not for my wife and I (14th), but for our 11 month old son. We're planning a trip for December, the 12th-16th. Since we've been telling people we're taking our son, all we've heard is: "he's too young", "you guys are nuts", "he won't remember anything", etc, etc. I'm curious if there are new parents who are currently experiencing, or have experienced the same things that we're going through. What was your reaction. I personally don't feel the need to justify taking our son to Disney, but it's pretty aggravating to have to keep answering questions. He's 3 months old now and we've been looking forward to taking our son/daughter to Disney for years. I'll be looking for tips at a later date. On another note, this board is a great addition to an already outstanding web page. Keep up the great work and I look forward to reading a few responses.

Bob :)

Bobcat wrote:
"Since we've been telling people we're taking our son, all we've heard is: "he's too young", "you guys are nuts", "he won't remember anything", etc, etc."

Hi Bob, and welcome to the Pad. I'm sure Adrienne Krock will have some good tips, but let me add a thought. Yes, it's quite true that your son won't remember a lot. However when your friends pooh-pooh your vacation plans, tell them that the vacation is not so much for your son, but for your entire family. I suspect you and your wife will get a big kick out of watching your son react to things in the park, be they balloons, bright colors, lots of people, or whatever. Disneyland is very child-friendly, and when you return home, you will have a great memory of your trip. If you normally take lots of pictures and videos, I do suggest you take a lot with your son in it. The young ones grow up so fast!

By the way, Adrienne has written a wonderful column all about taking your 1-year-old to the park. You might get a lot out of that one. You can read it at http://www.mouseplanet.com/akrock/akrock26.htm.

Actually, Lani, I'm guessing that Bob's going to Orlando, but in any case, I for one say: Have a great time, Bob, I know you will!

I'm with you: I don't find the need to justify any of my parenting choices to anyone, but the unsolicited opinions we often get are annoying. Frankly, I don't think that any age is too young if a child's parents are willing to go with a child-centered attitude. Some people, I've found, just don't relate well to that.

I usually smile and nod politely, but I like Lani's response. Disney parks are child-friendly and the goal is to provide memories for everyone in the family! Even if your son does not remember what a great time he had, you will, and yes, he'll have a great time!

Adrienne K

Thanks for the votes of confidence! Adrienne, your piece on parenting in the parks that Lani had mentioned is exactly the kind of "pertinent" info everyone who's travelling, or about to travel with an infant or there abouts, should know. Lani, I think you hit the nail on the head, my wife and I love to go to Disney, now we can experience it in a whole other way, through the eyes of our son and his reactions. We've never been around the holiday season and have heard wonderful things about that time of year, we're hitting it right before it gets too, too busy. I look forward to speaking to you again soon.

Bob

Bobcat, and any other parents thinking about going to a Disney park, please take your young children if you can! They'll absolutely love it! I started taking my daughter to Disneyland when she was about 9 months old, and I've been taking her at least once a month ever since.

Taking a child to any Disney park is not just about memories for when they grow up, it's also about the joy they experience when they're there!

My daughter saw her first Disney parade when she was about 11 months, and let me tell you, I had tears of joy running down my face as I watched the sheer joy and happiness on her face as she stared with wonderment at all the characters and smiled a smile bigger than I had ever seen on her before. I know she won't remember that night, but I will. :D

Adrienne, we need to find a time when we can meet in person at Disneyland with our kids! :)

and don't worry about what anyone says! You know your family and your child better than anyone else!

All our friends know us as Disney freaks, so it did not surprise them that having a baby didn't put much of a dent in our plans. Nick has been to the parks at 8 month (DL), 16 mo (DL), 20 mo (WDW) and 23 mo (DL), and had a great time each time.

Now, his experiences were different each time, as they will be as the child ages, but no one should say that the quality of his experience will be any less diminished just because he's an infant. There's a lot of sensory stimulation (sometimes too much :eek: ) for any child.

So go, and have a great time! One of the things we love the most is looking back at the pictures and remembering the fun times!

Joy and Nick (4/28/99)

I have experienced that there are alot of people who don't see going to a Disney theme park as a priority, and so, if or when, they do take their children for the "obligatory Disney visit", they want to wait until every child they decide to have is "old enough" to remember, since they don't plan on doing this ever again; and, they just don't comprehend why one would want to go more than once (My wife & I have more than one family member that follows such thinking, so we've heard it, too!).

My wife & I do not subscribe to such belief, however. In fact, we are taking our 3-1/2 year old little girl & our 13 mo. old little boy toward the end of June (17th to the 23rd, actually!). We each know that we will be returning at least every couple of years (wish it could be more often ;) ), so we're not too concerned that he won't actually remember much this trip. What we are concerned with though, is making this trip as perfect for them as humanly possible (especially for our 3-1/2 year old).

We decided to stay at the Disneyland Hotel, as the Monorail will be awfully convinient come nap-time, & we thought the extra $$ was worth it for that fact alone, since we won't be renting a car, but taking a shuttle between the airport and hotel.

My thanks to Adrienne & Lani. The columns you've put out have helpped my wife & I with our upcomming trip.
(i.e. My daughter will be wearing a whistle around her neck when we go, for her to blow, heaven forbid we should become separated. I'd never have thought of that!) We are also flying in to SNA (Thanks, Lani!) LAX is a dog of an Airport!
Kudos!