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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Would you take an under 5 to Disneyworld Florida?

64 replies

HollyGoLoudly · 04/06/2018 11:16

Just that basically. My thoughts were it was too young - between the heat, the walking, the activities, the excitement etc. I would be worried its a very expensive way to end up with a cranky kid who didn't enjoy it as much as they would if they were a few years older. I was thinking more like 7/8 would be the youngest I'd consider it.

Would love to hear stories from people who have done it and the pros/cons of taking them young vs later on in primary.

OP posts:

lostinsunshine · 04/06/2018 11:20

Personally I wouldn't. The expense on an experience they will barely remember and the aggro would be my reason. However, a pal of dd's is there with their toddler brother right now and they seem to be ok. Oh yep and the heat and the stormy weather if you pick the wrong time. And the long flight.
Your money, your toddler, your choice. I'd pick somewhere closer to home with the same money.

Chrisinthemorning · 04/06/2018 11:21

We took DS when he was almost 4 and came back from our second trip this weekend- he’s now almost 6.
He loved it, both times. He remembered it really well from last time.
Don’t try and do full park days - it’s too much. We went early and left early.
Love Disney!
If we were only going to go once I would leave it though- we like to go every 2-3 years.

ILikeMyChickenFried · 04/06/2018 11:22

Yes. I took my son just before he turned 2 and am taking him again this summer at 4 with his 1 year old sisters.

He probably wont remember it but he had a wonderful time. He loved the smaller rides, the parades and the shows. His little face was a picture!

FrozenMargarita17 · 04/06/2018 11:22

We're taking dd when she's 3 because a big family holiday is planned. I'm sure we can make it a nice time :)

Wildlingofthewest · 04/06/2018 11:25

If it’s going to be a once in a lifetime trip that your only going to do once then no. Wait until your little one is a few years older (8ish) you want them to be able to enjoy and take part in that type of holiday not just be stuck in a pushchair half asleep or cranky! It’s also not a relaxing holiday - it’s big, busy, hot and you’ll be on the go all the time so it’s easier if you have a more self sufficient child! (Saying that as someone who worked there!!)

BoxsetsAndPopcorn · 04/06/2018 11:25

No, I'd do Paris with one that young but but Florida as would want them to be older for such a long haul trip and to make the most of the days.

ProustianMadeleine · 04/06/2018 11:26

We took our dc to Disneyland Paris last year and 2 year old dd absolutely loved it. The baby (under 1 at the time) on the otherhand didnt have a clue. Anyway, dd probably won't remember in years to come but right now she still remembers and talks about 'horsey ride' and 'teacups' all the time. When the adverts come on the tv she asks if we can go again!

Musicalstatues · 04/06/2018 11:27

It depends on if you’ll be going again! We go every year, I have a 6 and 3 year old who have been 5 and 3 times respectively and we are going again this year. They love it, there is so much to do for them. It is hot, you just have to be prepared for that. There is plenty of air conditioning around and we hire a double stroller so they don’t wear themselves out running around the parks.
But if this is going to be a once off holiday I would definitely wait until they are old enough to remember it properly.
7ish would be a lovely age for a one off trip - young enough to believe the magic but old enough to cope better with the long days and weather.

MrsJayy · 04/06/2018 11:28

Dd2 was 4 and a bit when we went also hired a buggy the parks yes it is busy and hot but it is busy and hot for a 7 year old.

lifechangesforever · 04/06/2018 11:39

I'm taking a 4 month old in November!

I also hope to take her again before we have to start paying for her tickets (age 3) and hopefully before we start being tied by school holidays.

If you join pages like 'it's Orlando time' on Facebook you will see no end of parents who take their small children and say it's completely worth it.

PickettBowtruckles · 04/06/2018 11:49

I was 4 the first time my parents took me (and my brother was 2). It was the beginning of a bit of an obsession for me I think and have been 5 times since, including for my honeymoon! Currently pregnant with my first and we’re already talking about taking the baby just before their second birthday to qualify for a free space ;)

Of course I don’t expect a 2 year old to remember it, same as my brother doesn’t remember the first time but our parents took a video camera and we still occasionally get them out to watch and the excitement and pleasure in his little face is adorable! He might not remember it but my parents certainly do and said it was one of the best decisions they made.

littlepeas · 04/06/2018 11:54

We’re going next summer. In all honesty, it’s not where we would choose to go but we’re doing it for the dc. It will not be a repeated destination, so wanted to make sure they would all enjoy and remember it - they will be nearly 11, 9 and turning 8 while we are there!

littlepeas · 04/06/2018 11:54

Sorry - so yes, I would wait till your dc is older.

Semster · 04/06/2018 12:07

If I did I would not go in summer.

Cutesbabasmummy · 04/06/2018 12:14

I'd wait personally. When they are little they cant go on most of the rides and are overtired if you stay late to see the fireworks. I went for the first time when I was 7 and can still remember it at 42. That's about the youngest I would take TBH. I have also been aged 16 and 18 and am waiting for my 3 year old DS to be old enough to take him .

IHeartKingThistle · 04/06/2018 12:17

Nope. We waited till they were 10 and 7. No buggies, old enough to not need a wee every 5 minutes, old enough to remember it and have read Harry Potter (the only reason I agreed to go in the first place!).

Poloshot · 04/06/2018 12:18

Yes definitely as long as it's not going to be a once in a lifetime trip. If it was I'd wait until they were 10/11

cad186 · 04/06/2018 12:20

I have been twice, first time the children were 7 months, 2 and 4. Second time the children were 7, 5, 3 and 5 weeks! We went in April, it was hot but manageable. Had fantastic holidays and I would definitely do it again with any age children.

lostinsunshine · 04/06/2018 12:28

If you have the money, knock yourself out. If you don't, there is a world beyond Disneyworld.

Guilin · 04/06/2018 12:28

We took:

DS at 4, 8 and 10
DDs at 18m and 4

They all loved it every time. Second time we went, we spent 2 weeks in Orlando and a week in the Florida Keys! Even at 18 months, DDs screamed with excitement frequently throughout the day!

We did not consider the long haul flights a problem particularly. I gave DS Phenergan the 1st time on the way there, on the advice of the pharmacist. It made DS hyper - he did not stop talking all the way there! Never again! Still, the captain let him go in the cockpit, which he loved!

DS says he is taking DGD for her 1st time, when she is 4!

Hopeful88 · 04/06/2018 12:31

Yes they will love it, but if it's a once in a lifetime trip I would wait until they're older so they can remember it.
My parents took me when I was 6 and I cant remember much of it at all.

ScarlettDarling · 04/06/2018 12:34

My daughter was 5 when we took her and she loved it. We had an amazing holiday. Disney is magic for little ones...she really believed that the princesses and other characters were real! We will go again in a year or two, but my dc are both much older now and I can't imagine it will be as magical as when they were little.

WindsweptNotInteresting · 04/06/2018 12:34

I took my 6 and 4.5 year old several years back and my 4 year old definitely enjoyed it. But he was quite tall for his age so was 40 inches which meant he could go on a whole set of other rides - if he'd been shorter, I don't think he would have been able to get as much out of that side of it. The other thing to bear in mind is that the queues can be quite long (def get the fast pass app!) so if they are a bit fidgety and if you're going in the summer (we went in July) it can be boring and hot in the queues.

We actually took 2 pushchairs with us (cue horrified gasps from other mumsnetters!), partly to put all the bags/water etc on but also so the 4 year old could have a sit down every so often, because there is so much walking, esp in the heat. Even the 6 year old sat in one by the end of the day too...

ijustwannadance · 04/06/2018 12:40

I would go at a cooler/quieter time of the year.

TheNoodlesIncident · 04/06/2018 12:50

Our ds went at 3.5 yo and enjoyed it, but... a) he wanted to go on rides for bigger children and wasn't allowed b) he doesn't remember it at all.

Personally now I wish we hadn't gone then but waited until he was older - at least seven or eight. He's under average height so there might still be rides he was excluded from even at that age.

We couldn't afford another holiday for a couple of years after that, it was so expensive, so I don't look back on that as our most successful holiday by a long shot.

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