Toddlers + Disney World = ??

MrsMillerTime · January 2012

We've been talking about planning a trip to Disney this year. My DH isn't thrilled with the idea of her being "too young" to remember it and my Mom is worried that DD will be to little to ride any rides and have fun.

I'm not delusional, right? Would an almost-3-year-old have fun and be able to sustain 5-ish days?

Chandley · January 2012

I'm in the same boat with your husband and mom. Granted, we are being pressured by DH's parents to go - and have been since she was born. Both DH and I think she is too young and would prefer to wait. I am curious to hear other's opinions though!

katattack · January 2012

My SIL lives in Orlando, so DD has already been when she was close to 2. At that point, she could have cared less. However, we're planning a trip this spring, and she'll be just over 3.5 and we think she'll love it. She'd probably love it right now as well.

I've had friends take kids of all ages with varying levels of success. If you're going to do the princess breakfast stuff or character activities to supplement, I think she'd get into it (unless she's freaked out by giant stuffed creatures, that is).

For us, it's not as huge a deal to go, because we've got family there, so we get to do Disney and then see family. So my opinion might be a little different than someone going there just for Disney.

brideonjuly8 · January 2012

We took Steven when he was 19 months and he LOVED it. He still talks about it, though I'm not sure if it's just from pictures. He remembers things from this summer, so I bet she would remember it for a while, anyway.

I would totally do it! At this age they're still young enough to believe everything and it's so fun watching it though their eyes.

mlf625 · January 2012

I would totally take DS if it were just him. I wouldn't do two toddlers, but one would be totally manageable, imo. Or maybe you could do Disney Land? Smaller and more manageable, less rain-foresty disgusting heat? Our plan is to do Land before we do World, probably in a year or two.

michelleaxo · January 2012

brideonjuly8:

I would totally do it! At this age they're still young enough to believe everything and it's so fun watching it though their eyes.

This. Granted, I do not remember, but my parents took me around 3ish and they still talk about how "real" everything was to me at the time and how much fun I had.

finsup · January 2012

We went over Thanksgiving week w/ our 3.5 year old and 18 month old.

We had a BLAST and can't wait to go back. The kids, both of them, loved it. And it was great seeing Disney through their eyes.

I think they key is being realistic - you aren't going to be able to run from 8am - 10pm everynight. You'll need to take it slow, take a lot of breaks, make sure everyone is eating and drinking on schedule to avoid meltdowns etc. Go w/ proper expecations and you'll have a great time!

fjaril · January 2012

People on the cali board and my mom's club go with little ones.

My friend took her kiddo last year for his 2nd birthday and he LOVED it.

Of course this is Disney Land not World. It's smaller and I think has more small kid friendly areas. If you go to either disneyland or world websites, you can see height restrictions on rides etc.

In Cali, most of the good neighbor hotels have fancy pools (we're staying at disnelyland hotel) as well as on site hotels (which are super fancy). So you don't have to take her to the park every day and you could split up (since you are in a group) adult time at the park and kid time at the park.

I think it's totally doable, especially if you have the attitude that you don't have to see/ride/touch everything.

Mrs.Froggianna · January 2012

DH attended a conference there when Luke was ~13 mos old and he LOVED every minute of it. He was a total rockstar, too. And you've seen my kid--waiting in lines and chilling aren't high on his list of fun things to do.

We fully intend on taking Luke & Butterbean the spring before Luke starts school (so 5ish and 2ish). As far as remembering it...I went the summer after 2nd grade and my memories are spotty. I think there's definitely something to the idea of taking them while everything is magical.

nanann · January 2012

Through some incredibly lucky circumstances we took the girls a year ago -- Julia was 3 years 2 months. We only had 2 full days at Magic Kingdom but we all loved it and have no regrets whatsoever. It really wasn't a difficult trip at all. (and that's even with poor Julia apparently coming down with flu type A on day 2 and her and I needing to go to the First Aid building for some meds and a few hour nap to bring down her fever. -- obvi we didn't know what virus she had until we got home and she was still feverish).

She was potty trained so that might make a difference.

She still remembers it now but I know she won't remember it forever, and that's okay with me. She still asks constantly to go again.

BubbleToes · January 2012

We went in October so Audrey was 3.5 and Finn was not quite 2. It was seriously the most amazing vacation we've ever taken. Ever. Audrey is really into princesses and fairies (Disney or not) and seeing all of that through her eyes had me tearing up off and on the whole time we were there. Finn had a great time too! He lived the characters and the rides and ran around like a fool. I am not a huge Disney person but after seeing how easy they make it for everyone in the family to have a good time I'm a convert. I'd love to go back again this year but I'm not sure it's in the cards. I don't know if the kids will remember the trip (though we have one meeellllion pictures) but we'd never get around to do anything if we had to wait until they were "old enough".

molliedb · January 2012

we plan to go next spring to disneyland in soca. we will do 1 day at the magic kingdom, 1 at the san diego zoo, 1 at the beach.

we don't want it to be all about disney. when we go our kids will be 2.5, 4, and 5.5

joyco · January 2012

I went for the first time just as I was turning 7 and I remember a little about the trip, not much though.

My ILs are having their 50th anniversary in 3 years and have offered to take everyone (and pay for it!) on the Big Red Boat and then to WDW after and I think that will be the perfect age--the boys will be 5 and it will be nice to not have to worry about leaving the park for naps, I won't have to lug around a diaper bag, etc. Plus, on the boat, only kids who are 5 and over can stay in their little "camps". Heh.

PrincessBrideSarah · January 2012

My answer would depend on the child and how they handle things. I would take DD #2 (5 months old) to Disney right now. As for DD #1 (17 months)...well, she needs to like the car a little bit better before I would travel with her several states away.

She probably won't remember the trip for more than a little while, but she may have a lot of fun.

Will this be the only trip you ever make to Disney World? Do you and DH like Disney enough to go back again when she is a bit older?

If this is the only trip ever, I would save it until your DD will be more likely to remember the trip.

I think that Disney is a completely different trip when you have a 3 year old versus a 7 year old versus a 12 year old versus no kids at all. All can be very fun experiences, but your expectations need to be reasonable.

DH and I are already planning our Disney trip with our two little princesses. We are hoping to go in the fall/winter when they are 3 and 4.

MnMShaw · January 2012

When I was 12, we went and took my little brother and he was 3 at the time and we were there for 5 days. He did ok but a nap had to be factored in every day. So we would start early then after lunch my dad would go back to the hotel and my brother would take a nap for a couple of hours and then he would come back out. He also has no memory of ever going to Disney so I really think that's a bummer.

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Toddlers + Disney World = ??

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