Peg

Perfectly said Bottom - people don't read into things that aren't there.

ilisa

Goodness, I didn't realize all 2 year olds were the same and react the same way to different experiences. Thank you for letting me know. In fact, each child is different and only the parents know how he or she will act. My daughter is 15 months old. She has been to amusement parks, went on rides, was not scared of characters, enjoyed herself and has already experienced the heat and humidity of Florida, with no adverse consequences. According to Bottom's logic, my child should be absolutely miserable. The real bottom line is only the original poster to this thread can know if 2 is too young for Disney.

Friend

I would say, Ilisa, that the point is that parents can't tell how their kid will react to WDW until they take them there, and by then, it is too late. The safer strategy would be to play the odds and just wait until the child is older. By the time the kid is out of the house, parents will have been to more more amusement parks than they can count. So why push it?

If it works for you, great. The WDW toddlers I have seen either do badly, or the parents figure out how to pacify them long enough to get through it. I haven't seen too many who looked all that excited being pushed around in a stroller and standing in lines. Just know that most 2-year olds will do better elsewhere, IMHO.

Cindy

I posted above on my experience with my own 2-year old, and I won't repeat. But I'd like to mention that the baby swap might not work with a fearful child. Many rides have long line-up ares that are dark, crowded or noisy, so my son wouldn't even allow himself to be carried into those areas. Don't count on baby swapping if you have a toddler -- just know there is a chance you won't get to do much suited to your adult tastes.

And for what it is worth, my son isn't fearful in other situations and was quite familiar with Disney movies. But WDW just totally freaked him out, it got worse every day, and I sure didn't expect that!

GOL

I would stay on one of the park properties (Contemporary, Polynesian or Grand Floridian) so you can have very easy way to get to/from your room and the park via monorail.

On whether it is a good idea to take your 2 yr old, here is my experience: When my son was two (actually 2 yrs, 7 months), he believed it all. He believed all the characters were real. It was magical in every sense of the word. As we waited for the parade, he would run out from the curb a few feet and dance, spin around and talk. When he saw the parade and heard the music, he was non stop dancing, bouncing and smiling. At the time, the couple next to us was watching him more than the parade.

When we went to the Character Breakfast (at the time in Epcot's Starlight ? snack bar, not there any longer), he spotted Mickey, ran over to him, took him by the hand and brought him to our table. We still cherish this moment.

The next year, when he was 3, the magic disappeared. He no longer had the same belief that the characters were real. It was still very special, but not magical.

We've gone every year, and now my 14 yr old son goes to the Magic Kingdom to humor his parents - but I hope he still likes to hang around us...

My vote - 2 is not too young. You may miss a once in a lifetime moment. I now know why the couple was watching my son more than the parade - kids have an infectious way to make everybody around them happy.

Grandma

Ilisa-You sound like one of these parents who thinks they know it all. For crying out loud, a 15 month old is alot different than a 2 year old who gets easily frustrated, hates to have their routine disrupted, prone to meltdowns and sometimes can be a pain! Bottom and friend are correct, why put a kid through it? Are you doing it for the child or yourself? I have seen too many parents drag their kids places just because it's the in thing to do and the parents think it impresses their co-workers or neighbors. What ever happened to common sense and putting the child's welfare above your own?

marilyn

Ilisa, the original poster asked for opinions on whether taking a 2-year-old to WDW was a good idea, and that's what most of us have been giving: our opinions. I'm very happy that you feel you child will have a good time there, since I know from your posts that it is a favorite vacation break, but children are different, and you can't always predict how they are going to react. Based on my observation and experience, I would not make this vacation choice for a 24-month-old (though I might with a 29-month-old). That's all some of us are saying.

George

I agree with Grandma and Marilyn. There is a WORLD of difference between a 15 month old and a 24 month old. And there is a big difference between a 24 month old and a 29 month old developmentally and emotionally.

Ilisa-When your child turns 2 let us know how he/she acts. I bet the same as everyone else's 2 year old!

GetReal

Don't ya love parents who think their precious darling will never misbehave! AND their darling is just perfect? Get real Ilisa!

ilisa

No, I don't know it all; everyday is a learning experience for me as a parent, and I am terrified of screwing up. My point is that only the parent can judge if their child is ready for WDW or any other experience. No, they don't know in advance how they will react, but then again, you can't predict that in any event. I am seeing too many blanket statements about 2 year olds here, such as how all two year olds act, what they would prefer. Every child is different. I have seen many 2 year olds that are very easy-going and no problem at all, just as I have seen holy terrors. I certainly hope my child is the former, like everyone says my husband and I both were, not the latter. Personally, and I understand that most people here see differently, I think if parents have a well thought out plan, then WDW with young ones is very doable. Now, 1 wilson, have we thoroughly confused you?

Angie

In March we took our one and three year olds to Disney and it was very memorable for us. Staying on site is probably easiest and allows the most flexibility. We visited the bOardwalk and it was a lovely resort as were the Yacht and Beach clubs. We however rented a house in Kissimee,about 10 minutes from the main Disney gate,with 4 bedrooms anf a pool. It was clean,new and a bargain at$900 for the week.
You can do Disney with a toddler and enjoy it if you do the parks in small doses,i.e. half a day,then go back and rest.
I cannot recommend highly enough the character meals!
Get the book "The Unofficial Guide to Disney With Kids"-it was invaluable and saved us from waiting on lines during a very busy time of the year.
If you're on a tight budget and won't be going back for a long time,you might consider waiting until age 3 or 4 when kids get even more out of the trip.
If you go now ENJOY!
Enjoy! We can't wait to go back!

XX

Ilisa-I don't know where you get off knowing how a 2 year old will behave when your kid is not yet 2. IMO, you are nothing but a know-it-all about everything from child rearing to travel and your posts are irritating! Why don't you get a life! Better yet, take care of your kid instead of posting so much here Miss Know-It-All!!!

Why

many people posting their opinions here believe it is unwise to take a two-year-old to disney world because it would be a bother and a waste of money. others say it works if you do short days at the park. doesn't that last statement pretty much concede away the whole argument? if you are paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for a trip to WDW, does it make sense to see things in tiny doses, so that you can never possibly get your moneys worth? i'll bet even ilisa would agree that there are better vacations for a toddler than wdw, so why go there if you can just go later?

al

I have a big problem with anyone going into crowds of people with any child that could possibly end up(or start out) in a stroller. If a child cannot walk all day then they do not belong in any crowded area where they or people around them stand to be injured by these menacing wheeled objects. I cannot see how this could be fun for anyone involved. I love kids(I have 2 & 3 grandchildren) but at the right places at the right times. I would not subject other people to a cranky kid in a stroller or do I want it done to me
thanks for letting me spout off Al

Judy

In 1988, we took our then two year old to Disney but only because my husband had a convention there and we were going with other people who had older kids (7 and 9). The older kids were a great help with our little one. They seemed to motivate her to keep going. Luckily we were able to stay at the Caribean Beach hotel, so we were able to easily take her back to the room for naps each afternoon. The only problem we had was that she was TERRIFIED of the costumed characters, and they just kept coming up to her everywhere we went. While we really did have a pretty good time, I wouldn't choose to do it without a convention - but when one person's flight and the room are paid for - There wasn't much to lose.

Since then we have been to Disney World two more times (one vacation, one more convention). We waited until all our kids were over 6 years old. The kids will remember these trips - they were really terrific - No Naps, No Crying, - Just fun. I would wait unless you plan to go a number of times while the kids are growing up.

angel

I get a chuckle out the "memories" these trips create for 2 year olds. It's nice if the kids are old enough to have their own memories -- not the ones their parents feed them.

To the original poster: in 4+ years you can make a GREAT, memorable vacation to WDW! Something else is probably a better choice now.

MM

The way I see it Iwilson you can either:

Take your 2 year old to WDW, stand in lines, deal with crowds, not to mention heat/humidity, more standing, have your child scream and cower at the cute characters, stand in line, have to go back to your hotel room in the afternoon so your 2 year old can get a nap, pay outrageous admission fees for 1/2 days park use, stand in line some more, drag your child all over, child gets crankier and crankier. (Not to mention trying to change acky diapers at the park)

Or,

Spend a nice vacation on a beach somewhere, mom and dad making sand castles and playing in the surf with their child.

Tough choice!

Mom

Parents are blessed with an amazing case of amnesia in regard to the tough/unpleasant things they go through with their kids, ie. childbirth, the first six weeks. They remember the good things the smiles, coos, baby smells, hugs etc. Going to WDW with a toddler is NOT EASY! I think some of you parents have warm and fuzzy memories of your vacation there and have forgotten how tough it was dragging a 2 year old around. Much as I love my 2 year old, she can be whiny, demanding, cranky and sometimes the littlest thing can set her off! And believe me there is a WORLD of difference between the behavior of a 15 month old and a 29 month old! Knowing how a 2 year old acts, is one of the reasons we chose to take a laid back vacation. She was happy playing in the sand at the beach with the hotel close by for naps, snacks, changings etc. Why any reasonably sane adult would take a 2 year old to a crowded theme park is beyond me. It is stressful not only for the child but for the adult as well. How can you really relax amidst all that chaos with a toddler whose behavior is totally unpredictable? Not my idea of fun! And, WDW is not cheap! Better to go when the child is older and can talk, walk without a stroller and will enjoy the experience.

And Ilisa-If you are so afraid you are going to do something wrong with your child, I suggest you take some parenting classes and learn how to parent with confidence! Otherwise, your child will end up a screwed up kid and a screwed up adult!

amother

Dear "mom"and co, have you ever actually taken a small child to WDW???
You must be sooooo strung up if you can't relax on holiday--even at Disney!! As SO many people have said, every child is different and the parents are the best judges.
Some of us have had VERY good holidays there with small kids. Leave us alone !! If you choose not to go ,all the better. Leave it to those of us that have kids that will enjoy it!!!
As for insinuating that it will "screw up " the kids--HA HA HA!!! Maybe it's actually parents like you that do this!!

Mom

To A Mother-If you had BOTHERED to read Ilisa's thread above, you would have noticed my bottom comments were to HER as a RESPONSE to her POST!! I DID NOT SAY TAKING A KID TO WDW WAS GOING TO SCREW THE KID UP!! Obviously, you cannot comprehend what you read!

As for taking my children (I have several) to WDW, BEEN THERE! DONE THAT! From my experience it is hard to relax when you are worried about your toddler! You must be one of these parents that does not worry about their kids. What do you do? Pop a valium? Or take a couple of drinks? Any decent parent who tells the TRUTH will tell you it is no picnic with a 2 year old at WDW. IMO, people like you should remain childless!