I have a new baby. He's 5 months old. I want so badly to take him to Disneyland but I don't because of his age.

What is the youngest any of you have taken your children there?

Was it hard for you? What about "fussy" times? What did you do?

My little one absolutely loves to ride in his stroller and look around at everything. And I am just dying to take his photo with all the characters!

What do you all think?

You're going to get a lot of different opinions on this one - hope you're ready! :D

I don't have kids, so you can take what I have to say on this subject with a grain of salt.

My husband's first trip to Disneyland was when he was 4 days old. I have known people who refused to take their kids until they were old enough to ride everything in the park.

In between those two extremes, you're going to get the people who tell you to wait until your child is:

Old enough to "remember" his first trip
Old enough to sit up on the rides unassisted
Old enough to walk
Old enough to talk
Already potty trained
Tall enough to ride eveything in Fantasyland
Old enough to get through a day without a nap
etc, etc, etc

There is no general consensus, and someone will always disagree with whatever choice you make. I've been to the park with very small children who have been enchanted by "it's a small world," and could be soothed by watching the lights around Coke Corner. Will they remember the trip when they are 20? Probably not. But we will. :)

Honestly, do what works for you and your child. Are you comfortable being out in crowded places with him? If so, go and have a blast. You're local, so don't think you need to make an all-day trip out of it. Buy the cheap AP if you don't already have a pass, and come on slower days when you have a few hours to spend.

If there's one mistake I think people make in bringing children to the park, it's expecting them to be able to set aside their normal sleeping / feeding schedule to accomodate the rest of the group. But that's not limited to babies - there aren't a lot of 7 year olds who can keep up!

AVP

Traci, I'm sure AdrienneK will eventually post in this thread, but I think she took Matthew (her oldest) when he was only a few days old. You just have to remember that the priority becomes the comfort of your baby, so feedings and nap time and things come first. Oh, and looking at bright, colorful, twinkly movey things.

If you have an local with an AP, then I don't see how child's age plays a roll in your decision. Don't cost anything more, and you'll enjoy yourself in a new way. If he gets fussy, you go home.

I know people who would go with their baby/toddler/child as if it were the neighborhood park, once a week or so.

If you're coming from out of state, and it's your only visit for the year, then it's a more difficult decision.

Max was 8 months old on his first trip, and turned a year old on his second trip. He LOVED it both times. It was just me, him and my mom on the first trip, so we did a lot of single rider and switch passes. He was very good and really enjoyed every minute of being there, babies love to watch people... especially little ones and there are a lot of those in the park!!! Enjoy your visit whenever you get there... I'm sure it'll be fantastic. Oh, your pace WILL be slower, but that's ok too!

Matthew was 19 days old.

Spencer was 17 days old.

I feel like a horrible mother because Colin hasn't been yet. He will be almost 6 weeks old for his first trip! :eek: I think he'll be 40 days old if I did the numbers right in my head.

If your baby loves his stroller, you've got half the battle won! I don't know if you nurse or use bottles but I've found that under a year is almost an easier time to take kids than later. Does your baby sleep well in his stroller? Mine usually have, so when they get fussy I get them to sleep in their strollers and I veg out. (Usually I have other people with me at the park so while they're asleep, we take turns babysitting.) As sediment said, if you're an AP (and I see you're local,) you can always just go home when he gets fussy, too. But there are lots of quiet shady places to rest if you want to take a book and sit and read while he sleeps.

If you want a nice quiet place to feed, you can go to the Baby Care Center and ask to use the feeding area (but you have to be alone to use it, you can't take other children or adults in there with you at DL. You can at DCA.)

I have lots of articles about feeding babies and taking little ones to DLR, so I won't link them all but the table of contents is here (http://www.mouseplanet.com/akrock).

Please feel free to ask any questions. I've taken babies to DL a lot.

Oh! Characters! OUr babies have always visited Mickey at his studio on their first visits to Disneyland. You can meet Mickey and buy the picture for his scrapbook, and/or take your own camera, too! Be prepared! Characters CAN be scary to a little baby. Don't be too disappointed if he doesn't want to get too close- but 5 months will be easier than a toddler for visiting characters.

Adrienne

The youngest mine went was five years old. I think they need to be able to walk several miles easily before they go with me.

My only experience is with WDW and very few people go there for only one day. Being dragged around WDW for day after day sounds like baby torture to me, especially in the heat. I first went to WDW in August of 1976 and I remember feeling so sorry for what I called "the fried babies".

We took our son there when he was about seven weeks old.

Yes, we took him to see Mickey Mouse at his first visit. It certainly changes the way we visit the parks. You have to add in all the time you need to change and feed your child. It takes more time to get around the parks pushing a stroller, etc.

I've been to the park with very small children who have been enchanted by "it's a small world," and could be soothed by watching the lights around Coke Corner. Will they remember the trip when they are 20? Probably not. But we will. :)

Who could you be talking about?

Adrienne

My daughter was 9 months, my son was 3 months. Both ages were great, although I had a heck of a time with my daughter because she refused to be held or sit in her stroller (at the time, she was just starting to crawl and insisted on crawling around the floor of Main Street!).

I think it's just wonderful to see their faces light up at Disneyland. Sure, they won't remember it, but I'll know and remember how happy they were. I've never had a problem. The Baby Care Center is great.

We took our son for the first time when he was three; he is six, now. My brother lives in Ft. Myers and has a Florida resident annual pass. We usually try to arrange our vacations around the black out dates for his pass. My niece is a little less than a year younger than my son, and whenever we go, my brother's family comes with us. My nephew accompanied us when he was about three months old, as I recall. There are usually enough adults around that we can accomodate whatever the infant needs, and still keep the older kids occupied. My son remembers events from his first visit surprisingly well. He may well remember them when he is 20, due to frequent reinforcement.

We waited until he was three to take him for the first time because we wanted him to have a reasonable chance of enjoying himself. When he was about a 1 1/2 years old, we had taken him to King's Island, and he didn't enjoy himself at all, not even on the kiddie rides. I think MK has more things that are enjoyable for very young children than King's Island. My husband and I had only gone to WDW twice since we were married up until that time (and we had been married 20 years at the time we adopted him).

I ve 3 DD, ages 5,9, and 14. We have gone as a family 10 times. The children were all taken as babies, the youngest being 7 months old at the time. People ask me how we can go every year, don't the kids get bored? There is something for every age and as the kids grow their interests also change. The young ones love fantasyland, while the older one prefers thrill rides. It is true that an infant won't remember the trip ,but it is still fun and kids under 3 get in free! However, if I was just to have one infant with me, I might leave them with a babysitter and enjoy the parks as an adult couple at least once. I don't really think an infant gets too much out of the experience.

It depends on the circumstances, of course!

If it's a family reunion (or other big-deal occasion), then any age child is fine.

If you live fairly close by, ditto.

If you won't get to Disneyland more than a couple of times as your child grows up, wait until s/he can remember.

If you want a nice quiet place to feed, you can go to the Baby Care Center and ask to use the feeding area (but you have to be alone to use it, you can't take other children or adults in there with you at DL. You can at DCA.)

I assume that restriction at Disneyland is only for the private breastfeeding rooms, right? We used the high-chairs while feeding our son at the DL Baby Care Center last week and they had no problems with both my wife and I going in.

We have also used the Baby Care centers as a quiet, air-conditioned location to bottle feed him before, and they have never indicated any restriction.

-Jeff

I assume that restriction at Disneyland is only for the private breastfeeding rooms, right? Correct

I assume that restriction at Disneyland is only for the private breastfeeding rooms, right? We used the high-chairs while feeding our son at the DL Baby Care Center last week and they had no problems with both my wife and I going in.

We have also used the Baby Care centers as a quiet, air-conditioned location to bottle feed him before, and they have never indicated any restriction.

RE: "Private Breastfeeding Room"- It's for breast or bottle feeding. It doesn't matter how you feed, if you want to go back there for a quiet place to feed, you can. But in either case you have to go back there alone.

Yes, you can also bottle or breastfeed in the main room with the highchairs, as well. I hadn't even thought about that! Duh.

Adrienne

Yes, you can also bottle or breastfeed in the main room with the highchairs, as well.

When I went a few months ago, I didn't realize the mom only restriction, and I had both the baby and my 4 year old. I ended up feeding in the main room so that she could sit there with me. It was fine, except that at one point, a dad had gone into the changing area, and when he was walking out, he looked at me and did a double take. Hey, you're a dad, it ain't nothing you haven't seen before! ;) I'm sure a lot of people don't realize the mom only restriction.

I haven't tried the DCA baby center yet...gotta go check that out!

The DCA Baby Care Center is somewhat smaller than the Disneyland one and the changing tables are not nearly as nice. On the other hand, it is generally less crowded and seems a bit quieter.

We've found the staff in both Baby Care Centers to be outstanding and extremely willing and eager to help out whereever they can.

-Jeff

I have a new baby. He's 5 months old. I want so badly to take him to Disneyland but I don't because of his age.

What is the youngest any of you have taken your children there?

Was it hard for you? What about "fussy" times? What did you do?

My little one absolutely loves to ride in his stroller and look around at everything. And I am just dying to take his photo with all the characters!

What do you all think?

I took my youngest girl to the park at 4 week old. We flew on a plane from San Francisco...to go to the park with friends.
I had two other young children in tow as well.

At fussy times...we spent some time at the Baby Center. I didn't feel comfortable nursing at some areas in the park, so I would take the time to go back there several times during our time in the park.

And...believe it or not...we all hada great time.

The worst part...we lost daughter #2 as soon as we got in the gate. Thank God for DLR security...who found her post hast travelling down Main St, enjoying her morning... :eek: :D

You guys have all been great for answering my much comtiplated question.

And a point you all seemed to make is a good one. "If he gets fussy, you can go home". I didn't even think of that! I have an AP, it's not like I'm going to lose out on money (just cost of gas). You guys are right! I'm going to take him!! I so badly want a picture of him with Mickey and Tigger.

He visited the Easter Bunny when he was 3 months old, so why not!

Thanks again!!

Have a GREAT time... I'm glad you decided to go!!!

Why is it people seem to think the kid has to remember his/her trip to Disney?? I mean, we do other things to entertain our kids which they won't remember. I take my son to the park regularly. He won't remember it but I don't care. He's enjoying it and that's what counts.

Anyway, I've found, many people use the age excuse because they don't want to be bothered with a small child at the parks. I can live with that but just don't blame it on your child being too young. Having an 18 month old, I know it's tougher doing things now than it was before we had him. That doesn't stop us from taking him (basically) everywhere.

He may not remember his trip to Disney but he/she will remember that you told him/her you took them to Disney. I say no age is too young for Disney. :)

He may not remember his trip to Disney but he/she will remember that you told him/her you took them to Disney. I say no age is too young for Disney. :)

I couldn't agree with you more about this. My parents took me to Disneyland when I was a little over a year old. I certainly have no first-hand memories of the trip itself, but, growing up, I absolutely loved looking at the various pictures and Super-8 movies. I also firmly believe that my overall development likely benefited from my parents' willingness to deal with all the difficulties to expose me to lots of different experiences, even when I was too young to specifically remember them later.

My 7-month-old has already been to Disneyland a number of times and will be making his first trip to WDW in December. We already have a number of photographs and videos that I really hope he will come to treasure as he gets older.

-Jeff

We had planned on taking him down for his first birthday but we couldn't afford to take him (I was out of work). My friends all gave me a hard time about this. My best friend, who has 3 kids (all are in school) has always said he wanted to take them, "When they were old enough." I always laughed at him when he said this. You already know my thoughts on this....

Well, we're taking him down for his 2nd birthday (job or no job!). I'm planning on doing a character breakie at Chef Mickey's. I know he'll enjoy his time there as he loves all of the Disney characters. Depending on the month, either Mickey or Pooh is his favorite. We're in a Pooh month right now... :)

Can't wait to get him down there!

btw, there are daycare services in some of the resorts. They also offer babysitting services for the evenings. This is for a charge, of course but it's not that bad.

And a point you all seemed to make is a good one. "If he gets fussy, you can go home". I didn't even think of that! I have an AP, it's not like I'm going to lose out on money (just cost of gas).

I had to put my money where my mouth is on this one just a few weeks ago... I told my son if he refused to stay with Mommy, we were going to have to leave the park and go home. He called my bluff and tried to run off again. I wasn't bluffing. :) Imagine his surprise when we packed right up and came straight home, even though we'd only been at the park for about twenty minutes. LOL

It was NOT fun to drive an hour each way to spend 20 minutes at DL, but you gotta do what you gotta do, right? If you're close by, just head home if your little one needs it (for whatever reason) - there is NO sense in anyone being miserable at Disneyland! :)