Why Disney with a 2YO? Won't remember.

[nancy drew]

i wanted to bump this up with another story of how a child DOES remember disney, even if they are considered "too young" to remember it.

my daughter was a few months over 3yo when we last went to disney. that was in may of 2007. just now we were watching sleeping beauty, and she started getting all squeamish over maleficent. i was trying to reassure her, and i asked her who would make her go away. my 2yo son offered to make her go away, but then dd said "*i* am going to make her go away, ill just say 'dreams come true!' and she will go away." she remembered it from the show at the castle. i asked her if she had seen that on tv recently, or in a movie or on the christmas parade (we have the disney christmas parade on tivo and watch it now and then at her request). she said no, it was just from disney world. 10 months ago. we saw the castle show once, and havent talked about it since. crazy!

 

[Frankiesmom]

my Ds now 3, remembers our trip when he was 2. And he was there 4 times by his 2nd bday! Just do what you want with your kids!!!

 

[disneyfreak33]

I find it all utter nonsense, kids can remember, my daughter went on her first trip at 1 this past June and we have heard nothing but "go to mickey's house" since.

Not only that but I have 2 words for you if they don't remember .....

Video Camera

 

[breezy1077]

My brother says the same thing(he and I are completely different!).

Here's what I say: Will they remember all the hugs and kisses we give them - all the love? Maybe not. but it still shapes who they are and who they will become. The same can be said for life experiences.

And as far as I'm concerned - it's never too early to share the "magic" with them.

 

[dizneyluv]

will have visited Disney 3x by the time he is 5. He has very specific memories from his first trip at 2 and his 2nd trip at 3.

He remembers Minnie Mouse playfully flying his toy Buzz Lightyear around while at chef Mickey's. He remembers in AWE meeting Buzz Lightyear his all time Fave and Woody. See, when they are little they think that the characters are the REAL DEAL. They don't yet know they are just dressed up people. It's fun, it's like believing in Santa before learning the truth. We've cherished these memories of his excitement in meeting his favorite movie characters. If we waited it never would have been as fun, watching his face as he met Buzz Lightyear (you could see he really thought this was Buzz) was priceless.

Where else can you meet and hug Mrs. Incredible and then have her hold your 3 yr old's hand and walk with him to meet Mr Incredible?

He has the memories now and that's what is important. Yes they'll fade but what fun and wonder it's been so far.

Once the memories do fade we have enough pics and video to bring it all alive again!

 

[KorieDWnut]

The last time my youngest (now 4.5 ) went to WDW, she was around 2.5. She still talks about some things that she saw when she was there.

But anyway, people always asked me why I took my kids when they were so little.
Well, for one thing...*I* wanted to go. So what am I going to do? Leave all my kids at home? Or not go because they are little???

For another thing..maybe they won't remember it but that is not why I took them..like I said *I* wanted to go, and *I* will remember THEIR trip and I now have pictures of those memories. It was about ME. lol not them.

 

[Mrs.Charming]

We are going in November when my DS will be 2.5 exactly. My mom keeps making comments about how "stupid" we are for doing this because he won't get anything out of it. I really believe this is not true!! It bother's me so much when she says that but I have learned to ignore it.

We ALL can't wait to go

 

[KorieDWnut]

My SIL and BIL always said that they wanted to go to WDW so bad but wanted to wait until my nephews were "old enough to remember and enjoy it"

But now my nephews are 8 and 10 and BIL and SIL are like ok, lets plan a trip!
Guess what? my nephews..DON'T WANT TO GO TO WDW. they say they will be BOOOOORRRRED. They want to go to Universal and IOA. They are thrill seekers..they want the fast rides..upside down roller coasters and all that. They don't want to go on "dark" rides or watch shows and parades.

So looks like BIL and SIL lost their chance while they had it..

 

[PEANUT1]

My 4 year old has been 4 times and her first trip was at 10 months...She loves looking at those pictures of herself in Disney as a baby.

We were considering not taking our 18 month old this May for our trip because we thought it would be "easier" to leave her with grandmom and grandpop. 18 month olds are not the easiest to travel with. When I told my 4 year old that her sister may not be coming with us she got very upset and said she wanted Abby to come. I knew that I would miss the baby like crazy, but I hadn't thought of how much my daughter would miss her. I think I am changing my plans. I don't think I really could have left her anyway.

 

[KorieDWnut]

My 4 year old has been 4 times and her first trip was at 10 months...She loves looking at those pictures of herself in Disney as a baby.

We were considering not taking our 18 month old this May for our trip because we thought it would be "easier" to leave her with grandmom and grandpop. 18 month olds are not the easiest to travel with. When I told my 4 year old that her sister may not be coming with us she got very upset and said she wanted Abby to come. I knew that I would miss the baby like crazy, but I hadn't thought of how much my daughter would miss her. I think I am changing my plans. I don't think I really could have left her anyway.

awww!
Last August I went with my mom and older dd (8 at the time). I was FINE with leaving the other 2 with dh because it wasn't like it was the whole family and leaving one kid...I was going with my mom and oldest..like a generational girls thing I guess. It was nice and I didn't feel bad at all.

This August,, me and my mom were going to go again but with middle dd..then mom didnt want to go so was gong to be JUST me and middle dd. Then me, middle AND oldest dd..leaving little dd and dh home.

But then I felt bad. Not only was I leaving ONE child behind, but it was also the week of her bday!!! how mean!! I could not let it go. I felt really bad.

So I changed everything and bought 2 more plane tickets, and surprised dh with it all. He was ecstatic. So was little dd. I guess she isn't my little oblivious baby anymore. Last year she didn't even notice but this year she understood that I was leaving her behind.

 

[katerkat]

We are going in November when my DS will be 2.5 exactly. My mom keeps making comments about how "stupid" we are for doing this because he won't get anything out of it. I really believe this is not true!! It bother's me so much when she says that but I have learned to ignore it.

We ALL can't wait to go

We took Russ at 2.5 years old in October (and at six months and at eighteen months and at 21 months...) He still remembers it and still talks about it all the time. When Dan Zanes comes on TV, he tells me, "Momma, remember when I saw him in Disney World?" He also went on a cruise in January and won't hush up about things that remind him of the "big boat." Seriously, we saw a commercial for like Golden Corral and he told me that place was "like where we got lunch on the big boat!"

Of course, this is also the kid who saw Alaska Airlines' Make-A-Wish plane in Seattle and started yelling "Disney World Plane, Momma!"

 

[Miz Diz]

I have just returned from 2 trips. One in November when my dd was 22 months and one just this week to celebrate her 2nd birthday. So many people rolled their eyes and said "why, she won't remember".

Well...a stranger on the bus gave me the greatest answer and it is SO TRUE. Because I will remember! That awe on her face, the big eyes, the excitement, all of it. I WILL REMEMBER IT!!!!

That is exactly what I say! My son's first trip was at 7 months and I REMEMBER IT! Besides - who said I go to Disney for the kids.

 

[ChillyWilleys]

Three reasons: 1) 2 year olds are free so why not? 2)You'll remember, and what you remember will be priceless memories. The sheer awe that Disney gives children is amazing! 3) They just might remember. We took DD at 2. Were absolutely blown away when we took her a year later at what she remembered! the most amazing one was when we took her to Fantasmic at 3. We sat down in the stadium and she said "I want a Mickey Cookie and a rose" The year before we gave her a Mickey cookie and bought her one of those light up roses while watching Fantasmic! She remebered that and thats a small detail for someone who supposedly shouldn't even remember the trip.

 

[fabfivefigo]

I had to be convinced into going this coming August when our DS will be 2.5. But now, the more I think about it, the more excited I am. Everytime he gets super excited over something small and silly, I smile at the thought of his reaction to the this first Disney experience.

Besides, it gives me a chance to see the whole thing through new eyes again.

 

[traci]

There will come a day when our kids wont sit on our laps when we ride A Small World...for now my husband and I cherish these times taking our young children to Disney. Sure they don't remember the trip 2 years ago when we first started going. But they LOVE looking at pictures when they went to see Mickey the first time. Some of the best memories I have as a mommy.

 

[QJ411]

I hate when people ask that insensative question of "WHY bring them, they're too young to remember!" But you're right, b/c *I* will remember!

DH and I are huge Disney fans and before we had DD, people would say "Ugh, you're going BACK to WDW again?!" and that would irritate us...then after we had DD we brought her to WDW when she was only 6 months and some of the comments we got were beyond annoying. We will never forget it (her very first trip to see Mickey! How can we forget?!) and like the PP said, she (now 2) LOVES looking at photos of her w/ the characters when she was younger. She's been to WDW 3 times, when she was 6 mths, then at 13 (DCL & WDW) and again at 18 Mths (WDW)...now she's going back again (DCL & WDW) at 2.5 y.o. and she's super exctied. She can't stop talking about going on Mickey's Boat and Mickey's house. How can anyone say it's not worth it? (The love for Disney is in her blood!)

People just don't appreciate the mouse and true fact that it is simply "The Happiest Place On Earth"! Why wouldn't we want to bring our little ones there to enjoy it?!

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

I totally agree with everyone - I cant stand it when people say that kind of stuff! DH and I have made sure to take our girls to fun places like zoos, parks, olden towns, etc since the day they were born, and there was always someone out there who would make that dumb comment! OK, at 6 months, they don't remember what they just ate 5 minutes ago let alone the elephant at the zoo, but thats not the point! The point is that you are bonding with your child somewhere outside the house where they can get stimulated by their new surroundings and just be out in the fresh air. Plus, everyones got a camera, right?! You are taking those 5000 pictures for a reason, so when they get older they can look back and see it, any yes, it may even jolt some memories.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

"

Those kinds of comments are really igorant actually. Why take them ANYWHERE then. They won't remember any of it. Seriously, we should jsut leave our kids at home in a closet because they won't remember anything anyway. UGH! Forget the park or the zoo. they won't remember that either. What they do at EVERY point in their lives shapes their growth and development. Why do anything now anyway?!? When I'm 90 I'm not likely to remember what I did yesterday. OYE!!! Just roll the eyes and move on. YOU will remember it and the pictures wil be priceless! Queen of sarcasm here!

I was just coming to post the same thing. I got those "she won't remember" comments when we took our 12 month old. Well, then should we just lock ourselves in the house until she is older? There is a lot she won't remember, but that doesn't stop us from doing things.

And who says Disney is just for the kids, anyway?

 

[ASFCurly]

Just a note, most people that say children won't remember aren't talking a couple of months or even 2 or 3 years later, they are talking in the long run. I went to Disneyland when I was 4 and remembered for a couple of years, but now the only thing I remember is that my aunt's dog ate the cup I bought for some cousins back home. That is the case with most adults that I know that went when they where younger, they are told that they remembered for a couple of years, but now, if they remember anything, it is only a single distant memory, and not most of the trip.

Now, I am not saying that you shouldn't take children under 2, just that it is more for you, and they will always enjoy looking at the pictures later.

 

[mickeyfan0805]

It seems as thought some contend that the only valid reason for taking a child to Disney to create a memory? Isn't the point to give them the experience? We took our 28 month old last summer, and she pulls out the chairs to play airplane and fly to Disney almost daily (she can also readily name the tea cups as her favorite ride). No, she probably won't remember this in a decade, but we didnt take her to create a memory, we took her to give her a wonderful experience. She has made it abundantly clear that it was a success!