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Results 1 to 17 of 17
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
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    Pennslyvania
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    Smile Go or wait a year...best ages for kids

    Ok so I'm thinking about taking my 2 boys this year in October they will be 3.5 and 22 months at the time. We took my son at 17 months when I myself was 7 months pregnant and it was one of our best trips. He doesn't remember any of it but we will always have the memories of seeing him wanting to ride its a small world ten times a day!ever since that trip we couldn't wait to go back and now being in the early planning I'm starting to wonder if I should wait. I think 3.5 is a great age and he is really so far a well behaved kid his little brother on the other hand is what I would call wild but he's only 15 months right now and u know he will be a lot different by then. Anyway I really want to go how but I'm torn about maybe waiting till next year when the baby is a little older. We do plan in going at least every other year...I feel like this trip is def doable and both kids would enjoy it jut wondering what those who have gone with 2 toddlers think.
    1996 Caribbean Beach
    1996 All Star Sports
    1998 All Star Music
    1999 Coronado Springs
    2000 Dixie Landings/Disney Wonder
    2001 Caribbean Beach/Disney Wonder
    2002 Animal Kingdom Lodge
    2003 Coronado Springs
    2004 Wilderness Lodge
    2005 Port Orleans Riverside
    April 2006 Caribbean Beach

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    McHenry, MS-594 miles from the World
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    Default

    I think you will get mixed replies on this but a lot of people go with smaller children and seem to do fine. I hear the key is going back to the room in the middle of the day for a nap.

    However, we felt it was best for us to wait until my son was four years old because we felt it would be too overwhelming when he was younger. That was a good decision for us, but I guess it depends on the child.


    Dec.11-18, 2021 Port Orleans Riverside
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    Dec. 25,2005-Jan.1, 2006-Coronado Springs
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  4. #3
    Join Date
    May 2007
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    Wild Wonderful WV
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    Go. Even with a melt down, that's what memories are made of....the not so perfect times too !!
    80 1st./04POR/05POR/06POR/07POR/08POR/09POR/10POR/
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    IN GOD WE TRUST !!

    STEELERS, SIX TIME SUPERBOWL CHAMPS

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
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    michigan
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    I say GO!!!!! Even if they don't remember like you said there will be the memories and I am sure plenty of pics to jar their memory.
    * stayed at more then once
    Yacht Club, POR, POFQ,CSR,All Star Sports*,
    CBR,Pop Century*,CR,WL,FortWilderness* Animal Kingdom lodge,All Star Music*.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    LAFITTE, LA, UNITED STATES( 674 MILES AWAY)
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    I say go! I think its great to take young kids. People just have to realize its a different kind of trip. You will have to go at the childs pace, as long as you do that and take breaks when the child needs a break you will be fine. a lot of people say oh they wont remember it. well i went on a trip when i was 10 and dont really remember it but its cool to look back at the pictures and such from that trip.
    Jimmy

    Co-Host: The Disney Nerds Podcast

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
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    I've never quite understood the "they won't remember it" argument. We take vacations to have fun and bond as a family. Our kids are 16, 13, and our little will turn 3 during our trip. I know our 3 year old may not remember it, but the rest of us will and he will have a blast, no doubt. 6 more weeks! His first trip. Can't wait!
    [I]Hello. We are the Bradshaws. And We are Disneyholics.

    September 2000- Music
    June 2004- Pop
    June 2006- Movies
    February 2008- Offsite (Won't Do That Again!)
    May 2009- First Ever Disney Camping Trip!
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    Dec 2012- Movies
    May 2014- Pop

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
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    LAFITTE, LA, UNITED STATES( 674 MILES AWAY)
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    Quote Originally Posted by bshaw96 View Post
    I've never quite understood the "they won't remember it" argument. We take vacations to have fun and bond as a family. Our kids are 16, 13, and our little will turn 3 during our trip. I know our 3 year old may not remember it, but the rest of us will and he will have a blast, no doubt. 6 more weeks! His first trip. Can't wait!
    Jimmy

    Co-Host: The Disney Nerds Podcast

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2001
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    Florida
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    There was a time when I probably would have been in the wait a bit camp. but having had 3 trips with my nephew at ages 2, 4 and 6, I wouldn't trade a moment or wish he had been older for any of the trips. Go. You may have to adapt to whatever toddler stages are in play at the time but I'll bet you'll have a wonderful time!
    Linda aka: Faline
    INTERCOT Staff: Vacation Planning,Trip Reports and Disney Camping
    [email protected]

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
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    Pennslyvania
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    Thanks guys! Let the planning begin!!
    1996 Caribbean Beach
    1996 All Star Sports
    1998 All Star Music
    1999 Coronado Springs
    2000 Dixie Landings/Disney Wonder
    2001 Caribbean Beach/Disney Wonder
    2002 Animal Kingdom Lodge
    2003 Coronado Springs
    2004 Wilderness Lodge
    2005 Port Orleans Riverside
    April 2006 Caribbean Beach

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Clearwater, FL
    Posts
    224
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    Smile Go go go...

    We took our DD at 5 weeks! She is now 11 and we use those pictures to 'recreate the scene' pics. We are heading down in a few weeks and taking those pics with us.
    Life deals us different things at different times...if you can do it now, do it.
    My 2 cents has been deposited!
    Kathy
    [COLOR=DarkRed]

    '72, '88, '91, '92, '93, '94, '95, '96, '97, '99, '00, '01, 3/03, 10/03, 1/05, 4/05, 1/06, 10/06, 1/07, 5/07, 12/07, 10/08, 5/09, 11/09, 1/10, 10/10, 12/10, 10/11, 07/12, 11/12, 10/13, 4/14, DCL6/14, 10/14, 1/15, 5/15, WL8/15 & 11/15! Finally Moved to FLORIDA 2/16!! :D

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Nashville, TN
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    I know some people plan to take one and only one trip to WDW with their children. If that were your family, I'd say wait a year until your kids are 4.5 and almost 3.

    HOWEVER, it sounds like your family is going to go every couple of years anyway (like so many of us on Intercot). If that's true, then I say GO NOW . . . and then go again in a year or two!
    Second Star to the Right, and Straight on til Morning!

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
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    Denham Springs LA
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    Default opinion

    I think this one is definitely a matter of opinion. You can take your kids at any age and have a great time, but it depends on the plan and your attitude. We took a quick 3 day trip with a 2 year old, and it was miserable. But.. if you took that same toddler for a week, and you could space out the days in the parks with rest days, you could have an amazing time. I always say 2 things about this: Get up early and avoid the crowds, taking a break in the middle of the day, and take a day off from the parks and sleep late / swim about every 3rd day. Have fun - its the best!
    Missy
    #1 LSU fan 2003 AND 2007 National Champions!

    POR Feb 1997
    ASMo Dec 1999
    POR Feb 2002
    ASMovies Feb 2004
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    ASMovies Feb 2006
    Offsite Jan 2007
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    BLT July 2013
    POFQ July 2015

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
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    North East, Ohio
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    Our DS was 2 1/2 last year on his first trip. We got the " He won't remember" speech from several people too. We are going back in June. I'm surprised at how much he does remember. He is very excited about going back. Besides, it's the parents memories too. We not only get excited for ourselves, but we love seeing our kids have a great time.
    One thing that helped us out was a decent stroller. Ours folds up like an umbrella, but also lays down when he wants to sleep. We just let him pass out in there whenever he wanted and kept on truckin'.

    I say go!!!
    Scallywag

    August 2004 - POR
    May 2006 - POF (Honeymoon Trip)
    September 2006 - Royal Pacific (Universal Studios)
    April 2007 - POR
    July 2009 - CBR
    June 2013 - CBR
    June 2014 - POF

    June 2016 - POLY
    June 2017 - AKL
    June 2018 - BC

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Carlisle, PA
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    17
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by #1donaldfan View Post
    Go. Even with a melt down, that's what memories are made of....the not so perfect times too !!
    Couldn't agree more! On my daughter's second trip she was 2.5. I remember one particular meltdown at Magic Kingdom where the cast members at the Sunshine Tree Terrace gave her a drink with a special Mickey straw. We still talk about it.
    Next Trip: June 2014 GFV
    October 2013 - AKL
    July 2013 - BWV
    June 2012 - BLT
    June 2011 - POR
    August 2010 - CB

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Georgia
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    Quote Originally Posted by Scallywag View Post
    Our DS was 2 1/2 last year on his first trip. We got the " He won't remember" speech from several people too. We are going back in June. I'm surprised at how much he does remember. He is very excited about going back. Besides, it's the parents memories too. We not only get excited for ourselves, but we love seeing our kids have a great time.
    .....I say go!!!
    Our boys first went when they were 10 months and 2 years old, respectively. Of course, the 10 month old couldn't articulate it at the time, but I'm with Scallywag (and others), it's amazing what they DO remember. Or sure, they're 9 and 10 now. And they don't remember that first trip. But WE have amazing memories of those first few trips. And pictures. One, that the Disney photographers caught of my then 3 year old hugging Donald Duck for dear life and saying, "I wuv you sooooo much, Donald!" The Donald handler got tears in her eyes.

    The memories you create for yourselves alone is worth the trip, in my opinion.
    ~Maureen

    "All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them."~Walt Disney

  17. #16
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Utah
    Posts
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    I have found that I'm really good at spending other peoples money for them...GO

    I'll be long gone before you and your screaming little darling arrives... Just kidding

    Have a great trip
    Honeymoon, 89
    Poly 2002
    CR 2003
    Shades of Green May 2007
    GF June 2014 (25th Anniversary)

  18. #17
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    native Texan in Tennessee
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    I'm so happy with all the positive responses! We started taking our DD when she was barely 7 weeks old. Of course, we weren't taking HER, per se, as much as we were going and taking her with US! But she's been several times since then ( she's 4 now). It has always worked well for us as she tended to nap well in her stroller, leaving us free to enjoy the days without returning to the room. And the Baby Care centers made taking care of any extra needs super easy and fun! It really depends on the temperaments of your own kids, and yours too, of course.

    And a PP mentioned a 2yo remembering more than you might expect - and that's certainly true of our daughter - she seems to remember everything! I half expect her to go "Remember that time I was just born and you and Daddy took me to Disney World...that was awesome!"
    Shelley, Happy DW of bear_necessity.
    DVC owners: SSR since 2007
    Remain seated please. Permenecer sentados, por favor.

    Last trip: DLHotel in May
    Next trip: ?? Vero maybe...

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