WDW with an 18 month old

[SaraMc]

We took DS last year when he was 6 months old and it was great. DH and I are talking about going again when DS is about 18 months old. However weve never done that before. Any suggestions? Im thinking we might get a diffrent stroller for him ( He's using a Graco Quatro right now) and he will be walking by then so perhaps a monkey backpack/leash. But other than that, any suggestions on how to do WDW with a 18 month old?

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

We took DD to DL at 17 months and then to WDW at 18 months. Both trips were great and not really difficult at all. My advise would be to make sure your DS will be comfortable enough in his stroller to take a nap when he's tired, if he's the type that will do that, some kids won't. Our trips with DD at those ages were in August and September, pretty hot at both DL and WDW, and a little baby-safe clip on stroller fan was invaluable. If he won't nap in the stroller, but he does regularly nap at home, I'd make absolutely sure you got him back to the room for a nap during the day. Also make sure you pack plenty of his regular snackies, you're not likely to find Gerber Puffs (or whatever toddlers eat these days, my 'baby' is now 7, I don't remember!) easily at WDW, or if you do, you can be sure they will cost double what they would cost at home! My DD was horribly afraid of the characters at that age, liked to view them from a distance but was terrified if they got close, but other than that, she enjoyed it all tremendously and we have wonderful memories of those trips. Have fun!!

 

[laughinplace199]

DS was 15 mos for his first WDW trip. We purchased a reclining umbrella stroller with a canopy. It was great because it was lightweight, easy to fold, and it reclined for naps.

We tried to stick to his meal/sleep schedule as best we could and he did great. Have fun!

 

[HotMama]

WDW with our 18month DD was the best vacation DH and I have ever been on! To see her excitement when we talked to Mickey or went on a ride was priceless!! It was so much fun when we found out we were pregnant with DS we vowed to go back when he is 18months so he can experience Disney for the first time like our DD did. We are going this September and are so excited we talk about it everyday!
My only tip is make sure you have a comfy stroller. One that your 18month old will be able to sleep in, eat in, watch parades in, etc... We never used the lesh thing, we don't really like them, but DD did fine walking on her own when we let her. We also went in July, hot hot hot, so we bought one of those fans that clip on to strollers...IT WAS AWESOME! It kept her cool and entertained her!

 

[Siouxstone]

We took our DS at 16 months. It was pure, pure magic! Just remembering him clapping and yelling "Yeah!" anytime we got near Dumbo makes me misty eyed! We were amazed by how much fun he really had. He turned out to be totally fearless on rides we were nervous about like POTC, but the dark drop only got a long "oooooooh."
As former (at least for a few years) park commandos, it was a lesson in slowing down and learning a new WDW experience. I never knew there were rocking chairs at the Hall of Presidents before! They are tucked on a porch between the entrance and where the exit comes out and if I remember right, pleasantly shady during the day. The baby centers are also a wonderful place to slow down. We also learned that It's a Small World meant it's nap time! Before, I only had a vague idea at how many quiet spots you can find.
Really, that extra magic of the age has kept us perpetually broke as we went to Disneyland this last January at 29 months and we're tettering on going just before his 3rd birthday this September. The chance at free dining and one more "free" visit for him is tempered with that Dumbo yell and will probably tip the scales!

 

[Siouxstone]

Oh, and the monkey backpack/leash... ever see a cat on a leash? They just kind of stop and flop, twisting and turning. We've tried it again as he's aged, but it's just $15 bucks I wish I had back. I have seen it work beautifully on other toddlers though. I just wish I had tried it out before I sacrificed the suitcase space.

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh, and the monkey backpack/leash... ever see a cat on a leash? They just kind of stop and flop, twisting and turning. We've tried it again as he's aged, but it's just $15 bucks I wish I had back. I have seen it work beautifully on other toddlers though. I just wish I had tried it out before I sacrificed the suitcase space.

Bwa ha ha. I'm totally "for" kid harnesses, and always thought we'd use them! But my guy channels his inner sled dog, and charges to the end to SLAM!!! Just like the Alaskan Malamutes I grew up with. (and yes, my mom had two malamutes on leashes, and two toddlers on harnesses when we went to the beach!)

So it doesn't, so much, work for us.


Haven't done WDW! Haven't done a multi-day trip to DL! But we went when DS was 17 months or so old. Rented a stroller, barely used it. Much better for him in the mei tai. Now he was used to being "worn", so if you guys aren't used to it it might not be great. Also I had a mesh-bodied carrier, so it was relatively cool for us. I did front (as seen in my avatar) and back-carries with him, to change it up. Worked great.

He could walk before a year, but he's not a big fan of looking at peoples' butts, so walking in crowds isn't a favorite. He preferred to be up at my level (which still isn't so high, ha ha!), so wearing him worked out great!

have fun!!!!!!!!!!