What do you say to people...

[maxie]

who keep questioning why you would take a 17/18 month old to DL????!!!!!
My MIl to start with is the worst offender. (and my neighbour however on her part I think she's a bit jealous)
The plane ride is the only thing I'm concerned about. We plan on keeping the trip simple and child friendly, (and eating at McDonalds a lot!!). We realize he may not remember it but who cares? He doesn't remember going to the cottage last week but he still went!
I get so frustrated trying to explain to my MIl why we are going. Besides when we get back from California we may start trying for #2 and I would prefer to do one nice trip now before having to have 2 small children in tow.
Anyone else gotten comments like this?

 

[disneychrista]

My ex husband gave me grief for taking our girls to disneyland when they were 3 & 5. His comment was why are you spending all that money when they won't remember it?

I really hate that comment. There are many things we do to, for and with our children that they will not remember, do we not do anything with them?

IMO, I don't do things to have memories of them, I do them because they are fun while I am doing them. The same applies to my children.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font color=navy>I would say that it doesn't matter that they won't remember, because I will remember, and those will be memories I treasure.

We took both kids when they were about 18 months (probably younger w/my first born), and I will always remember how we looked for Mickey all day long. We finally saw Mickey as we were leaving, and my ds was sound asleep in his stroller. One of my favorite pics of all time is Mickey standing next to my sleeping son.

My ds (now 16) may look at that picture and kind of smile, but I will look at that picture and remember a day full of fun and wonder with my little one .... that's MY memory, and no one can or will ever take it away.

Have a wonderful time as you make your own magical memories.

 

[cantsitstill]

We have been taking our boys to Disneyland since they were born! My older son's first trip was when he was 2 weeks old! Son #2 went at 2 months old. And we've been going regularly ever since. At 12 and 10, they both have Disney in their hearts and I always say it's because they were introduced to it at such an early age. They both are Disney freaks as much as their parents If you planned everything on whether it will be remembered or not, you couldn't plan anything with young children! They love it for the moment and it's just another magical family memory to store away. You know how everyone has that "oldest memory you can remember"? Wouldn't it be wonderful if your child's earliest memory is at Disneyland?

 

[only1mouse]

Back in 1996 a won a trip to anywhere I wanted to fly to in the United States. My DS at the time was 2. I ended up deciding on WDW it has been our first and only trip so far. He does not remember the trip at all, but he looks at the pictures and I remember everything we did. It was nice spending time with him away from our "lives" and I know he had such a wonderful time.

Everyone thought I'd go to Hawaii, but what on earth would I do in Hawaii with a 2 year old.....

So, I'd say to them - it's great family time and although they won't remember everything (or for that matter anything) it's time and money well spent.

 

[DisneyPete]

The same thing I say to someone who tells me how to be a better parent to my child - NOTHING. I generally just give them a "Are you ridiculous?" look and go about my life as happily as possible.

And don't worry about the flight. I have flown a number of times with very small children and they have never been a problem. Plus you get to board the plane early and get all situated before your seatmates come crashing in on you. Most kids are just fine with flying and are simply bored like 90% of the adults on the trip.

Have a great time!

 

[Tinkerbellish]

You know, one of MY earliest memories is at Disneyland. I think I was maybe 4 at the time and I have quite vivid memories of it.

 

[iceskatejen]

My earliest memory is of Disneyland. I was 2. I remember being pushed in my stroller in the parking lot over by the giant hedge covered fence near Adventureland (the Mickey & Friends tram runs by there now). That's it. I remember my next trip when I was 6 with great fondness, though. Except for the fireworks--loud banging sounds scared me back then.

 

[dletz]

It doesn't matter if your child remembers his or her first time, what matters is the memories created for the family. Haven't you ever looked back at pictures of you as a child and even though you didn't remember the picture being taken, you remember that you parents cared enough to give you joy even though the memories may not last.

Your child will have many new experiences, and learn many new things even if the trip is not remember in ten years time. He will remember the trip for the next few years anyway. I can't tell you how many things my daughter remembers. We live in Anaheim and have gone frequently. I love the Christmas parade and go see it every year. She saw it at a year old (her birthday is in december) and we went back for her 2nd birthday and she saw the christmas parade again. As the parade started she said, this is the parade with the snow people. She hadn't seen any commercials and we hadn't told her about it. She remembered it from the year before. She routinely (and has done so for years) tells us where we parked when we can't remember. We went to WDW when she was 3 1/2. (2 years ago) Last month we were looking at WDW maps. She stops at one and says we didn't been here. I said yes we did that was the park with Little mermaid and the Tower of Terror ride. She says no, we didn't been here, as she is pointing to the map. I look at the map and she is pointing to Catastrophe canyon. She was correct we didn't go there, as that ride was down for rehab when we were there.

The first time my daughter ever actually followed something with her eyes was on Small world. We have pictures taken every year of her with Santa at Disneyland (except her first santa picture which was a mall Santa as she was only 10 days old). We also have a bunch of pictures of her year curled up on pluto's bed in Mickey's house. I love to look back at all these pictures and see show much she has grown.

Disneyland has great baby care centers. You can change a diaper, use a little potty, feed a child in a high chair, read a book, nurse a child, all in nice comfortable air conditioning. The CMs who work in there are nice and friendly and we visit almost every time we go.

 

[Amberle3]

Well gee, I mean really if you use their logic why would you take a child that age anywhere you didn't absolutely have to? I mean, why get them christmas presents or birthday presents, it's not like they're going to remember. Or have a birthday party for them. Why take them to the beach, or out to the park?

If your MIL is going to concede that maybe it's worthwhile to give christmas or birthday presents, or to have a birthday party for a 2 year old, then tell her that going to DL is no different at all from these things.

 

[year2late]

We took our son for the first time when he was 2. He had a grand time. It is way cool having 8 years worth of DL pictures. I hope he still wants to take pictures with Mickey when he is 15!

I have to admit, though, seeing young babies there in the hot sun does freak me out. Many of them wail incessently and parents seem to make the decison to stay because there is an older sibling . The parents look tense, the baby looks unhappy and the sibling is cranky becasue he doesn't get the attention.I have seen this way too many times. I think alot of the success of bringing very young children depends on the touring styles.

 

[dcfromva]

My youngest niece was 4 weeks old the first time she went. I remember carrying her on my shoulder as we were walking around--she, peeking out from the blanket. Then, the next time we went she was just learning to walk. She was fascinated with all the beautiful flowers!
She's 5 now and she carries around an autograph book and she pursues character's signatures. She still loves to go on It's a Small World and Storybook land.

Kids grow up so fast... Enjoy those magical times when they are wee little ones. The naysayers are probably right about your child not remembering, but you will hold the memory for your child...
(My niece loves to hear about when she was a baby )
-DC

 

[AStarOnMars]

My earliest memory of going to dl was when I was 5.

As for babies and toddlers in the parks ... I don't see a problem with them ... I think the characters and colors around the park probably do wonders for stimulating their brains ...

I just hate seeing babies in the park with no protection from the sun, no little hat, no shade in the strollers, it really bothers me.

 

[challada]

My kids have been going since they were infants to both DL and WDW....since we take lots of pictures, videos, etc, both of my kids "remember" going from about the time they were 15-18 months old. DD who is now 4 has been about 6 times b/w the two parks now and can distinctly talk about different things on different trips.

When we first started taking my older one at about 15 months, I told folks that we went because it was fun for all of us. We took loads of pictures with characters and, even at 9, he loves looking back on his "baby pictures".

Frankly, having done every age out there....MY favorite was when the kids were toddlers as the characters and CMs really take time with them, you can make lots of rest stops without feeling like your missing something and you get babyswap privledges!

 

[dsnylndmom]

My oldest went for the first time at 18 mths, the youngest a week after his 1st birthday and I have special memories of both those trips! I loved taking the boys at these ages, they were enthralled with the colors, the characters everything! Much like one of the above posters my youngest wanted to see Mickey alllll day and when we FINALLY did he also was fast alseep.

Next year we'll being taking "our little souveiner" from our trip to DL 4 weeks ago!(Just found out I'm pregnant and we conceived at DL Hotel )and the baby will be 4 mths old! I had one family member say "so you aren't going next year for the 50th now huh" Yes, we will be going, yes my newest will be only 4 mths old. But, we'll be taking full advantage of the baby center & that's what baby swap is for right!! !

So, just don't answer 'em when people say "why are you taking him so young" You know you'll have a wonderful time and the memories and pictures will be priceless!

 

[katerkat]

LOL - I have no advice. I was perfectly willing to take a 6-week old to DL in May 2005. Now we've pushed back the date to the fall, so the baby (should be) about six months old. My husband thinks I'm insane, but he's not invited anyway. (I'm going with friends.)

My parents took me to WDW when I was 7 months. I don't remember it - but my parents and grandparents have fond memories. Apparently, I didn't sleep, just watched EVERYTHING.

 

[maxie]

Well my MIL is in town on Wednesday perhaps I should mention the fact that I've booked the trip.....he he he.

We purposely have chosen DL over WDW thinking it will be easier with a toddler (closer to hotel, etc).

Thing that bugs me the most is that my ILs have never even been to any Disney park! So how can they judge if it's a good place to take a small child!

We're planning on building a house next year and selling our current home (it's too small for raising a family). My ILs keep saying "You shouldn't be going to California if you want to move next year...you should put the $ away for the house."
Okay we're not kids here. I bought our current home on my own waaaaaaaaaaay before I met your son and I know how to plan our future without your input!!

I don't care if we spend half the afternoon crawling around Chip and Dale's Treehouse if that's what my son wants. Sure beats seating at home on my holidays!!