How young for a child's first trip?

[mcgrawfan]

My DH and I are expecting our first Disney Baby and are already talking about when we can go to WDW next. What age did you first take your children? Did they enjoy it and did you?

 

[MickeyMouseLvr]

We just took our daugher in Feb. and she was six months old. It was a great trip - she loved all the sights and the characters! We are nursing, so we spent quite a bit of time in the baby care centers. That meant we didn't see as much as in the past, but that didn't bother me at all. If you are planning to take your baby while he/she is still little I would recommend going when the temp. is not too hot. Our doctor said no sunscreen until 9 mon, so we made sure she was always covered. We had considered going when she was about 3 months, but were glad we waited because she was sleeping better and eating less frequently at 6 months. Plus, half the fun was watching her reaction to things and at 3 months I don't know if she would have been as interested in her surroundings and the characters - we got some great pictures!

Congratulations on your new addition!

 

[stacy6552]

our son was 11 mos, on our first trip. My friend took her baby at 5 mos.

 

[TDS373X]

I took my DD for her first birthday just for 4 days which was plenty. The last thing we did before flying home was celebrate at Chef Mickey's. They brought her a cupcake with 1 candle for breakfast. she loved it and I cried. But I also loved it. She's now getting ready for trip #4 and she's only 4. All your trips will now be more magical than before. It all changes when you see it thru your childs eyes...Congratulations!!!!

 

[alloyd1170]

Most people say that under 3 is a waste (I dont see why since theyre free). We took my 2 yo and he had a blast (and so did we-watching his reaction to everything). We went on his plan-did what he wanted to do sort of. We didnt hit many rides or do a lot, but he had fun and thats what counts. We did a few rides more than once too.

I prepped him by showing the planning kit dvd and sing along songs beach party video. I took a lot of pics and video while there. now all he wants to do is watch the videos and look at the pics. Who said kids wont remember anything at this age? I disagree!

I think for even younger kids, all the sights, sounds, smells, etc would be entertainment enough. Plus, they really havent discovered fear yet. One year our son was fine with Santa, the next he wouldnt go near him. I say go for it, enjoy it and take lots of pics!

alison

 

[beattyfamily]

If you plan on going again (not once in a life time so we want our child to remember it) then I think they'd enjoy going at about 2. It's a very magical age.

I've taken our DDs ages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and so on...

age 1 was ok. I'd do it again but she basically sat in the stroller and took it all in. She did do rides but was VERY afraid of fireworks and characters. Each year she got better at those two things...

Age 2 was much better. She could talk and walk and loved the rides more. She enjoyed the face characters. Still didn't like the fireworks. She was in amazement of everything! She LOVED the parades this year.

Age 3 and 4 and even 5 were very magical and wonderful trips. She was not afraid of the characters, Fantasmic, fireworks. Could go on many many rides loved the parades, could walk and talk and have a grand old time!

IMHO, if I were to do it all over again, probably age 2 or 3...although 2 is FREE and 3 isn't so probably 2 1/2!

 

[DisneyShack]

We took our DDs last year when they were 4 yo and 22 mos. Our youngest still talks about the rides and can't wait to go in 2 weeks. Kids under 3 are free so you might as well take advantage of it (we will one more time). Personally I would not have taken my DD before we did. The only thing we had to worry about was diapers and naps.

 

[my3princes]

Our oldest ds was 2 1/2 for his first trip. He loved the characters and Disney was truely magical for him. He went on all the rides that he could, but character hunting was by far his favorite thing to do. Middle son was 6 mths his first trip. He rode in the stroller or in a baby carrier and was very happy to take it all in. The was not cranky the entire trip. Our youngest son was 9 mths his first trip and reacted much like the 6 mth old. To my surprise they were never afraid of the characters, in fact the youngest first character interaction was beast and he loved it. We have found the every age is magical in some way and our trips have changed as well. The older kids still like to character hunt, but they talk about the thrill rides now. Just let the kids set the pace and take it as it comes rather than trying to force an itenerary down their throats.

 

[MicheleRDH]

We had planned a Disney trip before we found out my DW was expecting our second child. The trip was scheduled for the end of October and first of November, and our daughter was due at the end of September.

Needless to say, we still went on the trip. Our 3 1/2 yo enjoyed the trip greatly. Our newborn was only 6 weeks old, but she was surprisingly easier to deal with than the 3 yo. Sure, she didn't remember anything, so we take her every year to make up for it!

Our oldest was 16 months on her first trip to Disney, and she had a wonderful time (we have some snapshots and video of her eyes wide, jaws dropped, and her moving like the characters in the "It's a Small World" ride). I think taking them at the 1-3 yo time frame is the most precious time. Just seeing the wonder and amazement in their eyes makes you feel all warm and fuzzy!

One hint though. Don't push the young ones to the characters. Its a little too much for them usually and may scare them.

Have fun! We're at Disney in a couple of days.

Anthony

 

[amf]

We took DD (in May) when she was 9 months and DS (in November/December) when he was 6 months. I wouldn't have dreamed of taking them during the height of summer.

They both handled the 9 hour flights (from the UK) well, sleeping for the most part They reacted well with the characters....no signs of being afraid. And they just loved Dumbo and Small World (I'm still trying to get that tune out of my head)

I'm glad that we took them so young.....all the carrying of baby clothes etc was well worthwhile

 

[AnNaNiCoLe]

dont take your kids at all...disney world is so overrated

 

[sue Z]

I was 6 the first yr my parents ever took me granted WDW had only been open a little over a yr and a half! I wish I could remember most of it!!

I just remember being afraid of being in Mr Toad's Wild Ride and being afraid of Pluto Also not being able to go on 20,000 leagues under the sea because of a wicked Thunderstorm that we stood under cover near the Mickey Mouse Revue!!


As for any thing else I don't and I got more out if it three yrs later when I was 9 going on 10!!


I have been about 14 times since

 

[kangaandroo]

My daughter was 10 weeks old for her first trip and we did great. Except for one day, i was alone in the parks with her as DH was working. Her second trip she was 14 months and she loved it! Once again DH was working so it was just the 2 of us. In a few weeks we'll be back for DD's third trip and she'll be 16 months. Dh will be working AGAIN (he's not much of a WDW fan anyway) so it'll be just us. I posted a trip report about how she reacted to the different attractions. You'll know your baby and you'll know when the time is right.

Stace

 

[mcgrawfan]

dont take your kids at all...disney world is so overrated

I hope you are just kidding.....

 

[mommie2angels]

Our youngest dd was 6 mths old when she went to Disney for her first time. We are going back next week to celebrate her 2nd birthday. This will be her 10th trip to Disney. Needless to say she loves it like all of us.

She did great with the characters at 6 mths. She has enjoyed them at every stage. I guess that's because she has seen them so many times. In December she held her autograph book and pen to hand to the characters herself. Now she runs up and hugs them and calls most of them by name.

She loves the rides, all the lights and sounds. She slept during Wishes on our last trip but saw fireworks from Illuminations at a distant. She didn't say anything at the time but now when we look at pictures of the fireworks she says "scare me". She has never said scare me before about anything. On the way home we were watching movies and for the first time she said scare me. It was at the beginning of the Disney movie. So I am not sure if she will like the fireworks now or not.

 

[HookedOnDiz]

We took our son last November when he was 6 weeks old... we enjoyed being there for the first time as parents, but we only made the trip because it was free... otherwise we would have waited a little bit... although we had zero problems with him and totally enjoyed it.

We just took him back last month for his 6 month visit and he loved it!

 

[lindajo]

It seems to have worked for the above posters, so please don't get mad at me guys!! I just have another take on it. I stood in line at TL in back of a mom and her infant (about 4-5 mo.) in a stroller in December. I asked her if it was a lot of trouble with a baby in WDW, and she said that if it hadn't been a family reunion trip planned 2 years ago, she wouldn't be there. I don't think it was easy on her. And it definitely depends on how much Daddy helps out. I waited until mine were 2 and 3-1/2, and it was perfect. They were full of wonder and amazement, they could go on a lot more rides than I thought, and they weren't as afraid of stuff as they are now. (While DS2 slept in my arms, we all went on the Haunted Mansion. DS3-1/2 was great up until the "spook" jumped up from behind the tombstone. We even managed to cover his eyes from that kind of thing until the end. Of course, he will not go again. They also freaked out in the RFC, with the thunder, lightning, and jumping gorillas!) My take is if you really want to go when he/she is a baby, don't expect too much!

 

[akghutton]

We took our first son at age 2; it was awesome. He loved it, plus he was free. On our upcoming trip, he will be 4, and our second son will be 14 months. We can't wait!!!!
Just take it slow with little ones and break mid day for naps and relaxing; that way everyone is well rested and tantrum free(even the adults

 

[kangaandroo]

The important thing is to take things at the baby's pace. You know your child and you'll know their limits. Pay attention to them and you'll be fine. Make sure anyone in your party understands that the baby is the limiting reagent, so to speak.

 

[EmmasGrammy]

We took our DGD at age 4 months. I am sure she doesn't personally remember things, but we took loads of pictures and she looks at them all the time!! She went back when she was 2 yrs old and loved the whole experience. Of course we took lots of pictures again and we gave her her own set of doubles to enjoy as she will. In June we are taking her on her first Disney cruise and we are taking along lot of film!!!

I really don't think there is any age "too young". You can make memories for them even if they are too young to know exactly what is happening around them. Our Emma loves the picture of her grabbing Minnie's nose at LTT when she was only 4 mths. old. She swears she remembers it!! Who are we to argue!!