First time with 1 year old

[sarahlizzy004]

Hello!

I have been to Disneyland many times but this will be the first time with our 1 year old. It will be just the 3 of us on this trip. We are a little worried about what we will do after she goes to bed at 630/7 as we don't want to waste our time there sitting in the room. Anyone with experience with this kind of trip? What did you do? Any other advice on traveling with a little one for the first time?

Thank you so much in advance for your help!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Hello!

I have been to Disneyland many times but this will be the first time with our 1 year old. It will be just the 3 of us on this trip. We are a little worried about what we will do after she goes to bed at 630/7 as we don't want to waste our time there sitting in the room. Anyone with experience with this kind of trip? What did you do? Any other advice on traveling with a little one for the first time?

Thank you so much in advance for your help!

Know where the Baby Care Centers and First Aid are located in both parks -- they can be very helpful and come in quite handy if you need anything. Look into MP/FP so that you can take turns riding those rides while one of you watches the baby (Maxpass/Fastpass Superthread: an overview and some strategy). Also look into Rider Swap. After the baby goes to bed, you can take turns returning to the parks. If you have used MP to stack FPs for the evening, this can make your time in the parks more efficient. Another option would be to hire a babysitter. Some posters here have done that with great success so that both parents could go back to the parks together. Otherwise, plan for some early evenings back in the hotel room with room service, movies, etc. Trips with a baby are very different than trips without kids.

 

[Aurora0427]

It really depends on the kid... we never went with our first that young, she was 2. Naptime was sacred... she would take marathon naps and then she could hang a little later in the evening. We took baby 2 at age 15 months. She is my kid who will sleep anywhere. She has fallen asleep waiting in line to get into Oga’s Cantina, in line for rides, at restaurants, at shows etc etc. She will sleep in the stroller when tired and can then hang later at night. We did go back for naps though when she was one. She’s an easy going kid who sleeps when she’s tired anywhere, so we didn’t have to be super strict with bedtime. My first never slept in a stroller, so we had to have that nap to make it last 6:30pm.

I personally would rope drop, go back for nap and see how your little one does.

 

[CastAStone]

When we went with our then-11 month old, we brought a stroller with a canopy, and let him fall asleep in the stroller, then just stayed in the parks until about 9. At that point WE were exhausted.

 

[CastAStone]

Also, as far as other tips, stay as close as physically possible to the parks and LEAVE by 12 or 1 for naptime every day. You’ll get more out of 9 happy hours than 5 happy ones followed by 6 grumpy ones.

Have fun!

 

[Cfiiitz]

In addition to the helpful advice you can find on this board there is a lady who writes a great blog called “Magical Kinda Mama” who focuses on Disneyland with kids. Find her blog online or find her on Instagram. It’s really helpful!

 

[Geemo]

Hello!

I have been to Disneyland many times but this will be the first time with our 1 year old. It will be just the 3 of us on this trip. We are a little worried about what we will do after she goes to bed at 630/7 as we don't want to waste our time there sitting in the room. Anyone with experience with this kind of trip? What did you do? Any other advice on traveling with a little one for the first time?

Thank you so much in advance for your help!

I see you became a member today.

 

[corgi_monster]

I took both my kids at that age and we stayed in the parks all day. At home, neither would sleep in a stroller, but Disney is so exhausting that they had no problem falling asleep at their normal times. We used their nap time to shop, snack, and take turns on the the thrill rides.

 

[CastAStone]

At home, neither would sleep in a stroller, but Disney is so exhausting that they had no problem falling asleep at their normal times.

Same.

 

[limace]

One thing I would’ve loved when traveling with kids that age is to take turns having some alone time in the parks at night. When my kids were small, having time to myself was so rare and precious-it would’ve been amazing to leave my husband with a book and the baby and go spend a few hours wandering the parks. (Actually, is still love to do that and my youngest is 10)

 

[vharris2828]

We just go for it all day! We just bring everything we need to be there all day. I have never gone back to the hotel for naps ever (I’ve taken all my kids about the same age) I don’t want to waste my Disney time take advantage of rider switch pass and single rider lines for the big things baby can’t ride. My kids have always just crashed in the stroller, make sure to bring one that reclines all the way back. Bring a blanket and warm clothes. I find a baby carrier to be helpful as well. I got one off amazon that’s just like an ergo for like $25. My baby loves it (almost 1) it’s comfy and keeps you hands free in lines. And I have been able to just wear baby on rides. Unless they have changed that I’ve done that a few times. Depending on how long you’re there I do second maybe each taking a night to just go explore the parks alone. That would be fun and you probably could do lots just single rider!

 

[Skyegirl1999]

It suuuuper depends on the kid whether they’ll sleep in a stroller or carrier. Mine did (she would stroller nap at Disney years after she dropped her regular nap at home), but my sister’s daughter WOULD NOT nap in the parks under any circumstances. So you have to be prepared to adapt to your kiddo.

Some kids love characters and will run up and hug them. Some scream at the sight of them. Some kids love rides. Others don’t. Some are enchanted by shows and parades. Others couldn’t care less, or get overstimulated or whatever. You just have to go with the flow until you know how your particular child reacts to the park.

And yeah, trading off for some alone time in the parks can be really enjoyable!

 

[sarahlizzy004]

Thank you so much for everyone's help and advice! Sorry I can't respond to each of you, I'm having some technical difficulties but I wanted to make sure you guys knew I read what you posted and appreciate your help. My daughter has been a tough one to get to sleep since birth but she will nap in carriers or in the stroller so we will give that a go! If not, we're at the Disneyland Hotel so it's easy for one of us to make it back into the parks on our own to spend some quiet time and do what we want.

Very much looking forward to this trip now. I was nervous that it might not be able to work at this age but I think with your suggestions we will still be able to have a magical time!

 

[smartlabelprint]

We always buy a spot for the car seat in the plane. Life saver!

We stay offsite in a suite. Our fave is homewood suites but there are many. That way we can enjoy some alone time after bed. But we definitely take turns alone in the park! We often try to get family to come with us. Then we get a date night for 4 hours!

I highly recommend getting noise cancelling earmuffs. It is sooooo loud in the parks. We never noticed until we had kids. Haha! $20 on amazon. Baby banz I think.

Our kids get way too overstimulated in the parks. We go for a couple of hours, have lunch then head back for pool and nap. Go back after free dinner at homewood suites or go to eat dinner in the parks.

 

[smartlabelprint]

[QUOTE="sarahlizzy004, post: 61369850, member: 6581
Very much looking forward to this trip now. I was nervous that it might not be able to work at this age but I think with your suggestions we will still be able to have a magical time!
[/QUOTE]
This is one of the best ages!!!! 2 is hell.

 

[Aurora0427]

[QUOTE="sarahlizzy004, post: 61369850, member: 6581
Very much looking forward to this trip now. I was nervous that it might not be able to work at this age but I think with your suggestions we will still be able to have a magical time!

This is one of the best ages!!!! 2 is hell.
[/QUOTE]

HahHahaha! I’ll take your 2 is hell and raise you age 3. One more month until she turns 4 and hoping there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[limace]

My kids were all the worst at four. Sorry. My daycare provider called it the “F-you Fours”. .

 

[Aurora0427]

Thank you so much for everyone's help and advice! Sorry I can't respond to each of you, I'm having some technical difficulties but I wanted to make sure you guys knew I read what you posted and appreciate your help. My daughter has been a tough one to get to sleep since birth but she will nap in carriers or in the stroller so we will give that a go! If not, we're at the Disneyland Hotel so it's easy for one of us to make it back into the parks on our own to spend some quiet time and do what we want.

Very much looking forward to this trip now. I was nervous that it might not be able to work at this age but I think with your suggestions we will still be able to have a magical time!

If she will nap in a stroller, you’re golden. With my first she wouldn’t sleep unless she had her own sleeping ROOM until she was 2, so travel was hard. She slept in A LOT of hotel room bathrooms in the pack and play. But the second has been much easier to travel with.... just kind of go with the flow and play it by ear and see how she does!

 

[jedimdes]

One thing we did was put our kiddo in a baby sling and let him fall asleep, we would stay out while carrying him

 

[smartlabelprint]

This is one of the best ages!!!! 2 is hell.

HahHahaha! I’ll take your 2 is hell and raise you age 3. One more month until she turns 4 and hoping there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
[/QUOTE]
Great We took 2 yrs off in hopes this trip will be better at 4.75&5.9