Disney with 2yo, 2.5yo or 3yo

[zarapipe]

How was it? We went when dd was 4 and it was awesome. I would love to go back in the fall but dd2 will have just turned 2 and I wondered if it will be ok or still a pita. I think maybe waiting till dd2 is 3yo but then dd1 will be 7.5 and I still want her to love the princesses and all. Your thoughts?

So basically we could go in November 2016 with a 2yo, April 2017 with a 2.5yo or next November 2017 with a 3yo

Eta. We could also go in January when. She would be 2y3m. I wonder if it would be too cold in January to swim. @this ?

[cincodemayo]

DS was 2 years, 4 months and it was honestly 90% super awesome. He was totally enchanted by the characters, could go on a vast handful of rides (and enjoyed them) and just generally liked Disney a lot. The only problem we really had was that he would not fall asleep in his stroller. He needed us to hold him until he fell asleep and then we transferred him.

He just got such a kick out of the parades and stuff, it was fun.

I think if we would have taken him right at 2, he would have been a little more scared of the characters.

[hermione]

She's free before 3. Does that factor in at all?

[turkletsmom]

We took DS at 22mos and again at 2yr10mos. He got a kick out of the characters the first time but was crazy about them this time- yelling their names, etc. Both times were equally "easy" since he naps in the stroller. This last time though he didn't care for the dark rides like spaceship earth or pirates and HATED the fireworks. At almost two they didn't scare him at all.

[zarapipe]

Feb 20, 2016 13:41:47 GMT -5 hermione said:

She's free before 3. Does that factor in at all?

Not that much. The price of a child ticket Is such a small price of the whole trip.

It will only be dh, myself and the two girls. No other help.

[carolinagirl831]

We went when dd was 2.5 and she absolutely loved it. She can be a pretty difficult 2 yr old but is usually much better out and about. She did great. Meeting Mickey was the highlight of her life, lol she still talks about to. I'd go mainly because I agree with your older dd, the younger age could be better. She is also a kid who easily napped in strollers. We were not tied to any schedules with her

[jeaniebueller]

I would wait until she is 3 or older. Just for logistics, potty trained, less likelihood of needing a nap, etc

[dcrunnergirl52]

We went in January when DD and DS1 were almost 5.5 and DS2 was 2.5, and it was a great age. Old enough to talk to the characters and really enjoy the magic, and still free. I wouldn't have wanted to go before then b/c DS2 was a tough kid to take care of from 18-24 months, and finally turned a corner and got more "online" in terms of talking, being funny, etc. around 2.5.

[read247]

My oldest was 17 months old for her first Disney trip and she loved it. Granted, she was my only kid at the time...not sure how it would have gone with an older sibling along as well (FWIW, DD #2 didn't get there until she was 4 and #1 was 7, so by then it was easier to deal with two I think).

A lot would depend on your kid. #1 napped like a champ anywhere, so we didn't have to take breaks or arrange our schedule around her. She got tired, conked out in the stroller, and we kept going with things we could do without disturbing her. But #2 pretty much HAD to be in a crib so taking her when she was still napping would have been a disaster. The potty training issue doesn't factor in for me as I found facilities for that readily available and no more of a problem than taking a PT'd kid to the bathroom when necessary.

Another consideration is how close your dates are to Spring Break in April and Thanksgiving in November. Early November was nicer than April, IMO (especially since Easter was the week after we were there the time we went in the spring). But any of your ages would work pretty well if your youngest is adaptable and you can deal with naps (neither of my kids napped after about age 2 anyway). And a 7.5 yo is typically still into the whole Disney thing if my girls are any indication.

In other words, I'm no help. And would probably go sooner rather than later just because *I* wouldn't want to wait! :-)

[zarapipe]

I have no clue about stroller naps. Dd only naps in the car on crib bc I make it a point to always be home or driving during nap instead of out somewhere. So I'm definately scared about that.

[Brie]

We took C at 2y2m and it was good, not great. He hated the stroller that point and being in the Tula but couldn't walk for long periods so there was a lot of up, down, up, down. He also wasn't big on stroller naps but he still really needed them. It was hit or miss.

Our plan with P is to go when he's 2y11m so he's free but slightly more mature.

[londoncalling]

We did 2.5 with dd2 just based on how our schedule worked out. She was potty trained and it was really, really good. For the most part it was just the two girls and H and I. We had my brother and sil in the parks with us for the Halloween party and one other morning. We did just fine with the double stroller.
She did have some different interests than her older sister, so we did split up a few times, but stayed in the same land (i.e. Dd1 wanted to do mine train and dd2 wanted to ride the carousel over and over).

I would do whichever time period has the lowest projected crowds and not worry too much about age.

[marie3246]

Feb 20, 2016 14:17:18 GMT -5 londoncalling said:

We did 2.5 with dd2 just based on how our schedule worked out. She was potty trained and it was really, really good. For the most part it was just the two girls and H and I. We had my brother and sil in the parks with us for the Halloween party and one other morning. We did just fine with the double stroller.
She did have some different interests than her older sister, so we did split up a few times, but stayed in the same land (i.e. Dd1 wanted to do mine train and dd2 wanted to ride the carousel over and over).

I would do whichever time period has the lowest projected crowds and not worry too much about age.

This. We just took DD in Jan and she was pretty much 24 months. It was sooo fun and DD did great (aside from a few fits), but I think ideally I would have waited a bit longer if we were only going once. We did a few character meals and while she liked them, it wasn't as thrilling as I expected. She didn't understand waiting, so when she could see Pooh, she kept yelling for him and getting upset that she couldnt see him RIGHT NOW. Then when he got to us, she acted super shy and star struck lol. She didn't nap in the stroller, but does great if she is out and about. It was just really hard to get her back in the stroller once she had a chance at freedom. 

[curbsideprophet]

I vote Nov 2016! I would not want to wait until Nov 2017.

[ssmjlm]

2 was just a touch too young for us. Even another couple months would have been better, 2.5 would have been perfect.

E wasn't a fan of the characters and rides were hit or miss.

[ellipses84]

We took DS to Disneyland at all of those ages and it was always great (mostly day trips when we lived nearby). I might not want to go in the midst of potty training, but before, after, or if they are willing to wear pull-ups would be ok.

[jeaniebueller]

Also, as far as DD1, she will be fine at 7.5. Even if she isn't about princesses, she will still love Disney. I loved it in high school!

[jinxy]

We took DS at 2yr10m and it was great. We wanted to capitalize in the free before three, but we also wanted him old enough to enjoy it. It was a great age to take him. He loved all the characters. He loved all the rides and the fireworks and the parades. He even napped in his stroller so we were able to stay from rope drop until the parks closed. I never imagined being able to do that but he was such a champ. It actually went so well that I've been wanting to go back ever since we got home!

[beantrees]

I think 2.5 is a great age! We went in Jan. With a 6.5 yr old and a 2y9m. The under 3 thing is awesome, it easily saved us several hundred dollars when you factor in all the free meals as well as not needing park tickets.

[ilikedonuts]

2 was very challenging. DD2 does not like to wait. 3 was so much better with DD1. But it really does depend on the kid.

[minzy]

I agree it depends on the kid. We are here now with our 2yr5mo old and she's the hardest part about this trip, mostly in that she hates be confined and changes her mind frequently. She rotates between being carried, walking, sitting in the stroller, trying to push the stroller, and randomly laying on the ground. I hope she'll be more reasonable at 3, but who knows. At least she is free!

[mrshandy]

DS was 5 and DD was 2 and 3 months. It went pretty good. DD loved the characters and the rides and was fine with whatever we wanted to do. I think it was a great age. I would pick April so that the weather is better. January can be too cold for the pools.

[blessed2bmama]

We went when DD was just a few weeks away from her 3rd birthday and it was perfect. Nap was an issue a couple days, but she still naps so delaying things wouldn't have changed that for us. It was perfectly magical.

[lala]

I think some of it is the kid; I could have taken the older two at a new 2, but the thought of taking by youngest at just 2, in 2 months, sounds hard. But when it comes down to it, I'd base it more on my schedule & the time of year I want to go than their ages.

[bunch]

We went when dd2 was 18 mos and 2.5.   both were equally awesome, but she definitely slept better and enjoyed more the second time.   on the other had:  SIBLING FIGHTING.     

[zarapipe]

Well it's decided. We are going in January and she will be 2y3m. For us that was the best time based on taking time off from work/school. Hopefully it isn't a disaster! And I have no idea how my kid will be by then either. Right now she likes the stroller and she likes to be worn but who knows in 9 months.

[lala]

It will be fine! These things are what we make them; if you anticipate it being horrible it probably will be. We always hope for the best but prepare for the worst.