How Young is Too Young?

[Alic]

In response to the, "How Old is Too Old" thread I would like to know the opposite! I have an 8 month old now and plan to have more to follow. I can remember going to Disney when I was a toddler but not before then. At what age do they begin to feel the "Disney Magic?" At what age are they able to enjoy the rides? At what age are the parents able to relax and enjoy their WDW vacation?

 

[dsmith]

*At what age do they begin to feel the "Disney Magic?"

When they can talk and tell you about what happened more than 1 day ago.

* At what age are they able to enjoy the rides?

When they can tell you their version of what they are seeing. Do they know the story of Snow White, Peter Pan, Little Mermaid, Lion King... If they have no idea what it's all about they'd be just as happy playing in their own back yard.

* At what age are the parents able to relax and enjoy their WDW vacation?

I think it depends on the kid(s). If your child is high maintenance going to Disney could be a lot of work for you, it might pay to wait for them to grow up a little. On the other hand if you have easygoing kids, like I do, it will come much sooner.

Personally, I wouldn't bring a kid to WDW until they are out of diapers and able to walk long distances and/or stand in line for a long time without distress of some kind. If they are at a stage where all they will eat is Kraft Mac & Cheese and bananas I’d think twice. It breaks my heart to see frazzled red-faced parents struggle with screaming unhappy kids as they drag them through the parks. I can almost read their mind, “I don’t see what’s so GREAT about this! Get me outta here!”

Remember though that Disney isn’t just for kids, you need to have a vacation too. If you decide ahead of time that if someone in your group isn’t having fun you’ll go back to your resort and hang out by the pool or take a nap it can still be a relaxing vacation even with very small children. Our family routinely splits up so folks can do their own thing.

 

[bubie2.5]

I don't have kids, but I'm the official Disney vacation planner in my family. On december 2002 I convinced my sister to take her 2 y/o and 6 month old baby to our annual family vacation. She and her husband where hesitant, but decided to go.

Let me tell you the baby had a great time!!! She absolutely loved the characters, and they took her on EVERY ride she could get in. They basically went to all the things they though would interest the 2 y/o, and the baby just went with them.

On the other hand, the whole family went again on december 2003 and it was no so easy. With a 3 y/o and 18 m/o it was a lot more stressing. But at my sister's request we're already planning our 2004 Disney vacation so I guess it wasn't so bad.

BTW, I remember on dec 2002 my sister said it was easier doing the parks with the baby than with the 2 y/o, but I don't know a lot about it, I was too busy showing the older nieces and nephews the "cool rides" and trying to make them throw up. (bad auntie, bad )

 

[AZKathy]

Our DD2 was 13 months old when we took her to WDW (DS was 16 months old first, DD1 was 17 months old first). She was enchanted with all the things she saw there. I remember DH pushing her stroller and I was watching here just look all over the place with a cute look on her face. <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/15/15_5_12.gif' border=0></a>She did absolutely great on this trip; she would just fall asleep in her stroller if she got tired. We always went back to our resort for afternoon siestas in regular beds for her and her big sister (and mommy!!!! ) <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_1_200.gif' border=0></a>We took her on all the rides she could go on and we baby swapped when she could not ride; no big deal. DS and DD1 thought the baby swap thing was incredible because they got to ride two times in a row, once with Daddy and once with Mommy! She still was at the age where she was not afraid of the characters (now, when she went at age 2, now that is a different story!!!!) and she also tolerated the plane trip just great.

The decision on when to take your baby to WDW is strictly up to you. I wanted to share with you our experience with our youngest age child visiting WDW.

 

[Robinrs]

I know most people believe that it is good for any age but I didn't take my son till he was 6 and I'm glad I didn't.

He was old enough to enjoy most of the attractions and since it's just us we can do the parks as partners instead of parent and child. Can't do baby swap without a partner!

I do love seeing the sweet faces of the little ones there, though! But all the stuff and the work it takes to keep up with little ones is a bit much for me.

 

[Trish5768]

We waited until DS had just turned 2. He had the time of his life! He could recognize the "Epcot Ball" and knew many characters. I don't regret taking him at that time at all. Just make sure you keep their schedule as close to the one at home as possible, if they nap make sure you go back to the hotel to let them nap. I saw many tired screaming children and I'm sure that does not make for a great trip. Also, let them unwind in the kiddie pool at the end of the day. Have a great trip!

 

[KimR]

The youngest we've taken our kids is 2 and they've had a wonderful time. My youngest just turned 2 when we took her last year and she still talks about how much she loves Disneyworld, the rides and when can we go back (in about 2 months but they don't know it yet!). We have taken my sister along to help and that makes a big difference. That way 2 adults could go with the 2 other kids while one stayed behind and took the baby on the smaller rides or to see characters. That way she didn't have to stand in the lines only to be 'baby-swapped' - not much fun for her to have to stand in line with no reward at the end!

She napped in the stroller during the day and the rest of the time just went with the flow and enjoyed everything. She is a very easy-going child, though. My middle one was not nearly as easy-going, and when we took her at 2 and a half, she was wonderful, too. There was so much for her to do and see she forgot to be stubborn! She'd pitch a fit every morning in the hotel room for some reason - I think all the activity of all of us trying to get ready for the parks unnerved her a bit. My DH would be moaning and groaning about what we would have to deal with that day, but once we hit the parks, she was perfect.

I, personally, would hesitate to take a baby much under 2 just because of the high-maintenance factor but that's just me. 2 years old was great and our last trip was one of the best we've had.

Kim

 

[Poohnatic]

We took our kids for the first time when my youngest was 21 months.

It was a blast! He will talk about things we ONLY did that first trip, which confirmed for me that it was the right age. DH and I baby swapped, and even on all the subsequent trips. Now that he is finally 41 inches tall, we're starting to enjoy rides with all four of us going on them!

Co workers of mine have taken their kids as young as 6 months and some of the pictures are priceless. One's daughter has this look of utter joy staring at Mickey mouse!

Suzanne

 

[pirateeast]

The key isn't how old the child is when they go, but if the parants are willing to let the child set the pace as not to over do the child. If you can go and see it though there eyes instead of yours everyone can have a great time but if you do it to your pace the child will not be able to keep up and there for no one will have a good time. Take the time to let the child explore some of the things we would just over look and the child will have a great time. Will they remember it, well only if you take lots of pictures and remind them they will. I took my 2 DD at age 10 months and 2 years old and they had a great time but we didn't even do 30% of everything down there, witch is ok, we just keep going back and doing more.

 

[Talking Hands]

We took our youngest at 2 months. It wasn't she needed to go. I needed to get away and since I was nursing she had to go along. I was not allowed to travel outside of my home city during the pregnancy and I was stir crazy by then and our family really needed a vacation away from my in laws.
I do thik that how close you are to WDW and how often you can go make a big difference. Living only 4 hours away makes it easy to go at a very laid back pace and enjoy yourself even with a young baby.

 

[Cruelladeville]

I took my youngest child when she was 21 months, and she had a great time! She did everything with us, however, what she remembered was the escalator at Contemporary, the monorail, the pool at Poly, and the carosel. I was happy with that, considering she had just arrived from Seoul, Korea one week before! We were having Disney withdrawl, so we took her along, and she was great! By the next year, she was able to converse with adults about the best parts of Disneyworld, so we felt our $$ was well spent.

 

[damo]

Well, if you only have one kid it doesn't really matter you can pick and choose what age is best. If you have several, it is hard to deny the older ones going because the youngest is too young. By the time the youngest is old enough, the eldest could be in college!

 

[Jeafl]

We took my youngest at 8 months, and she loved it! She loved watching the characters, and enjoyed most of the shows. I think all the bright colors there really attract the babies. Obviously she has no recollection of the trip, but her brother and sister were older and remember everything for her. They tell her stories of what she did, and she loves looking at pictures of herself with the characters.

However, she was a VERY easygoing baby and slept well in a stroller. If your child doesn't nap well in a stroller I would think twice about it. Especially if there are other children involved.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I could bring her on. She was too young to be frightened by Pirates or Hanuted Mansion, and really enjoyed rides like Peter Pan and It's a Small World. While my baby slept in the stroller, DH took the others on the "Mountains" and such. It worked out great for us.

 

[Mr.BsMom]

We waited until DS was 4... I really felt like he wouldn't get as much out of it or remember any of it if we had done it any earlier. Plus, at that age, he was able to really enjoy the rides and attractions and he seemed to really get into the "Disney Magic". To us, it was a FAMILY vacation, and we wanted all of us to enjoy ourselves... That means for us grown-ups, no diaper changes, no picky eating stage, no "scheduled" naps needed, etc... Since he was bigger, we were able to ride more rides together (as a family!) with fewer child swaps.

We had a great time on our first trip, and our son still talks about it. We've been once more since then, and are going again next month! This has definitely become our favorite vacation destination!!

Of course, all of this is just MHO...... To each his own, I say!

 

[Kallison]

Our first trip youngest was 4 1/2 -- she doesn't remember it, but her older siblings too.

In 2001 was the first time without strollers, they all kept up really well. She was 7 her brothers were 9 and 11.

Last August they were 9, 10 and 13. I enjoyed that trip the most, they could go get food, go down to the pool together, have a little more freedom. DH and I were sitting back in England having a beer while they were getting fish and chips. A couple with a double stroller and two screaming toddlers were next to us. We just looked at each other with that little smile of - ahh don't miss those days.

 

[KristiKelly]

We took DS at 2-1/2 years old and then took DD when she was 2-1/2 as well. Both had a great time but it is exhausting for them at that age - naps are a must!!! DS doesn't remember the first trip but has been twice since, I think those trips have clouded his memory. DD does still remember bits & pieces from her first trip, even though we have been back since. Everybody told me with DS that he was too young and would never remember it. We took our video & still cameras and even though he may not remember it - we do and that's what's important. I think 2-1/2 is a great age.

 

[tiggerlover]

I think a child of any age can enjoy Disney World, they just enjoy it in different ways. With that said, we took DS when he was 3-1/2, 4-1/2 and 5-1/2 and although he loved it every time he went he had the most fun and has the most memories from when he was 5-1/2. Shortly after his last trip we moved to europe and now at 7-1/2 DS is chomping at the bit to go back!

 

[momof2inPA]

Two was a magical age. They believe in the magic of it all, and they think the characters are real. My kids got tired at that age, but they slept in the stroller allowing my husband and I to enjoy a quiet meal or a romantic walk. Six is a great age for riding all the rides and enjoying the waterparks.

 

[speedi-deedi]

We went when our oldest was 9 mo, and it was a great time. Those of you that are moms of toddlers/preschoolers know that in many ways it's easier to travel with a child who is perfectly happy just being carted around. Obviously, the down-side is that he doesn't remember the trip, but we have got some memories and pictures of pure wonder on his face.

In addition, we were planning on having our kids relatively close together, and decided not to go back until the boys were 2 and 4. (Traveling with a 2yo and a baby to WDW was a challenge I wasn't up for....I was afraid I'd pack my whole house to go.)

The trip at 2 & 4 was outstanding, and I think the last trip (when they were 4 & 6 was the best yet.)

 

[Barreras Family]

but being annual passholders for both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World my now 2yo DD has been living Disney since she was 2 weeks old. My DW couldn't take not going to Disneyland any longer.

Just last October DD went to WDW for the first time and LOVED it. She walked all over and had a blast. She especially loved Blizzard Beach, like her mother she is addicted to water parks!

As with everyone else it really does depend on your temperment as well as your child's. Just take it easy and when they get tired rest.

Rudy Charlene & Carmalena
(Otherwise known as Tigger, Pooh & Piglet)