Conference moira::parenting

    
    
    We learned early on with Sophie (now 4) that we frequently would have
    to make a choice of WHO we were at the zoo/park/etc for.  Sophie, or
    the parents. 
    
    On one trip to the zoo, we spent 4 hours going between the giraffes,
    Feline house, seals and picnic area (peacocks running free) ... this 
    is about 1/8 of the entire zoo!  It was also one of the most enjoyable
    trips we've had. It was a good lesson; mostly I just try and enjoy it
    through their eyes and not feel (too) compelled to *do* the whole thing.
    For myself, I know I don't have too many memories before the age of 4
    or 5, so I'm comfortable that I have lots of time left for "making 
    memories" !
    
    
    *Now* the trick is that Sophie is ready to do more of the zoo/museum/etc,
    but Peter - at 20 months - would rather stay at the seals (or lions, or
    for 2 hours!
    
    
    
      
    
    
    :-)
    Jamd

I have family in California so we get a chance to visit the various parks.

Last August when Lauren was 17 months we took her to the San Diego Wild 
Animal Park.  We did not spend any time at the shows but did take the 
tram ride.  She loved the park mostly because of the petting zoo (which we
visited twice).  She also liked being able to run around and see animals 
(though the gorilla's kind of scared her).  The other hit was the aviaries
because you walk in a large caged area and can see/hear the birds easily.  
We lunched in an area where you were right next to some monkeys that kept 
her fully entertained.  The tram ride is a good thing to do at nap time at
her age it was not very exciting.  We will do this again, especially since
my parents get these great year long passes for $84 that includes the 
San Diego Zoo.

The other winner at a young age is Knott's.  We went at Christmas (Lauren
was 21 months) and Camp Snoopy was very entertaining.  We also took her
7 year old cousin and they could ride the same rides and be entertained.
They had the Snoopy nutcracker suite show at the time, lots of lights and
"pretty ladies" (ala Beauty and the Beast) that kept her attention.  Again
just the room to run and the added benefit of Peanuts characters and indians
walking around made for a fun day.   Knott's was actually recommended to
us over Disneyland because of Camp Snoppy for toddlers.

Hope this helps.

    
    My mother took my daughter to Disneyworld when she was 4 years old & my
    daughter & Mother thoroughly enjoyed it!!  I think it was the perfect
    age for my daughter to go -- she was very much "into" the disney
    characters at that time.  My daughter still remembers the trip & has 2
    photo albums to help bring back the great time she had.  My mother
    passed away a year later (My daughter & mother were very close), so
    this trip was a great way for my daughter to have wonderful memories of
    her gram.
    
    All-in all, I would wait until your child is 4 or older to take her to
    another theme park.  Even Disneyworld would probably be a mistake at
    her age.  I know many people who were glad they waited until there kids
    were older before bringing them to Disneyworld, mainly because of all
    the walking around you do & the heat.  Small children tend to get
    restless & cranky in these types of situations -- especially girls.
    
    Good luck next time --
    Debby
    

    My kids were 4 and 6 the first time we went to Disney.  My 4 year old
    was disappointed that he couldn't ride all the big rides, so we
    promised him a return trip.
    
    My sister is taking her 8 month old and her 3 year old this year.  I
    will be there at the same time (and with great misgivings).  I
    personally would not bring an under 4 year old to a theme park of that
    size.  My son had the time of his life and we were able to go on all
    the rides either as a family of 4 or two by two.  (I hated Space
    Mountain and will never do it again).  The height requirements for most
    larger rides is about 40". 
    
    I'll let you know how the little ones do after our trip.  I don't think
    it will be pleasant!!
    
    There are also comments on this topic in the Disney notesfile.  Check
    out VAXUUM::DISNEY.
    
    -sandy

    We went to Disney and Seaworld last October with David, who was just
    about to turn 4.  At this age, he was really able to understand the
    point of the rides at Disney (not scarey, just exciting), and he could
    also understand that living in central Massachusetts we weren't likely
    to see sharks, whales, dolphins, penguins, etc.  We also videotaped
    EVERYTHING, including the inside of the Haunted Mansion (his absolute
    favorite ride - we went on it 3 times!). When he came down with an
    awful virus, we popped in the tape. Better than chicken soup...he was
    resting quietly, and entertained at the same time!  He was also old
    enough to understand Florida was a "long far away", and enjoyed the
    plane trip.  He was even old enough to enjoy the strollers!  Since he's
    been out of a stroller for so long, it was like a new toy.  If he had
    been 2, it would have been a real struggle to get him to sit in a
    stroller for the entire day.  We went the end of October, and there was
    literally NOBODY in either park. No lines, we could stay in our seats
    if we wanted to go for another spin, no lines for food, and he had
    plenty of opportunity to get his picture taken with the characters
    (Pluto, Micky, Shamu).  I would not have taken him any earlier.  His
    tolerance was just not high enough for such a busy, exciting day. But
    at 4, he was ready.  Very tired at the end of the day, but a
    happy-tired, not a cranky-tired.  
    Sarah 

    My husband had a all-expenses-paid conference in Orlando this past
    summer, so Katina and I tagged along.
    
    She was not quite three, potty trained, travels well (better than her
    mother!) and handled Disney World and Sea World beautifully.  Children
    are free under three, too.  Katina was able to sit for the all shows;
    in fact, she was mesmerized.  All that Barney-viewing training, I
    guess. During restless times (like meals), she kept herself entertained
    with markers/crayons/paper, books, and small toys brought in a back
    pack.
    
    Since Jim was at the conference most of the day, we went to Disney and
    Sea World after 4:00 (Katina and I spent the days at the pool or taking
    long afternoon naps; sigh, I wish I was there NOW!) when the young
    children's attractions (like Magic Kingdom) had fewer visitors.  Didn't
    even attempt the rides she couldn't/wouldn't want to go on like Space
    Mountain.  We spent 3 hours at the little kids playground at Sea World.
    We didn't see many fish that day, but we talked to parents and
    pre-schoolers from around the world!
    
    We videotaped everything too.  Being big kids ourselfes, it's pure
    delight to watch our vacation again!
    
    Definitely consult the DISNEY notes files.  I think the motto is know
    your limits and plan activities you think are within your reach and
    everyone will enjoy.

We first took Evan to Disneyland when he was 18 months old.  He had a blast!
He didn't understand lines ("Mom, look!  We don't have to wait!  Let's just
go through those doors that *those* people came out of!" - "said" by pulling me
to the exit of the ride).  We also didn't make him go close to the characters,
who can (unintentionally) scare small children.  However, he *loved* the
place!  We went on the quieter rides, like Storybook Land (boat through the
whale's mouth, then around miniature houses).  By the end of the day he
was conked out asleep in the stroller, and he never used to sleep in a
stroller.  This was on Thanksgiving Day, so there were lots of people there
(but not as many as the next day).

He's been again at least twice, and each time has been fine.  He'll be 6 years 
old next week.  He's also been to Sea World, and was chosen to be the kid
who feeds and "trains" the dolphins (hmmmm. do you think having his 
godsister as one of the trainers had anything to do with it?).  :-)

      Carol

    Funny we were having this discussion yesterday.  We've decided that we
    do want to do Disny, Epcot and the related areas, but not until AJ is
    about 10!  Our feeling is then he will be old enough to enjoy all the
    areas of all the parks, be able to endure a loooong day, and not whine. 
    We did Disneyworld in 1985, just the two of us.  As someone previously
    noted during late October, early November there are virtually no lines,
    no waiting.  But I do remember a couple scenes of waiting in line where
    a preschooler had just totally "lost it" and couldn't handle being in
    line for even another minute.  It made the parent, the child and us the
    bystanders miserable.  The parents want to go on and on, when in
    reality the child simply is overloaded, needs a change of scenery and
    probably a nap!  We too experienced the children in the benches at
    Seaworld crawling all over the place, not wanting to sit still, again
    it's as I explained above.
    
    My opinion is wait till they are 8 or 10, depending on their maturity.
    Of course this clearly puts me in the minority, but this is reality,
    and I've had a good dose of impatience, with or without a mildly
    hyperactive child.
    
    Lyn

    We just came from Universal Studios in Orlando with a seven-year old.
    Sarah loved it!  She knew all the characters, got to see the
    Nickolodean sets, got to know how they do all those things on TV, got
    to see ET, King Kong, and Fred Flinstone.
    
    In my opinion, Sarah loved Universal at seven much better than she
    like Disney at five.
    
    Diana