School kids and Infants. Making it work in 2020.

[Alucard84]

Me and my wife are having a conundrum picking dates for a week-long trip in 2020. Our usual trip is 5 Park Days and 2 Travel Days. We drive down from Tennessee. Wife is expecting DS1 in late February. It's going to be a C-Section so that will require about 2 months of recovery if not more. So that puts us at May. DD1's last day of Pre-K is May 21st. So that makes end of May an option. Having my wife and newborn baby in the May heat may not be the best option though so we have to look further. June and July are wide open for us. DD1 doesn't start school until August 5th. It will be hotter and more humid than late May though so we don't think this time would be any better. DD1 isn't off school until the second week of October(8th-14th) for Fall Break. This would be a great option because we both want to do a Halloween party. Unfortunately, that week is literally the only week I can not get off at work. Bad luck, but oh well. Thanksgiving Break is only 3 days so it would be hard to make a trip work then. Holiday Break is December 19th-January 2nd. This is an option, but it is the busiest week of the year.

So we're on the fence here. Late May, June or July, Christmas Week, or New Years Week. We have to decide if we want to battle the heat or the immense crowds. Or just skip 2020 altogether and wait for DS1 to get some age on him. Btw, I realize this isn't a unique situation. Families face this every year. It's the first year for us though. We've had 4 years of vacationing whenever we wanted too.

Anyways, any advice would be appreciated. Experiences welcome and appreciated. Hope everyone has a magical day.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

I would do May. The weather should still be bearable (much better than June/July) and crowds won’t be as crazy as Christmas or New Years.

 

[Bjkandma]

End of May would be best. I suggest you talk to the pediatrician for any advice they can offer with travelling with an infant!

 

[Yinn]

We just did this not too long ago, the second week of Oct is perfect. The weather will be just cool enough so that you can wear your DS. We went last week of Oct (and ours was two months younger than yours would be) and he just slept the majority of the time. The cooler air and body warmth is a good mixture and made going around the park a breeze.

Given that’s not an option, I’d vote for Christmas week.

May is possible, but it would be rushing it with all the immunizations. You’re going to be in a crowded place with people from all over (double true if flying) so I’d give it more time for your kids body defenses to develop. Plus, it’s not exactly cool in May. I’d be worried about long walks in the sun with an infant.

 

[tinkerjo]

Infants are easy at WDW especially since your DD is so young and most likely will not be wanting to go on the bigger rides( not sure if she has ever been before, maybe she is a tall daredevil that is a seasoned WDW traveler that loves the coasters) I would stick with the family friendly rides, shows, etc. I would pick May, even though the baby will only be 3 months old. He would be content in a carrier or stroller. Stay away from the 12-24 month range. That’s just torture in my book.

 

[NYCgrrl]

First choice May, 2nd choice New Year's week.

 

[supercrossfox21]

I personally would skip 2020 and go 2021. We were sort of in the same predicament as you. We have a 10yr old, 4yr old and 4 month old. I thought abt going this September but couldn't imagine doing it with an infant without all the immunizations and not really knowing there temperment. Thank God we didnt end up choosing to go this September because he has colic and really bad acid reflux (on heavy meds for it) so our trip would have been miserable. Plus he HATES his car seat right now. And of course you dont know all this until after they are born but usually have booked in advance. So we have booked for September 2020. He will be almost 16 months ( took our now 4yr old when he was 15months and he did fine- as long as they are walking). We live in Kentucky so same general area as you and we plan on also driving. We plan on leaving around 6 or 7 at night so they will only be awake for a little bit and then sleep most of the way there while we drive straight through (not something we could have done with a 4 month old). This way we will arrive early in the morning and not use a day traveling. We will just use that day as a hotel day to hang out and husband can sleep while I take kids to pool or do whatever activities are happening at the hotel.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I’m going to be an outlier here and say to wait until the next year.

There’s no way I’d take a 3 month old baby into a crowded place like WDW. I’d be concerned about taking an infant into any place that’s crowded like that. It’s sooooo germy and I’d also be concerned about the number of unvaccinated people who may be there.

Summer would be tough because of the heat (especially keeping a small baby cool) and Christmas/New Years will be crazy crowded. If you can hold off until the following May, I think that may be a better solution for your family.

 

[mjkacmom]

It’s preschool, a step up maybe from daycare, go whenever you want! Heck dd18 missed a week or two of high school each year for an overseas dance competition with all honors/AP classes and was 8th in her class (it was actually very challenging and only possible because of the internet and it took at least three weeks to catch up, and none of my other kids would’ve managed...). Elementary school, take advantage of that as well, I regret not taking my kids out more (now that I have two in high school, two in college, and one out of college working).

 

[stephk1981]

Personally I would take DD out of school, if it's only pre k or kindergarten she won't miss much. You can beat the crowds and the heat! If that is not an option for your family, I might pick May....I say might if that's your only option though. We have been every month out of the year, but it is especially hot from May to October. We took DD for her first trip when she was 5 months old at the end of April 2018... I thought it would be okay, but hadn't done Disney with an infant before. ( DS first trip was at 2 years old and he was much more able to withstand the heat by that age!) I don't regret taking DD that young, but if I had to do it over I would have picked a much cooler time! Have a great trip whatever you choose

 

[SandyinMonterey]

If it were me, I would probably take DD out of school, not missing much in Kindergarten. It gets much more difficult to pull kids out of school in the years to come. I would also check with pediatrician about the newborn. As far a when, for me, the cooler the better. I just hate the heat and humidity. I live in the Southeast and we are having a very hot and very prolonged summer. Hit 90's everyday in September and doesn't look like much is changing any time soon.

 

[KayaWildfire]

I would also take your kiddo out of school or if that isn't an option, I'm voting for Christmas. I would aim for maybe missing the last few days of school before break(trust me, they don't do anything other than games and movies) and then you will have a few lower crowd days before the holiday crowds really kick in. We went to Disney last year Christmas week and are going again and we found it quite manageable with a decent touring plan. Fourth fastpasses and more were fairly easy to come by(and this is a group of 8). Getting there early worked like a charm too.

 

[Disneyfan754321]

We took our kids out of school a little early a week before christmas break... of all our Disney trips this one was our fave.
the crowds were much lower the weather was awesome it was mid 70s … We came home 2 days before Christmas when everyone else was pouring in to Orlando. your baby will be older and easier to travel with. you have no idea what the temperament of your baby will be

 

[Spunky946]

So the child is in pre k or kindergarten? Take her out of school and go when you want. I took my kids out during elementary school and stopped in middle school. I now have a high schooler and upper elementary and we just go over breaks. Take advantage of the school year while you can.

 

[sullyfam]

Sounds like your oldest is in PreK/Kindergarten. I wouldn't worry too much about her missing school. When my older 2 were younger like that, I didn't hesitate to take them out of school and we planned trips around what worked best for us. It's when they get older (middle school/high school) that missing school becomes more challenging. If you can plan a trip during the school year (maybe during school breaks or during a week that she already has a few days off) instead of the summer, you will avoid the extreme heat.

However, in your situation, with your wife due in late February, I would not plan a May trip. You don't know how your wife's recovery will go, how your baby will be (temperament etc.) That just sounds a little intense to me to bring a newborn to Disney. Although I agree with others that babies in general, are much easier to bring than toddlers because they mostly can be held, sleep and hang out in strollers etc.

If it were me, I would plan a 2021 trip when your son is still a baby, but has had time to get all his vaccines and is on more of a schedule with sleep and eating etc. How about a 1st birthday trip in 2021 for your son? We took our youngest for her first birthday and it was one of my favorite trips.

 

[MrsDuck]

I wouldn't worry at all about my kid missing pre-k or k... I'd go during October when you can get off and call it a day.

 

[treemi01]

October/November-a week other than your DD’s fall break. Preferably the week before because I bet they won’t do as much right before a break. The weather is nice, it’s no big deal to miss a week of kindergarten...especially after she has 2-3 months under her belt, the baby will be a bit older, and you can do the Halloween Party like you want to.