What do you do with a one year old at WDW?

[dvcdream4fld]

My wife and I are expecting in January 2017. We are WDW veterans and DVC owners. However, this will be our first baby boy. We have already decided that we are not going to take a newborn to WDW, but I am certain that we will plan a trip for next year.

Last night, my wife and I were having a discussion about planning a future trip (early 2018) with a one year old baby boy, and we came up with a few things...swimming at the resorts and first haircut in MK, but I'll be honest I couldn't think of much.

So, I thought I would ask the boards and see what other parents have done with their one year old toddlers at WDW?

Any suggestions?

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Why not go on the rides, watch parades, watch shows, do character meet n greets....
Or is it that you are looking for something more "special" than that?

 

[lpizzuro123]

First haircut is a must. Other then that, character meets, parades show and rides.

 

[siskaren]

A one-year-old can go on any ride that doesn't have a height restriction.

 

[a742246]

With a 1 year old the best things are probably the free things. Ride the free boats in Bay lake and Disney Springs, walk around Fort Wilderness(animals), Disney Springs, the Epcot resorts (Boardwalk), ride the boat from Epcot to Hollywood Studios and back, rest at the resort pools. Tour the Disney DVC resorts. Pin trade???

 

[a742246]

Take a evening Wagon Ride Fort Wilderness, Boat from Old Key west to Disney Springs and back, See the piano player and band play at Grand Floridian(after 3:30).
Sing around the campfire at FW. See a Nighttime movie at your resort. Picnic. See a fireworks show from a distance (GF or Poly).

 

[jvz82]

Honestly, some of the best things to experience with an infant at Disney don't need to be planned. My first trip with my kids (an 8 week old and an almost 2 year old) and we rode the Carousel like 5 times because the look of joy on my 2 year old's face was amazing. I can't remember the last time I had ridden the Carousel before that day! But he loved it, so we kept riding it. Plan the things you guys want to do and then go at your 1 year old's speed.

 

[Dashzap]

When my boys were little, we'd spend the week at WDW enjoying the resorts...play at the pool...ride the monorail and boats around...do character meals at the resorts... visit Disney springs. We'd only go into a park for one day at most.

 

[BobbyDukes]

As an experienced dad with the past history of traveling with my own daughters and currently coming up in a couple days with my niece who will be one. They are great travel companions, you have to plan a stroller and little nap times and feedings. But the vacation definitely slows down, so enjoy every little moment. I remember when my oldest daughter was one, we were waiting for the parade and we were just relaxing on the side of min street. Letting her roam around and she was just being her silly self. It was an awesome memory of that trip.
One years are also way more patient than a 2-3 year old. So waiting in line for the Jungle cruise ( Great for babies) isn't such a huge deal because they won't be doing the whole 2-3 year old melt down thing.
It also gives the adults an opportunity to have their own time ( hear me out). We went to raglan road with our daughters who were three and 8 months at the time. We planned it so they would be in nap mode and it worked out perfectly. There was a low crowd in the restaurant and the waitress totally understood we had two sleeping babies and put us in a quiet corner. My wife and I had a very nice calm and quiet lunch together with a stroller full of sleeping babies next to our table. Now the girls are older so there goes that ability, but it's a memory my wife and I will always remember

 

[Beer Me]

We took our son when he was 20 months. We toured the parks but my fondest memories are character interactions (luckily he wasn't afraid and loved them) and swimming in the resort pool. On that trip I learned that just hanging out with your family is more important than seeing every attraction.

 

[hsmamato2]

Why not go on the rides, watch parades, watch shows, do character meet n greets....
Or is it that you are looking for something more "special" than that?

I bought my baby a pretty mylar balloon when he was too little to walk,in a stroller. He loved that and it made him happy for our whole trip. Never bought another one lol since he got old enough to enjoy other stuff after that....