Help last minute trip in SEPT!

[mabdallah]

Hi DH and I decided last minute that we wanted to go down to DL labor day weekend. How are the crowds???? We would only be going for 2 days and we will have our 2 year old daughter with us, this will be her first trip to DL. We are planning a big trip August of next year for her 3rd birthday with the extended family. Should we wait or go this year and introduce her to DL. The last time we went to DL was before baby, so this will be our first trip with a toddler.
I am a big planner so this is so very last minute!!!!

 

[HydroGuy]

Hi, your title sounds odd - last minute trip... in September. Most last minute trips are for next week, not four months away!

Crowds at Labor Day weekend are like many holiday weekend crowds. It is likely to be pretty busy. I never let crowds stop me and plus, with a two-year-old, you will not want to ride the big rides anyways.

So it should all work fine for you.

Should you go at this time? That is a very personal question. We did not take any of our kids to Disney until they were 3 or 4. We just did not want to deal with the whole stoller thing and need for long naps thing. That was us. Plus we thought they were too young to get a lot of what was happening and be able to process it. Other people are big advocates of taking kids when they are that age. So it depends on your philosophy.

My first Disney memory was riding Dumbo right after I turned 3. So little ones can and do remember.

 

[pyrxtc]

Just to let you know, labor day weekend is Marathon weekend at DL. From what I have read, it will be pretty busy that weekend with everything going on.

We will be there ourselves for that weekend since we are running but I don't know if I would have chosen that weekend for our first visit otherwise.

 

[hsmamato2]

you have 4 months to plan,how is that last minute? have fun planning..... I know I am,reading all the guidebooks I can find,and the boards for travel advice.....

 

[blackjackdelta]

Hi, your title sounds odd - last minute trip... in September. Most last minute trips are for next week, not four months away!

Crowds at Labor Day weekend are like many holiday weekend crowds. It is likely to be pretty busy. I never let crowds stop me and plus, with a two-year-old, you will not want to ride the big rides anyways.

So it should all work fine for you.

Should you go at this time? That is a very personal question. We did not take any of our kids to Disney until they were 3 or 4. We just did not want to deal with the whole stoller thing and need for long naps thing. That was us. Plus we thought they were too young to get a lot of what was happening and be able to process it. Other people are big advocates of taking kids when they are that age. So it depends on your philosophy.

My first Disney memory was riding Dumbo right after I turned 3. So little ones can and do remember.

We never started ubtil the youngest was 4, oldest 8. The youngest remembers nothing and the 8 y.o. very little. They have been more of a hassle as they got older.

Jack

 

[sierranevada]

I ran the DL 1/2 marathon 2 years in a row (skipped last year). I have to say I was surprised at how un-crowded it was! I asked a CM about it the first time and she said that Labor Day is not one of the busier holidays because most kids are just starting back to school and locals avoid the weekend because of the races.

That said - if you are staying offsite and driving to the parks, both Sat and Sun mornings are a traffic mess with lots of roads closed for the race so if you go, pick your hotel wisely.

 

[pinktink83]

I think your pre-trip sounds great! First of all, because you won't have to pay for DD like you will next year (since its 3 and up!). Second, you'll be able to gauge how she handles the park, how many breaks you'll need, what rides she likes/doesn't like, etc before your big family trip.

Just take it slow and don't expect to do everything. When we've had little ones, we had to take a 3 hour break for naps back at the hotel. So even if your daughter will fall asleep in her stroller at the park, you'll probably have to plan some downtime in the afternoon. Good thing is most parades are at that time. Or stop in one of the restaurants for a late lunch and relax for awhile.