Disney with an 11 month old?

[AmyKat]

I'm going to WDW for a work trip in February and we've decided to add a few days for a family trip. This will be our 3rd trip as a family. At the time of the trip, we will have a 7 year old daughter, a 4 year old daughter, and an 11 month old son. I'm one of those moms that hates to be away from my baby until he/she is at least 2, but I cannot imagine what Disney would be like with an 11 month old. Can anyone share their experiences?

For what it's worth, the girls absolutely love having their brother around and I think they would find it weird if he wasn't with us.

Also, he is the easiest baby I've ever been around (as a 5 month old at least). Always happy, rarely cries, totally in to watching the world go by ...

But what do you do while everyone else is riding rides? Is there anything he can ride? Dumbo, Flying Carpets, Dinosaurs, ....

 

[Angel Ariel]

You should come on over to the Disney for Families board - there's tons of advice and experiences there!

As for rides, he can ride anything that doesn't have a height requirement! And for rides that do have a height requirement that your older kids want to ride, you can get rider swap. Your older kids will get to ride twice - once with each parent, while the other parent stays with the baby.

I'd definitely look at getting some kind of sling/carrier like a ring sling or beco gemini or ergo for going around the parks. It's very convenient!

 

[denneg]

We took DS for the first time at 10/11 months old, and it was so fun and easy! Take him, you will want to look back at pictures with all of you, not be sad that he was behind. There are plenty of rides he can go on, and for anything with a height restriction, you get a baby swap so both you and DH take turns sitting off while the otherwise on with your daughters. At that age, he will be happy to sit in the stroller or play, and won't realize he's missing out on any big rides! Plus he's free all around, so no added expense. I say take everyone and have a wonderful time! W are going back next fall when our DS will be 6 and we will have an 8 month old, I can't wait!

 

[nitrot150]

I literally just got back from a trip with my 4 year old and 11 month old. It was fine, he napped in the stroller a lot and so I had to sacrifice a few rides myself. I was also nursing him, but luckily it worked to only go find the baby care center for that about once a day. Then we'd hang out in our room (villa) in the afternoons and he really enjoyed the pool. Sleeping was interesting, he basically got most of the king sized bed, but it worked out ok (sleeping at night isn't his strong suit).

You'll do fine!!!

 

[mattsdragon]

Dinosaur has a height limit.

There is plenty the kiddo can ride. But if there is a height limit, no can do.

 

[stacy6552]

My son was 11 months on our first trip. I'd do it again. Here are some things that were priceless:

A front baby carrier. Baby can stay in it on rides and in shows so you don't need to take him off.

Table Toppers. stickey mats that you can put down on any table to give baby finger foods.

Stroller with big basket, cup holder and fully reclining. No matter what it weighs. Be sure to have a rain cover for it and put neon tape around the handle so you can spot it after its been moved in the stroller parking lot.

 

[bennifer]

Our younger son was 11 months on his first trip and it was perfectly fine! The baby centers are perfect. Rider swap is great. Don't think twice about it. It will be fun for all of you!

 

[AmyKat]

Thanks so much! You have all been very encouraging. Sounds like Solomon will get his first set of ears in February!

I had no idea there was a family board. I'm off to find it and snoop around.

We have a Beco that he lives in, so we're good there. It was his sisters' first but he doesn't mind the little purple deer (yet). ;-)

We're also really good at nursing discreetly in public. With 2 big kids running around, we had to figure that one out quickly.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Disney for Families board.

 

[jake&samsmom]

Hi
I brought my daughter at 11 months old and there is a LOT they can ride
In the MK she and I got on:
People Mover
Jungle Cruise
POTC
Pooh
Peter Pan
IASW
Carousel
Haunted Mansion
Buzz
Alladins carpets
Dumbo
Philharmagic
Monsters inc

At DHS, we rode/saw:
VOTLM
Beauty/Beast show
TSM
Fantasmic
Disney Jr Show

At AK:
FOTLK
Nemo show
Safari
Boneyard
Flights of wonder

And at Epcot:
Maelstrom
Donald boat ride
Land boat ride
Spaceship earth
Figment
Nemo
Turtle talk

I have 2 older preteen boys and when they rode rollercoasters, me and the little one would shop around the giftshops. And when I wanted to ride, my DH and I did the baby swap. We used the baby centers in all the parks - very clean and well maintained. We are commandos, so all her naps were in the stroller and not once did she have a meltdown. She is almost 4 now, and still is so easy going (thank goodness!) If you have any questions please don't hesitate to pm me

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

We took our DS to Disney for the first time when he was 15 months old. He is now 7. That trip has some of my most favorite memories and our DS loves hearing the stories of his first trip. Never understood the folks that say you shouldn't take them when they are this young because they won't remember it. Unless of course it will be a once in a life time trip. Your family will have wonderful memories of having him along for this trip!

As others have said, the baby centers are WOMDERFUL!! Kind of hate we really can't use them anymore!!

 

[AmyKat]

Y'all have got me so excited! Thank you!

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

Oh, one of my favorite pics is from that trip also. We were waiting in line to see Mickey and my DS fell asleep. We have a pic of DH holding our sleeping DS with Mickey holding his finger to his lips shhhhh everyone. So sweet...

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

Oh, one of my favorite pics is from that trip also. We were waiting in line to see Mickey and my DS fell asleep. We have a pic of DH holding our sleeping DS with Mickey holding his finger to his lips shhhhh everyone. So sweet...

That is so precious!
This thread is so helpful and reassuring. We are expecting a new baby and plan to go back to Disney when she is around 16 months old (or maybe even sooner depending on how things work out). On our first family Disney trip in 2011 our youngest DS was 2.5 years old and we didn't think taking a child any younger than that to Disney was ideal; but after having two Disney trips where we saw a lot of other families with babies in tow and reading all the great feedback on here about taking babies to WDW, we know that we will have an even more magical experience in store for us! On our trip this past May DH and the kids really focused on getting a lot of the headliner attractions off their to do list (I was midway through my first trimester so I sat out of several rides); so we have all agreed that our next Disney trip with the new baby will definitely be a more relaxed/slower pace and we are looking forward to that kind of trip!

 

[Crystal824]

We took DD when she was 9 mo. old. It was much easier than the trip when she was 2 1/2. She mostly rode in the stroller. Make use of the babycare centers. They are great for diaper changes and have diapers, formula, etc for sale if you forget something. They also offer a place to nurse and/or feed the baby. I also agree with the Table Toppers. They are awesome for dining with babies. Pack lots of snacks in the diaper bag. Use rider swap for rides the older kids can do but the baby can't. We all had a great time on that first family trip.