MousePlanet News! No Kidding Around

[Tagrel]

this just in from MousePlanet.com

Mike looks at the best age for a child's first visit.

More... (http://www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=ms070601ms)

[SusanL]

Great article.

[MikeS]

That's always a sensitive issue and the emails are flying in left and right...I've got a stack of them that agree with what I said and a stack that disagree....and with a capital "D"

Take a gander...

"I am not one to reply, post a message, or comment on an article. However, given how uterly disapointed I am at the wasted opportunity on how you have handled a topic that is such a great interest to many I feel compeled to write to you. Rather than providing a well balanced, thoroughly thought out, and solution based article, you have provided an article awashed in an in cynicism that is one-sided from the perspective of an "adult" that may be too far removed from the magic of childhood to understand why the question is so important in the first place."

:mad:

The author also said...

"You see, I think your article lacks the perspective as to what would drive parents to take their young children to such a place. You can not find reason in the judgement, because it is ultimately as irrational as a parent's decision during the first Christmas or the first birthday for the first born. These are memories for the parents."

This reader (may not be one from now on) mentioned how he and his wife had taken their 10-month son to Disneyland and what that experience was like.

He makes it sound like I was denying his child the wonders of Disney.

Oh there are nice emails as well....

"Interesting article, Mike, and I appreciate your perspective. Yes, it's true, we've seen kids making a rough time for their parents in the Parks. From the newborns who are melting in the heat to the toddlers who get overwhelemed seemingly within minutes (sidetrack for a story of our trip earlier this year, when a young'un in the Plaza restaurant treated us all to the wonderful sight of him vomiting all over the floor. Mom took him out, and the CMs were spit-spot at cleaning it up, but our buttons were pushed when she returned, only to have him spew again not 10 minutes later. She RAN from the Plaza with her hand clamped over his mouth, trying valiently to stop the flow. She was only moderately successful, btw). Sadly, successfully taking kids to WDW requires a healthy dose of both patience and common sense, and in our rushabout me-first society, both seem to be in short supply nowadays."

Let's face it...with so many opinions out there it goes without saying that there is always at least one person who will disagree with whatever I or anyone else says...hence the extra layer of epidermis on my back side.

;)

[WDWNJ]

Mike - I have not read the article yet, but will say that this is one tough subject. Every child is differant and every parent has differant parenting skills. It's too hard to generalize on the "right age" IMHO. Just a little common sense and knowing and accepting your child's behavioral patterns will go a long way...

ETA - just read the article and I believe you nailed it. There is no right or wrong age. The questions you pose are spot on. Nice job!

[Robb]

Having taken Andy to WDW/Mousefest two times, I agree with your article 95% (okay, I can't figure out the last 5% exactly). The one thing I have always adhered to from "The Unofficial Guide" is taking a break in the afternoon, and don't be surprised when your kid wants to go to the pool, not the parks. Andy had a great time this past trip, and asks to go again, and talks about specific rides (Goofy's Barnstormer).

That being said, I don't think every kid is ready for WDW, and it helped that there were two adults and one kid (and a few Disney aunts and uncles)


http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1084/525144738_c33b59d533.jpg

[geffric]

Great Article Mike.. you make a lot of great points. and ultimately it is up to the parents.....

[luvthattink]

Mike, I agree with your article that it totally depends on the child and what the child is ready to do.

My youngest just turned 3 and there are some attractions he is not ready for, ie. anything with a hill (pirates or maelstrom). On the other hand, he spent 50 minutes on Saturday waiting in line for Dumbo, and actually had fun in line, and his smile on Dumbo was priceless.

[Robin]

My only 'complaint' on the article would be that it's more about things to consider, and less about best age. Maybe that's the 5% Robb couldn't nail down.

I've gone with my Barbara and her family and have been there for both kid's 'first'.

I think Amy was 4 and already a champ at vacations in general, having been barely 3 months old for her first annual trip to Maine. I can't remember her in a stroller, but do remember here proudly wearing her very own Darkwing Duck Fanny pack. They waited until she was old enough to enjoy the trip, yet before she started school so we could go off season when it wasn't hot or crowded.

Jordan was another story. I was planning a trip with my Aunt, when my friend's husband, the big kid that he is, talked my friend into them joining us. The old 'must' was Jordan needed to be off formula. Joe promised he'd do all the carrying. Picture being stuck standing in a queue holding a stack of potatoes. Jordan was a big baby. The only think Jordan hated was shows. We have no idea why, but bringing him into a large area was enough to get him to test the development of his vocal cords. Joe spent a number of shows (Indianan Jones, Shamu, dolphins) leaving quickly and standing outside the exit. Not fun. One the plus side, we both used watching Jordan as an excuse to wait sit out the original Tiki Room show while the others went in.

Jordan, and probably Amy too if she had one, were good stroller nappers. I'm pretty sure Jordan had his own stroller, and would simply conk out when he was tired. We never left early and came back. On the other hand, my friends being early risers, normally were done for the day by 8pm at most. The first time I saw Illuminations was with my Aunt and that's because I didn't have to leave when they left.

From my own personal experience, I remember my first theme park in NY, which I went to at the ages of 2 and 3. Memories are choppy, but yes, I remember Freedomland. I also remember the World's Fair when I was 5.

I think cost should also be a major factor in when to bring a child. Can you afford to go every year, and therefore it doesn't matter how much you kid gets out of the trip? Or will you not be able to go back for a few years, so it's important to make the most out of the trips you do make.

Parents need to remember it's not a baby or small child's fault if they scream in terror at something you love, or can't keep up. If you do jump the gun and take the kid too early, don't take your own disappointment out on the kid. Just adjust your schedule and try again when they're a little older.

[SueV]

I do have to agree that EVERYONE has their own opinions on this subject!!! For us(this is just us and OUR/MY opinion;)) we took Sam(as well as the other kids) when they were just a few months old. In Sam's case going to WDW was what helped her start sleeping 8-9 hours straight through the night, instead of the 3 she was doing prior to the trip! Even at 4 months old she loved all the characters, lights, shows, musics, attractions! BUT that is MY child and everyone else's kids are different! Nicole although she loved all the attractions, lights, music, ect. she hated characters until she was about 4! Alex was more like Sam!
It also helped that Joe and I had been to WDW every year for the previous 5 years before we had our first child! I don't think I would have been so willing to take such young children is we'd never been!

[ChrisR]

Mike, I thought the article spelled it out quite clearly. Be sure you know what you are getting into. DH and I grew in Florida and had many, many, many, etc vacations at WDW before we brought Nick to WDW at 6 months of age. We took him to the Halloween party. We did lazy but touring and we scheduled frequent visits to the Baby Care center by CP for feedings (I was still nursing him) and diaper changes. We had a stroller that looks so comfy I wish I could fit into it and be pushed around. Nick seemed to appreciate the lights and commotion around him. He especially seemed to enjoy Buzz. He wanted to chew on the joystick, :D. Later on the evening he fell asleep in the stroller. He didn't mind the fireworks, and had he we would have left.

Now, this is in sharp contrast to what I witnessed almost a year ago. A family of 5 who had never been to WDW came for a 4 day visit. That was after driving for 2 days from up north. The oldest was 8, but the youngest was 8 months old. Mom was trying to get the baby to nurse, but the poor thing was exhausted, as was the mother. They both looked they were suffering from the heat as well. This was day one of their trip. I suggested that they take a break mid-day tomorrow at the hotel. The older kids and dad could have fun at the pool. Her response was that they probably wouldn't be back for 5 years at least so commando touring was the only option. :confused: A few minutes later, the son came in saying that dad was impatient and how much longer would it take. The poor baby never did eat much, and mom looked like on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

The right time really does depends on each families' situation and expectations.

[cshore]

I think Mike did a fine job of making the point that each age will have certain adjustments that will have to be made. Just having returned from a trip with a one year old, I can attest that we made a lot of adjustments and I was sure glad that this was not a do it all or die trip for any of us.

First of all, we were very fortunate to have a two bedroom DVC unit. I really can't imagine doing a week long trip in a hotel room, although an awful lot of people do this.

Second, we have a little guy who was a gem when it came to sit down dinners. We were on the DDP and scheduled a sit down each day. We quickly learned to put our entire order in at one time and to let the server know that we did not want to experience a long dinner.

I did underestimate the response to meeting the characters. Travis was very interested in the characters as long as they did not enter into his personal space which he established as about 50 feet. This did not work well at his birthday dinner at the Garden Grill, where I ended up fleeing the restaurant shielding his face as to avoid another terror ridden scream as Chip approached. I was greatful that the characters were painfully slow in approaching our table and both Travis and I had pretty much finished up our meals. So we adjusted our plans for later in the week and cancelled 1900 Park Fare and had a wonderful dinner outside at the Turf Club at SSR instead. This dinner ended up being one of the best of the trip.

I will have to admit that this trip was for my memory bank. I realize Travis will not have one single memory of this trip. I love Disney trips so much and want to start a tradition of trips with my grandkids. Never again will I view Poohs playground as a waste of space. Travis had a very happy time playing there and interacting with the other kids. The colorful lights in the pavement in Epcot that I had walked over so many times and thought were pretty, were looked at in such awe by a one year old. I don't think I will ever forget the 1/2 hour we spent sitting on the bench watching Travis' amazement with these lights!

All in all I was suprised at all the things a one year old can do, and how easy it was to tour with him. Need a nap in the MK? Board the train. Not only was he asleep before we reached Toontown, he proceed to sleep in his stroller for the next 1 1/2 hours.

Our next trip is not going to be based on age, but on inches. We have 40 inches marked on his closet door. Maybe we will be lucky enough to have a 1 year old brother or sister to take along on that trip.

Chris

[Aimfred]

Nice article, Mike. Of course this is a touchy subject, and everyone is going to have a different poinion. but I think you did a nice job of covering all the things parents should consider before deciding to take their child.

That being said, here's my take:
We are a Disney family. We will go every year, unless something major (like having a new baby!) comes up. Last year we took the little one for the first time at age 15 months. She had a great time, although there were clearly some things she didn't like, and somethings she loved! The secret, in my opinion, is trying to keep the whole trip in perspective. You are there to have fun - all of you. If one of the kids is not happy, we adjust our plans. We go at their speed, not ours. Every now and then, we stop, evaluate if we are all still having a good time, and go from there. One day last year we had a big day at MGM planned. At about noon we realized we were all hot, tired and no one was having fun. So we left. We went back to the the room, some of us napped, some went right to the pool. We all felt better, and ended up having a great afternoon and a terrific evening. It was worth missing a few shows to have a happy family and a plesant rest of the day!