NEVER EVER EVER EVER Too young for DISNEY!!!

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

It seems lately I've seen lots of people asking about "Is this too young?" and "Is THAT too young?". OK, not to be hostile but the answer is almost ALWAYS NO!!! Disney is a FAMILY PARK! It was DESIGNED for children of ALL ages!!! Thats as soon as you feel safe doing it! Disney has CHANGING STATIONS, diapers, breastfeeding stations, anything you need they have!!! They have been doing this for a VERY LONG TIME! I promise, they can handle your situation!!!

I get so annoyed when I talk to people and they say "Oh were waiting till they are old enough to really enjoy it" The kids are like 5 and 6!!! How much older do you REALLY think they have to get?!?

My single fondest vacation memory with my daughter was when she was about 18 months and she leaned out of her stroller to reach for Cinderella in the parade. She was decked out in a Minnie outfit, and it was the sweetest thing you ever saw in your life!!! Cinderella let out a huge AWWWWW and ran over to my daughter and kissed her 3 times on the cheeks! One of the little elves came running with her. The first time he said "Shes SOOOO adorable!!! he kissed her on the cheek. He went a few feet, swung around and RAN BACK and kissed her again, and went about 10 feet and stopped, looked back, and ran back for a third hand squeeze. it was a moment frozen in time I'll never forget.
If I had most people's retarted ideals of "I'll wait till they are old enough to enjoy it" that moment would never had happened.

Are they old enough to take to a bar? thats a question.
Are they old enough to take to a club? thats a question.
Are they old enough to take to a NASCAR race or tractor pull where noise levels are REALLY loud? thats a question.
Are they old enough to take to DISNEY WORLD? Thats a NO BRAINER! The answer is almost ALWAYS YES! Within the first 6 months, thats your call. After that... dont sweat it. Take plenty of formula or watch for the feeding stations. Have FUN!!!

They're only that age ONCE. What better memories can you imagine than seeing them getting cooed over by all the Disney characters?

 

[connorsmom911]

I agree! Connor was 20 mo on his first trip and I tried desperately to squeeze in another trip before he was 3, but alas, he was 40 mo on his last trip. Remember people...they're free until they're 3!!! Why not take them before they start costing an arm and a leg!?!?!

 

[jbmom]

I agree, when we took our youngest son people said "he'll never remember it!". He was under 3 so he was free. To this day when we go do Disney he remembers things from that first trip that would amaze those skeptics!

 

[Sammy]

For us, it wasn't a matter of youngest DD being ready.....it was a matter of us being ready to take her. We wanted to wait until she was out of diapers, over naps, could be held off with a snack instead of a regimented feeding schedule, and yes, felt she would remember and get the most out of the vacation. She had just turned 5 when we finally took our very first family trip and it was perfect for us (we also had DS-8 and DD-10). You just need to do what works for your family.....everyone, and every family, is different.

 

[all4fun]

"Oh were waiting till they are old enough to really enjoy it" The kids are like 5 and 6!!! How much older do you REALLY think they have to get?!?

I agree! I wonder when I hear this as well. Sure every family is different and I can understand what the pp is saying about wanting kids to be out of diapers, don't need naps, etc., but that is about what the parents want, not what the kids will enjoy. My ds will be four in April. He's been to WDW 6x already and he talks about it all the time...he wants to go back. I'd say he enjoys it!!

 

[lovethattink]

As AP holders with a much older son, our youngest was exposed to Disney almost since birth. When he was an infant the lights and colors peaked his interest. The baby care centers were life savers. He is 2 now, still in diapers, but he just loves Disney. He loves staying at the resorts, he loves the interaction with the characters. He asks every day if we are going to Disney today.

 

[golden1]

Sure, any kid at any age will get enjoyment out of WDW. However, to be devil's advocate, I think that sometimes bringing very young children to WDW can lower the enjoyment of the entire family.

I just brought my 4.5 and 2.5 year old and I am glad that I waited until ds was over 2. Except for diaper changes, he required very little maintenance. I am glad for the people here that had a great time with a young toddler, but of all the people I saw at WDW the most miserable were people with babies up to 18 months. The moms and dads looked stressed out and tired. Personally, I wouldn't want to pay that much money to be annoyed and exhausted for a week. Many of my friends who took infants or young toddlers, even ones who loved WDW said that they were wiped out after the trip.

Now, if you adjust your expectations of what a WDW is with babies and toddlers, you will be in much better shape, I think. Even with my older toddler, I needed to take a much more relaxed pace, which helped everyone out.

 

[mom*to*2*princesses]

You know, that's a call that each family has to make for themselves.

Disney is a HUGE trip for us. There are a million reasons why we are have waited until now to take our kids, and their ages is one of them. It's a substantial financial commitment, and one that we don't take lightly. We choose to fly, so that's a consideration too. If we lived closer or chose to spend more money on vacations rather than saving, maybe we'd have taken them sooner. I don't know. I do know that my kids will enjoy it, just like they would if we'd taken them two years ago or if we would wait another two years to go.

Why would anyone presume to know what's best for every family?

 

[kmk160]

I am SOOOO glad you posted this!!!
As a mom, who this past Aug., took a 4 month old and a 3 yo, it was a refreshing post to read.
Our ds, 3, took his first trip when he was 18 months old and has been every year since.
Having a new baby didnt want to stop us from taking our oldest for our yearly famliy trip.
Sure, I got TONS of comments from people thinking we were nuts for taking such a young one, but it was an extremely easy trip with her.
Having been to wdw over 30 times, I have and always will consider to be one of the places that holds the most special memories for me and my family.
Its a totallly personal choice when you all feel comfortable taking your kids, but whenever that time is, ENJOY IT!!!

 

[GEM]

As others have said, each family really has to make that call for themselves, depending on what works for them. Our motto was "take him early, take him often". I can understand, though, how somebody planning a true "once in a lifetime" trip would want to wait until the kids were old enough to really remember the experience. For our own family, I certainly agree with your philosophy! And, the story about your daughter and the parade is SO sweet.

Take plenty of formula or watch for the feeding stations.

I wanted to say, just in case any breastfeeding moms are reading this . . . Please do not feel that you HAVE to go to the nursing stations to feed your little one! Disney is very nursing friendly and you can feed your baby anywhere you happen to be - rides, shows, benches, restaurants, anywhere! The baby care centers are very nice and very comfy - but they are very inconvenient as far as having to hike back there every time a little person needs or wants to nurse. So, if you're breastfeeding, don't let that stop you from taking your baby or toddler and enjoying the world!! You'll see lots of nursing moms all over the place at Disney. It's great.

 

[WAHMto5]

I totally agree, my kids have been there at all ages and loved it no matter what age they were!

 

[GotGhosts]

Disneyland is fun at any age.

 

[HelenePA]

I'm sure it is fun at any age! As long as you can afford to go more than once. I dont want my 1.5 yr old saying mommy I want to go to disney with me saying.. Hey you were already there... I think that's a big point of why some people DO wait til they are 5 or 6 years old! I only went once as a kid I think I was 9 and I gotta say... I remember much more of the hotel than disney! How sad is that? That being said... I hope we can do this ever few years IF the kids like it...if not.. we have local amusement parks the kids will just have to enjoy!

 

[mmiller711]

I feel the kids are old enough if the parents are ready! When we took our girls for the first time they were 5 months and 18 months. Our oldest grandson is now 5 and has been to Disney 4 times. His brother will take his first trip this summer at about 8 months. Last summer we had 6 children in our group, 3 of them were under 2! What a site we must have been with 15 of us ranging in age from 82 to 6 months!! Yes, our family is a bunch a Disney Fans and go whenever we can. Usually once a year. Some friends of ours kept telling us they would only be able to take their kids once so they wanted them to be old enough to remember it. Well, their kids are now 26 and 24 and they still are not old enough. lol

Our vacations have changed alot over the years. Taking small children is very different than taking 18 year olds that are off on their own most of the time. Now with the grandchildren, we find we stick together again. But every trip was special and enjoyable!

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

I dont want my 1.5 yr old saying mommy I want to go to disney with me saying.. Hey you were already there... I think that's a big point of why some people DO wait til they are 5 or 6 years old! I only went once as a kid I think I was 9 and I gotta say... I remember much more of the hotel than disney! How sad is that? That being said... I hope we can do this ever few years IF the kids like it...if not.. we have local amusement parks the kids will just have to enjoy!

If you are only going to go ONCE, I agree completely, but thats not really what I was saying in this thread. I was saying (to all those that are asking if they are too young) that they are almost NEVER too young.
Besides, you never know... if you go once and they are young... you might just get addicted in a single trip.
Ive said it all my life; people find money for the things they value most. Drug addicts cant AFFORD that next shot of crack, but you know they WILL get it!!! Disney World isnt crack cocaine, but it IS addictive!!! Only in a good way!

We had the chance to sell our home and buy a really nice much needed bigger one. We weighed it out, and with an autistic son with rage and explosive anger problems, we decided vacations were more necessary than the bigger fancier house. So we kept our 1000 square feet home and remodeled. (Now its around 1500 square feet! Were not done yet either), Were still going on vacation frequently, and we havent second guessed the decision not once.

Great replys! Keep them coming!

 

[blessedby3]

I agree- any age is a great age for Disney. We took our first DD when she was 29 months. She spoke often after that trip of what she did and what rides she liked or disliked. Her next trip was at 4 for a Disney Cruise/ Park vacation and she remembered lots from her first trip. The youngest kid we took to the park was our third child DD 10 mos. at the time. It was a great trip. I nursed her through the world and she slept in the stroller or baby snuggly and we have lots of great pictures that are memories for her. She has since been 3 more times. I have never been concerned with diapres/food/strollers/etc. You have kids and you tend to their needs at the age they are at whether you are home or on vacation.

 

[SaraMc]

We knew before our son was even born that we would be going before he was " Old enough to remember the trip". Have we got questions from family and friends on why on earth would we spend the money if he wont remember it. Ive had to buy him... um... a hat and sunblock. So no real big expense. And while he wont remember DH and I will. We are also going with my sister, her hubby and Dnephew so we will have people to help ect. I cant wait! He loves tigger in his room and Mickey too, cant wait to see his face when he see's the real guys!

 

[MommyTo5]

Besides, you never know... if you go once and they are young... you might just get addicted in a single trip.
Ive said it all my life; people find money for the things they value most. Drug addicts cant AFFORD that next shot of crack, but you know they WILL get it!!! Disney World isnt crack cocaine, but it IS addictive!!! Only in a good way!

I agree with you 100%.... this is so true!!!

I decided in 2000 while pregnant with my 5th that I wanted to take my kids to Disney... so the following Winter after the baby was born, we went! We were not rich... we saved and saved... this was to be our "Trip of a Lifetime!" My kiddos were 7 months, 3, 3, 4, and 10 at the time. By the way, I'm another that thinks a child can never be too young... we had a wonderful time taking our infant but that's not why I'm posting! LOL Anyway... as you can see by my signature, that trip lead to another and another... and several more... and even a wonderful Disney Cruise. We are going back for the 7th time in less than a month and again spending 2 full weeks at the World! There is NOTHING better than seeing the joy on my kiddos faces as they experience all WDW has to offer... family time at WDW has become the priority in our life. One more side note - Baby #6 went on her first trip last year even younger than Baby #5 did... she was 5 months and did sooooo well!

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

My daughter was 5 months on her first trip to Disney. My son went to Cancun 3 times before he turned 3.

 

[*MickeyFan*]

We brought our 20 month old and 4.5 yr old to Disney last year. I made sure to tape as much as I could. They Loved it! They really enjoy watching the video tapes, waving and pointing "MAMA MAMA Mee Mou" I LOVE reliving things through their eyes! We are going again this April, and I can't wait! I am hoping to tape even more. jen