Not bringing 18 mos old to disney????

[brad3640]

I would say take her because we took our son when he was 18 mths and our other son who was 3 and there was still a ton of rides that the little one could ride, he had just as muc fun as the oldest.

 

[WantToGoNow]

Personally, I couldn't leave one of my children at home while I went to Walt Disney World - all I would think about is how much that child was missing. If you're taking a family vacation, that child is part of your family and I think should be included.

My ds was 6 months old on his first trip (trip was planned before he "arrived"). It wasn't difficult at all. He rode in the stroller, laughed at everything, loved the characters and was fed a bottle by Dale. My dd celebrated her first birthday at WDW (brother was 3.5 now). She was walking and we did have to hold her lines most of the time but she had a wonderful trip. We used the baby swap on everything with a height restriction so no one had to miss anything - and older dd got to do them twice. We went back when ds was 5.5 and dd was almost 3. Again, very special memories. Dd is now 4 and can't wait for our trip next year. Every age is special - even if your baby don't remember it -- YOU will.

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

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

Just that one reason would be enough for me to say take her.

I haven't read any of the other responses yet. I'm sure you'll have some that say take her and some that wont. Sure she probably won't remember the trip but you will and you'll have lots of great pictures to show her later. I have taken my both my girls at infant and toddler stages. I CHERISH the videos and pictures of them on those trips.

I just couldn't handle not having my youngest there to enjoy all the fun as well. That's just me though. I hear about friends and acquaintances leaving their infants and toddlers home a lot during vacations.

 

[ddawnmommy]

I took my dd when she was 18 mos. and though she does not remember it now, she had an absolute blast and we have some great pictures of her first trip. I could not imagine going without her because everywhere you look you will see things that she would love.

 

[jennifer293]

Take Her!!!! She is FREE, she will love it, her sister will love her being there no matter what she says, you will have great photos for memories, you will not be worried about her being somewhere you are not. Did I mention she will LOVE IT???

I took my DD's when they were 5 and 13 months...they LOVED IT SOOOOOO MUCH!!!

 

[jennifer293]

Also..why don't you ask grandma and grandpa to come with you to help you out with both the girls??

 

[wlwilliams9]

Take her!!! We took our DD last year at 10 months and you would be surprised at how much fun the little one has. We are taking DD back again this year at 22 months and we can't wait. I can't imagine going to WDW without the whole family in tow.
Besides, you'll miss her so much and everytime you go on a ride or do something fun, you be saying to yourself, "DD would love this".

 

[mygirl]

oh - take her!
she may not remember, but she will have a fabulous time! and kids are so adaptable, it is not difficult to travel with little ones. you are a family and i say something big like a first family trip to WDW should include the whole family.

we took our rugrats last year (dd 3, ds 13 mos) and everyone said we were nuts for taking them. we knew dd would love it, but ds suprised us - he had just as much, if not more, fun! some of our best family memories were made together at wdw....

 

[1rockinmamato2]

oh - take her!
she may not remember, but she will have a fabulous time! and kids are so adaptable, it is not difficult to travel with little ones. you are a family and i say something big like a first family trip to WDW should include the whole family.

we took our rugrats last year (dd 3, ds 13 mos) and everyone said we were nuts for taking them. we knew dd would love it, but ds suprised us - he had just as much, if not more, fun! some of our best family memories were made together at wdw....

Everyone said that to us too when we too our kids, ages just turned 2 and almost 1 at the time. We had such a blast. And really wondered what all those people thinking it was going to be like for us.

It was nothing less than magical.

By the way, I love the "spectwo-magic" in your ticker. So cute!

 

[annie1995]

My DS loved it at 14months!!! Definately take her along!!! He was sooooo much easier than I ever thought he would be there!!! He loved the parades and lots of the rides!!!

 

[sunnyday123]

I would take her. The therapy bills alone will be staggering! Just kidding, buy my daughters first trip was at 23 mo's and she had a blast! Went on pretty all the rides ( The Haunted Mansion and Great Movie Ride about 7 billion times!) and when it was nap time, she simply went to sleep in the stroller. You will miss her terribly if you don't take her, and it could potentially ruin your trip.

p.s. My mom visited relatives in Germany when I was 4, I had to stay with my grandparents, while my cousin got to go with her mom ( my aunt ) and when she came back I apparently told her to get back on the plane. She was upset, and I still manage to work it into conversations!

 

[Michael_Shannon]

I would definalty take her. My son was 11 mths old on his first trip. I will admit he does not remember 3 years later when we ask him about the trip, but we have the pictures to prove he was there. He gets really excited when we look at the pics and asks when is the next trip. I see it as a memory maker no matter how old they are.

 

[ujpest_doza]

Take her.

Not taking her would not be an option for me like.

I have 2 DD's. One went to WDW for the first time when she was 13 months (and has been twice since, is now nearly 5) and the other went with us to WDW for the first time in October last year when she was 7 months.

Much longer flight than you will be doing as well (9 hours each way).

 

[FatElvis]

I'd leave her with the grandparents. We did the same thing a few years ago when our oldest was 5 and #2 was 18 months. Yes, I'm sure she would have enjoyed it, but it would have been a different kind of trip. We wanted to focus on our oldest and do some different things. (We had been the year before with both, but a 5 month old is WAY easier than an 18 month old!)

Baby ended up having a blast with my parents - they spoiled her rotten and they loved having some time with just her. We were able to do so much more and move quicker through the parks. Meals were easier without a high chair and a cranky baby wanting to get down and run all the time. Sure, we missed her sometimes and noticed things she would have enjoyed, but we knew we'd be back (which we were, the next year).

We did joke that when she got old enough to notice she wasn't in the pictures, we'd just point to a stroller in the background and tell her she was sleeping.

I think you'll have fun either way - just decide what you really want out of this trip and determine whether or not you can accomplish that with a little one. Nothing wrong with either choice!

 

[rdevine10]

Interesting debate

Well, we have taken our youngest at ages 9 months and also 21 months. 9 months was honestly a lot easier. That being said, I dont regret in the least taking her at 21 months (and my older DD was almost 5 at that trip).

First reason I would never leave younger DD home.... she wouldnt let me! Shes just a high needs clingy kid, heck Im lucky if I can get her gandparents to watch her for an hour so DH and I can go out to dinner without her loosing the plot! Shes just very attached, much more so than my older was.

2nd, we are able to do one on one things with older DD pretty easily. One parent would be with the baby, one with the older. During my younger DDs naptime, older DD had a BLAST with her Dad alone in the pool all week. She loved it. And honestly, most rides older DD was interetested in, younger could go on. So, no real issues there. The only "thrill" ride she wanted to try was Soarin, and she got double spoiled and got to ride it twice with the parent swap.

Good luck with your descision.....

 

[sahm1000]

We went last year with an almost 4 year old and my 20 month old. Both of my girls loved the trip! I'm not sure how much my youngest remembers but she did have a great time while she was there and I would have missed her terribly!

We were very casual about touring and didn't try and see everything since we know we'll be back sometime. Even though my almost 4 year old was about done with naps she was exhausted there and needed a nap everyday. Of course, my little one still needs a nap to this day and needed a nap there for sure! Even if your 6 year old doesn't need a nap anymore (a day at the parks might be more pleasant if she does take one though, especially if you are up early and staying out late for nighttime shows) a break from the parks would probably be a good idea. Someone could take here to the pool while someone else stays with the little one and naps.

I also agreed with something someone else said about potty training your youngest.........are you going to take her and leave the oldest by herself when the time comes? I hadn't thought of it that way but I could definitely see that causing some possible problems later!

 

[wdw71]

We are taking our 17 month old in a few weeks and are doing it on the advice of close friends who have done it and told us of the wonderful memories they have watching their son's reactions. Plus think of the pictures you will have.

 

[HALEYSMOMMOM]

We took our son, second child, to DW at 8,13 and 18 months, and several times since. I couldn't be happier I did! Don't leave her , you will regret it. She will be fine!

 

[DVCisME]

It's not much of a family trip without the whole family. Having an eighteen month old at Disney is a breeze. And if it took you three years to save for your oldest child, what if your youngest never gets to go?

 

[BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM]

Our youngest was 18mo. when we went on our last trip. I have pictures of him grinning from ear to ear while grabbing Tiggers nose in the crystal palace (that is one of my favorites!) and many more pictures and memories that our family will never forget. Now he watches the home movies and we show him everything he was a part of while we plan the next trip!!