WDW or DCL with 20 month old?

[GSUJillybean]

I posted A LOT before my last trip in 2005. My boyfriend proposed while we were on our trip, we got married a year later, and now I'm having our first kiddo next month.

Anywho, we have about $600 in Disney dollars we have to spend before 1/08. I want to book a trip sometime in early 2009. Henry will be 20-ish months old.

Would it be easier to take a kid this age to WDW (monorail resort), or on a Disney Cruise?

I'm a first time mom, so I really have no idea, but I need to get a budget together.

THANKS!!!!

 

[ktulu]

I took my 1 yr old (she just turned 1) to Disneyland last year, we had no issues getting from the car to the parks w/o a stroller (we got the free one w/ Disney visa at the parks), I carried a backpack with all the necessary gear. She rode all the rides with no height restrictions, slept through Buzz Lightyear and the fireworks (as we walked through Fantasyland!) We also took her to the San Diego Zoo, Sea World in San Diego and Universal Hollywood (although I would not recommend Universal for young kids, not much to do, and she could really care less about the backstage tour, no blues clues there!)

This year we're going back to Disneyland and going to WDW, she will be 2. I think WDW would be perfect, unless you really want to do a cruise.

 

[KayW]

We took my daughter at almost 18 months and she was great. She rode all the rides and was fine during Pirates of the Caribbean (I think we did that one twice). I brought my own light weight stroller and she slept in it on a number of occasions, specifically right when the park opened! SHe missed the MK opening which she would have loved.

I would be much more worried on the cruise since they want to walk at that age and I would be concerned about the edges. We are saving the cruise until she is about 8.

Kerrie

 

[MrsPMC00]

Go to WDW!! My oldest daughter was there for the first time at 2, and my youngest was 5 month! She will be 21 months when we are there this year!!! I really think the kids need to be older to get any benefit from the cruise. We are thinking of going when the baby is 4ish!

WDW is so set up for kids, it is easy to go when they are little!

 

[miksilver]

I have to vote for cruise. I love cruising and find that it is most convienent with an infant/toddler. I took my DD on cruises when she was 6 months, 14 months and I have another one planned for August (2y). I found it to be the easiest vacation for my DH and myself. I also love unpacking once and find that I wake up in all these different places!

It's easier to get around on the ship and when your little one gets tired, it's just a walk back to the cabin. Also, the daycare they have on cruises is wonderful and Disney has some of the best! You can do babysitting in the evening and still get in some "adult time".

Hope you have a great trip, whatever you decide.

 

[IlovemythreeC's]

We go to DW every year and we have an 11, 7, and 11 month old. People continually ask me why I do this. (They think it is crazy to take children when they are so small) What my DH and I have realized is that DW is, in our opinion, the best place to take children of any age. Little ones' schedules can be difficult any place that you go and we find Disney to be so accomodating to their needs. The transport makes it so easy to go back and nap and then my older children swim and have fun at the resort! We went in late September last time and my son was 4 months old and I found the baby care centers to be so helpful, because it was so hot at that time. So, I would rock him there when he needed a little break!

I vote to take him to WDW- he will love it. Although the cruise sounds awesome too- I guess you can't go wrong!

 

[dotingmom]

We have two kids, DS 13, DD 8. We've been going to WDW forever...I think DS has probably done WDW and DL at least 15 times in his life. Our first DCL was in 2000 when DD was 1. It was okay, but not awesome...whereas WDW was fantastic. The thing is, while the babysitting is very trustworthy and a lovely setting, the hours are not always conducive to what you want to do. I'd wait for the cruise until your youngest qualifies for the Oceaneers Club (3 and up). Then you'll really be able to get the most out of the cruise! We just took another one over Spring Break...what a difference now that they are both older...the best family vacation we've ever had.

 

[EmmaLuvsPooh]

I'm wondering if those who said Disney World haven't been on a cruise??? We've done both with and without kids. Our first trip with kids was with dd at Disney World when she was 16 months. Great fun with her and watching her experience everything but long days . Everything takes much longer to do with kids so little. She was in bed by 7 which means we had to be done by 5:30-6 which was hard for the adults. We just did the 7 day magic cruise with dd 3 and 6 month old ds. It was much easier. Much more relaxing. Everything is taken care of on the cruise. Just strolled around with the baby and my daughter LOVED everything on the ship. And she didn't even do the kids club,by her choice. I thought the cruise was a much more laid back enjoyable trip. But then again we love cuising. Oh and BTW, it would be REALLY hard to just fall off the ship!!! Despite what you may hear you don't just fall off the ship. So no worries there.

And of course we love Disney World as well. We'll be going again next May when dd is 4 and the baby is almost 2. We stay at the BCV with a kitchen so it's much easier with the little ones to have food/laundry right there. You just have to know that it's a diffent kind of trip and you have to be really flexible with your child.Disney World and Disney cruise are two completely different experiences and it depends on what you prefer to do. Good luck deciding.

 

[perdidochas]

I posted A LOT before my last trip in 2005. My boyfriend proposed while we were on our trip, we got married a year later, and now I'm having our first kiddo next month.

Anywho, we have about $600 in Disney dollars we have to spend before 1/08. I want to book a trip sometime in early 2009. Henry will be 20-ish months old.

Would it be easier to take a kid this age to WDW (monorail resort), or on a Disney Cruise?

I'm a first time mom, so I really have no idea, but I need to get a budget together.

THANKS!!!!

I'd choose cruise. We've done a cruise with a 13 month old. Not too much problem, IMHO.

 

[lcdm]

I've done both and I would choose the cruise. It was much more relaxing and my kids loved it. The daycare is also great. When my 5 year old got up in the morning she wanted to know when she was going to play with her new friends. Going to WDWwith a young child is also doable and they sure will have a great time, but I felt like I needed a vacation after going to WDW with young children.