Which do you think is better - taking a 6 month old or a 14 month old to Disney?

Childs1stTime2Disney · Sep 20, 2016

I was originally planning to go when my DD is 14 mths old, figuring she would be drinking whole milk by then and eating solids. Now the thought has gone through my mind about going to WDW sooner, like when my DD will be 6 months old. What do you think is more ideal and why?

blackpearl77 · Sep 20, 2016

6 months is probably easier. They aren't as mobile. 14 months could be walking, refusing to sit and eating real food. But also more aware of everything which can be fun to watch through their eyes.

2009CAN · Sep 20, 2016

I'd stick with 14 months. At 6 months old mine were all still napping 3 times a day, going to be at 6:30 for the whole night.

Happyinwonerland · Sep 20, 2016

14 months will be more fun for your DD, but still kind of young to really "get" it. At 6 months they wouldn't really know what was going on, at 14months they will be somewhat aware of Mickey and other familiar characters.

14 month olds are a lot easier to take places, IMO. They can eat soft foods off the regular menu, drink regular milk or water, and aren't constant little poo machines. Bring a good stroller and they will nap on the fly

Miller9568 · Sep 20, 2016

7 months for me because they want to walk independently at 14 months. I took my 7 month old and friends had 16 month old. Was more enjoyable for our 7 month old as I had him in a pack and he enjoyed sitting and watching versus wanting to be independent.

Childs1stTime2Disney · Sep 20, 2016

Ok thank you…kind of what I was thinking, about the 14 mths. Still will stick with that, thanks!

monorailsilver · Sep 20, 2016

I'd go for the 14 month old. Yes they are more mobile but they are stuck on a bottle or if you are nursing then they aren't constantly wanting to be fed. Plus if your 6 mo old was like my 3 kids, they would not eat of there was a distraction, they were nosey!

My oldest was 15 mo old. She was easy. She lived to walk so we let her push her stroller. She wasn't a runner either. And she took it all in.

quandrea · Sep 20, 2016

We've travelled with our twins since three months. Six months was easier than fourteen would. Have been. We did eighteen months and it was our toughest trip in their seven years. They were mobile and wanted to be out of the stroller. My daughter especially had hit an independent stage that made Disney tough. She wanted to walk everywhere. Not easy in a theme park. Six months was a breeze.

kohlby · Sep 20, 2016

6 months. They might nap in the stroller or while being carried. If they do get overtired, they won't run off. They'll happily either stay in a carrier like a sling or in the stroller and take in the sites. (At 14 months, two of my kids refused both the stroller and being carried. One refused the stroller but would be carried. 14 months is a lot heavier to carry than 6 months. That was also my late walker). They're far more portable. At 14 months, many are walking or even running. They care more about what they eat or don't eat. They're pickier about where they nap. Eating solids can actually make things more complicated - and make poops smell worse.

My daughter went at 2 and 8 months and 8 months was easier just because it wasn't the constant pooping of the newborn days. 6 months would have been just as easy as 8 months. My youngest went at 11 months but he was a behind schedule physically and far more laid-back than my first two kids. He did only want to go in the sling then though and refused the stroller. My eldest was a wild child and I'm certain we wouldn't have been back to Disney if we tried taking him at 14 months. He was running at 9 months and thought it hilarious to run away from us for quite a while.

happymommy · Sep 21, 2016

I would do 6 months over 14 months.

They are so much easier to travel with at that age.

ColonialMouse · Sep 21, 2016

The trips would be different. At 6 months more naps and not really doing much. You would need to relax more and be flexible with plans. At 14 months fewer naps and they can enjoy some of the characters/rides, even if they don't really get it. But they have opinions so it might not be as "easy." We went with our third at about 3 months and a bit past a year. At 3 months there were several ADRs that DW and DD3 didn't make, so I went with DD1 and DD2. If it's just 3 of you, though, I would hesitate about making too many ADRs as then there's a cost with being a no-show.

But we thoroughly enjoyed our trips at both ages.

Bruce

AirGoofy · Sep 21, 2016

Childs1stTime2Disney said:
I was originally planning to go when my DD is 14 mths old, figuring she would be drinking whole milk by then and eating solids. Now the thought has gone through my mind about going to WDW sooner, like when my DD will be 6 months old. What do you think is more ideal and why?

We went for the first time when my oldest was 3 & youngest was 15 months. I thought it was a great age. She was able to play around and interact with the characters (none in costumes, just princesses) and had a great time.

lizbaby007 · Sep 29, 2016

We took our son when he was 12 months. He was just starting to walk with assistance. He had a great time and was very content with being pushed around in the stroller. We always baby wore him in line and he got a kick at talking to the people around us. He ate off of our plates and it was a great trip overall. I would recommend any trip before walking age!

We are going back next week with our now 20month old. Im a bit scared, lol! The independence has hit hard and I can not imagine he is going to be happy in the stroller at all. We are planning on lots of "breaks" where he can run around and explore. I think the biggest thing is not to overplan and just try to go with the flow. ITs not home so dont stress about a schedule. Just follow your little ones cues and you will be fine.

Mousemommy1 · Sep 29, 2016

6 months is easier if at 14 months they are walking.

Our DS has gone at 3 months and 15 months. He had been walking for about a month at 15 months and that was tough, lol. He didn't always want to stay in his stroller at that point.

As far as sleep...I don't know that it makes a difference. DS is 20 months old now and STILL goes to bed by 6:30. We just have him sleep in his stroller if he's out & about.

Next years' trip he will be 2.5 yrs old, which is not too far off from how old our middle child was on her 1st trip and that wasn't a complete disaster, LOL, so I'm looking forward to next year!

brockash · Sep 29, 2016

Childs1stTime2Disney said:
I was originally planning to go when my DD is 14 mths old, figuring she would be drinking whole milk by then and eating solids. Now the thought has gone through my mind about going to WDW sooner, like when my DD will be 6 months old. What do you think is more ideal and why?

I think 14 months is more, however also harder as kiddo is more mobile (but may not be a real stable walker at 14 months), more opinionated etc. I've done both and would do either again, however the just 1 was def. the most work.

We've taken our as young as 7 weeks and our oldest is 14 and by far the one at 13 moths was the hardest, followed by the 17 month one. We just got back and our youngest was just 2 and she was much easier this year than last, but like I said, I'd do either again, so it's really more about which you'd prefer.

jac1976 · Sep 29, 2016

We took DS to Disneyland Paris when he was 5 months old and to Disney World when he was 16 months old. Both trips were fun, but honestly, other than someone having to hold DS while we went on the roller coasters, it was almost as if he wasn't on the trip when he was 5 months old. He didn't care about the characters, he didn't care about the rides, etc. When he was 16 months it was much more fun for all of us. DS was mobile, yes, but we let him kind of dictate where we would go. He loved the characters, and was amazed at all of the scenery in the rides. His favorite thing of all was a talking trash can. We sat for almost 30 minutes watching him try to figure out where the voice was coming from.

sullyfam · Sep 29, 2016

We went last month with our 12 month old and while it was lots of fun, I would definitely say that I would do 6 months over 14 months any day! Once they are mobile, it's hard to keep them still in any and all situations (on airplanes, in cars, on Disney transportation, waiting in lines, in strollers, at restaurants and everywhere else in between). I had to be a master at distraction just to keep her still most of the time. At 6 months they don't move yet and you can easily carry/stroll them around and they don't know the difference! Yes, she was interested in the characters etc. but she still was so little and clearly didn't really "get" any of it. By 6 months they usually are on a routine, sleep better at night and should sleep easily in the stroller and/or in a carrier and be more content just hanging out. So I would go with 6 months. Good luck!

disneysmiles · Sep 29, 2016

Depends on why you are going. Is there an older sibling? Just love Disney (clearly

)

I would do a 6 month old. For naps during the day, I'd being a super comfy baby carrier, like a boba, ergo, or lilliebaby. Wear the 6 month old in front and let them sleep that way. Takes out traveling back and forth to accommodations to sleep. You could ride the railroad, or monorail, or just walk around.

14 months, they are getting very opinionated, don't sleep as easily in carriers, and are heavier

Childs1stTime2Disney · Sep 30, 2016

disneysmiles said:
Depends on why you are going. Is there an older sibling? Just love Disney (clearly )

I would do a 6 month old. For naps during the day, I'd being a super comfy baby carrier, like a boba, ergo, or lilliebaby. Wear the 6 month old in front and let them sleep that way. Takes out traveling back and forth to accommodations to sleep. You could ride the railroad, or monorail, or just walk around.

14 months, they are getting very opinionated, don't sleep as easily in carriers, and are heavier

Yes, 8 year old sibling. We have decided with a happy medium of 9 mths!!! I agree with you, 14 mths may be heavy to carry!!!

DYOBL0305 · Sep 30, 2016

our first trip there with kids our youngest was just shy of 13 months old and she did really well. she was already walking but not very steady on her feet so she was either carried or rode in the stroller. we didn't have to carry around extra snacks or food for her because she was eating pretty much the same things as my other kids. she wasn't napping as much by then either so she got to see a lot and able to stay up a little longer. with that said, all babies are different, I don't think you can go wrong either way as long as you stick to their routine as much as possible, that made our trip so much smoother.

Which do you think is better - taking a 6 month old or a 14 month old to Disney?

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