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.

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.

Go. Even with a melt down, that's what memories are made of....the not so perfect times too !! :mickey:

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.:mickey::cloud9:

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.:mickey: 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.:party:

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!

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Originally Posted by bshaw96

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!

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:exactly:

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!

Thanks guys! Let the planning begin!!

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!
;)

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!

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!:mickey:

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!!!

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Originally Posted by #1donaldfan

Go. Even with a melt down, that's what memories are made of....the not so perfect times too !! :mickey:

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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.

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Originally Posted by Scallywag

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!!!

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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.

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

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!"
:mickey: