Tips for enduring shows with a 19 month old

[smscrapbooks]

We are going to Disney in October. Our kids at the time we go will be 7, 5, and 19 months. My 19 month old is super active. I am dreading the long shows that my older ones love because I know my youngest will be wailing to get down and run around. Finding Nemo at AK is 40 minutes long! My kids also love Indiana Jones at HS, but it's 30 minutes. Since strollers aren't allowed in, he will be in my lap and no doubt trying to make a break for it. Any suggestions/tips/ideas would be appreciated.

 

[scrapquitler]

We are going to Disney in October. Our kids at the time we go will be 7, 5, and 19 months. My 19 month old is super active. I am dreading the long shows that my older ones love because I know my youngest will be wailing to get down and run around. Finding Nemo at AK is 40 minutes long! My kids also love Indiana Jones at HS, but it's 30 minutes. Since strollers aren't allowed in, he will be in my lap and no doubt trying to make a break for it. Any suggestions/tips/ideas would be appreciated.

You might be pleasantly surprised. My son was a little older than that on one of our trips, and I found that he was mesmerized by some of the shows that I didn't expect. If not, try to have something handy to distract him. A little snack, a small toy to hold, etc. And be ready to point things out for him to look at to keep him occupied. If all else fails, try to sit on an aisle so you can exit in case of an issue.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

We are going to Disney in October. Our kids at the time we go will be 7, 5, and 19 months. My 19 month old is super active. I am dreading the long shows that my older ones love because I know my youngest will be wailing to get down and run around. Finding Nemo at AK is 40 minutes long! My kids also love Indiana Jones at HS, but it's 30 minutes. Since strollers aren't allowed in, he will be in my lap and no doubt trying to make a break for it. Any suggestions/tips/ideas would be appreciated.

Assuming there's another adult going with you, I would "divide and conquer." If you think the younger one is going to be disruptive, have one adult take the older kids to the show while the other one does something else with the little one. Take him to a play area where he can run around, or maybe grab a snack. You will probably be a lot happier than if you have to spend 30-40 minutes trying to keep him quiet and still while the other kids watch the show. Perhaps you can take turns - one adult takes the kids to see Nemo, the other takes them the next day to see Indiana Jones. Arrange a meeting place or text each other when you're ready to meet up again. We did this a lot when our kids were younger. In fact, we still do it with our teen boys who like different types of rides. Dad takes the thrill-seeker on the coasters. I take the other guy to the tamer rides. Works well and keeps everyone happy!

 

[LovesTimone]

You might want to let him burn off a little steam before you go to the show. Let him run around in a play area, then head for the show, once settled into a spot, perfect time for a drink and a snack. Sit in the back, on a aisle so you can go out if you need to.

 

[DopeyDame]

We walked out of a lot of shows when we took my son when he was 18 months. He wouldn't even sit through Disney Junior! He did, however, absolutely love Festival of the Lion King. Totally mesmerized!

As PP's have said, just be prepared to leave if he gets too antsy - no use making everyone miserable

 

[FlightlessDuck]

You could always just not go to the shows.

 

[sbeaulieu]

I'm also assuming you have another adult with you? We just went with a 21 month old and for most of the shows we took turns missing the show. Sometimes that was even more enjoyable. I got to shop without my other 2 kids whining about leaving the store to go to the next ride. We brought him to Flights of Wonder and he loved that, but I don't think he went to any other shows at WDW. He did the Shamu show at Sea World and absolutely loved that one.

However, if you are alone, or have to bring him to a show for some reason, my little guy really likes looking at pictures of himself on my phone. That kept him occupied for half of a 2 hour flight when he was 19 months old.

 

[FireflyTrance]

I agree with the poster above who mentioned you might be surprised. DD also had trouble sitting through Disney Junior, but what mesmerized by the parade we saw and sat still-ish for that for a good 30 mins.

 

[Funfire240]

When DS was 16 months we had a hard time with him keeping still for anything. The trip the following year we learned if we wanted to watch an air conditioned show, time it around nap time! Every time he cuddled up with his blanket and napped while we enjoyed the show - win for everyone!

 

[smscrapbooks]

Thanks everyone for all the tips. It was really helpful. My husband will be along too so we might have him take the older kids while I take the baby if he gets restless/uncooperative. I think that is a great idea about having them look at pictures on your phone. I could see that really entertaining him.

 

[livndisney]

Thanks everyone for all the tips. It was really helpful. My husband will be along too so we might have him take the older kids while I take the baby if he gets restless/uncooperative. I think that is a great idea about having them look at pictures on your phone. I could see that really entertaining him.

I would not suggest using a phone during a dark show. The light can impact others around you. FOTLK,Nemo and LM come to mind. (I think the CMs ask for no external light.)

 

[smscrapbooks]

Good point. I guess it would be ok during the Indiana Jones show. A friend also suggested that I start now having my son "practice" sitting on my lap while I have something semi-boring on TV. She said she did this with her son gradually doing longer longer amounts of time and now he can sit in her lap for about 30 minutes. She also recommended quiet books. Little interactive books with soft elements that they can play with. I tried having him sit in my lap today and he put up quite a fuss, but after about 3 minutes he settled down and actually sat for 10 minutes. I wouldn't let him get down