Why I won't "put it off"

[Keri]

For me, it's more the issue that it's nobody's business where I go, when I go, how often I go, or how old my kids are when we go. I can't imagine ever saying anything to anyone about vacation plans or parenting choices or...well, anything!

exactly. You went once, that was YOUR choice. We go every year, and will continue to go yearly or almost yearly for a while. It's not a one & only trip, but no one NEEDS to know that we can afford to do that or plan to do that. It's OUR choice. And even if it were our only trip, I'd probably still choose to do it when they were "too young" -- like I said, I don't remember my only trip & I was 9 or 10.

I understand why people wait, why can't they understand why we don't without a full explanation?

 

[Daddy_of_Princesses]

Tally another vote for taking them young. We went in January of 2007, my oldest was 4, and my other daughter was 9 months old. Heard from people that they won't remember the trip. Yea, I get that. My youngest may not remember it, but I have great memories of her getting excited seeing the characters, and patting Minnie's nose at Breakfast at Chef Mickey's. My oldest doesn't remember a whole lot about it, but I remember seeing her face light up like a 1000 watt bulb the first time she saw Cinderella.

If you are able to go more than once, then going when they are young isn't a big deal. It will create memories for you seeing Disney through the eyes of a child.

We will be going back next December when the youngest is 4. The oldest will be 8, and will probably remember much more.

 

[The Hendies]

We didn't go until ours were 5, 6, and 7 because DH was working on his PhD for YEARS!!! Finally, when he was all but finished, I told him we couldn't wait any longer! So, we dragged him along kicking and screaming.... until he got there! We are both DisneyFreaks now! Of course, I can't say for sure what it would have been like if we took the kiddos when they were younger, but I sure wish we had gone sooner. No grandkids yet, but I'll guarantee they won't have to wait until they are school-age to go to WDW!

 

[jacksmomma]

I get that all the time! People could not understand why I took DS at 18 months...um because he was free! He had a great time and now almost 2 years later he still talks about it. I think that magic can be found at any age and I want to see all the stages of it. Never again will I get the cheesy 8 teeth grins that I got from DS on our last trip. Never again will my son have to be restained while waiting in line to see Donald or as he said "Da Duck". I say go when you can!

 

[RMulieri]

I agree, but that is something that has to be decided by each individual family.We took our daughter when she was 4.I refused to take her before then.Why? For many reasons. I wanted her to be walking on her own, I wanted her potty trained, and I wanted her to be able to remember the trip.We had a great trip! that was the best decision for my family.But I only have her, I can't have any more children , so for us it was easier to wait till she was a little older.Just because people CHOOSE to wait to take their children does not make them failures, or strange. I wanted to go asap, but waited for the reasons mentioned.DH could care less if we ever went.He never went as a child, in fact , he never went on a family vacation.

 

[bdiddy]

I agree with you too! I hate when people say "well, your kids aren't going to remember"...Um - I know that but we plan on going back many, many times and quite honestly when they are very young it is more for us to see the magic on their little faces. I wouldn't trade those memories in for anything.

The only time I would say it is bad is in my DH's case....he went when he was 6 months old but he had a brother that was 5 and two sisters that were 8 and 10 so the trip was obviously more for them but then they never went back again! He said it has always been this standing joke in his family how the other kids got this great trip and he obviously had no clue but then they never took him back! He always says he got the shaft! LOL

 

[waltskids]

Another family here who loves to take their little ones to Disney. We have had many wonderful trips with DS as a baby and toddler and look forward to more trips with DS and now DD (who has already been twice). We own DVC so there will come a time when they do remember it (DS actually remembers his last 2 trips very well), but until then we have the wonderful memories and great photos. To each his own, I guess. I would never question someone who chooses to wait, so I never understand why people choose to question those of us who take little ones.

 

[Zeebs]

One thing to remember is many people will only go once. If I was only going to make a trip to Disney once then yes I would wait until my kids were 1. Tall enough to go on all the rides and 2. Would have some memory of it. Yes I would probably miss out on some of the "magic of belief" but something has to give if you are only going 1 time.

However, if it is something you are planning on doing often then there are benefits of taking your kids at all ages. We go on a family trip somewhere each year, we always take the kids and even though they won't remember their trip to France etc we have still gone its a trip away for us as well.

We have taken our kids to Disney when they were little with very little memory but we are in a position where we were fortunate to be able to do so.

I am not quite sure why it bothers people so much what you do with your holiday/vacation time. But then I am not quite sure why it bothers people so much if others don't see the point either. Travel is such a personal thing I know what I enjoy if it isn't someone elses thing I don't care they don't have to join me.

Kirsten

 

[Colleen27]

We waited until they would remember it, but not because we didn't think they'd enjoy it. We simply knew it wouldn't be something we wouldn't do more than once so we wanted them to remember it.

If our situation had been different (lived close and/or planned on traveling there often) we would have gone - no problem.

I'm glad we put it off because my kids do remember it (they were six and eight.) To me, taking the kids to the pumpkin patch IS different because we can do that every year. I don't get that comparison at all.

I would think simply saying "We already have plans to go again when they're older, so remembering won't be an issue for us." would solve the problem of people not understanding.

It is just annoying to be put in the position of having to explain it, particularly to people who should know better. I know that's a big part of what bothers me about it - we have 3 children, ages 11, 8, and 1. The idea of waiting until the youngest can remember would mean waiting until the oldest is almost grown and working around the load of scheduling conflicts that come into play at that age. If nothing else, I think it should be obvious that we want to keep traveling because the big kids enjoy it (and are plenty old enough to remember, if that's the issue). I can't imagine why my inlaws look it as something that should wait until the youngest can remember when we have two older kids who love traveling and who want to share those experiences with their little sister.

 

[Tricia's mom]

I get that all the time! People could not understand why I took DS at 18 months...um because he was free! He had a great time and now almost 2 years later he still talks about it. I think that magic can be found at any age and I want to see all the stages of it. Never again will I get the cheesy 8 teeth grins that I got from DS on our last trip. Never again will my son have to be restained while waiting in line to see Donald or as he said "Da Duck". I say go when you can!

Yes that was a big plus for us as well DD 6months then @14 months and then 2 and going again days before her 3rd Birthday FREE !! except for airline the last time.She remebers cinderella's castle.

 

[WDWjen]

I never understood why people care when you go and how old the kids are and how many times you go...etc... I have taken my kids at every age (they are now 4,6,8) and I agree with earlier posts that when we brought the infants it was fun for US to see them enjoy it (and they did!) I have great memories of my 2 & 4 year old sharing a mickey mouse ice cream cone while sitting in a double stroller!

I say if you can afford it then DO IT! We have close family members who have cancer, close friends who have lost their jobs..neighbors going through a divorce..etc and it makes you realize that life is too short and you never know what is going to happen! We consider ourselves blessed to be able to take the kids to WDW..at any age!

 

[Dani C]

I waited until my daughter was old enough to remember it. She was 5 and we were in Japan at Tokyo Disney.

Do I regret waiting, no I don't. (Before that time she had no interest in costumed characters at all and she avoided Santa, the Easter Bunny, etc. when they were in the malls.)

Did she like it, somewhat but she was more excited and had more fun at Sanrio Puroland. She did enjoy the trip to Disney World at the age of 7 though as she was older and able to ride more rides and enjoy more of the opportunities available.

Do I fault you if you take your children when they are infants and toddlers, no I don't as it is your choice when and where you wish to go with your family.

 

[GrillMouster]

I can understand if a family for whom a trip to WDW is a major financial strain that they might want to wait until the child can remember the trip, so that they get "more bang for their buck". That's I'm waiting for DS3 to get older before we go on a European vacation. However, I only live 1 hour from WDW, make decent income, and when DS3 was younger I'd get people butting their nose in my business telling me that I should have waited until our child was older and could remember it more. Basically I responded, "Even though he may not remember it, he'll certainly enjoy it. So, by your logic I shouldn't do anything fun with him for the first few years of his life, because he won't remember those times. I shouldn't play with him, I shouldn't take him to the park...basically I should put him in a box and not open it until he's five years old. Do me a favor, why don't you crawl into a box and don't come out until I've asked for your opinion".

 

[henry72]

We took DS in 2006 when he was 19 months old. MIL thought we were crazy and offered to watch him so we could "enjoy ourselves" and used the same argument "He won't remember it." But how can you have a "family vacation" if you leave part of the family at home? Anyway, after she saw the pictures and video of our trip, she said "I guess I was wrong. He looks like he had a great time." (BTW MIL has NEVER been to DW.)

 

[notsosnowwhite]

I've heard this as well. I know DS doesn't remember his first trip but he loves to look at the pictures with me and hear the stories about what a great time we had. He might not remember, but I do. And my memories are important too.

 

[C.Ann]

If you can afford it - and you want to go - I think taking kids when they are toddlers is a "must".. Once they get beyond that age they will still enjoy it, but they will definitely "see" and "experience" things in an entirely different way..

 

[ktlm]

I would never in a million years trade our trip with DD (our only child) last year when she was 2 yrs 10 months. Everything was real to her. Just watching the pure joy on her face as she saw the characters and experienced everything was wonderful. I always envisioned walking into MK for the 1st time with her and her being in awe of the castle . That's not what happened. She walked in and saw...Pluto. She had to get in line immediately and when it was her turn she ran and threw herself into his arms and clutched and hugged him like she was never going to let go. I about started crying. When she saw Spectromagic, and was just jumping up and down with joy, I did start crying. I couldn't help myself. She is an extremely smart kid and now at 3 1/2, she has already started to realize that book and movie characters and other things aren't real (She actually asked me about Santa last week and I about choked-- Good grief she's only 3. I told her I believed in him and then she smiled and said she did too.) I'm so glad we took her before that time. If we were only going to go once in her entire childhood, I might have waited until she was tall enough to ride all the rides, but that would have been the only reason I would have waited. Whether she remembers it or not (and I'm not so sure she won't), she sure had a great time while she was there!

 

[tufenuff]

I think if you can afford it you should go as soon as possible, you never know what the furture will bring.We went last year and took my whole family(DD,DD,DSIL,DGS,DGS,DGS,myself and DH. The grand kids that went for the first time were 4 and 5. They had a great time. IF we had waited their Dad would have never seen their faces at Disney he passed away in a car accident in August and we are not going till December this year so I am glad that they went last year and didi not wait till the kids were older they will always have the memories and pictures with their Daddy.

 

[Becky2005]

I know that's a big part of what bothers me about it - we have 3 children, ages 11, 8, and 1. The idea of waiting until the youngest can remember would mean waiting until the oldest is almost grown and working around the load of scheduling conflicts that come into play at that age.

That sounds like us. DH wanted to wait until the youngest was 5 before we went. That was fine & dandy but then along came baby #4. I told him we weren't waiting because if we waited until the baby was 5, our oldest would have been 15 before our first trip. I've already put my foot down that we ARE going again in 2011 (we had to keep pushing it farther away - I tried to get one in this past summer to get it in before my 3rd one turned 10 -- oh well, we will pay for 5 adult tickets). Basically we *have* to go in 2011 if we want to still take our oldest along as a minor. She will be 18 in 2012 --although she is more than welcome to come on family vacations after that, it won't be the same. She will end up with either work schedules/college plus that would increase the cost if we stay on-site

As it is -- my now 12 year old was 8 at the time, he doesn't remember much, my 9 year old who was 5 at the time *really* doesn't seem to remember anything & of course the baby was only 1 1/2 so he certainly doesn't remember other than pictures.

I don't know, I never really thought much about where people take their family vacations or when.