Too Young for Disneyland?

[MommyTo3Boys1Girl]

I might be a bit more hesitant to plan a trip w/ a child this young if it were a once in a lifetime type thing...but I wouldn't let it stop me either, like someone else posted, 'If the stars should align' (paraphrasing). :)

I have to agree with you there. IF my kids were only going to be able to go to DL once in their life then no, I would not take them until they were around 7 or 8. Like WDW, although we fly for free, it is a long trek from WA State, and we will probably only go there once, so we will plan that trip when the kids are old enough to surely remember it. Around 10 and 8, then the little one, we are hoping to add to our life next year, will be around 5. I have to say that is no guarantee they will remember it. We took my stepson for his first time when he was 12, and he doesn't even remember going to Universal Studios. LOL But then he can't even remember to brush his teeth so...

[amarvel]

Your plan above, totally what we plan to do. We're big disney people and i know we will go several times so taking our two year old to Disneyland will be fun but we will wait until they are 10 or so before WDW.

[MouseFaninQueue]

Oooops.

Just booked a trip to WDW and the Disney Cruise in Oct/Nov 2006 with my girls who will be 4 and 1 at the time of travel.

Oh well, I plan on going back to WDW again when they are older too. This will actually be my 3rd time (wife's second) there since 1993.

[MommyTo3Boys1Girl]

Oooops.

Just booked a trip to WDW and the Disney Cruise in Oct/Nov 2006 with my girls who will be 4 and 1 at the time of travel.

Oh well, I plan on going back to WDW again when they are older too. This will actually be my 3rd time (wife's second) there since 1993.

But you know you plan to go again. I don't plan to take our kids, but that one time. If I knew we were going to go again, then we would probably go when they were older.
Have a BLAST on the cruise.

[JeffG]

I just thought I'd point out how miserable my son was at WDW during his first trip, a couple weeks after his first birthday:

http://bigbeaks.smugmug.com/gallery/340447?wdw04


-Jeff

[eryn]

I to agree and disagree with taking younger children. I have just returned from a week long trip with my daughter, 10, and a 11 yr, and 6 yr. The two older girls had a great time because they were tall enough for all the rides. The 6 yr olds mom said she wished she hadnt brought him. of course she also did for selfish reasons of wanting to have fun herself AND wanting to enjoy watching her son have fun. But he got stuck waiting for us alot on rides that he was to scared of or to short for. sure, we went on his favs a few times too, but it was mostly him and an adult waiting. From this i learned that unless you have an adult who doesnt mind doing only smaller rides and less scary rides with the younger ones, then they should leave the younger ones at home. which im sure many families do do. if i lived close enough to go everyday like some people do then id take same age kids together and not such a varying age difference. but , like many who cant, i wouldnt bring such a varying age group together again.
I witnessed so many crying kids. In the lineup to get in in the morning there was always crying kids, waiting outside rides and on benches. now im a mom and i know kids cry for so many different reasons but i think that many parents do take younger ones and force them into making it worth the $they paid to get them in. when they get tired, leave, if they get scared, leave.
Another experience that really got me mad. we were on pirates and the 2 rows in front of us had 2 babies under 1 and a small child. well, the mom in the front of the boat turns around to videotape the baby with a spotlight oon her camera! Shinig right in our faces! I couldnt beleive it. all the baby was staring at was this bright light! and the kid in the front had one of those twirly light things and had it going the whole ride! now i actually dont mind even a picture taker or 2 but this was rude. i did say excuse me and she turned it off but then said that she wouldnt have minded if someone else was trying to experience having fun with their child. what fun was the baby having on pirates that she wouldnt have had sitting on a bench? i didnt mind that the baby was there, only that they thought it was fine to shine a light in my face.
on the other hand i saw many little kids running up to characters with their arms open and that is always priceless.
so i think that each situation is different. thats why i agree and disagree.

[amarvel]

Eryn i think you hit the point. If the adult is wanting to go to have their own fun on the bigger rides then its not fun to bring the child. When we take our child I already know I wont get to go on some of the big stuff, but i don't care. I don't go to Disneyland to rides the big rides, i go to have fun and experience the park. And i will have just as much if not more fun taking my little one to see characters and go on dumbo, etc. but if you are an adult who wouldn't enjoy this, your right, you should wait until they are older.

[Pat-n-Eil]

So maybe the keys are these:

If you want the whole family to experience everything Disneyland has to offer, you should wait until the kids are older and not take your baby or toddler to Disneyland.

If you are willing to sacrifice the E-Tickets and continuously modify your schedule - and you are able to go with the flow with little or no pre-planning, then taking your baby or toddler to Disneyland can be fun.

If you live close enough to the park to experience it whenever you like without being a major trip then taking your baby or toddler to Disneyland can be fun.

If you can afford to go there often even if you live far, and you know you'll get many more chances to go there, then taking your baby or toddler to Disneyland can be fun.
---------------

Many folks have said their love of Disneyland is engrained in them because they went as babies. I think I will be skeptical. I went once as a 6 year old and I do not remember it. I went again as a Graduating High School Senior and rember that more. My real love of Disneyland started after I began taking my own kids there when my son was 5 and my daughter was 8. Though my son wasn't quite tall enough for some attractions and he was afraid of bigger rides like Splash Mountain.. the following year and ever since they've done everything there is there.

I guess what I'm going to take away from this thread (and thank you for all of your replies) is that it really depends on you, your children and your expectations. For me, a Disney Vacation is pretty major expense because I like to do it right. I like to stay on property, I like the enhanced FastPass I can get through AAA and my expectations include enjoying everything the resort has to offer.. not just bits and pieces. So for me, waiting until my kids were older was the right choice for us. I believe that when the time comes for grandkids, if they want to go with us, I will again wait until they are 6ish. We only go once every year or two.

[DianeM]

I don't know what thread you've been reading, but a lot of people have pointed out that Disneyland is designed to be enjoyed by all ages and families with children of various ages. You can't experience "everything Disneyland has to offer" at ANY age, with any group of people. Any travel experience requires that some members of the party be accomodated. For example, I won't go on Indy, and my husband won't go on Space Mountain, so we enjoy those rides alone. I can't handle intense crowds, so we have to "continuously modify" our schedule when we are at the park to make my experience enjoyable. When we travel with my mother, we have to accomoate her special needs. It's not just young children who need to be accomodated. Disneyland is a rich enough experience that you don't have to do everything to enjoy all of it.


So maybe the keys are these:

If you want the whole family to experience everything Disneyland has to offer, you should wait until the kids are older and not take your baby or toddler to Disneyland.

[Pat-n-Eil]

I don't know what thread you've been reading, but a lot of people have pointed out that Disneyland is designed to be enjoyed by all ages and families with children of various ages. You can't experience "everything Disneyland has to offer" at ANY age, with any group of people. Any travel experience requires that some members of the party be accomodated. For example, I won't go on Indy, and my husband won't go on Space Mountain, so we enjoy those rides alone. I can't handle intense crowds, so we have to "continuously modify" our schedule when we are at the park to make my experience enjoyable. When we travel with my mother, we have to accomoate her special needs. It's not just young children who need to be accomodated. Disneyland is a rich enough experience that you don't have to do everything to enjoy all of it.

Diane, I think if you'd kept reading and seen this: "I guess what I'm going to take away from this thread (and thank you for all of your replies) is that it really depends on you, your children and your expectations. "

I will have to disagree that one cannot experience everything DLR has to offer.. It all comes back to what you expect. If I can do all of the attractions I want to do, including shows & restaurants then I have experienced all I came to experience.

Your circumstances are unique to your family. I don't have elderly parents to escort, physical issues that keep me from enjoying certain rides or infants to accomodate. We are capable of enjoying any attraction we wish to. Every family is different, obviously.

[DianeM]

What you said was "If you want the whole family to experience everything Disneyland has to offer, you should wait until the kids are older and not take your baby or toddler to Disneyland.". I'm just pointing out that nobody can experience everything DL has to offer. YOU may be able to do everything you WANT to do without children present, but that's a different matter. DL is a very personal experience, and, for many people, part of the joy of the experience is watching their child's face as they see Mickey for the first time. I did read everything you wrote, but I still had to disagree with the above mentioned paragraph. It seems very inaccurate to me.


Diane, I think if you'd kept reading and seen this: "I guess what I'm going to take away from this thread (and thank you for all of your replies) is that it really depends on you, your children and your expectations. "

I will have to disagree that one cannot experience everything DLR has to offer.. It all comes back to what you expect. If I can do all of the attractions I want to do, including shows & restaurants then I have experienced all I came to experience.

Your circumstances are unique to your family. I don't have elderly parents to escort, physical issues that keep me from enjoying certain rides or infants to accomodate. We are capable of enjoying any attraction we wish to. Every family is different, obviously.

[amarvel]

And for some, what they came to the park to see is the joy on their little ones face, whether or not they ride rides or see every show......

[Malcon10t]

And for some, what they came to the park to see is the joy on their little ones face, whether or not they ride rides or see every show......THATS ME!!! Heck, I get a smile even watching other peoples kids seeing Mickey for the first time, or the look of awe as a 3yo meets Cinderella! Or the look on my pups face as Pluto gets down on all 4s to play ("Uh, he looks like me, but he sure is BIG!")

If limited our trip to when everyone can experience everything, we would rarely go with me (I limit the kids by not going on rides that hurt my back) and we wouldn't take the dog (he limits a lot of what we can do as a family, we always have to break into 2 groups.)

[Pat-n-Eil]

What you said was "If you want the whole family to experience everything Disneyland has to offer, you should wait until the kids are older and not take your baby or toddler to Disneyland.". I'm just pointing out that nobody can experience everything DL has to offer. YOU may be able to do everything you WANT to do without children present, but that's a different matter. DL is a very personal experience, and, for many people, part of the joy of the experience is watching their child's face as they see Mickey for the first time. I did read everything you wrote, but I still had to disagree with the above mentioned paragraph. It seems very inaccurate to me.

Symantics.. It just seems that those who take their babies to Disneyland are trying to convince me that I'm wrong. I believe my opinion is a valid one. You don't have to agree with me, but I certainly have a right to decide what is right for me and my family when it comes to how we are entertained.

I "sense" an undercurrent in this thread that those who take toddlers and babies feel unjustly attacked or somehow need to defend their stand, though I never accused anyone of anything. It could just be me, but there is a certain undercurrent of "if you can't enjoy it with babies, then you're doing it wrong" mentality here which I find a little bit offensive. I KNOW that I wouldn't enjoy it. For ME and my family now or in the future, our stroller aged children will not be visiting DLR.

I also observed that many other stroller aged kids were not having a very good time. "They just aren't doing it right" is again the theme. Obviously no one thing ever applies to everyone, I merely made the observation. I'm not saying my choices are right for everyone, but neither is anyone else's choices here. Opinions are opinions. Let me have mine, thank you.

[3894]

I'm not saying my choices are right for everyone, but neither is anyone else's choices here. Opinions are opinions. Let me have mine, thank you.

To extend the subject a little, I'd never let my, say, 6 year-old on Haunted Mansion. Other parents do, and that's their decision and their right. Opinions are opinions and no matter how you explain that HM is right for a 6 year-old, I disagree.

[DianeM]

There is a big difference between "I KNOW that I wouldn't enjoy it." and telling people that "you can't enjoy everything DL has to offer" with young children. It's not just semantics. I'm not trying to take away your right to have an opinion (I don't think that's possible, actually). But I have a right to disagree with all or part of it, don't I?

As for kids not having fun... When I go to DL, I don't have fun every moment of every day. I get grumpy when the lines get too long, or I'm hungry, or my feet hurt, or I run into parade traffic on my way across the park. I just contain my emotions better than a child, though, so I probably don't look miserable. When we took my then 4 yo nephew, he seemed to be tense and irritable most of the trip. He was totally overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of Disney. But when he got home, he coudln't stop talking about Disneyland and slept with the pressed penny book we had helped him fill under his pillow for months. Now, he can't wait to go back for his third trip - and he's only 7. Just because a child get's grumpy doesn't mean they aren't, overall, having a wonderful time.

I appreciate and respect that you recognize that you can't enjoy the park fully with a young child. In a way, I agree - I have a totally different experience when it's all adults. I do enjoy the park more. I just think it's important to recongize that there are many reasons for going to DL. Our next trip will be adults only, but I'm definitely hoping to take my other nephew when he gets a bit older, so we can get to know him better like we did his brother. It won't be as good a trip for us, but it will be a wonderful trip nonetheless.


Symantics.. It just seems that those who take their babies to Disneyland are trying to convince me that I'm wrong. I believe my opinion is a valid one. You don't have to agree with me, but I certainly have a right to decide what is right for me and my family when it comes to how we are entertained.

I "sense" an undercurrent in this thread that those who take toddlers and babies feel unjustly attacked or somehow need to defend their stand, though I never accused anyone of anything. It could just be me, but there is a certain undercurrent of "if you can't enjoy it with babies, then you're doing it wrong" mentality here which I find a little bit offensive. I KNOW that I wouldn't enjoy it. For ME and my family now or in the future, our stroller aged children will not be visiting DLR.

I also observed that many other stroller aged kids were not having a very good time. "They just aren't doing it right" is again the theme. Obviously no one thing ever applies to everyone, I merely made the observation. I'm not saying my choices are right for everyone, but neither is anyone else's choices here. Opinions are opinions. Let me have mine, thank you.

[animalx]

I would have to agree that kids in strollers are to young and it is definitely for the benefit of the parents. I went with both my kids when they were in strollers and overall it was a mistake. Everybody loves Disneyland no matter what age but for your question i would say the earliest age i would bring kids would be 6 and up. When Disneyland is busy i still get annoyed a little by how much room a stroller takes up . And if the child is to young the less you and your child see the park. When they are a bit older they can keep up a bit more and it would be more enjoyable for everyone. Have Fun.

[StyledSugar]

The first time I went to DL I was 5. Then I went when again when I was 9 and again at 11. I remember one thing from the trip when I was 5-- the hotel room. LOL Does that matter to me or my grandmother (who took me at the time)? Heck no! I'm 30 now and still have the pics from all of the vacations. I remember bits and pieces from each and every one.

I just took my daughter there last month (she's 7) and she was the perfect age! My son just turned 3 so he stayed home with dad. Since we aren't yearly visitors to DL we figured it was in the best interest of our daughter to just take her this time. We will return in 2 years when our son is 5. Then again every two years until the kids are bugging to go some other place like Hawaii or Mexico. LOL

I'm not against people taking younger kids into the park. Heck, it's their money and their kids, who am I to tell them that they should wait? It's just my personal preference that if you are taking an older child for the first time and they have a very young sibling that it's more enjoyable for the older one to go alone the first time. I know my daughter enjoyed her vacation alot more being able to ride the big rides, not having to go back to the hotel for a break etc. that would have happened if I had take my son along on our vacation. He didn't care anyways. He got a load of stuff brought back for him and he was able to spend the week with his dad snowmobiling and stuff like that. LOL

[MsYumiBr]

Oh no! I must have been a horrible mom for taking my two little kids to the park at least once a week when they were toddler and infant in a double-wide stroller! And those hours wasted waiting outside of Goofy's Bounce House and waiting in line to visit Mickey Mouse. Where do I go to repent? :p

[amarvel]

THATS ME!!! Heck, I get a smile even watching other peoples kids seeing Mickey for the first time, or the look of awe as a 3yo meets Cinderella!

Yup that is me too! hehe there was this little boy in front of us to see Mary Popppins last year and he was tooooo cute, made my day just watching him try to talk to her :)

[Pat-n-Eil]

The first time I went to DL I was 5. Then I went when again when I was 9 and again at 11. I remember one thing from the trip when I was 5-- the hotel room. LOL Does that matter to me or my grandmother (who took me at the time)? Heck no! I'm 30 now and still have the pics from all of the vacations. I remember bits and pieces from each and every one.

I just took my daughter there last month (she's 7) and she was the perfect age! My son just turned 3 so he stayed home with dad. Since we aren't yearly visitors to DL we figured it was in the best interest of our daughter to just take her this time. We will return in 2 years when our son is 5. Then again every two years until the kids are bugging to go some other place like Hawaii or Mexico. LOL

I'm not against people taking younger kids into the park. Heck, it's their money and their kids, who am I to tell them that they should wait? It's just my personal preference that if you are taking an older child for the first time and they have a very young sibling that it's more enjoyable for the older one to go alone the first time. I know my daughter enjoyed her vacation alot more being able to ride the big rides, not having to go back to the hotel for a break etc. that would have happened if I had take my son along on our vacation. He didn't care anyways. He got a load of stuff brought back for him and he was able to spend the week with his dad snowmobiling and stuff like that. LOL

This seems to me to be a very reasonable take. I think you make salient points. Sacrifices must sometimes be made, and I think it was a smart choice to choose the older child's needs in this instance.

[Pat-n-Eil]

Oh no! I must have been a horrible mom for taking my two little kids to the park at least once a week when they were toddler and infant in a double-wide stroller! And those hours wasted waiting outside of Goofy's Bounce House and waiting in line to visit Mickey Mouse. Where do I go to repent? :p

:rolleyes:

[prncsmsj]

It's just my personal preference that if you are taking an older child for the first time and they have a very young sibling that it's more enjoyable for the older one to go alone the first time. I know my daughter enjoyed her vacation alot more being able to ride the big rides, not having to go back to the hotel for a break etc. that would have happened if I had take my son along on our vacation. He didn't care anyways. He got a load of stuff brought back for him and he was able to spend the week with his dad snowmobiling and stuff like that. LOL
I was always the olderst child by a number of years, but no matter which time we went to Disneyland, I never got upset because of a younger sibling's pace. I qould much rather of have been able to spend time with my ENTIRE family rather than leave some out and be able to ride more rides. And if you are going to go with the not-remembering argument, you might as well not ever do anything when your child is that young because they won't remember it.

It was mentioned before that people in the thread have seemed defensive. I think that comes from several people in the thread complaining about strollers in the park. I have never had a problem with the strollers; I guess I just don't understand what the problem with them is.

Also, I am not sure I would like DL as much if it was just 6 and older. Whole families, including babies and toddlers, being able to enjoy the park together is what makes DL special.

[eryn]

Oh no! I must have been a horrible mom for taking my two little kids to the park at least once a week when they were toddler and infant in a double-wide stroller! And those hours wasted waiting outside of Goofy's Bounce House and waiting in line to visit Mickey Mouse. Where do I go to repent? :p


I think that this statement has alot to do with some peoples opinions. Now if we were all able to go to the park every week and just hang out for a few hours, then i think lots of us wouldnt mind taking a littler one. Its probebly just like going to the local zoo or splash park. Go for an hour or two and then go home. But since many of us dont have that luxery then we want to be able to enjoy our entire trip with as little hassle as possible. My daughter was 6 1/2 her first trip. I think, for my family, that was a perfect age and I will use that as aguideline for future trips with future children.

ps: i also hate all the strollers, snugglies or backpacks would be much nicer!

[Walt'sbirthdaygirl]

Oooops.

Just booked a trip to WDW and the Disney Cruise in Oct/Nov 2006 with my girls who will be 4 and 1 at the time of travel.

Oh well, I plan on going back to WDW again when they are older too. This will actually be my 3rd time (wife's second) there since 1993.


Doing the same thing in Decemeber with a 3 year old and 5 1/2 year old, we shall see how it goes.