Is this just the worst idea ever, or is it doable? We have a 6 year old who will really enjoy Disney, and we want to go this year, but our youngest will be 7 months. Have any of you taken a trip to Disney with kids these ages?
Also, what month is the best to go? We were thinking June?
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You should definitely take the baby!!! It will probably easier than a toddler really-he can sleep in the stroller while you guys walk around. And Disney has a switch off thing where you and your DH can both ride...one just waits with the stroller and the other hops on.
I would reconsider June. We always go in early Feb and not crowded at all...but the weather is iffy. I hear that October/November are amazing..low crowds and still warm. With the baby you just don't want to wait in the long lines...that would so stink. And Disney lines are longer than none other. Not out of the ordinary to wait a couple of hours for some of the more popular rides! They hav FastPAss but you can only use that so many times.
If you go in June, make sure it is very early June. It get HOT here!! We live in Orlando and even though I am expecting baby #2 in March we bought season passes in December. I don't think it's any more difficult taking a baby than any other child. If she likes being in a carrier that will be awesome for you!! With my 2 year old we try not to bring a stroller it is so much easier to wear her from place to place or let her run her little self ragged. Our Disney days are the best sleep we ever get!!!
Our passes are not good in the summer months and that is fine with us it is HOT and CROWDED!! The best times to go are Feb-April and Oct-December (not around Christmas though) There are less crowds because of school being in session and usually the weather is bearable.
You're six year old will love everything about it, and you are going to love seeing everything through a kids eyes!!
I have a disneyland annual pass. Avoid the summer and spring break and all holidays. Go midweek. Bring all your food so you can save money. There are some rides you can take the 7 month old and I would recommend bringing a baby carrier and putting them in there while you are waiting in line. I've taken my baby on: haunted house, jungle cruise, pirates of the carrebean, toon town, small world, nemo ride...
Have you considered a Disney cruise? It could cost the same as a trip to Disney, it could be more fun and much less stressful. We have done both Disney Parks and two Disney Cruises with young children...and I totally vote for the Cruise.
Do NOT go in June, July or August!!
We went to Disney World in Orlando last June 18-22, 2010 and it was 100+ degrees every day! Even at nighttime it was very humid. There were people there with babies in strollers and harnesses, the babies just looked miserable. While the parents were busy chugging water, they didn't offer as much time to babies needs.
They also had them in just onesies because of the heat. I can only hope that they had tons of sunscreen on them because the FL sun is fast to give sunburns. My forearms burned while waiting in line for rides!
My vote would be during Spring Break, or even Halloween (heard from family that its fun that time of year), or Christmas.
We've been twice and both times went in October. Perfect time of the year to go (temps were nice & lines were shorter). On another note regarding Disney (FL). Don't do Magic Kingdom on Monday! Save that for Tuesday -Friday. The other parks are less crowded on Monday, but for some reason EVERYONE flocks to Magic Kingdom on Mondays and weekends.
I have been to Disney when my children were babies. It is doable and they do enjoy going on It's a Small World and watching the fireworks.
Disney has Mother's Rooms for nursing, changing diapers or whatever else you need. They sell baby food, wipes, and have rocking chairs and high chairs. It'a a good place to chill out.
Remember to use the Parent Switch pass. If you have two parents (or adults) half the group can ride the ride and then the waiting parent can get a turn without waiting for so long.
Have fun...I want to go!
go to disneyland in California rather than florida. It is a little less crowded. you can check the disney website at either location to see when the peak season is. DO NOT go during any peak seasons.. In Orlando it is crowded most of the year so if the calendar shows peak season you do not want to be there. I took my kids to Disney--Magic Kingdom when they were 8, 5, and 15 months to Orlando in April 2001. The baby did great and looked around at everyone while in his stroller. The other 2 were disappointed because it was so stinking crowded, every line was over 2 hours--even the baby rides. We even missed the parade because we were stuck in a line for 3 hours and was next to ride and it broke down for 30 min during the parade time. Who wants to get out of line after waiting that long and being that close to riding the ride? The one show we did get to see we were so far away because the crowd was so big that the characters looked tiny and the kids couldn't see very well. The line wait signs said 45 minutes but most of them were closer to 2 hours which was very disappointing because we could have grabbed the fast pass and waited 2 hours to come back to ride and be first in line which we watched a few fast pass times go in front of us while we were in the estimated 45 min line that were not even close to 45 min waits. Needless to say we were there all day and rode 4 rides and a couple of them were no more than a carnival ride but those had shorter lines.
I hope you have a better experience if you go. I don't think we will ever attempt to go to Disney in Florida again. We have a lot more fun at Universal Studios and have been 3 times. Universal also has a lot more rides that little kids can ride that adults enjoy as well. We took the kids the first time when youngest was 2 and he could ride a lot of rides with us so it was a lot more fun. Not sure how many a baby can ride though. I think they have to be able to sit and stand on their own to ride. Bush Gardens was also nice especially with little kids. There are zoo animals between the rides so you can see the animals between walking to the next ride.
Florida is incredibly hot and humidity that you've never felt before, especially in the summer. Is it possible to go in the spring/fall/winter over one of the school breaks? It's really hard on small babies in that kind of heat, outside all day, even if they live in that environment. We're going in October (I have a work conference, and my son will be 6 but his brother will be 10 months). Have fun
if you have any way to leave the 7 month old with relatives - i would really recommend it. i think age 6 is perfect for the trip. the 7 month is going to be pretty miserable.
Yes yes yes. I have brought all of my kids to Disney and we are going again here shortly with my 3rd. They are now 6, 4 and almost 3 mos. Taking a baby under 1 is the best and not a problem at all. Make sure you bring enough snacks for the stroller and stroller toys. We got this really great stroller attachment that has a snack cup and all sorts of toys, plus another attachment that clips onto the stroller that makes music when the baby hits the various items. That really helps. We usually go in Feb and have also going in Oct (best time ever, warm, not crowded and Epcot has wine around the world), as well as after Christmas (horrible, would not do it again, way too crowded). We also went in April 1 year and it was wonderful then as well. Oh yeah, my girls were 5 mos and 1 year when we first took them. We go just about every year and I don't like crowds etc. Good luck and have fun!
Last Feb we took our 2 older children to Disney. The lines were so long you had to wait hrs to get on a ride. Most of the time we were waiting in lines. We also went to sea world which we and the children loved! To Sea World we took the older 2, ages 5, & 6 then, and our then 3 y/o. This Feb we are taking all 4 to Animal Kingdom.
I'm originally from FL and have been to Disney more times than I can count. Your 6 year old will have a blast, but the baby won't remember anything (obviously). Summer months are the worst--busy and hot! If you can go in April or May, you'd be a little better off. But, June is probably better than July or August. We were there Dec. 22 and it was C-R-A-Z-Y!
