Planning a trip with my first child

[sandyluvsdisney]

I'm a disney lover, my husband and I went on our last disney trip this past January. We are expecting our first baby next Feb. As we both are very excited about our new baby we also are excited about planning a trip with the baby.

I would like to know about any good tips and recommendations that you might give a first time mom.

Should I wait until the baby is older like 5 or 6, I don't know if I could wait that long to go back to Disney.

Thanks in advance.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I really doubt you'll last til your baby is 5 or 6. Will you have any more children? Then it will be 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 years til you go?

This is what I did. I went when I was 3 months pregnant in 98 thinking it would be a while before I went again. Then I went in 2001 leaving DH home with DD(then 2 1/2) and DS (1) because DH didn't want to go. We knew we wanted any other baby so I figured it would be YEARS before I got to go again. Then in 2002 I brought DD(then 3 1/2) while 6 months pregnant because I wanted a special trip with her before she became a big sister again. I left DH home with then wild man DS(2). I figured we'd go in 2006 when the baby was just shy of 3. Now I've got a trip planned with the whole family for January. I just can't wait til 2006 and I don't want to go without my kids again. DS will turn 3 on trip so we won't have to buy him a ticket and what better place to celebrate a January birthday? I really hope the Polynesian and kids can convert my DH! I can't wait to see DS (now a bit calmer & a very sweet boy) and baby at Disney! My DD still talks about last year's trip all the time!

So as far as tips go. If you can afford it, stay at a monorail hotel and better yet concierge. The convenience of the lounge with a child can't be beat. Also you've got to go at the pace of your child. I went back to the resort everyday to rest (I needed a rest too!). I knew before I went that we wouldn't "see it all" and we had a great time enjoying what we could and knowing the rest would be there for the next trip.

Congratulations on your baby!

 

[sandyluvsdisney]

You're right i doubt that i can wait that long to go back, I'm going to started planning and getting as much information from the "disney for families" forum to see how soon I can go once the baby is here. I really can't wait to go back.

Thanks again

 

[mom-2greatkids]

DH has a conference at WDW every January. We took our daughter a couple months after she turned two, and 3 days before we left for WDW we found out I was pregnant with DS. This coming January will be our son's first trip (he'll be not quite 2 1/2). We opted to leave him at home the two trips prior to this just because we felt he was too young.

That being said, we had a great trip with 2 yo daughter, although we really focused in on her needs. This trip DD will be 5, so we'll have a more difficult time catering to the DS's needs while not overlooking DD and what she wants to do (she's a thrill seaker--while she'll do her fair share of "tame" rides, she much prefers the roller coasters, etc.)

 

[tink85]

My parents did a few things with me and my sister when we were younger. One, we'd stay at home with grandma and get spoiled within an inch of our lives while mom and dad enjoyed the parks or they left the younger one at home (only once, when my sis was 2 years old. they'd learned when they took me to DL which I still haven't forgiven them for since I can't remember it!) And then, one I hit 6 and my sister 4, they just took the both of us and had a lot of patience!

 

[cinjam]

We couldn't wait & took DS for his 1st trip when he was 14 months old. It was absolutely wonderful! Just perfect. We had an excellent time.

We did so much with him: any ride without a height restriction, fireworks, character meals, parades. We just took things slowly & let him set the pace. We also let him check out the characters from afar to see if he would be frightened (he wasn't). We had done fireworks back at home so I knew he was OK with them. We built naps into every day & tried to keep to the routine we had at home.

I too am pregnant and due w/#2 in February 2004. We are planning on returned to WDW in February 2005, when the new baby is 1 year old & DS will be 4

So many wonderful memories from that 1st trip...makes me weepy (hormones) **sniff**

We also took DS back when he was 24 months. We knew we would be TTC again soon & I didn't want to go back while pregnant -- so we squeezed in another trip!

If you can afford it, then I say don't wait.

Congrats on your pregnancy!

 

[jodifla]

We've been taking our son since he was 5 1/2 months old. We also took him at a year and 18 months. Each time was great. Disney is totally geared for kids. Just take it at your baby's pace and you'll be fine.

It slows down your pace and makes you appreciate things differently. For example, we went on It's a Small World for the first time in many years, and DS went wild, smiling and laughing and waving his arms. He was so happy, we went on it twice. It was so much fun to watch him have a good time.

 

[sandyluvsdisney]

Congrats on your 2nd baby!! and thanks for the advice, I'm trying to get as much info as I can to plan a great trip with the baby, I will probably wait until the baby is about 1 or a bit older to go again so that will most likely be in 2005. I get weepy too just thinking our last trip, but I'm really looking forward to the next trip.

Thanks again on the advice, anything else you may remember here and there about your trip with your first I would appreciate your sharing. Since I will be a first time mom i'm afraid that I will freak out or something, this whole experience is so new and i'm sure you know teh way I feel right now. I just want to make sure I can prepare well.

Well, congrats again!!