Newbie here! Should I take 1YO son to WDW?

[labdogs42]

I'm considering taking my son to Disney for his first birthday in February. Am I crazy? (please be honest!) Has anyone here taken a one year old to WDW? What tips do you have? Where should we stay? How long? We'd be flying from PA if that factors in to the picture. Would I need to rent a car if we stayed on site?

BTW, DH and I have been to Disney many times, but we are dying to go again and take our son! We know he can't go on all the rides, but what can he go on? What kind of things do i need to know before i decide if we're going or not? Sorry to ask so many questions in one post -- I'll stop now!

Jessica

 

[WIDisneyFan]

I would say as long as you realize the trip is really for you and your DH, and as long as you remember to keep the pace appropriate for a 1yo then GO FOR IT and have a Wonderful Vacation! Last summer my wife and I took our at the time 3 month old son for a 4 day weekend and we are headed back next summer for 8 days (he will be 16 months old for the trip)

As to the rest of your question - I guess I would say the easier the transportation the better - if you can afford it a monorail resort would likely be the best (we did WL last summer and will be at the Poly in July)

On the rental car topic - we have been 3 times now and returning for the 4th - we had a car once and likely never again - it simply sat in the lot the whole time. What has worked best for us is to hire a town car service (price is somewhere just over $100 roundtrip) and make a grocery stop with them on the way to the resort.

On the question of duration - I guess you can answer that best - how does your son do sleeping away from home ? It will only be fun with him sleeping well right? So I would base the decision on that more than anything else.

As for tips I have just a couple
1) Take it SLOW - an afternoon nap works wonders
2) Get a seat on the plane for your son - you can put the carseat in it - both from a comfort for you and a safety for him standpoint
3) Find out where the baby care centers are at each park - they are on the map and can be VERY useful
4) HAVE FUN!

If there is anything else I can try to answer feel free to ask away

 

[Lulu's Mom]

I'm considering taking my son to Disney for his first birthday in February. Am I crazy? (please be honest!) Has anyone here taken a one year old to WDW? What tips do you have? Where should we stay? How long? We'd be flying from PA if that factors in to the picture. Would I need to rent a car if we stayed on site?

BTW, DH and I have been to Disney many times, but we are dying to go again and take our son! We know he can't go on all the rides, but what can he go on? What kind of things do i need to know before i decide if we're going or not? Sorry to ask so many questions in one post -- I'll stop now!

Jessica

First of all Hello
I cam across these boards a while ago when I was wondering the same question, only my DD was 5 months, we have also visited when she was 15 months. I say do it. Both of these trips have been the best ever.

My DD went on all the rides that do not have height requirements, some she love, IASW and some she did not like so much, POC, but she was so excited and happy to see everything. She loved Pooh's PLayful Spot and just seeing all the people everywhere. We took her to MNSSHP, which turned out to be the highlight of our trip.

I would say to definatly do it, you all will have such a great time. One thing to consider though is that you guys might need to slow down your park going, if you were crazy about it before. Since we have slowed down our park expeirences to experience different things, like the resorts, it has made our trips that much better, relaxing and memorable.

If I can help with anything else please let me know.

 

[OldSchoolDisney]

I love Disney (repeat love Disney) and as you see by my profile have been many times......I have kids 4, 8 & 10........went for the first time with them when 10 year old was just over 1........did he enjoy it?......yes I would say as far as a one year old can......but it is a lot of work for you and your husband.......I would suggest taking a extra year putting away some more money and doing it bigtime for him or her when they are 2 or 3.......I don't know your situation in terms of having more kids in the future etc but I think your child will get much more out of Disney when he or she is 2 or 3........and I think you will enjoy much more also.......just my two cents and probably only worth about a half a penny on the open market.........

 

[labdogs42]

We had to take it slow on our last trip because I was pregnant at the time! I didn't get to go on a lot of rides that time, so this time I can go on rides again and DH can stay with DS! I'm OK with taking it easy. I like the town car idea. That sounds reasonable. My son does well sleeping away from home, so that shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Is WL on the monorail? I thought only GF, Contemporary, and Polynesian were. The only time I've stayed onsite was at the Swan, so i haven't visited a lot of the resorts.

Do you recommend taking my own stroller and/or backpack carrier? It seems like a lot to have to take on the plane with a car seat, too. Do they let you take all that stuff? (can you tell I haven't traveled with a baby before?) Thanks for your help so far -- I'm sure I'll have a lot more questions!

Jessica

 

[kangaand2roos]

I too am from PA and have been to WDW with my kids as young as 4 1/2 weeks. We leave in 9 days for my almost 3YO daughter's 10th visit, my 10 MO son's 4th. AND most of the time's I've been there I have been alone with her/them as my hubby is usually working when we are in Orlando. Take it at your baby's pace, use the baby centers and you'll have a great time. Plus, it's great for everyone to get some fresh air and sunshine that time of year.

How many Labs do you have. We have (actually share with my dad) 2 black females. Moxie (6)and Murphy (13). I

kanga

 

[bopper]

Like they all said, do this for you, and not your child. If this will be your "big trip", then wait. Actually this age may not be a good one at all. Not so much a lap-baby, but not old enough to know what is going on. That being said, if you go all the time anyway, then take him along! We happened to go to WDW when my oldest was 9 months. It was fun to see her interacting with the characters, looking at the fish, and she could go on rides like Small World. Go at his pace. You will find out if going back to the hotel for a nap is the best strategy or just catching a nap in the stroller.

Also decide what you are going to do about rides the baby can't go on. Are you going to do the "parent swap"? Or are you going to stick to attractions that the whole family can do?

But keep in mind he won't really get it. Does he recognize any of the characters now?

 

[labdogs42]

I too am from PA and have been to WDW with my kids as young as 4 1/2 weeks. We leave in 9 days for my almost 3YO daughter's 10th visit, my 10 MO son's 4th. AND most of the time's I've been there I have been alone with her/them as my hubby is usually working when we are in Orlando. Take it at your baby's pace, use the baby centers and you'll have a great time. Plus, it's great for everyone to get some fresh air and sunshine that time of year.

How many Labs do you have. We have (actually share with my dad) 2 black females. Moxie (6)and Murphy (13). I

kanga

I have two male labs -- a yellow lab named Lager who is 6 and a chocolate one named Porter who is 5.

Wow -- I can't believe your daughter has already been there 10 times! Sounds like you have this down pat! Do you drive or fly from PA?

Jessica

 

[labdogs42]

Like they all said, do this for you, and not your child. If this will be your "big trip", then wait.

It won't be the only "big trip". We won't go every year, but every few for sure.

Jessica

 

[WIDisneyFan]

You are right WL is not on the monorail but does have boat service to the MK - In looking what I wrote I should have said part of the reason we were going back to the Polynesian is the monorail - the other part is we love it!!!!

On the stroller question - we took our own (and it is a fairly large stroller and was worth all the effort) You can take both the stroller and the car seat right to the gate with you. They will check the stroller planeside and return it to you as you get off the plane, and if you will have a seat for the little guy just use the carseat there.

 

[staci]

I would definitely take your own stroller at that age. your child will be more comfortable, and they are not old enough to walk when you need your hands. so the airport, at the resort, and walking to the transportation at the parks you will want your stroller.

We took a smaller cheaper one (not our big travel system). The charactaristics that a stroller would need for US would be reclining, sunshade, and a basket.

we took ds at 23 months and had a blast. there were some stressful moments, but there are memories that will never be forgotten as well.

 

[jessica52877]

We took our son when he was only 6 weeks old the first time, it had been almost a year since I had gone and really wanted too. Even that age I thoroughly believe he enjoyed it, he was intrigued with all the lights and what nots. We aren't big rushers when there, happy to take our time, we'll see what we see and ride what we can. We go 3-4 times a year, just for a weekend, so enjoy taking it easy. My son has been several times, not quite 3 yet and loves it all, remembers everything (probably from pictures and videos) but if I had to do it all over again I would by far take him again!

I would take my own stroller, he is too little for a rented one and you'll want one other places, we actually bought a special stroller for just disney once he could sit up, before that took the regular travel system. I enjoy a smaller one that has conveniences of a larger one, can recline, basket, canopy for shade. The smaller the easier to move around. I tend to try to be a polite stroller driver as I notice so many ramming their way through! I also had a baby bjorn and enjoyed having it, the characters LOVED seeing such a small baby and we have priceless pictures!

He was able to go on any ride without a height restriction, which is 90% of them. We enjoyed our trip as usual. In fact he tells me now he wants Mickey Mouse to cut his hair, we took him for his first cut there, just a bang trim, then a real one, now he won't get his hair cut again until we go back!

Good luck and enjoy!

 

[labdogs42]

I'm thinking about doing the haircut thing, too. It is already starting to get long, so I hope we can make it until we go on the trip!

 

[kangaand2roos]

I have two male labs -- a yellow lab named Lager who is 6 and a chocolate one named Porter who is 5.

Wow -- I can't believe your daughter has already been there 10 times! Sounds like you have this down pat! Do you drive or fly from PA?

Jessica

We have always flown, but we might dirve down in February or March to join my dad who will be there on business.

Where in PA are you?

 

[labdogs42]

Greater Allentown Area -- how about you?

 

[tylersmommie]

I also say go for it...We took DS last Feb. at 8 mos and are back down in 52 days (DS will be 20 mos.) We had an amazing time to say the least - true, DS will not remember it, but we will always remember how his face lit up and can always show him pictures when he is older.

Here are my recommendations: 1) Yes bring your own stroller - you can gate check it at the airport and it will be waiting for you when you get off the plane. 2) Get a seat for DS - he'll just think he's in the car. They sell backpack cases for the carseat that help a great deal when getting through the airport. 3) Last time we only stayed 5 days thinking it would be better for the baby and we felt like we had to rush everything - it was almost worse for DS. This time we are staying 8 days. 4) If you DS still eats baby food, try to do the grocery stop thing (we didn't know about this). We packed so much food, formula and diapers last time, we had to pay over $50 for over weight baggage. 5) A hip hammock is a great help - especially when waiting on lines (no strollers allowed) and he will be secured to you when on the rides. Plus it will give him a better view of some attractions.

Have fun and good luck!! (Sorry so long!)