In my opinion Florida has everything you are never too young or too old.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by brizzle
This old topic, I've had discussions with my friends about this loads of times. The age old quote 'they won't get anything from it.
This next trip will be our 25 months old fourth trip (and our soon to be 5 year olds too).
We went when she was 3.5 months old and whilst she won't remember it she had a damn good time.
Sights, sounds, smells, in fact any exeriences at any age develop a young baby.
If early life experiences didn't have any effect then how do baby's learn to sit-up, walk, talk etc..
Why don't we lock them in boxes until they are old enough to enjoy certain things (an exteme point I know and I can assure people I do not lock my child in a box)
They will not remember the trip, I will not argue that point, but I'm sure all these experiences shape how their personality develops and Disney ain't a bad way to go about it.
Then there is the other reason to take your young ones, and this may seem selfish, but *your* memories. The laugh of an infant, the puzzlement on their face at that crazy cartoon character, the eye's that just scan about absorbing information...Priceless in my opinion.
I also agree that the older they get the more they get out of the holiday but, for me, any age is a great time to take a child (or parent) on holiday.
Damn, sounds like a rant but I just feel that infants do get something out of a holiday just that it is probably a little less tangible than memories.
Brizzle
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i agree with you, sights sounds smells,all sorts of things, i know of someone that can remember being a baby, hard as that sounds who are we to argue.....as you say we keep wonderful memories alive!!! kids absorb anything and everything good or sometimes bad..........
i just couldnt have taken my kids at a young age because of their ears were always bad and always had infections couldnt have put them through a 10 hour flight!!!!!, i would have suffered for days and of course they would have to, we went to menorca a few years ago and the two youngest then aged 11 and 4 had trouble for 3 days with their ears!!!!!!!!!
Liesa
I'll tell you the way my mind works on this issue. Let us suppose Joe Bloggs took his 3 year old daughter to Orlando and she, like everyone else seemed to be very happy. Unless Bloggs is a real Orlando fan like ourselves ([msnsmile]), he may decide 'that's it' for the family, especially if there are financial limitations. So, the girl will then miss out on Orlando when she is, say, 8+ years old and eligible for all the rides etc, even though she may want to go again.
I've met a lot of people who plan to make JUST ONE big trip to Orlando. It is with such families in mind that I said it will be better for the children if they are a bit older.
Nostromo
In that case then yes I would agree with your sentiments Nostromo and it does make sense to take a child when they are older and can remember it better.
What most of us are saying here though it based on the fact that Florida is becoming a lot more affordable to a lot more people and many, many families make more than one trip in a lifetime to Florida. Quite a few go every year or even more.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Nostromo
I'll tell you the way my mind works on this issue. Let us suppose Joe Bloggs took his 3 year old daughter to Orlando and she, like everyone else seemed to be very happy. Unless Bloggs is a real Orlando fan like ourselves ([msnsmile]), he may decide 'that's it' for the family, especially if there are financial limitations. So, the girl will then miss out on Orlando when she is, say, 8+ years old and eligible for all the rides etc, even though she may want to go again.
I've met a lot of people who plan to make JUST ONE big trip to Orlando. It is with such families in mind that I said it will be better for the children if they are a bit older.
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with you on that too, its a personnal thing!!!!!!!!!!
we all have to do whats right for us.............................
Liesa
The number of times in theme parks I have remarked on little children being shouted at by overstressed parents, the little ones too hot, too tired and crying... or fast asleep and missing everything! I think parents get upset at their children sometimes not responding the way they thought they would.
I would say a minimum of five years old and reckon about seven years old will give them the holiday of a lifetime which they will never forget. I think hot and crowded theme parks with lots of queuing up, is the last place to take small children.
I once sat at a cafe in Magic Kingdom and to this day, regret not interfering when a father at a neighbouring table, driven to rage by his small son's refusal to eat anything, suddenly kicked him under the table and hit him so hard around the head that his mother rose to protect him. I still feel shocked at what I saw. Not typical I know, but both parents and children can suffer from stress and heat.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by floridadreamvilla.co.uk
What most of us are saying here though it based on the fact that Florida is becoming a lot more affordable to a lot more people and many, many families make more than one trip in a lifetime to Florida. Quite a few go every year or even more.
[/quote]
You're right, although many people don't realise the fact. I have done my bit to popularise OV site among my surgery staff, friends and acquaintences and persuade them that a villa would be cheaper and far more comfortable on an Orlando holiday, apart from big savings on flights, car hire, park tickets etc.[msnsmile2]
Nostromo
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:The number of times in theme parks I have remarked on little children being shouted at by overstressed parents, the little ones too hot, too tired and crying... or fast asleep and missing everything! I think parents get upset at their children sometimes not responding the way they thought they would.
I would say a minimum of five years old and reckon about seven years old will give them the holiday of a lifetime which they will never forget. I think hot and crowded theme parks with lots of queuing up, is the last place to take small children.
I once sat at a cafe in Magic Kingdom and to this day, regret not interfering when a father at a neighbouring table, driven to rage by his small son's refusal to eat anything, suddenly kicked him under the table and hit him so hard around the head that his mother rose to protect him. I still feel shocked at what I saw. Not typical I know, but both parents and children can suffer from stress and heat.
[/quote]
I'd say this incident is more to do with parenting skills than anything else and could happen at home as well as on holiday.
We let our children do it at their pace, we just tag along on *their* holiday.
We missed the Christmas parade at MVMCP party last year because they were tired so we took them home. We weren't tired and were good for a fair few more hours but the kids always dictate how much we do on holiday (normally it's us tired from them dragging us here to see Mickey or there to ride Dumbo).
Last April they decided they were tired by lunchtime so we spent most, if not all, afternoons at the villa.
We also schedule our trips so that heat is not an issue.
I've said before that I agree that there is a certain age where they get more from the trip (my near 5 year old will get more from the next holiday because she has more experience than the 2 year old) but that doesn't mean they can't enjoy it before they reach this 'magical' optimum age.
I'm past my optimum age, I'm sure, but I enjoy it [:P].
I just think people shouldn't get hung up on age, young or old, and do what they think is best for their child. If after the first trip my children did not enjoy it then I would not have gone back until a few years later. All the evidence pointed to the opposite.
After returning the 18 month old would screamed excitedly at the telly 'MOUSE'!!! when any Disney adverts were shown and would come and get us when we returned....and still does....and she loves looking through the photo's.
If you plan to go once in a lifetime then sure wait until they are 4/5 years old but it is a personal thing because everyone is an individual and takes things different ways.
Brizzle
Much appreciated Nostromo [msnsmile2]
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Nostromo
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by floridadreamvilla.co.uk
What most of us are saying here though it based on the fact that Florida is becoming a lot more affordable to a lot more people and many, many families make more than one trip in a lifetime to Florida. Quite a few go every year or even more.
[/quote]
You're right, although many people don't realise the fact. I have done my bit to popularise OV site among my surgery staff, friends and acquaintences and persuade them that a villa would be cheaper and far more comfortable on an Orlando holiday, apart from big savings on flights, car hire, park tickets etc.[msnsmile2]
[/quote]
Then it's fine if you can let the children dictate the pace and you didn't mind missing the parade - other, less patient parents would though! There are as many of one kind of parents as the other...
This is just asking people's opinions and the varied answers reflect the coping mechanisms of individuals I think. There is no magic age, but consensus seems to prefer a minimum 5-7 age given a choice, especially a once in a lifetime trip which is all many families manage.
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