14 months too young for WDW? Should we wait until he 20 months or older?

[liloca]

I am planning to take my DS on nov-dec and he will be around 14 months.

Do you think he is too young? Would he like the rides/characters?

Me and DH have been going to WDW every year for the last 7 years and this would be our first trip with a kid. We can't wait to take him but we are also unsure if we should wait a until he is older or
not.

Please let me know what you think and/or your experience with a toddler around 14 month old.

Any input is welcome!

TIA

L

 

[Crystal824]

I think any age is good for WDW. Our DD has been at 9 months, 21 months, 27 months, and 33 months. They were all great trips. At 9 months she was afraid of characters and fireworks. She had grown out of that by 21 months. By 33 months, she was telling us what she wanted to do next. Characters were her fav. and she also was loving the night shows. It really depends on the kid. I think a child could have an awesome time at 14 or 20 months. Both ages are going to have challenges in that most kids still nap and WDW can be overwhelming. Just kind of have to go with the flow. If they need a break, let them take it. Our DD Loved Small World, Dumbo, Carousel every trip. By our last trip, she was asking to ride the Barnstormer over and over.

We have created a monster because she is constantly asking to go to Disney Parks (yes, the current marketing campaign has worked on her).

 

[jlstwinmommy]

I took my twins at 14 months. It was nice as they kind of went with the flow, enjoyed the characters and rides, and napped in the stroller when tired. They were too young to really be scared of the rides or characters. We had a great trip.

 

[liloca]

I think any age is good for WDW. Our DD has been at 9 months, 21 months, 27 months, and 33 months. They were all great trips. At 9 months she was afraid of characters and fireworks. She had grown out of that by 21 months. By 33 months, she was telling us what she wanted to do next. Characters were her fav. and she also was loving the night shows. It really depends on the kid. I think a child could have an awesome time at 14 or 20 months. Both ages are going to have challenges in that most kids still nap and WDW can be overwhelming. Just kind of have to go with the flow. If they need a break, let them take it. Our DD Loved Small World, Dumbo, Carousel every trip. By our last trip, she was asking to ride the Barnstormer over and over. We have created a monster because she is constantly asking to go to Disney Parks (yes, the current marketing campaign has worked on her).

That is great to hear! I really don't like that they call Disney Parks - it is WDW!

 

[JulieODC]

We took our DD at 14months, and had a great time! She was walking at that point, but was also more content to sit in the stroller as well (compared to our trip at 26 months, when she wanted to be out and about a lot more!). She napped well, loved the sights and sounds, and we had a great trip~

 

[liloca]

I took my twins at 14 months. It was nice as they kind of went with the flow, enjoyed the characters and rides, and napped in the stroller when tired. They were too young to really be scared of the rides or characters. We had a great trip.

Great! Do you remember what was their favorite rides? What did they enjoyed the most?

 

[jlstwinmommy]

Great! Do you remember what was their favorite rides? What did they enjoyed the most?

The one thing I remember is letting them out of the stroller in The Living Seas. They LOVED the fish in the big aquarium. They stared at those fish for 45 minutes while everyone else looked around the exhibit. I remember my son HATED Philharmagic and Muppets - at least the part when the water splashes you. Man, he cried something fierce when that part came. We were not expecting that as he had loved it until that point. DD didn't have a problem with it at all. We ended up shielding him from all the elements like that the rest of the trip. They also loved the Pooh ride. Of course, now they are severly Disney spoiled. They have now been 4 times since then with the 5th trip planned for next Thanksgiving.

 

[crayon3448]

Going at the end of the month with DD who will be 15 months. A couple people on my mom's board have taken their children recently, and gave some advice:

Take a stroller and a carrier, the carrier is great while waiting in lines and on rides. Make sure that they have time to run around. They'll do a lot better sitting on rides if they blow off some steam. Tom Sawyer's Island is a good choice, and isn't that crowded. Also the dinosaur dig site at AK.

 

[Gillyrose779]

I think that would be a really fun age. I remember my boys were so easy going at 14 months- they would just go with the flow. By the time they got into the 'terrible twos' Disney was fun but, obviously, a little more challenging with the tantrums.

If he is walking, like others said, just make sure he has a place to get down and walk around. At MK, when waiting in line for the Dumbo ride, there is a great little enclosed play area for small kids. The aquariums at Epcot is really nice too.

 

[GWhitten98]

We just went and our youngest was 15 months. She was hit and miss on characters and rides and although she didn't hate it, it wasn't really a great trip for her as far as I could tell. That being said, we have two other kids that wanted to go...go...go and we were not able to cater to her schedule.

If he is your only child and you can cater to his schedule I think it could be a good age.

 

[powellrj]

I don't think its going to make that much difference at that age. There are good and bad things with every age.

 

[JillyBean1899]

The biggest difference I can think of would be he won't remember much (if anything) at that age, so the memories on the trip would be more for you than for him. But there is enough stuff to keep them entertained at pretty much any age. We took my niece to IoA at 5 months, and couldn't get her off the Caro-Seuss-el. Every time the ride stopped, she'd start crying.

 

[smallsy]

We're headed to WDW in 2 days with our almost 14mo, so i'll let you know how it goes. I've got a feeling he'll love most of the rides and the characters, but I am worried about tantrums. He's at that age where he wants to walk but isn't quite good enough at it to not fall on occassion. I'll be on the lookout for toddler safe zones like at dumbo. Hoping he'll nap in the stroller too, but we're prepared to leave and go back to the resort if need be. To be honest, I'm more anxious about the flight than the parks.

 

[liloca]

The one thing I remember is letting them out of the stroller in The Living Seas. They LOVED the fish in the big aquarium. They stared at those fish for 45 minutes while everyone else looked around the exhibit. I remember my son HATED Philharmagic and Muppets - at least the part when the water splashes you. Man, he cried something fierce when that part came. We were not expecting that as he had loved it until that point. DD didn't have a problem with it at all. We ended up shielding him from all the elements like that the rest of the trip. They also loved the Pooh ride. Of course, now they are severly Disney spoiled. They have now been 4 times since then with the 5th trip planned for next Thanksgiving.

Ok- I will take a note on the aquarium and the 3D-4D movies!
I heard that the Pooh ride is very rough/bouncy? I never rode it since the line is always pretty long.

 

[liloca]

Going at the end of the month with DD who will be 15 months. A couple people on my mom's board have taken their children recently, and gave some advice: Take a stroller and a carrier, the carrier is great while waiting in lines and on rides. Make sure that they have time to run around. They'll do a lot better sitting on rides if they blow off some steam. Tom Sawyer's Island is a good choice, and isn't that crowded. Also the dinosaur dig site at AK.

Thanks! I always forget about the Tom Sawyer's Island.
I would love to know how it went after you come back. What did and did not work for you.

 

[liloca]

I think that would be a really fun age. I remember my boys were so easy going at 14 months- they would just go with the flow. By the time they got into the 'terrible twos' Disney was fun but, obviously, a little more challenging with the tantrums. If he is walking, like others said, just make sure he has a place to get down and walk around. At MK, when waiting in line for the Dumbo ride, there is a great little enclosed play area for small kids. The aquariums at Epcot is really nice too.

Great! Thanks for the tips and you had two with you! Double the fun double the trouble

 

[liloca]

We just went and our youngest was 15 months. She was hit and miss on characters and rides and although she didn't hate it, it wasn't really a great trip for her as far as I could tell. That being said, we have two other kids that wanted to go...go...go and we were not able to cater to her schedule. If he is your only child and you can cater to his schedule I think it could be a good age.

Yes- we only have him right now and the trip would around only what he want/will do and on his schedule.

Thank you for your input!

 

[liloca]

I don't think its going to make that much difference at that age. There are good and bad things with every age.

Yes there is true for sure!

 

[liloca]

The biggest difference I can think of would be he won't remember much (if anything) at that age, so the memories on the trip would be more for you than for him. But there is enough stuff to keep them entertained at pretty much any age. We took my niece to IoA at 5 months, and couldn't get her off the Caro-Seuss-el. Every time the ride stopped, she'd start crying.

In reality this trip would totally be for us (me and DH) and seeing DS experiencing the world for the first time. I want that magical experience for him even though he won't remember it.

I had so much fun on our trips just watching the kids reactions all around. It made our trip much better and more magical.

 

[liloca]

We're headed to WDW in 2 days with our almost 14mo, so i'll let you know how it goes. I've got a feeling he'll love most of the rides and the characters, but I am worried about tantrums. He's at that age where he wants to walk but isn't quite good enough at it to not fall on occassion. I'll be on the lookout for toddler safe zones like at dumbo. Hoping he'll nap in the stroller too, but we're prepared to leave and go back to the resort if need be. To be honest, I'm more anxious about the flight than the parks.

WOW - 2 days! That is so exciting!!!
I hope you have a wonderful magical time.

I am very afraid to have that child that will scream during the whole fight! Yikesss

Please come back and let me know how it went. What worked and not worked for you.