So we have a year to plan...

[todzwife]

After chasing my almost 2 year old around at the zoo, having her run off screaming "noooooo!!!! WAAAAAAAT (walk)" we decided that this year is probably NOT the best time to try to take her to Disneyland. As bummed as I am, I know that this gives me a YEAR to plan the best trip EVER.


SO, how far in advance do you start planning your trip?

 

[mariezp]

Ummm, a year ought to be just about right!

We have been making an annual trip for the last 7 years. I start planning just about as soon as we get back!

We went when our daughter was 16 months old and when our grandson was 18 months old. They both did just fine. Your daughter might just surprise you. Ours were both so mezzmorized by everything the stayed happy most of the time. The real key was to make sure when they started getting tired to take a midday break for naps.

My DD is now 7 and loves DL almost as much as I do. She doesn't remember every detail from that age but she does surprise me sometimes with how much she can recall.

 

[Mrs. Bee]

For Disneyland we don't really plan at all. We have premium APs and until we moved to the midwest, we'd go once a week. We've been back in Iowa since March though. We're going in a few weeks but all we really planned is where we're staying.

WDW, on the other hand...we're planning a bit more. Well, not really planning. Just doing more research. There's not much to plan. We don't like having a set schedule for stuff. We just go with the flow.

 

[Sienna]

You should probably start your research with a kid-free trip now.

 

[bumbershoot]

Go *just* before she turns three, and she'll be considered 2 for the whole trip.

FYI, my son is the same at zoos (and was the same when he was 2), but Disney brings out a whole different side of him. A nicer side. A calmer side. A "omg I'm so exhausted please please can I sit in the stroller now" side.

Ok OK so there was that incident this year when he make a break for it when he saw Tigger, but really, the only problem with that is that I was wearing the wrong shoes and was exhausted. Different shoes, different attitude on my part and it would have been OK.



We chose to give up our zoo memberships this year, so that we could get APs and visit more often. He's just much more fun at DL than at zoos...


As for planning, I plan even when I'm not planning. Just can't stop myself.