Package booked and DH says......

[scanne]

Our kids are 4 and 2 and have been to WDW a combined 10 times! DS has been 6 times, DD 4 times. And they DO remember things about the trips - ESPECIALLY the special time spent with me, my DH, my parents, my grandmother and my aunt. They love Disney and the characters and have SUCH a wonderful time when we're there. Will they remember the trips when they're older? Maybe not - BUT I believe that they will remember the feelings of love and happiness we all felt while on the trips and certain characters, attractions and songs will be burned into their memories forever. Now that is priceless.

We'll be returning to WDW in 4 weeks and again in July 2007. Both kids are excited about going back and so are my DH and myself. We just love WDW! Don't cancel your trip. It will be wonderful!!!

 

[jenr812]

Another vote for go!! There have been many, many threads on this topic in the past, and almost overwhelmingly, the consensus is "don't wait!!" My kids were 11, 6, and 2 (a month shy of his third bday) on our first trip last July. They are sooooo excited about our return next May. Every few days, at least one of them will ask "how long is it til we go back??" On our last night there, MK had EMH and we planned to stay til around 11:30 or midnight. Well, our youngest would not leave!!! He grabbed our hands and just pulled us around Fantasy Land til 3am!!!! That is one of my best memories ever. Even if they don't remember years from now, you will have that experience of seeing the magic of Disney through those young, innocent eyes and it will absolutely change you. Have a magical trip!!

 

[Microcell]

Just say, well, dear, we will have to go again then won't we!

We are six days away from our trip and have begun saving for a "trip while Ds is 5 and under to get to preboard one more time" trip. We also have to go again before my DD is 9 next year so we can get cheaper meals!

Tell him you must use your little preboard ticket this time, and next will be so they can remember!

DS is 4 and remembers parts of the three year old trip. He remembers the water spray at Toontown. We also look through the pictures alot to keep his memory fresh about it!

Also the wonder of a four year old is worth more than millions in memories for you, trust me. This trip is sort of bittersweet for me because I fear DD8 will be jaded about the characters etc... I am so glad I got to see her in awe the three previous times. Ages 4-7!

 

[daisyduck123]

I haven't read any of the replies, but here's my thoughts....GO!

If you're going to follow the advice of people who say, "Don't take them now, they are too young & don't remember" then what do these people do about their kids' birthdays? Not have any b-day party celebrations until their kids are old enough to remember? No Christmases or trick-or-treating until they can remember it? I could go on & on.

Your family will have a great time together, that's what it is all about.

**By the way, we go once or twice every year now, but my family did not start going until DD was 9 & DS was 6, just because we hadn't "DISCOVERED" Disney until then....I wished we'd started sooner.

 

[gracer9977]

I am sure that you have enough ammunition by now with 3 pages of replies telling you to go but I just wanted to add my own. We are going to WDW in 27 days. and my DD will just turn 15 months. My parents are taking the whole family, the 3 of us, our spouses and the granddaughters and we are all going to have a fabulous time. People always say why are you going with your daughter so young and I always say Why Not?? She won't remember it but she will have a great time and love every magical minute of it.

My grandparents lived close to DisneyLand when we were younger and my mother flew all 3 of us kids out to CA every year to visit her parents and we went to DL every year. The last time we went I was 7. None of us remember those trips, but we love to look at the pictures and listen to my mom tell us stories and she is happy that her parents were able to have those special trips with us kids every year.

We went to WDW when I was 15 and again when I was 19 and I barely remember anything about those trips but it doesn't matter cause when I watch the videos or look at the pictures I was always smiling and that is what counts.

So go and have a wonderful, magical time as a family cause the kids grow up way too fast!!

 

[QueenGoblin]

Just another yes vote to print out for your DH.
I don't want to go so far as to suggest "eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we all may..." well you know the rest... But if you all are healthy, happy and have the means to go, seize the moment because you don't know what the future will bring. You have the opportunity to have a wonderful family vacation that you and DH and certainly your oldest child and most likely your middle child will always remember, at least in bits and pieces. What more could you ask for?
We took my DD at a little over 2 and she talked about it for months and will still talk about it if she sees pictures of it. I remember being in a stroller at WDW when I was a small child (one of those blue vinyl contraptions). I remember quite a few things from when I was 2 and quite a bit more from when I was four. My brother on the other hand, claims not to remember anything from before 4th grade. So you just can't predict everyone's memories, but yu can go and have a good time with your family.

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

Your dh sounds like my mil. Dh just spoke with her last night, and she tried everything possible to convince us to cancel. Her reasons included the recent price increase (although we had already booked before that), and that our kids were too young to get a lot out of it and remember it, etc.

We've been trying to go every 2-2 1/2 years, and hope to continue that for a while. So, I really don't see any need to cancel. Besides, if we waited, my older two would be beyond that "magical" stage. They will be 6 and 9 in October, when we go.

If we were only doing this one time in the duration of our kids being little, we might have waited a few years. If that were the case, I'd want our youngest to be old enough to really understand (he's only 1 now).

But as it stands, each child will get something different out of our trip. Our older two remember our last trip well. My dd was only three at that time, but we have talked about our trip and looked at pictures enough that she'll go on and on about what we did while we were there.

I would say optimal age is probably 5-7, just because the kids can do more and get more into the planning. But there is something special at each age. And those pictures will make the best memories.

 

[Deesknee]

First let me admit, I didn't read all the replies, if I am repeating another I am sorry.

DH and I went over this with DB and DSIL. They finally decided to go. Once of a lifetime trip. Their DD was about 7 and son about 5. They could not get over what a wonderful time they had. The memories they have of their children in Disney. As far as the kids, they remember if they are reminded. Each child is different. We took our triplets at 3.5 for the first time. They claim to remember it. I think they remember parts of it. We video tape one day on each trip we take. That helps us all to remember. We have family discussions about disney. Since our first time ( we took them young with the reasoning that we wanted to go in the fall, but didn't want to take them out of school), my triplets have been 15 times. We bought into dvc a couple of years ago. I admit we are addicted to disney. BTW, DB and DSIL were talking about going back 3 months after getting home. My point being, many families find it is not all that important if the kids remember their first trip. Because once you take them that first time, there are usually many more to follow.!

 

[Chris]

I would go. My two oldest were 2 1/2 and 1 1/2 when we went the first time and it honestly was priceless seeing them there. My youngest went when she was 4 and again at 5 and she remembered SO much from her first trip that she was looking to do again!!

 

[kmccain]

JEEPERS CATS! I DON'T REMEMBER!

Isn't that why we go back?

We have to put 5 years between our trips so we don't really remember the last one. That is what makes them special.

Also, each one is different, you skip things you remember and go on to things that the kids were to small to do the last time. That is how you keep getting to go!

 

[Cinderella_68]

<snip> we went, we had a great time and one year later DS remembers more about the trip then i do, down to little details.
<snip> Go - have fun and take tons of pictures.

I'll second that! We almost left our DS, a month and a half shy of 3, behind in 2001, but decided we couldn't leave him out of the magic that his 7 year old sister was ready for. He had such a wonderful time and seeing his reactions to things, watching him running around in his Indiana Jones hat those two weeks was pure joy and laughter to our hearts! We have some awesome photos of our trip, which we look at often.
It's now five years later, and we are going back, and DS remembers so much about our first trip! He can't wait to experience things that he was too short or young for on our last trip! He can't wait to try out new attractions like M:S and EE!
This time, his little sister is 2 1/2 and while she may not remember much, I am so looking forward to watching her little face light up when Mickey and Minnie arrive at our reception, the rapt look on our face when she rides IASW, her favorite, sees the big castle, and visits a water park for the first time in her little life! She loves swimming and would live in our pool if we let her! She's been to Disneyland several times, but Disneyworld is a whole other adventure for us to experience through her eyes!
Even if they don't remember a thing, YOU will. And that's just as good. It's a perk of parenthood!

 

[wewantmore]

I haven't read any replies yet (need to get kids in bed) but I wanted to comment.

We took Kayla when she was 3, she remembers bits and pieces. We took her for her 5th birthday, she remembers bits and pieces.

I think it is up to the PARENTS to help keep/mature those memories. To MAKE those memories. We all remember the best and worst of times of our childhood, not the day to day stuff. If Gyou make Disney a day to day type activity, then it'll just get filed away. But if you make the MOST of Disney it'll be a charished memory.

I would suggest making a scrapbook/photo album. I don't even remember all of both trips. But looking back at these pictures, tickets etc. keep the magic and memory alive.

Michelle

 

[Nancyg56]

I think it is up to the PARENTS to help keep/mature those memories. To MAKE those memories. We all remember the best and worst of times of our childhood, not the day to day stuff. If Gyou make Disney a day to day type activity, then it'll just get filed away. But if you make the MOST of Disney it'll be a charished memory.

I would suggest making a scrapbook/photo album. I don't even remember all of both trips. But looking back at these pictures, tickets etc. keep the magic and memory alive.

Michelle

Forgive me, I also did not read all of the replies, but I agree with you. My DGD was just 4 last January when we took her. She remembers so much of this trip, and reminds us of things that we did not remember. You see, we talk about the trip and about the wonderful time we had as a family. I wonder if the reason that youngsters "forget" is that after the trip is over, the conversation stops.

Her Mom is a scrapper, but has just gotten to the Disney trip, so now she looks at her scrapbooks and laughs about whatever event is captured on the page. DD has scrapped all of my DGD's short life experiences, and the little one goes over each book, asking for stories to accompany the page. It gives us a wonderful opportunity to reinforce to her and to ourselves the miracle she is to us.

OP: ONly you and your DH can determine when your children are ready for a vacation to DIsney, but I would discuss the magic that little ones experience because they are young and enjoy a special relationship with their favorite characters. You and he will also experience the wonder through the eyes of your child, and that is truely priceless.

 

[hoosiergirl7]

GO and don't think twice about it!!! Especially if you will be doing it again in 2 or 3 years. We are taking our son in a few weeks (he's just about 3 months shy of 3) and he's looking forward to it. When we were living in CA we went with our BIL & SIL who were visiting to Disneyland. Our nieces were 1 & 3 at the time and our son was also 1. He doesn't remember it, but loves looking at the photos of him with the characters. He knows that's him in the photos with Mickey Mouse, etc. Our niece who is almost 5 remembers the trip very well and it's been almost 2 years since we went. I think the key is if you want the younger kids to remember it's important to look back at pictures and talk about the trip frequently. The first time I went to WDW I was 11 and remember a lot about it. I wish I had pictures. I went with a friend of the family and so I don't have any pictures from the trip. I should find out if they do so I can make copies.

ENJOY!!!!

 

[taraprather]

I brought my son for his first and only trip 2 months after his 4th b-day. He is almost 8 now and remembers it very well. He can't wait until this trip...only 5 more days!!!!!!!

 

[ProudMomTo3Boys]

I didn't read all the responses so I apologize if I repeat what anyone else said but this was and is my situation. We went almost 5 years ago when my kids were 6 and
3 1/2. They are now 10 and 8. The 10 year old remembers some but not all and the 8 year old doesn't remember much. But I do and they enjoyed themselves while we were there. And that is what is important. Having fun in the now and not worrying about what they will remember in a few years. We don't know what is going to happen to us so while you are there enjoy it. I am taking my own advice and going in April when my kids will be 11, 8 and 2. I also thought about bringing the 2 year old and what he could do and not do. But we are going and we will enjoy ourselves. Ultimately it is up to you and I wish you the best.

 

[maxtomsmom]

Tell Dh what is going to happen is that if you wait to long then the oldest will be past that magical time. The way to help the youngest remember is pictures pictures pictures... scrapbook together and if you record some of it then you all can watch it together and talk about it all alot. Its not all about the kids remembering its the parents seeing their kids face light up when the see it all for the first time. My DH tried to pull the same thing we are going in Jan with 4 yr old, and I just told him he got to make alot of the choices in this family but no way he was taking away me seeing my 4 yr old in WDW for the first time. I cant wait to see his little face light up. I told him he could stay home if he wanted to but DS and I were going. I think I scared him i was so serious about it

ITA! Magical time is only for a brief period and then it can never be captured. One of my fondest memory was believing I met the real Snow White when I was 4. I can recall the wait in line and the stroke she gave me on my back. One thing you can tell your DH is that your children will get something out of this trip. It's part of a learning about the world experience for them. At four they can understand that Disney is special and not like every day (Too bad for us). Go, take many pictures so they can recall as much as possible. By the way, experts who work with memory issues (researchers and doctors) say that memory is a skill that needs lots of practice. You need to build it with your child by going over something again and again. This is why so people have better memories. They know how to build upon it and ways to help recall info. You can start with your trip to Disney.