Mvmcp and a baby?

[noahsmom16]

I all! So I had another username but I mostly am a lurker and I forgot my password so I had to make a new one whoops! Anyways, I have a 4 month old and we've booked his very first disney vacation for November yay! My mom and most of my aunts and uncles are teachers and most of my trips have been with them, so besides one trip in May I've only ever been to disney in the summer and on our spring break. It's just my husband, the baby and I on this one so I booked it for November 1st to the 8th... Food and wine, Christmas party and free dining! The only thing is that I'm now second guessing bringing him to mvmcp? He currently goes to bed between 7 and 8 and I'm not sure how much we could push that or of he's going to be in meltdown mode? To fit our budget we were only doing one day at MK, one at Epcot and the party but do you think we're better doing two full mk days plus the Epcot one instead? If we go that day we can still see the castle lighting ceremony, right? I've never seen disney at Christmas at all and not sure when we would be back, plus from what I've read the resorts won't be decorated at all yet, so I don't know if it's worth the risk? I would hate to spend the money and have to leave before seeing the parade or anything anyways though...

TIA!

 

[figment_jii]

Assuming last year's party schedule repeats, the parade will be at 8:15 pm and 10:30 pm and the fireworks will be at 9:30 pm. For me, the parade and the fireworks are the key parts of MVMCP (others would also include the meet & greets), so if I wouldn't be able to stay and watch (and enjoy) both (so staying at least until 9:45 pm), I probably wouldn't purchase the party tickets. I think I would opt for two full day at MK and one day at Epcot (so no party).

 

[noahsmom16]

Assuming last year's party schedule repeats, the parade will be at 8:15 pm and 10:30 pm and the fireworks will be at 9:30 pm. For me, the parade and the fireworks are the key parts of MVMCP (others would also include the meet & greets), so if I wouldn't be able to stay and watch (and enjoy) both (so staying at least until 9:45 pm), I probably wouldn't purchase the party tickets. I think I would opt for two full day at MK and one day at Epcot (so no party).

Him ya. We could maybe push it for the early parade but that's a lot of money to spent for pretty much just that. I want to at least see the castle with the holiday light though... I'm guessing it won't be up the days before since that's the first day or mvmcp and we'll be kicked put of the park too early with a regular park ticket?

 

[mummabear]

So your baby will be about 10 months on your trip?
My 3 have been great on all our trips (Disney and otherwise) at sleeping on the go-at this age maybe in a front pack otherwise in the stroller, we just recline the seat (our goes flat), tuck them in and give them anything they would normally have (lovey, dummy etc our oldest had white noise so I had an ipod with a small portable speaker that played loud enough it helped her but I couldnt hear it pushing the stroller so it didnt disturb others) and put the sun cover over top (we do this both day naps and sleep time) if we need to be on the go. I would say do this and you will be fine.
We make a lot of sacrifices for our kids (which we happily choose to do when we have kids) and sometimes this means we miss out on stuff and thats just part of being a parent but sometimes its ok to have them fit around you a bit too-if you havent been to a mvmcp and don't know when you can make it back then go for it, enjoy it (and frankly it will be easier now than with a 4 or 5 year old.

 

[figment_jii]

Him ya. We could maybe push it for the early parade but that's a lot of money to spent for pretty much just that. I want to at least see the castle with the holiday light though... I'm guessing it won't be up the days before since that's the first day or mvmcp and we'll be kicked put of the park too early with a regular park ticket?

According to Allears.net, the Castle Lighting Ceremony was held daily at 6:30 pm, which is before the start of the party. So you can see that without having a party ticket.
http://allears.net/tp/castle-dream-lights-magic-kingdom.htm

I agree with mummabear that if your little one can nap/sleep in a stroller then perhaps you can stay to see the parade and fireworks. Unfortunately, given how much things change in just six months with babies, it's hard to guess how he'll react. Ultimately, it all depends on the child. I tend to a little more cautious in terms of planning because I'd hate to have spent all that money and then have a little one that utterly melts down and then have to leave the party early.

 

[BubMunkeyBles]

I took my kids when they were babies. They often fell asleep but we thought it was worth it. We had military tickets which are highly discounted though so we weren't out high amounts of money when we left right after fireworks.

You can always wait until closer to your trip to decide on whether to do the party. I'd probably only do one MK day and then a different park another day but that's just preferences. AK and HS have always been my small kids favorite parks.

 

[noahsmom16]

I'd be fine with him falling asleep and missing a lot of it if it meant my husband and I could stick around late, but it's true I'm not sure how he'll be in 6 months. Right now he falls asleep on walks sometimes in his stroller but otherwise he won't in his swing, baby carrier or in the car, he needs to be actively put to sleep for the most part. I wish we could bring my mom to have a grandma babysitter but since she's a teacher she can't get the time off. He does use a white noise machine and we have a portable one, we could put it in the stroller with the cover on it and cross our finger! I guess we just need to decide whether it's worth the risk. Knowing I at least will get to see the castle lighting makes me lean more towards a full day, I think we'll get more for our money that way.

 

[noahsmom16]

I'd probably only do one MK day and then a different park another day but that's just preferences. AK and HS have always been my small kids favorite parks.

I thought about that but it just seems like there's so little he can do at HS (I've been reading trip reports and it mostly seems like constant baby swapping, and my husband and I don't really want to ride stuff alone). Plus how can we compete on midway mania if one us needs to hold the baby Animal kingdom I'm sure he would love the animals but we have a great zoo close by and besides the animal stuff there's not a ton of stuff left... I just feel like he can ride almost everything at MK and a lot of the rides have music and things to look at for a baby, and two days would make things nice and relaxed for a long nap time in the afternoon. I would take him with a bigger party so baby swapping wasn't so lonely but not with just the two of us.

 

[figment_jii]

Animal kingdom I'm sure he would love the animals but we have a great zoo close by and besides the animal stuff there's not a ton of stuff left.

I wouldn't rule out Animal Kingdom just because you have a zoo nearby to you (my point of reference is that San Diego Zoo). I do love that fact that there aren't a lot of "cages" per se at AK, so you're view of the animals seems clearer. Though, if you goal is rides, then there really aren't very many for small children because it's mostly either old-kid rides (DinoLand), thrill rides, or shows.

Still, if you only have three days, I would also probably focus on MK and Epcot.

 

[JennyKS]

I took my then 6 month old to the Christmas party and he just slept in the stroller during the fireworks and parade. I was for sure the loud fireworks would wake him up but it didn't. Took turn riding rides with my other child while the lines were short. Had to take him out of the stroller to get on the bus but he just slept.

 

[mummabear]

I'd be fine with him falling asleep and missing a lot of it if it meant my husband and I could stick around late, but it's true I'm not sure how he'll be in 6 months. Right now he falls asleep on walks sometimes in his stroller but otherwise he won't in his swing, baby carrier or in the car, he needs to be actively put to sleep for the most part. I wish we could bring my mom to have a grandma babysitter but since she's a teacher she can't get the time off. He does use a white noise machine and we have a portable one, we could put it in the stroller with the cover on it and cross our finger! I guess we just need to decide whether it's worth the risk. Knowing I at least will get to see the castle lighting makes me lean more towards a full day, I think we'll get more for our money that way.

I think it's just something kids get used to doing, ours have almost always done. I think having a lovey can help (we use a cuski bamboo one that holds you smell and is breathable, they are safe from newbown NICU units use them) and having sleep cues ( reclining, shade over, his white noise) this can help even if you decide not to do the party as he will need to nap during the day too

 

[linzbear]

We'll be bringing a 10mo baby in November, too! I've done babies before, and I generally just put them in a carrier on my back and they fall asleep if they're tired. Front doesn't work so well because they keep trying to interact with you. That said, we have no plans to go to the Christmas party (of course we have to buy 4 tickets, too!).

 

[noahsmom16]

I wouldn't rule out Animal Kingdom just because you have a zoo nearby to you (my point of reference is that San Diego Zoo). I do love that fact that there aren't a lot of "cages" per se at AK, so you're view of the animals seems clearer. Though, if you goal is rides, then there really aren't very many for small children because it's mostly either old-kid rides (DinoLand), thrill rides, or shows. Still, if you only have three days, I would also probably focus on MK and Epcot.

Oh I love ak more than a zoo, but it's still a lot of money to spend for pretty much just animals is my point. If I had an extra day maybe...

 

[noahsmom16]

I think it's just something kids get used to doing, ours have almost always done. I think having a lovey can help (we use a cuski bamboo one that holds you smell and is breathable, they are safe from newbown NICU units use them) and having sleep cues ( reclining, shade over, his white noise) this can help even if you decide not to do the party as he will need to nap during the day too

Ya I'll see how he does I guess. We're renting a car and were planning on going to our resort for an afternoon nap and possibly using the baby car centres to at least nurse him to sleep and transfer him to the stroller if need be for a nap or too. I hope he becomes a better sleeper! He's the worst in the car if it's past his bedtime... Even with his white noise, stuffy, full tummy a pacifier and it being the dark and his bedtime he will scream for an entire hour long car ride. Daytime isn't so bad so far...

 

[MSSANDRA]

It's so going to depend on what kind of baby you end up with. Six months from now is a long time and you will have a 10 month old. At that age she might be happy as a lark to sleep in the stroller till midnight while you stroll and enjoy the party and she might scream at 7;00 to go to bed in her crib. No way to guess yet. I would suggest waiting as long as possible and taking that chance of it selling out over the chance of wasting a ton of money on the party.

 

[mummabear]

Ya I'll see how he does I guess. We're renting a car and were planning on going to our resort for an afternoon nap and possibly using the baby car centres to at least nurse him to sleep and transfer him to the stroller if need be for a nap or too. I hope he becomes a better sleeper! He's the worst in the car if it's past his bedtime... Even with his white noise, stuffy, full tummy a pacifier and it being the dark and his bedtime he will scream for an entire hour long car ride. Daytime isn't so bad so far...

You poor thing! That must make life a wee bit hard. I tell you nothing makes me feel more stressed than a baby screaming in the car. Our youngest (3 months yesterday) is the worst of all of them in the car which is terrible because she spends the most time in it running around after her older sisters!
They will change alot between now and the end of the year, things they are great at now will all of a sudden become a problem and vice versa.
Ours will be 6 months when we go in Sept, whatever you decide best of luck

 

[momofmaz]

How good a sleeper is he? My son, almost 3, sleeps through everything. We recently stayed until 11. His normal bed time is 730. He fell asleep at 9 in the stroller and slept through the light show and the fireworks. We got to enjoy them which was actually amazing.

 

[noahsmom16]

I would suggest waiting as long as possible and taking that chance of it selling out over the chance of wasting a ton of money on the party.

That's probably what I'll do, thanks

 

[noahsmom16]

You poor thing! That must make life a wee bit hard. I tell you nothing makes me feel more stressed than a baby screaming in the car. Our youngest (3 months yesterday) is the worst of all of them in the car which is terrible because she spends the most time in it running around after her older sisters! They will change alot between now and the end of the year, things they are great at now will all of a sudden become a problem and vice versa. Ours will be 6 months when we go in Sept, whatever you decide best of luck

Ugh ya it's not fun. I was at my parents house today and he was great all day long, napped great there, but I wanted to leave at 430 to let him nap in the car and time it for two hours awake before his 730 bedtime. My mom borrowed my car and didn't bring it back till 6:30 and everyone made fun of me for being stressed about it. Guess who got to drive alone with a screaming baby for an hour?

Hopefully he's better by then! Plus it's the car that he makes him upset,move never had him out in the stroller at bedtime so maybe he would sleep in it no problem. Then we only have a short car ride to the resort.

Good luck with your baby too! I'm so excited, if even one ride or character makes him happy I'll probably cry like a baby and call the trip a success

 

[noahsmom16]

How good a sleeper is he? My son, almost 3, sleeps through everything. We recently stayed until 11. His normal bed time is 730. He fell asleep at 9 in the stroller and slept through the light show and the fireworks. We got to enjoy them which was actually amazing.

If he falls asleep while it's noisy he stays asleep... He slept through fireworks and a thunderstorm this week! So if he fell asleep he would be fine I'm just not sure he would fall asleep in the first place. Hard to tell this far put I guess!