WDW with very young children

[rosetravels]

Hi, my husband, two and a half year old boy and myself are planning on going to WDW in late October for a week and meeting up with his sister, her husband and their by then, five month old girl (they are flying over from Australia, which is where we are originally from too ) .

Do you think visiting WDW with a 5 month old and 2.5 yr old is a good idea or should we wait until they are older??? I wonder if I'm just really pushing the idea of going as the last time we visited was 1998 and I'd love to return!

Also, after reading quite a few posts on the subject, I thought that if we did go it would be good to try and rent some points for a 2BR villa, but I've read that you should get references and a contract. Is there a standard contract out there that people use???

Sorry for all the questions, but I really hope you can help .

 

[JVL1018]

Hi, my husband, two and a half year old boy and myself are planning on going to WDW in late October for a week and meeting up with his sister, her husband and their by then, five month old girl (they are flying over from Australia, which is where we are originally from too ) .

Do you think visiting WDW with a 5 month old and 2.5 yr old is a good idea or should we wait until they are older??? I wonder if I'm just really pushing the idea of going as the last time we visited was 1998 and I'd love to return!

.

WE took DD when she was 3 1/2 months, 10 months, 13 months, 19 months, and then 2 yrs when DS was 13 months...and then once a year thereafter since(the kids are 3 and 5 now)
Easy peasy, we had no problems whatsoever. We are not commando park goers, which probably made a difference. We took the baby on everything except the thrill rides, which we used baby swap for.
2 1/2 is a wonderful age, as well-lots of magical moments to be had!
If this will be your only trip ever I'd say wait, but if you're going to be coming back in the not too distnat future, I see no reason to not bring children so young.

 

[rosetravels]

Wow, that's impressive! I guess I was more concerned about my 5 month old niece than my DS (or maybe I'm just worried my sister-in-law will not be able to enjoy herself as much - even though we'd "child swap" with each other).

Hopefully this will not be our last trip to WDW ever either!

 

[emmasmom]

along that same train of thought....did anyone question you re: the age of your child? Since my daughter is only going to be 4 weeks shy of 3 on our trip, I'm wondering is anyone is going to give us a hard time about not paying for her tickets, etc. Thanks! Amy

 

[lisareniff]

Vicki said it well. WDW is made for kids. You won't have any problems. Just take it slow and go back to the room in the afternoon.

IF this is your only trip for a while I would wait, but if not, then go for it!

 

[JimFitz]

We went last September with our twin boys (2 1/2 years) and our third son who was about 7 months. It was a blast!!! We spent alot of time in MK but ventured to Epcot at night for a nice walk around the pavillion.

Go for it.

 

[JimFitz]

Stay at VWL if you can. The boat ride to MK is terriffic if you have young kids.

 

[JimMIA]

along that same train of thought....did anyone question you re: the age of your child? Since my daughter is only going to be 4 weeks shy of 3 on our trip, I'm wondering is anyone is going to give us a hard time about not paying for her tickets, etc. Thanks! Amy

We faced that situation in February. Our DD3goingon23 was turning 3 in a little over a month, and she's in the 90th percentile in height, so she looks somewhat older than she really is. We even took a copy of her birth certificate to prove she was only two! Nobody even asked.

If you're concerned, though, just take a copy of the birth cert.

 

[rosetravels]

Thanks for all the feedback .

My initial choice was to stay at VWL because the idea of the boat to MK appealed, but I think that to get in is virtually impossible (we want to arrive 10/22 and depart 10/29). Our next choice would be a 2BR in OKW, which after reading so many great reports about the room sizes etc, I wonder whether it should actually be my FIRST choice.

Can anyone tell me if you rent DVC points from someone, whether that still entitles you to the Disney transportation (and airport transfers) OR do you have to cover that cost yourself??? If you hire a car, are you entitled to the free parking at the parks or do you have to pay the normal parking fee?

Sorry for all the probably silly questions!

 

[emmasmom]

We rented points for a visit in November and the DVC member set up the Magical Express for us for free. Hope it works becasue it would certainly be easier with the little ones!

 

[rosetravels]

along that same train of thought....did anyone question you re: the age of your child? Since my daughter is only going to be 4 weeks shy of 3 on our trip, I'm wondering is anyone is going to give us a hard time about not paying for her tickets, etc. Thanks! Amy

My DS is in the 90th percentile for height and even now (he is currently 2.5) everyone always confuses him for being much older than he is. As Jim suggested, I was thinking of bringing along his birth certificate and/or passport - just in case!

 

[mom2alix]

If you're planning to go this October, you definitely want to have someone checking on 2 bedroom availability now. I believe that is still Food and Wine festival time, which is quite popular. I know the Epcot resorts book up fast, but then it starts to spill over to the others too. Good luck and enjoy your trip!

 

[rosetravels]

If you're planning to go this October, you definitely want to have someone checking on 2 bedroom availability now. I believe that is still Food and Wine festival time, which is quite popular. I know the Epcot resorts book up fast, but then it starts to spill over to the others too. Good luck and enjoy your trip!

Thanks for the advice. I just got off the phone to the family in Australia and they're happy to try their luck with their baby, so WDW, here we come! Next stop - trying to rent points

 

[gopherit]

OKW is a lovely place to be with toddlers and babies... laid-back, spacious, plenty of room. We should know, we took our youngest when she was about 8 mos old and her brothers were 4 and 5! (I liked getting a ground floor at OKW -- easier on little legs and you can roll your baby stroller right into your room! ) It was also great to have plenty of floor space to spread out a blanket, lay her on the floor and let her kick her legs! Having the fridge and kitchen handy was a huge help, as well, especially for the toddler set. It was great giving them most b'fasts in the villa (at a real table and chairs!) because little folks tire of being on "bestest restaurant manners" for every meal. SOme cereal and such in the a.m. worked great to tide our tots over until a nice sit-down lunch (such as at Crystal Palace with Pooh!)

We also have stayed at VWL (dd was 2 for that trip!) Very nice as well, made for easy trips back from MK in the afternoon for a nap. I like the baby pool at WL -- very big! And the ambiance of that lodge --- oooh, THAT LODGE! I just love it! It's very awesome for adults -- so imagine it through a 2 yr olds' eyes! I think it's soothing, too -- the cool quiet of a winter lodge. We brought the toddlers back for a nap one day and I played cards and ate popcorn with my older son while dd and her cousin (also 2) slept peacefully in the bedroom. A storm rolled over the area -- but it felt so cozy in that villa! After it passed, the toddlers were up, refreshed and ready to roll!

Frankly, I'd take EITHER resort in a heartbeat!

October should be quite pleasant. About the only time I advocate thinking twice with a baby at WDW is in the summer heat (they can dehydrate so quickly). Be sure to use those baby stations. My SIL used them on this last trip to WDW (her baby was 8 mos) and said they were quite nice!

Just take it at a kids' pace, stop to smell the roses as they say, revel in their wonder and you'll be fine...( heck, you'll be BETTER than "Fine"! You'll be in Disney!)

BTW -- what part of Australia? I lived in Adelaide for a year.... sure would love to go back for a visit, but alas, marriage, jobs and kids kept gettin' in the way, LOL!

 

[rosetravels]

BTW -- what part of Australia? I lived in Adelaide for a year.... sure would love to go back for a visit, but alas, marriage, jobs and kids kept gettin' in the way, LOL!

We're from Melbourne, Victoria but my DH's parents were originally from Adelaide and hence that's where a lot of the family is. Many a 10 hour drive did we do from Melbourne to Adelaide for a family event or Christmas! Adelaide is a lovely calm place - and I love the dry heat (the humidity was one thing that I have found a bit of difficulty acclimatising to in NC, but 4 years on I guess I'm more used to it now!).

Hope you get to take the family to Australia one day - it's a fun place to explore and obviously there's no problem with the language (mostly anyway ).

Re: your advice, will definitely try and get a ground floor villa as traipsing up and down stairs with small children and strollers is no fun for anyone!

 

[rocketriter]

Totally, totally depends on the individual child. We took our son at 5 and he was overwhelmed, cried and wanted to hide in his room for half the trip. Finally, on the Peter Pan ride, he "got it" and understood that a ride was fun and not terror in the dark. On the other hand, our daughter is fearless and could have enjoyed the parks at any age.

In any case, it's probably best to break every day in half with a return to your room for a swim and/or nap. The time spent in transportation might seem like a waste. But the kids will do much better than when going commando all day, and you'll all have more fun.

 

[rosetravels]

In any case, it's probably best to break every day in half with a return to your room for a swim and/or nap. The time spent in transportation might seem like a waste. But the kids will do much better than when going commando all day, and you'll all have more fun.

Let's hope my DS is like your DD! I agree that a full day can be too much, which is one of the reasons we're also looking at hiring a mini-van (nothing worse than a tired child who wants to leave NOW - and there is no bus around). At least having our own transportation gives us an option.

Thanks for your input.

 

[rocketriter]

Have a fabulous trip!

 

[lllovell]

It sounds like you are going to have a BLAST! We started taking our children when our youngest was not yet two and its weird, but NOW that he is 3 and 1/2, he doesn't want to ride some things while back then, he would try anything! (they do become aware and understand in phases). There is a ton you can do with a small child in tow (even a baby) and I would not hesitate to go with them early in life.

We stayed at OKW this past spring break with our 3 and 5 year olds and I was about 8 weeks pregnant (imagine green gills all the time and you have the picture lol hard trip for mommy) but the OKW atmosphere, laid back feel, open spaces, large rooms, etc ALL made it a wonderful trip! I would stay there again in a heartbeat! We were on the 2nd floor, so we simply put the stroller in the car when we walked by it and then went up to the room, but I can see how being on the first floor with a smaller child would be easier. Either way, just know its not that difficult to get in and out of the rooms!

I haven't tried the other resorts yet, but I can see so many positives about each one, so I know you will have fun no matter WHERE you go!

Laura

 

[tamu91]

Just remember to go at their pace. Weather should not be a problem so try to keep their normal routine, if at all possible, and enjoy the magic.