We never took our toddlers anywhere, because kid-friendly or not, it would have been terrible.

We don't generally take trips specifically FOR the kids and kids alone (as in we haven't gone some place we actively disliked only for the kids). We do all enjoy Disney

I do try to make sure we have a mix of kid and adult activities. We went to Spain last year and spent some long days in museums. But made sure to make time for the kids to play at a playground and get ice cream. I also tend to pick museums that I know will have an exhibit my kids will enjoy (usually some huge art installation). We will go to a nice restaurant, but I make sure there is something my kids will eat.

My kids are 8 and 12 and have always generally gone along with whatever we pick, but I try to make it fun! I think the kid is to just set expectations. I always tell someone that our vacations will have something for everyone and we need to respect that everyone likes different activities. Luckily my kids still like the same things lol. Fingers crossed that my 12 year old continues to be agreeable for a while.

Anonymous wrote:You’re going it right (and, lots of others do the same as you, just maybe not your surprised friend). Get it in before the kids are old enough to form opinions, as others have said. 3 and 6 year old here, and they happily go where we choose, though I’m expecting that’ll eventually change.

Even still, I'm guessing you choose things that facilitate having a 3 and 6yr old. Are your vacations long days in museums or leisurely wine tastings followed by fancy restaurants? Maybe you've got kids who are in for that, or you find babysitters or nannies. Maybe I'm wrong, but my guess is the vacations you choose are things like skiing with a ski school for kids, or a cruise or resort with a kids club, or maybe a house on the beach where you can easily return for naptime.

These aren't trips specifically for the kids, but they absolutely take into account the fact that you have kids and don't want them to be exhausted, whiny walking disasters. OP, your toddler doesn't have a preference as to Joshua Tree versus Disney versus a cruise, but you absolutely in some way, shape and form are accounting for your toddler's existence and schedule in a way that you didn't have to 17 months ago.

I agree no one is judging you op. Your friends may be surprised because some people prefer to stay close to home with toddlers, or not do long flights. It’s personal preference. But yeah, unfortunately you are the one sounding a little judgy so maybe that’s why you assume others are judging you? Things definitely are wayyy different when you have more than one kid and hit older years. We do not plan vacations to specific kid things, but we of course as do probably all parents of older kids who want to enjoy their vacation try to make sure it will be enjoyable for our kids. Some parts of the day we may do more adult focused things, some things may be focused on a specific kids interest.

It gets fun - my kid is really into medieval history right now so we are planning a trip to Europe that will hit on some cool things, some of it will be real medieval castles and then one is also an amusement park that does cool re-enactments. Sure it is for my kid in some ways, and also for me! I’ll get to go to France, see my kid learn and enjoy new things, make memories and have fun as a family. It’s a give and take - he’ll also go to some activities that aren’t his #1 that we want to do.

Are you asking, OP, if parents take toddlers to Disney for the toddler? No, not really. Parents that take kids who still need a stroller to Disney either have older kids, got talked into it by grandparents who want to go while They can still walk, really love Disney, or go because Disney is set up to make life easier for kids. The logistics can be helpful when they are preschool age. But most people do not go to Disney for a full week with a toddler.

When your kid is 3-4, you can go to Sesame Place or Dutch Wonderland for 1-2 days and hit up some of the tourist activities in Lancaster or Hershey. Try it for a 3 day weekend to get an idea of what your kid likes. My kids have never been to Disney because they hate lines, standing around when it’s hot, and most rides. I am glad we learned that on a 1 day trip to Legoland before spending $$$$ at Disney.

Winter break I meant

Anonymous wrote:We try to take trips that everyone can enjoy. So yes, we take the kids' feelings into consideration.

I'm assuming you have a toddler? Once they're bigger you'll realize that family vacations are miserable unless the kids are having fun too.

+1. Just learned that winter team

Was missing traveling w a toddler lol

I promise you no one you know is judging or even thinking about what trips you took with your kid as a toddler.

::yawn::

We did mostly of beach/ Island trips till our son was in 5th grade, and which we all enjoyed. We also did a Disney Cruise to Alaska and also Disneyland while he was in elementary.
Then we started doing city vacations, sometimes adding a beach nearby our destination for couple of days.

You’re going it right (and, lots of others do the same as you, just maybe not your surprised friend). Get it in before the kids are old enough to form opinions, as others have said. 3 and 6 year old here, and they happily go where we choose, though I’m expecting that’ll eventually change.

Anonymous wrote:When our kids were toddler or preschoolers? No. We went where we wanted to go that was also convenient and relaxing - i.e. we didn’t have to jump through hoops to make the logistics of bringing kids work.

Now that my kids are in elementary - absolutely! They learn about all kinds of things in school - geography, geology, Virginia history, world cultures, ancient civilizations - and they ask about vacations based on those things. We plan our vacations by combining trips my husband and I remember fo ndly from when we were kids and things the kids ask to do.

Same, we have picked trips based on their interests, which are genuinely cool things that are neat for us too.

And the kinds of activities they would enjoy - being outside, short hikes, beach, etc.

You have one kid who is not even 1.5 yet and you are so uniquely impressed with yourself that you only take the adults' interests into account when you plan trips?

Okay then, here is your award!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As they age you had better take their preferences into account, or your trip will be miserable.

They are not luggage.

Hmm. Interesting. As toddlers, they were perfectly happy to ride on our backs while we hiked.

Did you read the first three words of the post?

Anonymous wrote:If your friends are judging you, find new friends. You are the one who sounds judgmental from what you've posted here. Maybe you're getting that energy back from your friends.

At the 16 month old, it's about what are you willing to do while bringing along the pet rock that poops, eats, naps, whines, and wanders around stuffing random things in his/her mouth. If Joshua Tree was it for you, great. Some pet rocks act different than other ones though, so show a little grace if you're pulling off Joshua Tree no problem. Some pet rocks are much more difficult than others and a change to schedule and scenery goes really poorly.

+1

Anonymous wrote:It never occurred to us to plan trips around our kids - we always just went where we wanted, and took the kids along. I guess it helped that we were never into hardcore third world adventuring or luxury no-children-allowed resorts, but some of our friends act shocked that we took a portable toddler to, say, Joshua Tree in February instead of - well, I'm not sure what kind of vacation a 16-month-old would prefer. Is this kind of thing really that out there?

You have easy kids. Be grateful.