What to expect with a 1 year old?

[Dallas_Lady]

DD#1 is still in-utero (5 more weeks!!!) but DH and I have decided to go to Disney for Christmas 2007 and she will be around 14 months old. This is our first baby and this may seem like a silly question, but, in your experience, what can a 1 y/o actually do? Will she be able to laugh and clap at the parades? Will she be terrified by the characters? Will she be able to walk around some? I've read all the baby books, but I'd love to hear some first hand opinions. Please help out a (clueless) mom-to-be

 

[Hoosier Mom]

Here's what we've experienced with our son, but all kids are different.

At 12 months, he could walk with a push toy. He didn't walk all by himself until 13 months.

I remember he was clapping at 9 months - that's how we got him to smile for his 9 month pictures.

At 12 months, the doctor had us start taking away bottles. It was fairly easy. The day time ones went first and we just offered sippy cups for drinks. The morning one was next - just hurried up and got his oatmeal and milk ready. The bedtime bottle was the last to go. We started letting him get down and play for awhile after his bath (has a bath every night). This sort of distracted him from the bottle. Then we'd give him a sip of milk and put him in bed.

Also at 12 months he switched from formula to whole milk. Thank goodness. Formula is so expensive.

At 12 months he was still eating some baby food and sampling what we were eating.

All he could say was momma and dada. He's a happy little guy and goes whereever we go. He is 17 months old now and is going to WDW next month!

Have fun planning your trip. Planning is half the fun!

p.s. Congratulations on your soon-to-be arrival! The first couple weeks are a shocker! I remember I thought our lives as we knew them were ruined! Ha! But we were soon acclaimated to being parents. By 5 months old, we were old pros! Enjoy!

 

[Em_in_FL]

A one year old can go on MOST of the rides...
All except the ones with height limits... which are the "roller coasters"... like Splash Mnt., Thunder Mnt., Space Mnt., etc...

We got our first annual pass when my first son was 11 months old... and started taking our second son when he was just 2 WEEKS old... and he's been going to Disney every weekend of his life!

A one year old will have lots of fun!

 

[Missus Toad]

Our then 15 month old daughter had a ball. She enjoyed many many rides and the parades. We skipped the fireworks to get her to bed most nights and the noise would've been a bit much for her up close, but we did watch them from the Poly one night and she liked them. She loved the characters. CP breakfast with Pooh is a good bet. Swimming and a nice nap were essential mid-day, but at Christmas, it may be just a nap that's essential! Also, my daughter was walking long before 15 months, but my son just got around to walking at 17 months, so you'll just have to wait and see what kind of kid you get! My daughter spent a lot of time in the stroller anyway, with all the crowds in the parks. No matter what, you'll have a ball!

 

[Not so Dumbo]

Both of my DS were very different from each other. My 1st DS was walking by 10 months and had half of his teeth, by 1year he was running and eating mostly table food. He could say just enough for us to understand what he wanted.
2nd DS didn't walk until he was 14 months, had only a couple of teeth, couldn't talk at all and ate some table food.

So it's kinda hard to say for sure. By the time your DD is 6 months old I'm sure you'll have a better idea of how she will be.
Congratulation!!!!!

 

[monorailsilver]

My dd was 15 months old the first time she went.

She was walking & talking quite well then, more so then the norm. She knew all the characters names or almost all of them (hmm..wonder why? Mom who loves Disney????).

She hated the face characters (Cinderella, the Fairy Godmother) but she loved the characters. She practically leaped out of our arms to see Pooh,etc...

I even got her picture in the Disney Magazine (gosh how I miss that magazine).

Last summer we went again & my 2nd child was just under 2. He was & still is a little fearful/shy. He loved the characters but would only go near them if I or my dh was next to him & holding him.

They both had a great time. When we went with dd that first time I told my dh that we were going to do the baby swap to ride Space Mountain. But when I got there I really didn't care because I have been on SM & the other rides so many times that I was there for my kids not fully me this time.

My dd didn't like the fireworks that first time she went.

Last summer when we watched Illuminations the first time I had to play it up & say "oh look at the pink one" & then both were hooked. We watched Illuminations almost every night followed by the MK fireworks at the Poly almost every night.

We also brought snacks for them to munch on vs buying everything.

 

[alloyd1170]

My dad and I are taking my DS 4.5 and DD 15 mos (her first trip to WDW). I cant wait to see how DD reacts to everything! I had a blast on my sons first trip at 2 yrs of age. DD is a dancer so I can just see her dancing to all the music. She already recognizes some of the characters (I make a point to point them out to her whenever we see one). She also LOVES the Little Mermaid. I just wish she would watch tv (ok maybe not). I bet she would love to watch the Sing Along dvds (she does dance to them from time to time)!

When we go to WDW with the kids, its all about them. I dont really care about the "big" rides. We plan to go on all the kiddie stuff and a few of the bigger ones with DS. DD will go too as long as theres no height restriction. When that happens, we will do the baby swap (I ride with DS while my dad stays with DD, then we switch off). DD started walking at 13 mos so that will be nice when we have to stand in line (as long as she doesnt run off-hence I will be bringing one of those cute animal backpack leashes just in case). I will also bring my Hotsling to pop her in if she doesnt want to stand.

As for naps, hopefully DD will be able to sleep in her stroller like DS did. If not, we are staying at CR so its just a quick ride back for a nap. I will try to make her stroller dark and quiet by draping a blanket over the sunshade, and parking in a nice shady and quiet spot. Hey if Im lucky I can get some shopping and dining in at the same time!

alison

 

[las3888]

We took DS for his first trip at 8.5 mos. He at that time blossomed at WDW -- got a new tooth, started to wave, started to crawl...it was alot of fun. We went again at 14 mos this past spring. He was just walking, but still in very early stages (alot of finger walking with mom and dad). Some kids walk around 10 mos, and some later, around 16 mos or more. I guess the norm is 12-13 mos. DS was about there...more like 13-14 mos. Anyways, he had a great time. He loved the characters, but he was just starting to get shy. Now we are going (at 18 mos) and I suspect he will have a harder time with the characters. DS loved splashing in our arms in the pool...had a good time on just about all the rides...loved the Carousel and "It's a Small Word". We stayed away from some of the darker/louder/scarier rides...not great at this age.

Eating was okay...at 14 mos, we actually ordered DS a few kids meals (i.e. chicken fingers or mac and cheese and cut it up for him). Buffets were perfect for us at this age (and I think they will be again at 18 mos). He is free and can eat off of our plates.

Good luck, congrats, and I hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[barbie78]

We took DD2 when she was 10 months old and had a wonderful trip! She loved riding Pooh and wasn't afraid of characters at all. She would reach out to touch their faces and give them hugs. She rode practically everything with no problems at all. We're going back in a few weeks and now I'm worried that some rides might scare her (Pirates, Haunted Mansion, etc.). We'll just take it slow and see how she does. You will have wonderful memories of your toddler at WDW!

 

[mrsltg]

We took dd #2 at 7 months and again last week, at 14 months. I will say this trip was much more challenging. She had ideas and opinions and didn't want to be in her stroller for long periods. When we were waiting for a bus or a monorail we had to "free" her or she'd SCREAM!!! She eats table food exclusively and loves to walk and run. She was also fascinated by ducks. Anytime we were waiting anywhere we'd take her to the nearest pond and let her watch the "duck ducks". This trip moved at a much slower - sometimes glacial- pace. She liked waving at the characters but didn't want them to get too close. She can also stand in her crib and talk which she enjoyed doing in the middle of the night. All this contrasted to our vacation at 7 mos when she loved characters, didn't mind sitting in the stroller, slept blissfully, had no opinions, etc.

All in all, I wouldn't trade it for anything. It was just different. Be prepared for a trip that is different from everything you've done before.

Have a great time!