why young children?

[Jacksmom99]

If I were only going to do one maybe two trips to WDW ever,(oh I shudder at the thought), than I would probably wait until my kids were over 6. However, DH and I made the decision a long time ago that we wanted to vacaiton every year at WDW, so when the kids came along, they came with us! We go every August, and yes I took DD when she was 3mo old. We took it easy, and spent a lot of time at the resort playing and relaxing. This past May was a VERY sad time in our household.......DD turned 3 and is no longer free! But she got 4 trips in before then!!

 

[stahshee]

I have been taking my children to wdw from ages 1 and up I have four and at as eaerly as one they have been having fun! WE like other things besides rides.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

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.

I think it depends on how often you go and how you approach "vacation". Personally, we go to WDW several times a year since my entire family lives there and we are going to be visiting, anyway. So we have no need to make sure ds will remember every detail about every trip. If it were going to be a once-in-a-lifetime thing or only every few years, sure, we might wait. But it's not, so we don't. Also, we would be taking care of him at home 24/7, so why not in the Happiest Place On Earth? To me it's just not a burden...we'll tour at a slightly slower pace, that's all. Been taking ds places since he was 2 weeks old, tourist-y places including DTD (but not the parks...saved that for his 1st birthday)! We all have a great time and the pictures are priceless! He has enjoyed every minute of the sights and sounds. To me your question is like asking, "Why bother to buy them toys to play with now? They won't remember them later in life." Well, no, but they won't learn and grow if they don't have stimulation and FUN, either. JMO

 

[Jenn]

Because my 3 year old really thinks there is a giant mouse waiting to see her, take a picture with her, etc. and a princess really lives in that castle.

 

[budly]

I think a lot of it also requires removing yourself from the picture. If you want to ride big rides, stay all day, and eat where you want to eat, you need to wait until kids are older. I am not putting this way down, as it costs a ton to go to Disney and I have family members exactly like this.

If you are willing to live through the eyes of a child, there is nothing more magical than Disney. I am a fanatic about Disney and its rides, but I have been twice without getting on a roller coaster. Instead I saw "Its a Small World" through the eyes of a baby and rode Dumbo with a two year old like it was the most happening ride ever. Doing this is impossible for some family members, but my husband and I can do it and it is every bit as magical--just in a different way.

Budly

 

[Stitch Inside]

I think a lot of it also requires removing yourself from the picture. If you want to ride big rides, stay all day, and eat where you want to eat, you need to wait until kids are older. I am not putting this way down, as it costs a ton to go to Disney and I have family members exactly like this.

If you are willing to live through the eyes of a child, there is nothing more magical than Disney. I am a fanatic about Disney and its rides, but I have been twice without getting on a roller coaster. Instead I saw "Its a Small World" through the eyes of a baby and rode Dumbo with a two year old like it was the most happening ride ever. Doing this is impossible for some family members, but my husband and I can do it and it is every bit as magical--just in a different way.

Budly

Well put.

 

[*Fantasia*]

I am so glad that we brought our then 18 mo old DDand our almost 4 year old DS to Disney as our very first Disney family trip in September 2000. We went again the following year Dec 2001. Well guess what... My husband passed away on that trip. We have a few pictures of him and the children. We made some wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. Life is too short. The children may not remember much... but those pictures that we took worth so much. They may not remember... but I DO. And I can tell them all about how fun they had with their Dad while they were there.

 

[AUDramaQueen]

Why take them to the zoo? Why have birthday parties for them? Why take them on vacations at all?
It depends on why you don't want to take them that young.If you're a cammando type then, yes, I think you definitely need to wait until they're older. If it's because they don't remember, well I respectfully disagree.
It's about your memories too and that is a precious, precious memory when they see the Castle or Spaceship earth for the first time; Watching them as they ride the rides; Hearing them go "Mommy, look at that!" in their little sweet excited voices.
We've been twice and mine have always had a great time. And mine actually remember quite a lot. Sometimes more than I do. The last time we went my daughter said she wasn't sure she wanted to ride Dumbo because she remembered the seat was hot from the time before. She was barely two the first time we went. When we got home from that first trip, they (my son was not quite 4) had set up their stuffed animals all over the house and were pushing each other around in my laundry basket. I asked what they were doing and they said they were on the Jungle Cruise!

Bottom line, my kids have a great time at Disney and can't wait to go back. It's not a harrowing experience at all (at least not for us) and we did take our 7 month old last trip as well. He's laid back and was along for the ride. No, of course, he won't remember, but we will. And I don't think it was fair for the other ones to have to wait til he was older.

That being said, I have seen kids there screaming their heads off so I guess not all of them can handle it BUT I'm guessing their parents have pushed them too far. It is interesting to note though that a lot of the kids I see pitching a fit are in the 7-10 year old range. Anyone else have a thought on this?

 

[SC Minnie]

Personally I would not want to take a baby or even a young toddler WDW. We waited until DD was 5 before we went. We thought it would be a once in a lifetime if not many years trip. I didn't want to wrangle with a stroller or carry a cranky toddler in 95 degree heat. Flame away.

We have since gone on DCL twice and bought into DVC and go at least once a year. DD and DH are actually in WDW right now and everyday I talk to them DD tells me what an awsome time she is having.

 

[lillygator]

Personally I would not want to take a baby or even a young toddler WDW. We waited until DD was 5 before we went. We thought it would be a once in a lifetime if not many years trip. I didn't want to wrangle with a stroller or carry a cranky toddler in 95 degree heat. Flame away.

we live in Florida...I have to take a stroller out and "carry a cranky toddler in 95 degree heat" to go to the grocery store, daycare, the mall....etc...etc...

 

[Laurajean1014]

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

You don't get these kind of pics by sitting at home, watching SpongeBob or Veggies?

 

[momxx5]

There are different kind of families that go to WDW.

For some, it is a once-in-a-lifetime vacation and they want their children to "remember" it all. Many families do not take annual vacations, so to go to WDW would be a real splurge.

Then there are the families that take "family vacations" to WDW- meaning the trip is for memories, fun, happy times...going at least once a year, if not more often.

Like other posters, DH and I had been many, many times before having children. We honeymooned there, spent our 1st anniversary there(while pregnant with #1), etc. So once we have children we did not stop going - we went as a family.

I have the best memories(and pictures) of DS toddling around looking for "mouse". My 18 month old DD seeing Cinderella in person - that is a moment I will never forget. Will she remember it? I'm not sure, but the happiness it brought her and the pictures we have made it worth it all. DD was 2 1/2 last summer - she tells everyone about eating breakfast with the princesses, watching Beauty & the Beast on stage, seeing the Tarzan show and eating frozen lemonade - the things that little girl remembers amazes me.

I must say, we have plenty of rules in our house(don't run, don't jump on furniture, keep your rooms tidy) but, to not take your children anywhere until they are 5 yrs old may work for your family, however I'm certainly glad we don't have that rule in our home.

 

[robinb]

If I waited until my DD was 5, I wouldn't have this memory:

 

[lillygator]

I must say, we have plenty of rules in our house(don't run, don't jump on furniture, keep your rooms tidy) but, to not take your children anywhere until they are 5 yrs old may work for your family, however I'm certainly glad we don't have that rule in our home.

 

[Emmaline Lola]

granted we live here in Orlando. But we go to the parks often--to get some exercise, and to see the world. My dd gets a kick out of watching all the people and seeing the shows, and rides.

Remember, not everyone in the parks is on vacation. We use WDW just like we would use a local park for daily outings!

happy day!

el

 

[kikipug]

we live in Florida...I have to take a stroller out and "carry a cranky toddler in 95 degree heat" to go to the grocery store, daycare, the mall....etc...etc...

You read my mind... my kids were already beyond the 'stroller stage' when we moved here, but I thought the same thing...

 

[Stitch Inside]

granted we live here in Orlando. But we go to the parks often--to get some exercise, and to see the world. My dd gets a kick out of watching all the people and seeing the shows, and rides.

Remember, not everyone in the parks is on vacation. We use WDW just like we would use a local park for daily outings!

happy day!

el

I'm so jealous.
And what an appropriate bib.

 

[PrincessMommy2]

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who feels there is no age limit on when to bring your kids to Disney. DH and I brought our kids for the first time when DD1 was 2 and DD2 was 7 months old. Our oldest still remembers things from that trip (contrary to family members saying it was a waste to bring them when they were too young to remember) The photos we have of the baby with the characters are priceless! We are going for the third time since our first was born this October and at that time we will have a 3 month old! Someone made the comment to me that they would rather be hit by a bus than take 3 kids under 5 to DisneyWorld. I relayed this to my DH and we both agreed that it had not occurred to us to think of it in that negative light. I have found the babies to be the best behaved in the group. And DDs seem to be on their best behavior also. (I know this is not the norm for all Hey, we know we can't do parks commando style, but we don't want to wait until our kids are "the right age" to make our memories with them! At this age, they still believe in the "magic" and we love seeing how they react. I am dreading the day when they don't believe anymore.....and that day could come sooner rather than later.....kids seem to mature so fast these days....my 6 year old niece already knows the characters are not real.
My SIL is dying to take her three kids (1, 2 and 4) but BIL says not until the youngest is 5! He thinks we're nuts to keep going while they are still young - we agree to disagree. What works for one family won't for another.

 

[lillygator]

what I can't understand is the "they won't remember" arguement for not taking small children to WDW....

I mean if you base your arguement on financial reasons, the heat, the fact you don't want to deal with them that is one thing but all that say they are waiting till the child will be old enough to "remember" .......

 

[crisi]

Personally I would not want to take a baby or even a young toddler WDW. We waited until DD was 5 before we went. We thought it would be a once in a lifetime if not many years trip. I didn't want to wrangle with a stroller or carry a cranky toddler in 95 degree heat. Flame away.

We have since gone on DCL twice and bought into DVC and go at least once a year. DD and DH are actually in WDW right now and everyday I talk to them DD tells me what an awsome time she is having.

Not flaming but there are plenty of times of year where Disney is nice and cool. November-Feburary is generally gorgeous in terms of weather, perhaps even cool. And for the most part (except around the holidays) crowd free. Wrangling a stroller can be difficult, we always rent, which leaves us carrying tired children, but cuts down on moving strollers on and off buses. There are other things that can be done to make traveling with small kids easy. Staying at a monorail resort can make stroller management a breeze, especially a kid that's going to be MK centered. An umbrella stroller, for a kid old enough to use one, and young enough to fit, isn't a big deal to wrangle (I do wonder about some people that have strollers the size of a compact car!). And if you have as many adults as children, or more adults than children (as we did) its even a lesser deal).

Different strokes for different folk, I think anyone going over the Fourth of July when its hot and crowded is a little nuts, if they are bringing children or not. Adding young children just changes the level of "little nuts." Moms who leave DH at home and take four children under six - not me.

Knowing what you can handle (and your kids can handle), and planning for handling that is really key. Don't like heat, don't go in summer. Don't like crowds, avoid summer and holidays.