People insisting we "wait until they can remember it"

[jensen]

Every time I excitedly tell someone that we're going to do Disney when the kids are 1 and 2 years of age - they always tell me to wait until they can remember it.

It's not like we'll never go back to Disney ever again - it's the first of many trips to Disney that we have planned for the future. And when I tried explaining and justifying our trip to one lady by telling her that regardless of whether or not they'll remember it, they'll know what's going on and be stimulated by the sights and sounds of Disney.

I'm a believer in no matter how young they are, they can *feel* the magic.

*SIGH* Why do some people insist on raining on our parade?

We had the same thing when we were planning our first trip. I think it's just that people still think of Disney as expensive and a one-in-a-lifetime experience. When I told them we planned to go multiples times, it shut them up. Now we are getting just the opposite. People are telling us "there are other places to go on vacation besides Disney." I always tell them everything else is too expensive. That makes them wonder.

 

[MissionMouse]

We've decided: WE'RE GOING! ...

Great choice. Kids do remember what impresses them. They won't remember everything, but they will remember specific things. Our two girls still recall their Cinderella Dininig experience, Wonderland Tea Party, specific rides and character encounters from their first Disney experience from five years ago. The other angle to a WDW are the memorable moments captured in memory, digital photos and video. Another aspect are some of the funny things that kids at this age say too. Enjoy

 

[mjantz]

My kids were 2 & 5 when we went to Disneyland. DS was going into Kindergarten next year so we wanted to take a big family trip in the off-season for the last time.
Now, over 4 years later, they *still* talk about it. Little dribs & drabs but DD will talk about riding the rockets & how she thought the Haunted Mansion was too scary. DS will talk about Star Tours & how he rode it 8 times!!
I will say that we did decide on Disneyland over WDW because its smaller & we wanted a lot of time to explore the parks & ride rides multiple times. We're thinking WDW when they're a bit older & have the stamina for a week of walking, queueing & riding.
It was, however, definately worth it. Its great to see them interact with the characters when they still believe they're real. We went on a cruise last summer & DD still believed but DS seemed to be at that age where he knows its all pretend. Made me a bit sad!!

 

[Oceana]

On memory

My 18 month old who went to disney at 14 months was sitting in my lap yesterday and I logged on to the disney website to see if free dining was available yet

the castle came up with fireworks... he squeelled! with excitment and started pointong and signing more (he is totally non verbal) .... so I would have to say he remembers just fine

julie

 

[bar1jp]

we waited and I wish we did not!

I am with everyone here go when YOU want to and forget about what others say!

we plan on making a few trips over the next years, there is no wrong age to go to disney!!!

 

[writersblock42]

The kids might not remember it ten years from now, but you will. So go have fun and take lots of pictures.

 

[cinjam]

I use to hear that - still do actually (we are taking our 3 & 6 year olds on the Disney cruise next week and I am hearing it about the 3 year old).

Ignore them!

So much of what we do with our babies will not be remembered, but that should not stop us from kissing them, or reading to them, or praising them, or blowing fart noises on their bellies, or showing them a butterfly in your flower garden, I could go on and on. It's the feelings of love, warmth, togetherness, family, excitement, magic that shapes our children.

That's why I've taken my children every year since they were one year old.

Plus it's memories for me!!!! Why should I be denied.

One of my most favorite memories was from our very first trip with our first son. Who at one, was not saying as many words as he should have been (now at 6 I cannot shut him up ). We sat down to watch Electric Light Parade (now Spectro Magic), my son stares in awe, then turns to DH & says, "See dat daddy", "Ook Daddy", "Daddy, wow", "Mommy see dat", "see Mickey".....this was A LOT of speaking for us. I have a picture of that moment, of my son, with DH sitting behind him with tears in his eyes (DH's eyes). I'm welling up while typing. That picture hangs in my bedroom. What a memory.

Anyway, I'll repeat, ignore them

 

[rt2dz]

Do you know that in doing a huge research study on small children's memory skills they used kids that went to WDW at 18 months and PROVED(!) that they did, in fact, remember it at 6 years of age. It's an ongoing study, so they could prove that kids remember it long after. The study is really on the evolution of memory, just a coincidence they used WDW trips.

My DS3 went to WDW at 15 months and ever since has been in love with everything Disney. Didn't know about Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, or even Winnie the Pooh prior to that trip. He gets so excited when he sees the castle or anything else. There was a definite, no denying it impression made. He even learned two words that trip, "Mickey" & "Duck", as in Donald.

I went every year from age 2 through high school. I don't really remember any specific trip--just random memories here and there. But I remember the overall feeling each time. And that is what I'm giving to my kids.

I have a friend who kept saying she was waiting until the kids were 10 & 6. They ended up having to go for some kind of function when they were 6 & 2. She came back so glad they went earlier and so sorry she didn't take her DS (the 6yo) sooner. She realized her thought process was from not ever having taken young children; she didn't understand/know what they were getting from it. She was especially glad when her DD was diagnoised with cancer at 4 yo. Life's short.

 

[Jaymie]

My son is 2 1/2 and we just got back a few weeks ago. Every time we get in the van to go somewhere, he asks if we're going to the Polynesian or the Magic Kingdom. Like he's giving me 2 choices...I'll take both!

I figure while he's young the memories are more for me anyways.

My DH & I have little or no desire to vacation anywhere else. SO why would I spend MY money to go somewhere I don't want to go?

 

[perd]

Well, we have been several times, the last time just over four years ago, when the kids were 13, 15 and 18. Last week when I mentioned going again, and talked about how last time we stayed at the park, and remember how nice it was to be able to walk to Epcot, and take the boat to MGM and just hop on the bus to the other parks, and they shook their heads and said, WE REALLY DON'T REMEMBER....

Your kids might not remember specific things that happened in a few years, but they'll know that as long as they can remember they've had fun with mommy and daddy!

 

[labst60]

My DD is nearly 2 and will be on her 5th trip this May (we live in PA).
I OFTEN get the "she'll never remember it" comments. I simply smile and say, "I know she won't.... but I will."

It always shuts them up, and quite frankly it is the truth - Dh and I want to go on vacation and have some "family vacation" memories - there will be plenty of trips for her to remember - but we have AWESOME memories of her being 3months, 6months, 14months & 16months and it being DIFFERENT and ENJOYABLE each time!

Have a great trip!

 

[gusgus123]

We took my daughter to WDW for the first time when she was 21 months old. She was awesome, the experience was awesome and although I am sure her memories are probably prompted from pictures and video, they are fond memories none the less. Where else can you offer Eyeore a bite of your pancake (she did) or ride on magic Dumbo, or stay up past your bedtime, etc?? Fact is, we did all the things we never had 'time' to do before we went with her. We are going back in October with our kids (she will be 4 and our DS will be 21mo) and I can't wait for the magic again.

Just have fun..that's what its about. Does it matter if they really remember it anyway? Shouldn't we all be just living in the moment?

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

Man what ppl dont understand is the parents want to go the kids just tag along lol. We went in 2004 our son was 2 and he remembers everything. I was shocked how much he remembered. Besides both your kids are free right now. Go for it. The one thing I loved about our trip was. Walking down main street for the first time with the kids. They went nutzzzzzzz. And my wife started to cry. Heck when I saw that it brought a tear to mine. That was such a cool feeling. Oh the memories.

 

[emileee]

"They might not remember it, but YOU will". Very well said.
I love the commercial of the dad that "turns into" a child. He spends the day at Disney with his son...as two children. To see Disney through your child's eyes is the magic. I have taken my 2 of my children when they were one....they don't remember it, but the scrapbook is one of their favorite books to read!

 

[*Wish*Upon*A*Star*]

I'm sure I'm repeating, but -- even if your kids don't remember this trip - you will!

DH and I took our DS last year when he was five months old. He had a blast and he even hit some milestones when he was there. He gave a geniune laugh out loud when Goofy "played" with him at the Cape May breakfast buffet. He sat up on his own for the first time at the pool at Pop Century.

And, what brought both DH and I to tears (and still does as I think about it) was watching his face light up at the sights and sounds of the Wishes fireworks. You see, shortly after we buried our firstborn son, we made a trip to WDW to "get away from it all." While we were there, during the Wishes fireworks, we both silently wished for a miracle - a baby brother or sister for our angel DS. And, that is exactly what our DS is to us - a miracle who came to be after we wished at the Magic Kingdom.

So, I say -- Go, Have Fun, Take LOTS of pictures (we did!) and make memories. You'll have a blast.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

Congratulations on your babies!! How dare anyone say anything to you regarding what age your children are when going to WDW!! You have your children, celebrate them and your family! Your family derserves this!

 

[leighe]

Take them and have a great time! My DH REFUSES to take our DD until she's two. We have discussed and discussed and discussed and he just won't budge. She's 13 months now and I think she'd just love it. He just thinks it would be a complete hassle and none of us would have any fun. I totally disagree.

So go and have fun and don't worry about what people say. I've never understood the "they won't remember it" logic anyway unless they are only going to go once. They won't remember their 1st birthday party either but most people have one.