Me say Yay wife says Nay! Are our kids too young?

[HopperFan]

I think that 3 is the perfect age for ultimate magic. DS#1 starting going at 14 mos and now at age 21 is still going. Has been almost yearly, sometimes more. DS#2 went for the first time at age 3 and it was magical. As our bus turned the curve and the castle was in sight he jumped up and screamed "THERE IT IS!!!" Everyone on the bus was smiling and the entire trip was pure magic !!! At 16 he still loves it there. DD has been going since she was 4 mos....again at 10 mos, 14 mos.....and on and on. I think the younger the easier. But that was my kids. Sleep and eat anywhere. When she was small we would do hotel breaks. She & Dad sleep while boys and I swim. Then off to another park or dinner. One of our best hotel picks was WL. Great hotel for the kids and just a boat ride from MK. As far as eating we found Character Breakfast while they were fresh was best and then we just grabbed counter food for the most part. Even a baby can go on most rides. Maybe no roller coasters this trip, but I would think it would be more about the kids anyway at this stage.

I would not hesitate to go with a 3 and 1 year old ! But only you know their personalities.

 

[DISUNC]

One is never too YOUNG or never too OLD for WDW!

However it is quite a HANDFUL to bring the youngs ones in the park, lots to pack & lug around. Its best to go in the off season too.

 

[missstcroix]

We have been going yearly or twice yearly since my oldest was 18 months...he is 10 now. Disney is definiltey part of their life and a family tradition. I agree with the above posters...when they were small and in double stroller it was soooooooooo easy to get around just pushing them on my schedule! Another huge benefit with the young kids is they are not chained to the school year schedule and you can go on off season weeks when the crowds are MUCH less. Now our choices of times to go are limited and inevitably we end up with Easter week which is packed. Because we go so much, its not essential to hit every park or every ride so not really that big of a deal. When my kids were one, two, three years old...people would say,"why are you going now, they won't remember it". Well it was not for them to remember, it was for US to remember THEIR REACTIONS which are pure magic when they are small. And we go soooooooooooooo much and they have seen the pictures, they really feel like they DO remember those trips...My youngest was a Peter Pan freak...and we all will never forget him wearing his costume and going to the castle for breakfast and spotting Peter for the first time....they are priceless memories...I hope you decide to bring them! Disney is all about family memories...make them while you can.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

They are not too young--our youngest first went when she was 11 months old...our 2nd first went when she was 4 months old.

Those ages certainly aren't too young. You won't all be riding the mountains together or Rockin' Roller Coaster...but you can certainly have a good vacation.

 

[puddleduck]

I guess because we have always taken our kids to many different places and have traveled w/ them from the time my oldest was a few weeks old, I have never understood why so many people are against it. I particularly love the, "Well, just remember you will have to stop to feed them and change them while at the parks." Really! Seeing as how I never do that at home why would do that just because we are at WDW Just kidding. I would really hate to see the parent that didn't realize that. My kids are 4, 2 and 1. We are going for the first time in Dec. when they will be 5, almost 3 and almost 2. We are planning our trip around what pre-schoolers will like. We went a few weeks ago to a local amusement park, most of the rides were for older kids, they did have a kiddie section. We spent the whole day there and when we left the 2 little one's were crying because they didn't want to leave and the oldest had to call his grandmother and tell her about the best day ever! I can only imagine how they will respond to WDW. If I get to do Space Mountain, great. If not I am fine with that too. Will my youngest remember? Probably not. I will. Then again, I went to DL when I was about 10. I remember 2 things about the whole trip. My 4 yo remembers things I don't remember. Like I said, my kids have always gone most every where w/ us, and because I didn't stop living life after they were born, they have done a lot also. If you enjoy getting out with your kids, then I say go for it. On the other hand, if a day at the mall w/ your kids wears you out, I would rethink it.

 

[Dancemom03]

I particularly love the, "Well, just remember you will have to stop to feed them and change them while at the parks." Really! Seeing as how I never do that at home why would do that just because we are at WDW Just kidding. I would really hate to see the parent that didn't realize that.

We were so pleased with the baby care centers and their supplies/environment that we still drop by with my baby - now 4 - occassionally for a little bit of down time to sit in the A/C and watch a few minutes of cartoons when she needs to take a break. As a toddler we ended up using the next step-up formula our nursing baby first tried as free samples at the baby care center.

She may not need to be changed anymore but it's still a nice break for her to get to use a toilet just her size and the BBC is the only place in WDW we've found one. With that growing independence, she wants to be able to go in by herself but I'm just not comfortable allowing that in a public restroom where she can touch things she shouldn't.
The Baby Care Centers are really terrific for those potty training their children and so much nicer for pre-schoolers than the regular restrooms.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

Go for it!

We've taken our DDs from ages 1 through 8 and I'd say the most magical ages were between 2 and 4. Of course, the older they are, the more rides they can do but it's not quite as magical.

Go for it!

I agree about the 2 - 4 window being the most magical!

Trip 1 - DD 18 months
Trip 2 - DD 2 1/2, DD 8 months
Trip 3 - DD 4, DD 2, DS 10 months
Trip 4 - DD 6, DD 4, DS almost 3
Trip 5 - DD 7, DD 5, DS almost 4 (Nov. 2005)

I really can't say enough about how much fun we've had each and every trip. Traveling with small children, Disney is *the* place to go!

Follow the children's lead in terms of pace. We took breaks, took it easy, did what the kids wanted to, and they LOVED it! DD4 can't get enough of the magic She watches Samantha Brown and all the WDW promotional videos. Just the other day, she picked a white puffy dandelion, and said, "I wish I could live at Disney World" and blew with all her might!! 2 - 4 years old is pure magic at WDW - as long as you relax and enjoy!

Oh, and who cares what *they* remember -- *I* will remember forever. (Unless it's your only trip in a lifetime, I wouldn't worry about whether or not they will remember.) They enjoyed it and I will remember it! And the photos of my children so young on the rides and with the characters are just so precious.