Disney World with a 14-month old

[WDBRDWLK]

This year we decided to do something a little different than past years...we took our 14 month old granddaughter to WDW. This would actually be her second trip. She was only 3 months old when we took our entire family last May.

And it turned out to be memorable! On a good note that is... we had asked our Son and DIL a few months ago if we could take her for a week and they were fine with it, which I did not expect that they wouldn't be. They have allowed us to have her at our house for many sleepovers in the last year but taking her out of state was different.

We checked the packing list and had everything ready. Seems our GD was going to have more luggage than us! Large suitcase, large stroller, umbrella stroller, diaper bag, food bag, overnite bag, toys, DVD player. By the time we got everything in the car it was as if we were moving!

We got everything finalized and were just counting down the days..and finally it was here. I had to work that day so DH drove to our meeting point to pick up our GD, which is about 90 miles for us and for our DIL. So at this point our GD had been in the car since 10:30am, a quick bite for lunch at the meeting point, and then they picked me up at work at 3pm and we headed to I-40 and then south on I-95. I sat in the back to keep her entertained. We had bought her some new books and soft plush from the Disney Store and that worked out well until it was time for her to eat. So at 6pm we stopped at a rest stop and put her in the umbrella stroller and we walked to the picnic table area. DH got her food and formula ready. For the drive we decided that formula would be best rather than milk since we did not want it to spoil in the car and also because she had had a reaction to milk in previous months. So when we do give her milk we have to dilute it with water. Anyways, I feed her and then give her her cup and she goes to drink it and nothing is coming out. Nana forgot to take the cover off...you see if one of those new faggled toddler cups and I feel the person who designed them really does not like adults, its like the prescription bottles that you have to push down and turn or the jar of pickels that takes pliers to open!

We had packed sandwiches and snacks and drinks for us and after we ate and GD diaper was changed and she was happy so we hit the road. Our Son had told us that our GD does not like to be in the car at night, not sure if its the headlights or what so we got the DVD player ready just in case and that was the first time we used it. Finding Nemo was the movie of choice. At about 9:30pm she was getting really cranking so we decided to stop at a Hampton Inn. We had made good drive time as we were about an hour north of the FL state line. So we go to register inside the Hampton Inn and within 5 minutes we were heading to our room. Guess who is wide awake now!

stay tuned for the next days drive and the arrival at WDW and lots of pics!

 

[WDBRDWLK]

DH goes out to the car to get the overnight bags and the pack n'play for her to sleep in. In the mean time I get her milk ready and get her in her pj's. We really did not think she would fall asleep right away when we layed her down but to our surprise she did.

The next morning I gave her a bath and got her dressed and we headed to the lobby area for breakfast. She ate her oatmeal and had her diluted milk and then ate some of my yogurt and just wanted what we were eating. Typical for a toddler. She was not fussy so I guess she slept well. As we were heading back to our room there was a couple in the hall way that asked us is we own the car with all the Disney stuff on it..Yup that's us! They said they parked next to us and were heading the WDW too. See ya there!

We get everything in the car and hit the road. I really hate I-95 through Jacksonville and depending on the time of day we will take I-295 and go around the city but it was Saturday and traffic was light and I was in the back seat keeping our GD entertained so why not go through Jacksonville. As we are heading toward the bridge the car in front of us is going way below the speed limit, DH gets frustracted hits the horn and goes around her.

Guess who is getting hungry and needs another diaper change? At this point it is around noon so its a good time to stop at the St. Aug outlets..They have a great Disney Store outlet on the northbound side of I-95. We get a table at the food court and take GD and head to the restroom to change her diaper. She sees the mirror on the wall as I am changing her and starts a conversation with herself. It was so cute. After I wash my hands we head back to the food court and there are about 100 women wearing red or purple hats. They are part of a social group, which I can not remember the name, sor ry about that. This time I remembered to take the cover off her cup! Ya me. After lunch its time to shop at the Disney Store outlet. And did we! WE got some great t-shirts and I got a bracelet for 99 cents. They had some Jim Shore Halloween items, which we had already purchased the last time we were there. But then I saw it...a ceramic clock tower with Cinderella. I just had to have it and it was half price. SOLD! I just love Cinderalla. My favorite princess. They also had all there 2008 merchandise marked down and then another 30% off. Did I also mention that I collect Disney paper. note pads, note cubes, spirals etc. I already had what they were selling but whats another few more..I may even use them! After we make our purchase its time to head out and finish the drive to WDW.

At 4pm we arrive at Bonnett Creek Resort, which is on Disney property but not owned/operated by Disney. It is a Wyndham timeshare located at the intersection of Buenta Vista Dr. and Backstage Lane near DTD. BCR is about 4 yrs old and is nicely furnished and since we have owned with Fairfield now known as Wyndham we are not fond of how they operate. But thats another story.

We go to check in and the associate behind the desks ask our last name and then says the first name, and we say no. Apparently they have someone else with our last name checking in too but did not verify the first name so they say they will be right back, a few minutes later they come out with the other persons paperwork and have to switch the info. Then they ask if we want to put a credit card on hold for any incidentals, NO WAY. If you messed up the reservation since you did not ask the first name I am not giving my credit card and have someone else's charges on it.

Here are some pics of the resort.

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Next up: The Boardwalk

 

[WDBRDWLK]

The Boardwalk, our first DVC property. No matter where we stay when at Disney we always go to the Boardwalk. It is so nostalgic for us. And now the tradition continues with our growing family.

After we had dinner at the resort we packed up the diaper bag and headed over to the Boardwalk. We strolled around the lobby and upon entering is the carrossel near the DVC booth. So my DH tells our GD to look at the horses and I take her over to the couch area to show her the horses...but that is not what he was talking about. He says, look up, those horses...she is not going to be able to figure out what those gold things are hanging from the ceiling! She points to things that she wants to see closer or has an interest in so as she pointed we walked..and over near the fireplace are these two chairs.

We walked through the Screen Door store and as usual it was cold inside and our GD did not like that so we took out her sweater and put it on her. We did not purchase anything that night since we were heading to DTD on Sunday. We strolled over to Seabreeze Point and she loved the lights across the water. She got all excited when the Friendship boat tooted its horn.

We then walked over the the back entrance of EPCOT as it was about 10 minutes from the start of Illuminations.

We were not sure how she would react with the loud booms so DH held her while I had the camera. I was amazed that she did really well. She was startled the first time but after that it did not really faze her. She pointed to the sky each time the fireworks went off.

Out of all the firework shows at WDW Illuminations is our favorite. The story behind it is really amazing, and if you do not know it, google it and you will agree. And also because our DD was in the college program as an intern and worked at EPCOT at the Land Boat Ride.

We walked around the lake and it was getting late so we went back to the resort. DH had set up the pack n'play in the second bedroom but I was afraid that I would not hear our GD during the night if she cried so he moved it into the living room.

After getting our GD ready for bed we put her in the pack n'play and she feel right to sleep. We were pretty tired too and turned in.

Sunday morning we actually slept in. We had planned pool time in the morning and DTD in the afternoon. I was the first one awake so I showered and got our GD clothes ready for the day. DH got up, had breakfast and showered and then the little princess woke up. She is in a good mood,

After her bath and breakfast it was time to get her in her bathing suit. I bought her a two piece sz 2T and it barely fit her..she is only 20 lbs so I thought it would be big but that was not the case...

We put two coats of sunscreen on her, she is like her daddy with very light skin. She gets that from the Irish side of her Grandpa!

I was not sure if she would like the pool water so we gently dipped her toes in first...we bought her one of those infant pool sit in things....

She cried alittle but then like it as we floated along the lazy river. It took her awhile to figure out the steering wheel and horn but her Grandpa had fun with it for her!

We also took her in the big pool and I was surprised that the water was alot warmer than in the lazy river. Our GD liked the warm water and was giggling and splashing. She would lean over the side and splash with her hand. At all times we were on each side of the floatie with a hand on her, while those float devices are cute they are in no way safe. It would not take much for her to lean over and fall out of it.

I noticed that her little arms were getting pink so it was time to get out of the pool. It was almost noon so we decided to keep her on her schedule and go back to the room to feed her lunch.

Next up: Downtown Disney!

 

[thefigueroas]

Thanks for the report! We are taking our daughter who will be 11 almost 12 months when we go in August so I am very interested in your report. The list I have for things to take is amazingly long. We had decided to fly until we realized all the stuff we needed to take so I95 here we come! I am feeling reassured and even more excited reading your trip report. It sounds like taking an infant can be fun!

 

[k_reile]

Your GD looks soo cute in her little bathing suit. My DS will be 16 mos old on his first trip so this will be a good trip report for me to read! He too will be taken to WDW for his first time with Grandma and Grandpa but the difference is that Grandma and Grandpa are taking mommy and daddy and uncle, aunt and cousin (Dnephew will be 3.5 yrs old then) too! I can't wait!
My DS is 7 mos old now and 18lbs and 28 inches and i want to buy him clothes for Disney as I see them but it is so hard to tell what size he will be in. Right now he is 6-9 mos and it seems to be on track...but who knows...I have a feeling he is going to be a tall and skinny kid just like daddy!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Awwww! Your granddaughter is so adorable. I told my daughter (22) and our son (11) that grandma and grandpa (my husband and I) will be taking our future grandkids to WDW so they better get ready. Their response? Can't we go too?

 

[WDBRDWLK]

Thanks for the report! We are taking our daughter who will be 11 almost 12 months when we go in August so I am very interested in your report. The list I have for things to take is amazingly long. We had decided to fly until we realized all the stuff we needed to take so I95 here we come! I am feeling reassured and even more excited reading your trip report. It sounds like taking an infant can be fun!

Thanks for reading my report. August you say, um, be prepared for some cranky children. It is so hot at Disney in August, I would recommend taking a facecloth in a zip lock bag so that you can wash the sweet of your child often. An be prepared for the rain in the afternoon. You may want to get something to cover your stroller with. You may be on a ride and when you get off it rained for 5 minutes and everything is soaked.

More tips and pics coming up...

 

[WDBRDWLK]

Your GD looks soo cute in her little bathing suit. My DS will be 16 mos old on his first trip so this will be a good trip report for me to read! He too will be taken to WDW for his first time with Grandma and Grandpa but the difference is that Grandma and Grandpa are taking mommy and daddy and uncle, aunt and cousin (Dnephew will be 3.5 yrs old then) too! I can't wait!
My DS is 7 mos old now and 18lbs and 28 inches and i want to buy him clothes for Disney as I see them but it is so hard to tell what size he will be in. Right now he is 6-9 mos and it seems to be on track...but who knows...I have a feeling he is going to be a tall and skinny kid just like daddy!

Hi K-
Yes, taking an infant can be alot of fun if you do not expect too much. We based everything on her schedule. Thanks for your kind words. Our GD is the most beautiful princess next to our daughter of course. It was a hard choice picking out a bathing suit and when I told my son I had purchased a 2 pc bathing suit for his daughter the look on his face was priceless...a true Dad! I told him I would only get one piece bathing suits in the future and he smiled.. It's amazing how men act regarding bathing suits...they like the 2 pc ones but not on their daughters!

We did the whole family trip last year and our son/DIL and our DD and her boyfriend did the rides and we meet up at lunch/dinner times. We really enjoyed having the baby all to ourselves.

Wow, 7 months old and 18 lbs..your arm is going to get tired fast! Our GD bounced between the two of us holding her while in the lines, she thought it was a game. It was so cute seeing her laughing. I miss her!!!

I can relate about the clothing, some clothes are 12 months some are 18 months and some are 2T. It just depends on the manufacturer.

I know you will have a wonderful time!

 

[k_reile]

Wow, 7 months old and 18 lbs..your arm is going to get tired fast!

It already does!

 

[Disneychix]

That is so awesome that ou took your DGD to WDW!! You look like you had a blast!

I lvoe the pic of grandpa with his finger up to his mouth like DGD! Too cute!

 

[WDBRDWLK]

We enjoy strolling around DTD everytime we are at WDW. There is so much to see and a Gharadelli chocolate is a must! Finding a parking space was not that bad on this trip. We entered through the marketplace and turned right into the small lot near the Basin. A car was backing out and we pulled right in! That saved 10 minutes looking for a space.. We first went to Arribas Brothers store and I saw a pair of earring that were a Must Have! They are danglers and have the mickey hands with crystals on the front and porcelain hand on the back. I will try to remember to take a picture of them and post them here.

for $37,500 you can take home this:

Now wouldn't that look fabulous on my dresser! I think I would need a bigger dresser!

 

[WDBRDWLK]

Sorry about that as I meant to add more pics but for some reason it is not working.

We then found a new store called Trend. It is to the left of the DVC booth. They used to carry alot of Tommy Bahama clothing but now it is really cool...I loved the decor...if you go in make sure you look up to the ceiling. As with everything Disney, amazement is all around.

This will greet you as you enter

And you will also see these:

So then we strolled though the 365 Days of Christmas store. They have new Christmas houses of Main Street USA. We already have 5 of them, now to add onto the collection. Our GD loved to look at all the colors of the ornaments, she points when she sees something and I am trying to teach her words. But 'ornament' is just too big of a word for her. I think I did here her try to say 'pretty'.

Here she is thinking she is cute, which I must agree!

 

[WDBRDWLK]

We went into the WofD to get some gifts and its was time for a bathroom break! Pushing a stroller in WofD is difficult and I found that out after almost trashing the display of mugs! We wandered through each room and I could have spent an entire years pay, just in the princess room, now that I have a princess to spoil. Then our GD saw the jumbo screen and she was bouncing in her grandpa's arms at the music. It was Hannah Montana! It was cute! A true Disney fan in the making.

And she saw the balloons. She kinda new what they were from her birthday in February. We had balloons too but not quite as extensive that Disney does.

Next up: the princess gets tired...

 

[pixidustmom]

Looking forward to reading your TR. I have a GS that will be 16m when we take him to WDW. I so can't wait to see his eyes light up with all the magic around him.
Your GD is so precious.

 

[k_reile]

Looking forward to reading your TR. I have a GS that will be 16m when we take him to WDW. I so can't wait to see his eyes light up with all the magic around him.
Your GD is so precious.

Wow...I would have guessed this was my mom ...only I don;t have siblings that young...We are going to the world...looks like fairly close to you hopefully early Feb (Haven;t booked yet---waiting to see when the value season ends) and my DS will be 16 mos then and his grandma and grandpa are taking him to WDW for his first trip (and his older cousin 3.5 yr then and of course daddy and I and his aunt and uncle---parents to the cousin)

 

[pixidustmom]

Wow...I would have guessed this was my mom ...only I don;t have siblings that young...We are going to the world...looks like fairly close to you hopefully early Feb (Haven;t booked yet---waiting to see when the value season ends) and my DS will be 16 mos then and his grandma and grandpa are taking him to WDW for his first trip (and his older cousin 3.5 yr then and of course daddy and I and his aunt and uncle---parents to the cousin)

Sorry don't mean to high jack your thread.

But I too haven't booked. This is just a hopeful date as I too am waiting for the dates. Maybe we will meet up. My DD was 18 when she became a mom. Unplanned but loved just the same. Your mom must be a great person. I am taking both of my DD's and my GS. They both may have their boyfriends join but I am not paying for them.

 

[thefigueroas]

Thanks for reading my report. August you say, um, be prepared for some cranky children. It is so hot at Disney in August, I would recommend taking a facecloth in a zip lock bag so that you can wash the sweet of your child often. An be prepared for the rain in the afternoon. You may want to get something to cover your stroller with. You may be on a ride and when you get off it rained for 5 minutes and everything is soaked.

More tips and pics coming up...

Thanks for the tip about the cover. We have one we use when we go for walks so I will be sure to bring it and cover up the stroller when we leave it.

We have never been in August before but with the fabulous discounts available this year for the military we couldn't resist. Unfortunately you take what you can get as far as leave with the military and when you combine that with school (for the 11 year old) you are left with August. We have the water bottle fans and I am buying a lot of light colored clothing. I will also make sure I bring plenty of wash cloths (thanks again for another tip!). We are also only spending 1/2 days in the parks (either first thing in the morning or later in the evening) and spending the rest of the time in the water at either our resort or the water parks so hopefully we will enjoy ourselves.

 

[WDBRDWLK]

I knew she was getting tired because she did not want to sit in her stroller. She kept raising her arms to me and whining. And of course I picked her up! So she bounced from my arms to my DH. It feels like her weight doubles when she gets tired.

After a while she did fall asleep and we gently put her back in the stroller.

One thing I did notice is that she will sleep soundly, unlike her daddy when he was little. When our son was 14 months old we built a house about a mile or so from railroad tracks and everynight at 10:20pm the train would roll through and blow its horn and everynight our son would freak out! Once he ran out of his room into our room and bounced off the bedroom door. Back then it was not funny but today we laugh about it. And did I mention that he did not sleep through the night until he was 5 yrs old!!!!
Yup, no lie! All it took was his pediatrician to tell him he could not go to school until he slept through the night, and woh-la, it worked!

Sorry, where was I, oh yes, sleeping baby. So we paid for our our purchase and strolled around DTD some more. Here are a few more pics before and after she awoke.

We strolled through

and I saw this, or should I say I want this...

I would love to have these hanging on my walls too...but they are too big...

 

[figment41]

Your GD is toooo cute. I love seeing sleeping babies in WDW. My DD has a lot of the same clothes and bathing suit as her. I am so excited we will be there soon.

 

[WDBRDWLK]

Your GD is toooo cute. I love seeing sleeping babies in WDW. My DD has a lot of the same clothes and bathing suit as her. I am so excited we will be there soon.

Thanks. We think so too! There is nothing like the Disney Store! When our son called on my DH's birthday in 2007 to say his b-day present would arrive in about 9 months and after we called everyone we knew to tell them we were going to be grandparents we jumped in the car and off to the Disney Store we went! They had the cutest onsies. Do you remember the pencil art looking characters. Well we bought one of every character and size! They were on clearance too! We also had a trip planned that summer, just hubby and me, and we bought our GD a "My First Disney Bear' and the book that goes with it. Over the next several months while at WDW, DL and DCL we had the princesses and characters autograph the book and we presented that to my son and DIL after she was born, complete with a photo album of us getting the autographs!

Now on with the report as a week has passed since we arrived back home and my memory is fading...

As it was getting close to feeding time we stopped at Wolfgang Puck Express to get something to eat. We enjoy this little hide-away restaurant. Their food is good and the prices are not bad. Since our last trip there they have enclosed part of the dining area, which is nice. You still have the option to eat outside too. We were able to get the stroller up to a table without having to block other guests.

After we ate and our GD had a clean diaper we walked towards the REX restaurant. It was packed to say the least.

Word of advice if you go into the store at REX, leave the stroller outside. I wish someone would have told me that...It was very crowded inside and the product displays are close together so I had a hard time turning the stroller. We made it to the back of the store and saw this

How cool is that...Build a Bear has a gold mine in the works. We saw the 'houses' as children were walking around and I thought they looked like the BAB ones back home. I had no idea that you could build you own T-REX! How cute. I tried to get out of the store but there were about5 teenage girls trying on all kinds of masks and headgear and taking picture after picture. After saying 'excuse me' about a dozen times and getting no response from them I backed the stroller out and tried another way, and was outside in the play area with no way out! Sound like the Dinosaur ride?? Now I had to go back in the store and manover my way again to another exit...I could not wait to exit that store. So again, leave your strollers outside!

I need to upload more pics to finish off the DTD day and then next up is Magic Kingdom...and it was Magical!