"Too young to remember"?

[TheVBs]

We first took our oldest when she was 2 and first took our youngest when she was 10 months. I wouldn't trade those fantastic trips for anything in the world! Go, have a wonderful time and ignore the people making stupid comments.

[Disney Doll]

My son is 2 and had been 3 times already. He talks about the trips and he does remember. Will he remember when he's 30? Probably not, but I have fabulous memories from these early trips and we will go many more times.

[Tigger's Mom]

Go and enjoy! She may not remember, but you will and you'll have the photos to show her. We took my son just shy of 2 and he had fun. He loved the characters, with big hugs for Pooh, Tigger and Mickey. Does he remember, I don't think so, but I'll never forget him running to greet Pooh at The Crystal Palace. Another bonus is that under three, there's no admission!

[kathiep]

My DD was only 20 months for her first trip. Does she remember it, not really but her Dad & I sure do. It was absolutely magical. We'll have those memories for the rest of our life. Go and enjoy every last minute of it!

[faline]

We first took my daughter to Disney World when she was 7 and I thought it was a wonderful age! However, the reason we took her for the first time at 7 was because we couldn't afford to travel before that time.

At that time, I thought I would never get back again and thought it night be foolish to take children who were too young to remember. As the number of trips we're taken to Disney World have multiplied over the years, and as logic has entered the equation, we came to realize there are many reasons to take children ....whenever....!

Perhaps you live close enough to make multiple trips or finances allow you to make multiple trips...perhaps you have multiple children (Would you always wait for your youngest to be old enough to remember? What about the magical memories of the oldest?)...perhaps...perhaps... well there are all sorts of possibilities.

If it pleases you to introduce your child to Disney World - whatever his or her age - do so!

Just last month, we traveled to Disney with my brother's family and their two year old as we never had the opportunity to make such a trip with a toddler! While there were moments and every parent of a 2-year old knows what that means - it was, nevertheless, a very magical trip and I'm so glad I got to see Disney World through those 2 year old eyes!

[PAYROLL PRINCESS]

Make sure you don't take her to the local carnival or zoo or aquarium until she's old enough to remember either!

My nephew was still in my sister's belly the first time he went and when he ACTUALLY went back at 3.5 he remembered seeing it all before. Now you know he didn't really see it because he didn't have a womb with a view, but because we talked about that trip with his older brother, he FELT like he'd been before. So your daughter will "remember" the trip through the pix and your memories. Go and enjoy and tell others that it's your decision when to go.

[pink]

My parents took me when I was five and I was still too young to remember anything. The only memories I have retained have been those from pictures. If we didn't have pictures, I wouldn't remember anything. I think your child will have fun at the parks but that doesn't mean when they're older they're going to remember that specific trip.

[LVT]

I first went at 11. Don't remember much. I did retain the emotions tho. Joy is a good enough reason for a trip. Iconic moments like the Grand
Canyon and Yellowstone require a different perspective.

[Georgesgirl1]

My son's 1st trip was at 6 months old. HE won't remember it, but DH and I sure will. The look on his face when he first saw Mickey was priceless. And he was able to get his 1st haircur at the Harmony Barber Shop. We are planning another trip for when he is 20 months right now.

This craziest thing I have ever heard is a friend who takes her kids for their first trip when they turn three. Yes, a few weeks AFTER they turn three, so she has to pay for them. Why not take them a few weeks BEFORE they turn three so they are free? They aren't going to remember anymore of the trip just because they are two or three weeks older! Oh well, to each his own...

[DISNEYFIX]

If you have the $$$$ to do it, go for it. When you talk to non Disney people if you tell them you are going to Disney for your daughter (she) then yea 'what will she remember' is a fair response. If you say you are doing it for 'we' (family) instead of 'she' then what could someone say?
You shouldn't have to justify your position anyway.
My kids, I mean we, go about 3x a year, so we get it.

[Joannelet]

Its so magical whenever you go. I went when I was under a year old and those pictures that my mom took were pictures that became my favorite things. There are pictures of the characters trying to wake me up during the parade. The stories that my mom tell me from my first trip are amazing.
We had a family reunion there when my niece was 18 months old and my nephew was 2. Their faces were the most enjoyable things in the world and something that I will never forget.
We found out I was pregnant with my son when we were in Disneyland California so he was there even before birth! And then at 7 months we took him to MK since his uncle got married in Disney. That time was sooo magical. He LOVES Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Our pictures of him grinning from ear to ear are priceless. I know those are going to be his favorite pictures as he grows up just like mine were for me.
We went back with his grandparents a week after his 1st birthday to celebrate his first birthday there. Nothing can take the place of memories that are being made and pictures make great stories and become treasures for them as they get older.
I went back every year with my family when I was little and I can remember lots of the trips when I was little...maybe not my first trip but I remember a lot of them. It was all my siblings and i talked about. Its all I still talk about LOL I plan on doing this for my son.
All those people that think that are telling you that its a waste of time are missing out on true magic.
I will never forget the look on my 7 month olds face when he first layed eyes on Mickey. It was the absolute sweetest thing and it was all caught on camera.
You will NEVER FORGET IT!!!!

[dnickels]

My dad took me for the first time when I was about that age. He was all excited about it and apparently I had no interest in anything going on or any of the characters, I just wanted to play on the sidewalk. In hindsight he says that he would never take a child until they're old enough to remember things.

The key though is to just do what's right for you and your family. If going now is going to preclude going for awhile for whatever reason (finances, etc.) then I would say to wait until they're old enough to remember it, but if you can afford it go for it.

Worry less about what other people think, it's your family's lives and happiness that's important, not the approval or opinions or anyone interested enough to give theirs.

[2Epcot]

Our son is 7 months old and we've already had this discussion. We will probably not take him to WDW until he is at least 5. We do want him to remember the trip. However, since we are close to Disneyland, we will take him there much sooner.

[Tink#64]

Oh my gosh! I can't even tell you how irritating I find the people that feel that they have a right to comment on how you spend your vacation & your money! I have so many in my world that feel that's it's ok to make derrogatory comments about our repeated trips to WDW! Why do these people think it's ok?

I planned our 1st WDW trip form the time my second DS was born but we weren't able to go until he was 4. Does he remember, who knows, I don't know how much I actually remember, but that's why you take pictures right? To remember things/events! Who can remember everything? We still love our trips to WDW, when we start talking vaca, my DS's (now 12 & 14) 1st response is WDW! But that 1st trip when they were 4 & 6, and all the magic really lived - priceless! Don't let anyone take this away from you!

I too agree, I get the most negative responses from those that have never been to WDW, those that don't take vacations, or those people that are generally unhapy people to start with! Go make memories and take lots of pictures! They will all be priceless to you now and also for her later!

[Pepefan]

Wow! What a great, supportive group! Thanks for the encouragement. Someone (a relative) told me the other day that I should be puting the money from the horse I sold into a college fund for her instead. I'll do that, too. But for now, I just really feel like this is something that we really need to do for her. And you're right, it will be her first of many trips. I plan on taking her as often as I can afford to!

[SBETigg]

Wow! What a great, supportive group! Thanks for the encouragement. Someone (a relative) told me the other day that I should be puting the money from the horse I sold into a college fund for her instead. I'll do that, too. But for now, I just really feel like this is something that we really need to do for her. And you're right, it will be her first of many trips. I plan on taking her as often as I can afford to!

Family vacations are important parts of growing up. I always felt bad for classmates and friends who never had time away with their families. It's a learning experience, not just for what you can discover about the world away from home, but for growing as a family unit responding to new circumstances together. I'm not saying don't save for college. You have time for that, but it creeps up on you before you know it. But I think vacation time is equally important. Tune out the critics and do what you need to do for you and for your family. Life is short.

[Snugglepeas77]

the first time we took our daughter she was 10 months old she does not remember it but my DH and I remember her first ride on small world the look on her face was well worth the trip, her second trip was when she was 16 months old and let me tell you she is almost 4 now and is still talking about things she saw and did on that trip.

[diz_girl]

Your daughter may not remember, but you will!

And that's what you should tell them.

Just because she may not remember the trip does not mean that you should deprive the other members of your family (including yourself) of the great memories that you could have there.

People who say these types of comments are frequently those who don't take a vacation or vacation at the same place year after year and then criticize you when make return trips to WDW ("You're going there again?") Please feel free to annoy them about their vacation choices as much as they annoy you. You probably won't be able to stop them from making comments, so I'd suggest turning the tables on them. You may get a lot of satisfaction by annoying the heck out of them. You may leave the conversation with a smile on your face rather than being irritated.

My SIL was three during the one and only time that she went to Disneyland, back in 1958. She still remembers it and she's 55 now.

We went to WDW a year ago when my son was 17 months and he still remembers having breakfast with Pooh and Tigger. He may not remember it when he's an adult, but he remembers it now.

One side comment. If she's two, then you might want to prepare her for meeting characters by telling her that (insert character here) is really as big as Mommy and Daddy and that they are seeing a picture, doll, etc. of them. It may help. It worked for my DS and also for the daughter or a friend. Neither of them have a character phobia.

[coneygoil]

I hear the whole "too young to remember" thing ALL the time. I plan to take my kids to WDW on their 1st birthdays as my parents did when I was growing up. It doesn'y matter if they remember or not. My parents brought me BUT I also have tons of pictures and video and my parents memories of things that happened on the trips. I get to look at those pictures and think, "Wow, I was at WDW when I was 1 years old!" and get to see how much WDW has changed since the early '80's. Here's a few pics from my first time:

http://i689.photobucket.com/albums/v...4/scan0026.jpg

http://i689.photobucket.com/albums/v...4/scan0022.jpg

http://i689.photobucket.com/albums/v...4/scan0009.jpg

I will do the same thing for my kids, take TONS of pics and video and tell them all about the trips we took when they were little. So, don't listen to people with that opinion. Enjoy your time with your kiddies no matter what!

[Altair]

I wish I had known about this "kids don't remember anything until they are 5 or 6" thing. Just think how much money and effort could have been saved by just locking them in a bare room until they were 7 and knowing you didn't hurt their development and they wouldn't remember what you did anyway.