How Young

[Triz]

I just took my 2 year old daughter and she loved it. She new the characters and was excited to go on rides. plus she is young enough where the rides that might scare her(Mr. Toad and Snow White,) didnt cause she doesnt know any better.

 

[Davids-Coco]

That always drives me crazy when people say "they won't remember it anyway." so what if they don;t remember it? They won't remember any experiences before the age of three. But does that mean people shouldn't do things with their kids? Nope.

Me too... and they aren't too young to be bit by the disney magic bug!!

 

[PinkBudgie]

We waited until our boys were tall enough to go on all the rides, which was the summer just before they turned 7. We decided we didn't feel like messing with strollers and I didn't feel like standing in line with two boys who can't hold still for long. When they were 2 years old, DH and I went by ourselves. When they were 6, they had so much fun.

If we had lived closer, we would have brought them earlier but since it is a big production for us to get down there, I just didn't have the energy to take them to DL as toddlers.

 

[heatherleigh]

The youngest we ever brought of our kids was a 16-month old, last year. She had such a good time. That's when she fell in love w/ all the characters, and Disney. She is a huge Minnie fan now. I'm looking forward to seeing her reaction on our next trip!

 

[BlueBayou]

Also, don't do a front carrier like Baby Bjorn - do a sling. I feel they are too exposed in the Bjorn and I just can't watch such a little tiny one hanging on someone's chest like a man on a velcro wall! They are curled up in a sling just the way they like to be.

Neither one of my girls would do a sling. My oldest liked the Bjorn. My youngest would not use either and I started trying to use the sling with her when she was two days old. (I got to use the sling with kids in our babysitting co-op - but not my own kids).

Our eldest daughter's first visit to Disneyland was at 6 months. We NEVER would have considered going - had my BIL, SIL, niece and nephew I had never met not been in CA for a business trip. We were so worried about traveling with an infant. It was a WONDERFUL experience. While my DD was eating some jar food - she was mainly breast fed - so there was very little to worry about in terms of food for her. She was either awake and interacting with family and the lights and sounds of Disney or she was asleep in the stroller. She is still a great traveler.

My second daughter is a different child. She did not travel that well. We did not take her until she was 18-months-old. Even if she was a better traveler - I think 18-months is a harder age than 6-months. Both of our girls were far more mobile and opinionated at 18-months.

 

[dbanzai]

Seems to me it may be cool to get a picture with Mickey and a new- or semi-newborn, so I don't know about the "not doing it for them" response.

Thanks for the answers... Getting ready for a trip back to Anaheim and one of the people who might join the entourage is a recent mom.

 

[hoosiergirl7]

I've seen plenty of babies at both WDW & DL. Definitely not something I would do but to each his own. The 1st time we took DS to a Disney park ws when he was 15 months old and we went to DL because we were living in CA at the time. We didn't take DS to WDW until right before he turned 3.

Now we've been back to WDW once, this Spring and on our way to DL in a few weeks.

 

[DisGirl819]

Also, don't do a front carrier like Baby Bjorn - do a sling. I feel they are too exposed in the Bjorn and I just can't watch such a little tiny one hanging on someone's chest like a man on a velcro wall! They are curled up in a sling just the way they like to be.

I have to say that while this is good advice for some, please don't be judgemental of those of us who have babies who hate slings! My DD hated the sling from day one, but loves facing out in her Bjorn. I would never get any grocery shopping done if she didn't like that thing.

We're taking DD to DL for Xmas this year and she will be about 8 months old.

 

[Mugglemama]

we bought our first AP's the day that my third child turned 5 months old. my others were 3 and 9 at the time. we only lived about half an hour from the parks back then.

at that age, she was still solely breastfed. but going to DL didn't feel like a challenge at all, especially back then when the off-season still really felt like the off-season, you know? very, very light crowds. there were lots of places where we could tuck away for privacy to nurse.

i have to say that she has love DL since her very first visit. she has never once cried on a ride, and would kick her little feet and arms in excitement, lol. even on rides like POTC and HM. she was riding matterhorn by the time she was 2.5 years old, and always begging when we got off of it, "can we go again?".

i realize we've been pretty lucky that our kids are not fearful of rides, though. and that isn't always the case at DL for a lot of small children we see there. i would never take my children on anything if they said they didn't want to go, or if it seemed to frighten them.

on group trips in the past with other moms, i've actually been the one to sit out with small ones who didn't want to ride things even when the adults in the group wanted to make them go on it. i don't mind at all sitting out so a child doesn't have to go on something they are afraid to go on.

i guess it depends on your child's temperament and comfort level. for instance, does your child get really frightened in a darkened, loud movie theater? or do they love every minute? this might help you understand how they will react to many rides. my oldest child was terrified in movie theatres as a toddler/preschooler (we went to see Lion King 3 separate times before she felt comfortable enough to actually go inside the theater and sit down, lol), but we didn't take her to DL until she was 4 years old, and by that time, she loved going to the movies, and also loved all the rides she could go on at DL. my younger 3 children have never been frightened in a movie theater, and also have never been frightened of the rides at DL.

 

[DahliaRW]

We took our 15 month old, who is going back again this November! We had an absolute blast with him. He loved the characters and walked right up to Goofy, of all choices... I thought someone that tall may scare him. But he proved us wrong over and over again on that trip. His favorite rides were Mr. Toad and Haunted Mansion (with holiday overlay).

We just took a trip with our 3 1/2 yo and 14 month old. My 14 month old LOVED Goofy as well. I'm not sure what it is. We met him in Toon Town and after that he totally would recognize him and point him out and get all excited, it was too adorable!

As for ages of kids I've seen there, I've seen babies that look like newborns. I don't think there is any age too young for Disney!

Speaking of carriers are ways to wear babies, my favorite when they are little (under 20 lbs, but as newborns in particular) is the Moby Wrap. It takes a bit of practice, but you can wear your baby upright facing you, upright facing out, or in a cradle position. Very versatile, very easy to pop the baby in and out of, and easy and comfortable to just leave on all day whether or not the baby is in it. You do look a bit like a Jedi Warrior wearing it, but if your self conscious, you can just go hang out in Tomorrow land. Seriously, though, it's my favorite for newborns (the first few months) because you can keep them really close and as covered as you want to keep them away from other people's hands, germs, etc.

 

[tania7424]

DS was almost 8 months (he turns 8 mos today) when we were there last week. He loved it, and did go on rides (anything without a height restriction). Since most attractions in Fantasyland are black light he loved them. The only times he got upset were on Roger Rabbit, since they wouldn't let him lap sit, so he couldn't see anything, and the bang on the Nemo subs. Other than that, he had a huge smile every time we took him on. I thought his head was going to spin right off on Pirates. LOL There's change tables in all the washrooms, so dh and I took turns. If we were close to Main St we used the baby care centre. When he got sleepy, he'd fall asleep in his stroller. He's normally not a huge fan of the stroller, but didn't seem to mind for those 5 days since it was his "safe zone", I think.

I did however, get into it with a CM trying to take him on Astro Orbitor. He wasn't wearing shoes, and he refused to let him ride. So, if anyone saw a crazy lady arguing with a CM in the Astro Orbitor line last Thursday that was me. LOL He's 8 months old. They don't stay on. He has exactly one pair, and it was 92 degrees out. I wasn't putting socks and shoes on the poor baby, and didn't even have them with me. I understand there is a rule about shoes to ride, but for a baby? Come on. Oops, sorry for the hijack.

 

[silence]

We took my DS when he was 18 mos. old. When DD was born, we took her at 5 weeks. DS was 5 at the time.

I have one family member that kept insisting I NOT take her, it would be too much work, she's too young, yada yada yada.

We took her not for her, but for us and to keep our family together on our vacation. She slept in her stroller most of the trip. We had 3 adults (my mom always travels with us to DL) so we could all do the parent swap for rides even.

 

[indiesgirl4ever]

well when we went my bro was 1 years old ive seen babys a couple months old so yeah..

 

[bdtracey]

DW and I are contemplating taking our little guy down in December. He'll be a little more than 4.5 months old by then. I'd really like to be down there and see the Christmas setup but DW thinks we should wait until he's a little older and go in the spring. If we do end up going in the spring it'll either be mid to late March and he'll be 8 months or else we'll go at the end of April/early May and he'll be 9 months.

We have a baby Bjorn carrier and he loves it! Right now he's facing in but by spring he'll definitely be facing out. We're not sure about December though...

I know what you guys mean about the baby on a velcro wall but the Bjorn works for us. We're thinking about getting a compact/umbrella stroller for him for the trip but aren't 100% sure yet.

Would you suggest staying on-site? We were thinking DLH or PP and not the DGC ($$$$). I'm still super new to DL planning but know lots about WDW planning.

All help is greatly appreciated!!!!

 

[Zoemakes5]

A few questions about the approriateness of bringing young ones to DL:

1) How old was the youngest child you ever brought to DL? We brought DS1 when he was 15 months (to WDW), DS2 when he was 6 months, and DD (to WDW) when she was 13 months

2) What's the youngest child you've ever seen at DL? a few weeks

3) How old would you suggest a child be if you wanted to go to DL, not ride the ride necessarily with them (doing a parent swap, or perhaps guardian would be a better definition, but I guess in reverse), but still to be able to enjoy a group outing? I can't tell you the best time, but I personally think there's no time that I would choose NOT to bring a child unless there's other concerns. I liked that I have no point in time that I can remember that "that" was the first time I went, I just always had Disney in some form as part of my childhood memories.
When they're really little, they sleep through most of it, when they're a few months old, they enjoy the lights and music and sound, when they're "just" mobile I think is the most challenging, as they just want to go go go, but don't have the thought process of being able to be cautious or follow directions.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Zoemakes5]

"I feel they are too exposed in the Bjorn and I just can't watch such a little tiny one hanging on someone's chest like a man on a velcro wall! They are curled up in a sling just the way they like to be."

I second that!!!!!!


Not to mention having baby facing out, kicking their legs and moving their arms like they do when facing out, looks PAINFUL for the parent's back! Thinking of all the tiny muscles in the back contracting to keep balance with each little kick just makes my own (healthy) back hurt and want to take a nap.

I had one who wouldn't use a sling or bjorn at all, I had one who would only use the bjorn, and one who would only use a sling, so it's not a one choice for all kind of situation. And, NONE of mine would "curl up" in a sling or bjorn at any time.

 

[DisneyAprilFool]

Going next week with an... GASP... eight week old! The madness!

Heck, I feel like Walmart exposes him to more germs then DL will- as far as going for ourselves versus going for him, is there anything WRONG with going to DL for ourselves? Actually, I'm going for my Hubby's birthday- it's actually on Halloween, but we're doing the ToT party at CA.

Then we'll be going back in December with a... 4 month old for Christmas! Eeeks

We have older kids- they love DL.

(And I'll be doing a combo sling/stroller- just depends on how my back holds up with my pouch sling and Maya wrap!)