People insisting we "wait until they can remember it"

[Lulu's Mom]

On our last trip our DD was 2 years and 4 months and she still talks about things from the trip. She remebers Small World, Pooh, Hoho (POC) and watching firewirks and eating popcorn. Everytime she sees fireworks now she says, "Ooohh firewroks, sit on bum and eat popcorn".

True this was her 3rd trip to DW and she has been to DL twice so maybe it is the repetiveness that helps her remeber, but I know that she does remeber.

Plus my DH and I will always remeber and we will always have the pictures to show her when she gets older. This December we will be going and she will be 3.5 and our soon to be here DS will be 10 months..... We are having a whole new child to Disney brainwash.

Do as you feel and do not care what others think or say... this is your family and your memories that you all will create together.

 

[Ethanowensmom]

I'm going to echo what everyone else here is saying - who cares what other people think?! I get the same bull from people, but I just don't care. We brought my oldest DS (he'll be 4 in May) to WDW when he was 9 months and he had a blast. Will he remember that 1st trip? Who knows - but it was worth it to us to see him having fun at the time and capture those memories in photos. And who says a trip to WDW has to be all for the kids? DH and I go through withdrawl if we don't take our annual trip to our "happy place"! We are leaving tomorrow and bringing both our boys (this will be our older DS's fourth trip) and my youngest will only be 11 weeks old on Friday!

 

[Michigan]

I'm one of those people that says take them as much as you can while they are under 3 because they are free. They will look at pictures and remember a lot more then people think.

 

[Mari annie]

We have heard this for years-----------GO!!!!!
There's so much to do, we miss the Disney Institute.........so many great things, we are Disney Vets, for sure,but always learning something about WDW or FL! FUN!
We have been going for almost 18 years, my son will be 18 in March.......
people who usually say this, only go maybe once in their life, because they don't understand all what WDW is about, they only know "MickeyMouse"......... that's fine, but people shouldn't be so ignorant, as to tell others, why there again........wait for what? until they are teens and never been and don't want to go?! not!

We have taken our ds since he was one and our dd since she was 4 months old....life is meant to be enjoyed.........wait for WHAT?! Guess what-we have always DRIVEN-from MA to MCO!!! We stop overnight in VA, then on to Savannah waterfront for lunch, St Augustine for 3 days, via Edgewater, New Smyrna Beach for lunch then on to MCO-we have 2 weeks of this 3 times a year now............ So much to do for adults as well as the kids, and there is plenty to do with the kids, although they are small*!
Don't put your lives on hold for your small kids..........
Since all these trips there are now 5 families who go to WDW/FL more than 1x a year where my dh works.........people don't have to understand what you do..........just go and enjoy yourselves.......... Life is what YOU make it!!!!!

b/t/w in the Fall my ds will be going to College outside MCO and we bought down there..............so to everyone that says, why FL again, why THERE again............because we love the SUNSHINE and the WARM of the FL people and it's a great place to have a winter home!!!!!

7 days until our first FL trip of 07!

 

[1of6]

I'm one of those people that says take them as much as you can while they are under 3 because they are free. They will look at pictures and remember a lot more then people think.

So true!

We went this time last year and DD3 had just turned 2 before we got there. She still talks about the monarail and seeing Stitch. Does she remember everything we did? No. But that doesn't mean she didn't have the best time while we were there. She was so excited to hug every character we came across. In fact, we got to MK around 5pm our first day and as we were walking in she spotted Mickey and Minnie at the enterance. She dropped the hand she was holding (our stroller broke at the airport) and ran yelling "Mickey! Mickey!" I was crying, it was the sweetest thing ever.

Go, have fun and make memories!!!!

 

[kribit]

I ususally ask those that celebrate Christmas or Easter if they plan on avoiding Santa or the Easter Bunny, because they are obviously not going to remember either at 2 years of age.

I think when people say this, it's silly. I've only gotted in a couple of times, but once was from a very good friend of mine...I just teased her about how ludicrous the statement was and she recanted. Sometimes I think people say stuff like this out of jealousy, sometimes it's just ignorance. and sometimes people just don't know anything about visting Disney on vacation (typically the people that go to the same "beachhouse" every year.)

Hope that helps.

 

[1rockinmamato2]

We've decided: WE'RE GOING!

Now, our next step is to decide when (October 2007 or March 2008 are our soonest choices)!

Thank you all so much for your replies! I have read every one of them and your positive thoughts on our trip plans is like a breath of fresh air! And many of you had me cracking up with your suggested responses to people.

I agree with everything each and every one of you said. DH is excited about going and we're both excited about introducing the kids to the magic. I am hoping that other members of our family will join us, but if not - that's their loss.

I did a lot of research last night on the resorts and which rides the kids will enjoy. There is so much planning to do. I love the planning part - it's almost as fun as the trip itself.

 

[Ariel8676]

Good for you!!!!! you are going to have a GREAT time!!!!
Have fun planning!

 

[jakoky]

Please dont listen to people....we didnt take our kids for the first time until they were 13, 11, and 9.....we went to DW and then 18 months later we took them to DL...so much fun, but i was so sad that i didnt get to see the magic in their eyes when they saw mickey mouse or donald duck...my youngest still had some of that magic, but she knew someone was under that suit...we live in canada and i stayed home with the kids for the first 12 years, and we just didnt have the 5 or 6 thousand we needed to go, but i sooooo wish we had taken them at least once when they were all small....if we lived in the US, and it would have cost 1/2 of what it would have cost us, we would have went for sure then....it may not be my kids that missed out by not going when they were small, but my husband and i sure did....i have told all my kids(they are almost 16, 13, and 11) that i am taking my grandkids with or without them.... My oldest daughter rolls her eyes at me, but i am serious....i told her that her first child will go at age 2!!! , but then of course i told her that first child is about 10 years away I had my kids young, my first was born when i was 21...so i will hopefully get to be a young grandma.....GO and HAVE FUN!!!
sharon
WDW-Dec 04-first disney experience for my DH, DD, DS, DD and first time at WDW for us all
DL-MAY 06-first time at DL for DH and kids , and my 9th(but the first 8 were all by the time i was about 13) so it was all new to me

 

[MinMouse]

I'm so glad you are going! The magic will not be lost on your little ones!

 

[bnsilly]

That's what we used to say also...we will wait until the kids are bigger...Now my son is graduating high school and heading off to college..LOL So we are going on our first WDW vacation this year..time flies by..go and have fun!

 

[nettii]

They may not rember it but experience can never be taken away! We are made up of life experience, no we dont rember every thing in our lives but our experiences have made us what we are today!
Let your kids have the priviledge to experience magic wonder and make belive in real world to hold with them forever in their hearts!
Hope you and your family have a great trip!Nettii

 

[DisneyPhD]

We've decided: WE'RE GOING!

Now, our next step is to decide when (October 2007 or March 2008 are our soonest choices)!

Thank you all so much for your replies! I have read every one of them and your positive thoughts on our trip plans is like a breath of fresh air! And many of you had me cracking up with your suggested responses to people.

I agree with everything each and every one of you said. DH is excited about going and we're both excited about introducing the kids to the magic. I am hoping that other members of our family will join us, but if not - that's their loss.

I did a lot of research last night on the resorts and which rides the kids will enjoy. There is so much planning to do. I love the planning part - it's almost as fun as the trip itself.

I agree. Sometimes the planning is what gets me through the winter!

One word or warning. They might not "remember it", but it does almost guaranteed to turn them into Disney World lovers. Going as a baby is like being "born into Disney." Maybe it is unconscious! My kids are the ultimate Disney fans.

 

[Magalex]

Those "Too young to remember" kind are the same people will be saying in the future(usually referring to a child 10 and over) "They are too old to go to WDW now. WDW is for little ones" People also love it when I mention that my DH and I will be still going to WDW when our DS is no longer living at home.

We did wait until our DS was 4 1/2 yrs old for his first trip(saving, potty trained and ability to stand in line are benefits) but even taking pre-schooler you will get remarks. We have our next trip planned for June. He will close to 7. He has his own list of things to see that he knows he was too young to see in 2005. Also he told me he wants to have an autograph book this time because he saw older kids with them last time. There is no lack of memory.

 

[PrincessasMommy]

I haven't read all the threads but I wanted to share my .02....

We took our dd's in 2005, ages 8 months, 27 months and 9 years old. Our little ones are now 2 1/2 and just turned 4 and love to watch the home movies we took and look at the Disney photo album. They loved it! But that's not even really the point, they don't need to remember it. When I watch the video I took of their tiny awestuck faces looking at the characters (we did 3 character meals) and while riding it's a small world, I could just cry. They are so beautiful and loveable and sweet and in love with everything they see, it is so magical for them and for me to always have that as long as I live, to see those photos and remember the feeling of being there with my family so happy and together for a entire week - it's priceless.

We had such a great time that we are planning another trip with our soon to be 4 kids in Oct 2007!

For the people that say they are too young to remember - so what? Are you supposed to wait until your children are 12 before you ever do anything with them and so they will remember that you did it?? WHY????

 

[1rockinmamato2]

I agree that going early on will add to their life experiences and shape who they will become. They will definitely always have the photos that I'll take to "remember" their trip by. Photos of my first time are the only reason I "remember" my first trip at about age 3 or 4.

I started thinking about the naysayers today and it occured to me that these people don't even like Disney all that much themselves. So, of course they are going to put a negative spin on taking two toddlers.

Maybe to help keep the negative comments from folks at a minimum, I should stop talking about our Disney trip. All the time. Every time. Someone. Will listen.

 

[Reagan&Co.]

GO ANYWAY!!!! It takes forever for kids to be able to remember a vacation. You don't want to wait until the kids are 5 and 6......And memory is relative, anyway. Just because they don't recall the rides verbally doesn't mean they have forgotten the MAGIC in their heads!! Tell THAT to your people!!!
Also, what is important to kids is different that what we might think. We went in Sept. when my DS was almost 4. Months later, he does not talk about the rides or characters (both of which he did not like!!). What he does talk about is his book of pressed pennies that he brought home and the fact that he got to eat Mickey waffles. I don't care if he forgets it all. It was a terrific week and we all had a blast. I'm sure I'll forget a lot of it, too.....that's why we take pictures!!!!!
Have fun and be sure to take lots of pics!!

 

[PaulaSue]

GO, Life is too short!!!

 

[LoveMyDisneyCats]

I totally agree with the other posts here. Go and enjoy it. I had this conversation with DH the other day because my neighbors have been waiting to take their 6 and 8 year old girls... Every time we say we're going, they give us the standard waiting til remember thing...(my dd5 has been 10 times, and dd2 has been 6 and we're going this month!)
To be honest,I can't remember all the details of trips that I took when I was 10-12 years old (now I'm 31)- so really what is the point in waiting? (Who knows maybe I just have a really overloaded brain right now!).
My point is that I don't think there is a certain age that is going to be "the age" when your kids will remember, appreciate, enjoy, and all the other things that those non-DIS people say. Every age is different and fun for different reasons. The amazement of the light parade of my 4 mo old....The smile and dancing of my 2 year old with the stage shows...The love in the eyes of my 3 year old when she saw Aurora....The excitement of my 5 year old when she first rode Splash Mountain...These are all things that ONE CHILD experienced at different trips/ages (she's now almost 6). Most importantly, these are THE MEMORIES THAT ME AND DH WILL HAVE OF OUR CHILDREN! Not to mention that she "remembers" every one of these moments (yes, even the 4 mo. old thing ) because we look at pictures and talk about them.
Every age, every time is special for different reasons. If you wait until your kids are 6-10 (that seems to be the age that I hear people say they are waiting until), but if you wait til then where's the excitement of seeing the characters. Yeah, maybe they'll do pictures (I still do my own pictures ), but they won't have that innocent and REAL astonishment of "meeting Mickey." Also, as they get older, they will be able to do more rides- yes- but they also won't want to do all of the "little kid" rides. (obviously that is not true of real disney people that love all the rides, but I'm talking of the people that wait and do ONE disney trip and don't appreciate all that Disney is...ya know the ones). Plus, I can't tell you how many people I know that have waited and come back with a "yeah, it was nice" response. Where's the MAGIC in that?
Have fun planning your trip!!!!!

 

[LCtonra]

Go and have a great time....ppl who see disney as just a vacation do not always get it. To me Dis is a experience and those memories of my babies going to disney are sometimes even better of the ones that I have no with them being a little older.