Dec Itinerary w/ 1 yr old

[MaidMarian]

Would welcome some input on my itinerary for our December trip, the 14th-19th. We'll be on the dining plan. It will be me, my husband and our daughter who will be almost 1. My husband and I have been to WDW about 5 times, it will be her first. We'll be staying at POP

Wed 14th: Arrival day spent at Downtown Disney
Dinner at Raglan Road
Thur 15th: Chef Mickeys for a late breakfast, touring the monorail resorts, heading to MK around 4 for MVMCP and 5pm dinner at LTT
Fri 16th: MK (EMH morning)until around 4pm with lunch at CRT, spending lots of time in fantasyland and toontown, then over to Epcot until close with dinner at Rose and Crown
Sat 17th: All day at Epcot with lunch at either Tangerine Cafe or Yakatori, dinner at LeCellier
Sun 18th: Animal Kingdom in the morning with lunch at Flame Tree then over to the Studios in the afternoon until close (EMH night)with dinner at a CS maybe Backlot or Toy Story
Mon 19th: Tour some more resorts and/or DTD again
We plan on hitting as many as the parades and holiday attractions as possible, but plan on taking it very slow and just enjoying the little things, no commando touring this time around.
Would appreciate any and all input. Thanks

 

[MaidMarian]

Any advice-anyone?

 

[mickeysaver]

Sounds like a good plan to me. I have never travelled with a toddler, but at least it sounds like you are taking it easy. This trip will be largely dictated by your little one. It won't be about commando touring, but memory building. Take the time to soak in as much of the holiday wonder that you can, because they leave a little something around practically every turn. One of my favorite holiday touches that we enjoyed in 2003 were the decorations on the Christmas trees at AK over in the Camp Minnie-Mickey area. The trees were all decorated for a particular character or movie. The Tigger, Goofy, Stitch, and Brother Bear trees stick out in my mind as being particuarly good. I hope you have a wonderful time. Maggie

 

[Tink]

We took our (then)11 month old in December of 02, and she had a blast. She was just the right age to enjoy all of the christmas lights. Take time to tour the Osborne lights, see the decorations at the Epcot countries, and the fun shows at MK. Don't forget Christmas Country Bears. Both of my DD's love that one.

We took them last year again in December and they sat through Candlelight Processional.

 

[homer424]

We took my now 5 year old DD when she was 1 in 2000 at Christmas time and it was a lot of fun. Like mickeysaver said, it will largely be dictated by your little one. My DD would nap easier in the stroller than she would if we went back to the room, so we would plan for the time during the day when she would nap-about an hour or so-and we would find a nice place to sit, get some water and popcorn and just relax. Or my grandmother would sit with her while I shopped or vice versa.

But if yours would nap better at the hotel, I would plan in some sort of rest period during the day so you all can get a break. That hour we took was wonderful to just recharge.

Every park has Baby Care Centers-become familiar with where they are because they are a lifesaver. they have change centers, places for nursing moms and just to feed a child a meal. Bathrooms and best of all-A/C! When we went in Dec the a/c wasn't so much important as just a place to sit and unwind.

Most of all, just have a great time! Let your child tell you where to go and what to do and roll with it. Ignore the people who say they won't remember anything so it is useless to bring a 1 y/o-my DD had a wonderful time and I wouldn't change a thing. Shoot-I don't even remember our trip from when I was 13, so what about that? LOL

 

[Amyality]

We took our boys at ages 1 and 4 and they both had an absolute blast. Your plan sounds nice but, a little commando to me, in that you are touring from morning till night every day. The only thing I would change would be to head back to the resort in the afternoon at least some days for a shower and recharge, let the baby have a real nap in a real bed. I prefer to hit the parks in the evening in crisp fresh "smart casual" vs. "sporty casual" day clothes, the recharge I get from a shower and a change makes the evening soooo much more enjoyable. But, I'm spoiled and vain! Ha, ha, ha... No seriously, as long as you are up to it, you will have a great time with that plan. Just be sure you bring your own stroller, the Chicco caddy is a great one.

 

[Msslaydbug]

Your plan sounds great You do not sound like you are trying to cram a lot in. Have fun !!

 

[MaidMarian]

Thanks for all the assurances everyone. I totally love Disney, especially at Christmas, and just can not wait to see it through my daughters eyes.