should we wait?

[lolobug]

hi!
DH plans on making 2 disney trips, ever. i've never gone and we are trying to determine when we should make the trip. our oldest daughter will be 4 in january and our baby will be 16 months (in jan).should we go next year or wait and save for a few years down the road? i have the visa platinum card and have started collecting disney gift cards, will any of my disney dollars or gift cards expire? thank you!

 

[Marionnette]

hi!
DH plans on making 2 disney trips, ever. i've never gone and we are trying to determine when we should make the trip. our oldest daughter will be 4 in january and our baby will be 16 months (in jan).should we go next year or wait and save for a few years down the road? i have the visa platinum card and have started collecting disney gift cards, will any of my disney dollars or gift cards expire? thank you!

The gift cards never expire. The Disney Rewards Dollars will expire 5 years after the date they were earned unless they have been transferred to a rewards card. Once they are on a rewards card, they will expire when the card expires.

Every family is different and you're the best judge of when you should take your children. Taking a toddler can be challenging and if you decide to go before the youngest is potty-trained, you're going to have even more to deal with. But then, you will also want to go while the oldest is still enchanted by the *magic*. So, you're walking a fine line.

Add to it, the financial side. Children under the age of 3 years are admitted to the parks for free. They can also share a plate with their parents in most restaurants for no charge. You can save a lot of money by taking your trip before the baby turns 3.

If it were myself, I would put off the trip until just before the youngest turns 3. One and a half years is not too long to wait. The oldest would be around 6, which is a wonderful age for princesses and magic. Your Disney Rewards Dollars will not be expired before then. And your little one would basically be able to stay, play and dine for free.

 

[MSSANDRA]

And remember that most people do not go into that first trip planning to return numerous times.. I know we never thought that first trip would lead to a passion and more trips that we could have ever imagined. IF however you feel very sure that you will indeed only go twice, I would wait for that first trip until just before your little one turns 3.

 

[lolobug]

And remember that most people do not go into that first trip planning to return numerous times.. I know we never thought that first trip would lead to a passion and more trips that we could have ever imagined. IF however you feel very sure that you will indeed only go twice, I would wait for that first trip until just before your little one turns 3.

Thank you! I too think there may be more than 2 trips but if we really only go twice I'd love to plan it just right

 

[Bellabully]

I waited until DD was seven and this worked for us, but every family is different. My bit of advice would be to follow your child's lead. Enjoy the surroundings, go slow and REALLY enjoy where you are. Like many we made the mad dash to try to squeeze everything all in and you really can't. Of all the craziness, the best moment of the trip was DD playing in the water sprays at EPCOT, she could've done it all day. Meanwhile, I sat and thought about all the things we should be doing When what I should've been enjoying DD enjoy herself. Lesson learned. Off my soapbox. Hope you have a wonderful trip whenever you go

 

[Mommyof3inVA]

We went last spring with 3 kids ALL under 5 years old. We had a great time and all of the kids did great despite the heat. We did have 2 strollers and we made sure to take a lot of breaks. I think you should go in the next year. It is so much more 'magical' when your children are younger. Plus they are free under 3 years old.

tip-be sure to bring your own or buy the portable fan-this was great and we were able to secure it to the stroller.

 

[Wills Mom]

We are bringing DS in May, he will be almost 15 months. We plan on going back when DS is around 4/5 depending on when baby #2 (and possibly 3 if I get my way lol!) comes along.
While I know that all children are completely different I have to say we are bringing DS based on past experience with my in laws kids. One turned 1 when we were at WDW and the other was almost 3, both boys were so so so different from each other. The 1 year old was so easy, despite being a normally difficult infant at home (and he was also sick for 3 days while on vacation and he was still in great form) whereas the 3 year old who was normally the easiest child I have ever encountered (and still is!) was an absolute nightmare! He cried and cried and cried and didn't want to do anything, he wanted to go home. It went on for 2 weeks until we came home and he reverted back to his happy self. He went again when he was 4.5 and was a dream child, loved everything and has been other times since (hes now 9) and still talks about the time he went when he was 4.5!
Anyway, thats just one experience, everyones kids are different. Only you and your DH know whats right for your family. As a PP said your first trip will invariably lead to more and more trips anyway

 

[Fjobe]

If it were myself, I would put off the trip until just before the youngest turns 3.

I agree with this! We waited until our youngest was 2 years 9 months and completely potty trained before we took the kids to Disney. This meant the older 2 were 4 1/2 and almost 8. They all enjoyed the trip so much! We went again last summer when they were 3 1/2, 5 1/2, and 9. Again, they all had a blast!

 

[magicwishes]

I agree with this! We waited until our youngest was 2 years 9 months and completely potty trained before we took the kids to Disney. This meant the older 2 were 4 1/2 and almost 8. They all enjoyed the trip so much! We went again last summer when they were 3 1/2, 5 1/2, and 9. Again, they all had a blast!

I would also wait until the youngest is about to turn 3 for the first trip.

 

[cvjw]

I would wait - we took younger DS to Disney for the 1st time at 14 months, and it was no fun for anyone on the trip. If your DH only wants to visit twice, having a bad trip with a fussy toddler could turn it into only 1 Disney trip.

Just FYI, I took all of our Disney rewards dollars from the Disney visa and purchased Disney gift cards at the Disney store. Disney gift cards never expire and can ensure that you never lose your rewards dollars.

 

[Swirly girls]

We went last spring with 3 kids ALL under 5 years old. We had a great time and all of the kids did great despite the heat. We did have 2 strollers and we made sure to take a lot of breaks. I think you should go in the next year. It is so much more 'magical' when your children are younger. Plus they are free under 3 years old.

tip-be sure to bring your own or buy the portable fan-this was great and we were able to secure it to the stroller.

I disagree that it is more magical when kids are young.
We just went this fall, and we have been before as well.
Our kids are a little older, and I think they appreciate being there so much more because they get the whole experience when they are older.

 

[AllieV]

I took the little one when he was 3 years 10 months. He had far more fun at the end of the day when we dropped him off at Camp Dolphin while we had dinner. Our next trip is when he'll be 5 years 3 months and I can already see (he's 4.10 now) that he's processing things around him better. Also, he was still napping then but now he's not, so the day will be much easier to handle.

I mention this because your oldest is now 4. If you wait till he's a bit older, he'll enjoy it much more. Tune Town and Fantasyland was closed when we went, otherwise I think he'd have liked it better.

 

[lolobug]

I would wait - we took younger DS to Disney for the 1st time at 14 months, and it was no fun for anyone on the trip. If your DH only wants to visit twice, having a bad trip with a fussy toddler could turn it into only 1 Disney trip.

Just FYI, I took all of our Disney rewards dollars from the Disney visa and purchased Disney gift cards at the Disney store. Disney gift cards never expire and can ensure that you never lose your rewards dollars.

Thank you! I'll purchase GC's also, great idea!

 

[lolobug]

I took the little one when he was 3 years 10 months. He had far more fun at the end of the day when we dropped him off at Camp Dolphin while we had dinner. Our next trip is when he'll be 5 years 3 months and I can already see (he's 4.10 now) that he's processing things around him better. Also, he was still napping then but now he's not, so the day will be much easier to handle.

I mention this because your oldest is now 4. If you wait till he's a bit older, he'll enjoy it much more. Tune Town and Fantasyland was closed when we went, otherwise I think he'd have liked it better.

Thanks for the great advice. I think we'll use our visa and accrue money towards our trip and try to go when the little one is out of diapers, perhaps done w a nap, as well!

 

[RoosMama]

Thanks for the great advice. I think we'll use our visa and accrue money towards our trip and try to go when the little one is out of diapers, perhaps done w a nap, as well!

Just a thought - I have heard from others that taking kids somewhat newly potty trained can be hard, even if they are fully potty trained, because they want to visit every single bathroom. It might be easier to slap a diaper on rather than seeing the inside of every Disney bathroom!

 

[3pletprincesses]

I would plan the first trip around the oldest 5 or 6th b-day. I found that56yo was the magic age for my girls. They were less shy to talk and the interaction was better and they still believe in characters. I would plan another trip around the same age for the youngest. The first trip the youngest would still be under 3yo which will be cheaper for you and then for the second trip, the oldest will be under the age of 10 which is Disney magical number for adult rates which saves you money again.

 

[mummabear]

Every family is different and you're the best judge of when you should take your children. Taking a toddler can be challenging and if you decide to go before the youngest is potty-trained, you're going to have even more to deal with. But then, you will also want to go while the oldest is still enchanted by the *magic*. So, you're walking a fine line.
.

I don't know why you would want to wait until they are potty trained, personally I found it easier when they were in diapers....

I agree with 2 trips ever one when they are young enough to believe it is all real and one when they are tall neough for all the rides...

 

[tigger51276]

Honestly I have to say that some of my favorite trips with my kids were when they were really little. The looks of amazement on their faces where wonderful. They both seemed to love everything. There also weren't any meltdowns over not being able to buy everything in sight. I would say if you have the money to go and you think it would be a fun trip then do it, life is too short and you never know if in a couple years you may not have the money. Things happen, just do it if you can! As a few PP have mentioned, once you go down there you and your DH may decide you love it there and will go a lot more than twice.

 

[mikehn]

I disagree that it is more magical when kids are young.
We just went this fall, and we have been before as well.
Our kids are a little older, and I think they appreciate being there so much more because they get the whole experience when they are older.

I agree with this. Wait a few years if you can stand it.

 

[Marionnette]

I don't know why you would want to wait until they are potty trained, personally I found it easier when they were in diapers....

I agree with 2 trips ever one when they are young enough to believe it is all real and one when they are tall neough for all the rides...

Because lugging a diaper bag full of diapers, wipes and clothing changes around the parks is not my idea of fun.

And then there's getting all of those diapers, wipes and extra clothes to Disney to begin with. It gets pretty pricey to check a suitcase full of that stuff.

Once they're potty trained, you don't deal with any of that. TBH, I needed more bathroom breaks than any of my kids did when they were small.