Take our three year old to the world or put it off a year?

[meredith1]

We have been planning to take our 3.5 year old daughter to the world for our first trip at the end of November/first week of December.

I am having second thoughts. After it's said and done, the trip is going to cost us about six thousand dollars. My worry is that she isn't old or mature enough to really enjoy it. She tires very easily after running a half day of errands with me.

Spending this kind of money, I want her to be mature enough to really enjoy herself without getting grumpy and making us all miserable. I am/was planning on naps every afternoon after lunch.

My question is for those of you who have gone with older toddlers. Were you glad you did it? Was it was worth the money or do you wish you would have waited another year to get the full impact, enjoyment and your money's worth out of it?

Thank you so much for your input....I'm really struggling with if we should go now or put it off another year until she is 4.5 years old.

 

[imthatgirl]

I can't think of a reason why a 3 1/2yo wouldn't love WDW. All of my kids went younger then that and loved it.

But....we went knowing that we were taking small children who weren't interested in the things that we were. Who also weren't interested in spending all day every day in the parks. So we worked on their schedule, not on ours. Had we tried to push them then we probably would have ended up with grumpy tired toddlers.

I guess the real question is what do YOU want out of the vacation? Are you willing to go back to the resort early because a child is tired, or leave the resort a little later because your child wants to eat leisurely? Or will have a plan that you will want to stick to and expect the child to also stick to it. Honestly if it's the later...then yes I would wait.

 

[mnosky]

We will be going in Nov with our 3.5 year old and I can't wait - she has been talking about our trip that was just before her 3rd birthday literally everyday since we came back.
She napped daily - a few times in teh stoller and most times in the room. We left the park after a "3/4" day and went back to the room - a bit of a pain but we were all tired . A trip would be much easier with no napping kids so if I only had one more trip ever to take- I guess I'd wait another year until she could more easily go without naps - to make it easier on me and DH and my older DD. But I see you have 9 month old twins? - it will be a while before you'll have a trip without anyone napping, right?
Also she is so into princesses right now and by 4.5 my older DD "just knew" characters were people, so this will be a great age for us. AT 3, I thought, she can't sit still at a restaurant, how is she going to do 2 /day and did fine - it was much beter there than at home.

Does this trip HAVE to cost $6000, can you cut costs? We stay deluxe and have never had trip close to $6000 for 3 or 4 of us - but of course discounts seem to have dried up some...

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

Sounds like you may have answered the question for yourself and really want to wait?! We took our boys when they were 4 1/2 and I thought that was the PERFECT age....but they were our firsts....last year my DD was only 15 months and it was fun, but if it were just her we wouldn't have gone....make sense?

Also...we are a family of 6 and have NEVER spent anywhere near $6000 on a trip?!? That 's with airfare, staying on property,and for 7 days!?

 

[dunbarfamily]

I really think ANY age is the perfect age for Disney!! We've taken our children since they've been just babies in slings, and they love it! I think that three and a half is a perfectly magical age! So don't delay!! Go today! (Ok, not really today, but it rhymed and I couldn't resist!!!)

 

[cogero]

depends on you and the child My dd's first trip was at 2 and she loved it. We went 2 years later and she told her grandparents all about her last time there.

My DS's first trip was at 8 months. We go at least twice a year and it is a different experience with children.

It is all what you make it.

 

[dunbarfamily]

I just noticed you mentioned the trip would be $6000. We are a family of six, soon to be seven, and I've never paid that much. I'd say at the most we pay about 4000, and that's airfare, dining plan, tickets, value hotel. If we use our DVC points our trips are even less. You don't need to explain your numbers, I just thought it odd it'd be so much. If you want to spend less, I can offer some tips on different Disney properties or airfare or whatever for you if you're interested. Just message me so your thread doesn't get off topic.

 

[Eddie75]

Between the ages of 18 months and 4 years old my daughter visited WDW fives times. She enjoyed it each time and by the time she was 3 she knew where in Magic Kingdom rides were located. My son is going for his first trip in August at 17 months old. The moments with my daughter when she was younger were precious and are memories we'll never forget.Now we'll create Disney memories with our son too.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

I would not trade my memories with my little girl at the age of 2 for anything!

We went back again when she was 4 and again at 5 and again at 6. Now, we are going at 7!

A few weeks ago, I re-watched our videos from her first trip, when she was 2 years old. Nothing compares with it. The thrill on her face was so complete. There was no hint of being self-conscious. It was pure delight!

I agree that you can scale back and not spend so much, too.

A couple of things I found here on the Disboards made me go look at the videos of my little girl's first trip to Disney. Someone posted a youtube link that was worth more than a thousand words. It is absolutely precious. From the video and the pictures, anyone can see how much Disney means to the little ones! If you watch the youtube link, let me know what you think. I love it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ieBDAlRaqw


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2696012

 

[meredith1]

Sounds like you may have answered the question for yourself and really want to wait?! We took our boys when they were 4 1/2 and I thought that was the PERFECT age....but they were our firsts....last year my DD was only 15 months and it was fun, but if it were just her we wouldn't have gone....make sense?

Also...we are a family of 6 and have NEVER spent anywhere near $6000 on a trip?!? That 's with airfare, staying on property,and for 7 days!?

We are staying at CR w/ MK view, dining plan, airfare, MVMCP tickets and six days....it all adds up. I booked with a 40% room PIN but, lost it when I changed dates-go figure.

 

[Belle-To-Be]

DD was 27 months the first time and it was magical. She knew the characters from the books we'd read and I honestly cried when she met Snow White. She was in awe. The look on her face was worth the trip. Of course it didn't cost $6000 either.

People (ok, my mom mostly) said she wouldn't remember it and it was a waste of money. Like I said, the look on her face was enough. She did remember it though and asked me every week for a year "when are we going back to Disney World?"

The next year we went and she was taller and we could do different rides, etc. . . Each time we enjoyed it, but ultimately it's up to you.

I say, since you're asking for our opinions, downscale and go this year and next for a total of $6K.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

We are staying at CR w/ MK view, dining plan, airfare, MVMCP tickets and six days....it all adds up. I booked with a 40% room PIN but, lost it when I changed dates-go figure.

Is your airfare tied to the package? If not, I would try to change the package to a time when there is a discount, even if you have to cancel the trip and rebook it. You have chosen the best resort for bringing three children under the age of four, but the Wilderness Lodge is great, too. You could take a taxi to the park. That would be less expensive than the CR without a discount.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

Like I said, the look on her face was enough.

I know just what you mean

 

[mjkacmom]

I've been to WDW many times, my oldest 2 went at 2 and 4, and we did the BIG trip (BC Villas) when my twins were almost 5, and it was perfect! They no longer needed a nap, were content to sit in restaurants, and could go on the Mountains! They were also strong swimmers. I know many here are saying to go, but these same people seem to go almost every year. I got the impression that this is a once in a lifetime BIG trip, and you want to time it right. My 2 oldest enjoyed the parks, as much as the hotel pool, and have no memories of the trip.

Why not scale it back, and go now, and plan a BIG trip when your child is over, and will really appreciate it (ds13 still talks about our villa, and the Storm Along Bay.).

 

[PHXscuba]

One thing to consider is your DD's height. Is she going to just miss the height requirements on a lot of fun rides? We deliberately waited until our kids were over 40 inches for their first trip to Disneyland, where they can ride almost everything at 40 inches. There are quite a few more things she will be able to ride at 40 inches if she's interested.

Is this a good time to take your twins? Do you think it would be easier or harder with them in a year? Would they be over 2 and require plane tickets then?

PHXscuba

 

[figment3258]

We loved taking our girls when they were young I ave taken a 11 month a 15 month a two and a half and a 3 year old also older too but we have some of the best memories when they were little. They were great no matter what age I say go you will love it.

 

[tiffjoy]

We took our daughter to Disneyland for her first birthday (we live in CA). My DH was against it at first, saying she wouldn't remember it and it wouldn't be as fun, but he gave in.

We all loved it! DH and I have the most precious memories from that trip. My DD might not remember, but I always will.

We took her to Disneyworld for the first time at Christmas, and she was 16 months. Again, we had a blast.

Our next trip is to DL in September, and she will be 25 months old.

We always take it easy, go at her pace, leave for naps if necessary, and we haven't made it past 9:30 pm yet, and usually leave at dinnertime. But we don't mind, and to tell you the truth, we have had more fun going with her than all the other times combined. It created very special memories, adn she had so much fun, as did we. Will she remember it? Who knows... but we will, and she had fun at the time, even if she doesn't remember.

 

[deuceswild10]

$6000, wow! I agree with others, get the cost down and then go and have fun.

 

[dilligaf212]

We went this past Feb.. my son had just turned 3 in Nov and he had a blast.. My son usually takes naps every day at home but didn't take one the whole time we were on vacation(i did try).. he was never cranky but i also let him sleep in and didn't worry about getting up and being at the parks for rope drop.

 

[Chee Chick]

We took DS to WDW for the first time when he was 3 1/2 years old. He did great and loved every minute of it! It was a great trip. We enjoyed it so much that we went back a few months after he turned 4. I say go ahead with your trip as planned.