When to Bring kids For First Time

[TrickStar Rider]

Hi

I have 17 month old twins, and we are wanting to go to DL. Are they too young? I understand they wouldn't get on rides and the like, but they love MIckey and would like to get them indoctrinated.

If anybody has views on the best time for their first trip, I would like to hear them.

Should we stay on site? Do they have cribs and stuff?

Thanks
Jake

 

[geishagirl81]

I've never been to WDW before, so I have no advice there. But we have taken our son who is 2 plenty of places already, including Cape Cod when he was a little baby. I don't think kids that age are too young to go. Sure, they may not remember it, but they will love the experiance. And on the plus side, you have a great excuse to go back, lol!

 

[TrickStar Rider]

Ya, pretty much what I figured. I have swallowed the pill, so we are Disney full on now.

It would be cool to get pix of them in Disneyland.

 

[kimmylaj]

i think i speak for a lot of people when i say go now. if you are going to go often because you love the mouse, there is nothing like seeing your little one run to mickey and give him a kiss. my ds took his 1st trip to disney at 15 months, dd 9 months. dd is 2 and has been there at 9 m, 18m, 2y and our next trip is planned for 3. she loved it each and every time. kids can ride tons of stuff at that age, and it is priceless in my opinion. i know lots of people like to wait til they can remember, but you know what i can remember it is my vacation too, and i love to see the joy on their faces.. if this were a once in a lifetime thing i would say to wait, but since you seem to be a mickey lover. go,....run.... and give mickey a kiss from me.

 

[Fairyxena]

Both of my boys have been going since they were 3 months old! Sure they don't remember it all from back then, but the Disney feel has been ingrained in them. If you love it then go!
They will love it too!
Enjoy!

 

[Fairyxena]

Both of my boys have been going since they were 3 months old! Sure they don't remember it all from back then, but the Disney feel has been ingrained in them. If you love it then go!
They will love it too!
Enjoy!

 

[Fall1]

I have 21 month old twins and we are taking them to Disney World in October, they'll be 27 months old.

They do have pack n plays on site if you request them when you book your room. I'm very nervous about taking them, but it's been 3 years since we've been and we are DYING to go back!!

 

[PollyannaMom]

It all depends on how often you plan to go. - If someone who was only ever going once asked me, I'd tell them 5 is best (old enough to do lots of stuff, still young enough to believe.) But it sounds as if you will be going multiple times, so there is no reason not to start now! DS has been at 18 mounths, 5 1/2, and 7 - and enjoyed it every time.

P.S. - If you think about it, take a picture in the same spot every time you go. You'll love the "watch me grow at Disney" effect.

 

[HGD24]

Our DD was 8.5 months old when we first took her to WDW. We're going back this year when she'll be 21 months old. She's a very easygoing baby who travels well though. She had been on several day trips and one long weekend trip, all via car, before our WDW trip so we were confident in her ability to handle the trip.

You know your kids best and only you can know if they are ready for a big trip and a few days away from home or not. We met parents of twin 3 year old boys this weekend at a restaurant and the mom was saying that they never took the boys out to eat until they were over 2 years old and that they are now trying to teach them table manners, etc. She now wishes she had done it sooner, but it's understandable that she didn't feel that they were ready until now.

PS - DD went on many rides with us and at your boys' age, there are even more for them to go on.

 

[disny_luvr]

I had contemplated this same question too for some time before I finally made up my mind. We are taking our twins for the first time in May. They'll be about six weeks shy of three-years-old.

At first we were going to take them when they were four, then we decided we would like to go back to the World in October/November because we love that time of year - the twins would have been about 3 1/2. After finding out that kids under three get into the parks for free and eat for free (at buffets) we decided on May. At first I thought they'd be too young, but after reading these boards I'm glad we are going at the age they'll be. I've come to accept that we have to take cues from them as far as naps, etc. and I know to expect melt-downs, but for the most, I think we'll do just fine.

**We'd also like to have baby #3 (hopefully only one this time) sometime soon and I wanted to take my twins before I'm pregnant and I hope to be soon after we return from our trip.

 

[Cars2006]

As you can see from my signature my oldest went when he was 18mth and I was pregnant with our second. Then my second went at 18mths also we go every two years. My daughter went when she was 2mths. Planned and paid for the trip before I found out I was pregnant. This trip they will be 5, 3 and 23mths. I know they don't remember much for the earlier trips but my screensaver on my computer plays all of our vacation trips and the kids love seeing themselves with the characters. There are lots of rides and play areas at MK that they can go on with you. There are always the shows and parades.

 

[Colleen27]

Go when it is best for you. Kids are marvelously flexible and portable, and they're fun to travel with at any age IMO. If you were talking about a once-in-a-lifetime trip, I'd say wait until 5 or 6, but if you plan to go back many times there's no right/wrong to it.

Because of financial constraints, my older kids were 4 & 7 before we went and I really wish I'd have been able to take them sooner. DD (the younger) was at a good age, but DS was already old enough that he didn't *really* believe in the characters. He had a great time, but it was a different kind of magic than you get with younger kids... He's all about the rides and the food and the shows but really doesn't get into the magic that sets Disney apart from other theme parks.

I agree with the previous poster about the "watch me grow" photos. We have pics of our kids at the barber pole at MK from each of our trips, and I'm looking forward to adding our first pic with baby#3 to the collage after our next trip!

 

[Lstar311]

Will YOU enjoy it now? If so then GO!!! We went last year when my DS was 16 months and DH and I loved seeing his face taking in the world. Will he remember it, no. Will WE remember it? Always!!!

 

[TrickStar Rider]

Thanks all...You pretty much sum up what I think, that we should take them. I understand the inherent limitations, but I want them to kind of "grow up" Disney style.

We do plan on going yearly at least, so I think it would be cool to take a pic of them at the same spot every visit to document growth.

Very excited now.....I can see how the DIS lifestyle can be addicting!!

 

[bella-alexander]

i think he will be fine. we took our children for the first time when my oldest was 5 and my daughter was just 2, she was a little older then your son, but she loved it. i was surprised at how many rides and attractions she could go on. we are planning our next trip for october '09 and we will be taking our newest little member of the family, he will only be 10 months old when we go. i know it will be a little harder with an infant, and he probably won't get it. but we're going anyway!