Traveling with a 1yo? Are we crazy?

[Disneydragonfly]

We are crazy too! We are taking our, will be, 13.5 month old in November! Thanks for starting this thread! I've written down a lot of great ideas!!

 

[stamot]

OMG! Im so happy to know other people have done this. Thanks for all the advice. I have another question:
Do you prefer to bring your stroller from home or rent one from a company outside of Disney?

 

[dzaharchuk]

As I said in earlier post, we were traveling with a 10 mo old and a two year old, and we brought our own. We wanted to have them corralled at the airport, and when making the long end-of night trek to the resort room.

We bought an easy, one handed folding stroller to make things go smoothly. I would not like not having had it in those instances, esp. with 2 little ones.

We also had an umbrella stroller for the 2 yr old.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I bought a Maclaren Techno XT off Craigslist for the first trip. It cost the same as a rental would have, but I had it for the airport which is a must have to me. If your flight is delayed you will want a place for your infant or toddler to nap. I ended up getting the Uppa Baby Gluxe for the 2nd and 3rd trip because I wanted a more lightweight stroller for the trips (also to use for everyday use).

In the end I sold the Maclaren on Craigslist for just about what I paid for it, so it was worth it even just for the first trip.

Whatever stroller you bring, I like one with nearly a full recline and generous sunshade.

 

[jco_direwolf]

My son first trip to WDW was when he was 12 weeks. My nephews first trip was when he was 14 days. My son is 5 now and been 3x per year at least. (Well this year it's going to be 2x and a Disney cruise)

 

[pixiepurls]

My family and I are Disney veterans. We had been in Disney over ten times but this is the first time we will be there with a 1yo. We are spending the holidays, 12/23- 1/03. It will be me, dh, dd 11yo, grandma and ds 15 months old. We knos how crowded is during the holidays. We love to spend this time at Disney because is magical. This will be our 4th Christmas at Disney.

I need advice in traveling with a baby. What are your experiences? What to do with: diapers, food, naps?? What are good things to do with the baby? How to deal with the characters? What not to do? How to survive this trip?

I would love to hear from people who have experience. Please!!!

We had a blast with my 18mo, I think its hollywood studio's that has the "honey I shrunk the kid" playground that had a cute slide we put her down a bunch of times, and she went on daddy's shoulders for the parade's and rode the easy rides. We went with family, and we had a very nice time. 1yo can't whine too much and sleep a lot. Win-win.

 

[DisMama5]

The first time we ever brought our DD is when she was 1yo. I heard it all, "she's too young", "your wasting your money", "what's the point", "she won't remember a thing". We ignored it all and I must say it was truly so magical for her so I'm glad we ignored the negative feedback. Yes she won't remember that trip but we sure will. She went crazy over the characters and was very much aware with who they were and how much she loved seeing them and watching the parades. We brought everything from home, diapers, her certain foods etc. it was just easier for us that way but some people would rather buy once down there so they can travel to DW lightly, that's really in each persons own opinion. I would agree with others in saying try to keep the same routine as you do at home, we just put DD into her stroller with some milk in a sippy whenever she was ready for a nap and we were in a park still going, she would pass right out for an hour or 2. We had a lot of family with us so there was always someone to stay behind if she was still sleeping when it came to attractions but there were days we went back to the hotel and relaxed mid day also. At that age, just don't try to do it all, we didn't and we went at a slow pace on that trip, we just enjoyed everything for what it was and if we didn't get to do something it was no big deal! I still say that was one of our favorite trips I'll cherish forever. Have fun

 

[VbChristy]

We've taken our son 3 times. He is only 13 months now. The most recent trip was days before his first birthday. We always just bring his diapers. This way we have extra suitcase space for the things we buy. We use a car service - Orlando car service - from the airport and they do a quick grocery stop and we buy his breakfast food, milk plus snacks quickly at the store. We use a back pack in the park for all the stuff. It makes things so easy. I bring babyganics hand sanitizer for his hands after the rides and when he's done playing. And then we take it easy. He can't be at the park all day. So we don't. We bring his carrier and stroller and alternate between the two. We also keep him on his schedule because it's easier in all of us. That does mean early back to the room but we were fine with that.

 

[VbChristy]

And bring layers. That time of year as you know could be any weather and the baby will need more layers than the adults.

 

[Angel Ariel]

OMG! Im so happy to know other people have done this. Thanks for all the advice. I have another question:
Do you prefer to bring your stroller from home or rent one from a company outside of Disney?

I prefer to rent from an outside company. I've used Kingdom Strollers and apple strollers - both excellent experiences.

I wear DD through the airport on my back in a beco Gemini. This leaves my hands free for going through security (dealing with bags, etc). It also, at BWi any way, allows me to skip the body scanner. They send me through the old school metal detector, swipe my hands (testing for explosives), and be on my way. We always get a seat for DD on the plane, and her car seat attaches to a rolling cart. It is awesome to not have to deal with a stroller through the airport also.

Plus, I also have no worries about my stroller being stolen at WDW. I get the $25 insurance on the stroller rental, and if something happens to it, including theft, it is all covered. The stroller we rent, a city mini, is the same one we have at home, so there is also familiarity for DD.

Overall, I highly recommend renting from an offsite company.

 

[Mikie]

Many good tips already but I'd add to pack a night light to help tend to baby at night if needed, a white noise machine helps drown out sounds of neighboring guests in the hotel, infant meds (Tylenol, cold/cough medicine if you use it) kids seem to always get sick at in opportune times and I found (overpriced!) "kids" medicines at Disney but seen to remember having a harder time locating "infant".

 

[Southern Bell]

We took my daughter and her family last yr (2013) and she had a 1 1/2 yr old and a 4 yr old. Previously we had taken the 4 yr old when he was 2 yrs old. One of the most useful things she had was a back pack, from Bay R Us with a cooler inside the side pockets for taking snacks and keeping them cool. The middle part held diapers, wipes, change of clothes etc.,

We went in the summer and the biggest problem was keeping them cool. We bought fans at Walmart for the stroller, made sure they had plenty of fluids and when the baby napped we would try to be in the shade or air conditioner, if not back at the resort. We learned that if the baby was asleep you couldn't take the stroller in our reservations to eat or in a show but... you could take it in a store! So I sat a few times in a store, in the back, out of the way as much as possible, while they rode some rides I didn't want to ride anyways! LOL

Animal Kingdom was the most unfriendliest place with the baby! After we took the train over to second part(not sure what it was called) the baby was a sleep and I was a little tired myself. I sat down on a bench in the shade with the stroller beside me , like we had done at the other parks, while the others were going to go inside. A worker came over and told me I could not park the stroller there! I said well, I'm not going inside and I'm going to sit here with the baby and stroller while they go inside. I was then instructed to get up and walk with the child or park them in the stroller parking. I was like what? Another worker came over and argued it was OK for me to sit there with the baby and I didn't need to park the stroller if I were staying with it but ... we all just left! It was a boring part of AK anyways! LOL!

As far as characters, we thought my granddaughter would be afraid of them but she loved the ones in costume! She would reach for them and want to touch them! She loved the big ears on Mickey and Minnie (her favorites)! She did not like the Princess, Mary Poppins, anyone that was a person! Our grandson shyed away more from those in costume, but loved all the Princess,Mary Poppins, and especially Tinker Bell! He was front and center and I think he got either a hug or kiss from all of them! We just didn't figure it would be that way at all! LOL!

The children had a great time and I had a great time watching them! So...no your not crazy and your baby will enjoy more than you think!