Help me convince DH to take DD15months to Disney!

[leighe]

DH and I have a spring break trip planned for this April. DH is just adamant (sp?) about not taking DD (who will be 15 months then) along. He thinks she'll be way too little and won't really enjoy the trip and so neither will we. I totally disagree. Normally DH and I compromise very well but he just won't budge on this. (And ok, by compromise, I mean I can usually get him to agree with me on all things Disney ) I'm going to be almost six months pregnant so it's not like we were planning a park commando, open/close the parks type of trip anyway. DD loves to stay with her grandparents but I would just really love to spend some time with her at Disney before the new baby comes. I think she would have a great time toddling around and I really think that after we got there, DH would have a great time watching and playing with her at WDW. He's such a great daddy.

 

[beautybelle]

Oh that would be a very simple thing for me as this has always been my way of doing things.............Baby dont go, I dont go............simple as that. See there no problem.
First off there would be no way in hades I could have a good time at Disney without my kids. I (personally) would feel very selfish and it would ruin the trip.

 

[Desnik]

Tell your DH that you simply can't leave her behind because you will miss her too much. Tell him you are hormonal and he should know better than to mess with a pregnant woman!!LOL

Are you sure you wouldn't want one last trip alone with DH? I don't know how your pregnancy is going but it might be easier to leave your DD with her grandparents and not have to run around with her at the parks while being pregnant. Really think about this before telling him what I suggested.

On a side note I have been taking our kids since they were 8 months old. They love looking at the old pics of their trips as babies and the memories DH and I have will last a life time. No regrets at all. As babies they loved all the lights and action going on. I would never say 15 months is too little!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

I would tell him plain out too, i'm not leaving on vacation without her.
When we went in march 05 my dd was only 11 months and she had a blast, there are so many cute rides to go together, and so much to see. And the resort pools are so much fun for little ones. My dd loves to "swim"
The character interaction between little ones is just so special also.
You guys would have a wonderful trip!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Aristomommy]

Part of the fun at WDW is seeing our children's expressions and the joy seeing their favorite characters brings to them. DD was 28 months the first time we went to WDW and DS had his first trip at 8months old. Some people will say he will never remember this trip. But I always remember us walking around the Animal Kingdom Lodge at 7am and listening to the birds and animals outside. He was so quiet and attentive. Or how he adored Mary Poppins and her big white hat. We have the cutest picture of him drooling (literally) over her

Now I understand that some families may not plan more than one visit to WDW and want to wait until the children are older. But if you plan to go to WDW more than once or twice, start them young. I love seeing the little ones in awe of the lights and sounds and colors. You will have a different perspective of WDW if you go with your little one. I never felt those trips were less than when we were able to ride all the rides.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I would just explain that you really want her to go.

Just remember though that depending on when you go during spring break, the closer to Easter, it may be very crowded.

DH and I went on a solo trip one spring break without the kids, with his insisting. I was upset not to take them at first but glad we didn't, we went the week before Easter, Orlando was having a hot spell, it was 90 degrees and the parks were the most crowded I've ever seen. I was glad we didn't take the kids, because I was miserable after a couple hours.

We took DD the first time at 15 months. It was alot of fun to see her expressions, but seriously when we took her back at 2 yo she was able to get the whole concept better.

Good Luck on whatever you decide.

 

[jodifla]

I think it's pretty juvenile to give DH ultimatums.

Is there another way you could compromise? Maybe getting a sitter one night to go out and do all the coasters, for example, and have a nice dinner?

We use Fairy Godmothers all the time, and they are great.

 

[Ariel8676]

This would be an excellent trip for just the three of you before the new baby gets here. You could tell him that you want this trip to be very special for her since she is not going to be the baby anymore.
With that said, i have been taking my girls since my oldest DD (now 5) was 8 months old..we have gone back every year (sometimes 2-3 times) since then..we have 3 DD's now (5,4 and 1)and they LOVE Disney..maybe they don't remember everything from every trip, but we make sure we take tons of pictures and just to see the expression on their faces when the characters interact with them is priceless.
I personally would not go to WDW without my children, we went a few times before we were married, but now its all about my kids and making them happy. If he wants a night away with just you before the baby gets here, thats great, maybe you can do that as well...somewhere else.
Good Luck and have a great time..whatever you and your husband decide to do...congrats on the baby!!!

 

[alloyd1170]

Theres nothing more precious than seeing WDW though the eyes of a child no matter how old. DS had his 1st trip at 2. Granted he probably didnt remember much (thanks to photos, home videos, free planning dvd, and Sing Along dvds he did seem to remember some things), but I savored every exciting moment through his eyes.

We took DD for her first trip in Sept at 15 mos old. She was a trooper. Normally taking 3-4 naps, she made it on 1 hr in her stroller in the parks. We started our day around 8-830 and would go until at least 10pm. She never fussed. We took that time to ride some of the bigger rides while my dad stayed with her, shop, and dine (if not crowded some places will let you bring in your stroller if the child is sleeping). Nothing except the size of the characters scared her. She sat through Fantasmic, the Haunted Mansion (which scared DS back then and at 4 yrs) and other loud shows without flinching. She loves Little Mermaid so that was a huge deal for her. She also loved Playhouse Disney with the music and bubbles and Small World.

She remembers things from the trip. When she sees the castle or characters on tv, her photos or videos she gets excited. She pointed to Christmas decorations and tried to name some of the characters. I wouldnt miss this for anything in the world! We had such a great time we are going back next month and in Sept (free dining is awesome). Tell your DH that your DD is free too so its not like youll be wasting money on your trip! With baby swap and keeping in mind that youre there for DD, you should have a great time. If DH wants to go off an do his own thing for awhile, let him. Go do your own thing (SHOP!! visit characters, dine, relax in the parks....). Your kids are only young once so enjoy every moment you have with them. They grow up so fast. I cant believe my son is about to turn 5. I used to think Kindergarten was a long way off...not anymore as I have to register him in a few weeks!

alison

 

[meandtheguys2]

If you are going to be 6 months pregnant, could it be that he wants the time with just you before the new baby arrives, and this is an excuse?

 

[roxannex]

We're going with our 14 month old next month. We've done Disney several times before, but we're both really looking forward to seeing the excitement on our child's face when he sees everything. He won't remember it, but we will.

HOWEVER, we're also going with my mom and grandma. We rented a 2 bedroom villa so we can all have privacy. Our son will sleep in the middle living room. And our nanny grannies will babysit for us. I think we would still do it if our family didn't come with us, but it would be a different kind of trip with different expectations.

I think I agree with a pp that if this trip was supposed to be romantic and relationship-building time, bringing your 15 month old would kind of ruin that. If not, well, the more the merrier. Could someone come with you and babysit?

 

[leighe]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm not really an ultimatium-giver but I am going to try to really talk to DH tonight about why he doesn't want to take her. DD was sick last night, poor baby, so we didn't really have a chance to talk about it.

I guess it wouldn't be bad for us to have one more trip alone together before the new baby comes. DD loves being at Nana's so I know she would enjoy herself if we did go. I just also know that she would have such a great time and be so adorable at WDW at her age. She really is an easy baby and a great traveller (we took her to Williamsburg with the in-laws over fall break and she was fabulous). I'm going to keep my fingers crossed I can talk him into it!

 

[blessedby3]

I would take the baby too, but we always travel as a family. Our youngest went to WDW for the first time at 10 mos and it was one of our best trips. She was so easy and loved everything that she saw from her stroller or snuggly. We have such great pictures and memories and while of course she wont remember it she gets to see the memories on film. If people didnt take kids on vacation until they could remember everything then most people would not go. If someone had a 4 yr old and said that they would probably remember at 5 so we'll go then, then at 5 another baby had arrived and now the baby wouldnt remember so wait some more and then another arrives a few years later, etc. You get my point. Vacations are for making memories and pictures are for "remembering" for the younger sect.