disney with a 1 year old?

[nitsirk987]

Hello,

DH and I have always enjoyed our Disney vacations in the past, and this year we decided to add to our little family, and are expecting a new little disney world lover of our own, come Oct 12th

We own DVC and carried our points over to next year, and wanted to know if alot of people take their 1 year old child to disney, and what expect with the new adventure..

Thanks for any helpful info~

Kristin, Nathan and Baby

 

[disbigsis]

Last July we took our DD, then 15 months old. We thought that she probably wouldn't be able to do much or really understand what was going on, but she loved it! We spent the majority of our time at MK, and she loved every ride that she was able to go on (she loved IASW). We also did Chef Mickey's and Crystal Palace, so she got to see lots of characters. We made sure before we left home that she was familiar with those characters so she wouldn't be afraid. Probably the most fun she had was riding the boat back and forth from FW; one night we saw the fireworks, and all she kept saying over and over was "WOW!!" We had such a great experience that we're going back this summer, even though we had said we'd wait until she was older and could remember it. It's a totally different experience once you're their with your child! You get to see it through their eyes, and it's amazing!

 

[think tink]

congratulations that will be very convient to stay at a home away from home resort. i would suggest trying to get a one bedroom villa. the washer and dryer will come in handy, along with a separate bedroom for naps. we took our dd when she was 9 months old and it went surprisingly well. we just took it real slow and tried to stay on her normal schedule at home.

 

[7lords]

My son was 11 months when we went and he really enjoyed it. Of course he won't remember it but he had a blast when we were there. We did have to take nap breaks in the afternoon though.

 

[LUVMICKEY]

We have had all three of our Grandson there at 8 months to a year and they made out very well. We just took things a little slower and made sure they had their naps like they were suppose to and it went pretty smooth. The naps make for a much happier baby. And that made the parents very happy.

Michele

 

[tjmw2727]

Congratulations,

Yes, we pretty much kept doing what we always had after our dd's were born including vacations!! DH travels alot for business so dd's and I get the beneift of that. We didn't stop when they were born but we did make some changes of course. If WDW is where you like to vacation as a family then by all means - take the family.

My oldest was about 14 mos when we took her to WDW for the first time and she loved it. She learned lots of new words but her favorite new phrase was "more boats" boats was her word for rides at that point. My youngest was just under a year and we have been going at least once a year since then.

You probably never noticed them but there are babycare centers in all the theme parks and having a DVC will be wonderfull.

Hit the family board (a few down from here) for lots of threads about traveling with baby.

allears also has a wonderful secition with baby faq's here:
http://allearsnet.com/pl/infant.htm

Enjoy
TJ

 

[Ashes8380]

In January I went down with my aunt, her 1 year old twin girls, and 4 year old daughter to help watch all the kids (no wonder why she needed help!). The only things that were different with the kids there....

allow time for napping!
it doesn't sound like you have any older children, but if you do, be prepared to split up.
you will spend more time in attractions that you used to pass by without a second glance. for example, every playground area you see...
we stayed in a Fort Wilderness cabin, and if you can get a place with a kitchen I would highly recommend it.
just take your time, you'll have a great vacation!

 

[Jennygt]

I have been wondering the same thing. I am due 9/24 with our first also. I would love to go next sept/oct. I did go with my friend and her 1year old years ago and I remember it was not such a big deal. I am planning to bring grandma and grandpa for back up! I am also going to stay close to MK so that the nap area will be close! I think we can do it! Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy! Hope to see you fall 2007!!!

 

[hawkeyesparks]

My wife and I took our 17 month old DS to Disney and it was wonderful. DS loved the character meals, and most of the child rides at MK. He really liked the Jungle Cruise as well.

What we did discover though is that while MK has a lot to offer for toddlers, the others really don't. Epcot was nice, and DS enjoyed the Living Seas, but he couldn't do much else.

MGM was nice, DS loved Playhouse Disney, but even MGM didn't have a lot to offer to toddlers past that. So went most of our time at MK, and never regretted it.

DW and I had been to WDW several times and loved it before DS came into the world, but the previous trips could not compare with the fun we had with DS. To see his face and excitement when he really saw Pluto and Goofy and the gang, made the trip timeless and worth it.

 

[Kimi313]

We took our DD at 18 months and this was in July. We are big DW fans and had been there before and always knew we wanted to take her but like many kept thinking oh we will wait till she's is older but my niece was going down for a dance comp and we couldn't beat the price of the package. This was 14 years ago I don't even think MGM was open. We only did MK. We went in the morning and did Fantasyland, IASM, Dumbo, Cindy Carousel, Peter Pan (she loved this movie), she would have loved Winnie. Then we would grab lunch, she loved Pinnochio Haus, we would get there early and sit by the window overlooking IASW. Then back to the hotel to play in room and explore hotel and nap. After the sun went down we would go back, I am talking dark. Went back to Fantasyland and did carousel a couple of times more then watch firework from main street and then waited for parade, this was the second parade. We would get her a snack and drink and then let her sit there and play in the drink until parade. She loved the parade. I think one day we did take her on the Jungle Cruise, Country Bear, Wedway, and Carousel of Progress. Attractions that are inside and cool. She had a great time and says she just remembers being there with her cousins and it was fun. But by the next year we stayed at Cont and we did alot more we even went to Epcot to see figment and the aquarium (in those days they still had the ride that went through the aquarium).

I would definitely do it over, every year when they are young like that you are really seeing it through their eyes. When we rode Jungle Cruise and when she saw the animatronic animals she grabbed and pulled my shirt toward her, she was scared of them, it was precious .

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

We went when oldest was 4 and youngest 1.
Watch the sun lots of shade.
Binkies bring extra if she uses.

Our daughter got thrush when we were there that time, but trip to the doctors was not aas terible as I thought it was going to be.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

I think Smallworld by far is the most reconizable ride for them
Our daughter would absolutely freak with excitement when we got in the boats. She and my wife did it like 6 times because she was having so much fun.

 

[AJKMOM]

All those are great hints. If I were you, I would try to plan so I could trade my points for any of the EPCOT or MK Vacation club resorts. If you can hold off until 7 months out, try for Boardwalk. Beach club or Wilderness Villas, that would make your trip a lot easier. At nap time, you could put the baby in a stroller and walk to the Boardwalk out of EPCOT or take the boat to VWL.

 

[JenniferAtl]

My DD is 2 and has been to WDW 3 times - she loves it! My dh and I keep telling ourselves that we have to go to Disney every 6 months now so that she won't ever be scared of the characters. That's our excuse anyway.

We spend most of our time in MK - it's amazing how much they can enjoy at such a young age.

 

[n2mm]

We just returned last weekend and our 13 month old GD was part of our group. She really did great. However, this was not her first trip. She went for 10 days @ 6 months and 5 days @ 9 months. She really seemed to take it all in on this trip. We stayed at the BWV and was on the ground floor. Ducks would wander up to the patio and she would get so excited and now has a new word. My only suggestion would be to make sure you dine out with her often prior to your trip, so that restraurants are not foreign to her. Our grand daughter goes out to eat with her family at least once a week, so is very good at eating out. Baby swap is a great thing to use at WDW, and we use it often when she is traveling in our group. We took her on everything that she can go on and amazingly she falls asleep on the Haunted Mansion everytime (she also feel asleep on spaceship earth -- but I've done that too). Once your little one is here, you'll know what you need to know to help her adjust and have a good time. Unfortunatly our GD does not like the pack and play and will not stay in it all night, so has to sleep with the folks, which takes awhile to get her out of that habit when she returns home. It's great sharing WDW with the little ones, you'll see things differently through their eyes.

 

[princesserinsmom]

Congratulations on your new addition!!
We took my daughter for the first time when she was 13 months and she loved it. She loved the rides and parades. We went in december for the christmas party and she loved the snow on main street. We had grandma with us for part of the trip so we also got to enjoy all of the rides she couldnt go on. We did have to slow down on that trip for feedings and diaper changes but it was all worth it to see her little face full of excitment.
We are going this month it is my daughters 5th trip to disney and my sons first he is 13 months. So we get to see the magic in his eyes this time.

 

[Starrin]

Hi and congrats!

We have taken our little guy twice in his first year - his first trip was when he was 3 months old - and we flew down. It all depends - he sleeps real well so it was a breeze. We also have DD - who is 3 years older. We love it and will continue to take them down as much as possible no matter what the age

I highly recommend it - but it does curb how you go on the rides.

Also, not so much a big deal with one child - but if you have two, a monorail resort is a big deal (in my opinion) - we have two strollers and two kids - so getting on a bus, while folding the strollers, and having backpacks, etc... is a lot of work just to get on some transportation. The monorail is great as you just roll right on - and when they are asleep you do not wake them up to break down the stroller.