Disney with <2 yr old?

[disneyaussie]

Hello all,

My DH and I are hoping to head to Disneyland sooner rather than later! ( it has taken me 2 years to convince him to take me!)

We have an 8 month old DS. I am hoping to go either next May or October. So he will be either 18/19 months or just under 2. Are we crazy to consider this? Would it be wiser to wait until he is older and can enjoy it more?

I'm just concerned that since he will be too small for most rides (I'm assuming- should check height restrictions) that we may not get the most out of our trip if we have to line up for rides twice so DH and I can each ride. This would then mean that we are spending twice as long lining up for the same ride and never getting to enjoy it together.

I really can't decide what to do. We both want to go to Dinseyland and other surrounding areas (San Diego, San Fransisco, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon) and I don't think I can wait another few years- and then we would likely have a second child anyway!

Sorry for the ramble. Any advice on travelling with small children would be much appreciated!

 

[battymum]

They have baby swap passes -there is a recent thread on it.!

Thats all I got!

 

[jacs1234]

There's more to disney than just rides. With your little one under two, this trip is more for mummy and daddy than for baby. I say go and have a great time! It would be great though, if you could get bubby babysat for a day or evening. I've never hired a babysitter from a babysitting service though, feel a bit nervous having a stranger watch my child, but maybe you would be happy to do that. Having a date night for yourselves would be awesome.

 

[jacs1234]

So many things you can go on though with a two year old or younger, all the rides in fantasy land, haunted mansion, pirates of the carribean, small world, oh the list goes on and on.

Be careful though because the place is addictive and you might end up going every year. lol

 

[Travel Mum]

Be careful though because the place is addictive and you might end up going every year. lol

Oh that is sooooo true!!!

When we first took our girls, our DD3 was only 18 months. I agree there was a lot of rides she could come on with us and, for those she couldn't, we'd get a baby swap pass and DH would take the older two while I waited or did something else with DD3. Then I'd go on, through the Fastpass line, and get to take one of our older two with me. So, for you, it would mean that you could still utilise Babyswap, but you'd both have to ride by yourself. Personally I'd prefer to ride with someone I knew but, if given the choice of either going to Disney and riding the big rides alone or not going to Disney at all, I'd chose the going to Disney and riding alone option!!!

 

[5ofus]

You can absolutely have fun with an under 2 year old! We took our 16 month and 3year olds to Tokyo Disneyland and it was so much fun The only things at Tokyo Disneyland that the 16 month old couldn't go on were the mountains; Big Thunder, Splash and Space. Apart from that he was all good and loved it. We used the baby swap sparingly, but it certainly helped. There is so much you will all be able to do as a family and I will never, EVER forget my little one's face when he met Minnie for the first time

Tell me that's not worth it!

 

[Snickals]

I took my baby over at 8 and a half months (for her 9 month 'birthday' we went to Magic Kingdom and meet the princesses, saw the parade and fireworks) and we all had a great time! Rider swap is a great thing to use!

 

[disneyaussie]

Thank you for your replies.
I'm glad to hear its not a completely crazy idea and is in fact doable!

For those of you who have travelled with younger children is it worth getting them their own seat on the plane even when they are under 2? Is it full price for their seat?

Thanks

 

[shushh]

Its definitely doable with a little one and not crazy at all! Like the others have mentioned, the beauty of Disney is that there is so much more than just the rides.

As for seats, if budget is not an issue, I would get a seat for him. He won't fit in the bassinets anymore, and that means he will sit on your lap if he doesn't have his own seat. On such a long flight, it makes it even more difficult for the parents. One of you will probably have a dead leg, if he's asleep on you, it'll be hard to go to the toilet or to eat. You might be lucky and get an empty seat next to you though.

Children who don't have their own seat pay 10% of adult fare, children with their own seat pay 75%.

 

[5ofus]

As suggested, if cost isn't an issue, I'd definitely get him his own seat. We bought one for our DS on our trip to Japan and I can't imagine what it would have been like to have him on our laps the whole time.

 

[australiankaren]

we will pray for you