First trip with an infant

[casndan]

We are planning to go to WDW this summer when DS is turning 1. I would love to hear some input from those who have traveled with a baby this age about what I should expect and any *things* that might make the trip easier. Thanks!

 

[connorsmom911]

I have travelled with a 20 mo old and a 15 mo old for their respective first trips, so I can offer some of my opinions...

-firstly, try to ignore all the jabs people will give you regarding your child being too young to remember, too young to enjoy, etc. Take loads of pictures and the memories you will have are priceless!!!

-take your own stroller. Your child will be used to it, Disney's strollers are not all that comfortable for little ones to cruise/nap in, and it's a long walk from the park gates to your car/bus/monorail!!

-plan your days around your child's schedule. This trip is not about you, it's about you enjoying your child's first trip! Schedule naps/swim back at the resorts, don't go overboard on late nights (later is probably okay, just not real late!). Also remember, Disney is major sensory overload!!!

-there are baby care centers in each park, and they are wonderful little retreats! Yes, there are baby change stations in all the restrooms, but the baby care centres are so much nicer, quieter (and I think cleaner).

-take every forseable medication you might need (ask your pharmacist before you leave home for suggestions). My first son was uber healthy, only encountering the odd sniffle in his life before we went on his first trip. Well, didn't he (and then later everyone else) pick up a rather nasty stomach bug the third night into the trip, vomitting, etc. The resort gift shop was closed, we had no car, and I had nothing to give him to settle his stomach. I now travel with a veritable pharmacy in my luggage! (Although I have read rave reviews about the Centracare clinics and Celebration hospital, just in case!)

-arm yourself with snacks/drinks. It's amazing how a little one can be entertained with Cheerios, Goldfish, cereal bars and a sippy cup while you're waiting for meals to be served/eaten. It's important to keep the little ones hydrated too!!

-My First Haircut at the barber shop on Main Street! Can't say enough about this. The CM's are so good with little ones, and they get a special certificate and mouse ears embroidered with "My First Haircut". You might have to wait in line, but it is well worth it. With my first son, I let his hair just go as soon as I found out we were planning the trip, because I had heard about this. By the time we got his hair cut, he looked like a girl! My second son didn't really have enough hair to warrant an actual cut, but I did it anyway, for tradition!

-Relax and enjoy yourself, and look at the World through your child's eyes!!

 

[casndan]

Thanks so much for all of that! I've already gotten a few "he's not going to remember it", uh, I am totally aware he won't but I WILL! I'll take lots of pictures and he can see them and laugh at them one day but this trip will be mainly for my memories We're planning to get his first haircut while we're there too, I'm glad that you said good things about it, I was definitely interested.

Can we go on rides with him? Say like Peter Pan, can he just ride on our lap? how does that work?

 

[ecatesby]

Just want to say that you will have SO much fun. We took our 6-month old last year, and we had a wonderful time. She was so entertained by the sounds and colors, and we have precious photos of her first meeting with Mickey & Minnie. A few random thoughts -
1. Agree on taking your own stroller - that worked really well for us.
2. Peter Pan is no problem! The only ride that scared me a little was Toy Story Mania - it whipped around a lot - but she was much smaller than your baby will be on this trip, so I wouldn't worry.
3. Sunscreen!

 

[StuckInKS]

Our youngest was 16 mos on our last trip and he had a great time. While I may not have taken him this young if he were an only child, I was not going to levave him behind while everyone else had a good time. He won't remember it (and whose to say a 5 year olds will either. I went to DL at 5 and only remember what I watched on video later,) but he still had a great time and we took lots of video/pictures. I agree on stroller, snacks, etc. Never thought about medicine (beyond infant tylenol,) but that is also a good idea. We took him on everything we could, including dark and somewhat scary rides like POTC, but he never got scared and enjoyed them. Since this was my first visit to WDW with a small child and I hadn't been in 10+ years, I was surprised at the number of rides he was able to enjoy. We have a few "fussy" pics, but that was usually near the end of the night when he was sleepy.

 

[Totoro]

We took our son to Disneyland at 13 months and then WDW at 18 months. I agree with the previous people in that you should take your own stroller, take advantage of the baby centers, and arm yourself with snacks.

I think what surprised me the most was what my son liked/didn't like and his ability to tell us these things. At that age, he was not big on the characters. I don't think he knew what to make of them (since grown out of this). Fireworks were just too loud for him. I have heard opposite from other people that their kids just loved fireworks at that age. Some of the rides/shows were also too loud for him and we started to carry children's ear plugs. If there was something he was not interested in, we moved onto to try the next thing. He loved the pools, sleeping in the hotel room, little playgrounds (in Mickey's Toon town, Pooh's Playful Spot, Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground, Splash Mountain play area), the monorail, the parades, and riding Main Street Transportation.

My son was also really good about just napping in his stroller. That also gave us a chance to switch off and have one of us go and ride something that was truly for an adult (ie. Space Mountain or Pirates).

My son won't remember his first trips but we have a lot of great pictures and memories.

 

[Corjack]

My DS was 7mo on our first trip with the kids and he LOVED everything!

He rode everything he could ride and often fell asleep on the rides.

Your own stroller is a must.

Taking some toys and things your child is familiar with and giving them just some regular down time if really helpful. My DS spent a lot of time in the stroller so in the room we would let him sit on a blanket on the floor and just play.

We will be going in Aug and our new DD will be 2 1/2 months old. I have no fear about taking her and really look forward to it. Like someone else said if she were the only child we might wait a bit but DD6 and DS2 1/2 are a GREAT age to go. We would never go without the baby either!

Jackie

 

[AudreysMom]

We're taking DD soon for her first birthday. Here's a little of what I have gleaned from various sources...

Our main stroller at home is a BOB Revolution. I found a Maclaren Volo at a great price on EBay to be our travel stroller. It doesn't recline, but it's much smaller and will be way more convenient for the plane, buses, etc. I've been using it a good bit lately so that DD will be used to it.

DD doesn't want to transition to sippies just yet (I've tried!) so we're going to wait until after the trip so she has what is comfortable and familar to her. We normally use Dr Brown's bottles, but I am thinking of getting some drop ins bottles so we have less to clean.

I am going to the dollar store to find some new toys to have for the flights or any other time I might need an ace in the hole.

Snacks! Snacks!

We're taking disposable bibs and table covers. My parents will be driving to the World so on their last visit to my house, I sent them home with a couple of bags of baby stuff (diapers, wipes, antibacterial wipes, bibs, etc.) If they hadn't been carrying that for us, I would have either shipped it to myself or ordered it from Amazon for delivery to the resort.

Everyone says the baby care centers are a great place for a break.

Enjoy the slower pace of this trip.

Lots of pictures!

I got a couple of the cup/toy leashes at Walgreens for $3 or so.

Some people say to leave the parks for an afternoon break but with a 12 mo old, he may nap in the stroller enough that you can just take some relaxing breaks at the park.

We normally have ADRs for each day but this time we have one at 1900 Park Fare, one at Rose and Crown and the birthday brunch at Chef Mickey's. We're going as a part of a larger group, so if DD, DH, and I make it to the character meals and eat quick service the rest of the time, I am happy.

We are DVC members, so I am going to feed DD a good breakfast and probably dinner in the villa.

That's all for now. I am very excited about my trip (can you tell?!?!) I hope you have a wonderful time taking your little one to WDW too!!!!

 

[harleyquinn]

Here's my thread with the same question! It's 10 pages long!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2218699

Our babies are only 5 days apart!! lol

When are you going?

 

[laughinplace199]

You've already received lots of great advice.

If you're going in the summer, I recommend a fan to clip onto your baby's stroller. Here is a pic of the one we have:

This was taken in Aug (a few years ago). We were drenched with sweat, but baby was very comfy. The fan kept him nice and cool.

 

[casndan]

harleyquinn we'll be there from 7/31-8/5...relatively short trip but it's also CHEAP! I loveeee the military discount they have this year it's amazing!

 

[kruegeme]

You will totally enjoy this trip with your your DS. Before the kids, my DW and I would do all the parks and do as much as possible in 5 or 6 days. Now we take our times and I can say with kids, its more of a vacation.

We took my DD on her first trip at 18 months and my DS on his first trip at 9 months of age. They both really enjoyed time with the characters and doing every ride that didn't have a height or age restrictions. Plan your schedule around nap times and your normal meal times. If you watch for them, there are a lot of little areas that you can pull aside so he can nap without leaving the parks and gives you or your spouse a chance to explore while he's asleep. If you are staying a near by resort, try to slip back for a nap or mid-day break.

 

[connorsmom911]

Oh, I forgot to add my 2 cents about the characters!!

I was really looking forward to my second DS meeting the characters on his first trip, so I had booked both Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey's for meals. We have awesome pics from my first DS's trip where we were the first family in the restaurant at CP breakfast and had some of the characters all to ourselves!! He LOVED the characters, couldn't get enough hugs and kisses in!!!

Well, second DS may have been 5 mo younger on his first trip and he HATED the characters!!! I was shocked because usually he is all about whatever big brother does (monkey see, monkey do in our house!), yet older DS was all hugs and smiles and autographs, and every picture I have of younger DS with the characters has the caption "GET THAT *$%@?* THING AWAY FROM ME!!!"

So, could go either way...but regardless, the pictures are priceless!!!