DL or WDW with a 1 1/2 year old?

[soonermel]

Hi all! Thinking about a Disney trip in the fall with our little one, who will be almost 2.... trying to decide between WDW & DL! We're about equidistant between CA & FL. I know at WDW there are quite a few rides she can go on with us. How about DL? Is there as much there for her to watch/ride/look at? We'll stay near the parks and take a pretty laid-back approach and allow plenty of down time for naps, etc.

Thoughts? Recommendations? Thanks in advance!!

 

[sonnyjane]

I'd say DL, just because it's a little smaller, more manageable, and the main draw to that age group, Fantasyland, is better at DL vs WDW. She can also go on things like Winnie the Pooh, Pirates (although that one might be scary for her), Nemo, Small World, Jungle Cruise... in other words, there is more than just the Fantasyland dark rides She might also enjoy Pixie Hollow. At California Adventure there is A Bug's Land that also has rides for young kids.

Go to these official sites and scroll down to see the ride suggestions for "Family Adventures" and "Little Ones":

DL- http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...ing?name=DisneylandParkAttractionsListingPage

DCA- http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...neysCaliforniaAdventureAttractionsListingPage

 

[Willow25]

We actually prefer WDW over DL but we are taking our kids to DL this year because of their ages. The biggest argument for us is the fact that we won't have to drive or ride a bus to the parks. We can just get the kids in strollers and walk. Also I kept thinking about kids asleep in strollers and having to wake them up to get them in the car or bus. Much easier to walk to the hotel and lay them in the bed.

I also agree that DL Fantasyland is better and will have more rides that your child can ride with you.

Whatever you choose hope you have a great time.

 

[Dobie]

DL in a heartbeat. WDW is huge and exhausting and everything is far away from everything else.

DL has a lot of attractions very close to each other, and the weather is much better. You can get to your hotel very very quickly for naps or clothes changes or meltdowns or whatever.

 

[bumbershoot]

Wherever the adults want to go!

I do have to say, bug's land is fabulous for the littles! It's all out in the open, no dark rides, happy and fun. (just not "it's tough to be a bug")

 

[heatherleigh]

Since you'd like to be close, I'd probably stick w/ DL. They have plenty of rides your toddler can go on.

 

[Leofoenget]

Hi all! Thinking about a Disney trip in the fall with our little one, who will be almost 2.... trying to decide between WDW & DL! We're about equidistant between CA & FL. I know at WDW there are quite a few rides she can go on with us. How about DL? Is there as much there for her to watch/ride/look at? We'll stay near the parks and take a pretty laid-back approach and allow plenty of down time for naps, etc.

Thoughts? Recommendations? Thanks in advance!!

Nope nothing for little kids to do at Disneyland Just kidding. I personally feel it's easier at DL because you can go back to your hotel mid day rest relax then go back in the evening. Everything is so close it's easier to take mid day breaks with the little ones

 

[gymnastgirlflips]

I would say DL as well because all the hotels are really close for when you need a break. In Disney World it takes so long to just get back to the entrance of whichever park! Plus waiting for the bus and with all other time consuming transportation things to consider, Disneyland just seems like a better choice. It seems like it would take less stress off of you guys/

 

[Sara*s_Mommie]

I took my dd2 to WDW when she was 10 months. It was my first trip too. Were there for 2 weeks with 11 days in the parks and I don't feel like I saw everything. We've been to DL 4 times since and another trip in April (but I'm only 6 hours away from DL). I hadn't planned to go back to WDW until she was around 5, but now have a cruise scheduled right before she turns 4 but WDW is sooooo much more expensive...for me it's a major trip while I can do a few days of DL pretty cheaply. So, if money and time isn't an issue, I'd say go to WDW but if they are then go to DL. Forgot if you said when you plan on going, but I went to WDW in December, thinking it would be cool and manageble (being from California, I can take heat) but on some days the humidity wiped me out. The weather was all over the place. Regardless, your little one will have a magical time. There's so much at each place to make it special - character meals, bibbity bobbity boutique, parades, fireworks, etc., etc. On all my trips my daughter could do quite a bit and for what she couldn't, we just did baby swap - when I had other people with me. Sometimes just she and I go which is great too.

 

[Mugglemama]

I'd suggest DL, as well.

A large portion of Fall is still hurricane season at WDW. At DL, your weather will likely be very clear, no rain, relatively low humidity (especially compared to WDW)....meaning, physically you all will likely be a LOT more comfortable at DL.

I know they've been giving the free dining plan at that time of year, but considering you only have yourselves and one itty bitty kid who isn't going to eat much, I wouldn't consider the dining plan a deciding factor.

DL is awesome with little ones....it's easy to park hop (it literally takes about 90 seconds to walk from DL to DCA - check it out on Google Earth), everything is close together, and again...you won't have to really prepare for things like multiple daily downpours (which personally, would be enough on its own to completely deter me!).

Another consideration is that you might be able to do DL cheaper, because it's really easy to do all that you want to do in just a few days time. As previous posters here have said, WDW can take up to 2 weeks and STILL leave people feeling like they didn't "do it all".

I did a TON of reading on the boards and other places, because we have 4 kids and have considered trips to WDW. Every time I read about people having to wait for busses, then get onto crowded busses with tons of sweaty people, and spend all day in the muggy ickiness of florida (so much so that they often mention going back to the room just to change out of sweat soaked clothes and into dry clothes), I just go right back to planning the next DL visit, lol.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

There will be a ton for her to do at DLR. My youngest has had 3 fabulous trip to DLR and he's only 14 months.

 

[soonermel]

Thanks so much for your feedback! These are exactly the kind of opinions I was hoping to get. You guys are fantastic.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

DLR for sure! WDW is overwhelming ~ DLR is lovely.

 

[DizFan13]

Another vote for DL. We took our DS's to WDW at ages 2 1/2 and 4, and it was a blast, but if I could do it over, that trip would have been DL! For somene as young as your's is, no question in my mind! There is so much more for the little ones to do, and the walking is so much easier, and it really truly is less exhausting when you can have a quick break back in your hotel!

Have a great time!