Question for those who have gone with a 1 year old....

[jfranklyn]

My son will be 1 on 12/19 and we are leaving for Disney on 1/1. The youngest we took our other child was 17 months. What can we expect with a one year old?

He's not walking quite yet, but I know he will be walking by then. will that make it worse or better? Is it hard to carry them on lines and stuff after you've had to give up the stroller?

 

[Denine]

My DD is 1 today. We leave in 2 weeks for WDW. She is not walking yet. We took her at 3-1/2 months and 7-1/2 months as well.

 

[spr0m]

We just got back from a 4day trip earlier this month with our just turned 1 yr old son and 3 yr DD. The 1 yo loved small world, Pooh, Dumbo,CBJ,GCJ & the train the best at MK. He loves animals so AK he liked everything. MGM playhouse disney & the mermaid show. Epoct he like TLS , JIYI , UOE and Illuminations. He also enjoyed all the parades. He was much more into it this time his last trip he was only 5 months. We are going again in dec and hoping to introduce him into some more things with more time there. I think is favorite thing was the character lunch at CP with Pooh and friends he loved tigger and piglet. I got some great photos of him laughing with tigger that he loves to look at everyday.

 

[lovesdumbo]

RJM-your son wasn't afraid of UOE? I am planning a trip in Jan with my DD(4 1/2), DS(turns 3 at WDW) and DD (turns 1-10 days after we get home). I was hoping DS wouldn't be afraid at UOE but was a bit worried about the baby. I went with my DD last Oct and she was afraid of the fireworks-too loud. My baby isn't afraid of much at home so she'll probably do OK.

Also, did you try Peter Pan? This is one of my favorite rides. Is it hard to hold baby on a ride that has a bar like that? Did you do the teapots?

And one more ? What is GCJ?

 

[spr0m]

GCJ - Goofy's country Jamboree

My son Loves!!!!! Dinosaurs we have a membership at the NY Museum of natural history and go often. He also loves fireworks other kids we know get scared including my 3 yo when she was younger but he loves them. He didn't seem too interested in Peter Pan while on the ride he didn't get giddy like he did on the others. I'll have him watch the DVD over the next few weeks and this should help for December. We did go on the teacups this time and my wife held him while I held the wheel to keep the cup from spinning to much so he seemed to enjoy it. He also liked the Jungle cruise now that I think about it. When he saw the tiger in the cave with the glowing eyes he exclaimed TIGGER! to our boats amusement

 

[TiggerPU88]

Hi!

We went last Oct. w/our 1-yo DS. It was such a good experience we went back in January. The biggest thing is to not expect to be on a particular timetable. Stop when you need to stop. Let your baby tell you what he/she wants to do (even without words, they can communicate really clearly!).

Our DS LOVED the characters, loved all of the Fantasyland rides, including Peter Pan & Pooh, and was okay (not enthusiastic) with the parades. The baby swap is great and worked well for us. We watched the Disneyland Fun Singalong Songs video a bunch before we went and that definitely helped our DS recognize everything.

Have a great time!

 

[fraggle]

We went last year with a 3 year old and a 1 year old. She was a very good walker and never had a problem with going from the carriage to standing in lines. She did want to stand by herself in the lines but most of the time she agreed to hold someone's hand. We never stood in a line that looked like we would be there for more than 15 minutes though-and small packs of snacks helped in a pinch. She wasn't really afraid of anything and we also went to UOE in Epcot (my 3 year old was afraid though). She rode the teacups-it was actually her favorite ride.

One thing she did not like was the characters. She did not want to go near anyone until the last day when she hugged Chip in Fort Wilderness.

 

[lovesdumbo]

RJM,
Thanks for the quick reply. GCJ is new since I went last Oct. Almost forgot about it, we'll have to give it a try. Your DS must be very smart! My DS just started talking a lot a few months ago (not that he isn't smart). I bought him Mickey crayons at Disney (had them shipped home) for Santa to leave. I have great video of him Christmas morning screaming "Yigh, Yigh, Yigh....". We thought he was just very excited. I learned a few weeks later that he was trying to say "High" from the song M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E, forever let us hold our banner high, high, high. That progressed to Yigh, Yigh, mouse and now its Mickey.

I tried to get my DD to watch videos before we went last year but she only ever wanted to watch Monsters. Now she'll watch a few others. It's my DS who really wants to watch the others. He loves Snow White-thinks she's beautiful and the dwarfs are so funny. Maybe I'll watch Dinosaurs again to see if that is too scary for him.

I can't wait to see him and baby at Disney. And to have my DH see kids at Disney. He stayed home with DS last year while I brought DD when I was 6 months pregnant. DH think he has seen Disney because he went with me in 93 for 3 days. He thinks he'll get bored being there 5 nights. He enjoys Disney movies so I'm hopeful the kids and concierge at the Poly can convert him.

I'm planning a birthday party at CP for DS.

I'm so excited!

 

[spr0m]

It was more like Tiguh! but everyone on the boat understood. Now four weeks later it's Tigeh getting closer. My SIL is a speech pathologist with the public school system and she says he's pretty advanced speechwise and slightly ahead of his sister at the same age but not much.

Also like TiggerPU88 said let the kids set the pace look to them for cues of when they are tired. You're staying at the Poly so going for a nap is a snap .

I also can recommend the wonderland tea party for kids 3 and up my daughter did it on 9/5 her 3rd b-day and loved it. I reserved it again for our December trip at her request

 

[Simba's Girl]

jfranklyn

I know what you mean! IME going with a 1yo was fine, DD #1 had just turned 1 when we went last. She hated the characters liked ISAW, carousel, pirates, JC, UOE, the land ride, maelstorm, SSE loved AK....

This year it may be different for me though...my 11mo just started walking (on Wednesday), won't sit still and is in general a much busier baby than her sister. I'm hoping that she's mesmorized by WDW. I plan on bringing LOTS of stuff to keep her occupied. Also we'll be going with ILs so we can trade off if we need to.

 

[homeschooler]

we had a blast. We let him walk a little and ride a lot and it was not a problem getting on the rides. We have always gone in the slow time and that might be a difference and I have not had him ever afraid of a character or activity and he is not a particulary brave little soul. I think just more trusting at 1 then at 3. More confindent in Mom's ability to protect.