Should I bring my 2 year old?

[sha_lyn]

I could personally not live with the guilt of explaining to my two year old why he had to stay behind while I took his sibling to Disney World .

Two year olds have a blast there. I have three kids, and we go every year, so I've been with a two year old many times. If you want an extra set of hands and some adult company while your husband is off at the conference, then bring your mom. As long as you are all friendly, you should make it sharing a room.

I just don't get the people that act like a 2yr old is some terrible burden or "second class" compared to their older children.

 

[tlh0726]

I could personally not live with the guilt of explaining to my two year old why he had to stay behind while I took his sibling to Disney World .

Had my friend who works in a daycare (15 plus years) over Sunday for lunch, I mentioned this and she said the same thing about feeling guilty. She also agreed that the worse part will be when the older child comes home and all she does is talk about it. Plus him seeing the pictures. She had one parent that took one child to the beach for a week and left the smaller one at home with the grandparents. Not only did the child have a difficult time after 2 days without mom and dad, he totally changed behavior at daycare and at home (refusing to do stuff, talking back, etc) and the parents are still dealing with screaming everytime they get in the car together without him.

Has you child ever been seperated from both parents for an extended period of time? Maybe you want to do a "test trip" and let him with the grandparents for an extended weekend with no contact but phone.
I have taken trips without my oldest. Longest was 2 weeks (hawaii) but he was much older (10-11) and could understand where and when we would be back. Have never left the 4 or 2 year old for more than overnight.

 

[maidenfairy]

My two yr old did great the time we were gone. He had a blast with his grandparents. He still looks thru the little photo album they made for him and tells us about what he did. We talked to him daily on the phone while we were gone and brought him back lots of treats. He was fine. If you think you will be racked with guilt then take him. If you just want this time with the older, don't take him. Either way it'll be ok. Don't beat yourself up, your going to Disney. Have fun.

 

[geogirl0626]

I am staying at the Beachclub next month with my daughter (4) and my husband. (My husband will be in a conference most of the time.) I had originally planned to leave my 2 year old son home with his grandparents, but am now reconsidering.

I am debating on asking my mom to come along with my son. Do you think this is a wise decision? The beachclub says it holds 5 people in a standard room, but do you think we will be "comfortable". Can a 2 year old sleep in the day bed (if I bring the bed rails from home). Or, would I have to rent a porta-crib (are these clean?)

Also, do 2 year olds really enjoy the parks, or are they just too young?

Thanks for your input!

I would bring Mom and the 2 year old. But I love hanging out with my mom. If that's not feasible, I would bring both kids and have a great time. The Disney porta-cribs I have used are always clean.

My older daughter has been several times since she was born and always had a good time!

 

[DumboPrincess]

Take your 2 year old. We just got back a month ago and my 2 y/o still asks to go back. She doesn't understand Disney is 8 hours away! You WILL need a double stroller whether you bring mom or not. Personally, I wouldn't bring mom, esp. if she would be in a room with me and DH and kids. Not a vacation for her or us. Only you know what will work for your family. I work full time, but I take my girls out all the time by myself on my days off. I would be comfortable and even relish having them alone at Disney. But you would need to take it slow and consider potty breaks, naps etc. Everyone can get cranky after a day of crowds and overstimulation. My 2 y/o was fine in her bed even though she's still in a crib at home. I wouldn't do the porta-crib/pack n play b/c my DD would bring the whole thing down on herself jumping or climbing. (She has a crib tent at home).

Whatever you decide, have fun! Oh, and your 2 y/o would be free!

 

[IntercomGroupPage]

I say if it's not a big deal, leave him with grandpa and grandma. My son went this July at 18 months and was pretty good... but we went two weeks ago (at 23 months) and he was a NIGHTMARE. Didn't sleep, eat well, didn't like lines or crowds, afraid of things he wasn't afraid of this summer. Lots of tantrums, would not ride in the stroller for anything, and it was way too crowded to let him walk much. No one had very much fun because he just couldn't cope with the change in his routine.

He's generally an easy going little guy but this trip was way too much for him. He's only JUST getting back into the swing of things now.

 

[bellebud]

our first trip was 6 years ago, when dd was 3 1/2yo and ds was 22 months. It was easy, a blast, and we've been back about every 6 months to a year since.

our first trip, I brought ds's umbrella stroller, which he napped in when he needed to. we rented a single for dd when needed. we were there for 12 days, and did 1/2 days at the parks, did naps every day, and hung out at the resorts a lot. It was our best, most relaxing trip ever! DS loved all the character meals we did (when he wasn't sleeping in his umbrella stroller at the table), loved all the rides we did (and he and dd could do all the same rides... it's not like dd could do splash mountain and he couldn't, knim? should be the same for your 4yo and 2yo). he loved the parades, fireworks were too loud in the parks for both kids though, so we watched from the grand floridian.

and 6 years ago, they didn't have a lot of the cool preschool stuff they do now. disney is made for preschoolers as much as older kids.

1 more thought... disney is a huge trip... do you plan on taking your 2yo at some point w/out your 4yo? probably not, just because of their ages, there would be no reason to leave the older one home, right? For alone time w/ your 4yo, I'd do a much smaller trip, and save disney for family time. to me, it's unfair to take your 4yo and not your 2yo. At 2yo, they know characters, enjoy kid rides and shows, etc. You'll all have a blast! Also, I loved watching my kids enjoy things together - dd would grab her brother and say "look at that!" and he'd get all excited. It was precious and wonderful bonding time for my kids.

 

[nicki.momof3]

Took my 2 year old last year along with a 3 year old and a 5 year old. LOVED IT. WDW is a family vacation site. Why would you leave a member of your family at home.

 

[GrammyJudy]

Take him!!! My parents went to DL without me and I neveedr forgot it....thus my kids have gone to WDW 13 times!! With a double stroller you would be fine with or without your mother. We travel now as 3 generations and love it.

 

[Kit'smommy]

I would take your 2 year old.

DH and I had planned to have one last Disney Trip alone and leave Kit with DM right before he turned 2. DM was injured the week before we went on vacation and we were fine in leaving for vacation, but we needed to take the baby with us so that she could rest.

We had a great time and he really loved it.

 

[islangrl]

Okay, I'll be the the one - leave the 2 yo at home if you can! We took a 2 yo, and I wouldn't take one on purpose...LOL!

I'll be another one! I have taken all 4 kids at 2 years old. 3 of them did great, but DD 4 was a DISASTER! You know those shirts that say "My first trip to Disney"? My DH wanted to get one for her that said "My first trip to Disney...and I was TERRIBLE"!

If your mom goes, then taking him won't be too bad, but if not, leave him with the grandparents.

I would love an opportunity to have one on one time with each of my kids at Disney. But that window has passed as they are too old to accept being left at home! Well, maybe not the 3 year old, but since he's already had a taste of Disney, I'm sure that wouldn't fly!

 

[maxie]

i would not leave a member of the family at home!

We are going in 7 weeks and my 2 year old is very excited about seeing Mickey.

 

[TravelinMommy]

I say go for it....our son will be 20 months old when we go next month and I anticipate that he will have a great time. I think that your child will have a blast...from what I have read and researched, there are tons of stuff that our toddlers can do.


As far as the sleeping arrangements...I bought a little toddler's cot from walmart.com , its the regalo My cot and it was 30 bucks...it has great reviews and can go up to 100 pounds...so you can use it for a while.

 

[d1sneyf4n]

We just got back from the Beach Club on Tuesday. It was myself, my husband, my 5 year old daughter and my 2 year old son. He loved it. He had so much fun. I could not imagine not bringing him along to experience the world. There are tons of stuff that he can do and just to see the look on his face at all there is to see would be enough for me. I say bring him without a doubt and of course more hands is always great but I do not think it is a must. My sister-n-law who lives in FL always goes to Disney with my 2 nieces 5 and 2 while my brother is at work and has no problems.

 

[Zokita]

I'm only eighteen years old, so I don't have the experience of being the parent of a young child, and especially not in a place that can induce sensory overload like WDW, but I can give you the perspective of the "kid who was left behind" while her older sister went on a Disney trip.

My older sister is three years older than me, and she went to WDW for the first time when she was six years old. At three, my parents decided I was too young, so I was left behind with my grandmother for the week. I didn't notice that my older sister had been somewhere really fun without me at first (I thought I was going on a neat vacation with grandma), but a few months later I found the pictures. And I was insanely jealous of my older sister for a long time.

"Mommy, why didn't I get to go to Disney World?" I asked.

"Someday when you're older, when you'll remember it, we'll go." Was always her reply.

"Hey Mom, I'm six, can we go now? That's how old big sis was!" I asked a few years later.

"Not now, maybe when your cousins are older and we can all go together."

So my first trip to WDW didn't end up happening until I was seventeen years old, entering my senior year of high school. I was a little upset that I never had the 'going as a young kid who still believes in magic' experience, but somehow I still enjoyed the trip very much. I got in all the character lines I could find and chatted it up with the princesses like we were old friends. Not all teenagers are as accepting of Disney magic as me, though. I know a few who think it's totally lame.

I don't know your son and I'm not a parent, so I can't make a call here, but I know my parents enjoyed not having a very bratty and attention demanding three-year-old me to deal with. And it'll probably be more difficult without your husband's help---so maybe if you can swing bringing his grandmother along, it'll work out? I've seen a lot of parents here on the DIS post about how their most precious memories with their children are of them experiencing the magic through a young child's eyes at WDW. If that sounds like it's for you, maybe that will swing your decision.

But if you know you'll be back soon after that trip or if you can't bring the grandmother, then maybe it'll be more fun to leave the two year old behind and spend some quality time with the four year old.

 

[sha_lyn]

I've seen a lot of parents here on the DIS post about how their most precious memories with their children are of them experiencing the magic through a young child's eyes at WDW. If that sounds like it's for you, maybe that will swing your decision.

I think you bring up an excelent point. DH though we should wait unitl DD (2 1/2 at the time) was older before we went. However I wanted to go while DS (almost 11) was still young enough to get into the magic.

DH thought DD wouldn't get anything out of the trip. When we got home he told everyone that the trip was worth every penny just because of the look on DD's face when she saw Piglet at CP.
Heck I think DD even gave one in the Imagineers a lifelong memory. We were on the tour in Studios (I don't think they do it anymore) in the part where one of hte Imagineers talks a bit and answers questions. We started to leave the room and DD starts crying and pulling at her autograph book. We gave it o her and she ran up to the imagineer wanting his autograph. I thought the guy was going to cry.

 

[toverly]

Take him and your mom. You will never live down not taking him in the later years. His big sister will always be there to remind him of the wonderful vacation you had without him. There are lots of two year olds all over the park and by tag teaming the sitting with your mom, you all can enjoy.

 

[mdurette]

I am staying at the Beachclub next month with my daughter (4) and my husband. (My husband will be in a conference most of the time.) I had originally planned to leave my 2 year old son home with his grandparents, but am now reconsidering.

I am debating on asking my mom to come along with my son. Do you think this is a wise decision? The beachclub says it holds 5 people in a standard room, but do you think we will be "comfortable". Can a 2 year old sleep in the day bed (if I bring the bed rails from home). Or, would I have to rent a porta-crib (are these clean?)

Also, do 2 year olds really enjoy the parks, or are they just too young?

Thanks for your input!

I wouldn't leave him - we brought our daughter at 22 months and she had a blast - so much we brought her back for her 2nd birthday. The look on her face the entire week is a memory I cherish. (But, I would bring mom along).

Also, most DVC resorts have real mini cribs you can request. (IMO - cleaner than a pack and play)

 

[lsusoftball37]

We took my youngest the first time she was just 9 month and she was jumping out of my arms to see mickey or pluto. We also took her when she was 18 months and she loves it. She been asking to go back since summer. We are going again right after Christmas it her potty train award. And an earlier birthday present. She turns three january 30. I will take my mil cause i love her. But then if she couldn't i will still take my 2 year with me.

 

[TravelinMommy]

You are going to have so much fun with your toddler being there. I can't wait to see my son's face when he see the castle...or sees his favorite characters...he will be 20 months old and I know he will have a great time.