Going to Disney with our 16 month old

[Wondrmom]

We are going to Orlando for a week with our 16 month old daughter. We are staying off-property and are trying to figure out how many days and what parks we should attend. We certainly want to go to Magic Kingdom, but is one day enough or should we go more than one day. Also, what other park(s) would she enjoy the most (AK, Universal, etc.)? I don't want to burn her out or over-stimulate her. Based on your experiences what do you recommend?

Thanks

 

[Stitch Inside]

If you are going during one of the busier seasons you should allow two days to do MK, otherwise one day should suffice. I don't see any reason to take a 16 month old to any of the other parks unless there is something you want to see there IMHO.

 

[flynnmnstr]

We toured all the Disney parks-- Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Epcot are great with little ones. MGM has only a few good attractions for toddlers- Little Mermaid, Playhouse Disney and Honey I Shrunk Kids playground.

In Epcot, our DS enjoyed strolling around the different countries as well as the attractions in Future World (Land, Imagination, Living Seas, and Cranium Command in Wonders of Life), plus DH and I got to eat in amazing restaurants without worries that DS would be out of place.

You'll defintiely need two days at Magic Kingdom and one at Animal Kingdom.

At AK get there before the park opens on a non early entry day. Go straight to the Safari ride in Africa then scoot over to the 1st Lion King show. Animals are most active in the morning and the 1st show is really not that crowded you'll be able to walk right in and get a good seat. Spend the rest of your time walking around the attractions and make sure to visit the Boneyard.

Honestly I would get a 5 or 6 Day pass. Go to the park a couple of hours each morning then go back to your hotel in the afternoon to nap and relax and swim. Then go back to the park in the evening. We normally do one park in the morning and then go to a different park in the evening.

 

[Wondrmom]

Thank you both for your suggestions and experiences

 

[BevS97]

I would go to all the parks that YOU want to see - the baby will be quite happy anywhere - we took our 18 month old last October (she was 14 months) and she had a great time. The fountains at Epcot were one of her favorite things

How long a trip are you planning? I would do one day at AK and MGM and spend the rest of your time at Epcot and MK - we could go back to MK & Epcot day after day, we really love both those parks.

 

[Wondrmom]

BevS97~ We are going down for a week. We really like to have a few lazy days by the pool. However, I keep telling my husband that lazy days by the pool don't quite mean the same thing now that we have a toddler. So it is still undetermined how many days we will spend at the parks. Probably looking at 3 days. By the way I love your picture. That is absolutely precious.

 

[BevS97]

I have to say that lazy days by the pool don't work for us since we had kids - you can't just relax in teh sun and read a book or sleep as you have to have your eyes peeled for drowning toddlers!

i much prefer to be in the parks and we come back and have an hour in the pool in the afternoon then back to the parks- the pool is just too stressful for me - but that could just be me!

 

[crl]

When we took DD at that age we only did 2 days of parks with rest days in between the two days. We hit AK since DD is an animal nut. Then after her nap at OKW, we hopped to Epcot. Then we spent one whole day in MK. For her that was plenty enough. The other days we resort hopped and played in the pool or went to DD. Every child is different, but that's what worked for us.

 

[the kabuki]

I would go to all the parks that YOU want to see - the baby will be quite happy anywhere - we took our 18 month old last October (she was 14 months) and she had a great time. The fountains at Epcot were one of her favorite things

How long a trip are you planning? I would do one day at AK and MGM and spend the rest of your time at Epcot and MK - we could go back to MK & Epcot day after day, we really love both those parks.

I second that, a 16 month will be happy anywhere. Start figuring out what you want to see and plan accordingly. I warn you though, there's alot out there, more than you probably realized. 4 days would be a better option, 5 if you really want to take it easy

 

[summersfam4]

Our last trip was when our little DD was 17 months. We ended up planning our 10 day vacation ended up with park days as follows (note that we had DD#1 with us also she was 5 at the time and a great sister who's been touring Disney World since she was 17 months).

MK on third day
water park on fourth day (a wonderful thing for BOTH DD's)
Epcot on fifth day
MK again on seventh day
AK/MGM on eighth day
water park again on nineth day (again a favorite of these water lovers)
Downtown Disney on tenth day (a favorite due to toy shopping and of course water in those dancing fountains)

We had only planned to do 3 park days and 1 water park, but MK was such a favorite that we knew the girls would love to go back (there is so much that they could do together!). Also the water park was such a big hit since it had slides that were appropriate for both DD's that as you can see we had to purchase another day there too! We have decided that once you have small children a day at the water park isn't any more work than a day poolside, but it can be much more fun. Consider the Barber Shop for a first haircut, paint, & pixie dust (adorable for pics but the downside is that due to the glitter need to be washed out at the end of the day).

Have fun!

Kelly