why young children?

[Princess Mommy]

I bring my kids- my oldest was 15 months, my youngest was 4 months old- so the memories my DH & I will make with them & for the feeling of family & togetherness they will come away with from our trips that will last a lifetime!

I was 15 when I first went to WDW... my parents waited too. I loved it so much I couldn't wait once my DD was born to be able to bring her to WDW.

 

[RedRuby]

I guess because my baby went where I went.

Yes, and as a mother of twins, I can totally relate to the "get us out of the house and *doing something* feeling" (of the mother described by the OP)!
We didn't think we'd "do Disney" with preschoolers but were swayed by the fact/s that:
(a) Disney "places" (parks, resorts, restaurants) are ery kid-friendly,
(b) the kids stay free adn eat free/cheap
(c) there's lots all of us to see and do and experience*.

Yes, our nearly-two-year olds would have been happy at the local park and climibing the stairs at home instead of doing to DL and climbing the stairs in the (nonDisney) cruiseship, but we the parents were happier doing the DL-cruise trip. And, that trip (and consequent photos of character meets, rides, etc) meant that the girls understand the concept of "going to Disney" (although they understandably confuse "DisneyLAND" and "DisneyWORLD"! They are thrilled at the things we've been discussing for our upcoming trip....going to the castle (they want to wear their construction paper princess crowns from the cruise!), eating with Donald Duck, riding the flying elephants, etc...

Ditto for my nearly-5 yo nephew -- our extended family hadn't counted on a trip 'til all the kids were schoolage, but he is old enough to know about Pixar movies and Pirates of the Caribbean. He loves haunted houses and scary 'stuff' and has a fantastic imagination, so he'll enjoy the planning/talking about the trip and the actual occasion.

 

[RedRuby]

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.

Yes, we (especially I) really like to travel, and our children have extended family who live out of town/province/country (grandparents, great grandparents, cousins, etc). So, not travelling 'til they were 5 would have meant missing out on all sorts of things including a family wedding, family celebrations, meeting up with friends from out of country and so on.

Before having kids, I also thought Disney should be saved for kids who will "appreciate it". I think that statement should be modified to "saved for families who appreciate it". It's the definition of appreciation that's variable.

 

[wellesleyprincess]

If you guys don't mine me butting in I thought some of you might like a teens opinion. My parents took me to WDW at 3,6, 12, 16, and now this summer at 18. Guess what I remember more about the trip at 6 then the ones at 12 and 16. I still think I remember certain things from the trip at three. I remember absolutely nothing about the trip at 12. When you're younger it's all more magical and so you remember it because it seemed as real as anything else and not just another theme park like when you're older.

 

[akrake]

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..

Not out to get you, but that's stupid......do you think all the people who actually LIVE in florida keep their babies inside until they are over 6months old bc of the weather. I think not. I grew up in Lousiana & it's hotter there & i went outside & i took my kids outside.
ugh.

 

[akrake]

Why take them to the zoo? Why have birthday parties for them? Why take them on vacations at all?

THANK YOU!! My thought exactly.....i don't understand why it matters to to OP if someone brought their 4mo old twins...would it be different if it was a singleton? would it matter then? it's their family.

 

[SHADCT]

PatsFan7. I agree with you. I just loved watching my kids two years ago 1.5 and 4 experience the charactors. To each his own. Its their money and time. I personally wouldn't bring a three or four month old, but would bring a six month and up. People sometimes plan years in advance for this vacation. For some its once in a life time for others it every year.
I enjoy watching my kids and other children enjoy the parks and what they have to offer. Power to the folks with little ones.

 

[mom2cinderella]

Swincha, did you enjoy *anything* about your trip? Just wondering.

Our bonus baby will be 4 months old on our December trip. We aren't taking her expecting her to have a memorable time. There are four other people in the family who enjoy WDW and the trip is for them!!

Michele

 

[akrake]

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.

Hot & crowded...that's florida...wdw in the summer.....that's life.
Maybe the family you saw were dvc members & they have a place to stay that they paid for. Maybe the mom had a really rough pregnancy & just now feels like she can get out & about & disney is her favorite place. maybe she took her 3 year old at the same age & wants to enjoy the parks with her twins at that age. it's her choice.

I have 2 sets of kids also (well, almost..#4 will be here soon)...and we took the older 2 at 3 & 5; the 3rd went for the first time at 7 weeks, 15 months & 17 months....we will go again in december & #4 will be 3 months....#3 26 months & the older two will be 6 & 9.............is that anyone's business? no, just mine & my husbands...& we will enjoy ourselves...even if people stare and wonder why the h*ll anyone one would bring 4 kids to wdw..........god knows walt didn't build the parks for kids

 

[SC Minnie]

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...

I live in SC and you know what is gets hot as H** here too. But I could plan things there were only a small amount of time out in the intense heat/sun or take walks in the late evening. Running an errand is a heck of a lot different than spending hours upon hours in the heat. The time when DD was a baby and toddler we couldn't afford to stay on site. Our first trip was off site and we saved for over a year.

Everyone does what is best for their family and in my post I said PERSONALLY I couldn't/wouldn't do it so I didn't. I didn't bash you for your decision don't bash me for mine.

 

[momxx5]

MomtoCinderella -

I love they way you said "bonus baby". We have one - a sweet little girl who made our family complete. Yes, she was a surprise.....actually all of them were....we let things happen naturally. She is now 3 yrs old and will always be babied, being the youngest of 5.

I can now call her my bonus baby.
Thank you.

 

[Tammi67]

Perhaps they were saving and planning for a long time for this trip. Maybe the twins were an OOPS and they decided to go anyway. For some people it isn't a 'chore' to deal with their kids.

Some people want to take their children before they enter school so they can take advantage of the value seasons, lower crowds and less heat.

I always said I would wait until my children were older and could really enjoy it. But in December of 2003 we were watching the WDW Christmas parade on tv and I saw the look in my then 4yo's eyes and I knew we just had to go. So we went the following December in '04 with DS5 and DD2.5. We were able to be there for DS's 5th bady. And guess what, we got hooked and are going back this December. Then we will go back in April of '06 for DD's 5th bday. And who knows when after that.

We led a very active lifestyle (vacationing/eating out/etc) before kids and we always said that when we had kids we wouldn't let that slow us down. Where we go our kids go and we aren't going to stop going because we have kids. Heck, my DS was taking skiing lessons in Colorado when he was 3, and now he can ski with mom and dad. Personally, I think when kids are exposed to these types of things it broadens their horizons tremendously. They see the world. These are things that they can never get out of textbooks.

 

[lillygator]

I live in SC and you know what is gets hot as H** here too. But I could plan things there were only a small amount of time out in the intense heat/sun or take walks in the late evening. Running an errand is a heck of a lot different than spending hours upon hours in the heat. The time when DD was a baby and toddler we couldn't afford to stay on site. Our first trip was off site and we saved for over a year.

Everyone does what is best for their family and in my post I said PERSONALLY I couldn't/wouldn't do it so I didn't. I didn't bash you for your decision don't bash me for mine.

wow o -touchy!!


did you read my post? Yes, everyone does what is best for their family (I hope)!

I wasn't bashing you at all but I as a Floridian can't plan our lives around the degrees outside...work comes at the same time each day whether it is 100 or 50 out...I don't plan my grocery shopping or errands around the weather unless of course that includes the hurricanes!!

and personally we like the "heat" I mean we spend hours at the beach....but hours upon hours walking around in it - no...we don't commando Disney.

 

[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.

hmm.....

 

[WDWorBUST]

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

This says it all to me. There is nothing wrong with wanting to get the most out of the parks and if that means waiting until your children are older - well different strokes for different folks I went when I was 32 weeks pregnant (Sept '03) and had the most awesome trip - we went slower than usual - played in the water parks - and rested a lot. I did miss RNRC, etc......and could not wait until I got to go again when I wasn't pregnant so we could do those things again. Our next trip after that was Dec '04 - our DD was 13 months old. We had so much fun that trip too....and you know what....we never even baby swapped once. We were having so much fun seeing things through her eyes....and being together as a family on vacation that BTMRR and RNRC just didn't seem so important. Am I still looking forward to those things -Yep!! We're going with friends this upcoming September and I see us baby swapping more. 1. ) Her DH has never been so we'll probably keep their DD while they go on and then they'll keep ours while we go on. 2.) I would like to get to experience all of those things again before we have baby #2. But if we don't....oh well. We will still have the absolute time of our lives!!

 

[nemomama]

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...

I totally agree with your point! I get so annoyed with people when they're like "why are you taking a toddler down there in the summer, it's way too hot". Um, hello, people do actually LIVE in hot places and they are fine! What do you think people that live there do?

All life experiences contribute to a child's development...not just those experiences which they can "remember". And I really feel that it's part of our job as parents to expose our children to as many new and different experiences as possible, no matter what the child's age.

JMHO!

 

[puddleduck]

We are going on our first trip to WDW this Dec. Our boys will have just turned 5, 3 and 2. There are several reasons why we are going now instead of waiting until the youngest is 5 or so.

1. We are a family that likes to do things together. We have gone on several vacations w/ our young kids, including a week at Gulf Shores, with a 2 yo old, an 8 month old and me 4 months pregnant. We just took things slowly and had a great time. We had so much fun we went back the next year with a 3 yo, 20 month old and 8 month old. We had a blast.

2. My kids are at the age where everything is magical. I cannot wait to see their faces when we go. My oldest is already planning what he wants to do and my 2 yo is amazed by what he sees on the internet so I can just imagine what he will be like when he sees it in person.

3. This is not going to be our only trip. I wanted to do Disney as a pre-schooler experience, and I also want to experience WDW w/ my kids as they grow older. Each age will be a new experience.

4. I want to go and am tired of waiting. We can afford it this year, and I am going. Because I can't imagine going on any vacation w/out my kids, much less WDW, they will naturally be coming with us.

That being said, I enjoy seeing things through my kids' eyes. Is it a little more of a hassle dealing with strollers and such. Yes, a little, but I do that on a daily basis any way. We are though going in Dec. to avoid the heat. We live in MS and can experience heat and humidity for free at home.

Also, my youngest 2 may not remember it all, but I know I will. Plus, who is say we will all be here 3 years from now or can afford it then. I am here now and can afford it, so I am living for the experience today, instead of waiting for some magical age, that quite frankly doesn't really exist. I know some 8 yo I wouldn't take, but have no problem taking my little ones.

Sharon

 

[KristinU]

... We were having so much fun seeing things through her eyes....and being together as a family on vacation that BTMRR and RNRC just didn't seem so important. Am I still looking forward to those things -Yep!!...

 

[FSUGrad97]

I get so annoyed with people when they're like "why are you taking a toddler down there in the summer, it's way too hot". Um, hello, people do actually LIVE in hot places and they are fine! What do you think people that live there do?

Exactly! We live down here - are we supposed to do nothing but sit inside during the summer? Using the OP's logic, everyone who has a young child and lives in Florida wouldn't do anything until November!

Like Lilygator posted, I use a stroller with my toddler, and she is fine. Personally, I think a toddler in a stroller is easier to handle than an older child, but that's JMHO.

We are going in December and my daughter will be 2. Maybe my daughter is different, but she already has favorite characters, and I CANNOT WAIT for her to see them.

To the OP, just because you have that rule for YOUR family, doesn't mean everyone else has to have that rule. Get over yourself.

 

[lillygator]

We are going in December and my daughter will be 2. Maybe my daughter is different, but she already has favorite characters, and I CANNOT WAIT for her to see them.

DD was just over 2 when we went last December and it was such fun! You will have a blast!! and yes I think kids in strollers are easier for me to handle....containment!!!


and (I have to do it!) Go Gators!!