wished that they had waited?? It's a lot of money to spend in the event that he becomes tired and cranky for a lot of the trip. When we go to SeaWorld or Six Flags, he loves it, rides all the rides he's tall enough for, and enjoys the characters in costume, but then it's just for the day, not a whole week.

Help me decide!!

 

[hulagirl]

I've taken all three of my boys as toddlers and never once regretted it! They may not remember all of it but I remeber every single trip with them and will treasure those memories always...

 

[jeannej]

I had forgotten that my family went to WDW when my son was about 2 and daughter was about 3 almost four. We went fo t just 2 days and brought along our double stroller. WE never had any problems. WHen my son was tired we allowed him to sleep the full length of the stroller while my daughter enjoyed shows rides and other things at the parks we attended.

I took the children the next year by myself, my son was 3 and my daughter was 4. I never had a problem. That time I stayed on property and when it got to be too much from the kids, we went back to the hotel to chill around the pool. It was great. We didn't all of WDW but we did do what my children wanted to and had a relaxing 4 days.

Jeannej

 

[WDWorBUST]

If you are considering going anyway you might consider going the week before your little one turns 3 - that way they are still free.

 

[Lovetherodent]

On our last trip, our girls were 3 & 6. Three things helped make the trip enjoyable. 1) We brought an unbrella stroller for both of them. 2) staying on Disney property really helped because we just hopped a bus for a hassle-free trip back to the resort for a nap or a swim in the afternoon (obviously, you'd be doing that if you're booking a FTP). 3) We aslo skipped a lot of the thrill rides--they were too small and we wanted to avoid the really long lines.

 

[beattyfamily]

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not at all! 3 is a wonderful age!!!

 

[cdpa4d]

I can give you first-hand, real-world experience on this issue. We recently took our 3 yr. old for a week long trip. She just turned 3 a few weeks after we left for our trip. You will have to let your conscience decide if you need to buy tickets for your 3 yr. old.

Anyway, here is some advice:
- Rent the Disney park strollers. They are large and comfortable for kids. The hope is that your DS will sleep in the stroller around mid afternoon.
- Make sure your DS takes a nap everyday around mid Afternoon. If they don't nap you will have a mess on your hands (screaming fit) by the end of the day. The heat and excitement take a lot out of the little ones.
- Don't push your schedule on your DS. We sent our Daughter on a 5 day park excursion over 7 days. She was miserable by the end of the trip. You may only want to take your DS to 2 parks over a 7 day trip if possible.
Good luck and have a great trip!
ADP

 

[vicb]

We took our DS when he was 3 1/2, I only regretted it the first day or so, then as I relaxed my expectations it was a wonderful trip! The very first day he got spooked on SE at Epcot, the ride stopped in total darkness for about 5 min. For the rest of the trip he was freaked out about any "dark" ride. Also, much to my dismay, the first day it became apparant he was terrified of the "face" characters! Then at the wishing well in MK, he wished to "go home"! I was so upset! But the next day DH and I just said, ok... let's do it his way. So we rode every form of transportation because that's what he loved, spent more time at the Poly pool, put him to bed early because he was exhausted by 7:30 and avoided dark rides! We ended up having a great time!

Took him back at age six and guess what... still doesn't like "face" characters (poor, sweet Mary Poppins scared the heck out of him ) and he is still leary of dark rides (but did do POC and HM).
But it was another super trip and he had a blast!

 

[sha_lyn]

Originally posted by cdpa4d
I can give you first-hand, real-world experience on this issue. We recently took our 3 yr. old for a week long trip. She just turned 3 a few weeks after we left for our trip. You will have to let your conscience decide if you need to buy tickets for your 3 yr. old.

HUH
WDW policy is that children under the age of 3 get in free. Chidlren 3 and over need a ticket

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by cdpa4d
I can give you first-hand, real-world experience on this issue. We recently took our 3 yr. old for a week long trip. She just turned 3 a few weeks after we left for our trip. You will have to let your conscience decide if you need to buy tickets for your 3 yr. old.

I don't get it. "Let your conscience decide"???? It's Disney's policy that a 3 year old pays the child price and under 3 do not need a ticket...There's no decision to be made except maybe not to go if you can't afford a child's ticket or go before your child turns 3.

A 3 year old can go on most rides so it's not like they are missing all that much. They just can't go on the rollercoasters. Neither can handicapped people or pregnant people or very old people but they have to pay to get in just like everyone else 3 and over.

 

[vicb]

It never occurred to me to try and "sneak" my 3 1/2 yr. old in on that trip... I guess my sub- conscience made that decision for me!

 

[banks37]

It's been my experience that if you put your child in a stroller, with a blanket over his/her lap and maybe even have them drink out of a sippy cup as you walk up to the gate you can get your child into the parks for free until they're 4 1/2 or even 5 if your good. Also look for the oldest or the youngest CM at the admissions gate (they seem to care the least).

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by banks37
It's been my experience that if you put your child in a stroller, with a blanket over his/her lap and maybe even have them drink out of a sippy cup as you walk up to the gate you can get your child into the parks for free until they're 4 1/2 or even 5 if your good. Also look for the oldest or the youngest CM at the admissions gate (they seem to care the least).

Isn't that special; NOT!

 

[C.Ann]

Went with my granddaughter 3 weeks before she turned 3 years old and it was the BEST trip EVER!!!!!!!!! She had a blast - and was SOOOOOOOOO enchanted by all of the characters.. We brought a double stroller that my DD had purchased in a garage sale just before the trip and it was the best thing she could have done..

I have two hints: #1 - At that age the little ones tend to be afraid of the dark - and most of the rides take place in the dark - so buy a little teeny tiny flashlight and as long as they can hang on to that as their "security blanket" they're fine!!

#2 - Take full advantage of any of the "playground" type areas.. Let your little one out of the stroller to run around and burn off all that excess energy.. It's no fun riding in a stroller ALL day long..

Last but not least, don't believe all the stories you hear that "they won't remember it".. My granddaughter wasn't even quite three and she remembers EVERYTHING!! Out of the clear blue sky she'll say to me, "Remember when we were standing by Cinderella's Castle and you told me that Tinker Bell was your favorite?" - or - "Remember all those lizards we were chasing around at the cottage?" They DO remember and it's a very special time for them at that age because they really, truly believe that those characters are for real!!

We're hoping to go back in December of this year and I know it will be an entirely different experience (she's a smart little cookie) but the "five year old" memories will also be special for different reasons..

Go and have a blast - you'll be glad you did!!!!

 

[lexiluke]

Thanks for the wonderful replies. I sounds as though you just have to let them go at their own pace. Since my 8yr old daughter will probably like a faster pace, we could split up the kids some of the time. And I was thinking we should stay at the Poly so it will be easy to get back to the room for a rest.

I think I'll make the ressies today!

 

[spectro man]

ABSOULTELY NOT!!! I have been taking my 3 yr old snce he was 1 and have never regretted it. I will always remember the expression on his face!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Originally posted by banks37
It's been my experience that if you put your child in a stroller, with a blanket over his/her lap and maybe even have them drink out of a sippy cup as you walk up to the gate you can get your child into the parks for free until they're 4 1/2 or even 5 if your good. Also look for the oldest or the youngest CM at the admissions gate (they seem to care the least).

I cannot, by any means, advocate what this post is suggesting you do. Anyone who goes to WDW should conduct him/herself morally and ethically (as you would anywhere else in life). If your child is 3 years and 1 day old, you need to pay for that child to enter. Anything else is stealing.

 

[dvc guy]

My children are now DD 10 & DS 7 . We took DD when she was 2 1/2. What a large waste of money, there is a reason WDW does not charge for under 3.

Having said that DS has been going since 2 because of the older one. He has always gotten something out of each trip when he was younger. He is now the veteran in the group and know WDW as well as anyone.

Each child is different. As stated as long as you don't push the little ones they should be fine.

After DS first trip, we asked for his favorite thing about the trip, his answer was having his own bottle of coke to drink

 

[dmonroe]

We took ds at 2.5 and 3.5 and never regretted it one bit! On our first trip there were several things that he could not/would not do; but it was no big deal. He loved it all--his favorite things were the fountains at DTD and the duck pond at Tomorrowland

At 3.5 he could do more; and rode everything he was tall enough for except TOT and Star Tours. We all had a blast that time too!

We'll be going back in September when he'll be almost 4.5; and neither one of us can wait!

So, yes, take your 3 yo to WDW. You won't regret it!

 

[vicb]

quote:
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Originally posted by banks37
It's been my experience that if you put your child in a stroller, with a blanket over his/her lap and maybe even have them drink out of a sippy cup as you walk up to the gate you can get your child into the parks for free until they're 4 1/2 or even 5 if your good. Also look for the oldest or the youngest CM at the admissions gate (they seem to care the least).
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Quote: posted by Zippa D Doodah
"I cannot, by any means, advocate what this post is suggesting you do. Anyone who goes to WDW should conduct him/herself morally and ethically (as you would anywhere else in life). If your child is 3 years and 1 day old, you need to pay for that child to enter. Anything else is stealing."

Zippa D Doodah, I totally agree with you!