How early do you bring your kids to WDW?

[Karenj2]

I know there have been individual questions regarding what age you'd feel comfortable bringing your child to WDW, but I thought I'd put it in poll form. DH and I are expecting, just went to WDW (and I'm already jonesing to go back), and I suggested (tongue in cheek) that we bring "Little Nemo" to his/her first WDW trip while I was on maternity leave.

DH would rather wait 4 or so years... So, of course I need to poll y'all crazy Disney folks...

 

[lilyteen]

I know there have been individual questions regarding what age you'd feel comfortable bringing your child to WDW, but I thought I'd put it in poll form. DH and I are expecting, just went to WDW (and I'm already jonesing to go back), and I suggested (tongue in cheek) that we bring "Little Nemo" to his/her first WDW trip while I was on maternity leave.

DH would rather wait 4 or so years... So, of course I need to poll y'all crazy Disney folks...

I would agree with your DH on the age. I really believe that a child has to be at least preschool in order to appreciate the characters, the magic and excitement that a trip to Disney would offer. It is really all a matter of personal preference, but when the kids are preschool or older you don't have to worry as much about formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, strollers, and all that other baby gear. The preschool child will also be a little bit more independent and also will be fully aware of his/her surroundings. It also think that babies and toddlers may be afraid of the characters.

 

[jerenaud]

I wouldn't go just for the baby, while s/he is so little, but I don't think it's a problem to take the baby if *you* want to go. Especially because if you're planning to have any more kids, if you wait until this one is 4 you'll likely have a baby on *that* trip anyway. We're going in December when the older kids are 6 and 3. The baby won't even be a year old yet, but we're not going for her. We plan to go back again when the baby is 6 or so (and the older kids are 8 and 11).

Erica

 

[LWatson]

I disagree w/ the preschooler is the earliest they would enjoy. My youngest was 14m old and was more ready to meet "Mouse Mouse" and he oohed and aaahed more than my 3yr old. We are going back in a few months for his 2nd birthday when we watch the planning DVD he goes "YAY" and "YEAH" among other things.

 

[m&n's mom]

My boys are now 16 and soon to be 13. The oldest first went to WDW when he was 2.5 (I was just pregnant with my youngest and didn't know it yet! lol!) and our youngest turned 3 months of age on his first official visit. My DH and I have fond memories of our earlier trips that we reminisce about.
I wouldn't change a thing...we love/enjoy all our trips to WDW. My youngest, of course, doesn't remember his first xmas there but we have wonderful memories of walking around the parks with our little bundle of joy.
We have always taken our kids with us wherever we go and now as they are older I have no regrets!! - just lots of happy memories.

 

[disney*mom*82]

We have 3 children and the youngest that we took one of them to DW was at 5 months. It was a great trip. She was so easy to deal with and was able to go on tons of rides. It was fun, but she is our youngest, its not like we were just taking her. She also went back at 17 mo, another great trip and we are returning again when sh is about 23 months. Our other children started going as young as 2 and I can say we have always had a great trip!

 

[LovePug]

My son's first trip was just before his 1st birthday and he had a wonderful time! Will he remember it? No, but he had fun at the time and that's what mattered to me.

Unless it is going to be your only trip with your child, I would never be able to wait until he/she was 4 years old. Besides, until he/she turns 3 he/she is free, so why not go if you want to?

 

[PebblesMom]

We took our DS when he was 18 months old and he loved it. Our trip was 3 months ago and he still talks about Mickey Mouse! I am not sure how much he will remember, but I had fun watching his excitement. I would not have wanted to wait until he was older because "I" wanted to go so bad, on the other hand I really have to hand it to people who go when their babies are smaller because I just don't think I would have had the energy!

 

[DawnM]

We started our kids at Disney from just a few months old, BUT, we also lived 45 min. from Disneyland and would just pop down for the day. If I were going on a trip and had to travel and stay in a hotel, etc.....I wouldn't do it quite so early.

For a real trip I wouldn't take them until around age 18 months. I have done it earlier but it is difficult.

Dawn

 

[Kion10]

Is this your first child? I would suggest not planning a trip with your newborn because you don't really know what to expect. You might of babysat in the past, but having your own baby is definitely different. Plus you are going to have to recover from the giving birth and walking around Disney is not the best way to do that.

If this is your second child and you have already been there, done that and got the t-shirt, then I say go for it. You already know what to expect recovery wise.

 

[Colleen27]

Unless it is going to be your only trip with your child, I would never be able to wait until he/she was 4 years old. Besides, until he/she turns 3 he/she is free, so why not go if you want to?

I agree. And honestly, I think people put too much emphasis on all the wrong things when they recommend waiting until a child is a preschooler. Yes, you can skip the diapers and the bottles, and yes, the child is more likely to remember. But there are downsides to that age too.

My kids are 11, 7, and 1, and I'd say 3-4 years old is the toughest age to travel with in our experience. They are a lot more resistant to new situations at that stage, they're as likely as not to be fearful of rides and characters, and new often equates to terrifying. They're newly potty trained, so you find yourself doing the "drop everything and head to the nearest toilet NOW" at the most inconvenient times. They're old enough to get upset about not going home to their bed/pet/favorite toy at bedtime. Infants and young toddlers, on the other hand, are pretty adaptable and tend to take their fear/caution/confidence cues from you. And going when they are younger, even if they don't consciously remember, sets up the ability to look through the pictures, talk about the trip, and instill a sense of familiarity so that when you do go back with them as preschoolers, it isn't all so new and strange.

We don't generally plan trips until our kids are about 3mo. Not that I'd mind traveling with a younger one, but I don't want to make plans and put out deposits/airfare with the uncertainties of labor and delivery still ahead. I've had 3 easy labors and 3 quick recoveries, but I wouldn't want to tempt fate, you know? The last thing you want to be worried about if you have a difficult delivery is whether or not you'll be recovered enough to go to Disney World, or whether you'll lose the money you spent on plane fare if you postpone.

 

[Jennygt]

I voted 9-12 because that was when i took my son, for his first bday, I think that any age ( except newborn) is great, whatever you want to do, each age has its own challenges but also it's own wonderful aspects, go when you want to, the baby will love it too.

 

[hmacmahony]

We took an 8 week old, she was a ball! She slept, ate and pooped. I wore her in her sling from morning until night, I would do it again in a heartbeat.

She clearly had older siblings, they were just under 2 and 3 at the age (the only time I have gotten mine all in for free)

But, with that being said, I drove cross country with my oldest at 10 days old. She also was fine, and that trip was great as well. It is all up to what you think you can handle.

 

[chrisw127]

I think it depends on how much the parents like Disney. If you're a big fan, then by all means go. We took our five-year old for the first time with his 10-month old twin brother and sister. It was one of the best trips ever, but it was more for the five-year old and for us than for the twins. And honestly, the twins made parts of the trip really hard. No one slept very well. When we went the following year, it was actually harder as the twins weren't content to sit in their stroller as they'd been the previous year. I'm a little worried about this December--they'll be 34 months.

If you're not a huge Disney fan, I think waiting until your kids are at least five-years old will make the trip so much easier.

 

[laceemouse]

I wouldn't go just for the baby, while s/he is so little, but I don't think it's a problem to take the baby if *you* want to go. Especially because if you're planning to have any more kids, if you wait until this one is 4 you'll likely have a baby on *that* trip anyway. We're going in December when the older kids are 6 and 3. The baby won't even be a year old yet, but we're not going for her. We plan to go back again when the baby is 6 or so (and the older kids are 8 and 11).

Erica

Agree 100%
If you and your hubby want to go, fine, take the baby along. But DON'T go when it is hot, that would be miserable for everybody.
We have taken babies several times, but they were just along for the ride, the trips were for the older kid(s)

 

[Shleedogg]

We took DD at 2 mos and she was a breeze. We just took her again in July at 8 mos and she was even easier. At 2 mos, they sleep all the time. It is more time consuming to go w/ a little one, but as long as you're in the mind set that you are going to take an afternoon break I think you'll be fine. DD got over-stimulated on our first trip (no afternoon breaks) and so we learned for trip number 2. We had such a great time.

The only thing I would think about is if you're planning to breastfeed or formula feed. I breastfed so if DD was really hungry and we weren't close to a baby care center, I could just find a place to sit and feed her. I can't imagine trying to formula feed, finding water, mixing, measuring, warming, etc. It seems like a big pain to me. Nursing is so easy. Diapers are really no big deal at all either, don't let people scare you away!

I have a pre-trip report from our first trip w/ DD at 2 mos that I pm-d to another diser when we got back. If you'd like it, just pm me, I'd be happy to send it to you!

Ps. I don't get why everyone focuses on "we'd rather go when they can remember it." My parents took us when I was 14 and my sister was 5. My sister who is now 17 doesn't remember that trip. Who cares if they remember it at 2 mos? You will. You'll have priceless pictures and memories. Not to mention, it won't be like you wasted money, they are free!

I will say though, DD definitely enjoyed the trip we took when she was 8 mos. We took her on almost all the rides and she really enjoyed the colors and lights and she especially enjoyed the characters!

DD loving Donald and touching his beak.

DD terrified of Mickey at 2 mos. This picture alone was worth the trip, it will always make us smile. She was perfectly fine w/ every other character that morning, just not Mickey, lol.

 

[monorailsilver]

I didn't vote.

My choice would be to take them when I was ready to go. Which is what we did.

Our oldest went at 15 mo, our 2nd child at 22 mo & our youngest went at 2½.

All 3 were great for us so it didn't matter.

My oldest it was a fluke thing since we got married in 2000 & I had my oldest a week before our first anniversary. My dh got used to us going away 3 to 4 times a year before we got married & then after we tied the knot that stopped.

So when she was a year old he said "I need a vacation" so I took him on his offer & said I will book Disney & he said OK.

We went back 3 years later with our 2nd kid since we had to make it back before he turned 3. As we did with our youngest. He wanted to wait until this summer to go but I told him no since we'd have to pay for her to get in the park.

 

[momto3dizkidz]

We took our first when she was 6 months old to Disneyland and we all had a great time. My husband was going to LA for business so we just tagged along. If it wasn't for that I would have waited until about 1.5 or 2.

 

[star sweeper]

I voted for 3+ years. We took our young 2-year-olds to WDW in February, and it was too early for them. The first 2.5 days were truly magical, but by the third day they were becoming cranky and overtired from all the stimulation of WDW and the resort. We actually left two days early. We don't plan to return until they are 4-years-old. I'm tentatively planning an early December 2010 trip for us, plus my parents.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

My oldest was 9 months. My twins were 3 months. It's easier when they can't run around