Hello everyone,
I wanted to take a poll of everyone that has taken young children on vacation with them. Since my wife and I are excited to return to the magic, how old should our child be to have fun at the park and be able to tolerate and enjoy the attractions?

[penncross]

How old are they now? We have taken our children since they were infants. It's all in what you want to tolerate. If they are todlers they will still get a kick out of it. At age 6 they really get excited and it just grows from there.
Good luck.

[dlashe4977]

We just returned three weeks ago with my daughter she just turned three last week. She loved WDW, everything about it.
You must bring or rent a stroller. Even my son who's eight used the stroller when his little sister wanted to walk. We only go in Nov or Dec, so crowds are at a minimum. This last trip the longest line was 10 minutes. Taking a child in the summer, with the long lines and heat could make them crankier. Also, children under three yrs old are FREE!

[BDavis932]

Taking the little ones is such a great experience. We've been taking our kids since they were 9 months old. If you are taking kiddos that are still on the bottle, be sure to get a room with a mini fridge and small sink. The rooms at All Stars make it impossible to wash bottles. The rooms at Old Key West are perfect. I believe you can get these "mini Kitchens" at several of the resorts and they will make life with baby much easier!

On our last trip in June, we took our then 6 year old and then 2 1/2 year old and our 2 1/2 year old still talks everyday about all the rides she went on and her favorite things there.

If you are going mid-summer, be careful of the heat. The sun is very intense on little ones tender skin.

Have fun planning your trip!

[dlashe4977]

We stay at A/S Music, for $10 per day we got a mini frig. For some reason at check in the clerk said the frig was "no charge".

It held our water bottles that we bought from Walgreens for .50 cents each it also held apple juice, yoo hoo and any food that we had leftover. :D :D

[trishb]

Hi and Welcome!

I have taken my boy at age 4 months and again when he was 8 months. Both times were very enjoyable. Of course, DH and I were limited to the attractions we could experience...but, we didn't mind.

Our first priority then, and now, is helping him to be comfortable. Because when baby is happy...everyone is happy.

I have tons of tips if you have an infant...just let me know.:D

[SilentRascal]

I don't believe it's right to bring a child to WDW if they're under the age 6 (and I think that's still a tad too low). I believe WDW is a great vacation spot and should be appreciated by those with the consciousness to do just that. Toddlers and infants can't appreciate where they are or retain most of the memories such a trip would give older ones. I think it's selfish for parents to bring toddlers and infants on such a wonderful trip.

[trishb]

Rascal...I disagree with you and I will explain why...

There is no place on earth that is more family friendly, and more accomodating of children than Walt Disney World.

I don't think that anyone takes an infant or toddler to DW because of some dilusion that the child will know where they are. That is rediculous. Taking a child to a place that is adult oriented would be selfish, in my opinion. And, postponing family vacations until the child is 6 is unreasonable and unrealistic.

FWIW

[BDavis932]

Trish, you are so right!

I have been going to WDW long before I had kids and wanted to experience it with them as well. My son had been 4 times by the time he was 6! My daughter is 2 and has been twice.

Although they may not remember, I will. I could see it as being selfish if I took my child as a 2 year old, and then never returning again. That would not be fair because the child never experience it at other stages in his life. But, the way I see it, life is too short and I'm not going to waist time by postponing wonderful family memories at WDW waiting for my kids to be a certain age. I think even though they can't remember the details, they still absorb the magic!

[SilentRascal]

Originally posted by trishb
Rascal...I disagree with you and I will explain why...

There is no place on earth that is more family friendly, and more accomodating of children than Walt Disney World.

I don't think that anyone takes an infant or toddler to DW because of some dilusion that the child will know where they are. That is rediculous. Taking a child to a place that is adult oriented would be selfish, in my opinion. And, postponing family vacations until the child is 6 is unreasonable and unrealistic.

FWIW

Well, I'm certainly not looking to start an argument, because I know not everyone will think the way I do and everyone is certainly entitled to their own opinion.

But....I feel that it's absurd to bring toddlers and infants to a wonderful place like Disney World. Children in those age ranges can show no appreciation whatsoever or cognitive thought as to where they are or have any clue as to their surroundings. It's not the least bit unrealistic or unreasonable to hold off on a trip like this until the child is a bit older. The family as a whole would get more out of it, the child would definitely get more out of it, and it just makes more sense to me, to do it like that.

Taking a toddler or infant to Disney is inconsiderate of the child. At that age, the child would be just as happy playing with its parents in the basement of your house as they would being in Disney World. It's ridiculous to take children of that age to such wonderful, memory-making place.

[penncross]

We have taken both our children to WDW as infants and your right, they don't remember BUT they do think it is neat that they had that early of a start. And as for us the parents? It didn't bother us a bit. We were not going to wait for 6 years to go to Disney. After all we are kids too...
TAKE THEM AND HAVE FAMILY FUN AND MEMORIES.

[Willbegone]

SilentRascal-
Maybe I should introduce you to my 2 year old! You seem to be saying toddlers are vegetables. My child will definetly know where she is and I know she is going to love it!! Are you saying these things because maybe you can't tolerate the toddlers your self and think they are ruining your vacation because they can become testy and cry? I'm not trying to argue but I think what you have said is very offensive to those of us excited about taking our children. It seems selfish of you to want to keep the parks to certain age limits! Everyone however is entitled to their opinion.

I was taken to WDW when I was 6 months old, 2 yrs. old, and 4 while I do not remember much about the trips I love looking at the pictures my parents took and they have great memories of these trips. Our children grow up way to fast and I personnally believe we should let them enjoy their childhood. TOO MANY CHILDREN WILL NEVER HAVE THE OPPURTUNITY TO GO TO WDW AT ALL. So if I can afford to take mine I"M GOING TO!
Have a great day!


Willbegone

Anyway, I'm not trying to upset you but I just had to give my opinion also.

[goofygal1975]

I agree that any age is ok to take children to WDW. I grew up in the parks. I am a Floridian, and my grandfather worked at Epcot. We were always at Disney when I was young. I took my son at 1 1/2 yrs old. He is now 7 and a true Disney Fan. He loves looking back on all the old pictures of himself when he was little. He may not remember being there at such a young age, but I remember what a great time he had then! I still love going and seeing the small children enjoy seeing WDW for the first time, seeing Mickey Mouse or the Princesses. As long as you plan to take your time with little ones, bring plenty of snacks and drinks, and you patience, you'll have a wonderful time!!! Enjoy watching you little ones face light up at the sight of everything!!!:)

[wdwspider]

We took our 18 month old and he throughly enjoyed all rides, characters, sights, and sounds of the trip. He was no hassle and very well behaved. Now, anything less than walking age may be pushing it. They should be ok but not get anything from it. Be sure to bring a video camera on a trip with kids from 18 months to 10 years old. :laugh

[disneycouple30]

It depends on the kids, I seen some kids that are in stroller and enjoying everything and I seen the exact opposite. The best thing that I can recommend that if you take toddlers below the age of 9 make sure that you take breaks from the parks. They may seem like they have a whole lots of energy but they run down faster than the adluts do. We have taken our grand child to either Disneyland or WDW for the past 8 years now, and he have love it. He is now 10. We have more fun times with him than his parents. But we also take him back to the motel to rest whether at the pool or get him to take a nap. The biggest problem we had with him was that he wasn't hungry while we were at the attractions but once we made him eat something it was gone. Just make sure you take alot of breaks so they can wind down. If he getting a little sleepy or cranky take a break, it will be a lot of help. A misible kids make very misble parents.