How Young is Too Young???

[wdwfan22]

Ooh, this is one of my favorite topics. Here are my thoughts.

1. People should mind their own business and not tell others what they should do. I agree with the above poster, to each their own. I personally loved taking my daughter at 3. As others have said, when they really believe the characters are real it is the best time. It is amazing to watch the look on their faces.

2. I don't like the argument that they won't remember. I myself, have a horrible memory. I can't remember every minute of all of my trips, even when I was a teen or young adult. Just highlights. For that matter, I don't remember my trip last year real well either. Like I said, just highlights. But will it stop me from going... No way. I will keep going and working on my memory. Keeping a journal is crucial for me to remember. Unfortunently, I didn't start this until a couple trips ago. Now it is a must. If I remember

 

[todzwife]

We're going in November with our will be 7 year old and almost 5 year old. We also have a brand new baby right now who will be about 7 months old at the time. One may argue that we should leave her with someone else, but 1. She's part of our family, and we'd miss her and 2. She's nursing. No way am I leaving a nursing baby for a week.

We've gone when our kids were as young as 6 months old and had no issues, as long as you know what to expect and take it slow. I will say that my 14 month old DD1 was terrified of the characters so we just avoided them with her, but when she went back at almost 3 she loved every second of it.

If you have a really little one, I highly recommend bringing some sort of baby carrier. I'll be wrapping my daughter in a didymos baby wrap probably 90% of the time. The stroller will be for the older 2 and all our "stuff". (sweatshirts, umbrellas, snacks, water bottles, etc.)

 

[dmked]

HOWEVER--*I* have many memories of both of them loving Disneyland.

This is how I feel too, they may not remember the trip when they get older, but I remember how they were on the trip and it is such a fun time to spend together as a family!

We are going in just a few more weeks and this will be my 4 year old's 4th time to DL. She loves looking back at pictures of the times we have gone before and this time she is going to remember it and I can't wait to see how happy she is going to be seeing all of the characters

And our youngest will be 10 weeks when we go this time, and I am taking him more for me obviously than him as he is not going to care that we are in DL, but there is no way I could leave him for 4 days!

 

[kayleigh83]

Take it from me, you can't be too young! I'm 22 now and I've been twice, once when I was 6 and once when I was 11. The first time was all it took to turn me into a Disneyland nut! When I heard I was going again when I was 11 I went berserk - not just because I was a kid going to Disneyland, but because I remembered how awesome it was when I was younger! Of course some memories fade but I do have lots of distinct memories from that first trip and more than anything I had a sense of that overwhelming Disney magic!

And ever since both those trips I've been itching to get back!

 

[jtown]

Ignore the Negative Nancys. They're jealous.

I have vague memories of Magic Mountain from when I was 4ish and that was a long time ago so I'm sure the memories were fresher when I was a kid. I remember enough to know I was too short for a lot of the rides. And 6? Heck, yeah, I remember those trips to Magic Mountain, Knotts, Disney, Sea World, etc. when I was that age.

 

[bumbershoot]

The only reason I didn't take DS when he was even younger than 17 months old is that I didn't know I was such a Disneyland fan!

We went to DL the first time as adults as a day trip while visiting my brother. It was the first time he'd invited us to visit his place in San Diego, and we figured "why not?" It was GREAT! We didn't go "for DS", we went for us, and where we go DS goes.

We're an extended, on-demand, nursing family. So DS must go where I go. Even if my mom were alive, leaving a sane, competent, grandparent, that is how it would have been. As it is, we have the not-so-competent grandparents, and DS isn't staying with them. Plus, we adore DS and don't WANT to spend time away from him. Therefore, we wanted to go to Disneyland, so he went too. Simple!

His experiences grow on top of each other, they stack. He would have a different enjoyment of it if we'd started taking him at 3 (when our first BIG trip was), or 4 or 5 or if we had waited until this year at 6. It would be different. I wouldn't know that he spent almost exactly one year hating the things he'd liked before. The differences would be impossible to spell out, and since I'm glad for the way it worked out, I'm glad for how it happened.


As for remembering...I barely remember my honeymoon. I don't even have cohesive memories of my wedding day for that matter. Should those things not have happened???


DH had a coworker who was aghast at our trips. He firmly believed in waiting until "they would remember". When last we saw him, his kids were 11 and 9, and still hadn't gone...when the heck was he planning on it????

thank goodness our landlady's family are huge Disney fans. They go to WDW, though, since they have an east coast background. They are in FULL favor of us taking our big WDW trip in December, and while I'm not actually sure they are the savviest Disney travelers from the comments they've made, they certainly are enthusiastic fans!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

DS was not quite 9 mo his first trip to DL and again at 10 1/2 months. Before his 1st birthday he recognized Mickey on TV, shirts, the computer, etc. Tell ME he doesn't remember those first trips. He may not when he's older, but he's already been touched by the magic forever.

 

[NovemberMom]

They are free until they are three so why not take them?

I totally agree with this statement! I took my youngest at 6 month old and got the greatest pictures of her with characters and really funny video of her on rides smiling and laughing. ODD was 4 y/o when we took her for the first time and remembers a lot from that trip. Now that the girls are getting older we are planning on taking them yearly to DL.

 

[nunzia]

We took our youngest the first time when she was three...we now have taken grandkids at 18 months and they have had a blast! They'll 'remember' from seeing all the pictures and I have such great memories forever. Seeing little ones who really believe in the magic is truly, well, magical. I agree with the poster who said you have to indoctrinate them young! My kids are all still Disney fans and it looks like their kids will continue that. Take them as soon as you're comfortable doing so..what place could be better?

 

[Mike_M]

I was 4 on my first trip to DL and I have no memory of it at all. This was a big factor in our decision to not bring our kids until their 5th b-days. We decided for both of their first trips (DS back in 2007 and DD last month. Yes, DS got to go to DL twice before his little sister got to go) to make them a bit over the top and happen specifically on their birthdays. I think it made the trips more special as a result (a first coming of age moment) and possibly even more magical to them as well.

 

[katemarcail]

I was 6 weeks old on my first trip and see it as my parents being great parents and making sure I understood what the important things in life were from a very young age. A bunch of things, however, made it a good trip vs one that leaves mental scars on parents and those around them.

- This was NOT a once-in-a-lifetime trip with all those pressures. We had family in the area and my family visited them, drove over to DL mid-morning, wandered around at a leisurely pace, did a few infant-appropriate rides (Haunted Mansion and Country Bears are the two I remember them mentioning) and mom hung out at the baby center and then some stores while dad hit a few of the bigger rides. My grandparents were there to help with baby duties and they left in the evening before anyone could get cranky.

- As mentioned, family backup was crucial.

- No older siblings, older cousins, or any other children that had to be accounted for and taken into consideration. I'm imagining that each successive kid under a certain age just increases the logistical complexity by a hundred fold.

- The focus was on enjoying the park rather than hitting the rides. As a result we have some ADORABLE pictures of me and the characters, back when they were a bit more free roaming.

- Came late, left early, and I was in one of those old blue strollers asleep for most of the day.

With that I'd say any age where you'd enjoy going and are willing to do what's necessary to make it a good trip for all involved is a good age to take them. I don't put a lot of stock into waiting until the kid remembers since, really, your memories are just as valuable. Just take it slow, don't try to do everything, take out the kid if they're crying, and be kind with the stroller - other guests' ankles thank you!

 

[NewbieMouse]

I think it really depends on what you want to get out of it and how YOU feel about it. Personally we waited until our daughters were 5 and 6; I didn't want to do strollers (I DETEST strollers). We got back about a month ago, and I now think that it will be even more fun in about two years. But that's just me. We are going again in December for two days as their Christmas present because we are passing through LA, but I'm not doing another multi-day, staying on-site trip until they're about 8. It's just too expensive, and I think I'll enjoy myself more given the amount of money that I need to spend on a trip like that.

But if you have fun with your kids when they're younger, great - take 'em!

 

[chris&adrimom]

I took my son the first time when he was 4 months away from turning 2, and my daughters first visit, she was a year a half. They enjoyed it, even at that age. Plus now we have the pictures and videos that they love to look at often. It is harder when you go with small children compared to older children, but the good far outweighs the bad imho.

 

[Aust]

We took our girls at the same ages, 6 and 3, and had similar comments - 'They won't remember it', 'They're too small for all the rides', etc. Maybe true, but they had a great time, really enjoyed all the rides they went on (the 6 YO could go on almost everything and the 3YO many) - and the best thing was their interaction with the characters, they truly believed they were real. Especially the princesses. The 6YO, who is never lost for words, was speechless for the first time in her life when she met Snow White (her favourite), and it was so nice to see.

Next time we go as a family may not be for another 4 or 5 years seeing as we're in Australia, and they'll be too old for princesses and characters, so I'm really glad we took them at the ages we did.

 

[IdaTink]

We've taken our son, turning 7 in three weeks, every year to DLR or WDW since he was 3. He was afraid of the characters on the first two trips. But he loved the gentler rides. The third time we went, he ran into Mickey's arms. Maybe he'll remember that, maybe not. But WE will. And we have wonderful pictures to remind ourselves and him.

 

[Cadillac_Dreamgirl]

It's ridiculous for someone to say such a thing........If we did what they said we would not take them to the local zoo, parks, the beach etc........why bother if they won't remember? insane I say..........

I went to Disneyland when i was a baby ... I donl't remember but it doesnt matter I am sure my parents were thrilled in watching me .... Its ok.

Later I became a theme park fanatic....enjoyed Disney parks to death...

Now I am a mother of two......I find great pleasure to see my children happy...

I took my first one at 1 year old................In August i will be taking him again at 4 1/2 and my second at 1 year old...........I am so happy of watching Dylan's reaction to Disneyland......I cannot wait!

 

[sassy*girl]

I'm beyond thrilled to be able to get to go and enjoy my Great Neices 1st visit to Disneyland she will be almost 12 weeks old when we go in about 11 days. She is such a tiny little thing since she was born 10 weeks early. So this is a very special trip for all of us since the first 38 days of her life she spent in the NICU.

It's just us girls all going so we know we will be going at a slow pace which is fine with us. We have all been many times. We are very prepared with a stroller fan and a misting fan. We know the cool places we can go hang out when its her feeding time.

This last week we have made her several tiny little Disney outfits to wear since I don't think they sale preemie sized outfits in the parks. So when she gets older she will have all the pics I take of her on this trip to remeber it by.

So really I don't think any age is to early to go. Just go prepared and know you are going to make family memories.

 

[superme80]

I went to Disneyland as a baby and we took DS to Disneyland as a baby. Do I remember my trip? Nope! Do I remember my son's trip! I sure do! He wasn't even 6 months old at the time, but he had an awesome time. He loved the parades, the gentle rides, and just being with mommy, daddy, grandma, and grandpa. I will continue to bring my children to Disneyland regardless of age. It is about family togetherness and just enjoying the magic!

 

[lyv4him]

We took our 9 month old (now almost 3), and he loved all the sights and sounds...was a perfect little angel...and did not cry once. Now, we have an addition to the family (princess) and will be taking our son and our newborn in Sept. SHe will be 4 months old then. It will be for a family reunion. The photos and memories for us (as adults) enjoying our children are priceless....they grow up too fast!..yah know? Besides, I can't even remember what I ate last week for dinner let alone yesterday...should that stop me from eating?...NO! Just because they can't remember...doesn't mean I can't take them with me. I am just prepared for the fun and hard work. However, I can understand that some people don't want the extra work/planning/money that is involved in taking a small child/infant.

 

[aussiejen]

Thanks everyone for your feedback.

The negative comments i get from now on will be ignored
I know we wont be in DL for another 11months, we are all so excited to return, especially the kiddies.

AUST - we're from Sydney, Australia too