Advice needed for going to Disneyland with a baby!!

[kelseybelsey913]

My DH and I are planning a Disneyland trip for our little princess's first birthday, and I would love any advice about bringing a just one year old!!! Most posts I find on this subject have "you should wait" answers which is frustrating, so if you're going to reply to this here's a couple things you should know:

A. Yes, I know she won't remember this trip, but my DH and I are both big Disney people. We had our honeymoon at Disneyland, so it's a fun idea/memory to celebrate our baby girl's first birthday there too. We already have our hotel booked. Woohoo!!

B. My family will also be going with us which includes my mom, dad, and two sisters, so we will have help.

Our trip will be October 1-3.....is that a non busy time to go??? I was thinking most would be in school by then, and the weather would be pretty decent too. Not super hot. Thoughts please!!

 

[tiffjoy]

I would hop over to the Disneyland board to post your question- you'll likely get more answers specific to Disneyland.

We took our DD4 to DLR for her first birthday. People thought we were nuts, and I had to convince my dubious DH that it was a good idea. Didn't take him long once we were there to realize how great it was. We have the most amazing memories. She doesn't remember it, but we do. I still get all misty-eyed recalling certain moments, and it was incredibly special. We went at her pace, so that meant not tons of time in the parks (she took a 4 hour nap at the hotel on her birthday!), and only rides she could go on. But it was one of our two best Disney trips ever for me.

We took our DD2 to DLR at almost 10 months and it was also a blast. Then, we went to WDW for her first birthday. This was the other best Disney trip ever. Again, we went at her pace, but she was better able to nap in the parks than my older DD had been at that age. She snoozed in my Ergo at random times and would wake up here and there for rides. I primarily carried her for the 4 days we were there, which was an awesome workout! Tiring though it was, I highly recommend it as when she would fall asleep, it didn't keep me from waiting in line or doing rides with my family. Even if your DD doesn't sleep at the parks (my older DD didn't when I carried her - she needed to go back to the hotel.), it still makes it a lot easier for line waiting and such if you have a carrier.

Wonderful memories, and I wouldn't trade those first birthdays for anything other than what we did. My most vivid memories for both are holding them and watching the fireworks on their birthdays and just letting my mama emotions for that big milestone rush over me.

Oh, and your timing question. Definitely ask on the DLR board. But Halloween at DLR is a busy time, and weekends are always busy with locals.

 

[DSNY4ever]

The Disneyland board is a great resource. We took DS to Disneyland at 15 months (since it is a pretty close trip for us). We had a great time...and then we took him to Disney World for his second birthday, haha. October is always crowded in Disneyland, but if your dates are during the week it won't be too bad.

Disneyland is even easier with little ones because everything is so walkable and you can easily just stroller kids back to your hotel room (if you stay in walking distance of course). It sounds like you have been so you know that.

The Bugs Land in California Adventure is a big hit with little ones and the Pixar Play Parade was a highlight for DS. He also loved the traditional things- the train, the carousel, all the fantasyland rides etc. And the baby centers in both parks are excellent. You will have so much fun. Make sure to take time to enjoy the street performers and little shows, he really loved those- even all the performed in Downtown Disney he liked stopping to dance. He also LOVED the breakfast with Minnie Mouse at the Plaza. Have fun!

 

[bostonminnie]

I don't have any advice on DL, but we took our son to WDW for his first birthday and it was an amazing trip! We had strangers telling us how he would not remember the trip and we would just smile and say yes, we know. Why do people care so much about how we spend our vacation time?!

Anyway, I just wanted to post to let you know we had an amazing experience, we just went at a more relaxed pace and made sure he got his naps in, whether in the stroller or back at the hotel. My parents were with us too which was nice because my husband and I got to go to dinner by ourselves one night.

Have a wonderful time!

 

[AZMermaid]

We took my kids at 9 and 10 months respectively. This age was so wonderful. They were engaged in everything, not afraid of much (well, one hated most characters at that age, but the other loved them), liked being in the stroller and Ergo. In fact, on my sons first trip, we bought into DVC and brought home our souvinear that keeps giving.... His little sister! We took him back at 13 months and this trip was a lot tougher. He hated the stroller and Ergo and being carried but wasn't quite walking. This trip, he loved the little play area in Toon Town and crawling around the theater where they show the old cartoons on Main Street.

For us, naps were the trickiest part. Neither kid is a stroller napper, but we walked long enough to force a morning nap, which would last maybe 30 minutes. We found it better to park the stroller in a place with some white noise (frontierland walkway, bugs land) instead of a quiet place. In a quiet place, someone loud comes by and always woke them up. In a place with some noise, but nothing to exciting going on, the noise was fairly constant and steady. We returned to the hotel for the afternoon nap.

 

[jgive]

Hope you made it to the DL board which was very helpful in helping me plan our trip this past summer for the D23 Expo. My DS was 20 months at the time. I love the proximity of the 2 parks to each other. We stayed at Paradise Pier and could see World of Color from our room and we piped in the music while DS slept. Have fun!

 

[Lisa71]

Our daughter went for her first bday and was not impressed but we had fun..found out two days later she had an ear infection so it was not Disney she was sick! Went again at age 2 and did the Bday party with Mickey..,she and her brother screamed happy screams and loved it!! Have fun and kids do not remember but you will and that matters too!!