Taking a 1 year old vs 2 year old

[SheilaHeartsDisney]

We took our twins to Disney world last November when they were 14 months old. For the most part they were very go with the flow. My son who is usual very shy and timid had the time of his life and loved everything about Disney. While my daughter who is very outgoing was a little more reluctant to try stuff but never really complained. Anyway it was an awesome trip from the plane to the hotel and to the parks.

Well we plan on taking them again this year and they will be just over 2 years old. At 18 months now they are really starting to show their personalities and along with that their tantrum side. Just wondering how your babies were from one to two while in Disney. Which age was easier?

 

[RachaelA]

We've taken kids at 1 (twice), 18 months, and 2 years (and 3 and 4 years).

The trips at 1 were our favorites. 18 months was the hardest. 2 was fun, but our 2 year old REALLY hated to wait in lines. She made sure everyone around us knew that (we didn't even wait in lines longer then like 20 minutes).

 

[tinkerbesh]

At 11 months, DS was relatively easy. He loved spinning things at that age, so lots of Disney was just perfect for him. The difficulties were diapering, carrying him in the heat when he wanted out of the stroller, carrying around formula, and him not being able to communicate much.

The next year at 23 months, he was so much more interactive. Loved the characters, loved everything transportation (from trains to boats to monorails), so again Disney was just perfect for him! The difficulties were that he was mobile (& wanted nothing to do with holding hands or a leash/harness), and had the patience of a 2 year old. But it was ok bc at least he was able to communicate with us.

I think the same general strategy is good at any age- know your child, have a good basic daily plan that incorporates their regular routine needs, but don't over plan, and do have exit strategies for every situation.

Have a magical time!

 

[DisneyRegulars]

We took our son at 14 months and again at 24 months. At 14 months he was totally go with the flow. We actually mostly did what we wanted to do and he happily tagged along or did rider swap. At 24 months it was a different story. He had opinions! Opinions he sometimes felt very strongly about. We had an amazing time, but we sure had a few more meltdowns than when he was 14 months. We also exclusively focused our touring on pleasing the 24 month old. It was several years before we even tried to ride space mountain again.

 

[mzsarah10]

We took our daughter for the first time at 18 months. She was terrified of characters and wanted to walk on her own a lot. We def. had to slow down to keep her happy. Thank goodness for good play areas to help her run off steam and want to sit in the stroller again.

 

[epsmith921]

Never taken a 1 year old (am about to in May though - little guy will be 18 months!), but we did take our oldest when she was 2.5 and it was awesome.

What worked for us was a whole lot of rope drop and not a lot of plan. We'd go to the park, try to hit stuff while the lines were low, maybe grab a snack, and then head out of the park for some rest time. Then we'd decide what we wanted to do for the rest of the night later on. Naps only worked for us in the room later and my kiddo would crash in the stroller for a bit when we gave up, but getting out of the heat (September) was useful for all of us.

 

[krm222]

My 22 month old did great (in 2013) and just recently my 9 month old did even better. Our friends traveled with a 18 month old and it was rough at times. Lots of meltdowns and early park exits. There seems to be a miserable spot between being young enough to go with the flow and old enough to "get" it that can be kind of rough.

 

[brinkley07]

My little guy has several trips under his belt this year with the first being on the verge of his 2nd b-day. He is having more fun each time we go and has always had great interactions with the characters. Now he tells me which rides he wants to go on and what characters he would like to see. I also bought a travel guide Disney with kids and he loves to look through it, and tell me where he has been. It has been easy down there with him, but we also started to let him fall asleep in the stroller for naps because he wouldn't nap with trying to get him back to the hotel. We do use a stroller, but mix it up with him walking to help tire him out. Have a great time!

 

[jvz82]

1 year olds are easier, but 2 year olds have more fun!

We brought my oldest when he had just turned 2. He had a BLAST and it was heart warming to see his interactions with the characters and how he could talk about the rides and tell us what he liked. However, he didn't like to get off the rides when it was time to be done, and he did not like waiting in line! Patience is not a virtue 2 year olds have, lol. We went when my 3rd child was just about 12 months old. I think he had fun and was soaking up all the crazy fun, but he was still just a baby so didn't have the same enjoyment with stuff that my son had at age 2. He was pretty chill though and didn't get upset about lines or things like that.

We're going later this year when my youngest will be almost 2! I'm a little worried! Lol. But excited!