Tell me about your trip with an 18 month old??

[cuppycake]

Hey there! We're planning DD's first trip to Disney for the end of September...it will be a long weekend with our first day at the resort, and the next 2 at the parks (park hopper passes). I'm wondering what your experiences were (good and bad) at that age (or close to it)? We will be staying at Pop Century (have requested the 70's building).

What suggestions/tips/etc do you have? What rides are the best at that age?

We do plan on doing a character breakfast with her...just not sure which one yet.

I've read that the buffets are a great deal for kids under 3...we loooove Germany in Epcot! What other ones are good with kids?

We're on a budget, but not an EXTREME one...we don't want to spend a fortune, but aren't totally pinching pennies, either.

We've been to Disney a handful of times, but never with a toddler. I absolutely CAN NOT WAIT!!!

Thanks in advance for any advice

 

[pstepka]

Be sure to use a stroller that reclines so that she can nap. (I would not recommend an umbrella stroller...I don't think little ones can nap very well in those.)

We were at Disney when both our boys were 18 months old (they are two years apart) and it was fine. If your daughter is not one to nap in a stroller, just plan to take a break to go back to the hotel. I took powdered formula for their bottle (they were technically off of formula, but it certainly is not unhealthy for them to drink it at that age) so that way I didn't have to fret and worry too much about meals. I knew they were getting enough nutrition during the day. Using powdered was so easy. We'd make a bottle before we left (a fresh bottle of formula will stay good for quite a while even if not refrigerated), and take enough to make two more bottles.

 

[FOV]

We have been when my boys were babies and toddlers. One of the best memories is of them watching the parades.

Did a few different character meals and one boy loved it at 18 months and the other one was terrified - it really depends on your child. If your dd is frightened the characters will take your queue. Chef Mickeys is our favorite but we love them all.

We always carried a light weight backpack full of bottled water and snacks. Disney security has never given us a hard time about this. We also go back to the room in the afternoon for a break.

Our favorite "chill out" ride for babies/toddlers is the TTA at MK - long, slow and relaxing! We have put children to sleep on that ride many times! There are sooooo many good rides/attractions for young children. You will not have any problems in any of the parks.

Have a great time!!!

(This fall trip will be our first trip to WDW without the diaper bag!)

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

My main advice is to go slow and don't have big expectations. You just have to kinda go with the flow.

We have taken my DD twice, once at 7 months, and once at 23 months. The 7 months trip was so smooth. There was pretty much nothing we couldn't do. It was very relaxing.

The 23 month trip was a different story. Of course we all had a BLAST but we definitely had to do things differently. Mainly we just had to take things slower than usual.

My DD was afraid of the characters at first but warmed up to them by the end of the first day. I would give her the autograph book and tell her to hand it to whatever character and I think that helped her relax because she wasn't just walking up to them, she had a purpose. By the second day of the trip she was running up to them and giving hugs and kisses.

One thing I didn't count on was her being afraid of attractions. My DD is pretty much a daredevil not scared of anything kid. So, I didn't dream she was freak out about anything. We took her into A Bugs Life. She wore her glasses and the first thing that looked as if it was flying at her scared her to death. So, no 3D shows for her. Then we took her to fantasmic and she was afraid of the villains, which carried into the parade. She never was afraid of the villains before. Yet, she LOVED the Snow White ride and thats supposed to be scary for little ones. So just expect the unexpected when it comes to the rides.

We have done the Animal Kingdom Breakfasourus, Cinderella's Castle, and they Norway Princess breakfast with her. She really loved the Princess ones. I would highly recommend any of those.



We brought our own stroller, works best with a little one because they can stay in the stroller while you are in the bus lines, you can use it as you walk to your rooms, or at Downtown Disney. Plus you can keep your necessary things in the storage under the seat that most strollers have. We brought snacks, juice, fruit, and water with us into the parks for DD to eat throughout the day. Security didn't mind at all. Actually one day we waited behind a couple who actually had a suitcase, yes a suitcase, full of groceries. They were pulling out loaves of bread and liters of soda! I have never seen that before at WDW but security let them through. LOL

As far as rides that DD really liked here they are: Dumbo, Cindy's carousal, Pooh ride, Jungle Cruise, Tea Cups, basically anything in Fantasy Land except Philharmagic, that scared her. She really loved Playhouse Disney at MGM. What she liked the most isn't a ride but she really loved the playground area in Dino Land. We played there for over an hour and even after that we had to drag her away from it.

Sorry to ramble on, I guess I am full of advice tonight. I hope something I said helps!

You will have a blast!! I will never forget watching the magic through my DD's eyes!!

 

[jcamacam]

We took my son when he was 1 and also a month after he turned 2. All of my non-Disney friends (and even some of my Disney friends!) warned me not to take a child that young - "they'll never remember it!" they would say.

I am so glad I didn't listen to them. Besides, if you used that philosophy, you'd never do anything with you kids until they'd remember it!

On the trip when my son was 1, he was so fascinated by everything that was going on, he was an absolute angel the entire week.

On his second trip last December, he was old enough to be able to ask questions and we could point more things out to him - he LOVED it! He was perfectly behaved that week as well.

We have our next trip planned in September and he loves to look at the maps and point to different rides he went on.

Anyway, I think you'll have a GREAT time and just be sure if he's never been up close to anyone in a large costume before to take it slow. Luckily, my son had been around Chuck E. Cheese and other characters before so he wasn't intimidated by them.

Also, napping is essential (at least for my son) to maintain a happy toddler - or at least a break to sit down during the day.

Have a great time!

 

[jennypenny]

We've done many trips with our kids at different ages, and we are taking my youngest, now 19 months, next month.

We use the stroller most of the time, but plan some time when your daughter can get out of the stroller, run around, and blow off some steam. We like to do this at the playground in toontown (MK), the fountains on the walkway between future world and world showcase, the petting zoo at rafiki's planet watch (AK), and the honey I shrunk the kids playground (MGM). It works with all of my kids. They just need 20-30 minutes to run, scream, and be crazy. Then they are willing to stand on lines again and walk the parks.

Also, find the playground at Pop Century and take her there too. If you stop there for a few minutes on the way back to the room, she won't be so hyper in the room.

Just my $.02
Jenny

 

[kelscross]

I took both of my girls last year and they were not quite two years old.

One loved everything and the other one was terrified of just about everything! She did love the pool and Typhoon Lagoon though.

The one that loved it went full commando. She didn't want to leave the parks so my mom would go back to the resort with the other one while we stayed and played. The little ones can ride just about everything except the rollercoasters and big rides like that.

I made PS for character dinners and the princess breakfast. Toward the end of the week the scaredy cat started to "warm" up to the characters.

All in all I'm so glad we went we had a great time. Like some of the other posts go at a pace that they want to go. We are going again this year right before they turn three! The one who was scared last year promises that she will not only look at Mickey Mouse but she will even hug him! We'll see about that!

Have fun!!

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

We went when our daughter was 18 months old and it was great. Her first ride was the haunted mansion and she was fine. We would put her on the seat in between us and at times she was not really able to see much sometimes because she was to short, but I felt safer then holding her on the moving rides. We saw most of the stage shows and did any ride that was not a "thrill" ride and she was fine with it all. At this age they just love to take in all of the different sites and obsorb as much as possible. One thing she did not like was the characters. We did Chef Mickeys and she didn't like the characters to get near her.

 

[cbbi]

We took our then 17 month old son (along with his 5 and 11 year old sisters) in June.

Things I did right -
1. Took my own stroller (he was comfortable and took a long nap in it).
2. Got a cheap fan to attach to the stroller - cooled him off during nap.
3. Took him on rides (Buzz and TTA were his favorite).
4. Went early in the morning and then home for afternoon rest and then back again.
5. Brought a washcloth/bandana to soak with cool water from Brita bottle (he loved sucking on this).
6. Bought sunscreen in a stick for his little nose (along with the other sunscreen of course).
7. Brought a rain cover for the stroller.
8. Brought safety suckers and surprise little toy (for emergencies! You know those suckers with round handles instead of a stick. These were lifesaves when sisters were on a ride and he was getting really restless.

Things I did wrong -
1. Scheduled to many sit down meals - character meals etc. My son is at that age where peace and quiet at a nice restaurant here at home is a 50/50 chance. Character breakfast was fine because everyone was loud and running around anyway but otherwise shouldn't have wasted the money. Inevitably one of us had to just walk around with him while everyone else ate.
2. Thought I'd buy diapers there instead of packing ($16 at that silly grocery near downtown Disney for a package the size I pay $9 for at home).
Have a great time!

 

[andriade]

I will be traveling with my 20 month old in November. We traveled with him there at 9 months old. He did really well except for one thing. HE WOULD NOT SLEEP IN THE CRIB! We tried every night for 7 nights to make him sleep in it. We have now since practiced sleeping in a crib in a weird place several times and just recently made a breakthrough. We took his comforter from home with us and he was sleeping in 5 minutes. What a relief. It's hard on all 3 of you when you have to share a bed on a trip like that.

This trip will actually be easier for me since I won't be breastfeeding anymore!

Good luck! Don't worry it will be great. We had a wonderful time and he was only 9 months at that time!

 

[stacy6552]

prepair yourself for the possibility that your child may want NO part of the charactures.

also, if you have a carrier that still holds your child, like the baby bjorn, bring it. There are loads of places you cant take a stroller and the carrier still really helps at that age.

 

[KathyPem]

I took my middle two last year when DD was 24 months. She did great in the parks! My other son was 35 months and he didn't like any dark rides at all. Neither of them like the Illuminations show at Epcot, they both screamed, even through they love fireworks, it was jsut too close. My ds didn't want to have anything to do with ANY characters. My dd only liked the 'people' versus the costumed. The only exception was Donald Duck and she is a HUGE Minnie and Mickey fan and wouldn't get within 10 ft from them, even with me. Favorite rides were Dumbo, Jungle Cruise, Magic Carpets, Buzz Lightyear, seeing Mickey and MInnies house, spinning teacups, cinderellas carosel. They had a blast and my dd loved the parade!! I cannot wait to go back and see my 6 year olds' reactions!!!