tips for doing Disney with 18 mo old

[ktspac]

We'll be at Disney the 1st week of May with our 18 mo old . We'll be staying off disney in a 2BR condo (w/ a washer/dryer & full kitchen). Any dos & don'ts you have to share...
We haven't flown or really traveled since her birth other than a car trip to the Dells with grandma & grandpa for 3 days last summer.
We are huge overpackers & I am trying to get over this - any suggestions for what to bring & not to bring for her - I can always wash clothes in the middle of the week too. - not my idea of fun on vacation but it may be easier.

Thanks in advance.

 

[ktspac]

Also any tips for diaper bag or whatever...
I am bringing my lightweight umbrella stroller that reclines so she may take a nap there - we'll see.

Thanks!

 

[Not so Dumbo]

I would also like to know. Next year we will be driving down with our DD who will be just under 2. We went last December with her and she was 6mo. So if anyone has any tips on what to expect from a toddler vs. an infant, I could use the advice.

 

[emh1129]

We had our 25 month old when we went to WDW in January for the first time. I was really glad that we decided to bring her carseat. I had been going back and forth right up until we got to the airport, but we brought it and I was so happy. I think it helped her to be a little less nervous because it was familiar to her. It also helped ease my mind a little bit (the safety of it). If she had been sitting on my lap or on the seat next to me it would have been hard to keep her sitting. This was she was strapped into her carseat and she knew that she had to stay there.

Other than that.. there were a few times when she was ready for a nap earlier than we had expected and I took her into the baby care centers to rock/nurse her to sleep. Those rocking chairs are heavenly, even if you're not nursing. The AC was wonderful! Once she was asleep I was able to get her into her sling or stroller and DH and I were able to roam the shops & share an ice cream cone (ds fell asleep, too!)
The biggest lesson I had to learn was to really take it easy. Don't rush from place to place, enjoy the journey and don't feel like you have to get everything done.
We also won't plan anything for arrival day ever again- the travelling takes too much out of everyone, especially the kids. I had a wonderful evening planned at Chef Mickey's, but the kids were pooped.

 

[nateryan]

My DS who is now almost 5 was 18 months old on his first trip. We flew and stayed on site.

One thing that I wish that I did differently was to let him walk. I was so concerned about him walking, either getting in people's way or losing him that I made him get in the stroller all the time. I will remember this when we take our second DS this November, he will be 13 months old.

We had a full size stroller so he could sleep and the full basket underneath is a must.

Diaper bag - we have 2 bag nylon DISNEY bags that I bought in the parks that we use as our Diaper/Day bag. There is only 1 zipper so that makes it easier to get through bag check before getting into the parks.

Pack Snacks for the parks. The carts do not have Toddler friendly food. I don't think I let him have popcorn at 18 mos, I can't remember.

Don't bother with the throw away sippy cups. DS pulled the cover off the cup that was full of milk on the bus to AK. He did it 3 times that day. He ended up drinking out of a straw for the first time.

Have fun!

 

[bellesnow]

My ds was 19mos when we went last june. He wore a safety 1st leash so he could run around. I also packed a bag of cheerios & walmart brand gummy snacks. I would put some in zip locs for the day and would fill his snack trap when he wanted some. Wet ones are also wonderful to have handy.

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

Rent a full size crib from www.abbf.com we have used them twice and have been very pleased with their service.

Bring at least an extra outfit in a ziplock bag and maybe a swimsuit if you are planning on leting your child play in the water spouts.

Bring a lightweight blanket into the parks, it can serve as a shade if your child is sleeping.

If you are flying, I agree with pp about bringing your own carseat.

If you have a stroller plastic for the rain, bring it, there is nothing worse than a wet stroller when you have a little one.

 

[ktspac]

thanks for your help so far...

 

[Diz Kids]

We took DS to Disney when he was 10 mos, 22 mos, and twice since he has turned 2. The last three trips were also with DD, now 13 mos. I agree with the other posters that toddler snacks are a must. Not only is there a smaller selection for toddlers at the parks, but sometimes waiting in a food line is just not an option. I also highly recommend some sort of wipes, like wet ones.

Just remember to take it easy and follow your toddler's needs, and you will have a great time. We have been very lucky and our kids slept in their strollers quite a bit, making the trip much easier. The baby care centers are great if you just need a quiet place with high chairs or a diaper change. There are also some playground-type areas for toddlers at a couple of the parks. These are nice places to let a toddler run around a bit after being in a stroller for much of the day without having to worry about the crowds.

This might not work yet at 18 mos, but we also bought some "prizes" for DS before leaving, so we had something special waiting in the room for him each night if he was good, like a matchbox car.

 

[reginaastralis]

Juliette believes that Disney is her house. Well, her's and Cinderella. We've been there more times than I can count since she's been here .. so I have a couple of tips ... just a couple.

First, be prepared. I don't mean for silly things like rain, and long lines. I'm talking about for the little time bomb you could be carrying. I mean this in the nicest way possible, but you've probably already gotten to see some blow ups with your little one ... it could get worse. Sometimes while we're at Disney, Julie's happy as can be. Most of the time it's this way ... however, sometimes she has a meltdown where she wants to do ________ and she wants to do it now!

I used to have a diaperbag that is more like a backpack, and it was the perfect size for that age. I'm thinking about a baggalini, but we don't need much in the parks now. What I always bring with us though, disposable changing pads, a few diapers *we're potty training now though, yay!*, a little thing of wipes, some clorox wipes, an extra outfit *uncluding shoes and socks*, a stuffed animal and a book. We also have a sippy, fruit snack, granola bars, some cookies and water. Half the time, I don't bring all of this, and now I don't even bring the changing pads b/c she stands up on the changing station. Oh, and just b/c you all are mothers, she actually PEED on this last time. HAHA. Don't worry, I had clorox wipes and cleaned it up, and told a cm ... after I got done laughing. She told me she needed to go big girl potty, but ... I didn't listen. I just wanted to throw that in so you don't forget the disposable pads .. eeww.

We've done a few TS meals for her, but we have to do one pretty early in the afternoon, around 5pm at the latest, or she has a melt down at dinner. When we do counterservice, we usually share with her.

Since you're staying offsite, I don't know how great of a tip this will be, but we always take an afternoon break for a nap. You can accomplish this by a nice trip or two around MK on the train.

I can't think of any other tips right now .. have fun, take it easy and slow ... and your trip will be amazing.

 

[jenseib]

Welcome!!
We took my 2 YO in March. She did fine on the plane with no car seat. We rented a van that had the car seat built in, and that was the coolest thing in her eyes! We stayed at Pop, and used Disney transportation for the most part, and she also found that fun too.
I would only pack clothes for about half of the days since you can wash. I packed 2-3 outfits aday, and never wore most of them. Plus we bought t-shirts and sweatshirts there, so she wore those as well. next time I am not bringing much at all and will just do laundry.
Go to you local Dollar store and pick up glow sticks or glow bracelets. There is 5 bracelets in a pack for a dollar, and 2 stciksi n a pack for a dollar. My DD loved them, amd each night we got out one or two for her. We also went to the Disney store before we left and checked out the clearance and bough a few things to take on the trip. Little surprises for her. We stil lbough souveigners, but we had little extras that would just be a waste of money at the parks, and we got the mso much cheaper!
My DD refused to take naps at the parks, so we would let her sleep in as long as possible.
Also if you have a night ritual, keep it! My DD has a music thing on her bed and plays it each night. DH said not to bring it along. Thank God we brought the portable DVD player and I brought along a lullabye CD. DD was having problems sleeping and I popped that Cd in the DVd player, and she relaxed immediately! She doesn't sleep in a crib at home, so we didn't put her in one at the hotel. DH and I each took a bed, and let her chose who she wanted to sleep with.
I used a big tote for her diaper bag. It was big enough to carry everything we needed. I brought juice boxes, and snacks for her. She walked most of the day, but it was nice to have the stroller when needed. And it was great to carry our bag!
Bring a few different shoes. Walking alot can hurt your feet, and a little one might not be able to let you know. I had 2 pairs of tennis shoes and one pr sandles and we changed each day to keep her feet fresh!