Not bringing 18 mos old to disney????

[CRdisMom]

I am torn. I will have an 18 mos DD in May. We've planned a 5 day trip with our DD 6 and we are not going to bring 18 mos DD.

Here are my pros of not bringing her:

1. This trip was a reward for DD 6 for being potty trained. (okay she was trained at 3 yrs but budget hasn't allowed us to get there until now)

2. The flight is long. We're flying from MN

3. We only have 5 days to do the parks.

4. She's 18 mos and isn't going to remember the parks

5. She will get to have a week at grandma and grandpas by herself.

6. We're staying a POP. Tough for all 4 to share room.


Cons of not bringing her:

1. DD6 will tell her we left her behind. Hurt feelings when she gets older. Potential years of counseling

2. I am going to miss her tons.

3. She is free for airfare and park admission.

4. It's a family trip and she won't be a part of it.

I am really confused. I would like opinions. I have not made my mind up completely yet. Anyone else been in a situation like this?

 

[dizcrazee]

I say take her! She will have a wonderful time, and it really doesn't matter that she doesn't remember it when she is older. She will have pictures to look at, and look forward to going again. Besides, she may surprise you and remember it for longer than you think. Also, you will probably miss her terribly and regret it if you don't take her!

 

[Minniemouse07]

I would definitely take her! Wouldn't think twice about it!

 

[mom~of~2]

I say take her! We just took our 20-month old and had an awesome time - highlights for her: running around Pooh's Payful Spot, watching the water squirting out on Donald's Boat, recognizing the characters (we introduced them to her beforehand through books, stickers and the Disney store), Chef Mickey's, and running down the hallway to our hotel room. She also did great on all of the rides we went on and ended up taking a couple of naps in the stroller (she never does this at home). So many special family memories.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I would take her too. DGB is 16 mo old and we are trying to get his first trip together ASAP. There is so much she will enjoy.

 

[JKMJ441724]

I think you should take her. My husband and I went for an anniversary trip last year without the kids. I missed them so much that I wasted half my time thinking about them and calling to check on them.

Take her. Take her.

We went a few years ago when my son was about that age. He had a great time - we had to do the childswap thing, but it worked out. He was still small enough to be content in the stroller.

 

[DVCin1993]

Take her. We brought our DGD and her parents too, when she was 5 mo old. She didn't remember anything but she smiled when the characters came to her.

Daughter and Son-in-law brought her last Sept, she was 2 1/2, and had a wonderfull time. She knows all the characters by heart. She loves Disney and can't wait to go back.

This year they are taking us, and his parent, and his GF to Disney in Aug. Staying at BCV. We are going to spoil her rotten. We can't wait to see the mile wide smile on her face with all the characters. She just talks about Disney all the time. Where she wants to go and do.

Also wife and I are celebrating our 35 Year Wedding Anniversary down there.

 

[SplashMountainMama]

I'm going to go against popular opinion here and say take the trip with just your 6 yr old. It will mean so much to her to have you all to herself for a few days and will be very special for her. If it ever becomes an issue with your younger daughter you can always take her on a special trip by herself when she's older. We've taken some kids without the others and, although I love going as a whole family, the trips with 1 or 2 kids are also very special. All our kids understand that at some point they will each get a trip by themselves or with only 1 other sib. and they are OK with it.

 

[LadyShea]

I would take her. There are some possible benefits for your DD6 as well, such as if you do a ride swap, she will get to go twice! Also, you and DH could split up occasionally, each with one DD then switch out...this gives quality time with both children.

 

[NY Disney fan]

I I missed them so much that I wasted half my time thinking about them and calling to check on them.

I have a 17 month-old dd and I would take her for this reason and plus, she may not remember the trip but when she is there she will be in awe of her surroundings.

 

[snugglepeas]

I would take her, I have a 20 month old and she has already been to Disney World infact we are going back in 2 days, while it's true she most likly will not remember the trip, you will remember it, I have such great memories of my daughter seeing mickey for the first time or going on it's a small world and seeing her just light up.

 

[pweyl36]

I say leave her,I left my ds who was 2yrs and to this day has never said
any thing about not going when we talk about it. Go with your 6yr you dont have to worry about baby items,nap time and you can go on all the rides you want with out who's going to sit with the baby. Theres always other times to go back to disney.

 

[Avalon_toon]

I took my DS, 6, in May, and left my 2 year old home with DH (who couldn't come for work-related reasons anyway) - it worked out great. My 6 year old was soooo great, we had a blast, it was the first one-on-one time we'd had since our other DS was born. My 6 year old wanted to do all the big rides - Everest, Space Mountain - stuff my 2 year old couldn't have done. Also, younger DS and DH really bonded while I was away - it was a great time for just the two of them. We've made a promise that we'll take younger DS, now 3, to Disney by the time he's 6, and he's happy with that. So - one-on-one time, plus an extra trip to Disney in the near future - my vote would be, leave your little one home this time around.

 

[Minniemouse07]

I should add:

We just got back from WDW in December. Full out family trip... me, dh, dd-6yo and ds-2yo (he turned 2yo while we were there).

This summer dd and I are going back, just the two of us, for her 7th birthday. We are leaving daddy and ds home!

If it was going to be a trip just w/ you and your 6yo...I would say leave your younger dd home, but since the entire rest of the family is going, I would definitely bring your 18mo.

 

[Hasil72]

Obvioulsy, you know your family best, but your asked so I say take her.

We took our kids on their first WDW trip when DS was 5 and DD was 18 mos. I would absolutely do it again BUT I would change my mind set. I went with a plan and a mission and I'm embarrassed to say that I got a little cranky when a teething DD interrupted that commando style of touring. Once I stopped worrying about schedules and just said "we see what we see" it was great. I wish I knew then what I do now. DD still remembers the pop up jets at Epcot, the carousel, and Spectromagic. She loves looking at all the pictures. You can still make this a special "reward" trip for your other DD by ordering a decorated cupcake or dessert from the WDW bakery and either have it delivered to your room or have it served at a sit down meal.

Besides (and don't take this the wrong way; I mean it in a very light-hearted way because I would stress over it), if you're worried about sibling rivalry down the line if you don't take the younger DD, won't you eventually have to take her for her own potty training reward w/out older DD? THAT would be tough.

Regardless, have a great time!

 

[collcass]

I'm going to go against the majority, too and say let her stay with Grandma and grandpa.

We are going in July w/ my twin sister and her famil and my cousin and her family. Both have little ones (my sisters youngest will be 19 mos. and my cousin's only 6 mos.) BOTH are staying home with the grandparents. We are going at a very busy time of year. That, coupled with the heat (and the 8 kids already going) made them think it would be much more enjoyable for the babies to stay home

 

[2Kds2K9]

I'm also going against the popular vote. You stated that this was a reward trip for the 6YO. If, and I don't know you personally so don't take offense, if the 18mos were to get cranky and you'd have to leave the park, the 6YO might get resentful. This is her trip!

Personally, I think it's a win-win situation for all. Grandma gets some great quality time with the 18mos and you and DH get some quality time with the 6YO. Both kids will have a blast and have special memories. When the 18mos is older, you can plan a special trip for her.

Let us know what you finally decide.

 

[ebowman]

I absolutely recommend taking her. We took our first to DL at 11 mos and our second to DL at 11 mos. Both loved it. The expressions on their faces at that age are priceless.

 

[monorailsilver]

I would bring the 18 month old since who knows when you will get back because you have been waiting 3 years to get there.

If you want to do something special for your 6 yo while there take her to BBB or to the GF tea or something like that. One of you can take her while the other sits in the room & relaxes (that would be my dh-take the kids I will sit here & watch the baby...snore...zzz..snore...zzz).

I have a 6 yo (who will be 7 in May) & if we took her somewhere with out her siblings she would be upset that they weren't there. She went to the museum with her friend last Monday (the friends mom took her) & she made things for her brother & I am sure talked about her sister too.

I could never leave my youngest (now 2) with my parents & take my other 2 to WDW. I'd be so upset that the 2 yo wouldn't be in any pictures/memories.

 

[samandryanmom]

Another parent who has been in this situation too. When DS was 6 we took him on his first trip. My DD was only 19 months old so she stayed home with "Gee" and "Pop." We had a great trip and she had a great time at my in-laws. To this day when we look at pictures of DS's first trip, she says " I didn't go on that trip because I got to spend the week at Gee and Pop's" and she totally believes that she got the better end of the deal.

Just my opinion. By the way, she took her first trip in May at 7 years old.