It's been asked but....

[suzydisney971]

I have a trip planned for 7/30-8/7, staying at POFQ. It's me, DH and DS (who will be 26 mos but adjusted age is 23 mos since he was born 3 mos prematurely). My question is will this be a good time to go with someone so young? I like to take breaks in the afternoon to cool off and take naps for myself so I was planning on doing that anyway. He's not much of a napper when there is action going on but I figure he will either fall asleep in the stroller or my DH can take him to the pool for a little while. Of course kids change and he may be different by then. I don't want to go in September due to the lovebugs and my DH works at a local university so there are times in the year that he can not take off due to student activities (moving in, moving out, family weekends etc).

I was also thinking of going first week of June (5/28-6/5) if the 4/3 deal gets extended and stay at the Poly. Or should I just change the dates to this particular week whether there is an extension or not. I had picked the beginning of August in the hopes of free dining but I'm not sure if that will be offered.

I'm just so confused on when we should go. I don't want to go before May (DS' birthday is May 14) and the week following my DH can't go away due to commencement. This is DS' first trip and I'm stressing out

 

[Lstar311]

We took my son at 16 months and had a blast. It all depends on what you plan on getting out of it. Don't expect him to jump out of his stroller and to hug and thank you for the trip, he's just too little. But if you'll be happy seeing his eyes light up when he sees Mickey and the characters and everything else in the parks then go for it. Of course there are people who will tell you that he won't remember it but you and your DH will remember and you will take lots of pictures to show him as he grows up. I say go for it, its such a fun and magical place to be!

 

[dancer_mom]

Hi there - I'm a preemie mom too!! We are planning our first trip with our twins when they will be 23 months old (about 20 months adjusted). I have already recieved criticism from a friend about them "not remembering" it. RIDICULOUS - I suppose I should not have sat next to them in the NICU for all of those hours on end when all I could do was reach in and hold their tiny fingers - I mean, they won't remember it right? So why would I do it?! (okay - I know overly dramatic example) but the point is you do things for your kids for many reasons besides what they will be able to vividly remember. I am sure you will have an awesome time!!!

 

[tigger51276]

I have a trip planned for 7/30-8/7, staying at POFQ. It's me, DH and DS (who will be 26 mos but adjusted age is 23 mos since he was born 3 mos prematurely). My question is will this be a good time to go with someone so young? I like to take breaks in the afternoon to cool off and take naps for myself so I was planning on doing that anyway. He's not much of a napper when there is action going on but I figure he will either fall asleep in the stroller or my DH can take him to the pool for a little while. Of course kids change and he may be different by then. I don't want to go in September due to the lovebugs and my DH works at a local university so there are times in the year that he can not take off due to student activities (moving in, moving out, family weekends etc).

I was also thinking of going first week of June (5/28-6/5) if the 4/3 deal gets extended and stay at the Poly. Or should I just change the dates to this particular week whether there is an extension or not. I had picked the beginning of August in the hopes of free dining but I'm not sure if that will be offered.

I'm just so confused on when we should go. I don't want to go before May (DS' birthday is May 14) and the week following my DH can't go away due to commencement. This is DS' first trip and I'm stressing out

Hi OP- It sounds to me like you are concerned with the weather? I will say that it is going to be HOT, HOT, HOT at that time of the year. I am extremely tolerable of hot and humid weather, but I have to say in July/Aug down in Florida it has gotten the best of me and I have a hard time going during those months now. I much prefer May or Oct (even Sept although it's still hot). If your DS is tolerable of heat and humidity then you should okay. I just recommend having ways of keeping him cool. If you decided to go in May, you could always plan it so that you are there during DS's birthday as that is about the best experience ever! Not to mention in early to mid May the crowds are going to be soooo much better than in July/Aug when it seems like the entire world is there. It makes a considerable difference waiting in line for a ride for 15-20 mins when it's really hot out during off season rather than waiting in line for that same ride for 1-2 hours during July/Aug in an even hotter sun. I know that for myself and my family it just makes for a much happier mommy and kids and it's easier to manage the kids in line when it's a short period of time.

Most of all, don't stress out, it's supposed to be fun planning your kids first trip to the "World" (or their 2nd, 3rd, 7th...). While DD5 has been there 6 times now, this will be my DD1's first trip and while I'm a little concerned because she is such a daredevil and gets fidigity real easy (can't imagine what the 3 hour plane ride is going to be like....eih poor, poor people on plane), but all in all it's going to be a great time and we will make many memories that I'll be sure to share with her through pictures and stories when she's older just like I do with my oldest!

 

[tigger51276]

Hi there - I'm a preemie mom too!! We are planning our first trip with our twins when they will be 23 months old (about 20 months adjusted). I have already recieved criticism from a friend about them "not remembering" it. RIDICULOUS - I suppose I should not have sat next to them in the NICU for all of those hours on end when all I could do was reach in and hold their tiny fingers - I mean, they won't remember it right? So why would I do it?! (okay - I know overly dramatic example) but the point is you do things for your kids for many reasons besides what they will be able to vividly remember. I am sure you will have an awesome time!!!

That is nuts! I just don't understand why people think that little kids have to remember somthing in order for it to "count". What is wrong with living in the moment and enjoying the moments. No one ever knows what the next day brings. I love making memories with my kids. My DD5 first experienced Disney at 7 months (and I got lots of criticism from family/friends and told them all to shove it) and that is by far my favorite trip so far. She was also so easy to handle at that age, not mobile and loved being carried in her hip carrier (not to mention sleep in it). She had a great time while she was there and just loved that there was so much going on, lots of people paying attention to her, things to see and she would stay up till midnight just taking it all in. I would never discourage someone from taking their kids on vacation, especially Disney which was made for kids just because they are young. I have tons of pics of her and memories that I'll always have that I tell her about all the time and she loves to hear them!

 

[CarolAnnB]

If you have options, I would try not to go in the middle of the summer. We do it now only because my kids are in middle and high school and don't want to miss. It is HOT. You can take a break in the middle of the day but it is still HOT in the morning and HOT in the evening. Our glasses would fog up when we left the hotel room at 8:00AM. I would worry about him being overheated, dehydrated, etc. and harder for him to communicate at that age. It is do-able, obviously, because it is certainly crowded every summer we go, but if I had the option I would choose another time.

 

[suzydisney971]

Thank you everyone for your advice. I, too, get the "why are you going now, he's too young" from my family. Actually mostly from my DH's family. I just want to be able to experience everything with DS. I want him to be able to see the world (Disney and otherwise). I lost my father just before I had to deliver DS and then spent 3 months in the NICU with him so I appreciate how lucky I am to have him healthy and want to start doing as much as I can with him. Granted, he's a handful at this tender age (likes to bite, just learned how to walk, tantrums are starting and he can't even talk yet ). He just wants to be entertained at all times. If I take him shopping, the stroller has to be constantly moving or he has to be able to see all around him so I know that he'll have a blast because there is so much to see due to people, shows and just the attractions themselves. He is a hot box so I am worried that he'll be too hot and cranky. I think I'm going to switch the ressies to first week of June just because it won't be the middle of summer and I might get lucky to get the 4/3 deal. I had thought to go later in the summer just so he would be a bit older (more mature?) just because of his prematurity but I won't know until I try. This is our first trip (we did a weekend thing and he was great except for wanting to touch everything he wasn't supposed to).

Wish me luck.

 

[happymommy]

Don't worry about what others say, as far as his age! I took my kids so many times, and got from my family the whole, "Why do you want to go again?", "Haven't you seen it all there?" and "Aren't your kids tired of Disney, don't you want to go somewhere else this spring break?". Once I had kids, I discovered that some folks think they seem to know better than I do as far as what to do with my kids. My DD was only 2 the first time we all went together, and she was a tiny thing. She loved it! Napped in the stroller every day, sometimes for 2 hours.

I agree with the first week of June. It's usually hot, but a good hot (once it was really unbearable, but we still had fun). And going at your own pace, not worrying about missing out on anything is a good attitude. July and early August is really hot and humid. Late August (we've done a few times) is okay, rains some afternoons, but that is nice.

I hope you have a great time!