What is a good age for a first trip?

[Karebear]

Hello

DH and I just had our first child (DS was born in July) and I can't wait to introduce him to WDW. I actually went to WDW when I was pregnant with him and purchased many baby items while I was there.

Anyway, since we live in CA, I was thinking of going to Disneyland as a first trip for him in Sept. of 2004 (he will be 14 months old). If any of you have experiences with a 14 month old at either Disneyland or the MK that you would like to share (either good or bad), I would really appreciate it. DH thinks that 14 months is too young, but I think that DS would enjoy the characters and just looking around.

Also, since I am a newbie parent, I am curious as to how parents wash out bottles, etc. Did you just wash them in the hotel bathroom sink? Since DS is currently only 2 months old I am still sterilizing bottles, etc.

Thanks in advance for any input that you have!

 

[tricia]

ANY AGE. OK, that being said I took my DS at 20 months. Not because we were waiting or anything, just because that was the time of year we wanted to go. He loved everything, looking around, the rides with no height restriction, and the characters to a degree. We had to keep our distance, but he loved looking at them and did not cry at character meals either, just as long as they don't come on too strong. We had our 6 yr old DS and my parents with us, so little one would nap in his stroller with Nana while older one rode big rides with us. That was six months ago, and still when he sees the castle on a TV commercial he says "Disney, go there, now". It is sooooo cute.

 

[BevS97]

I'm taking a 3 month old in December - that's probably a little young for her to appreciate it, but we had to postpone our trip while I was pregnant and that was as long as I could wait

I have travelled with my eldest dd and we washed the bottles in the sink, I took a bottle brush and some washing up liquid, then we sterilised them, I'm from the UK and we sterilise up to a year over here, but I gather that's not the case in the US, anyway, to sterilise I have used both chemical sterilisation which is basically a plastic bag with a tablet in it which you fill with water and then you soak the bottles for 10 minutes - this works well but the bottles smell a little funny afterwards.

We have also used a steam steriliser, you can get travel sized ones over there, I assume you can get them in the States too.

In December we are staying in an apartment so we will use a microwave steam steriliser which is basically a plastic box that you put some water in and it steams the bottles.

Bev

 

[MinnieGi]

We took DD now 3yo on her first WDW trip at 14 months. She had a blast and so did we!!! DD loved the characters. She posed for pictures and ate a breakfast with them and truly liked the interaction. Chip even fed her her bottle while at 'Ohana's breakfast! Even at 14 months there are quite a few rides they can go on. Her favorite that trip was the carousel. We'd get off and she'd point back and say, "again" and of course as first time parents we just kept going back again!!! She liked the fireworks at MK, but Illuminations proved to be too much. Although she liked the action in the sky, she did not like the "fireball" on the lake. So we dashed out of there! She really loved the swimming pool at our resort which was WL on that trip. She swam every afternoon and sometimes at night too. Something I thought was cute - she would wake up every morning and run to her stroller and start banging on it and pointing toward the door and say, "out!" She caught on quickly to all the fun that lie before her outside that door!!!!

It was a really magical trip for all of us. I know DD doesn't remember any of it, but I have the pictures and fond memories!

The only downside of taking your child so young is that you realize what a perfect place WDW is to vacation for your family and start making annual and then twice a year trips!!!!! DD who just turned 3 will be on her fourth WDW trip later this month and trip numer five is in Feb!!!

Oh about the bottle washing. I know at 2 months you are being so good and sterilizing well by 14 you won't be!!! So washing and filling become easier. I washed her bottles in our hotel sink, brought extra dishtowles for this purpose and my bottle washer and of course some dish soap. By 14 months they'll also be using sippy cups so I washed them too. Good luck and congratulations on your baby!!!

 

[Kimberle]

Our dd was 2.5 on her first trip. She is a preemie and we did not travel with her earlier.

2.5 was a wonderful time. She really, really enjoyed herself. She loved the characters. We did a couple character meals as well. When she was tired, she'd nap in the stroller (we'd sit under a nice shady tree.)

3.5 was hard. She was very determined to "have her own way".

4.5 was again wonderful. She was a bit more laid back. Still LOVED the characters. She was not ready for anything "scary", so we stayed away from dark/loud, etc rides.

If you can swing it, I'd highly recommend staying on site. It's so much easier with all the "baby stuff". You can also go a bit lighter to the parks cause you know you're close to your room.

 

[jiminy]

We went when my oldest (now 3) was 1 yo. It was WONDERFUL!!! He loved the characters and enjoyed all of the rides we took him on. We also stayed onsite a the GF, and that made it a lot easier. Also, we had my mom, my sis and my two nieces (who were 19 and 15 at the time) along to help out. If possible, I would definitely stay onsite, at a monorail hotel if possible, and take someone with you who can help out with the bambino. Either way, you are all going to have a ball!

 

[Nette]

We took DD on her first trip at 10 months and again at 14 months.

At 10 months she was terrified of the "furry" characters and we didn't see any princesses.

At 14 months we didn't see any "furry" characters and she was only a bit shy about the princesses.

On both trips she LOVED IASW and on the second trip she really seemed to enjoy (and recognize the characters of) Pooh.

Dunno about the bottles, we haven't used them since before the first trip. My theory on sterilization is that once they can get their hands (and feet!) in their mouth anyway, what is the point?!

 

[KathyFP]

We took DD for the first time when she was 3 1/2. Although many told us she was too young, she had a wonderful time. Now at 5 1/2 and getting ready for our fourth trip, she still remembers things from the first trip.

It was great family bonding time!

 

[NotUrsula]

Your ped. will probably have you take her off bottles by 14 months, or at least suggest that you do so. In the US, most peds will recommend going to sippies at about 9-10 months because of tooth decay issues. Just bring a little bottle of dish liquid and a scrubbie in a ziploc, that works fine.

 

[roserae]

Yep, DS may not even be on a bottle at 14 months. My DD weaned herself (from the breast) at 8 months and has been using a sippy cup ever since and never looked back! I also agree with the poster who said once their hands and feet and everything else is going in there mouths, what's the point? I think I stopped sterilizing fairly early, but then I didn't use a bottle too often.

Have fun on your trip! I think you will have lots to do with a 14 month old. We are bringing our 2 year old on her first trip soon...can't wait. That's what is so great about Disney...it is truly designed for the entire family.

 

[The Disney Bunch]

We took our twin girls to WDW at 10 months, 20 months & we are set to go again with them this month and we have added another baby who will be 6 months old when we go - Any age is great - there are things that the baby can enjoy - at 14 months there will be alot of things that your baby will enjoy - he will see the characters, the shows, the attractions - just be sure to budget in naptime - they do need their naps, esp. at that age - You probably won't have him on a bottle at 14 months - mos ped. advise babies to be off bottles at 1 year - if he still is on a bottle (some little ones are attached for awhile longer!) you won;t be still sterlizing the bottles at that age - just wash them out with hot water and soap.

Good luck! Enjoy the planning - Bring your camera to capture all those wonderful moments - Get the Disney Planning Video and have the baby watch that - my girls love watching it - it gets them 'in the mood'!

 

[Karebear]

I just wanted to thank all those that have responded. Your input and advice is a great help! I can't wait to start planning the trip. I am sure that it will be a lot of fun.

 

[mareed]

I'm in the "any age is good" camp with one exception. I would not want to take a baby that is crawling. A pre-crawling baby would be fine because they're usually content to be carried everywhere. A crawling baby, however, will probably want to get down to crawl often, and there's just not many places where this is feasible. We went to DL when my youngest was 13 months old and my other DS was 4. It was wonderful. Our next trip was WDW when they were 2 1/2 and 5 1/2 and that trip was also great. We got hooked, and we've taken them back every 4-6 months since then. We're looking forward to our Thanksgiving trip when they'll be 4 1/2 and 7 1/2. So, be warned that Disney vacations can be addictive!