why young children?

[swincha]

i don't get it. i saw a mom with 4 mo old twins and a 3 yr old. my rule is we dont' go until my youngest is at least 5. i have 2 sets of children(just spread apart) 16 and 17 and 5 and 8. we just took our 2nd trip with the 5 and 8 year old and the 16 year old and a friend. 10 years ago my boys were 6 and 8.

babies are in knapsacks. its hot. its crowded. i wouldn't want the work of caring for a baby in a park especially if my other children were not at least 5 or 6. they can wait until they are older to go.

why do people bring their very young children to disney. they won't remember a thing. even my 16 year old remembers some of his disney trip but not much.

 

[Patsfan7]

My three yo DD has been four times, fifth coming up in September. At that time, our baby will be 3.5 months, same age as DD was on her first visit. To us, the experience has nothing to do with what the child will remember later in life, rather the experience they have while they are there. Even at three months, their face lights up at the colors, sounds, characters, etc.

When my family first went to Disney World I was 6, my brother 4. I was at an age where I questioned all the "magic". I could see the strings in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, knew the characters were in costume etc. My brother on the other hand was at an age that it was all real to him. That was truly magical for my parents to see his amazement. (and the fact that I thought Mission to Mars, "could be real" ) Now I get to see that amazement on my own daughter's face! She loves everything about Disney, and remembers everything from her last trips. We talk about them all the time, because there is always another trip being planned. (Just ask her, she can tell you every detail, down to what Cindy said to her in the castle before lunch!)

To my family it is no bother to have the baby (babies) with us, it is truly a pleasure, and we treasure every moment. PLUS, I do not know how on earth we could stay away ourselves until our kids were older! My husbands cousin has us beat though, her babies have gone at only weeks old!

 

[Laurajean1014]

i don't get it. i saw a mom with 4 mo old twins and a 3 yr old. my rule is we dont' go until my youngest is at least 5. i have 2 sets of children(just spread apart) 16 and 17 and 5 and 8. we just took our 2nd trip with the 5 and 8 year old and the 16 year old and a friend. 10 years ago my boys were 6 and 8.

babies are in knapsacks. its hot. its crowded. i wouldn't want the work of caring for a baby in a park especially if my other children were not at least 5 or 6. they can wait until they are older to go.

why do people bring their very young children to disney. they won't remember a thing. even my 16 year old remembers some of his disney trip but not much.

That's your rule, not the rule. Everyone is different. Personally, I love seeing little babies at WDW - it doesn't matter to them, they can sleep and eat anywhere.

Relax.

 

[KristinU]

Personally, DH and I were WDW go-ers prior to having a child, so it is simply a matter of us integrating him into our lifestyle...of course it is a lot of fun seeing DS's reactions to things at WDW and of course he has changed our touring methods. We also don't live in the same state as any other family members so it is a logical meeting place for several of us (airfare to FL is much cheaper than going to one another's respective states) - we celebrated DS's first birthday with my parents and my grandfather...had we stayed home we would not have been able to celebrate with three generations in the same room. BTW, I grew up in CA and started visiting Disneyland at just a few months old...do I remember it? No. Do I love the pictures of me as a baby with my parents in the Happiest Place on Earth? Of course!!!

 

[AdventurerKat]

I took my oldest son to Disneyland for the first time when he was 17 mos. He went to WDW for the first time when he was 21 mos. Both times, he had a wonderful time. I feel bad for my younger son, who at the ripe old age of 2 years 3 months, hasnt gone once!

I am sure I could not handle a three year old and 4 month old twins but I enjoyed my trips with my son when he was a little guy, he had fun and so did I. Will he remember? No, I doubt he will. Will I? You bet!

 

[C.Ann]

During the very hot and humid months - say June thru the beginning of Sept. -I would probably think twice about taking an infant (less than 6 months old) to Disney simply because of the weather..

However, a 3yr.old is plenty old enough to go to WDW and not only enjoy it, but also remember the experience quite well.. We took our granddaughter just before she turned 3 and still to this day (she'll be 7 in a few months) she remembers more about that trip than we do! LOL

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We we took our youngest three the youngest was 2. Everyone kept telling me to wait, he wouldn't remember it and we would be wasting our money. THat was the year of the fairytale vacations and it was an offer too good go pass up. Also, he wasn't three yet so his pass was free and so was much of his dining. Well let me tell you he became a true Disney obsessed addict, even more than his sisters. He remember everything. From the time we came home he watched the planning video over and over again. THe kids (who were 2 1/2, 4 and 5 1/2 at that time) couldn't wait to go back. So now we go every year, and this year we'll be going twice! As for not remembering anything I tell everyone a story that amazed me. The next year when we went back we were walking through MK and he saw the sign that said Adventureland and said "that's where Pirates of the Carribean is". Now obviously he couldn't read but so much for not remembering anything.

We just made it easy on ourself - we stayed at GF to be close to monorail access, started early and came back for long nap/swim breaks and had a ball. Every family is different so your "rule" doesn't apply to all of us.

 

[elan]

I guess because my baby went where I went.

 

[cwnhokie]

Let me give you one big reason FREE!!!!! They get in free. They eat free! And if that isn't enough, seeing the magic in their eyes and watching them interact with everything. Who cares whether they remember it or not. I will! My 2 year old chimes in with more details of our trip every time my 4 year old is talking about it. Someone else posted on another thread...if you went by the logic that you shouldn't take them because they won't remember it, then why should you even give them a first birthday party, they won't remember that either.

I agree, I don't think I would take an infant in the summer months, but then I don't want to go in the summer months either.

My neighbor has the same rule, she said she won't go until her youngest is 5, but by then her oldest will be 13. I'm not sure that's fair to him. She was surprised when we got back from our trip that my boys actually had fun. Yeah, imagine, kids having fun in Disney World, who would have thunk it?

 

[RoRoLovesEeeee]

My DD has been 2 times and we are going again in September. She is only 2 1/2 and she loves it.

The first trip she was 6 mos and was amazed at all the lights and action going on around her. These pictures are priceless memories that I can't wait to share with her when she gets older.

DD 2nd trip was just two weeks ago and she hasn't stopped talking about it. So much so that we have planned another trip in September so DH can go (he had to work for this last trip---I went with DH parents). DD went up to all characters and got on all kiddy rides. She had the time of her life.

I feel people shouldn't judge---what works for one family might not work for another but that doesn't mean we don't have a right to take young children. These are memories that will live forever in the photos I capture even if DD doesn't remember them herself.

 

[christinadei]

We took DS for the first time last year for his 4th bday. WE took him again this year. He was at the perfect age to really enjoy everything, believe in the magic and also not be too hard on us. This year, my sister came with us and brought her 2 1/2 year old. He was a handful and i was glad we waited until DS was 4. I think it was the perfect age.

 

[crisi]

We took our kids at 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 for their first trip. I have really precious pictures of my daughter from that trip, hugging characters. My son, not so interested, but I have precious pictures of him as well.

We went in Feb, so we didn't deal with the heat. But the heat depends on what you are used to. And my parents were down there for a few days with us, so we had extra hands.

I don't put huge stock in memories. I have a hard time getting clear memories. I do put stock in the experience. Particularly the learning experience. My kids may not have clear memories of Peter Pan's Flight from that trip, but it built an experience for them of family vacations and family time. It made the trip when they were four and five (because five year olds remember being three) easier, because they had ideas when to expect and were developing opinions. And this trip at six and seven they will pull those experiences from their last trips together.

They both had a wonderful time. We took it easy. Left the parks early. Had almost no problems with them. It was a great trip and we are glad we took it.

 

[PatricenPete]

I agree with KristinU - DH and I have been going to Disney together for YEARS. Heck, we took our first trip together after we had only been dating about 3 months! Now that we have DH, we have decided to wait until he is 1 (only because neither of us likes to go during the hot summer months), so we are taking him in October for a 1 year birthday celebration. I am sure that he won't remember much of the trip, but I am sure that he will have a great time, just based on his reaction to things that we have done with him at 7 months (ie the beach and boardwalk, Sesame Place) and the fact that he already loves his Mickey Mouse doll.....

 

[lillygator]

Why bring Grandma's and Grandad's, people in their 40's, sickly people, people with handicaps, smokers...

come on now...why not bring children....?? Just because you don't think it works for your family doesn't mean the rest of us feel that way?

DD #1 has been going since she was 18 months and DD #2 has been going since she was 4 weeks old....I am very thankful we have made all these trips because you never know when you won't be able to all go as a family again....

also babies are much easier to please than 5 year olds....less prone to meltdowns....and generally go with the flow....(I realize that may not be the case with all)

 

[disneyfanfamily]

We went 2 years ago when my daughter was not quite 3. She, til this day, remembers quite a bit of the vacation. She loved all of the characters. She had to kiss each and every one - even the villians! We have pictures of her watching the parade. They are truly magical. Kids under 3 are free at WDW. But them being in awe of the world...priceless.

And we are taking another trip this year - exactly 13 days away. And they do not know yet!!!!

 

[minkydog]

Swincha, I'm with you on this one. We took our oldest DS when he was 3-1/2, which was fine, but we had to deal with the naps, the tantrums, etc. We had a great time.

When the 2nd & 3rd children came along, there was no way I was gonna take them until they were past all that. Number 3 is autistic, too, and I really didn't know about taking him. We went back to WDW when #2 was 8yo, in my mind the perfect age--don't need naps, understand how to wait, just as magical, etc. To my way of thinking it was a more relaxing vacation for all of us.Since then we have also taken #3 and had a great, but different, time.

Ultimately it's up to every family to make the decision. I would rather be forced to iron pup tents than take little babies to WDW, but that's just me. Some people find taking their babies very pleasurable. I guess variety is the spice of life.

 

[lillygator]

I think that is it - what works for one family doesn't work for another....our children are used to going places, eating out, etc because that is what we have always done...

and they are used to it....

Even though we are natives and are used to the heat I wouldn't take them during the summer months....because the heat effects all and most people get grumpy when they are hot so it makes for not so nice surroundings!

 

[lillygator]

and as far as remembering goes....how do you really know what they remember? My 2 1/2 year old talks non stop Disney trips and the things we have done there...she remembers that, now as years go by and more memories are made they may "overwrite" those memories but for now she shares pictures of what we did with her class (show and tell) and she is able to tell without any prompting or pictures all the things we have done while there.

 

[Stitch Inside]

Here's a couple of reasons why we bring 'em:

 

[JodyLynC]

Beautiful pics, Stitch Inside. Those pics say it all.

DH and I used to live in Florida. We now live in Ohio. We are taking our twins there a few months before their 3rd birthday. This is an age of such wonderful discovery. I want to experience the magic and joy through their eyes. They are good-natured girls and go with the flow pretty easily. Toddler meltdowns are pretty rare. If this was not the case, DH and I would probably wait until they were older. (For our sanity as well as other guests.)

Personally I wouldn't bring an infant. That is just me. However, if DH and I still lived in Florida, who knows? I certainly would have taken them for their 1st birthday. Not sure if I would have taken them earlier. I certainly wouldn't have taken them in the summer. (crowds, heat, etc.) I probably would have chosen the spring or fall.

Regardless, if you question 5 different familes, you will get 5 different responses as to when to introduce your child to WDW. Go with your instincts. You know your family best.