No more trips for a while

[wayneg]

So me and the wife were talking and I think I may have talked her round to possibly go sooner rather than later.

My question is, are children under a certain age free on flights and hotels etc?

We are just trying to work out when the best time to go would be (ie balancing out prices Vs age of little un), I have shares paying out in 2012 then 2014 and 2015, so potentially could go anytime from next year onwards.

PS We found out on Monday it's a boy - roll on May 28th!

Just checked with VA, a child under age 2 pays 10% of fare & tax(£47.20) so go in peak time and you are looking at about £120-130, cheaper times about £70-80.
For hotels, booking yourself there is usually no charge for any age child (or adult) you pay for the room But you could have a surcharge for providing a cot, its a few years since we took a young child so maybe someone will post with recent experience.

 

[london75]

Taken both of ours at 9 months and they love it.

 

[TCO]

Congratulations on your little boy! You must be soooooo excited!

First of all, there is no 'best age' to take a child or a baby to Disney. It is all about how you feel comfortable. For what it's worth, I found travelling with a tiny baby (took DD on numerous longhaul flights on my own from when she was just over a month old) and honestly I found a tiny baby a lot easier than an active 3 year old.

Babies are free at Disney hotels (under 3 counts as an infant at Disney). They sit on your lap on flights and have a sky cot and don't pay for a ticket as such, but there is a nominal tax payable. They also usually get their own luggage allowance; at least with the major airlines.

You will not pay for a park ticket or dining plan for your baby until the age of 3 at Disney.

What else can we help you with?

Brilliant thanks for your help, I apologise for asking questions that can be researched online but I always find with this place asking people with real experience is far more valuable.

My original feeling was September 2013 but that would mean he would be 2 and a bit and could push the price up a fair whack with the flights etc.

 

[Elise79]

Brilliant thanks for your help, I apologise for asking questions that can be researched online but I always find with this place asking people with real experience is far more valuable.

My original feeling was September 2013 but that would mean he would be 2 and a bit and could push the price up a fair whack with the flights etc.

Having taken DD on 4 trips already (she is 2 1/2 yrs) we have found that once she was a year a seat for her was a must! Others have traveled with Toddlers up to 2 on their lap - but she only likes to be cuddled when tired so it would have been a long 9 hours!

We loved taking her every trip - but I think 9 months was the best age to start as she was alert, interested in her surroundings and she got so much out of it in terms of how much she developed.

 

[chocolateMinnie]

congratulations!
we won our first trip when dd was only 20 months old and DS was 5. She loved it as much as we all did and although she can't remember a thing about it we have lots of happy memories (and video footage). She tried to feed every character ice-cream loved the parades, slept through the fireworks and drove us insane by singing 'mall word' (small world) in the most lipsy out of tune voice ever. We must have beenon that ride a dozen times a day while the other parent took ds on everything else.

Whenever you feel ready to travel is a good time IMHO. It's not like you are going to a country with rubbish service and poor medical facilities.

 

[2Tiggies]

She loved it as much as we all did and although she can't remember a thing about it we have lots of happy memories (and video footage).

Yes, but when she is older she will LOVE looking through the photos and watching the videos!

Very young babies also don't know to be afraid of characters so you can possibly get some really lovely photos.

It's not like you are going to a country with rubbish service and poor medical facilities.

BIG plus!

 

[london75]

Having taken DD on 4 trips already (she is 2 1/2 yrs) we have found that once she was a year a seat for her was a must! Others have traveled with Toddlers up to 2 on their lap - but she only likes to be cuddled when tired so it would have been a long 9 hours!

We loved taking her every trip - but I think 9 months was the best age to start as she was alert, interested in her surroundings and she got so much out of it in terms of how much she developed.

Just to present the other side, we kept ours on our laps until 2 and coped ok. We were in PE in the bubble though and there is so much space.

That could raise the question, 2 adults in PE vs 3 seats in economy, bet the prices are close.

 

[TCO]

Just to present the other side, we kept ours on our laps until 2 and coped ok. We were in PE in the bubble though and there is so much space.

That could raise the question, 2 adults in PE vs 3 seats in economy, bet the prices are close.

I take it a seat is a seat on a flight no matter what age of the occupant? Would make sense but I'm new to all this so don't know.

I actually thought you paid the same at Disney whether you were 1 month or 100 actually as I thought I read Walt wanted his parks to be for everyone to enjoy the same no matter what.

 

[2Tiggies]

Brilliant thanks for your help, I apologise for asking questions that can be researched online but I always find with this place asking people with real experience is far more valuable.

First of all, it is much nicer to actually 'speak' to people for advice, rather than read anonymous reports online.

I take it a seat is a seat on a flight no matter what age of the occupant? Would make sense but I'm new to all this so don't know.

I actually thought you paid the same at Disney whether you were 1 month or 100 actually as I thought I read Walt wanted his parks to be for everyone to enjoy the same no matter what.

Children from 2-12 pay a child seat price. It is usually around 75% of the adult fare, but once there my DD's seat cost more than mine because there was one 'discounted' fare available and she paid 75% of a much higher price so it helps to check first. All the other times she has paid less than me.

It also depends if your child is one who likes sitting on laps. My DD loved to be cuddled so a seat for her was a waste under 2. Even at 2 1/2 she spent most of the flight snuggled on my lap, but as they get bigger and wriggly it can be rather uncomfortable for you with an active toddler on your lap for 9 hours. Of course it does help if you are not the only adult and can share the responsibility and take turns I guess.

Disney policy is kids under 3 don't pay for park admission and don't get the dining plan, but can share off plates of adults, even at buffets. As pointed out, hotels generally charge per room and an infant does not affect the adult occupancy level.

 

[TCO]

Thanks again 2Tiggies, obviously it all depends on what kind of child we have he may be easy or may be considerably harder if you know what I mean without sounding horrible. We obviously have to consider other people as well as people don't want to be sat near a crying baby for 9 hours.

We were not planning on going but as I said one of my sharesaves pays out in March 2012 (not much just £50 a month for 3 years so minimum £1800 but more likely £2500 ish) so we can use that as a deposit to bring it make it affordable

I'm hoping they still do free dining offers when we want to go as that was a great saver last time.

 

[dazza5931]

my daughter was 4 months the first time we went 15 months and 27 months really started to notice charcters this time round so would recommened 2 years and above but dont be put off going with a baby lots of people do it still had a great vacation and congrats to you on the up and coming birth

 

[TCO]

I think we are potentially looking at May 2013 little un would be just before 2 then, I love September for the free dining but the difference is quite a lot due to the age.

I'm hoping Art of Animation will be open then and not priced out of kilter with other hotels, is it a value or mod?

 

[wayneg]

It will be a value resort which means no free dining (if you go when free dining is available)
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...f-animation-resort-scheduled-to-open-in-2012/

 

[TCO]

It will be a value resort which means no free dining (if you go when free dining is available)
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...f-animation-resort-scheduled-to-open-in-2012/

I think we are looking at May now which would be no free dining anyway but the prices seem consistent with Septemer (obviously not as good value though).

We have stayed at Pop before and loved it so have no problems staying in a Value.

 

[wayneg]

I think we are looking at May now which would be no free dining anyway but the prices seem consistent with Septemer (obviously not as good value though).

We have stayed at Pop before and loved it so have no problems staying in a Value.

It was available all May this year
1 Jan – 17 Feb 2011, 1 May – 2 Jun 2011 and 1 Aug – 18 Nov 2011

Or maybe you could book on US site, depends what dates they release, for this year you had to go right at the end of May, values get Quick service DDP.

•January 1 – 5
•January 9 – 13
•January 21 – February 3
•February 11 – 17
•February 25 – March 3
•May 27 – June 2
•August 19 – September 29

 

[TCO]

It was available all May this year
1 Jan – 17 Feb 2011, 1 May – 2 Jun 2011 and 1 Aug – 18 Nov 2011

Or maybe you could book on US site, depends what dates they release, for this year you had to go right at the end of May, values get Quick service DDP.

•January 1 – 5
•January 9 – 13
•January 21 – February 3
•February 11 – 17
•February 25 – March 3
•May 27 – June 2
•August 19 – September 29

Thanks again Wayne certainly food for though, when I looked on the Virgin site earlier I read it as September onwards for 2011. Obviously it changes year on year.

Do you tend to book on the US site and then book flights independantly?

It's a long time off yet and lots to look forward to before then but I love planning a Disney trip

 

[wayneg]

I like to book everything myself seperately but as we only go in school hols packages are usually way OTT, August 09 was biggest difference I put a package together for £6k, Similar with Virgin Holidays £12k but somtimes a package is cheaper, especially in low season.

 

[TCO]

Thanks again it's certainly worth looking into seperate booking then.

I loved the free dining so would like to do that again but if it wasn't viable due to the timing I would have no qualms going value.

I think early May just before he turns 2 is looking the most likely though so just over a year till I can book Fingers crossed they do free dining in May then it's win win.

I imagine that 9 hour flight seems more like 90 with a 2 year old in tow though.

September 2012 was possible but got a wedding in Cyprus to attend, at least we'll know how he copes on planes then ha.

 

[disneydaft]

We are off tomorrow (leaving in a couple of hours to drive to Manchester) for our second trip with our wee prince. We went in September when he was 9 months and he loved it. All the characters, a lot of the rides and all the shows. He was great on the plane and sat watching tv when he wasn't sleeping.
The only minor issue on the plane was at meal times one of us ate while the other held Alex.
He is now almost 13 months and is more outgoing and hyper so I'm expecting the journey to be a bit more challenging this time.


Congratulations BTW

 

[2Tiggies]

Thanks again 2Tiggies, obviously it all depends on what kind of child we have he may be easy or may be considerably harder if you know what I mean without sounding horrible. We obviously have to consider other people as well as people don't want to be sat near a crying baby for 9 hours.

I just want to set the record straight. People talk, shout, yell, laugh or sit silently. Babies cry when they need to communicate something. It is a fact of life and not saying I have no consideration for anyone, but people need to accept that. And you know what's great about it? Most people do. When you get to that point you will soon find that (1) 99% of the time, the only person bothered by the baby's crying is you and (2) One of the reasons many folk really don't worry about it is that it is so easy to tune out crying when it's not your baby. So don't worry about it.

If you ever want a laugh at a crying baby situation on a 12 hour flight at any point, let me know and I will relate a story of my 'worst' flight, which to this day sends me into fits of giggles whenever I think of it now.