US with an 8mth old?

[amystevekai&bump]

We are visiting US next year and will have an 8mth old with us - will he be able to go on rides such as ET? Hopefully he will be sitting up but will obviously have to sit on my lap

 

[yaytezIOA]

No, dont do it. If you want to go to US do it, but dont try to drag your 8 month old on the rides. He wont remember it, he will probably get cranky and scared, and he will make you mad because you wont be able to have fun because you wont be able to ride the rides the way you want.
Then you'll be back like all the others saying how little there is to do for kids.
I say if you take your 8 month old, use the child swap feature. Dont try to take him on a lot of the rides as most of them (JAWS, Earthquake, ET) have loud noises that will scare him. Spend time in the playgrounds with him, and do all of the shows like Barney and Sinbad.
He wont enjoy it, he wont remember it, and you'll thank me later.

 

[WDW Traveler]

From experience, you can't take him on ET. We went when my DD was 14 months old and they told us no, 2 years and over. Don't remember about the other ones, DD is now 8! It's been a while.

 

[damo]

When we were there last month there was a wee little one being taken on. The only thing they told them was to put shoes on the baby and so the mom had to run out and get the baby's shoes.

 

[phamton]

You can't do lapsitting on ET so that probably won't work.

 

[damo]

You can't do lapsitting on ET so that probably won't work.

Hmmm. I wonder what they did with the baby then. This baby was about a year old, if that. When we got on the ride they were still waiting at the loading area for the mom to come back with the shoes.

 

[phamton]

Do you think that the one year old was willing to sit alone? I'll ask tomorrow to find out the official guidelines.

 

[yaytezIOA]

Theres nothing on the official website, but they do have a baby swap. I'm assuming they have to be able to sit alone, and unassisted......though some babies are exceptional, I doubt an 8 month old will be able to sit on a ride unassisted that has turns, some drop and loud noises.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Thanks for all your comments - It is our first time to Florida since having children and to be honest the main aim is for our 4 yr old to have a good time (We will be going back when the 8mth old is 4yrs so that its fair!!)

I will take your advice and avoid the rides with the 8mth old (after all me and DH have done most of them already anyway)

One question - we haven't been to US since Shrek has arrived, so have no idea what thats like - ideally we would like to experience that one together for the first time - is that a no no in terms of the baby (and the 4 yr old for that matter!!) - or can we attempt it as a family??

 

[damo]

Thanks for all your comments - It is our first time to Florida since having children and to be honest the main aim is for our 4 yr old to have a good time (We will be going back when the 8mth old is 4yrs so that its fair!!)

I will take your advice and avoid the rides with the 8mth old (after all me and DH have done most of them already anyway)

One question - we haven't been to US since Shrek has arrived, so have no idea what thats like - ideally we would like to experience that one together for the first time - is that a no no in terms of the baby (and the 4 yr old for that matter!!) - or can we attempt it as a family??

You can do that as a family. There are seats that don't move right at the very front of the theatre.

 

[phamton]

Ok, the official word on ET. Each child/toddler must be able to sit alone. There is no lap sitting allowed on the ET ride.

 

[Claireybear]

Hi,
we took dd2 to US when she was 21 mths old. We took her on everything without a height restriction-Jaws, Twister, Earthquake, Shrek and ET BUT I wouldn't do ET with her again like that - she had to sit on her own seat and I had to hold her which was really hard so I didn't enjoy it!! Shreak was good and we went in the moving seats - I think you can do Jimmy Neurton in hs stationary seats though! We're going back next week now DD2 is almost 4 but we now have a DS 8 months old so I'll let you know how we've got on when we get back!!
Claire.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Oh Claire that would be great if you could let me know how it all goes and what rides you could or couldn't do - at the moment I've got visions of one of us permanently sitting out - which I've accepted as this is really a holiday for our 4 yr old not us!! - But it would be nice for us to have a little fun too!!

 

[amystevekai&bump]

oh sorry - thanks Damo too!! - thats great that we can all do shrek together for the first time - I don't think it would be the same if we saw it seperately!!

 

[amystevekai&bump]

by the way Damo - excuse my ignorance - but is that a picture of someone famous on your signature!! - I feel like I recognise the face but don't know why!!?? (I'm from the UK so that may explain my confusion!!! ) - apologies!!

 

[damo]

by the way Damo - excuse my ignorance - but is that a picture of someone famous on your signature!! - I feel like I recognise the face but don't know why!!?? (I'm from the UK so that may explain my confusion!!! ) - apologies!!

Kalan Porter -- Canadian Idol 2004? (maybe 2005)

 

[yaytezIOA]

Oh Claire that would be great if you could let me know how it all goes and what rides you could or couldn't do - at the moment I've got visions of one of us permanently sitting out - which I've accepted as this is really a holiday for our 4 yr old not us!! - But it would be nice for us to have a little fun too!!

There is no reason to sit anything out. Universal has the best Child Swap system, one person waits in line, another tends the baby, waiting in the child swap area. When they are done riding, you swap, and you ride. Most of the child swap areas are indoors in A/C.