Soon to be new parents. At what age would you suggest we take our daughter?

[MarineVet]

The youngest baby I have seen at WDW was three weeks old. His mom didn't seem the least bit stressed or concerned, or even sore! I didn't go anywhere for weeks after my kids were born, but my C-Sections played a big part in that.

 

[afwdwfan]

We've taken our kids at 7 months, 22 months and and 34 months. Basically, I thought they were all great. The 7 month old was super easy. As they get older though... well, by the age of 22 months and 34 months on his trips, DS could ride several of the attractions and still remembers and talks about them 2+ years later. However, those trips were on the bookends of that magical age of 2. I think some call them the Terrible Twos. All in all, it was a great, and I'd do it again, but once they start walking, and talking taking breaks and basically going by their schedule becomes more important.

The biggest thing is... go before they're 3 so you can enjoy the magic with them before you have to pay for a ticket. Once they turn 3 it gets expensive!!!!!

 

[Crystal824]

I think any age is great. Until they are 2.5 or so, the trip is really more for you than the child. She will just be tagging along...not that they don't have fun, they just don't get it really. We took DD when she was 9 mo., 21 mo., just over 2, and a few mo. from turning 3. The easiest trip was when she was 9 mo., and couldn't walk or really talk. She probably had the most fun when she was almost 3. At that point, she was trying to dictate the trip, and tell us which attraction she wanted to do next. All in all, all of the trips were great.

I probaby wouldn't take a baby until they were 4-5 months or so...had their shots and sleeping through the night, but that is just me. We live in PA so it is a long haul to get to FL, and I want all of us to enjoy the trip.

 

[ilovebassets]

My biggest excuse for taking the kids early was they were free until they were 3 so why not!-lol

This!! Main reason I will squeeze in one more trip before my youngest turns 3!

Seriously though, babies once they sleep through the night (or at least only one predictable awakening) until they start becoming mobile and eating solids are quite easy and portable and content. The sweet spot for taking an easy baby is around five months IMHO, and we took both of ours for their first trips at this time. Right around 12-13 months is okay, too, but neither of our children were walking then so I think that actually makes it easier. We took our oldest at 21 months which was not our greatest trip but it was also early June when things were getting busy. 2.5 years was fantastic, and it's only been uphill since then.

I think the key is going at a quieter time of year and when the weather is not blazing hot.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

4 ish for her, anytime for you.

 

[bruhl1j]

We took our 18 month old DN last year. She was the highlight of the trip. Her reactions to the characters, the parades, and watching her try to catch the firefly in It's Tough to be a Bug was outstanding. A word of warning however. When we went to her second birthday party, it was wall to wall Minnie Mouse. She was totally hooked.

Just take into account age and the sleep and feeding patterns before you go. Since you are DVC members, try to do everything in one trip is over. Enjoy the little moments.

 

[bandksmommy]

My parents and siblings and I had planned a family trip far in advance, and when we finally ended up going I had a 9 month old. It wouldn't have been as much fun if it were just my tiny little family (with just the hubs and I to take turns with the baby we wouldn't have been able to go on big rides together) but with extended family it was actually a lot of fun. He was old enough to enjoy the music and meeting the characters and the baby friendly rides and shows. I actually think that he did better at that age meeting the characters than my kids will do on this trip (he'll be 7 and DD will be almost 4 and I don't think either of them are going to want to go near a character).

 

[GAGirlInVA]

We took our children in December of 2010.

They were 7, 4, 18 months and 6 months. They all had a special first time.

I don't think there is a perfect age. There are special things about them all.

I had an especially touching moment with Fantasmic Mickey and our then 6 month old. He doesn't remember it, but I do. That is what vacation is about--- making memories.

 

[Ragnrok23]

So my wife an I are Disney fanatics. We have have vacationed to Disney World four times in the last three years, but have done so alone. But, we are expecting our first child, a girl, in almost 3 months! My question is at what age do you think it is the best time to start taking your child to Disney? Of course my wife and I have made many observations as being a childless couple and visiting the parks such as, it seems like taking an infant would be okay because of the amount of time the baby will sleep, but that is pretty much just an excuse for the parents to go to Disney, haha. It also seems like ages 1-2 might be a tough period because they won't enjoy it to its entirety and might even be scared and overwhelmed by experience.

I ask this mainly because we are DVC members and I am trying to strategically figure out what we want to do with our points in the meanwhile. Thank you for any tips!

Just wanted to say congratulations, our first DS was born 2/25. Since our favorite time of year to go is Dec (then Oct) we are going in 12/14 & 10/15, gotta get 2 trips out of the AP's

Also we are staying at BLT this Dec also, so you there

 

[dtr_angel]

We took our DS last year at 9 months. He wasn't mobile yet. It was such a magical trip I'm so glad we took him. We're going again this year at 21 & 29 months and in 2015 for his 3rd birthday.

 

[jlsmith376]

We have taken our kids at all ages from 6 months to 6 years. I would say from my experience that the very early age (before walking) was actually the easiest. Around age 2-3 my kids really started to know/enjoy the characters and had a little more patience to wait in line. On our last trip my youngest was about 14 months and started walking on the first day of our trip. That was pretty neat. Yes he was scared of the characters, but it is just a phase and has already passed. Every age will have its challenges. Some people will wonder why you are going because the kids won't remember it. Some of our best memories are from our first trip, and our kids will never remember that trip, but we will.

 

[myrheille]

We took our daughter at two years old and it was awesome. We had previously prepped her so she'd know all the characters and the complete joy on her face was the highlight of our trip. I thought I'd miss going on the "big rides" (even with baby-swap, it took too much time) but her glee at meeting Mulan more than made up for it. I also thought I'd be annoyed at having less time in the parks when we went back for nap time, but it ended up being much more relaxing for us, too! (Especially at BLT, which is the best hotel for mid-day breaks, imo, since it's only a very short walk from MK, where we spent all our nights.)

I would also take a baby before they're six months old, especially if you're breastfeeding, because then they are so portable! And the baby care centers are amazing.

Basically go early, go often, and enjoy while you don't have to make them miss school!

 

[cys873]

Congratulations to you on the new upcoming arrival! We're expecting ourselves in August, and I was hoping to go in October of 2015. I think it really is dependent on what your baby is like, and when you feel that it'd be a good time to take them. As long as you can handle the trip and also enjoy it yourself, I think it's going to be a magical and fantastic new twist on the parks whenever you do choose to go!

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

Congrats! I think any age is a great age to go!

I will admit I didn't read the other replies so I apologize if I repeat things already mentioned.

We took our first born when she was 7 months old. We had a fabulous time!! I didn't think I would enjoy having to be more laid back than usual since we had an infant with us but I did, I really enjoyed that vacation. It was so relaxed. We took her the next time when she was 2 and she had the time of her life! She napped in the stroller when needed and we all had a blast.

My other two children both had their first visit around the age of 1 and then again at 2 and the other one 3.

I like to get them in as many times as I can before we have to start paying for them sadly we missed the "free" for my youngest by 2 months on our last trip, oh well!.

People often said to me, "Why take them now? They won't remember anything. You should wait until they are older." Well I planned to take them when they were older anyway so that didn't matter to me but even so who cares if they don't remember the vacation, I do! I cherish the memories and the pictures of their first smile at Mickey, their giggles on It's a Small World, and the delight of their first taste of a Mickey bar.

 

[DawnM]

My first went at around 12 months. My second started going at 2 months.

Lots of babies at Disney World. Heck, if you wait, you might then be expecting your second, then what? Wait again?

Just go, have fun.

 

[AZMermaid]

For us, 9-10 months was a great age! 13 months was awful and over 2 was super fun again. I would not take a baby under 4 months, at least not without refundable accommodations and travel. My son had colic and screamed like someone was ripping his arms off from 5-10PM every night from 3-13 weeks. He fussed all day and hardly napped. There is absolutely no way we could have traveled with him, even though many people say kids that young are a breeze. Most are.... my daughter was, but after my experience with my son.... no way. I am fairly convinced we would have been asked to leave a hotel since there was not a thing you could do to make the crying stop.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

If you are a true Disney addict, I think any age can be manageable and fun.

We took our DD at 4 months (well, she turned 4 months the day after we got home.) last Fall. It was a wonderful trip.


It was a pretty last minute trip--we had ruled out a 2013 trip and were planning on taking her for the first time this fall when she will be 14 months. Well, after we got over the hump of figuring out how to be parents of a newborn, we were itching to go back to WDW in 2013.

She was alert, paid attention to what was going on during rides, watched may shows, and got her pictures taken with lots of characters. Priceless photographs to say the least.

I would definitely wait until the baby is born before you book any trip prior to the baby being at least 6 months--you just don't know how those early days will go. But I would definitely recommend going with a baby--we had a great time!

 

[BadgerGirl84]

For us, 9-10 months was a great age! 13 months was awful and over 2 was super fun again. I would not take a baby under 4 months, at least not without refundable accommodations and travel. My son had colic and screamed like someone was ripping his arms off from 5-10PM every night from 3-13 weeks. He fussed all day and hardly napped. There is absolutely no way we could have traveled with him, even though many people say kids that young are a breeze. Most are.... my daughter was, but after my experience with my son.... no way. I am fairly convinced we would have been asked to leave a hotel since there was not a thing you could do to make the crying stop.

I totally agree--we had an awesome time with our 3 month old, but there is no way in heck I would plan a trip with a baby that age until they were born and you were fairly certain it would go well (somewhat sleeping through the night, napping okay in the stroller, etc.)

 

[JessZacc]

Every child is different. Babies are easy to take. I brought my oldest son for the first time when he was 9 months old. He was an angel. The second trip with kids my oldest was 3 and my second son was 15 months. The second d son was pretty hard a 15 months. He wanted to walk all the time but was still very little. He would get tired after many hours and begin tantrums and such. My older son was 3 that trip though and he was good. They are totally different personalities though. Now we are going to our 3rd time with kids this May and we have a 5, 3 and 9 month old at the time so we shall see what this trip brings. I definitely stay think your first trip with only one child to look after will be your easiest. Good luck!