How long would you wait?

[MrsJ Henry]

Hi
DH and I are missing WDW like crazy. We are adopting a baby from Guatemala and will have to wait to return to WDW until we can complete the process.
Here is the question.... we are first time parents, the baby should be around 6-7 months when she arrives in the states with us..... how early is too early to go to WDW? We would not go before she is a year old. She will have already had enough change her her young life to put her through that her first few months.
We started off saying we would wait until she was about 4-5 but I don't know if we could EVER wait that long to go back.
We always looked at all of you parents out there with your little ones and say to each other."oh my, we are so tired can you imagine? yuck... they have to lug all of that stuff around balh blah blah".... now we will be one of those people lugging everything around. AND let me tell you... WE ARE GOING TO LOVE IT!!!!!!

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

We traveled from the UK with our DD aged 14 months - and we loved it! Would certainly do again - she got so much attention both in and out of the park. What memories.

 

[mjmcca]

I took my kids when they were even younger. I would wait a few months at least until you got to know her and she got to know you and then go and make some memories!

 

[mjmcca]

Wanted to add make sure that you have a good stroller .

 

[disneychrista]

IMO, it will really depend on how well your new DD adjusts. Maybe you could tentively plan to go for her 1st birthday.

And don't listen to anyone who might tell that she is too young, she won't remember anything. There are lots of things we do with our kids when they are young that they won't "remember" but they still have fun doing them at the time. And YOU will always have those special memeories that you can share with her.

 

[macmahony]

My middle daughter is adopted, congratulations!
My first thought, would be to wait and see how she adjusts. She might come home, and be great from day one, but she might need sometime. I would play it by ear, and see how she does.
We took my youngest at 3 months, and again at 15 months. She had a ball at 15 months, she loved it.
I would wait and see what sort of temperment she has, how she is adjusting, all of that before you made any plans!
Good luck!

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

We thought that 3 was the perfect age to take our dd. She was old enough to really enjoy the rides and the shows and the characters but she was still young enough to enjoy the magic. If you plan on going back ALOT throughout your child's life..I would say go sooner. I would think a year old would be fine.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

First of all, congratulations! DS is adopted (domestically) as well.

Secondly, I think that in order to answer this you really need to wait until you get to know your daughter as an individual. My DS was always a very active child who would prefer to do rather than watch. He was also apprehensive about loud noises and crowds. I think that as an infant he would have been terrified of WDW and as a toddler he'd be miserable sitting in a stroller. (I say I think because we didn't neccessarily try).

As you settle in you'll have a better sense of what you daughter enjoys, how much energy you have, etc . . . and you'll make a great choice.

Congratulations again!

 

[Mom to Jordan]

Another idea if she does not seem quite ready by her birthday, it to go for her gotcha day to celebrate her adoption.

Congratulations, we were in the Guatemala program several year ago when they changed all the rules and no on could get their babies out. So glad the system is working again. Guatemala is a wonderful conutry and the children are beautiful!!!!!!!

Jordan's mom

 

[ZachnElli]

Congrats! I am an adoptive mom as well. You really need to wait to decide until you have the baby and have gotten to know her. When we first got our little guy, he HATED loud noises. Even singing in church. It took several months for him to get over it. She might do great right from the start, but she might need more time. Or once you get her and she becomes your world it won't be a big deal anymore! You'll see what I mean!

 

[MrsJ Henry]

Thanks everyone. All of your comments and suggestions were great!!!

 

[pigget74]

Just wanted to say my nephew was adopted from Guatemala a year ago this past October. He was 6/7 mths old when we took a huge family trip at the end of November first of December. He did great, but every baby is different. My son will be 7.5 mths when we go this May and we are really looking forward to it. Any questions please ask. Also CONGRATULATIONS

 

[AngieWin]

Congrats on your adoption!

I dont think there is a minimum age to bring a child/baby. DS was 2 months on his first trip. I do agree with the other posters on waiting to see how she adjusts and how much you think she could handle/cope with the parks.

 

[mjmcca]

I went to an Engagement party yesterday. There was a couple there that my aunt told me had just adopted a baby from Asia ( not sure where didnt ask) She was a very good older baby 16 months i think. My kids were playing with her. She seemed well adjusted. It may take very little time fir you new little one to get adjusted to you and you will be able to take her all over whenever you want. Good luck!

 

[KristinU]

Congratulations on your pending adoption!!!

I know exactly what you're feeling now. We're also an adoptive family and figured we'd be waiting a while until returning to WDW after our DS came home from Korea. We're DVC members and even rented out our points for that year that he came home thinking we'd just skip that year to allow for his adjustment...but we ended up going down for a long weekend three months after he arrived (he was 9 months at the time - 6 months when he came home). DH was traveling to FL on business and we decided DS was ready to travel and tag along with daddy. Every child is different and you'll be able to read your DD or DS once you get to know him or her and get a feel for where you're at in your attachment time. We did spend a lot of down time at the resort and watched for too much stimulation, but I think that anyone traveling with an infant does those things. We then traveled to the midwest when DS was 10.5 months to meet my in-laws who are unable to travel (Ok, yeah, I admit it...he met the Mouse before he met one set of grandparents... ), then we went back to WDW to celebrate DS's 1st birthday. He's a great little traveler!

Follow your own instincts and you'll do great! Again, congratulations!