Okay... I have done both. In 1998, we had an opportunity to go to WDW with a convention my hubby needed to attend. At that time, #1 son was a month shy of 5 and #2 was 25 months. We left #2 with a sitter we lovingly called pseudo-mom. I am not going to say that there were no feelings of guilt, but I knew that if I took #2, #1 would not have been able to enjoy his trip since I would be taking them by myself. So, I justified it in my head.
Fast forward to 2002... our entire family went including our 4-month-old daughter. She was great...slept through the monsoon and everything. This year, she was 15 months when we went in May. It was still a good trip, but she wanted out of her stroller the entire time. It was hard. We stopped alot and had to put her back in her seat...yada, yada... but honestly, it was nothing we wouldn't have experienced even if we had been in our local mall.
I guess my point is this... there are advantages and disadvantages to both. I don't feel like anyone should feel guilty whether they take their toddlers or not. Every family has to meet their own needs at that time and that includes everyone on the trip including the toddlers and the older children. Go on your trip and enjoy yourselves... I feel certain that there will be many more trips for your #2 daughter.
