Help Planning First Trip with 18 month old

[Figaro928]

As far as the stroller goes.. here's our tip:

At home, my kids don't use the strollers at all. They walked everywhere and they rarely napped ever. Our first visit we made the mistake of renting a huge, heavy city jogger stroller and lugging it around everywhere, while chasing the kids. It also lead to us over packing at the parks (I followed every mom blog out there and carried everything from outfit changes to first aid kits to glow sticks). Lesson learned. Our next trip we packed my collapsible reclining stroller. For the parks, we packed two SMALL bags. One of essentials (one diaper, wipes, a quick snack, camera etc.) and the other one with the possible (change of clothes, extra diapers etc. ) in the morning we would park the stroller in a land with the "possible bag" - usually fantasyland- put a rain cover on in and leave it. If we needed the stroller, or anything in it in a pinch, it was there waiting. We weren't pack mules trying to fight the crowds with a huge stroller. It was so much more pleasant, especially since the kids barely used the stroller anyway.

Asess your child - if your kid is not a stroller kid at home, chances are they may not want to be a stroller kid at Disney - or at least for most of the day. And try not to over analyze Disney. Yes, you do need to plan a bit, but essentially think of what you would normally pack for a day visit to a zoo, Do you really need to pack more than that?

 

[ScarletBegonias]

I will admit I didn't read everyone's answer so I apologize if I say anything that's already been said...

We took our DD when she was 15 months last September. I have the child that will NOT sleep/nap in any place out of the ordinary. We thought for sure we'd have to stop mid day and leave the park, and go back for nap time. But here's the thing. That takes a LONG time. By the time you walk through the park, stand and wait for a bus (and have to remove them from the stroller), ride the bus back, and get to the resort, it's been over an hour, and my daughter would wake up JUST in time when we got back. She started sleeping in her stroller for 2 hours during the day which was GREAT for us. So be flexible! nothing wrong with a mid day stop, but it will take more time than you think. We used that time to ride rides we couldn't with her (my parents were with us). It was nice!!

Bring something to keep busy in line.. Bubbles or something. My DD at that age did NOT care for standing in line.

snack cups saved us SEVERAL times on boring rides I should have never taken my child on. *cough* COP *cough*

 

[ScarletBegonias]

oh, and yes. I would avoid a lot of sit down meals.

my very defiant daughter also does not like highchairs.. so our very first day we had an ADR at CP and it took over an hour and a half for the characters to come by our table. It was a nightmare and I was having a breakdown because she was throwing a fit. We almost left, but the meal was SO expensive, we couldn't justify leaving before seeing Pooh and co.

 

[NelleBelle]

We took our 1st son when he was 15-months (I think we went for 7 days). I agree with everyone's advice about trying to stay in the park if your daughter will nap in her stroller as going back to the room (especially that time of the year) is a royal pain in everyone's toosh! It just takes SO much time to go anywhere and the loading/unloading of the stroller and then risking her falling asleep on the bus...it's tough! We did a lot of rider-swap, lot's of POTC, SW, HM, all the Fantasyland stuff. And we did our son's 1st haircut at the Main Street Barbershop...SO special!! They did a great job--save his hair for us, gave us a certificate, 'pixie' dust, and a set of mouse ears embroidered with '1st haircut' on them. Oh, you'll have SUCH a great time (she won't remember it but she'll look back at the pictures and you and your wife will cherish these memories forever).

 

[Noellikechristmas]

We took our DD when she was 15 months last September. I have the child that will NOT sleep/nap in any place out of the ordinary. We thought for sure we'd have to stop mid day and leave the park, and go back for nap time. But here's the thing. That takes a LONG time. By the time you walk through the park, stand and wait for a bus (and have to remove them from the stroller), ride the bus back, and get to the resort, it's been over an hour, and my daughter would wake up JUST in time when we got back. She started sleeping in her stroller for 2 hours during the day which was GREAT for us. So be flexible! nothing wrong with a mid day stop, but it will take more time than you think. We used that time to ride rides we couldn't with her (my parents were with us). It was nice!!

YES! I went when my daughter was 14 months and she would not sleep when we tried, instead she would just pass out when she totally couldn't keep her eyes open any more. She didn't want to miss out on anything. I think it was a waste of time to go back for a nap. That's why its essential that you bring a comfortable stroller so they can nap in it.

Any let's be serious, this is a board full of Disney fanatics.....we're all going for ourselves. Their faces are just a huge bonus.