Disneyland with a 6-8 month old

[princesszelda]

We will be going to Disneyland next year in Dec with hopefully our 6-8 month old baby. We are currently working with a GC. What rides and information can you give me. Is it doable. This trip has been planned for awhile as it is a family trip. We were suppose to go this year but canceled we were adopting but the BM M/C. Any information is appreciated.

 

[alyssa810]

I've done been to WDW with my DS when he was about 4.5 months and again 8 months old (and when he was 12 weeks, and just before his 1st birthday), and while it's not the same, it sort of is. Even at that young age he enjoyed the rides - the music and colors kept him engaged. He could ride pretty anything without a height restriction. Disney parks are family friendly to kids of all ages; there are baby care centers in the parks that are great for feedings and changes, and just to cool off (although you might not need that in December)!

 

[TahoeMom]

I agree with the previous poster. We took my son (now 12 years old) when he was 9 months old and we had a great time. He loved Dumbo and Small World and wasn't old enough to mind Pirates or Haunted Mansion much. We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel that year because it was nice to be really close to go back for naps (this was pre-Grand Californian and Cal. Adventure actually). We just took things slow and easy. I think he definitely had fun though and I know that the rest of us did

 

[mrswh]

We took DS to WDW for the first time when he was 9 months old - he LOVED it! Just walking down Main Street was fun for him. He loved the parades, etc. I think it's actually really easy to take a baby - they can go on most of the tame rides (pooh, small world, dumbo, etc.) and when they get tired they will sleep in their stroller. You can get a rider switch pass at some rides so the adults can take turns riding without waiting in line twice. We went on a DLR trip 2 years ago with another family when their youngest was 3 months - she didn't go on any rides (except maybe small world) but it was pretty easy to just stroll her around. I wouldn't worry too much - it is definitely doable at any age!

 

[disneymom0104]

We spent 12 days at WDW last year with my 6/7 month old. It was great. Such a fun age- not really scared of anything- love looking at characters, etc. I used the Baby Care Centers there to nurse and he was really good to go! We are going to DL in Oct. and my DS will be 19 months- I have a feeling it is going to be MUCH harder than when he was 7 months! He now has an opinion of almost everything

 

[azdisneyfam]

We did DL & WDW several times with my kids when they were babies - it is definitely doable & surprisingly still very enjoyable. Some of our favorite memories from when they were little are from those trips. You will have a wonderful time!

My biggest piece of advice would be to remember to relax & take your time. With a baby, you will have to remember to keep the general tone of your trip nice & laid back (versus the "run from ride to ride & don't dare take a break because we might miss something" tone).

One more thing - my kids LOVED Small World when they were that age - we rode it over & over & over......

Have fun!!

 

[I❤MICKEY]

We took our DS when he was 6 months old. I would agree w/ everyone else's posts.

The only thing that I would say is try to have tough skin. It's unbelievable how other people (family and coworkers) respond negatively. So many people were shocked and flabbergasted that I would consider taking a baby that young to DL. Even worse when we said we were tent camping in Sequoia and Yosemite before arriving in DL. They pointed out how hot it would be, that he would get nothing out of it, that he wouldn't get regular naps, that it would hinder my other sons experience, that people would try to touch him, that there were germs and anything else they could think of. Family offered to watch the baby for us - to which I replied this is a family vacation and he's part of the family. We still have people commenting that they think it was crazy. Wait till they here we are going back in December.

One of my favorite Disney memories was the baby grabbing hold of Mickey's nose and trying to suck on it. So darling.

I think your baby will have a wonderful time and you will create amazing memories.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

We've taken a 6 month old and a 9 month old. They can go on anything without a height requirement except Roger Rabbit since they are required to sit on their own to ride this one. The easiest way (as long as baby isn't too heavy) is to carry them in a front carrier. They can stay in it on and off rides.

 

[rillsung]

We've taken a 6 month old and a 9 month old. They can go on anything without a height requirement except Roger Rabbit since they are required to sit on their own to ride this one. The easiest way (as long as baby isn't too heavy) is to carry them in a front carrier. They can stay in it on and off rides.

Yeah and that really includes most rides. We even took our kids as babies on Pirates and Haunted Mansion and everything in Fantasyland. As of the last year or so DD (who was about 3) started getting scared of the dark rides so it made things more difficult!

 

[jennilouwho]

We just went with my 6 month old nephew. It went much better than we expected. He really loved looking at everything. We thought he might be scared of the noises on rides, but he didn't seem to care. My sister-in-law put him in a carrier for all the rides, it would have been harder without that. The CM at Astro Orbiter wouldn't let him on in a carrier or without socks on, so FYI on that. Don't know if that's normal or just the CM we got.

 

[princesszelda]

Do you think staying onsite is better then off. When ever we go we stay at PPH. I really like it there. But since we are going with a large group we were thinking BWPPI.

 

[minniegirl25]

I took my DD to Disneyland when she was 5 weeks, 9 months, and then every year after that, this trip she will be 6. I think our easiest trip was when she was 9 months old. Other than trying to sterilize bottles in a hotel room, the trip was very enjoyable. Now the older she gets it is more fun in different ways because she is into the rides, characters, food, etc. etc. But if I had another one, I would not hesitate to take them at any age Just go with the flow, a little more laid back, we love to people watch

 

[todzwife]

DD2 was 7 months when we went last November and I wore her in a Beco Gemini the entire week and it was SO easy. She would wake up for awhile and then fall asleep when she was tired.

She loved the lights and music!

 

[tinkermomma]

Love this thread! Excited to see so many take when they are just wee things. We'll be taking our daughter at right around 1yr and again at 22 months.

 

[Momoftwo21]

We took both of our children when they were young and have great memories of that time (more than they do, I'm sure . If you get to CA Adventure, take advantage of their child car changing/bathrooms for the kids. There are rocking chairs (with drapes for privacy/breastfeeding, extra pacifiers for sale, microwaves to warm up food, formula, etc. There is a similar area in Disneyland (at the end of Main Street). Good luck and have fun!

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

I've done WDW with DS 14 when he was 3 months and with DD when she was 7 months. Both trips were remarkably easy! Even at 3 months, my DS really enjoyed all the colors and the sounds, especially IASW! Babies are extremely portable at that age. I carried mine around in the front carrier or the sling and they got on everything I got on that didn't have a height requirement; for those rides, we just did baby swap. I have great memories of those trips. Enjoy!

 

[jennilouwho]

OP- I think you're fine staying at the BWPPI. I don't think it's that much farther than staying on site, might even be closer. Walking from Harbor with a stroller is a breeze! We stayed at a condo behind the Mickey and Friends Parking Garage with 4 little ones and four adults. We took the tram in each day, but it was a bit of a pain with 2 double strollers. Harbor would be much easier.

 

[kirstie101]

This will also be our first year with an infant. DS will be 7 months old and my nephew will be 12 months. We are staying at Desert Inn and Suites again because of the close location. DD doesn't require naps, and even when she was younger she just napped in her stroller. But I figured the close location would be best in case either boy does require a nap at the motel and in case I need to run back for more baby food, diapers or things of that sort. We also made this trip one day longer than normal so that we can take our time each day. And if some days are cut short or start late, then we have an extra day to make sure we can fit everything in.

I keep checking this thread so I can learn any helpful tips for the infants!

All in all, I'm sure the trip is going to be wonderful! Most little ones will enjoy all the sights and sounds of Disneyland!

 

[roobug]

We have taken our twins when they were 3 months, 6 months, 9 months & a year. Some of our favorite memories are from those trips - I agree with all the previous posts. The one new piece of advice I have is get ear muffs for the little one. We had them for our guys and it was great as they could sleep right through parades and fireworks, and it also helped them watch shows without being scared or startled by the loud noises.

 

[wannagoback]

DD#3 is 9 months now and my only suggestion is that at that age they are probably mobile, so just look for somewhere for the kiddo to crawl or roll around to stretch out. I'm going to DL next month but baby is not coming, but that's mostly because DH doesn't really want to go either, so he's staying home with her. But we just got home from a 3-day camping trip and baby did great because there is always so much to look at and so many people to "talk" to. But I just felt bad that she spent so much time restrained (stroller, high chair, on laps, etc) and didn't have much time to stretch out. I don't know if the baby care centers have any sort of play area, maybe someone else can chime in about that....