To go with a 1 yr old or not

[mecharper]

A friend and I have daughters that are only about 4 weeks apart. We took them to Disney for a girl's trip when they were 12 and 13 months.They had a ball! We knew they wouldn't remember it, but we had so much fun that we thought it was worth it anyway!

 

[HotMama]

Yes! Yes! Yes! We went when our DD was 1 years old and it was so magical we knew when DS turned 1 we would want to take him to experience it at that age also! To watch Disney through the eyes of your young toddler is amazing. Everything is so real to them. I have done it and certainly suggest it!

OH, and they are FREE at that age! Why not??

 

[Disneymooners4eva]

I remember once seeing a toddler having a blast going up and down the curb in front of the castle, your LO will have a blast!
My LO went to Disneyland at 9 months and loved the characters. He was also mesmerized by small world and had fun with the handle bar on Ariel. LOL

Why doesn't your wife want to go? Maybe find out the problem and try to address it that way?

 

[mcjaco]

OH, and they are FREE at that age! Why not??

THIS!

We went twice before they turned three just for that reason!

 

[owynn]

so we got back last week from WDW with our DS1. It was an amazing vacation. We took it much easier than we normally would. We did two meals per day, a character breakfast, usually around 9:00 AM and a signature restaurant for dinner. After breakfast we would hit park #1. About 1:30 2:00 we would be back in the room for a nap and then swim time in the pool, or swim first and then a short nap. Then it was off to dinner. Post dinner we would usually head into the closest park (most often the Magic Kingdom).

Some tips:
When meeting the characters, our little man was intimidated by them when he was in the high chair. By taking him out of the high chair and walking him one or two steps to the characters, he was much more comfortable. Except with Goofy, which i think was due to the height. The Mad Hatter he was not too sure of at 1900 Park Fare, until the Hatter lowered his voice and then DS lit up.

We rented a car and had his car seat in it, which we also used on the plane. This allowed us to be a little more flexible with getting to and from ADRs and the parks. Since it was early September, the car got hot. The metal buckles on the car seat were scorching. Take a baby wipe and rub any metal or plastic parts that may come in contact with your child's skin to cool them off. Evaporative cooling for the win. I will certainly be renting a car again, it was worth the expense.

 

[momof2n2]

We've taken many a one-year old (by that meaning 11 months thru 18 months). It is a fabulous age. My kids were always super flexible at that age.
BUT - if your wife is super anxious about it - it might make for a lousy trip. You can't try to maintain a kid's normal at home schedule on vacation. Don't even try. There are few things worse than insisting a kid take a nap and going to a hotel room to make it happen and find out it doesn't. Our vacation mode is always different than our at home mode. It doesn't ruin them for home again, in my experience. If they nap in the stroller, great. If they don't, that's okay; they have the rest of their lives to catch up on sleep. If they don't eat well, no problem. Etc. Etc.

 

[momof2n2]

With all due respect, we brought our 3 month old along because it's a family vacation. He is our child. We go every year and would never have dreamed of going without him. (We also have an 11 and 8 yr old).

Nope, he is never going to remember it. But, he enjoyed it while he was there...and I think my older kids melted down more than he did. He was the easiest person to deal with, lol. DH and I will remember the trip forever.

Next year, when we do Disney, we are also doing a Disney cruise. He will be 15 months old *gasp*. And we absolutely can't wait!

THIS.
I'm still reeling over the logic in the quote you were responding to.
My family is WHY I still enjoy WDW.
Have a BLAST on your cruise!!!!!!!! BEST TRIP EVER!

 

[mandis77]

We took our youngest at 18 months and we had a great time! She napped in the stroller no problem, so either DH or myself would sit with her while the other took our oldest on bigger rides. Some of my fondest WDW memories are riding the TTA monorail with my little one over and over again. She loved it. That along with the massive diaper blowout at Epcot! Pack extra clothes and have a great time!!