Walt Disney had the vision that those of all ages could come to the Disney Parks and enjoy themselves – but does that vision include newborns and infants? I just had a baby in October, and I have gotten mixed reviews – so I decided to do some research on the question I am sure many of you have asked yourselves when planning your next family trip: “Should I bring my baby to Disney World?”
The Pros: Bringing a little one can have its benefits – read on for some things to consider:
Making Memories: I don’t know about you but I am BIG on family outings, and I especially love documenting things with (many, many) photos – I love looking back and being able to say “look how much we did as a family!” – and taking trips is a big part of this. Spending time as a family is high on many people’s list of priorities, and no matter how old your kids are, its important to establish that family bond and make plenty of memories – and what better way to make them than at Walt Disney World?
They’re Free! Children under the age of 3 receive free entry to the Disney Parks, which saves a LOT of money on ticket costs. And if you plan to fly to Disney, any child under 2 can travel free of charge on your lap (although the Federal Aviation Administration does recommend that you purchase a seat for them and bring along your car seat for traveling)
Bringing The Whole Family = Extra Helping Hands – If you’re thinking of traveling to Disney with your baby, you might want to consider making it a whole big family affair – asking your parents/in-laws or other childless relatives to join you would not only be a great experience for the whole family, but it would also mean you would have more help with the baby, and it’s even possible that you could score some alone time with your spouse for a nice adult date night
The Cons: Because it’s always important to look at both sides of any argument…
Rides? Not So Much – There are some rides that you can take an infant on, but the vast majority are not baby friendly. Most shows allow little ones, but the effects or loud noises could scare them – so you might end up missing a lot while you soothe a crying baby outside the theater
Forget About Sticking To A Schedule – Most parents I know have at least some kind of routine or schedule when it comes to feeding, nap time and playtime for their little ones – and going away on vacation can really throw that off, especially at a place like Disney where there is so much to do and see! Babies might resist napping or eating because they want to take in the World around them – and who can blame them? Add in the fact that getting back to your WDW Resort can take up to an hour with wait and travel times for buses/boats, and you might as well throw your carefully planned nap time right out the window
Packing Is Like Prepping For Armageddon – Those of you with kids know this to be true – that babies need a LOT of stuff, and gone are the days of a single carry on suitcase for a trip once you have kids! From favorite toys to clothes for all possible weather situations to a portable crib and the stroller and the car seat and diapers and formula…I could go on (but I won’t!). Bottom line is – even if you’re headed to Disney where they welcome and accommodate families of all sizes and ages, you’ll still be dragging along a lot of stuff wherever you go (possibly including a sleepy little one who only wants to nap in mom or dad’s arms!)
They won’t remember it – I know, I know – it sounds harsh, but it’s also realistic. Most kids under 3 will have no long-lasting memories of their early trips to Walt Disney World. Sure, they can look at the pictures and listen to you tell the stories, but there’s just no real likelihood that they will carry those memories with them into adulthood – sad but true
I plan to wait until my son is 4 before I bring him to Disney – I want to make sure he is old enough to walk on his own (no strollers!), and I remember my first trip to Disney at 4 years old, so I hope that he will be able to make some lasting memories of his first trip too! But ultimately, the decision is yours on whether or not you bring your baby to Disney – there are a lot of factors to consider, and I hope this list helps point you in the right direction!
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We took our son when he was 2 years old and then again when he was 3 years old. Oddly, he remembers more things from his 2 year old visit than his 3 – and he’s 14 now! He was born with sensory issues and eating issues, so trips to Disney World have always been probably a little more challenging than for most parents/young kids (loud volume, overwhelming crowds, special food needs – not to mention trying to fold up the stroller full of souvenir bags and a sleeping baby in order to get on the bus at the end of the day…which you have to do whether your kids have sensory issues or not – LOL), but we really did have a great time. I am typically “Clark Griswold” when it comes to planning our Disney World Itinerary and not wanting to miss any of our favorite rides and shows, and I won’t deny that our days and nights at Disney World looked very different while my son was a toddler – but it was still great. Then we had another son and started traveling to Disney World when he was 2, as well. All this being said, we don’t begrudge the years that we missed out on some of our favorite Disney World activities when our kids were young because trips to Disney World are a part of our life. But if your budget and/or vacation desires dictate that you may only travel to Disney World once or just every now and then, I would suggest waiting until your child is out of the toddler years so that you really can experience all Disney has to offer!
We Celebrated our sons 1st birthday at Disney World, We had such a good time. He sleeps with piglet and when he saw him for the first time at Cystal Palace, he just could not believe it, we will always remember that. We had such a good time seeing his reactions. He was even asked to dance with Chip during the parade.
We Also went in December he was 2 and he had such a good time at Mickeys Christmas Party, we even went to one of the Dance Party’s which as adults we would never do and he dancing away.
It will be at a slower pace but you will do things that you would not do as adults, like Dance Party’s, Character meals and Move it Shake it parade etc.
Also don’t forget you can get thier first hair cut at the Baber Shop on Main Street, they get a hat and Certificate.