How often do you travel to WDW w/ little ones?

[camdensmom]

We just got back today from a 5 day trip and are planning on returning in October. I'm just curious how often you all go? We have decided that WDW will be our vacation of choice for the next few years anyhow since it is so family friendly. Our son is 19 months. I think in the future we would be happy just spending some morning time in MK and then relaxing by the pool and enjoying being outdoors without the hectic lines of the parks.

I think Disney is a great trip to take with little ones, but the car seat/stroller/diapers/food/etc through airport security is a killer.

 

[jiminy]

We have taken ours about once every 3 years. We love to travel so much, but also to different destinations. Disney is great, don't get me wrong, but I just don't want the boys thinking that it is the only type of vacation there is. I guess I just don't want them to expect amusement park rides, water parks and furry characters on every trip we take LOL

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Since the end of last April we have gone 5 times. We have 3 kids (4.5, 3, 17months) and one on the way! We have learned how to pack light. We do not take carseats (never have) and we don't even use a diaper bag in the parks. Just a few diapers and some wipes thrown in the back of the stroller. It took us a while but the last two trips we learned how to streamline everything and only take what we really need. We are trying to go one more time before our new baby is born and then we will go when the baby is 6 months old. Airport security is the roughest part but we are getting better at that!

 

[TJA]

We have been taking our twins to WDW 2x or 3x a year since they were 7 months old. We are taking full advantage of them being "free" (under age 3)for as long as we can! And we've made many great memories along the way. Once they reach school age, we think we'll explore other destinations. For now, this is our main vacation.

 

[mericletwins]

We just got back today from a 5 day trip and are planning on returning in October. I'm just curious how often you all go? We have decided that WDW will be our vacation of choice for the next few years anyhow since it is so family friendly. Our son is 19 months. I think in the future we would be happy just spending some morning time in MK and then relaxing by the pool and enjoying being outdoors without the hectic lines of the parks.

I think Disney is a great trip to take with little ones, but the car seat/stroller/diapers/food/etc through airport security is a killer.

about every year.....we usually spend every afternoon by the pool. At that age my kids loved all 4 parks so we would do the hopper and one park in the am., pool/nap afternoon and another park for a couple hours in the evening. Worked wonderfully.

 

[CrzyforPiglet]

Our son is almost 17 months and we've already taken him to WDW twice and we'll be taking him again when he is almost 2. I think the best part about taking kids is that every trip is new for them. The first time our son loved all the characters but didn't care about the rides. The second time he was very unsure about the characters but loved the rides we took him on. I agree taking all of the kiddie gear is a challenge but it is worth it to us.

 

[susykt4]

We took DD for the first time when she was 17 months. We then went back with DD4 and DS2, DD5 and DS3 and just returned with DD6 and DS4. We only take one major family vacation a year and next year I'm going to try to convince the family to go somewhere else. I LOVE Disney, but living in the flat Midwest I'm beginning to really miss the mountains and the ocean! If we do go to Disney in 2008, I think we'll spend fewer park days and go to the beach and Sea World as well.

 

[write2caro]

First trip was when ds was 15mo. We flew and stayed at CR so we could easily return to the room every afternoon for a break. We're going again when ds will be 2.5 yrs and dd will be 1yr. We're new DVC members, and we figure we'll make one big trip a year while the kids are young and see after that. I used a service called "Babies Travel Light" to send lots of the baby stuff to the hotel so we didn't have to pack it. http://www.babiestravellite.com/index.html I loved it. I'm sure I'll getting better at traveling light (I hope!), but on our next trip we're going to try driving with all our gear. Just the thought of two little kids and the airport/plane stresses me out, but that's me!

 

[WDWorBUST]

DD is 3 and she has been 5 times with her first trip at 13 months. We took advantage of her being free while she was under 3 and every trip was so much different. And although in some ways it's getting easier - in others it's getting harder. She is becoming more of a little person so now she knows what she wants to do this last trip we rode the barnstormer 12 times without getting off. Disney is our vacation destination for now because it is so family friendly. When she gets to be 6 or so we'll start looking at other places. Oh and I HATE airport security - but I also can't stand to give up 4 days of my vacation time to drive - so as long as we can afford to we will be flying.

 

[betsywdw]

We just took DD 11 1/2 months for the first time last month. We had such a nice time that we joined DVC. We now plan on going back at least once a year! I agree with the airport comment, it is rough! I'm always jealous of those that live close enough to drive!

 

[las3888]

We take our DS (2) 2-3x a year. We are DVC owners. No place like it! Getting there (flying) is rough, but once we're there, it's wonderful.

 

[Ariel8676]

We have been going 2-3 times a year for the last 6 years. My girls are 5,4, and 15 months(she'l be taking her 3rd trip in August ) and just love it. We bought DVC in 2005 because we were going so much it just seemed right..its great.

 

[earthfaries]

We have made it an annual tradition since our first visit in 2003. We went twice in 2003 before and after cruises and every year since then. We always go in Sept. for MNSSHP!!! It is also nice because we only live about 650 miles away, so with the stops it is about 12 hours on the road. Usually we stop over halfway for the night, but last time we left at 3am and got there just in time for our 4:00 ADR at Trail's End Buffeteria (which is also another anual tradition!) This year we were thinking about going somewhere different, but when it boils down to it, we would just miss it too much. We HAVE to go once a year!!! The kids are (2)4yr.olds and 11yrs. and they never get tired of WDW and all the MAGIC!

*2003 - Coronado Springs
*2003 - Port Orleans Riverside **MNSSHP#1
*2004 - Shades of Green **MNSSHP#2
*2005 - All Star Movies **MNSSHP#3
*2006 - Summer Bay Resort (RCI timeshare) **MNSSHP#4
*2007-Pop Century(if we get free dining!)OR Summer Bay Resort*MNSSHP#5

 

[akamom]

This is our 5th time taking our kids to Disney. Since we take the DME, we don't bring carseats, just the stroller.

 

[dsneygirl]

We're planning DS's third trip and we've already booked for Dec. He's 8 months old. We're DVC members so we plan 2-3 trips a year, then maybe when he's in school we'll go once or twice a year.

 

[bzzymom]

I went to WDW several times as a kid, often with my dad who had a convention in Orlando every year. I didn't go with him every time, but I liked to go. Now that I have kids, I have became a total "disneyholic". I have 2 kids, DS 9 and DD 3. We took DS to WDW when he was 2.5, 3.5, 4 and 4.5, 5.5 and 6.5 then DD was born and we went when she was 10 months and DS 7.5, DD 19 months and DS 8, and DD 2.5 and DS 9. Which adds up to 9 trips since 1999. WDW is a great place to go with kids because you can do whatever you want to do. You can go into the parks every day, or you can go in some days, and relax at the resort and swim on other days and still have a great time. It is the perfect spot for us.