Reinforcement needed!

[my4girls10]

I haven't read all of the responses, but I wonder...do the nay-sayers take their kids on beach vacations when they are under 5 years old? Because a one year old isn't likely to remember the ocean, but a family trip is just that...a family trip! Our girls were 7, 6, and 3 1/2 on our first trip...it was perfect! I would've have taken them younger than that though, if the opportunity had presented itself.

OP...have a magical trip with your family!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Disneyaddictz]

My husband and I have been taking ours since they were 3 and 3 months!! It's been the most amazing family past time ever! It's ours, we talk about disney and reminisce every day! Not many friends and family understand but we don't care anymore just laugh it off! Our little one is 3 now and she's been bred the disney way I guess because she can't walk past anything disney without stopping dead in her tracks to smile, ponder and beg to go to disney! I think she will remember, maybe not specific trips but the love and magic of disney!

http://www.**************/id/1379574026.png

 

[Aliceacc]

My money, my decision on how to spend it.

 

[MomsOf2boys]

People husband works with (and several friends) are telling him that taking our kids to WDW for my daughters 5th birthday will be a complete waste. My son will be 2 weeks shy of his 3rd birthday. They told him that there is a lot of "documentation" that the best time to take them is ages 8-10, and taking kids that young is pointless. Of course, my response is the we will take them at ages 8-10 too! Anyone who has taken younger kids want to weigh in on your experience? PS- he's never been to WDW, so he has no idea how great it is.

My thoughts on it are that many of the earliest memories a child has are what is told to them or in photo books, but that it does shape them and impact them in their life. If you went by that idea, you would stay in a small white room and have no interactions with them because they don't remember it anyway.

What a child does get is a sense of family, a time of laughter and hugs, an idea that the most special times of bonding is while parents are relaxing and enjoying their children while vacationing.

What we get as parents is a chance to see our children react for the first time in awe of the magical world around us without the distractions of the phone, job, cooking, and basic drama that life drags into our homes. It's one on one time with both parents and a reminder to us of why we do what we do as parents. It's the whipped cream and cherry.

 

[momfeez]

People husband works with (and several friends) are telling him that taking our kids to WDW for my daughters 5th birthday will be a complete waste. My son will be 2 weeks shy of his 3rd birthday. They told him that there is a lot of "documentation" that the best time to take them is ages 8-10, and taking kids that young is pointless. Of course, my response is the we will take them at ages 8-10 too! Anyone who has taken younger kids want to weigh in on your experience? PS- he's never been to WDW, so he has no idea how great it is.

This "documentation" is what my brother quoted when his daughter was 2. He said we'll go when she's older and she can appreciate it. She is 19 and still has never been.

We've taken our kids several times a year since they were 6mos old and out of 3 kids I've got 2 disney lovers. We won't talk about the other one since he prefers Universal (where I went wrong with him I don't know ). We've made wonderful memories on these trips and have lots of "family jokes" because of it. Now that DD is in college and can't always go with us to WDW, it makes all those memories much more special.

It comes down to one simple question: Will you have a great time creating wonderful memories with your family at WDW? YES? Then GO and have a fantastic time.

 

[mm1971]

People husband works with (and several friends) are telling him that taking our kids to WDW for my daughters 5th birthday will be a complete waste. My son will be 2 weeks shy of his 3rd birthday. They told him that there is a lot of "documentation" that the best time to take them is ages 8-10, and taking kids that young is pointless. Of course, my response is the we will take them at ages 8-10 too! Anyone who has taken younger kids want to weigh in on your experience? PS- he's never been to WDW, so he has no idea how great it is.

Sounds like most of them have never gone to WDW. There is plenty to do and both children will enjoy it very much. Your 3 year old may or may not remember it all, but you daughter will certainly remember her 5th birthday. My kids were 5 and 3 the first time and they remember and had a great time.

 

[mousehunter3]

Last time we went, my kids had just turned 1, 4, and 6. They had so much fun! The one-year old obviously couldn't do much, and he does not remember it, but he did enjoy it at the time. There was lots for him to do and see! My other 2 both remember a lot of it, my 6 year old more than my 4 year old, but they had the time of their lives! Can't wait to go again this fall and see what other adventures we will have now that they are in a different age set and we will be doing things that are more appropriate for their ages at this time. Disney is fun no matter what age!

 

[Luvchefmic]

I forget the Dissers user name but you and DH should watch this and the heck with the naysayers
Gave me " goosebumps" and wish there was a little one in my life to take to WDW !!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NE30QyKxtUY

 

[poohfriend77]

People husband works with (and several friends) are telling him that taking our kids to WDW for my daughters 5th birthday will be a complete waste. My son will be 2 weeks shy of his 3rd birthday. They told him that there is a lot of "documentation" that the best time to take them is ages 8-10, and taking kids that young is pointless. Of course, my response is the we will take them at ages 8-10 too! Anyone who has taken younger kids want to weigh in on your experience? PS- he's never been to WDW, so he has no idea how great it is.

My kids are 8 and 10, and we're planning our 5th trip. It's nice to know they will finally enjoy themselves, according to the "documentation."

They were just-turned-5 and almost-3 on our first trip, too. Maybe they don't remember all the details of that trip, but trust me... they had a FANTASTIC time! They totally believed in all the Disney magic, and it was amazing for us to watch them experience it. They still love looking at the scrapbooks and talking about the things we did. My 5-year-old was all about the princesses and dressed up several days. As a 10-year-old, she loves the thrill rides and browsing the WS shops. So they end up being different kinds of trips, but I'm so glad we have done it both ways!

 

[sigmasal]

We took our DS the first time at 2.5 and he had a good time (Admittedly the trip was more of a getaway for US at the time and kind of spur of the moment) but we made some great memories and he looks at the pictures and "remembers" it. We went back when he was 6.5 and dd was 3.5...they had a blast. We had a blast with them. Both times, I didn't really care if the kids remembered the trip so much as wanting to enjoy my time with them THERE...and of course your photos will help them remember for years to come! If we didn't take our kids anywhere because they were too little to "remember," then we would all sit home instead of taking them to the park, the Zoo, etc....I think others like to put their 2 cents in because WDW costs more money than a lot of trips but that's your business, not theirs.

 

[Jessica14]

Our first trip was when the kids were 4 and 5. They loved it though they remember it through photos. They have been back twice since and love it every time. We talk about that first trip and I tell them stories about it. They enjoy that. I have a great picture of their first look at the castle. Quite memorable for me! It was well worth going!

One of the best things I remember is about another family with a little girl about a year old. We were riding The ride in Mexico in EPCOT. She enters the room that looks so much like IASW and she SCREAMED the happiest, most joyful scream I ever heard! If its memorable for me, imagine how it is for her parents. It's a story they can always share with her!

 

[aubriee]

People husband works with (and several friends) are telling him that taking our kids to WDW for my daughters 5th birthday will be a complete waste. My son will be 2 weeks shy of his 3rd birthday. They told him that there is a lot of "documentation" that the best time to take them is ages 8-10, and taking kids that young is pointless. Of course, my response is the we will take them at ages 8-10 too! Anyone who has taken younger kids want to weigh in on your experience? PS- he's never been to WDW, so he has no idea how great it is.

My eldest D-I-L is not a WDW fan (had a really bad trip with her parents who argued the whole trip when she was just six years old that she still remembers now at 32 y/o). So she definitely remembers a trip when she was barely six. When they got married a few years ago, my son told her I was a WDW nut and we agreed not to discuss my WDW trips. She did tell me that when they had kids that I was welcome to take the kids, just not to expect her to go. When their eldest son was 3 y/o and the youngest just a few months, I called my son and asked about taking the 3 y/o. He said it was fine with him, but to call my D-I-L. When I called my D-I-L she quickly said it was fine, when did I want him ready, and did I want to take the baby too. We took Levi a few months later when he was 3 years 8 months. He loved it and still talks about the trip, asking when we are going to take him back. I told him it was his brother's turn next and I was going to have to take his little brother when he turns 3 y/o, then a couple of years later I'd take him again, probably when he turned 8 y/o. He is now 5 y/o and the other day, he asked when I was taking his little brother to Disney World. When I asked why, he told me he really, really wanted to go back and wanted me to take his little brother, so his turn would be next. His other grandmother owns the day care that the boys stay at and told me the other day that he brought the WDW picture album that I made him to daycare for show and tell one day and told all the kids in his class about his trip almost two years ago when he was three. She was amazed at all he remembered.

 

[lahobbs4]

These comments always make me mad! That is when I say "thanks for your input, but this is what our family wants to do". And leave it at that! I get a little offended, which is totally silly, but leave me and my kids' plans alone!

We got some flack last year for only taking one of our boys (age 3 1/2 at the time). He's too little, that's mean to only take one kid...blah blah blah. Our other son was 2 and we wanted to have some special alone time with our oldest. Simple as that. My youngest son still talks about all the fun he had at his grandma's house! This year we are taking both and leaving the 7 month old daughter at home.

People love to stick their noses into other people's lives. Usually, it comes out of jealousy. Enjoy your trip! I think 3-5 years old is a PERFECT age to take the kiddos!

 

[Mom22girls56]

People husband works with (and several friends) are telling him that taking our kids to WDW for my daughters 5th birthday will be a complete waste. My son will be 2 weeks shy of his 3rd birthday. They told him that there is a lot of "documentation" that the best time to take them is ages 8-10, and taking kids that young is pointless. Of course, my response is the we will take them at ages 8-10 too! Anyone who has taken younger kids want to weigh in on your experience? PS- he's never been to WDW, so he has no idea how great it is.

I can promise you once your husband sees the priceless looks on his kids faces at Disney World, there will not be any questions as to whether or not it was a waste.

We first took our girls when they were 4 1/2 and 2 1/2. Of course the 2 1/2 year old doesn't remember much but we do. We have everything on video and in photos. My husband and I don't regret it a bit. We are taking them again in November (now 8 and 6) along with our almost 2 year old. Can't wait!

 

[armmom]

When we went last year our 3 year old was hard to stop from wanting to explore EVERYTHING while there! He was having the time of his life! Our 18 year old was the one we heard grief from!!!!! Every child is different. Sometimes people are jealous and it's hard for them to wish you the best vacation that you can have. Take lots of pictures and they will remember!

 

[mmbl]

I replied much earlier but didn't mention one memory my whole family has. My middle child was 6, my daughter was 4. We were in Frontierland and the outlaws and sheriffs were on the street. One challenged my son to a gun draw and said if he won, he would give him a badge. The Sheriff asked my son what he would give him if he drew his gun more quickly. My son, being 6, didn't have much on him to trade. He looked around at us very quickly and , almost, without skipping a beat said " my sister." The crowd went wild. Needless to say, ALL 3 of my kids (now 37, 28 and 26) remember that day at MK! GO MAKE MEMORIES! There is no absolute guarantee of tomorrow. Live, laugh and enjoy while you can!

 

[Ero_FL]

My daughter was 5 when we went the first time and she had a blast. She was super excited and totally loved it. The next time she was 6 and my son was 5wks. The last time she was 7 and my son was just shy of 2. He still talks about it. He will bring it up randomly, though not as much lately, true. But he'll get a boost next summer so it's all good.

If it makes you feel any better, most people have brain development in their long-term memories, as in they begin to build memories that last, between the ages of 3 and 4. Some people do remember things before that, however, if they are particularly memorable things. Something "big" or incredibly emotional.