First Time with Toddler

[VennerFmly3]

When I first started dating my husband he asked me if I have ever been to Disney. I said nope, I don't like theme parks. He said that he would have to take me to Disney someday. He said that Disney was more than a theme park and that I would love it. He was so right.

We were married in October 2001 and he planned the Land and Sea at Disney for our honeymoon. It was so magical – I loved every minute and I was hooked!! We made a promise to come back every year and we have been successful in doing this even if it is for a weekend.

This year we are celebrating our 5th anniversary and we are planning to go to Disney in October. We have a 17-month-old baby and this will be her first trip to Disney. She will be almost 19mts when we go. People think that we are nuts and we get all kinds of comments – she is too young… she will never appreciate it. I think that they are just not “Normal” Disney People

Do you Normal Disney People think we are nuts for taking our 19 month daughter on he first Disney Trip at her age?

We will be at Disney the end of October and we are staying at the POP Resort. We also purchased meal vouchers for Disney Dining. I think that there will be more than enough food for her to share with us. We are planning 2 parks – Magic Kingdom and MGM. We are driving down from SC and so we will bring our own stroller.

I am in need of tips and suggestions so that this is a successful trip. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

I don't think there is any problem with it at all. We are adopting and planning on taking our daughter when she is 2.
I think if you want to go and you think she can handle it then you should all go and have a great time. We see babies there allll the time.
Have a great time!!! I wish we could go sooner but with the expense of the adoption we will have to wait a bit.

 

[mumto2]

It was a great trip! He loved the characters, especially Minnie Mouse. He also loved the boats (we stayed at WL and took the boat to MK, FW and CR).

For us the key was to follow his schedule. We were at the parks for opening in the morning, usually stayed until lunch, then went back so he could nap. We'd go back out late in the afternoon until early evening.

No, he will never remember any of the trip, but I will never forget the look of awe on his face the whole week. Memories of him sitting on the floor of the Character Connection at Epcot with Max comparing shoes (DS was having quite the conversation - wish we could have understood more of it!), cuddling with Chip and Dale and playing in the water fountains at all the parks (after the first day, we learned to include the watershoes in the diaper bag).

As for food, there were four of us (Me, DH, DD8 and DS), and we only bought a kids meal for him once (at Coral Reef) because we all wanted food that he didn't care for. Other than that, there was always enough to share with him.

We had a fridge in our room and kept milk in it. We also stopped at SuperTarget on our way in and bought some cut up veggies, fruit and cheese to have on hand. We carried a small soft-sided cooler to the parks with us each day with bottled water (semi-frozen) and the snacks. We also took a couple of empty sippie cups with us (one for water and one for the milk we'd order with a meal), since DS doesn't want you to hold his cup and doesn't always do well with a straw and a lid.

We also had his stroller and a harness for when he wanted to walk.

The trip was great, and we'd do it all over again in a heartbeat! Enjoy!

 

[bduplantis]

We just got back from Disney with our 19 month old. Will she remember it? No. But, she had a BLAST! She loved all the kiddie rides and did great in all the 3D movies. She did not like the characters, so I did not push the issue. I actually got a little teary eyed when I saw her reaction to all the "Disney Magic." Like the PP, we just kept her schedule as consistant as possible...naps are a MUST! Go and enjoy!

 

[Lil'DisneyMom]

We just got back with our 28 month old. He absolutely loved it. He won't remember it, but we sure will. Seeing his face light up when he saw those characters brought tears to my eyes. And every night since we got home, he asks when we are going back to "Mickey's House". It was a pricesless experience.

 

[mamax2]

When I first started dating my husband he asked me if I have ever been to Disney. I said nope, I don't like theme parks. He said that he would have to take me to Disney someday. He said that Disney was more than a theme park and that I would love it. He was so right.

We were married in October 2001 and he planned the Land and Sea at Disney for our honeymoon. It was so magical – I loved every minute and I was hooked!! We made a promise to come back every year and we have been successful in doing this even if it is for a weekend.

This year we are celebrating our 5th anniversary and we are planning to go to Disney in October. We have a 17-month-old baby and this will be her first trip to Disney. She will be almost 19mts when we go. People think that we are nuts and we get all kinds of comments – she is too young… she will never appreciate it. I think that they are just not “Normal” Disney People

Do you Normal Disney People think we are nuts for taking our 19 month daughter on he first Disney Trip at her age?

We will be at Disney the end of October and we are staying at the POP Resort. We also purchased meal vouchers for Disney Dining. I think that there will be more than enough food for her to share with us. We are planning 2 parks – Magic Kingdom and MGM. We are driving down from SC and so we will bring our own stroller.

I am in need of tips and suggestions so that this is a successful trip. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

If you go every year, and plan to still go every year, I totally don't think your nuts. If this was going to be a once in a lifetime thing, then maybe it might be a waste to take a child when they're that little, but even if she doesn't remember this trip, you will. And she'll just never remember a year that she didn't go to Disney. My sister was two the first time she went, and her earliest memories of family vacations are Disney. We have a picture of her at two, and Mickey is holding her.

 

[jchick]

Okay, I admit, I have a 2 year old (she'll be 3 in Nov) that is the child if I had had her first, there wouldn't have been another one (you guys know exactly what I mean! )

Anyhow, we just got back last night after 6 nights at the Sport's budget resort (the exact name escapes me right now) on site. I hated staying there. I think it was b/c we were in the room so much...if you're not in the room much, it's probably fine. Even though the price was great, in hindsight I would have rather paid more to get a nicer place with more room (even if we had to stay offsite....this coming from a diehard onsite person).

It was too much for her and for us with her. I'm sure it depends on the kid, but we truely tried to do too much. I felt like I ripped off my DD8, as this was her trip too (even though she went at 4, she doesn't remember much!). We went back for naps everyday, went back out late afternoon, but she was still cranky even after a nap. Day 4, she started running a fever that evening, we took her back to our room, loaded up on Motrin and Tylenol and pretty much stayed put. We left for a few hours the next day to go see some stuff at MK that we missed, but besides that, we stayed in our room making sure she was okay.

Don't get me wrong, it was a good trip, just not as "magical" as our other trips have been. We will be going again in less than 2 years, she'll be 4 and probably at the "perfect" age.

 

[scavon]

Our first trip was last year (September 2005 -offsite). My 2 DDs at the time were 40 months and 18 months. We are going for our 2nd trip for Halloween this year and they are both so excited. The older one talks about the rides all the time and the younger one is even starting to get excited. Last year we were there right when they started decorating for Halloween. So while the 40th month old was riding Haunted Mansion with DH (she loved it so much she rode it 3 times), the younger one and I went into the shop nearby and bought the Mickey Mouse pumpkin pails. They carried those things around until Christmas and I just unpacked them a couple weeks ago. They are just as excited as I am and are already packing their toys to take with them. Enjoy your trip and make some great memories!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Our 1st trip as parents, ds9 was 3. I was in my 3rd trimester w/baby #2, now ds6. Everyone said he wouldn't remember it and thought we were crazy. I'm so glad we went. I really don't care if he remembers it. I know we will. I thought he would bow down to worship Captn Hook, he was sooo thrilled to meet the real CH!
My parents took me when I was 6 and I barely remember anything. My parents didn't take many pictures so that doesn't help. At what age will a child remember everything? 12? 15? Heck, I went to Italy in 1990 just after graduating college and I can't remember everything! A coworker waited until her kids were 12 and 13 to go to WDW and they hated MK and complained when she wanted them to pose for pictures w/ characters. It's just not as magical like it is with little kids. (like Christmas) They kept nagging her to go to Universal Studios for the big roller coasters. Don't get me wrong, I like it there too but there's nothing like MK with little ones!
My neighbor is also a Disney nut so we both laugh that in order for kids to remember Disney, it's just like learning multiplication tables, repetition is the key!
We're surprising them Wed. with our 8th trip.
If a trip to WDW is something you like to do every year, I say go and have a blast. Just remember your pace will be much slower and don't be sad if dd is not thrilled. She is still a baby! have fun!

 

[ALittleDisneyFan]

Our Princess will be 16 months when she goes for the first time.. We have no problem with it. I know she will not remember it, but we will.. We have never questioned whether we should or not. My brother went when he was less then 6 mos old. lol My husband is already talking about her 2nd trip - and it MUST be in October so we can dress her up in a costume for the Halloween Parade.

 

[flortlebap]

We're taking our 13 month old in 3 days! They won't remember it - but it's about YOUR memories too. And what kid wouldn't enjoy all that stimulation?

 

[dorymom67]

Okay, I admit, I have a 2 year old (she'll be 3 in Nov) that is the child if I had had her first, there wouldn't have been another one (you guys know exactly what I mean! )

Anyhow, we just got back last night after 6 nights at the Sport's budget resort (the exact name escapes me right now) on site. I hated staying there. I think it was b/c we were in the room so much...if you're not in the room much, it's probably fine. Even though the price was great, in hindsight I would have rather paid more to get a nicer place with more room (even if we had to stay offsite....this coming from a diehard onsite person).

It was too much for her and for us with her. I'm sure it depends on the kid, but we truely tried to do too much. I felt like I ripped off my DD8, as this was her trip too (even though she went at 4, she doesn't remember much!). We went back for naps everyday, went back out late afternoon, but she was still cranky even after a nap. Day 4, she started running a fever that evening, we took her back to our room, loaded up on Motrin and Tylenol and pretty much stayed put. We left for a few hours the next day to go see some stuff at MK that we missed, but besides that, we stayed in our room making sure she was okay.

Don't get me wrong, it was a good trip, just not as "magical" as our other trips have been. We will be going again in less than 2 years, she'll be 4 and probably at the "perfect" age.

Oh my goodness! My daughter's will be the SAME exact ages when I take them in April '07. We are staying at the All-Star Music Suites, but I'm a bit freaked out now my 2 year old. She is EXTREMELY active. Climbing, running and constantly touching things she shouldn't. Throwing her back arching meltdowns. I took my 8 year old at 4 also, weird, huh? She had the ultimate ball. We stayed at the BCV and it was great. Feel like I'm going the cheap route for this trip but...I'm still paying close to $300 a night (peak) and it is "new". I like new. Wow! I hope I am not making a mistake with my 2 year old. She'll be 2 months shy of 3. Ughhh!!!

 

[tanyaandallie]

If you are nuts, so am I!!! We are going in November with my dd (3) and my ds (20mos when we go). We went to DL last year when dd was 2 and ds was 7 mos. It was a great trip. We plan on just taking it easy.

 

[erik'smom]

We just got back from a weekend trip to WDW. It was our son's first time there. (17 months old). Other than the long (4 + hours) car ride, everything else went wonderfully. He LOVED it.
His favorite thing was the monorail. We rode it at least 6 times.
We took our stroller, but forgot it at the hotel so he walked the entire time. The new pooh playground and toontown are great spots for little ones to burn off extra energy.
Also, our son is SHY!! But when he saw Mickey and Pooh, he loved it.

We also had a great time (DH and I). To see the awe and wonder on our baby's face made me break down more than once.

Have a great time. You are not nuts!

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

Our DD was 22 mos. on her first trip and a little over 2 on her second. Contrary to belief, she actually DOES remember a few things. She would say "Remember when we went on the boat ride and saw the pirates?" (PoC) or "Remember when the dinosaur sneezed on me?" (Ellen's Energy ride) I'm surprised at those weird things she remembers that isn't from pictures. She probably won't retain it long term, but that's what those pix are for, eh?

I also got a soft-sided photo book and put extra copies of the pictures from that trip in it. She loves to flip through it.

We went last week (she's a little over three) and she had a great time. The key was to let her go at her own pace. If she wanted to ride something again, we let her (Spaceship Earth and the Barnstormer). She also took a nap every day, either in her stroller or back at the room. I do feel like I didn't get to do as much as I wanted (we didn't make it all around the World Showcase at Epcot) but we were making memories for her.