1st Trip with our 1 year old- Are We Overambitious?

[Nancyg56]

We're definitely doing it for us- we know she won't remember. But she's free. And we would go anyway.

My DSIL used to tell folks that even his Kady did not remember, he would.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Thursday: Keep in mind that the Great Movie Ride does have some loud/scary parts that could frighten a young child.

Good point, however, what about Haunted Mansion? They have a FP for that ride. GMR isnt as scary as HM.

 

[DizMomAndWife]

I haven't read all the advice, but we went with twin toddlers in June. Will Reagan be a once a day napper or a twice a day napper at that point?
I have to say that our problem is that we and our toddlers (2 almost 3) wanted to actually keep going, so we would plan to leave the park around 1 and would really leave closer to 2. It was hot, so we did bathtime and nap...well then we weren't getting back to the park anywhere near 3 or 4 pm
So you are doing well with only one TS.

Since you can boat to DS, you might be okay with 5:30 at Rainforest, but that might be too early for us. I would make the reservation directly with Rainforest instead of Disney ADR system because I think they don't charge a cancellation? Or it might be even better for DH to become a Landry's member, it cost $25, you get a $25 credit PLUS a $25 credit for your birthday month. You also get priority seating, so you may be able to just not have a reservation and wing it (or call that day). The problem with 5:30 is it could be too early if your little one sleeps and too late if she doesn't sleep!!

I also think getting back to Epcot at 3 is ambitious, but I am guessing that your FP lasts 3:45-4:45, so that is probably okay

Thanks for all the Landry's club info! Since we're paying out of pocket that will come in handy!

Reagan is officially a once-a-day napper as of this week- her doing. We're hoping that even if she doesn't nap, she'll get a break from the stimuli and rest some. Our goal is to be totally flexible and go with the flow. Well, as much as you can at Disney when you have to make reservations 180 or 60 days in advance!

 

[DizMomAndWife]

I wonder how popular the character would be if his name was icky

Hahaha! Ickey would probably not be very popular. Maybe she'll get that M sound down before we go so she doesn't offend her main mouse!

 

[scrapquitler]

Buzz kill:

Your kid is 14.5 months old. Wait till Reagan is atleast 3 or 4. It's a waste of time and money at this age. If you are honest with yourself, you will probably realize that you are doing this trip for you, not for Reagan.

I disagree with this Sure, she won't remember the trip a few years from now, but she will enjoy it in the moment. Her face wil light up and she will giggle when she meets the characters, she will oooh and ahhh over the colors and motions and she will try to dance to the music. And Mom and Dad will never forget it. We don't keep our kids at home in a box because they won't remember it later...we live for the moment and we give our kids experiences even when they are little.

OP--- your plan sounds great. Have a fun trip and enjoy it.

 

[PoshMom]

This sounds kind of negative but I don't mean it to be...go with low expectations with a baby. We took our youngest when she was almost 3. You have to just go with the flow and know that a baby's mood can change quickly. So, your plans may also change quickly. And that's ok, or it was with me. If I had to take the youngest back to resort to swim, nap, just have down time, that's what we did. I would kind of have a plan B in mind for things like reservations, etc. More than likely, if you're not pushing your limit and doing too much for baby she'll be fine for reservations. You will have so much fun. It helps that you and your husband have already been and know the layout of parks, how things work. Because when you do have a fussy baby isn't the time to be looking at a map or your phone to find your way out of a park...lol. Enjoy! It will be amazing.

 

[DizMomAndWife]

I disagree with this Sure, she won't remember the trip a few years from now, but she will enjoy it in the moment. Her face wil light up and she will giggle when she meets the characters, she will oooh and ahhh over the colors and motions and she will try to dance to the music. And Mom and Dad will never forget it. We don't keep our kids at home in a box because they won't remember it later...we live for the moment and we give our kids experiences even when they are little.

OP--- your plan sounds great. Have a fun trip and enjoy it.

Exactly! Thanks so much, we can't wait to see her joy!

 

[efam]

I agree with others on more down time in the afternoon and evening, especially with such full mornings with a little one.
On our last trip, my littlest was just one week shy of 2 (so 23 months old). We planned a nap every single afternoon. By the 3rd full day, I had a special birthday cake delivered to The Plaza in MK with a 4:00 reservation (we have allergies). I had to peel her out of bed and she cried for a solid 20 minutes while we were trying to get her ready for her birthday celebration. She was just.so.tired. I felt bad but she had such a special time and the whole restaurant sang to her.

Just stay realistic. My husband and I did 2 trips with kids under 3 and we always mutter to ourselves during a tantrum, "There's a reason why they are free!!"

 

[smiths02]

I disagree with this Sure, she won't remember the trip a few years from now, but she will enjoy it in the moment. Her face wil light up and she will giggle when she meets the characters, she will oooh and ahhh over the colors and motions and she will try to dance to the music. And Mom and Dad will never forget it. We don't keep our kids at home in a box because they won't remember it later...we live for the moment and we give our kids experiences even when they are little.

OP--- your plan sounds great. Have a fun trip and enjoy it.

We took our twins at almost 3...they remember now, but probably won't for the long run. We're going again this summer at almost 4. Again, they might have a few faded memories, but looking back, I think they will remember special family time and the love and their brains will be stimulated by new experiences.
Also, my DH, myself, and my 9 year old will enjoy and remember.
While it isn't necessary to go to Disney to have family bonding and stimulate brain activity, it certainly doesn't hurt if one has the money to do so.

 

[smiths02]

I agree with others on more down time in the afternoon and evening, especially with such full mornings with a little one.
On our last trip, my littlest was just one week shy of 2 (so 23 months old). We planned a nap every single afternoon. By the 3rd full day, I had a special birthday cake delivered to The Plaza in MK with a 4:00 reservation (we have allergies). I had to peel her out of bed and she cried for a solid 20 minutes while we were trying to get her ready for her birthday celebration. She was just.so.tired. I felt bad but she had such a special time and the whole restaurant sang to her.

Just stay realistic. My husband and I did 2 trips with kids under 3 and we always mutter to ourselves during a tantrum, "There's a reason why they are free!!"

We had a not so stellar Ohana experience. We will have fewer dinner ADRs this upcoming trip

 

[tarak]

I disagree with this Sure, she won't remember the trip a few years from now, but she will enjoy it in the moment. Her face wil light up and she will giggle when she meets the characters, she will oooh and ahhh over the colors and motions and she will try to dance to the music. And Mom and Dad will never forget it. We don't keep our kids at home in a box because they won't remember it later...we live for the moment and we give our kids experiences even when they are little.

OP--- your plan sounds great. Have a fun trip and enjoy it.

Agree with this one hundred percent. If I based our daily activities on what my children would remember, we wouldn't have gone anywhere for years.

Exactly! Thanks so much, we can't wait to see her joy!

I think your plans and expectations sound very reasonable. The first time we took our older kids (three and four at the time), we just vowed to go at their pace. We had a blast. It wasn't always perfect, but we weren't compelled to get on every ride multiple times. And with kids, we've had the chance to see things we might not have - like exploring the different pavilions in Epcot, or wandering down the side streets at MK). Will I be grateful when we retire the stroller? Heck, yes. But it does give you the opportunity to slow down and look around more.

As to GMR, I'd try it. You never know what will bother your child at that age. My son didn't mind it at all - he was three at the time, I think. My 11-year-old daughter is still scarred by the part where the ride stops under the alien. She refuses to go on the HM and has never even tried it. DD3 went on it twice last August and didn't blink an eye.

 

[ChrisnKim913]

You are going to have a blast! We are also pass holders and taking our 1 year old (20 months old) for the first time in February also. We going the 22-25 and staying at Wilderness Lodge. I think your FP selections are perfect. Just go at your child's pace and expect melt downs. We aren't trying to do too much (except eat, we got the deluxe dining plan lol). It's about making memories that you will always remember and that you can look back on with your child. Don't listen to ppl saying they won't remember. She knows mickey and will probably light up when she sees him. Our daughter loves Doc Mcstuffins so we booked the Hollywood and Vine character meal to meet her. I can not wait to see her reaction. Just take it all in and enjoy the looks on her face when she sees everything. Have a great time!!!!

 

[hookedonears]

We took our daughter at 2-1/2, and that's about the youngest I'd recommend for a first trip. We also had help from the Grandparents which was a tremendous help as well. People told us she was too young. That she would not remember a thing, which was true, but we remember the huge smile she had, and picture we have now of she and Minnie at a meet and greet. It's priceless. At 1+-, a coaxed smile with a character, is nothing more than a coaxed smile. The trip will not be for your child, it will be for you and your anchor. If you have help from Grandparents, other relatives, nanny or friends, I'd say go. If not, I'd leave the child at home.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If you don't do anything with your infant because infant won't remember it, you might as well lock them in a dark box until they're 4.

Which is not advised for brain development.

 

[Day-Day]

Don't know if this was mentioned but didn't see it. On Tuesday, I would visit a FP+ kiosk immediately after HM and before lunch; this may give a few more options that might not be available after lunch.

 

[tlmadden73]

14.5 months may be a bit young .. especially for a trip that long. Taking them while they are free is definitely a plus, but as long as you admit the trip is for YOU and not him .. .its fine.

You just have to realize you will be limited because of that toddler. Your day will move slow .. you will have unexpected breaks . you will have rides you may not be able to go on .. you may just have to cut your day short because someone is just way too tired and cranky.

The advantage is that at that young . they aren't independent enough to be to slow you down too much. They will be in the stroller or baby carrier all the time.



What I opted for .. for my toddler son .. was two SHORT trips .. (two park days and one rest day each)

One when he was 26 months (offsite) (it was a good trip . .he had fun on the rides he could go on, scared of some things . took a while to get warmed up to characters .. napped in his stroller for at least 90 minutes). Did we ride much? Nah .. Did the wife and I get to go on the coasters? Nah .. but we didn't care. Seeing his face and enjoying the ambience of the parks was awesome. We had more "experiences" as opposed to rides (looking at animals at AK, petting zoo, character dinners).
We didn't even try to keep him in the parks past 8 (so no night shows).. we just knew the next day would be rough.

The second trip was when he was turning 3 (onsite). (so he was still free) .. and we went with the extended family (cousins, grandparents) but still was just a short trip 4 nights - 2 park days .. 1 day off (for pool, resort exploring) ..
It was fun as well .. but at this age .. he was scared to death of the characters .. and was a lot more insistent on what rides to go on (or not) . (We rode Buzz three times in one day) . We stayed a bit later, (saw Wishes and Fireworks as we were leaving), but nothing too late

Even though he was young . .he still remembers both trips. But both trips we could tell by the third day (even though it was a rest day) . .he was pretty much done. Two park days in a row (even with naps and coming home early) are LONG days for toddlers.

 

[JaimeK]

Just be prepared for anything. We went when my oldest was 3 and he was terrified by ALL dark rides which is 95% of them! And shows. Oh and fireworks! So in the end we did lots of character meals, character meets, and walked around and looked at whatever catches a toddler's eye. It won't ever be what you expect. Try not to hurry them along to make a FP, the ladybug they are following is way more interesting.

I'd advise you to not go to the playgrounds you mentioned - your daughter is too young for them and will most definitely get knocked down by older kids.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

We've taken our son 3 times and he's just turned 2 and as others have said plans are great but can also be useless. Trip 1 he loved everything, trip 2 the only thing he liked was the hoof prints in NFL and the jewels in Adventureland. Visit 3 he liked the face characters but no one in costumes (despite yelling and waving at them from a distance) and he loved the fireworks from TTC. Just go in hopeful but flexible and see how it goes. Regardless you'll have good memories either way.

 

[smiths02]

We took our daughter at 2-1/2, and that's about the youngest I'd recommend for a first trip. We also had help from the Grandparents which was a tremendous help as well. People told us she was too young. That she would not remember a thing, which was true, but we remember the huge smile she had, and picture we have now of she and Minnie at a meet and greet. It's priceless. At 1+-, a coaxed smile with a character, is nothing more than a coaxed smile. The trip will not be for your child, it will be for you and your anchor. If you have help from Grandparents, other relatives, nanny or friends, I'd say go. If not, I'd leave the child at home.

We have twins and a older son...if we only went on a trip that had a ratio of 3 adults to 1 child...we would never go anywhere!
Taking care of a toddler at Disneyworld is hard, but it is hard in the real world, too. Some things are actually easier at Disneyworld. Waking up in the morning was usually easier because we were always going somewhere fun...distracting from a meltdown is easier because there is always something else entertaining. Also, 14 month olds can be easier than the preschool set.

 

[tlmadden73]

Other advice:
Character meals - the kids are free (since most are buffets) and a good way to see characters as they come to you and you don't have to wait in line. I would suggest Crystal palace and Tusker House. Expensive, but good food and worth the experience. A great break for the little one too.

Dark rides - you might be okay with a child THAT young, but I avoided Great Movie Ride and Haunted Mansion with my son (when he was 2 and 3) . .knowing he would find it scary (I probably would have had to drag him on Haunted Mansion).

DHS - I would just cut that park out and save yourself a day .. not much at DHS for kids that young .. I took my son when he was three and it was a lot better for him at that age. Besides Disney Junior and Frozen Sing-along, probably not worth it spending a park ticket on it. The playground is probably too wild for a child that young (it is meant for older children by far).

Fireworks - avoid them . .probably too loud and scary. (Plus they are too late)

Rope Drop - just don't stress about it, but you definitely want to get your day started as soon as possible since there will be naps and such.

FP+ - use it .. for anything (even if it is traditionally not a long wait).. I got 6 fast passes at MK the day I went with my 2yo .. sure .. I was getting FPs for things like Aladdin and Small World .. but 0 waiting is better than a 10 minute wait.

Your daily plans though looks solid .. having most everything in morning and afternoons a bit more "free form" will be perfect.

Enjoy!