Tips Please--1st time at MK w/ 18 month old

[mybubaloo]

Hi! This board has been such a great resource!! DH, DD (18 months) & I are going to Disney next weekend and I'm a little overwhelmed w/ the planning. This will be the first time going in over 10 yrs & the first time bringing a toddler. Our plan is to hit MK on Sunday & AK on Monday. My biggest concern is getting to do as much as possible on Sunday at MK, so that's where I could use some help. Does anyone have a good "plan" for toddlers? We're planning on being there when the rope drops and things I would like to do are: dumbo, small world, peter pan, carousel, teacups, pirates, the parade (maybe grab lunch while we're waiting?? I dont know when it starts). We don't really care about adult rides (except the teacups!) but would like to do lots of the kid freindly things....oh and I'm dying to try a dole whip too.

We're planning on staying all day (DD can nap in her stroller) and then we have ADRs at Crystal Palace & would then like to do the Halloween party. (DH & I weren't planning on wearing costumes, are we going to look like party poopers??) It's going to be a really long day so I'd love to have some tips/advice to help things go more smoothly.

TIA

 

[HeyNowFL]

Hi! This board has been such a great resource!! DH, DD (18 months) & I are going to Disney next weekend and I'm a little overwhelmed w/ the planning. This will be the first time going in over 10 yrs & the first time bringing a toddler. Our plan is to hit MK on Sunday & AK on Monday. My biggest concern is getting to do as much as possible on Sunday at MK, so that's where I could use some help. Does anyone have a good "plan" for toddlers? We're planning on being there when the rope drops and things I would like to do are: dumbo, small world, peter pan, carousel, teacups, pirates, the parade (maybe grab lunch while we're waiting?? I dont know when it starts). We don't really care about adult rides (except the teacups!) but would like to do lots of the kid freindly things....oh and I'm dying to try a dole whip too.

We're planning on staying all day (DD can nap in her stroller) and then we have ADRs at Crystal Palace & would then like to do the Halloween party. (DH & I weren't planning on wearing costumes, are we going to look like party poopers??) It's going to be a really long day so I'd love to have some tips/advice to help things go more smoothly.

TIA

You sound like you are doing good already - not caring about the height restriction rides is going to make it a lot easier.

You will not look like a party pooper if you are not dressed up. I actually don't know any adults that have dressed up for the Not So Scary Halloween Party. They bring their kids and some of the kids have dressed up, but none of the adults have.

 

[Ellester]

I would suggest planning time for your little girl to just run around. We've found that if we just stop for a few minutes and let them explore and wander at their own pace it makes the day much more enjoyable. The play area across from Pooh is a great place for the little ones to run and explore, ditto with Minnie's house and the playground in Toon Town and the play area under the Frontierland train station. Expect some over-stimulation and allow for decompression time, even just sitting on a bench for a while to enjoy a juice box and some goldfish! At that age I think my kids' favorite rides were the monorail and the train! Be prepared to readjust if your dd doesn't react like you hope she will (ie. she may freak out at the characters or be afraid of the dark in Peter Pan). Just follow her lead and you will all have a great time. It is wonderful seeing the World through a little one's eyes!

 

[tanyaandallie]

I guess I'm a party pooper b/c I think if you are going to be a MK at rope drop, staying all day and then going to the Halloween thing that night is WAY too much for an 18 mos old. I have taken my kids 3 times (plus one at DL). For us, the key was not to push our babies too hard. We always return to the hotel for a break. Even if your baby will nap in the stroller, a little r & r would be very helpful if you are going to get to the parks early and stay late.

What we usually do is get there for rope drop, tour Fantasyland, go to Toontown then go to the other rides we want to do that are no so little kid friendly. We also skip anything the kids can't do (although now my dd is tall enough so next time we will likely do some of the thrill rides). We eat return to the hotel, rest, nap and then are ready for the evening. For me, an entire day and night in the park is too much for a small child. The next day you will all be exhausted and not ready to tour!!!

 

[mybubaloo]

It is very possible that we will go back to the resort to recooperate in the afternoon, especially now that I realize the rides are open during the Halloween party. I guess my only hesitation w/ that is DD will not take a nap in a new place without a good hour or two of fighting it but she'll fall asleep in her stroller as soon as she's tired. So I think we'll have to play that part by ear....obviously if she's overtired we'll call it quits regardless of what time it is. This is a trip for her, not us! But I guess I was just hoping for some secret strategy like Small world first, then dumbo etc. etc. so we didn't waste a ton of time running around, looking at maps & standing in line.

 

[hcmommy]

Subbing. I'd like a MK touring plan for little toddlers too! We are planning the same kind of day as you next Sunday but we will nap after lunch at the resort for sure.

 

[tanyaandallie]

If you want some really great sample touring plans, you can go to tourguidemike.com and subscribe. There are also some in the Unofficial Guide.

 

[camdensmom]

Having traveled with one that age I suggest: go with the flow.

Personally, I think planning to be there for rope drop and staying through the Halloween Party will be WAY too much for an 18 month old. My son is an extremely laid back little guy and normally a good sleeper and eater. However, I think the reason for that is structure and routine. All bets are off in Disney. At the very least she will be stimulated like never before.

I think you will have an amazing time, but I would focus on character meals and a laid back tour of the parks. I think there is a bit of scary in the NSSHP and not a heck of a lot for an 18 month old to enjoy. I would put the $ towards a character breakfast.

The ABSOLUTE BEST tip I got from these boards was to book the earliest ressie possible at CP. You get in the park before it opens and can easily take on most of Fantasyland quite quickly.

 

[LadyShea]

We just played it by ear recently with our 20 month old as my careful plans went right out the window as soon as we got there. He seemed to have more fun playing in the Pooh and Toontown play areas than he did riding rides, for example, so we spent more time there than we had originally planned.

He liked POTC and IASW better the second times around, as the first time he just seemed a bit overwhelmed and sat stony faced taking it all in. He had zero interest in the parades, which shocked me, so we took advantage of that time to take some rides with no lines. He loves, loves, loves fireworks so staying at the park late was perfect for us.

He loved the train at MK and we rode it completely around the park twice, which was a nice little break for all of us. He also like the TTA.

Anyway, I would suggest you go in with a general idea, hit some rides, use fast pass and not be dead set on following a plan or seeing everything. Your child may not react as you expect her to...my son didn't.