When would you go?

[aedensmom]

Hi all! I'm new to the forum (and a new mommy). I've been wondering when I should try and plan for Aed's first Disney trip. I'm wavering back and forth between 2 and 3. I'd love some feedback from those of you who have been with a 2 or 3 year old - pros and cons. As some background info, his first trip will be me, my DH, Aed, his grandma and grandpa. We'll be going sometime between middle of June and middle of August because I'm a teacher and my DH is a retail manager. I've been before in the summer and know that it will be HOT beyond reason (and am anticipating midday pool swims and naps!). What else do we need to know?

 

[bzzymom]

My first trip with a child was when DS was 2.5. My parents were going to WDW because my father had a medical convention at the Buena Vista Palace, so DS and I went with them. DH couldn't get the time off. It was absolutely the best age. He knew the characters, he loved the rides. It was awesome. We went the same time the next year with my dad again, and then once or twice a year after that. Then, when DD was born, she was 11 months the first trip, DS was 7. She liked the music and parades, and the characters. We went later that year when she was 19 months DS 8 and she really became more interactive with the characters and things, but not enough to really enjoy it. Our last trip she was 2.5 years old, and she really got it. She remembers things about the trip and she keeps talking about going back.

 

[aedensmom]

Waiting might be better then. I do want him to be excited to go back! Anybody else have an opinion??

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

There is a BIG difference between 2 and 2.5 - you wouldn't believe how much they grow mentaly! My DD is just 21 months, and she has totally "grown" since she was say 18 months. Every 6 months they are like new little people, so the longer you wait, the better!! 3 is a great age though!

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

my sister just took my niece to DL she is exactly 2.5 years old. She loved the character and the fantasyland rides but she was still young enough to be whiny and too young to understand about waiting in line etc. My sis did say she should have waited. She spend many hours sitting on benches so DN could take naps (sometimes she woud nap in the stroller). We took my son when he was 4 and it was perfect. He did whine and did nap but he could understand waiting for things and he did get very excited about more rides. If I were you I would wait a bit. I think 3 would be fine

 

[lovesdumbo]

Kids are "free" under 3 so you don't have to purchase an admission ticket or pay for them at buffet meals.

My youngest first went at 11 months, then again at 21 months, 33 months, 4 1/2 and 5 1/2. She was easiest at 11 months and 21 months. Of course all trips have been magical! She had more fears as she got older and it was easier to deal with diapers than public rest rooms (one of her fears).

She was late talker and only had a few words at 21 months but she came home with 2 new words from that trip. One was moon-we were staying at the Polynesian and the moon was full and we would watch it rise above the Contemporary. The other was WOW-she loved the fountains in Epcot.

My next trip to WDW will be my 4th trip in August. It is hot but we do take breaks and there are lots of places to cool off in the parks-most rides/shows have AC. I find it easier to take the heat in August when I'm used to it at home than I do when say I was there in early May this year and it was 98 and I left 40 degree temps at home.

 

[Ohio Disney Girl]

We took my younger child at 7 months as my older one was 3 and the rest of the family was going. I chalked it up thinking that we didn't really have to "pay" for him and this trip would be for the kids, so I was prepared to do very little of what I wanted to do, and made my peace with that ahead of time.

I was shocked to find that BOTH children absolutely LOVED it! We had the best trip ever! It was hotter than ever, in the middle of July, but we took our time and alternated indoor/outdoor waiting lines and attractions to stay cool, hung out in the Baby Care stations and grabbed a snack and watched cartoons when it got too hot, and everyone did great the whole week! The baby LOVED the colors, lights, and motion on the rides (He kicked, cooed , and babbled while taking it all in all through "It's A Small World"- precious!) and my daughter truly thought EVERYTHINg was "magic"- HER own world at that age!

Each trip at each age has been different, but they've always loved it. I just go knowing the kids WILL get tired, cranky, and hot, but it's up to me to manage that. I let THEM lead the trip for the most part and it has always created magical memories. I get VEY upset when I see parents yelling at their kids for being tired and crabby at Disney World! If you can't fall in love with ALL children there, you are in big trouble! PLUS, I did get to ride everything I wanted thanks to stroller naps for the baby with DH while we child swapped the older one or she took a break. It truly is our favorite FAMILY vacation place!

That being said, if this is your only child, you are only going with your immediate family, and/or your budget is not such that you might be able to go again in the next 2-3 years, waiting until closer to 4 might be better as your child may remember more. Either way, I will almost guarantee you will all have a blast if you just know to be flexible and laid-back ahead of time.

(BTW- My 7 month old is now 3.5 yrs. old! He was back at Disney at 2 and will be there again this fall at almost 4 yrs. old. He continues to ask at least once a week, "Can we go to Mickey's House today?"

 

[squirrel]

I don't know when your son turns 3 but I would go just before he turns 3. Even if he turns 3 while at WDW he is free for park admission and for food at the buffets.

 

[cogero]

we took my daughter at 25 months and she still talks about her first trip and she is 6.5

We are taking my son for the first time in a few weeks at 7 months

 

[mom2aredhead]

I don't know when your son turns 3 but I would go just before he turns 3. Even if he turns 3 while at WDW he is free for park admission and for food at the buffets.

I'd say 2 years, 11 months and 28 days old...for the same reason as stated above.

Seriously though - if it's a a "once in a lifetime" thing - then I'd wait until around 4-5 ish. If you think you'll go more often then go right before he turns 3 - it saves quite a bit of $$. Height restrictions are a consideration too - is he on the tall side or smaller because there are a few things that have 40" or (more often) 44" height minimums.

We took my son at 13 months, 2, 3, 3.5, 4, and 4.5 and all of our trips were great! I'd say the hardest one, though, was when he was 3 since he was very newly potty trained and ended up having a few accidents. Other than that, we had no issues.

 

[Shayth]

We just took our 3yr old but she will be 4 next month and she really loved it. She has talked about it non-stop. I think 3 would be the youngest I would take them...just because it is So expensive and you want them to be able to really enjoy it and remember it for a while.

 

[ReginaS]

We went in 2006 with our 4 year old. It was a great age. He remembers so much about the trip.

 

[aedensmom]

Thanks for the opinions. Since his birthday is in May, he's either going just after turning 2 or just after turning 3. It certainly won't be his only trip, although they won't be yearly trips either (unless one of us hits the lotto). So it looks and sounds like waiting until he's 3 is a better option, even if I do end up paying for him.

This is very long term planning (cause I'm like that) so I'll spend my time seeing what new info I can glean from all of y'all.

 

[Elmo888]

Thanks for the opinions. Since his birthday is in May, he's either going just after turning 2 or just after turning 3. It certainly won't be his only trip, although they won't be yearly trips either (unless one of us hits the lotto). So it looks and sounds like waiting until he's 3 is a better option, even if I do end up paying for him.

This is very long term planning (cause I'm like that) so I'll spend my time seeing what new info I can glean from all of y'all.

We took DD at 2 years 2 months and at 3 years 2 months. It was SOOOOOOO much better at 3 years 2 months. She understood more and seemed to get so much more out of it. And she was easier - potty trained, etc. And we could skip naps some days (it was January - I wouldn't skip the nap in the summer just so I could get out of the heat!) without a melt down (we just made it an early evening when we skipped naps). From her first trip, the only thing that she seemed to perk up on was It's a Small World. From our second trip, she recognized so many characters and enjoyed the rides and wasn't scared of characters, etc. It was sooo much better.

ETA: Personally, I wouldn't take a 2 year old in general, but we have an older DD who was 6 (prime time!) on her first trip (when younger DD was 2).

 

[jennilouwho]

We took DS at 17 months. It was so easy as he really only had one fit the whole time there. But now that he is in his early 2's.... UGH!! He's really hit the terrible two's. We are going to go to Disneyland, but not until he is 3 1/2 now and his brother is about a year and a half. I think I'm just going to skip the 2's at amusement parks.... And it might just be that mine is overly stubborn and opinionated. Yours could be a perfect angel. I worked in daycare though a lot in my life and I just think a trip with an almost 3 year old would be more pleasant than a young 2 year old. They seem a little more emotionally stable.......