O/T Any of you been to DL AND WDW? A random, years ahead of myself question...

[RoseBug]

We are planning our 2014 holiday - and the option is either Chicago/Minnesota/Disneyland or Florida.

I will obviously sway towards Chicago/Minnesota/Disneyland - as Chicago is my favourite place, Mn is staying with my Uncle and Disneyland too although Florida has it's benefits - but what I am wondering is would DD be too young at 5 years old to fully appreciate WDW? Would it be better to take her to Disneyland at 5 year old (my Uncle wants to take her here) and wait for WDW when she is around 7 or 8?

I know DL is more like DLP in size and styling (I have been once) and that WDW is just huge, so what would you do?

 

[DLPDreams]

Never been to either but they both sound great!

We are going to do WDW and Orlando in 2015. I think I've mentioned before that I think, personally, that my DD2 is too young to do WDW at the moment, in 3 years she will be 7 and a good age to take. She doesn't travel well on airplanes so I want to make sure she is up to it and all the long days etc before we commit. We hope to get a Villa though and do 3 weeks so that we can do theme parks, day off in villa/pool, theme parks etc and alternate to keep the pace a bit lighter. We will also be going with family so that helps.

Not sure that helps you though? - you know your DD and what she can manage. Maybe do California in 2014 with your Uncle's help and then save up again for a few years after 2014 for a trip to Florida when your DD will be older?

DD1 is just getting into Harry Potter (school friends for you, we haven't let her watch the films but she is reading the first book!), and is desperate to see the HP stuff at Universal (as is Mummy ) - she saw it on a TV ad the other day and squealed! . DD2 would probably be 'into it' by the time 2015 comes along too .

Perhaps you should ask over on the Florida part of this forum whether they think her age is suitable for a WDW trip? I did when we might have been going next year with inlaws, and most said she would be fine, but a few did agree that at 5 she would still be too young. I think if it's a once in a lifetime trip then you want them to remember it etc - if you can afford to go every year/every 2 years then it's not such an issue.... Unfortunately, ours would fall into the former category!

 

[Ware Bears]

Perhaps you should ask over on the Florida part of this forum whether they think her age is suitable for a WDW trip? I did when we might have been going next year with inlaws, and most said she would be fine, but a few did agree that at 5 she would still be too young. I think if it's a once in a lifetime trip then you want them to remember it etc - if you can afford to go every year/every 2 years then it's not such an issue.... Unfortunately, ours would fall into the former category!

We waited until our youngest DD was 7 1/2 before we went to WDW - we did have enough money saved by the time she was 6 but decided to wait (very reluctantly on my part!!) until she was that one year older and afterwards I was glad we did wait. I think it did make a difference - we were able to do quite a few late nights for fireworks without her getting too cranky the next day plus as it was meant to be a once-in-a-lifetime holiday I didn't want her older sisters remembering it and not her so thought that being that little bit older would help.

Would it be better to take her to Disneyland at 5 year old (my Uncle wants to take her here) and wait for WDW when she is around 7 or 8?

This is what I would do if I were you.

 

[RoseBug]

I'm not too concerned about the flying - longest flight would be Florida at 11 hours or Amsterdam to Chicago about 8 hours; she'd be happy with 3 dvd's on the trot!

I am more wondering about the suitability of WDW for a 5 year old, DLP is perfect for LO's IMH as it is such a brilliant size, lots of little things for toddlers etc. but thinking WDW might be a bit of a waste with it being so big, and so many things more suited to older children.

I guess I'm also wondering about the similarities between DLP and DLR, which is why I posted here.

Florida would probably be a one off holiday, whereas she will probably spend most summers in Mn as she gets older, esp when she is old enough to travel alone.

I think I am talking myself out of WDW for a few years yet!

 

[RoseBug]

We waited until our youngest DD was 7 1/2 before we went to WDW - we did have enough money saved by the time she was 6 but decided to wait (very reluctantly on my part!!) until she was that one year older and afterwards I was glad we did wait. I think it did make a difference - we were able to do quite a few late nights for fireworks without her getting too cranky the next day plus as it was meant to be a once-in-a-lifetime holiday I didn't want her older sisters remembering it and not her so thought that being that little bit older would help.

Thanks - that sounds very much like my thoughts on it! Even though on paper Florida would be cheaper, it probably won't end up that way as Uncle will pay for lots when we are there. Although he has said if we really want to do Florida - he would join us there for a holiday, but he probably wouldn't choose to go otherwise iykwim?

 

[Ware Bears]

Florida would probably be a one off holiday,

I think this is what would make me want to wait. Whilst I think there's just as much, if not more, for a younger one to do at WDW, if it's going to be a once only trip I'd want to wait until she was old enough to have the choice of all the rides.

You're very lucky having your uncle over there.

 

[RoseBug]

I think this is what would make me want to wait. Whilst I think there's just as much, if not more, for a younger one to do at WDW, if it's going to be a once only trip I'd want to wait until she was old enough to have the choice of all the rides.

You're very lucky having your uncle over there.

In some ways (ie: cheap holidays) BUT I would much rather have him close by, I miss him way too much (he is more like my big brother, and is DD's godfather!)

 

[torsie24]

I've been to both and love them both. But they are very different and we're actually going to do both over the coming years, all depending on the height of any children we have. This is why:

We're hoping to start a family next year (why there's no WDW ticker) and all goin to plan (as these things never do!) we'll be going to WDW 2014 and 2016 and then DLR/CA/HI 2018.

This is because I just feel WDW with a baby/toddler would be much easier than a multicenter trip with one.

So we're aiming to head to DLR with a 4/5 year old who's hopefully tall enough for the rides (especially Radiator Springs Racers!!!) as DLR has such a great variety of stuff for kids of an age old enough to participate which of course WDW does too buy for us DLR will have a lot fewer visits do we want to be able to do everything whilst there.

Also, we'll only be at DLR for 4 days max, compared to 14-21 at WDW so it also depends on the length of Disney fix you're after.

Check if Rosebug is tall enough for the racers and the rapids and other bits like that. As WDW has soooo many attractions and shows that even with missing the big rides you'll have a jam packed trip. Whereas DLR is smaller.

That being said if we won the lottery DLR would be our first stop at I am desperate to see World of Color and to stay at the Grand Californian.

Whichever you pick you'll catch the American Disney Bug and book to visit the other right away anyway. So maybe just plan out each trip and then see which suits you better at this stage.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hiya,

I suppose although we haven't been to Florida since 2009 we are veterans in a way having been lucky to go a dozen times.
Whereas only to DLRP twice.

It is actually the travelling that we really now dislike, the long haul flights are just horrible for us these days.

From a ride perspective I don't think it makes a lot of difference as there are many to enjoy irrespective of where you decide to go.

Joshua first went to Florida when he was 10 months old, and I think he has been there 7 times now.
If I am honest some of our best holiday memories were actually when Joshua was younger so for me I don't think you necessarily need to wait.

The big advantage of Florida is the diversity and range of things to do.

 

[tinkertaylor05]

Ask me in 18 months seriously I've never been to either so it's purely based on feeling, I've waited until dd was 8 to do wdw. I don't think it would be less suitable for her being younger just that she'd be able to get more out of it, if as you said wdw is likely to be a once in a lifetime deal I'd be inclined to save, wait and make it a multicentre stay doing wdw/universal etc

California is on my future list which is why I'll be stalking Elaine and anyone else who's going

Torsie - I love that you have a holiday plan until 2018 people poke fun at me planning 2 years ahead

 

[cleagh]

Myself and my mum brought my little sister to wdw jan gone and she was 6, very sorry now that we didnt wait till she was at least 8, dont get me wrong she loved it and i much prefer the way the character meet and greets and handled much better than in disneyland, but she just couldnt handle the time change (we are 5 hours ahead of usa) and she got a bit cranky in the evening which limited our evening activities, and we were sorry that we had at the time not known that the new princess world in the magic kingdom would not be open till late this year, from what we saw is will be lovely and she would have loved it. She got a massive kick out of the pool (we stayed in port orleans french quarters) and we also had day at universal. we will im sure go again to wdw in maybe 3 years time but when i ask her where she prefers she always says disneyland paris, maybe its more managable and also not such a long journey to get there. Personally i much prefer wdw florida much more of a variety but that saying we are goin to disneyland in august and i cant wait to see the 20th anniversary celebrations

 

[linre]

We did florida when dd was 3 and a half...she loved eery minute of it and would love to go again (just need to do some saving first!!). WDW is more of an experience because there are so many different things...the animal kingdom was fantastic for kids as was the magic kingdom! We also loved seaworld and discovery cove.......5 years on and dd can still remember being allowed into the pool to stroke a dolphin and also sitting playing on their beach and a dolphin actually just choosing to come up and sit near her at the edge of the water

When we go back to florida in 2014 we are waiting till dd2 is 6 so that she can actually swim with the dolphins with the rest of us! I don't think you can ever be too yound for florida!!!! And the service they give is out of this world!