My little ones at that age loved the dance parties with the characters. Didn't want to be near them, but wanted to be in the vicinity
I can totally see how the characters would be both intriguing and slightly terrifying to a little one. We'll try to see how she reacts to a face character before pushing her to do anything more. But a dance party with them might be a great way to start things off!
She's very open right now, and LOVES anyone, so it will be interesting to see if that changes over the next few months.
How close to Christmas do you plan to go? If you are there right before and after Christmas, the crowds will be at their peak. Parks close each morning because they are full. Pushing a stroller through those crowds can be very difficult.
Luckily, we're going the first week of December. I made the mistake one time of being in on the parks the first Saturday that K-12 students were out for the Christmas break, and it was MISERABLE! I cannot imagine pushing a stroller through all of that!! I'm trying to avoid that as much as possible this trip, so we're going at a time that will be calm and relaxing.
As far as activities go, we enjoyed touring the resorts and seeing the gingerbread houses and decorations. We did one or two character meals where they were dressed in holiday attire. We did the
MVMCP but would not do that with a baby unless you know she would be happy staying up till close to midnight. I love the candle light possession, its much like a Christian Christmas Eve Service,and the Osborne lights are very neat.
Oooh, hadn't thought of the gingerbread houses--will definitely need to put that one my list!
(Though, given my daughter's voracious appetite, she will probably try to eat them!!)
We'll have to call it on MVMCP closer to the trip: right now, she's a night owl and could power through with a nap in the afternoon, but that could definitely change between now and then.
I love the candlelight processional, too! My daughter is definitely a wiggler, though, and I'm not sure if she would sit through it without wanting to leave halfway through. I haven't been to the candlelight processional in a few years--I wonder how long the run time is?
The most important factor in your ability to enjoy the parks will be your ability to "go with the flow" in the mind of a toddler. My daughter started walking everywhere at 18 months, and between 18 months and 30 months, just going to the mall or a grocer store was a chore because she wanted to get out of her stroller and walk on her own. She rarely went in the direction we needed to go. We had a lot of mandatory hand-holding, and a few public tantrums. If your daughter is a good follower, it will be much easier on you. How energetic is she? If she is comfortable spending hours in a stroller, that will be easier for you too.
I'm sure you and your daughter will have a great time enjoying time together and all the age-appropriate shows and attractions. I do have to express caution about how you can cope with all the "non-entertainment" time, like waiting in lines, eating in noisy restaurants, walking through parking lots, etc.
We'll definitely be approaching this trip a differently than the rest. We're usually GOGOGOGO the entire time, but we know that we'll have to make compromises since our daughter will be there.
Our DD is pretty energetic already at 8 months, but who knows how her personality will change between now and then.
I'm a little worried about tantrums and the toddler personality coming through, but we're also going with DD's grandparents (my parents) and her aunt (my sister). So, if DD starts to act up, one of us can always remove her from the situation until she calms down.
We're also staying away from sit down restaurants (because I think the fun/ magic would be lost on her at this age), and going with mostly counter service (something quick and easy!).
You're right, though--Disney can be enjoyed by just about anyone at any age, given the right expectations. I feel better knowing that my parents are going with us. They somehow wrangled my sister and I through the parks when we were super tiny (the first time we went as a family of four, I was 3 years old and my sister was 6 months old), so I feel like they are babies-in-a-theme-park vets!
