how young is too young

[amyren]

We took my daughter for the first time just after her 1st bday in January. We spent am in a park, went back to the hotel after lunch for naps and headed back to the park in the evening. She had a great time! There are lots of rides for little ones at MK and Epcot. We stayed at Poly it was so convenient to be able to put her in the stroller in our room and wheel her onto the monorail and into the park! I would def recommend staying on the monorail (if possible). I say go for it!

 

[Huck Sawyer]

We would either stay at the Poly or Beach club

 

[mickeyluv'r]

My personal feeling is that the minimum is that the child has to be able to hold their head up safely - say about four months, assuming the child is healthy. Better is six+ months when their immunutiy is better developed, and they can sit up...but it would depend a little when those ages fall for the child. I wouldn't take a tiny infant in the winter months (spring yes, but not winter). Winter months can be quite cold, and I wouldn't have an infant outside all day in 45-50 degree windy weather. the weather is just too iffy in Jan and Feb. March's 70's and 80's, yes. I also don't think I'd take a tiny infant in the full heat of summer. Sure there are tiny infants who live in Florida, but if you don't live there (or in a similar climate), you aren't used to knowing how much liquid to give a child that small in that climate, and neither is the infant used to dealing with heat.

Perhaps the current flu aside, I think the stuimlulation is great for language development, even in a child around 9months. The stimluation is just what kids need at that age - er, any age! ( I personally think the notion that they have to be old enough to remember it into adulthood is silly. What, kids don't start developing until then? Please!)

Anyhow, that's my take. But of course I'd have a different take if health issues were involved.

 

[Colleen27]

We've travelled with all 3 of our kids from infancy, and they're so wonderfully portable as babies. My youngest is 15mo now, and at 8mo she'd have been a breeze to take to WDW - old enough to sleep through the night and nap in the lightweight stroller, but wasn't quite walking so didn't mind seeing the world from her buggy. I know she'll be a little tougher now than if we'd gone when she was younger, because now she's walking and will want some time to explore on her own! But that comes with its own rewards; she's also big enough to recognize Mickey & Pluto now, and even seeing pictures when I'm reading trip reports on the DIS gets her excited seeing "mouse" and his "dog-dog". I can't wait until she gets to meet them!

Personally, I don't put any stock in the advice to wait until they're old enough to remember. That's great if you're only planning on going once, but it really doesn't apply to most DISers. We travel with our babies/toddlers for the same reasons we take them to the zoo and the beach and throw big birthday parties - because they enjoy the experience in the moment, we make precious memories, and we get wonderful pictures that will last forever.

I think sticking to the cooler times of year is a good idea if you go when the baby is small. The FL heat can be hard on little ones, and it is far easier to bundle up to deal with cool weather than to manage the summer temps.

 

[pjacobi]

Instead of picking one particular age for one trip to Disney, I strongly suggest taking children multiple times. There is something for them to enjoy at every age, plus you get to watch child grow from Dumbo to Tower of Terror.


-Paul

 

[sarahsar]

We went when my youngest was six months old (oldest had just turned four) and she did great. You do certainly have to be mindful of their needs at that age (really you do with kids at any age), but in a lot of ways it was easier than the trip we took when she was a year old. She slept in the stroller, could sleep in my arms during rides, nursed during dark rides or shows, and in general was very good. Of course she isn't going to remember any of it, but she enjoyed looking at all the bright colorful sights.

When we went with her as a 12 month old, she interacted a lot more with everything, but she was higher maintenance. She didn't really sleep at all when we were out, and wasn't great about sleeping in the hotel room with everyone around, so it was more challenging. Babies need their naps! It was still a fun trip, but a little more tiring for everyone involved. We will be going again in a couple of months, and it will probably be harder still since she is so mobile now.

I wouldn't be afraid to bring a baby in the age range you are talking about, but I would prepare to be flexible and willing to take breaks if the baby (or you!) need them. I personally would avoid going when it's really hot out, just because it's harder to keep everyone hydrated, but otherwise I would say go and have fun!

Disney World is as kid-friendly as it gets, even for babies. Eating at the table service restaurants, for example, is easier than it is in most cities. They will always have high chairs and no one acts annoyed to have to serve a table with little ones, even in the nicer places.

 

[sarahsar]

If we did go with an 8 month old, what rides could we go on with our little one?

Anything without a height requirement, which is actually most things! I think at the Magic Kingdom the only things an infant can't do would be Space, Thunder, and Splash Mountains and the Barnstormer. There may be a couple of other things (Stitch's Great Escape?), but for the most part, an infant can go on almost everything except the roller coasters. I found at that age our youngest wasn't really scared of much. She was perfectly content to look at the sights on all the rides, from Small World to the Haunted Mansion.

They also have a "Baby Swap" option, so if you and your husband both want to go on, say, Space Mountain, one of you can ride while the other stays with the baby and then the other adult can ride. That way you don't have to wait in line twice.

I second the recommendation about using a good stroller. That's a whole other topic of discussion. We used a Maclaren (I think it's a Quest?) for our youngest on both the 6 month and 12 month trip. It's lightweight and easy to collapse to go on things like the railroad at MK, but offers more support and reclines, unlike your basic umbrella stroller. I'm not sure I would have used it with a younger baby, but for 6 months and above I think it was just fine. It also goes up to like 55 lbs or something crazy, so our plan was that if our oldest got tired of walking we'd carry the baby in a sling and let her ride in the stroller. Actually, amazingly our older daughter really kept up and I don't think we ever had to do that (although she did get a ride or two on Daddy's shoulders), but it was good to have a backup plan. We did not bring our giant Graco stroller with the carrier seat because it's a lot more unwieldy, but if I went with a younger baby I would probably have taken it because there would have been a better chance of getting some naptime with it.

 

[Huck Sawyer]

We have thought it through and we are going to book for Jan 2011. So the baby will be 8 months then. We travel a far bit so we will be hitting WDW every couple of years. So lots of trips to enjoy.

 

[KellyNY]

I would book for May 2011, so your baby will be 1 year old or about. Baby will be familiar with some cartoons characters and will be able to walk a bit. Moreover less feedings and more body control. Also nice weather.

 

[JenLynn]

Totally up to you!!! I went to WDW 6 months pregnant when DS was 15 months. Went again a year later with DD about 15 months old. Would have gone when they were younger if the opportunity arose. DH and I love Disney so much and there are so many things to see and do, no matter what age! Just get informed and be prepared!

 

[ShannonMB]

Linzbear, I LOVE your pics!!! They are pretty much proof that an 8 month-old is soaking it all in and enjoying in the moment! I especially LOVE the one of your son gazing into Fantasyland.

I agree with going in the cooler months (I sometimes feel sad for sweaty, overheated babies). I also agree that it's not necessary to go to the babycare centers to nurse. Even a quiet bench is fine if you are discreet. But they are there if you feel more comfortable with that.

We waited till DD was 6 to take her, but that was just because we weren't hooked like we are now. If I'd been going previously, that kid would have popped out of the womb and right onto Dumbo! It was wonderful to take her at that age, she was GREAT! But I remember taking Lily all sorts of places when she was a baby and it was no problem at all. You might have to re-think the whole thing if your baby turns out to be super-cranky, not flexible with routine, etc, but you'll surely be able to tell from your test trip!

I wish you all the luck and good health in the world on your pregnancy!!! After that much time on bedrest, you better get yourself on a walking program before going, too! You're going to be jello! But, oh, will all your effort and sacrifice be worth it!

 

[amyren]

We would either stay at the Poly or Beach club

Go for Poly! It's so nice to be on the monorail when you are pushing a stroller everywhere! Hey, they even gave us a free room upgrade there in Jan

 

[michelleiada]

In my opinion, you are never too young or too old for Disney. It is truly for all ages! However, if you are only planning to go once, I would wait until they are of an age to remember it! If you plan to go a few times through the course of their childhood...then go for it! It is such a magical place for all.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Instead of picking one particular age for one trip to Disney, I strongly suggest taking children multiple times. There is something for them to enjoy at every age, plus you get to watch child grow from Dumbo to Tower of Terror.


-Paul

I completely agree!

FWIW - Am I the only one who thinks older kids can be just as exhausting to bring as the little ones? My kids are at that "young enough to want to meet all the characters and see all the parades age" but "old enough to go on every thrill ride and want to see all the night time entertainment too" age. On our last trip, they had me going from rope drop to Wishes. I was the one who needed a nap. LOL

 

[TheWescotts]

I so agree with going many times as the kids grow. We went before we had kids, and that trip was completely different than the trips we take now with DD3. We feel WDW has enough to offer that it will "grow" with us as our family grows.

I would def. recommend staying on site with small children. If you stay off site (we are now and didn't think about this til we got there) when you park, you use the stroller to get to the tram, then you have to fold it, then unpack it to get to the monorail, where you may or may not have to fold it, then you have to unpack it for bag search and repack it. I know you will have to do the bag search anyway, but last time when we didn't go through the other steps it didn't seem as bad.

Oh and don't forget the reverse when you leave. We always go to a park in the morning, then leave in the afternoon and go to the room for nap time, then back to a park for the evening. If you stay on site, the bus system makes this very easy.

 

[Huck Sawyer]

As a child I traveled to florida at least twice a year and most of the time visited WDW each trip. My grandma had a condo just south of wdw. Last time dh and myself went for together for the first time and stayed on site. I would never do wdw again not staying on site. Our plan is to travel down at least every 2 years so we can enjoy it at all the great ages.

 

[nemofans]

January 2011 will be a great time to go. The weather will be very nice for a baby. Since you plan on going every 2 yrs (that's what we do) then you don't have to worry about fitting everything in. Go at your baby's pace & keep his/her schedule as much like at home.
I also recommend staying at a monorail resort. It makes it much easier w/a stroller.
We ship a box down ahead of time w/baby supplies (diapers, wipes, wet ones, jarred food, disposable sippy cups, extra blanket, etc) so it doesn't take up our luggage space.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

We recently traveled to WDW (last week in Oct) with DD who was 8mo at the time and it went great. She would take periodic naps in her stroller and DW would just nurse her whenever she needed it (DW has a lot of descrete nursing tops so DD was nursed while we rode POTC, Great Movie Ride, etc.)

We were actually surprised how much she enjoyed the rides - especially how much she loved Living with the Land.

Just got with the flow and enjoy your time there with you LO

I know there are a bunch of threads about tips with infants, but I cannot stress enough how beneficial brining your own stroller that with a back that reclines is ... the Disney ones are too hard for infants IMO

 

[Colleen27]

I completely agree!

FWIW - Am I the only one who thinks older kids can be just as exhausting to bring as the little ones? My kids are at that "young enough to want to meet all the characters and see all the parades age" but "old enough to go on every thrill ride and want to see all the night time entertainment too" age. On our last trip, they had me going from rope drop to Wishes. I was the one who needed a nap. LOL

You aren't the only one! My 8yo is by far the most exhausting of my 3 when we're at WDW. She collects autographs, trades pins AND rides just about everything, and she can go from rope drop to fireworks without a break and still want to swim when we get back to the resort! The toddler is relaxing by comparison.

 

[MommaMouse411]

I took my son at 8months...he was so amazed at everything..He loved the fireworks and loved Mickey Mouse...So its up to you..if you are staying at a resort in the World then even better.......there's babycenters at all the parks..so you will always have a resting area...in January sometimes its very chilly in Orlando....so it might be better than lets say coming in summer time...

I would take a travel stroller, so if baby wants to nap, just slide it down and let him/her sleep...pack a bookbag with diapers/wipes/bottles/babyfood/extra clothing etc...there's lockers you can rent..or just lug it around...I always leave my bag in the stroller when I park I just take my money/cell phone/keys with me ( i have a fanny pack for those items..yes I said it a FANNY PACK) the babycenters have fridges/stoves/microwaves..and if you forget something you can buy there...its a little bit more than lets say buying from Walgreens...Disney Hollywood Studios babycenter is the worse one I've seen...its small but it gives you a place to relax get out of the heat/cold...a CLEAN place to change diapers. But they all have a quiet/closed in place to nurse if you are going to be nursing. I've seen parents sleeping in the play room at the Animal Kindgom Baby center lol...oh I think MK/AK/Epcot has hi chairs for babies too.

But like most people have said its up to you...its fun though...I love seeing my son's face when a character comes up to him..we have been to disney like 20 times since he was 8 months..he's only 20months now and he's a Disney Pro....he loves it there and of course I do...we always have fun...but babies get cranky so you have to just be sure to relax and choose what you are going to do by time...for instance DON"T STAND IN LINE FOR AN HOUR TO SEE A CHARACTER!!! anyways...I do it alone with my son all the time cuz Daddy didn't buy a pass...so if I can do it alone you can and have fun!!!