how old to take child?

[mikewdw]

what is the earliest age you have taken your children to wdw?
we are expecting our first in jan and of course are trying to plan our next trip to wdw?
thanks for the info and tips
mikewdw

 

[mommyflower]

We took our ds last aug for the first time. He was 18 months at the time. He had a great time. He loved Mickey and the other characters. I think any age is fine as long as you are prepared to go at the pace of your child. We always took afternoon breaks for nap and only did the things we thought our ds would enjoy. We were also prepared to leave the shows and fireworks incase he was afraid, but lucky for us he wasn't. We are taking him for a second time this december and he is very excited. You may want take time of year into consideration, because being hot and sweaty can make some kids (and parents) grumpy. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[jaysue]

Ours was 3 1/2 for first time - did quite well and loved all the parks except for Disney-MGM

Set the pace according to your child's needs and abilities and it will go great

 

[Tank]

I suggest you go at least once every year, then in 18 years you post again and let us know. lol.
wouldn't it be great to be able to do that. seriously i don't think it matters because you will have a great time at any age. We took our DD at 9 months and again at 18 months. Two totally different experiances but both wonderful. This will be my DS2's first time. finally doing the single didgit dance.

 

[mikewdw]

tank,
have a great time!!!!!

 

[mikewdw]

tank,
have a great time!!!!!

 

[castleri]

took DS at 13 months - DGD at 5 months - same trip - guess who the trip was really for.
We stayed off property then and for the rest of the trips until 1998 ( DVC 1997) and found that naps in strollers when they were little were a must. As they grew it was time for a snack or to watch a show where sitting was possible that kept things on an even keel. Now with the 17th or 18th trips coming up it is them who have to give us the quiet time - yes there are those who still want to go with their parents - mine are DD36, DS33, DH's DD 28 and our DS 17, DGD 16 and DGS 17 months - this is his first trip and we know it will be geared around what he can tolerate. Different groups of us have traveled to WDW about every year since 1982 and we have two trips this year with different groups each trip.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

Disney is perfect for any age, as long as you pace yourself according to your child's pace. (I wouldn't take a baby under 2 or 3 months if possible, to avoid flights and intense heat/sun for a real little one - but I'm sure others will disagree).

I've taken DD # 1 at 18 months, 2 1/2 and 4, DD # 2 at 8 months and 2, and DS at 10 months. Every trip went well, with advantages and disadvantages for each age.

We'll return when they are 6, 4, and 2. I can't wait!!

Good luck!

 

[FreshTressa]

Originally posted by mommyflower
We took our ds last aug for the first time. He was 18 months at the time. He had a great time. He loved Mickey and the other characters. I think any age is fine as long as you are prepared to go at the pace of your child. We always took afternoon breaks for nap and only did the things we thought our ds would enjoy.

We went the first time with daughter about 20 months and ds almost 3. They went on everything without a height restriction and loved it. We have gone every year since (either disneyland or disney world).

I am thinking this year though, dd almost 5 and ds 6, they are going to enjoy it more. They know who all the characters are and everything.

But, there is something to enjoy for every age!

 

[CamColt]

Im another one who thinks any age is fine. My oldest went at 15 months and my youngest went at 8 months. The pictures and video from these trips(all our trips, actually) are priceless!

Last week I was at a party and a girl who doesnt even have kids yet stated she would NOT take her kids to WDW until they are like 10-12, because they would just be miserable.

 

[Donnainnj]

We brought our first one when I was 7 months pregnant with her , but I don't think that is what you want to know. We also brought her, now 10 year old,when she was 8 months and it was great. She took in all the sights around her, I was still nursing and that was easy to do in dark rides or theaters. She loved the characters. We had a carrier that put her on our hip for lines which worked out good. She could also eat little snacks at this age like mini crackers. She didn't do jar baby food so I ground up food for her in a manual baby food grinder. We brought our second at about 14 months, would have brought her earlier but we bought a house just after she was born. Enjoyed them all. I always say if you are going to keep going (this is not going to be the only trip, or the only trip for 5 or 6 years) then as long a the weather is not to hot and the baby does not have collic, any age after about 3 months would be good.

 

[DrTomorrow]

I confess, I used to be in the "don't bring 'em until they're 8-10" crowd. I have since changed my mind (due to friends' experiences) with one big disclaimer (the same one you're hearing from others): When you take someone under 5-7, please make sure you realize that the trip should be about them. Repect their limitations, their interests, their schedules. I've seen the joy in a 3-year-old's eyes on Peter Pan; I've also seen a tired, crying 4-year-old being yelled at by a parent, "I don't care if you're tired, we've got a lot more rides to ride before we go."

 

[xmatt0926x]

Im totally in agreement with Drtomorrow. As long as your willing to adjust to whatever the childs needs are, I dont think the age matters. I just cant stand to watch these selfish parents let these newborns bake in the sun or force a crying infant into doing something because the parent wants to do it. Its a shame you even have to question whether a parent would take a very young childs needs into consideration before their own, but nothing surprises me anymore with the way people are.

 

[ncbyrne]

I am a grandmother. My first WDW experience with children along was when my two DGDs were 7 months and almost 5. My DD asked if I would go with her and "help with the kids". Her DH was willing to pay my way! (If the truth be known, he probably made this offer just so he wouldn't have to go...LOL) Of course I said, "YES"! We flew down, rented a car, and stayed at CBR. Most days I decided to do my own thing with the baby in Epcot, my favorite park. I took the car as it was easier to transport the stroller and all the baby stuff. And my DD and DGD4, took the bus to MK and we'd meet back at the resort at dinner time. Taking a 7 month old was perfect! She could sit up in the stroller, but still couldn't walk, so there was never a problem keeping an eye on her. She was old enough to be excited at the various things she saw, but young enough not to care where I took her. A perfect combo for baby and Granny! I've been to WDW many other times with DH and on trips with older grandkids, but I have to admit that one was pretty special. So if you are asking about the age of a child for YOUR trip, then I'd say go as soon as you are comfortable traveling with a baby. (I'd choose a cooler time of year).

 

[punkin]

I just have to laugh at this quote:

"Last week I was at a party and a girl who doesnt even have kids yet stated she would NOT take her kids to WDW until they are like 10-12, because they would just be miserable."

People who don't have children always think they know so much more than us clueless parents. (It seems we all lose half our brains when we have kids)

 

[DrTomorrow]

Originally posted by punkin
(It seems we all lose half our brains when we have kids)

Yep, and then at about age 13 our kids point out that we've lost the other half!

 

[TiggerPiglet]

Our oldest DD was just about two when she went for the first time and our younger DD was 15 months and I would do it again. I know a lot of people feel you should wait until they're older so they remember, but you remember. When they're young is when they enjoy it the most. They're not jaded yet, they think the characters are real. The expressions on their faces when they see the characters for the first time are priceless. Now my oldest is 7 (just about 8) and she's known now for a couple of years the characters are not real, but fortunately it hasn't affected her enjoyment of Disney, but my younger DD who is 4 still believes they're real. In fact we just went last month and right after the Spectro Magic Parade an older woman came up to me and said she couldn't take her eyes off my younger daughter as she watched the parade go by. She said my daughter's face was just lit up with happiness. I knew exactly what she meant

 

[huey duey & luey]

we took our triplets when they were 8 months old. we went with family and had alot of help. we decided to skip this year and will go next year when they are 21/2