Disney World vs Land, for children under 5

[MarkXIX]

Can't speak for DisneyLand but just came back from DisneyWorld with 3 kids albeit a bit older than yours. We went for 4 nights/5 days WDW during Christmas and holy hell that was some crazy crowd. Anyway I hauled 3 kids age 5, 8, and 9 and we had a blast. We splurged and stayed in one of the Disney resort (Port Orleans was the only one that has space for 5 people in one room with two beds and pull out trundle on the floor). We rode the bus, boat, monorail and did the meal plan all thru Disney. Sure it's a bit more expensive but with three kids, the convenience outweighs the cost. Can't imagine having to drive into and out of the park each day. Got the park hopper pass to jump between the 4 parks (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal, and Hollywood). We rode almost all the major rides surprisingly but skipped out on the shows cause my kids just don't have patience for singing/dancing stuffs either. Our rule is we don't wait longer than 30 minutes for any rides. It was exhausting from all that walking around each day but we made good use of those "Magic Hours" where the park closes and is reserved for patrons that live on resort usually early morning or late night to take in rides with short or no lines (7-8am, or 10pm-1am, or 12am-3am depending on days and which park). This was how we did most of the rides and got back to the room late 1-2am every night and wake up at 11am and repeat. Thankfully my kids are night owls so that worked out well. When it's too crowded during the day, we just kind of chill out watching people or use FastPass or ride the less popular ride and there were sporadic holiday parades to just sit back and watch. With the Disney meal plan, we made reservations for restaurants in the park that have the Disney characters our kids liked and during dinner/lunch, they'll just come to your table for pictures so we also skipped out on lines just to see Mickey or Princesses and get their autographs etc.
The trip was more for our kids but we all gave double thumbs up to the 3-D StarWars ride at Hollywood. That was an awesome ride.

You just described my entire vacation experience, matching virtually every single detail except for the ages of kids and how late you got to the park! I'm not kidding! We got to Orlando on the 20th and stayed through the 27th with 4-day park hopper and a day at Universal Studios.

Took my 4 year old son, 5 and 12 year old daughters for 4 days, 7 nights and stayed at Port Orleans Riverside resort. The only issue we has is that my son is short for his age, so he couldn't right on most rides at only 38" tall. There are rides for all heights, 40", 44", 48". So, as long as your kid isn't as short as my son (he JUST turned 4 two weeks earlier, cut him some slack!) your kids of all ages will have fun.

Anyway, all those saying kids 5 and younger won't remember should talk to my two. Also, my youngest daughter went to Disneyland last year and Disney World this year and she remembered both and liked Disney World a lot better.

 

[shortylickens]

Whichever one is cheaper to fly to.
FLY TO!

Believe me when I tell you that after a week in that place you are NOT going to enjoy a long ass drive home with the kiddies. Unless you have some sort of stasis pods or something.

 

[7window]

land and world is the same. Just depends on if you want to go to another attractions or what attratcion you want to go in the surrounding area. world is bigger as far as walking.

It is more convenient to stay at the park and you will get perks with it.

 

[irishScott]

My parents took me to Disney World at age 5 for a few days and I loved it, never been to Land. But I never had a fear of clowns or mascots or anything, so other kids might not fare as well.

 

[MotionMan]

Bunch of babies in this thread. I guess I love my kids more than most. At 3.5 and 6 my kids loved it. And we loved it. They are not going ot remember it. Get over it. You work 50 weeks a year or something. Take some of your money and a week and have something you enjoy.

I doubt you love your kids more than I love mine. You do not need to be a douche to try to prove a point.

There other things that you can do with kids that they will love at that age that does not cost as much money and can be more enjoyable for the parents.

BTW, I am pretty sure your 6 year old will remember.

God, people act like you can not have good memories. Hint: I doubt at 60 I'll remember much about Disney when I was on my honeymoon at age 27.

Really? That is very sad for you.

Man, this remind me of visiting Niagara Falls ( I agree up near there). All these F'ing vacationers. They get to the falls. Take a picture of it in the background and them in the foreground and move on. I doubt 1% of them sit there and enjoy it. No pictures. Just sit there and look at it. Do people know how to enjoy themselves anymore? Pathetic.

With 3 kids under 5, do you really think that OP will have a chance to stop and smell the roses on vacation?

MotionMan

 

[DesiPower]

Whichever one is cheaper to fly to.
FLY TO!

Believe me when I tell you that after a week in that place you are NOT going to enjoy a long ass drive home with the kiddies. Unless you have some sort of stasis pods or something.

lol, I feel you homey, we don't fall into category of desi, Not planning to drive 1500 miles...

Still... kinda confused, not sure what to do... will probably get tickets for LA and then decide the rest later...

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

MotionMan,

Way to be the man and call me Douchebag. Umm, my comment was a general comment and has nothing to do with you. Really, good job manning up! And without knowing me, you specifically say that you love your kids more. Take your ego, stick it up your ass and get lost.

You need to talk to people with kids. My kid at 20 will not remember his time at Disney when he was 6. Kids don't remember anything that happened when they were 6. Just accept it and move on. They will generally remember that they had a good or bad childhood.

 

[TXHokie]

lol, I feel you homey, we don't fall into category of desi, Not planning to drive 1500 miles...

Still... kinda confused, not sure what to do... will probably get tickets for LA and then decide the rest later...

I drove over 1k miles from Dallas to Orlando but it wasn't too bad as we took our time to get there driving 6-7 hrs per day only and relax in hotel pools every evening. After WDW, we swung by Tampa/St Pete for two additional days of winding down at the beach before heading back. Definitely would be too rough to hit the road right after Disney. Even made a stop and stay at our favorite summer spot at Destin FL for a quick dip tho it was a bit chilly even in the low 70's. I was ready for the road trip rigging up the minivan with streaming videos and 3G internet and the iPhone/iPod/iPad were working overtime. Didn't get a peep out of the kids the whole trip cause they were busy with video games and Netflix and YouTube videos. Technology is amazing.
My kids loved DisneyWorld and we've done all the Six Flags/SeaWorld/camping/hiking bits all over Texas. If they forget I'll have tons of digital pictures and video clips to remind them. I will have to say that their idea of fun and memories is definitely all relative. It kind of hit me as we were resting right at the castle at Magic Kingdom with all the shows and activities going on in the background and my three kids were playing with lighted soap bubble guns at a water fountain oblivious to where they were at for an hour - pretty sure they'd have as much fun doing the same in our house backyard. This was my first time to Disney and I'd have to say that as crazy as it was, it was very enjoyable for me and my wife to just completely forget the outside world for several days. I'm guessing you really can't go wrong with either. We'll definitely plan for Disneyland sometime in the future.

 

[irishScott]

MotionMan,

Way to be the man and call me Douchebag. Umm, my comment was a general comment and has nothing to do with you. Really, good job manning up! And without knowing me, you specifically say that you love your kids more. Take your ego, stick it up your ass and get lost.

You need to talk to people with kids. My kid at 20 will not remember his time at Disney when he was 6. Kids don't remember anything that happened when they were 6. Just accept it and move on. They will generally remember that they had a good or bad childhood.

I'm 24. I went to Disney World when I was 5. I remember I wore a blue hat, red shorts, and cheap plastic sunglasses. I remember seeing the light parade, and tinker bell fly to the castle. I remember going on Splash Mountain. I remember being disappointed at being too short to ride Space Mountain. I remember the singing in the Tiki Room down to some of the lyrics, I remember getting a cap-gun at the end of The Pirates of the Caribbean ride and loving it, still have it to this day. I remember seeing the big Golf Ball that is Epcot, among other things.

I also remember my mom giving me a bottle of milk when I was in my crib and couldn't have been more than age 2 or 3. I remember her giving me some kind of juice in the bottle once (didn't know it at the time, but from what I remember of the taste it might have been pineapple) and I remember disliking it compared to the usual milk.

I could go on, but suffice it to say I have a large spread of memories from my early years. Maybe I'm not the norm, but saying a kid definitely won't remember is simply naive.

 

[MotionMan]

MotionMan,

Way to be the man and call me Douchebag.

I called you a douche, not a douchebag.

Umm, my comment was a general comment and has nothing to do with you. Really, good job manning up! And without knowing me, you specifically say that you love your kids more. Take your ego, stick it up your ass and get lost.

I did not say I love my kids more that you love yours. I said, "I doubt you love your kids more than I love mine." You were the one that said, "I guess I love my kids more than most." That is a douche statement.

You need to talk to people with kids. My kid at 20 will not remember his time at Disney when he was 6. Kids don't remember anything that happened when they were 6. Just accept it and move on. They will generally remember that they had a good or bad childhood.

I have two kids. I remember going to Disneyland when I was 6. My 11 year old remembers going to Disneyland when she was 6. I have specific memories of events that took place when I was 6. That is why we waited until our kids were 6 to go to Disneyland - My wife (the pediatric therapist) and myself (with psych degree) did a little research and found that 6 years old was the sweet spot for starting childhood memories that will last.

MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

I could go on, but suffice it to say I have a large spread of memories from my early years. Maybe I'm not the norm, but saying a kid definitely won't remember is simply naive.

You are normal.

(Well, as far as childhood memories go )

MotionMan

 

[zinfamous]

I took my 3 year old to Disneyland he said it was the best day ever

My 6 year-old nephew says that about every day he visits Chuckee Cheese.

He also says that about the local mini golf/bumper boats place. He's also been to Disney World, Disney Land, and Hawaii.

:hmm:

 

[MotionMan]

My 6 year-old nephew says that about every day he visits Chuckee Cheese.

He also says that about the local mini golf/bumper boats place. He's also been to Disney World, Disney Land, and Hawaii.

:hmm:

I wonder which one he will remember when he is 20.

MotionMan

 

[DesiPower]

So ended up going for a 5 night Disney Cruise out of Orlando, Disney Dream!!! its was wonderful, best decision EVAR... if you haven't take a cruise yet, you ain't seen nothing yet. It went to Castaway Cay for 2 days, best island ever, they would bring the bbq down to beach for us!!! Food was unbelievable... Inside the ship SOOOO much to do, and service was awesome never been treated/pampered so well... it was simply great!!!

 

[lokiju]

So ended up going for a 5 night Disney Cruise out of Orlando, Disney Dream!!! its was wonderful, best decision EVAR... if you haven't take a cruise yet, you ain't seen nothing yet. It went to Castaway Cay for 2 days, best island ever, they would bring the bbq down to beach for us!!! Food was unbelievable... Inside the ship SOOOO much to do, and service was awesome never been treated/pampered so well... it was simply great!!!

Mind sharing what the cost ended up being?

Wife and I are looking into doing a Disney World trip with our 3 year old son near the end of this year and I threw out doing a Disney cruise instead but she seems focused on Disney World ATM.

 

[DesiPower]

Mind sharing what the cost ended up being?

Wife and I are looking into doing a Disney World trip with our 3 year old son near the end of this year and I threw out doing a Disney cruise instead but she seems focused on Disney World ATM.

Sure, Cruise tickets was around $3100 for 2 adults and 2 little ones (cabin with balcony, highly recommended if you have kids, you can enjoy it when kids take their nap and stuff) airfare was $1400, transportation was another $$250 (MCO to Port Canaveral), spend around $100 in Nassau (although, felt like it was waste of time, should have avoided it, but you spend the entire day in Atlantis if you want, lots to do in there, but with kids not so much...) Spend about another $500 in the ship (gratuity ($200), pictures, gifts, memorabilia, alcohol...), that’s close to about $5400...

There are things a 3.5 can enjoy, there a little swimming pools, water fun area, water slides, kids area with disney characters, you can actually leave you kid there any they will page you when he wants to leave (there are 2 cell phones in each room, works all over the ship and on Castaway cay. My son had a blast there. take pictures with characters, there is a theater where they have live interactive plays... lots n lots to do, kids will have a blast if parents don't mind being their stewarts throughout...

 

[lokiju]

Sure, Cruise tickets was around $3100 for 2 adults and 2 little ones (cabin with balcony, highly recommended if you have kids, you can enjoy it when kids take their nap and stuff) airfare was $1400, transportation was another $$250 (MCO to Port Canaveral), spend around $100 in Nassau (although, felt like it was waste of time, should have avoided it, but you spend the entire day in Atlantis if you want, lots to do in there, but with kids not so much...) Spend about another $500 in the ship (gratuity ($200), pictures, gifts, memorabilia, alcohol...), that’s close to about $5400...

There are things a 3.5 can enjoy, there a little swimming pools, water fun area, water slides, kids area with disney characters, you can actually leave you kid there any they will page you when he wants to leave (there are 2 cell phones in each room, works all over the ship and on Castaway cay. My son had a blast there. take pictures with characters, there is a theater where they have live interactive plays... lots n lots to do, kids will have a blast if parents don't mind being their stewarts throughout...

Wow, actually would be significantly cheaper for us to do a Disney World trip if that's the case even if it was only the cruise cost for us as we can just drive there from the ATL area.

Right now we're at about $1,500 to $2,000 for trip to Disney World with Hotel and park tickets for at least 3 different parks based off of what we've priced out.

 

[DesiPower]

Wow, actually would be significantly cheaper for us to do a Disney World trip if that's the case even if it was only the cruise cost for us as we can just drive there from the ATL area.

Right now we're at about $1,500 to $2,000 for trip to Disney World with Hotel and park tickets for at least 3 different parks based off of what we've priced out.

If you compare it with staying inside the park, its about the same price, maybe even cheaper, also you can choose a 4 nigh cruise, it will run around $2000 for 3 ppl for a room with varanda, cheaper for inside rooms... that's just the tickets though. IMHO going to park with 3 - 4 year olds kids would be a hassle, that's why we cancelled parks.

I know overall the trip was expensive... but we were plannig to go to India for 3 weeks that would have been around a 9 - 10k dollar trip, instead this year we choose this, we are still in profit :biggrin:

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Mind sharing what the cost ended up being?

Wife and I are looking into doing a Disney World trip with our 3 year old son near the end of this year and I threw out doing a Disney cruise instead but she seems focused on Disney World ATM.

FWIW: If you want to be o nteh monorail, esitamte $1000 per day + travel costs. My wife soemone got a good deal through Disney. $3500 at the Polynesian for 5 nights. That's with tickets and a meal plan (the one with a dinner every day). We're also doing hte park hopper.

Park Hopper. Quite frankly doing different parks in the morning and afternoon make one day feel like 2, especially if you go back to the hotel for a nap.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

If you compare it with staying inside the park, its about the same price, maybe even cheaper, also you can choose a 4 nigh cruise, it will run around $2000 for 3 ppl for a room with varanda, cheaper for inside rooms... that's just the tickets though. IMHO going to park with 3 - 4 year olds kids would be a hassle, that's why we cancelled parks.

I know overall the trip was expensive... but we were plannig to go to India for 3 weeks that would have been around a 9 - 10k dollar trip, instead this year we choose this, we are still in profit :biggrin:

To late to say it ...... but Disney with kids is not a hassle. They have industrial type strollers you can rent that are awesome. (totally worth the money) If you want kids to be a hassle (miserable), you should go to India with them.

 

[DesiPower]

To late to say it ...... but Disney with kids is not a hassle. They have industrial type strollers you can rent that are awesome. (totally worth the money) If you want kids to be a hassle (miserable), you should go to India with them.

Its not me, read through the thread, several people have mentioned how "not so much fun" it can be with 3 year olds, its not about the stroller or pushing, after a while, kids that age get tired, and cranky and hungry, it's no fund at that point, 3 or 4 year olds can only do 2 or 3 hours at a time efficiently IMHO.

 

[lokiju]

Man all these replies about kids makes me feel less inclined to do a trip this year. Not sure I can change my wife's mind about it at this point though.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Its not me, read through the thread, several people have mentioned how "not so much fun" it can be with 3 year olds, its not about the stroller or pushing, after a while, kids that age get tired, and cranky and hungry, it's no fun at that point, 3 or 4 year olds can only do 2 or 3 hours at a time efficiently IMHO.

Depends on how they planned their day. If people are spending 10 hours straight at the park, of course the kids will get miserable (read: tired).

Last time I did it was with a 3 and 5 year old.

Get to park at open. Not a second late. Stay there and have lunch. After lunch, go back to the hotel. We typically leave at around 1 PM or 2 PM. The afternoon is the busy time at the parks. Just leave and rest for night time.

Go back to a park for dinner at around 4 PM. Enjoy the rides with your well rested kids. At around 7 PM, all those parents that think 10 hours straight is a good thing are still there and the kids are miserable. They leave. The park is much less busy now. Enjoy! Stay till closing time a few nights, but not all.

My kids are now 5 and 7. We are going again this summer. And it will be great. It always is.

And of course, 1-4 PM is the hottest time of the day. A second reason to go rest.

mid day the first two days, we'll probably relax by the pool. By the third day, we will start enforncing rest (nap) time. Even if they don't sleep, they have to lay on the bed and rest while watching TV. They are getting tired at this point so they won't complain.

It's not an issue of hte kids getting tired in my experience. It is an issue of observing how other parents are managing their kids varrying levels of tiredness.

 

[OutHouse]

i commend you for taking your family out but like everybody else have said 3 is too young.

i wanted to take my kids to one of the disney parks but i just cant bring myself to spend that much money for one day (family of 5 easily 1,000 bucks for tickets and food). we went other places instead like yellowstone, rushmore, the pacific northwest and Canada. kids had loads of fun.

have you thought about sea world or leggo land instead of disney?

PS. UPDATE THE OP. i didnt know this was a necro thread until i scrolled up on page3.

5500.00 bucks for 5 days??? no not for me.

 

[Homerboy]

Man all these replies about kids makes me feel less inclined to do a trip this year. Not sure I can change my wife's mind about it at this point though.

few years back we took a 4 and 6 year old. THEY LOVED IT. WE LOVED IT. It was our favorite vacation BY FAR.

We were just looking into cashing in some American Airlines miles and going back (we each have about 38K miles). Apparently round trip per person is like 25K miles. Screw it. We're going to St. Louis instead.

I will get back there with my kids SOON though (now 8 and 10)