DS went 3 times before 3 because I love Disney. & he was free.
13 months- awesome! His face the first time he saw Mickey is like burned into my psyche forever. It was not an easy trip for H & I, but it was a trip I will never ever forget.
21 months- My mom & I took him & stayed at BLT. It was easier because he could stay out for fireworks. & BLT is so easy with a young toddler. He was enchanted with the rides at this age.
2.5- This trip was harder because my ILs came & they are PITA sometimes ( not always just sometimes ) DS remembered parts of the previous trip, & understood rides & wanting to do certain things at this point.
We went with our 12 month old. She had a great time, but we set the trip up to work for her. We went with her queues - so walking around and standing on all the circular electrical covers on the ground? We went with it...Pulling souvenirs off the shelves in the store? Fine. We only averaged 2-3 rides a day, which was just right at that age. Also though, our kid has NO fear. I was kind of surprised she never cried at all the large, loud, or dark things.
We took DD when she was a little over three and she had a fabulous time! I don't care about her remembering it- I just want her to have fun while she's there.
DH is on board! If we go in october of 2016 (just before she's 3) she'll be free right? If so is this a good month to go?
October is nice in both CA and FL (not sure which park you're planning to go to). September/October are the slowest months at Disneyland so it shouldn't be too busy. And they're free until 3.
We went just before my kids turned 3 and just before they were 4. They loved it both times but the first time they were not cool with waiting in long lines and it took a lot of effort to keep them from acting a fool. The 2nd trip they were much better about it. Aside from that it was great. They loved the characters and the rides. ETA: I agree if you only plan to go once to go later, maybe 6-7ish
Post by imojoebunny on Jan 16, 2015 20:36:17 GMT -5
We took DD when she was 2. My FIL lives 20 minutes away, so we go every year. I thought dd was going to faint with joy when she saw the castle from the monorail. She peed herself when she saw the parade. She loves princesses. I have not encouraged such things, but she was all into it as a small. She is 8 now and has been many times. It never fails to inspire joy for either of my kids.
We took C at 2y2m and honestly, while we had fun and he had fun, with our next kid we will probably wait until he's 3 or 4. He was just really overstimulated and in a weird place where he didn't want to do baby stuff like ride in the stroller which made it a bit of a PITA.
] In general I hate the 'they will remember it' argument because I want to travel for me, including with them, and I think there's value to the travel in the moment not just long term memories. Plus pictures! That said, if it's a trip mainly for the kids and not because adults want to do it anyways maybe the argument applies better.
Disney aside, I agree with this.
DD has already been in 3 plane trips. I don't consider the trips a waste because she won't remember them.
We were planning to go right after DD turned 3, but she was going to cost so%$(*&@ much that we decided to put it off for now. Maybe next year we'll do a day trip since my dad lives about an hour away.
I think 5-6 is when they really "get it" and will have memories. But I do think it's important to have trips before memories for THEM are made. Some of my favorite trips have been when DD was a baby because of OUR memories.
Post by iheartbanjos on Jan 16, 2015 22:24:40 GMT -5
We were going to wait until they were 6 and 3 because Orlando is pretty much our idea of hell on Earth, but DD1 is begging to go to Disney World at 4.5, so H and I will probably cave and take her sooner--maybe next fall.
Post by whitepicketfence on Jan 17, 2015 7:20:20 GMT -5
We're taking the girls in October; they will be 5.5, 4, and 15 months. I don't expect the baby to get anything out of the trip, she's mostly just tagging along. We wanted to hit that sweet spot where she's not an infant anymore but where she'll still willingly ride in the stroller. I think the older girls will be at an age where they'll totally still be awed by the magic.
After this trip, we probably won't go back until after DD3 is potty trained. We want to visit Universal Studios next time to see the Harry Potter attraction so I want the older girls to be at an age where they'll enjoy that, too.