WDW with a 15 month old...

[lillykat]

We are planning on going in either September or October of 2008 with our DD who will be about 15 months by that time. Our last trip was in April of 2004 for our honeymoon - so obviously this trip will be completely different from our last.

Can anyone who has traveled with a baby this age tell me a bit about your trip? Any highlights for baby's that age? Any must dos?

Obviously we will be spending more time at our hotel relaxing than in the past - my parents will be coming to help us out with the baby. Which moderate would you all recommend for her - we were considering POFQ. Would you recommend another one instead and why?

Did you rent a car or rely on the buses? How was it trying to navagate the buses with the baby's stroller?

We can't wait for this trip!!!

TIA!!!

 

[kelscross]

Our first trip we stayed at CBR and although the resort was nice it really got tiring with the busses and the strollers. Sleeping kid in stroller, waking them up, folding stroller, getting now crying/sleepy kid on bus with stroller and all the other stuff you have to take...lol.

The next year we stayed at the Poly and it was much more relaxing to just wheel the stroller on the monorail sleeping kid and all!

You seem to have plenty of help though so it should be tolerable.

You'll have a great time irregardless. Looking at Disney through the eyes of a child is amazing!!

 

[lillykat]

Our first trip we stayed at CBR and although the resort was nice it really got tiring with the busses and the strollers. Sleeping kid in stroller, waking them up, folding stroller, getting now crying/sleepy kid on bus with stroller and all the other stuff you have to take...lol.

The next year we stayed at the Poly and it was much more relaxing to just wheel the stroller on the monorail sleeping kid and all!

You seem to have plenty of help though so it should be tolerable.

You'll have a great time irregardless. Looking at Disney through the eyes of a child is amazing!!

While we would love to stay on the monorail we can't swing it since this is a more budget trip. So you think renting a car would be best then?

 

[kelscross]

I forgot to add the highlights of our trip with my 18 month old...lol.

Go at the child's pace. Even the most laid back child can get cranky at WDW. The heat, the crowds and just all the sights and sounds are very overstimulating for a little one.

My 18 month old was still a little leary of the characters at that age. I had taken her to our amusement park here close to us to test the waters and although she was not scared of Sponge Bob and Scooby Doo, she was very frightened of Mickey and friends...go figure

I will say that all of the characters were very good with her and kept their distance when they saw how scared she was, but still interacted with her just not touching..The best was Tigger at CP, he saw that she was a little scared so he bent down to her level in the high chair and played peek a boo with her..she finally warmed up to him and actually hugged him!!

She didn't seem scared of the princesses, but I think it was because they could talk and had people faces if you know what I mean. I guess it would be very scary to see a giant mouse coming toward you as a little one.

Must do's: Playhouse Disney at MGM, Mickey's toontown and Fantasyland at MK...the other stuff she didn't really care for. Watch out for the Snow White ride, it can get a little scary for the really young ones.

If your little one loves water, think about spending some time at one of the water parks. Although my kids would be entertained in a bathtub..lol. some of our best times were at the waterparks. Plus, it's a nice change of pace.

We utilized (and still do) the EMH at the parks, even the evening hours..of course they didn't make it until closing but at least the first couple of hours and it was nicer because you don't have the sun beating down on you.

We still don't spend alot of time in AK or EPCOT as my girls are still not tall enough to ride most of the rides in AK (they're 6 and 7 this trip...I wish they would grow...lol) and they are not that interested in EPCOT. We go over, but spend most of our time at MK.

Hope that helps!

 

[NemoMOm]

The best tip is not to be a park commando. Take nap breaks and retire early at night. Some let their children take naps in the stroller but I think w/the heat and all it is not very comfy and not very restful. We only get a few hrs in a day but DS is always a prince.

Also listen to your child's queues. If they act afraid of something don't make them go on it.

 

[lillykat]

The best tip is not to be a park commando. Take nap breaks and retire early at night. Some let their children take naps in the stroller but I think w/the heat and all it is not very comfy and not very restful. We only get a few hrs in a day but DS is always a prince.

Also listen to your child's queues. If they act afraid of something don't make them go on it.

That is excellent advice - I swore years ago when I would see the poor kids screetching in fear or overtired that I would never do that to my DD.

We plan on taking it totally on her speed and take it from there.

Which of the character meals do you think would be best for a child her age (provided she isn't terrified of them).

 

[TinkerValkyrie]

We're taking our 17 month old next month, so I'll let you know how it goes after the fact

Everyone thinks we're crazy and we'll have an awful time, but I want to try it anyway.

 

[LadyShea]

Which of the character meals do you think would be best for a child her age (provided she isn't terrified of them).

By the time she is 15 mos, she may indicate a favorite character to you, which will help you determine a good character dining experience.

At around 7 mos my son seemed fascinated by me one day, and kept pointing at my chest and smiling hugely...I was confused a bit, but didn't really dwell on it until he did it again a week later. Only then did I realize that the days he was pointing and smiling at my chest I had on one of my numerous Mickey Mouse shirts. For his first Christmas we got him a Mickey plush, and now at 19 mos he loves all things Mickey. Choosing character dining was easy.

My niece, now 9, was a Tigger girl from babyhood, so when we took her several years ago, we ate at CP with Pooh and Friends.

Children are so amazing. I love that they have individual personalities and preferences emerging even at a young age.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

We went when DS was 15mos. He LOVED Pooh's Playful Spot, meeting Winnie, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (see a theme?!?! ), IASW, and most of all, The Haunted Mansion - go figure!! The key for us seemed to be going back to the hotel for a break in the afternoon. Kept ALL of us from getting cranky!

He loved the trip, and is now 2.5 and loves looking at the pictures from our vacation. He now tells his little sister how she'll get to meet Pooh, too, when we go next time. Priceless!

 

[lillykat]

Thank you!!! These are all great suggestions! She already has a glowing pooh bear that she loves.

 

[partyplannermom]

We took our DD @ 17 months! It was a little challenging b/c she wanted out of the stroller, but would not hold our hand. I had always been against "leashes" but after 2 exhausting days I was ready for one, when I inquired to another mom that used one with twins, she cheerfully offered her "extra" one to me. I used it the rest of the trip, and passed it off to another mom before we left. I couldn't bring myself to purchase one or use it after our WDW trip, but it worked very well in the world!

 

[CruisinEars]

We took our son (who is now 9) to WDW when he was 16 months. We had a great time. My parents came with to help with him. My advice would be to stay in a suite type of hotel that has a full kitchen. We stayed in a condo and it is such a blessing to be able to keep food in the fridge and have food ready when he was. It also has a separated bedroom where the little ones can nap and the big kids can watch tv etc.

We went again when my youngest was 2 and still had lots of fun. Like the pp's said, take frequent breaks and expect to take the world slowly.

Have fun!!

 

[bzzymom]

DS was 2.5 for his first visit, but when my DD came along, I took her at 11 months and 19 months, and 2.5 years. Her fav's were 1) the parades 2) the characters (except for Beast, she wouldn't go near him) 3) It's a Small World, Peter Pan and Winnie the Pooh rides 4) the rides that slowly go around......the carosel, Dumbo, Aladdin's Magic Capet, The tea cups (not doing any additional spinning of the wheel), Triceratops Spin and 5) she loved the little play areas they have around, like Pooh's play spot at MK, and over by Splash Mountain there is an area with a little slide underneath the RR track bridge and at Epcot, indoors at the end of Mission Space there is a little area with a tunnel that she didn't want to leave. The first 2 trips we carried her on the bus and rented a stroller at the parks. This worked well for us. However, when she was 2.5, she was heavier and it was so hot (August) that we took a stroller. I was going to take our umbrella stroller, but it doesn't have a shade on top, or a basket for storage. So I found a stroller at Walmart that was $25 that folded up nicely, and had a basket underneath for storage with a top on it. I figured that it was cheaper than renting a stroller for a week. It was a great deal, and worked very nicely. We have used rental car before when traveling with my parents, because my mom has a disability and prefers to drive and park in the handicapped lot instead of getting onto the bus with a scooter. When it has been the 4 of us, we have used magic express and bus service and done well with it. I think it depends on your budget, and if you are planning to go off site at all.

We stayed at POFQ when DS was young for his first 3 trips. We especially like the play area there, it hada nice soft spongy bottom. Then we switched to ASSports and it was nice but the playground had a sand bottom underneath, very messy. DD's first trip was at AKL and she was too young to appreciate much really, however she loved the flamingo's. Then the last 2 trips we stayed at ASMovies and she absolutely loved it. She loved the character theming. Personally, any hotel is great.


Enjoy your stay!

 

[lillykat]

bzzymom -

How was the bus service from POFQ?

 

[bzzymom]

I like the bus station at POFQ, it is covered. At the all star resorts you are out in the son. There is one bus stop and it isn't far from the main building with the food court. Sometimes POFQ and POR use the same bus. When we went POFQ was the first bus stop to get on and off. Which I liked. The resort is small and the walk was small for us. We requested to be in a building near the food court. If you want a water view though, you will be farther. Another thing I like about POFQ is the ability to take a boat to DTD. The pool is nice too. They have good life jackets if you want to go in the big pool with little ones.

 

[ObsessedwiththeMouse]

We took my daugther when she was 22 months and it wasn't that bad. The flight was the worst part about the trip!

Personally, if it's a budget trip, I wouldn't rent a car. The buses are really good.

This next time, we're taking my son who will be 20 months old and it should be alright. If your daughter is tired, then don't force anymore on her. Definitely let her rest.

Have a great trip!

 

[Tink561]

When we took our sons for the first time our younger sons were a little over 2 and 3. We had a double umbrella stroller and we were fine. We stayed at the Contemporary but we did use the bus system as well.

Our next trip we will be staying at POR. Our daughter will be 20 months old so we'll have a stroller again. We're driving but don't plan to use our SUV much. We'll use the bus system. We've stayed there before and the busses were fine. We've stayed at most deluxe, several moderates as well as values. I think the transportation system is good and I wouldn't rent a car. It's just more hassle.