18 month old too young??

[Beaker74]

My husband and I vacationed often at WDW, in fact we honeymooned on the former "GOLD PLAN" in May of 2004 for 11 days, returned for a week in Oct of 2004, and spent our first anniversary there in May of 2005. On that May of 2005 trip we came home with our "little souvenir" and now have a 5 month old baby girl. Needless to say, we can't wait to get back. We're planning on a trip in October of 2007 in order to take advantage of the Food and Wine Fest. My question is whether it would be wise to take an 18 month old and if so, any tips to remember to make it a magical trip. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[ukwildcat]

We've been taking our son since he was 2 months old. You just have to remember that you will be moving much slower.

It works for us because we live in Florida and have APs. The only thing is when our son goes to bed so do we. Occassionally we will sit out on the balcony and have a drink before bed.

So, I don't think 18 months is too young. My tip is to move slowly and apply sunscreen liberally throughout the day.

Off hand, I love our Disney trips now. They are extremely relaxing. We used to be theme park nuts.

 

[ebsbrg]

I think 18 months is a perfect age. I would never take a baby under 6 or 7 months to DW (just me) but anything after that is fun. You are past that danger zone health wise. We took our oldest daughter on her first trip when she was 16 months. She had so much fun. It was really magical for her. She believed the characters were real. I took my middle daughter at age 14 months. She had fun but those few months made a big difference. We are taking my youngest this December. She will be 13 months. I'm sure she will enjoy it also but I really think 18 months is a better age.

 

[DisneyPhD]

We have been taking my kids since they were 6 month old (the youngest.)

18 months can be great, but you need to be preparied for things like stuff you wouldn't expect wigging them out and temper tandums or melt downs. The biggest problem we have had with DD from 17 months (to now, still continues) is she refuses to sit by herself at a table and eat.

I have more to add, but my family won't let me post right now so I will add later.

 

[marathonmommy]

Of course 18 months old isn't too young - however your child will be too young to enjoy the wine portion of the food and wine fest (ha ha). Also, having an 18 month old with you won't allow YOU to truly enjoy the food and wine fest as you might have BC!

 

[Dizneydaz]

My DD(now6) first trip was when she was 2-3/4 yrs. Everything was great with the exception of her (not) using automatic toilets. She was potty trained but wouldn't use those toilets! You probably won't have this problem yet.

Oh, and having a small one with will definitely slow you down. My DM and I used to wake up early and hit the parks for Early Entry-no more. I can't bring myself to wake DD up just to get to parks early. Also, plan for unscheduled naps. Once my DD fell asleep while riding Kilamanjaro Safari-and it was the first ride in the a.m. She was just exhausted. Of course, we come from California and we also have to adjust to the 3 hour time difference. Needless to say, we usually eat dinner late and stay in the parks late.

Go and have fun. Take lots of pictures. Chances are she won't remember this trip but you can show her the pix to remind her. My DD doesn't remember her first trip and much of her second (she was just over 4) trip either but she enjoys looking at the pictures and the videos.

 

[2goofykids]

We took my ds for the first time at 18 months old. He had a wonderful time. We had to go at a slower pace and take breaks everday. We also we took time to let him toddle around in less crowded areas. It was a great trip.
We are getting ready to take our dd at 10 months I hope it goes well. I would have liked to wait a little longer but my ds starts kindergarten this year so we are going right before school starts.

 

[Hoosier Mom]

We are taking our ds to WDW in Sept (he'll be 18 months old). I think it's a great age. We took him to a dolphin show at our local zoo just to see if he'd sit through a show. He watched all the people until time for the show to begin. He watched the show from start to finish like a big boy!

He was done with bottles at 12 months. Also now he's on table food (though he's a picky eater). We'll be packing some peanut butter and purchasing some bread at our resort. If he refuses all food, he gladly eats a peanut butter sandwich.

So no formula to pack, no bottles to pack, just have to make room for diapers and wipes. I've heard some send those ahead, but I'm going to take 1 pack for each suitcase.

My only concern (for our trip) is the heat in Sept. Our little trip to the zoo was so hot we ended up leaving after 2 hours. My first pick would be to go in January, but we are taking advantage of the free dining. So I picked up a mister fan and a couple necklace fans I saw. We also got the stroller fan, but he tries to detach it from the stroller, so it doesn't do much good. I'm just planning to alternate between air conditioned and non-airconditioned attractions and if all else fails, duck into a shop and browse a while to cool off.

I have a small soft sided cooler to put some snacks in & a sippy cup of ice water for at the parks. We are taking our umbrella stroller and I got a larger sun shade for it since our ds won't keep a hat and sunglasses on.

I bought color wonders, some stickers, and a little magnidoodle to keep him busy on the plane.

We're all set. This is our first vacation since having him. I cannot wait. We have been counting down the days for over a year.

Have fun on your trip!

 

[LuvOrlando]

No such thing as too young for Disney.

Have fun

 

[Addicted2TheMouse]

I think that's a hard question to answer because it will really depend on your child and her personality. We went when DS was 17 months and it was all too much for him. We spent one morning at MK with him, then he spent the rest of the vacation back at the villa with my parents while my DH and I did Disney.

I was disappointed because I had read on the DIS about all of these people who bring infants and toddlers and have a fantastic time. I was prepared to go slow, take nap breaks, whatever. Unfortunately, DS just isn't a go with the flow sort of kid. Maybe you will have one of those adaptable kids who will sleep in a stroller, oblivious to all the action around her and have a great time. Or you may have a kid like mine. I think all you can do is wait to see how her personality develops and then decide for yourself. At this point, I'm thinking 3 or 4 will be a good age to bring my DS back.

 

[marathonmommy]

My DS is 2 and is going back for his 4th trip to the World in a few weeks. Last time we went, he was a bit freaked out by some of the rides. I made the mistake of taking him on POC. The time before, we was not frightened - this time he was. Do NOT - I repeat - Do NOT take your 18 month old on The Great Movie Ride. The majority of the ride is wonderful and very eye appealing for kids, but the part with the gangsters, guns, aliens was enough to make my little guy poop his diaper.

We will just go with the flow - if he seems spooked out by some rides, he won't go. He loves to people watch and just take it all in!

 

[DisFam95]

We took DS at 17mo for his 1st trip and he loved it. We watched the planning video every day for about a month before and talked about everything. When we arrived on Main Street I have a picture of him holding his arms up pointing and yelling "Dee Nee Ca-tle" (disney castle )

We have video of him dancing around to the piano player outside Caseys. It was a wonderful trip but a slower pace. We never went back for naps. That age is perfect for sleeping in the stroller!

He loved the characters..a bit shy at first. Just let them ease into that.

My friend took her son at the same age and he did not handle the characters AT ALL. He wigged out whenever he saw one.

ENJOY!!

 

[traci]

Took our 8 month old daughter and 22 month old son last September.
Had so much fun we are going back in October

 

[eeyoregon]

Go ahead and flame me but I can't imagine taking a 18 month old to WDW IMHO 5 years old and up is the only way! But you have an advantage over me: you have both parents to help!

But that's just me! I say go for it and have a fantastic time!


Gina (35)
Hayden (13)
Jensen (10)

 

[mommy*RN]

We went in February 2004 when my DS was 18 months and it was a great trip! My dad and his wife met us down there. DH was supposed to fly down with us, but at the last minute we had to switch his flight to a later day. It was a bit scarey, but everything went wonderful! DS was very good on the flight. At Disney he also did very well! He would nap in his stroller and once on the train around MK. My biggest complaint was that he kept waking up at 5AM. That was tough...but since that was the worst of it I can't complain! We are going again in October...and my DS will be 4...but my DD will be 14 mo! This could be interesting!

To make the trip magical there are a few things we did. My DS LOVES balloons. So the first day we bought him a huge mickey and minnie mylar balloon. It was the best in his eyes! I also took a jillion pictures! In MK we had his shadow pic done (I can't think of the name of it)...where they sit while a CM cuts out their silhouette on black paper and mounts it to ivory cardboard (my mom did my sis and I a billion years ago so I wanted one of DS). A cool souvenier for not much $$$! I've also read posts here about some parents that have had their kids portraits done at the Grand Floridian and I think I am going to look into that this trip...

Remember, your child won't remember this trip - so the more pics you take and memories you record the better. Every so often instead of reading DS a book at bedtime, I pull out the photo album of our Disney trip and tell him stories about what he was doing in the picture. I'm not talented enough to scrap book, so this is what works for us!

I am sure you will have a wonderful trip! I love the fact you brought home a one-of-a-kind Disney souvenier on your last trip! Congratulations!

 

[shaylahc1]

Yes, you can take an 18 mos old to Disneyworld. But I would keep your expectations in place....an 18 mos old isn't going to care about or even remember a trip to Disneyworld. She will probably be terrified by all the characters in costume. You will need to take plenty of breaks so she can nap. And you'll be taking advantage of the baby swap a lot.

I have taken kids that age to WDW and they were pretty much oblivious to the experience. A trip at that age is more for the parents than the kids, but that's JMHO. I wouldn't discourage you from going, but with realistic expectations that it's more about the grown ups having fun than the kids at that age (not that there is anything wrong with that )

 

[PrincessV]

I have to disagree with the couple of posters who say an 18 month old won't remember Disney. Maybe mine's the exception, but my DS certainly remembered the World after visiting at 18 months. Do they remember it in the same way as an adult or even a 5 yo? No. But they certainly get plenty from the experience; remember their minds are like sponges at this age. Just because they aren't whooping and hollering about that great ride on Space Mountain doesn't mean they're not taking things in and enjying themselves.

My best advice is to stick to your child's normal schedule as mucha s possible while enjoying the World: eat the saem foods at the same times you normally would; don't skip naptime; maintain the same bed time and routine. And remember that WDW can be overstimulating to everyone, but especially little ones. If your child is getting irritable and you've ruled out hungry, diaper, etc., find a quiet place to just chill for 30-45 minutes. At the MK, we took the monorail to the Poly in the afternoon adn found a spot in the lobby to relax with a snack. You'll have agreat time!

 

[slo]

My DD#2's first trip was when she was 13 months old.

My tip is to take things slow and be realistic about what your child will handle. Remember, WDW will always be there. If you don't see everything in your trip, don't sweat it and try to back again another time.

For example with us: We have never gone to the Hall of Presidents, or really gone through each country in the World Showcase. I know they would be bored which will make them crabby. I don't care, because we'll just do it with them when they are older. It keeps giving us a reason to go back

 

[marathonmommy]

Y....an 18 mos old isn't going to care about or even remember a trip to Disneyworld. She will probably be terrified by all the characters in costume.

A trip at that age is more for the parents than the kids, but that's JMHO. I wouldn't discourage you from going, but with realistic expectations that it's more about the grown ups having fun than the kids at that age (not that there is anything wrong with that )

If my parents waited to take me on vacation until I could remember them, I probably never would have went. I remember bits and pieces of my honeymoon, my senior trip, and glimpses of family vacations, but I never really understood that reasoning. Even as adults, it is difficult to remember vacations we go on. The purpose of going on a vacation, IMHO, is to have a great time while you are there! Sure you want to make memories, but if I didn't have a camera and pictures to look back on, then my vacations would be "lost"! My kids also have fun when they are there. Do I enjoy seeing them have a good time? Sure do! But I think it's fun for them, too!

 

[disneydude]

Took daughter first time @ 6 weeks old.

At 18 months best trip we ever had! Both of my daughters loved it at that age