If you go often, at what age did you start bringing your children?

[Fall1]

DH and I keep going back and forth on what age we should start bringing our children to WDW. We've been many times together but never with kids. We cannot decide when it's best to start their trips. Is it just so hard with infants? Any insight is appreciated.

They are now 5 months and are our only children. Thanks!

 

[GEM]

I took my little guy for the first time for his first bithday, and it was wonderful! We all had such a great trip, and his little face was just lit up all day long. (I would have taken him sooner, but he was very premature and wasn't cleared by his doctor for vacation until he was 12 months old.)

 

[mommytodarlings]

Our first trip was last year, our kids were 4.5, 3.5, 2 and 5weeks.

We had a wonderful time.

Dh and I were the same, we were going back and forth when we should go and most people told us to wait until the kids were older, but if we waited until Emma (our youngest) is about 5, then our oldest wouldn't be going on her first trip until she is 11. We didn't think that was fair to her, so we made the trip last year.

We are going this year, 28 more sleeps, for Christmas.

This will probably be a yearly trip for us. I am already looking at a land & sea trip for next year.

I think it really depends on you. When we took our trip last year, we knew it would slow going and we couldn't do everything. Our kids were just as happy at DTD and the resort. We didn't try and do a park everyday and we spent time by the pools.

 

[beattyfamily]

Oh you will get a wide range of answers!

I say to each their own and any age you feel comfortable with. For us, it was over the age of 1.

I found ages 2 to 5 to be the most magical and actually the least amount of whining and fighting. They were in awe and they really went with the flow and didn't complain much at all.

 

[SGMCO]

We took our DS to WDW for the 1st time when he was 18 months.
But be prepared that there attentain span is limited and they tire out
quickly.

We then waited until he was 3 years and
he was really aware of his surroundings and the characters, It was a great Trip.

We stayed offsite and
If we could go back in time I would have prefered to stay on
a Monorail WDW Resort with a little one and be able to go
back to the Room for naps. Close to MK. That would have made for
a pleasent Trip.

Whatever you do I'm sure you will have a
Wonderful Trip that you will never forget!!

 

[rt2dz]

We go yearly. I've been pregnant--my oldest counts that. The youngest I've taken a child was 7 months and every age there on up (obviously with yearly trips). In all honesty, I do NOT find a trip to WDW any harder with an infant than a day spent running errands at home. Quite frankly, it is a lot easier than the mall, Target and the grocery store. It is easier to do Disney with an older child, but so is the mall, Target and the grocery store.

When kids are little, yes you want them to enjoy the vacation, but it really is for YOU. You make certain adjustments for kids, but they really are being added to your life. At WDW we have had many wonderful experiences with our infants that would not happen with an older child that I wouldn't trade for anything. For example, Pocahontas got down on the floor and played with my 7 month old for 20 minutes (there was no one else waiting). Nothing like the eyes of a two and three year old who believes it is all real. Or a 15 month old who adds the words "Mickey", "Duck" and "Disney" to his vocabulary. Or getting the first haircut at the barber shop. Every age has been a different experience for each of my kids. And I wouldn't trade those memories for anything.

Now, if you will only go once, and that doesn't sound like it is your case, I'd say between the ages 6-9.

 

[waltskids]

DS's first trip was at 3 months old, and while he was so little, it was very easy traveling with him, even easier than now. He got his first haircut on mainstreet for his first birthday last week. The pictures are priceless. I think it's an individual decision though.

 

[LadyShea]

After the expenses of adopting DS and building a new house we couldn't afford to go until he was 21 months. Had we had the funds we would have gone sooner!

We plan on going at least once a year from now on.

 

[SandrainNC]

Well, my oldest's first trip was when he was almost 4. My youngest's first trip will be when he is 16 months old.


Sandra

 

[LilGMom]

DH and I keep going back and forth on what age we should start bringing our children to WDW. We've been many times together but never with kids. We cannot decide when it's best to start their trips. Is it just so hard with infants? Any insight is appreciated.

They are now 5 months and are our only children. Thanks!

We started taking our boys when the oldest was ten months old. I must say that he was easiest when he still fit in the backpack carrier. We'd throw on the carrier and go! We've had to slow down a lot and there are things that we miss being able to do (like ride TOT together) but to see Disney through the eyes of your child(ren) is pretty amazing.

 

[Ariel8676]

We started taking my girls' when my oldest was 8 months old...(well she was actually still in my belly for her first trip..lol) We have gone at least 2x a year since...

 

[Snow Shoe]

We first took the boys when they were 8 and 5. Our DD, she was 6. Now our grandson first went when he was a 18mo. Grandson #2 may be 3 weeks old if mommy & daddy are still planning to come with us at Christmas.

 

[earthfaries]

Our youngest were 12 months when they first went to WDW, but not because we didn't want to take them earlier, it just never happened. We did a lot of traveling earlier that year.

7 months old we took them on a one week cruise~came back and stayed in Ft. Lauderdale for a week doing the zoo, Vizcaya , etc. Then we went to the keys for 3 weeks!!! They had a great time even though they were young.

Then 5 months later we all got to go to WDW for the first time We stayed for a week, drove to port canaveral and did another cruise for a week , then came back and did Disney for another week.
They had a busy year

I wouldn't "wait" until the kids are a certain age. I would wait until I felt like they would handle it okay. It makes me so sad seeing all these newborns in the middle of the summer with no hats, etc. burning under the sun and so miserable they can't even open their eyes No~I wouldn't take a really young baby. I don't think it would be fair to them.

But even at a few months it would be fine. Yes it is more difficult and time consuming with kids~we have twins too~but it is wherever you go and it is so worth it!!!

I would say if you feel comfortable doing it~go for it! There is no right or wrong age

 

[daisyduck123]

DS was 5yo & DD was 9yo.
That was in 2004.

We got hooked, & have been going 1-3 times a year (8-10 days each time) ever since.

My only regret is not "discovering" WDW sooner.

 

[rt2dz]

OP: Please take note that in my above post, I left out a very important word that I went back and added. It changes the entire meaning of my sentence, but puts it more in line with the rest of my post.

 

[bellebuzzntink]

All 3 of ours were between the ages of 18 months and 2 1/2 years. They all had fun their first time and they all are still having fun now! It is more difficult when they are younger, true, no more difficult than going to Target! But there are only so many rides that you can take the little tikes on, and switching off to ride by yourself isn't as much fun as riding it with DH. Don't get me wrong, I'd do it again the same way! If it were me and had someone to take care of the little ones, I'd go with DH one last time, and plan to take them next time around, when they can enjoy it a little more.

 

[kpm76]

We just returned with our 5 month old and she was super easy to travel with. She won't remember the trip but we sure will. The look on her face during the Beauty and the Beast show at MGM brought tears to my eyes.....she definitely knew she was not at home. It's amazing too the joy that a baby brings to strangers....people would stop and smile at our DD and comment on her outfit etc....maybe we made their day or just made them smile for a minute but it was so nice to see. I am so glad we went at this point and would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[ggeorgiagirl]

I SOOOO agree with rt2dz...WDW is easier to me than a trip to Publix. 1st, my husband rocks...and helps with everything! 2nd, our pace is quite slower now (with 2 kids). You will find different things with kids than you did without them. It is a whole new WDW!!!! When we had no children, it was a race to every ride...now, it's a stroll (with a stroller ). We have discovered the rose garden, parades, Belle's Storytime, the family bathrooms, the first aid station...the list goes on and on. Things we never noticed pre kids! We used to love parade time because the lines were short for Space Mountain...now we love parade time because of the parades!

Both my kids were 1 when they went on their first trips!

 

[dsneygirl]

DS has gone at 3, 5, 10, 14 and 15 months. Next trip will be 17 months. The first 2 were the easiest because he slept anywhere and everywhere. But the subsequent trips have been more and more fun! We can't wait for this trip!

 

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

My boys were 3 & 4 when we started going ...... we would have started earlier if only I'd have known better!