Disney World - ok for my little 2 1/2 year old?

[andydaddy76]

Hi, I am a big kid and I really want to take my 2 kids ( 2 1/2 year old and a 8 year old) to Disney World. A few people have told me she is too young to really enjoy it, so I was just wondering if any of the members here have any advice, perhaps you have taken similar aged children? Anyway any advice on this would be great, thanks !

What time of year are you thinking of going?. I ask only as July and August tend to be both wet (thunderstorms can occur daily) and with high levels of humidity. Not suggesting you do not travel there then but this is what it can be like if you go at that time of year.

Do read the Dibb also; has lots of info on it re WDW.

I must admit the youngest i took was 6. However there is plenty of rides and things that a 2 year old would love.
Do you have a partner/ someone to go with to enable you and older child to do stuff not suitable for the small one?

It's definitely suitable for 2.5 year olds - we've taken our children for their first times at 2, 4, 18 months and youngest at 10 months. They all had a fabulous time.

I don't really understand when people say that younger children won't be able to enjoy the holiday properly anyway, what does that even mean? If a 2 year old won't enjoy Disney then surely they won't enjoy a spanish beach holiday, or a trip to Legoland or the zoo, or a caravan or camping holiday? They all have common elements. And yet people take their 2 year olds on these sorts of trips all the time, successfully.

Not suitable is an exaggeration, I think people mean that the 2 year old won’t get that much out of it. But sure there are tiny kiddy rides and they will love the characters. Take the pushchair and they will be fine. The only thing is that if it’s just you and the kids, the 8 year old might not have the best time as you will have to stay with the toddler so won’t be able to go on any of the bigger rides with them. If there’s another adult then that’s a different story though.

I think it depends if this is the only time you'll take them. We went when our youngest was 3, she had a fantastic time at Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, the other parks obviously she had fun, kids that age enjoy most things. But we could have been anywhere and Disney is an expensive holiday. Also now at 11 she can't remember it and wants to go again. For me, it was a one time thing (as really not my thing!), So in hindsight I should have waited until she was say 7+.

Brilliant, what great replies! I totally agree so we will book it and see how we get on. Maybe I will have to pay for the motherinlaw to come then she can watch Millie whilst we go on the bigger rides, as long as Millie has Peppa Pig on the phone to watch she will be happy :-) thanks again

I went there last year with dh and 6 year old and just turned 3 year old. I would agree that second adult vital. We stayed at the Clarion Inn, took a suitcase filled with snacks and just did the Disney Parks to keep costs down, used free shuttles rather than car hire, etc. so that we could go again in a few years. A few months after going she had no recall of having gone. A lot of stuff was wasted on her as even the 3d shows scared her. A day trip to Gullivers world would have been as fun for her (And probably 6 year old) but I wanted to go and it was fun. I would say go if you want to, but don't have it as 'a once in a lifetime' thing.

My youngest was one when we first went! He's now three and we have just come back from 2 weeks in WDW. He loved it!!