? OKW with 1 year old

[Tigger7570]

Our son, daughter-in-law and granddaughters will be joining us this trip and one granddaughter will have just turned 1. I was wondering about the portable play pen and how everyone's experience has been with it for a one year old in regard to sleeping. Is there a regular crib available or did you find that the portable worked fine. We will be staying in a two bedroom so we will have plenty of room. My biggest concern is that our 1 year old granddaughter will be comfortable. Our other granddaughter is six and has been before so we have no worries about her in regard to sleeping. Thanks in advance for any help. Any other suggestions in regards to traveling, staying and a trip with a one year old will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Regina]

When we were just there, we found the usual portapak crib in the closet.

I also saw a housekeeper delivering a wooden crib to a unit. It was not full sized, but it may be a bit more comfortable for the baby.

 

[kdonnel]

Our daughter celebrated her 1 year birthday at OKW. She was fine in the pak n play. Keep in mind they do not provide the correct sheets. They just leave a regular sheet which is a safety hazard. You will want to bring your own pak n play sheets.

Of course at 3 she would still sleep in a pak n play when we travel if we let her. It was a sad day when we stopped letting her sleep in them. She really misses them.

 

[Nanajo1]

We will be using a "big "crib next week for my BIL's baby. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm not sure what the CM meant when he said this would be better. I figured we'd try it and we can always ask to have it taken away if it doesn't work out or makes the room too crowded.

 

[justcruisin]

I recall there was an appropiate sheet for the pack-n-play. With Mickey on it, of course.

 

[Scoootch]

We have always gotten a full size crib when we have stayed. Ds now 2 1/2 is just finally growing out of a crib altogether. But from 1yr on we felt the pack-n-play was getting a bit small. You can request a full size crib along with any other requests such as non-smoking or room location, etc. They are trying to faze them out apparently though as the last 2 trips we took they said they'll note the request but can't guarentee it. But we managed to get the full size crib both times without a problem and it worked out wonderful for us. Just request it when you book and then keep after them by pointing out the request at check-in and if it doesn't show up when you reach the room -- call mousekeeping. They do have them, they are just sometimes difficult to come by.

Beyond that, take advantage of the baby centers in each of the 4 parks. They are absolutely wonderful! They have CLEAN cushy changing tables (much cleaner than the regular baby changers in the regular bathrooms IMO), high chairs to feed older babies, special rooms for nursing mothers, and a kitchen w/microwave where you can make formula & food and wash everything up. All free of charge! They also sell diapers and food & various baby items in case you find you have run out or forgotten anything.

Hope this was of some help. Have a great trip!

 

[Tigger7570]

Thanks everyone for the great ideas. I will definitely call today and request the crib. Also, thanks Scoootch for the info about the Baby Centers. We are going home April 1 and I can't wait. It gives me something to look forward to during this cold, snowy, winter in MA.

 

[Scoootch]

You are very welcome! Have a great trip!!

 

[FreeTime]

We did request the crib one time but had housekeeping come back and get it. The matress didn't fit in it and was a major safety hazad. The Mickey sheets that come with the pack in play are too big and really don't fit (I think that they are made for their mini cribs that they bring). Definately bring your own sheet. I would use the pack in play also because you can fold it up if you need more room in the day time.

 

[Scoootch]

Originally posted by FreeTime
We did request the crib one time but had housekeeping come back and get it. The matress didn't fit in it and was a major safety hazad.

I would use the pack in play also because you can fold it up if you need more room in the day time.

Sorry to hear they sent a crib that was in such bad shape but for us, we never had that happen. I'd definetly inspect it to make sure it was in good shape and if not call mousekeeping and have them bring another that is in good condition. Although the pack-n-play is smaller and can be folded up, you may want to consider first if your child is going to be comfortable in it. My ds was getting too big for the pack-n-play to be comfortable and wasn't quite ready to be all the way in the living room away from us at only 14mos with bed rails on the pull out couch (we stayed in a 1bdrm that time). We had plenty of room for the full size crib in the Master bdrm, but if staying in the 2nd bdrm there may be a little less room. Point is, I would just make sure that the pack-n-play will be big enough for the child 1st before not going with the full size. I realize that for some children at that age they are perfectly comfortable but if not the full size might be better.

If it turns out that you find the full size cribs unacceptable and can't get one in good condition they also have bed rails available if you feel the pack-n-play is too small. Hopefully though, you won't have any problems with the full size crib they send or find that the pack-n-play is okay for you. I do agree too about the sheet though -- they are just regular sheets that you have to fold around the mattress so if you have a crib mattress from home you may want to bring it with you.

 

[Sharper]

as probably an overprotective mother but I just would never, ever put my baby in a borrowed crib at a hotel. I don't know, just the combination of not being sure how clean it is (those things are exposed to the worst of the worst in bodily fluids) and your child being in a strange environment makes me very uncomfortable. Personally I would have the baby sleep with someone, either in the middle of a couple sleeping in the king-size bed or use bedrails to sleep with sister or whomever.

Again, just my opinion but this is what I did with my now 7 and 14 year-olds when they were babies.

 

[jodifla]

Hi. We're Florida DVCers with a 1-year-old. We have been using the pack-n-plays successfully for all our trips to Disney World. The cribs to me seem more suspect and rickety than the pack n plays.

Does your granddaughter sleep in a pack and play ever at home? You might test one out before you go if friends have one. Our son is relegated to one whenever we have company, so he's used to it (guests take over his room). I do bring along his favorite blanket, teddy bear and noise machine to attach to the crib so it seems more familiar. I also drape a blanket over most if it while we're awake with lights on so it's a little darker for him (when we're in a studio).

I've always used the Disney sheet they provide, too, with no problem.

I was happy to learn about the rails they provide...that's good to know for the future. As for our son sleeping with us, we've found out he's too violent a sleeper for our tastes!

have a great trip!

 

[colleen costello]

I see you also have a 6-year old in your group. Please call housekeeping right away and request a bedrail. The beds are really high! My son and daughter loved the room at OKW (Toon Disney on tv!) and we found our studio room very comfy, but those beds are tall. I called housekeeping right away and they brought a rail for each bed. A friend had her son fall this summer at Riverside (in the middle of the night) and he needed stitches in his ear, so I now take the "kids can fall from an unfamiliar bed" warning seriously! She thinks he hit the night table. Ouch!

OKW is beautiful -- you'll love it. We are meeting my parents there for a week in March -- can't wait! Hope your trip is wonderful. It's so nice for families to get together at WDW.