Tips for taking an 18 month old to Disneyland

[DinaBina]

Any tips on taking an 18 month old to the land? We have been going there for years childless. We haven't been back there in over 3 years because we were busy with work and then being pregnant and having the little person. I know as of now it is free for kids under 2 right? I don't have any expectations on getting on all the rides or anything like that. I know taking an 18 month old might be a head ache but we just wanted him to experience it regardless of his age. Also just to test the waters with him.

Any tips on going there. We plan on bringing a stroller, and snacks for him. We are looking at going at the end of March hopefully before spring break.....

 

[Rubygoose]

Kids are free until their 3rd birthday, so you still have a year and a half to bring him for free! (On most airlines, kids fly free before their 2nd birthday, so this may be why you got confused.) We did our first family trip to DL two weeks before DS turned 2, so he flew for free and got into the park for free. I really liked the Baby care center for changing diapers. It was quiet in there and DD (4 at the time) liked the child sized toilets! We went in late Sept. so it wasn't busy and we didn't spend a lot of time waiting in line. We planned to return to the hotel for nap time, but DS fell asleep in the stroller or on my lap on the train, so we didn't need to get back to the hotel. Instead we just found a shady spot to let him rest in the stroller and then took turns taking DD on rides when the ither parent sat with DS.

How is he with costumed characters? Might be good to find out before booking a character meal or waiting in line to see Mickey, just to get frightened. My kids LOVE characters! They couldn't get enough of rubbing noses with Minnie!

 

[jessicaerv]

We've taken my DD (now 3) several times; the first when she was 13 months old. What I would recommend is not trying to do DLR the way you would normally as an adult. Our first trip I tried to go, go, go, and toddlers need to move at their own pace. Trying to force her to hurry, hurry, hurry when all she wanted to do was meander on her little legs and absorb everything led to meltdowns (both she AND I). It was only on Day 2 that I realized what I was doing and just went with the flow, allowing her to lead. It helped that Day 2 was in DCA (pre-Carsland) rather than DL because it was not crowded at all and we could allow her to push her own stroller, stop and inspect the flowers and anything else of interest to her. We all had a phenomenal time.

I found my DD really loved IASW (although she fell asleep the first time through about 2/3 of the way in) and the Carousel (in each park). POTC was okay, but I think she didn't care for the really dark parts of the ride. I took her on Pinochio which was a huge mistake -- I forgot how scary it can be for little ones. But we all really relaxed when we were in DCA in A Bugs Land; it was relatively uncrowded (again, pre-Carsland so crowd level may have changed), all the rides were geared to her age group, and she spent at least an hour playing in the water play area.

Take a nap mid-day if you can, and just move at your DS' pace. Imagine what these parks must look like if you're only 2 1/2 feet tall!!

 

[DinaBina]

So, then is DL more child friendly than DCA? I thought DL was......

He is okay with Characters but I'm not willing to wait in a long line to take a photo with the mouse because my baby is very active. So, I know he won't wait too long in lines.

 

[nikkislaght]

So, then is DL more child friendly than DCA? I thought DL was......

He is okay with Characters but I'm not willing to wait in a long line to take a photo with the mouse because my baby is very active. So, I know he won't wait too long in lines.

Bugs land is very toddler friendly...

if you do want a photo with Mickey .. start your day at the back of the park and work your way forward... get there early and hope the train to toon town.. last time I was there it opened at 10am and we walked from the gate , got our photo with Mickey. Goofy . pluto and Minnie all within a 20 minute period...

If you stay at the main gated area for your Mickey shots it will take awhile...

Have a great time....

 

[tdhickey]

Some suggestions / advice / tips / etc...I have brought 2 kids at this age

1) Diaper changes - every bathroom is well equipped with change areas and there are plenty

2) Food - lots of places have Kids "power packs" for sale, so basically milk, crackers, cheese, yogurt and fruit. Kids Toddler meals are pretty good for that age.

3) Rides - learn about single rider lines for adult rides so you can still go on them, good way to save time while the toddler goes on Winnie the Pooh for the 20th time

4) If they stroller nap regularly, no need to leave the park as they can sleep comfortably there.

5) Don't expect much from the Characters, they may hate being close to them or love it

6) Be careful in the sun with wee one's, they over heat easy and will need regular fluid

7) Be ready for total meltdowns at unexpected times, Disney is very overwhelming for young kids

 

[bumbershoot]

Our first visit to DL was with DS at 17 months old. Had the mei tai (traditional Chinese baby carrier) and wore him on my front facing me nearly the whole day. He saw everything at (short) adult height, and could hide his face if overwhelmed. I think he got in the rental stroller once (should note this was a one day trip on a longer stay in San Diego).

We all had a great time. He did not like the idea of characters, and since I don't, either (never have), this was not a problem. Just avoided them. Easily done.

"Also just to test the waters with him. "

Well, every trip is different, and kids are nearly different humans every year, it seems. Our trip one year later was very different than the trip when he was 17 months, and then at 3 it was all different again. We went often between 3 and 5, and each time was very very different. So don't make this a test of if you can go more; it might be really overwhelming this time, or maybe next time, but don't let yourself think it will never get better (or it will never be worse, LOL...DS spent an entire year REFUSING to ride Pirates, even though it had been his fave before!).

And if you're doing baby swap (rider switch), don't just sit at the exit with the baby. Go DO something. Shop or just walk or whatever suits your fancy, but learn from my mistake and don't just sit there with the baby. Boring for everyone!

 

[crystal1313]

I highly recommend taking lots of breaks! Don't expect to move at the pace you are used to before you had kids, it just isn't going to happen. We usually take a potty and snack break every 1.5 to 2 hours. It's nice for all of us and lets the kids unwind a bit.

I bring a TON of snacks to the parks and a soft sided cooler. I try to buy new snacks for them or snacks they haven't had in awhile to make sure they eat. Lots of fruit and water. We only get them milk at meals.

I LOVE the baby center on Main St. I have spent many a hour in there! They have padded changing tables (the ones in the bathrooms are very nice, but not padded.), high chairs, microwaves for heating up food/bottles, training toilets, and a nursing area. Plus, its warm in the winter and cool in the summer. And its quiet! you don't realize how loud the parks are until you get in a quiet are like this. they also have a water fountain with a faucet that's perfect for filling water bottles and sippy cups and it's free and cold. They also sell baby items in case you lose or forget something. DCA has a baby center too over by Ghiradeli next to Cars Land. It has the same things, but I think the one on Main Street is nicer, but they both are great to have.

Tom Sawyer Island is a great place to let the kids run around and get all their energy out. And it's got some great little spots for a break too.

My kids were scared of the characters (still are). They prefer to wave at them in the parades.

Even with taking all the breaks that we do each boy usually has a meltdown. Like someone else said, the parks are overwhelming. Expect it to happen.

Have a great time!

 

[canadiandisneycruise]

Like others, bring lots of snacks. When my kids were little, I brought small plastic wedding bubbles for me to blow, & the kids to pop. Kept them and others amused while in lines! If they spilled, they were little& not sticky!

Also, glow sticks if you can be sure they won't be bitten. Otherwise, buying one of those light up spinny things is good to amuse them!

Have fun!!!!

 

[kangamama]

We took my kids when the littlest was 18 months last December and it was a wonderful experience. My son is a great stroller sleeper, so we did naps in the park. For waiting in lines for rides, our monkey-backpack-leash was a life saver -- definitely something to consider if you don't have one (we bought one for this trip, specifically, because we had never used one before). Also, we would park the stroller in one of the stroller parking areas, get out the leash, and our toddler could run around and burn off his own steam/energy. He really enjoyed meeting characters, but we only did this at a character breakfast -- we would not have waited in line for that.

 

[DinaBina]

Thank you all for the feedback I really appericiate it!!!

 

[mmmears]

You know your little guy best, but I'll tell you what worked for me. We took our DD to WDW for 2 weeks when she was 2 and we had a fabulous time.

1. Took our own stroller so she was comfortable and so she could sleep in it on the way back to the hotels.

2. Took a mid-day swim/nap break. She was much happier than many little kids we saw in the parks in the evenings. They were sooooo tired and cranky. That nap really made a difference. A little pool time helped her to sleep.

3. Bring snacks that you know he likes (we had little boxes of raisins, bags of Cheerios, etc.). And drinks. Making sure that he's not hungry or thirsty really helps.

4. We had the little wedding bubbles too and not only did our DD love them, the lines all around us were much happier as a result.

5. Take your cues from him -- when he is ready to go just go. Don't try to squeeze in one or two more rides.

6. He is free at the character buffets. A great way to relax, eat, and see the characters without long waits in line.

Like others, bring lots of snacks. When my kids were little, I brought small plastic wedding bubbles for me to blow, & the kids to pop. Kept them and others amused while in lines! If they spilled, they were little& not sticky!

And I thought I was the only one...

 

[DinaBina]

You know your little guy best, but I'll tell you what worked for me. We took our DD to WDW for 2 weeks when she was 2 and we had a fabulous time.

1. Took our own stroller so she was comfortable and so she could sleep in it on the way back to the hotels.

2. Took a mid-day swim/nap break. She was much happier than many little kids we saw in the parks in the evenings. They were sooooo tired and cranky. That nap really made a difference. A little pool time helped her to sleep.

3. Bring snacks that you know he likes (we had little boxes of raisins, bags of Cheerios, etc.). And drinks. Making sure that he's not hungry or thirsty really helps.

4. We had the little wedding bubbles too and not only did our DD love them, the lines all around us were much happier as a result.

5. Take your cues from him -- when he is ready to go just go. Don't try to squeeze in one or two more rides.

6. He is free at the character buffets. A great way to relax, eat, and see the characters without long waits in line.




And I thought I was the only one...

thanks for those tips. I might be a little late for a Character meal at this point since we are going at the end of this month. I'm not going to make it a point to see Characters. I will for sure get that nap in. Is the family room that I've heard people talking about really quiet? He might nap in there or in the stroller but I'm not 100% sure. Since we are staying off DL resort we choose to let him nap there instead of driving back to the hotel.