WDW with 15 month old - or not?

[dismom9761]

I took my youngest at 15 and 18 mths and she loved it.

Having said that I will be honest.It depends on the child's temperment.My youngest will sleep in the stroller and stay up late and be happy.If I had taken my oldest at the same age he would have been miserable.He was a tight "schedule" baby and was ready for bed at 7:00pm every night.It won't hurt your 15 mth old to stay with your mother if thats what you want to do.Does your 3 yr old like to stay up late but you will need to go back to the room for the baby? Will your trip be ruined because you feel guilty? It won't hurt to leave him for some grandma time or you will have a graet time watching him enjoy Disney.

 

[Ariel'07]

Take him! He is part of the family and the joy in their eyes when they are that little is just heartwarming. I can't wait to take my will be 13-month old in January

 

[momofmickeyfans]

It will be fun either way!

We just returned w/ a 5 y/o and 14 m/o. My 14 m/o DS had the best time of all I think!! He LOVED the characters and enjoyed the rides and all the people watching....lots to see!!!

Yours could love it just as much....or you could have some valuable and memorable time w/ the 3 1/2 y/o and let Grandma enjoy time with the baby?? I don't see how you can go wrong either way!

Best of Luck with your decision! Have fun!!

 

[colinsdad]

Take him.

Let your Mom take BOTH kids when you want to take that Anniversary Cruise with your husband.

In the meantime, Disney is for families. And your family isn't complete at Disney if you leave one behind. You'll regret it, miss him, and that will take away from your enjoyment of the trip too.

What would Walt Say???

 

[lundve]

I figured if I asked y'all that I would get a lot of positive remarks. Boy was I right - and it helped convince my DH - the one that has more misgivings than me. I did call Grandma today and tell her the bad news - she doesn't get to spend time with her youngest grandchild. (I did try one more time to convince her to come but alas she can not. . .)

He enjoys his schedule but seems to be way more adaptable than his older brother. I know that is probably b/c he is the 2nd child. He doesn't have many opportunities to sleep in his stroller but it does recline all the way so he will be comfortable no matter what. His older brother prob doesn't need a nap but usually will take one so if we are going back we might try to get them both to sleep at the same.

I have decided we are just going to go with the flow...

Thanks for all the advice.

 

[1hero2princesses]

Take him. He will love it. I have a DS almost 5, DD3 and DD 15 months (who will be 17 months when we go). I also got and offer from the grandparents that they would watch the 17 month old. I said thank you but no thanks. I know she loves to look around at things and honestly will love some of the rides. I want her in the pictures and on the video. She may not remember it, but I will remember her there. Someday she will be able to view the pictures and video and "remember" it to. Being the younger kid I would have been very upset as I got older to realize I wasn't included in the family vacation. I actually think my 3 year old will definitely be our biggest challenge!

 

[Floridian Princess]

Take him!Our dd was 18 months first trip,our ds was 5,and she had a ball!she doesn't remember anything but my son does and she loves looking at the photos and dvd's from that trip.

 

[holden]

Okay, I'll be the party pooper here. We are seriously think of not taking our FD who will be 17mos. at the time of our trip. We felt that because DD is 5 1/2 and now able to go on the "big kid" rides (like Splash Mountain), FD would spend a lot of time just sitting in her stroller (well, not at SM because they have the play area, but you know what I mean). Also, she HATES sitting in the stroller. I can only get about 1/2 hr. in at the mall and she's fussing to leave (and that's if I keep moving, heaven forbid I stop to look at something). Finally, she goes to sleep at 7:30pm, so that would leave out any evening activities.

So, we might leave her with Grandma where she'll have a great time. We still have time to decide, but that's the direction we're leaning.

 

[christa112]

I would take him too! We took my dd when she was 17 mos along with my 6 & 5 yr old boys and we had a great time. It is not like your 3 yr old is going to be able to go on all these thrill rides and the baby will be left out. They will be able to ride the same things.

 

[vcgirl925]

Take him!

I don't think it'd be horrible if you did leave him with your mom. I mean you shouldn't feel guilty over it if you did decide to do so.

But he will have a great time and like you said he won't need an extra plane ticket and he won't need tickets to the park. It would take just different plans......to accommadate him.

 

[wrighter]

Lundve - just something to consider when you're thinking about naps . . .

When we took our DD at 17 mo, she had never really napped in her stroller either so we had no idea what to expect. She really fought it - there was just too much to do and see, you know? So some days we did go back to the room for naps/pool/break, etc, and it was really nice. Made us slow down - and there's something to be said about just hanging out with your kids in the pool.

But - one thing that really worked out well for us on the days we were at MK: my DH would take her on the monorail. Not the one that stops at all the resorts - the one that just goes back and forth to the TTC. It was quiet, without so much to see and do. The white noise and motion put her right to sleep. He used the time to catch up on some work phone calls or was on his crackberry, while I spent some quality time our DS.

I know it sounds a little weird, but it was a tip that I had read on these boards before our first trip and we tried it on a whim and it worked. So file it away in your brain - you never know if it might come in handy or not.

Enjoy your trip! BOTH of your kids will love it.

 

[FunkyDuck]

I'm glad to see that you have decided to take him. We too are taking our DD who will be 18 months. I cannot imagine not taking her. She is part of the family and I agree with numerous pp on the "picture/video" aspect. She may not remember...but I want her in those photos and videos. I want to see her face when she sees the characters and all the hustle and bustle of WDW. We are staying nearly two weeks so I think we can plan for those slow down times...and that "baby pace". This will be our first trip...for all of us...I'm so excited!!! I hope you have a great time!!!

 

[bartleby1]

I'm so glad you decided to incude your youngest. You will have a great time!

One of my favorite memories of disney was with my middle child who was 14 months on one trip. When we went to visit with the characters in toontown, tigger was there and my DS ran up to him so excited. Tigger started playing with him and the two of them ended up crawling around on the floor together. Tigger was so much fun with him! DS was giggling and laughing and just having the best time.

If you don't already have it, get a copy of the sing-a-long dvd that takes place in disneyland. It is great for preparing little ones for what they will see.

Have a great trip!

 

[vcgirl925]

Another thing to consider for naps is going to the childcare stations. They have rooms that are dimly lit and have rocking chairs in there. You could bring him in there and rock him in the quiet for a bit until he fell asleep and then try to transfer him back to his stroller.

 

[jessp1021]

I am so glad you decided to take him!! We took dd last year when she was 3mo and she will be 14mo this year when we go and I am so excited!! I agree with others that they might not remember it but YOU will have those memories and pictures.. fwiw dd gets giddy when she sees her pics with her and the characters and wants to stop and admire them in the hall every day!! IMO I think a vacay to Disney is much better with kids bc you notice things you never did before!! I hope yall have a great trip!!!

 

[trasor]

We went last Dec. when my daughter was 3 and my son was 15 mo. and we had an incredible time. We also went with the plan of going back to the room after lunch and napping but he would fall asleep in the stroller completely off schedule I think due to overstimulation. We did go back to the room in the afternoon for downtime but he never slept.
Your son may not remember that trip at 15 but he will remember now. Once we got back my son would go crazy every time a Disney commercial came on TV or he saw a picture of the Disney castle or we passed the Disney Store in the mall. He also loves looking at the photos we took that trip.
The most challenging part of the trip for us was the bus rides. He is EXTREMELY active and trying to hold him during crowded bus rides was exhausting. Other than that we had a blast and can't wait to go back in Dec. again. You won't regret bringing him.

 

[Happy Elf]

Take him! We took our DD when she was 16 months old and she loved it! The pictures and memories from the trip are priceless!

 

[ColleenG]

I say take him. On our first trip our kids were DD3 years and DS15 months old. DS had a blast and was so cute when he met the characters. DD was very shy. We are going again this Oct. We now have 4 kids . The youngest will be 15 months when we are there. On our last trip our youngest was 11 months old and he did great. I wouldn't even think of not bringing them. It's our only big family vaccation so it wouldn't feel right with out them there. Have a great time on your trip.

 

[srwarden1928]

I have a good reason for saying leave him with Grandma. For a child that age it is just as exciting to spend the time at Grandma's as it is to go to Disney.
Developing a relationship with Grandma is important. No one knows how long you have. Disney will be there when your youngest is five or six. Grandma may or may not be.
DW and I had both lost both of our parents before we turned 40. Time with Grandma is not ALWAYS going to be an option. Disney isnt going anywhere.

 

[lundve]

But - one thing that really worked out well for us on the days we were at MK: my DH would take her on the monorail. Not the one that stops at all the resorts - the one that just goes back and forth to the TTC. It was quiet, without so much to see and do. The white noise and motion put her right to sleep. He used the time to catch up on some work phone calls or was on his crackberry, while I spent some quality time our DS.

I know it sounds a little weird, but it was a tip that I had read on these boards before our first trip and we tried it on a whim and it worked. So file it away in your brain - you never know if it might come in handy or not.

Enjoy your trip! BOTH of your kids will love it.

Wrighter - great tip, we had never heard that one before, the monorail is a perfect choice. We might just try it. If he is tired enough in the car he falls asleep instantly.

BTW my DH and I laughed at your post too because he also has a "crackberry" that I insist he uses way too much. Whatever did he do before that??