WDW w/16 Month Old

[BoarderPhreak]

Yup, actually considering it. The jones is that strong, the timing (and pricing) right... This will be a radically different trip than I'm used to, no doubt. But I suspect the lil' bubba will have a great time.

Am I nuts? Anyone do this already and have any words of wisdom?

 

[Schneewittchen]

I took a 15 month old a few years ago. Just the 3 of us in the middle of January. It was awesome. The joy when we met Pooh and Tigger in England at EPCOT was unreal. And my boy was game for all of the rides that we were allowed to take him on, dark rides, etc. He still loves Haunted Mansion and Pirates....

 

[Richterbon23]

Its actually not too bad. We took our daughter when she was 3 months, 13 months, and then just after hear second birthday. We will be going in August with our 2nd baby who will also be 3 months when we go.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

That's fantastic, and reassuring. I have no doubt she'll love FL and the MNGs. I have reservations about PotC and the HM, but we'll see...

I'm thinking we'll take her normal (lightweight, travel) stroller but rent one in the parks? Just so there's no worry about anyone taking off with ours, etc.

 

[R W B]

My older sister took her kids very young, under a year each but I just don't see how that's enjoyable with the sleep/eat cycle babies have. My fiancé and I see families with infants each trip and we always talk about if that's something we would do and I just don't see it. Guess time will tell though lol.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

Sleep cycles can definitely make or break any trip. Our lil' bubba sleeps through the night and then she's good to go all day from 8am to 8pm. Some days she naps for 1-3 hours halfway through but that's becoming a rarity. So I guess we're lucky in that respect. A recent two week trip to Germany kinda blew that up though... I suspect the time difference/change screwed up her clock.

Like I said, it's definitely going to be a different kind of trip this time... It'll be all about (and revolve around) her. But with a full week there and five days of Park Hopping on tap, we can come and go however the wind blows us, totally no pressure. So there's that.

 

[JiminyandTink]

I've done it with a 14 month old and later with an 18 month old and it was fine. I actually found it easier at that age then when they're a little older (they're less picky and also less afraid of dark rides at that age, not to mention they'll actually nap at that age too).

 

[ScarletNCream]

In October, we took our 11 month old son and it was a blast! I really wouldn't stress about it at all. He had such a great time on all of the rides, he took a couple of naps each day in his stroller, and we got to enjoy Rider Swap.

We had so much fun that we're actually going again the beginning of May when he'll be 18 months!

 

[Wildflower]

Did w/ our son at 17mos...was fun. He was better with characters at that age than when he was 3 (but differs kid to kid). Loved, loved, loved the lights, etc in the evening. As to rides, he was fine...didn't quite "get" them as such but seemed to like looking at everything that was going on. We chose to take a better quality, lightweight stroller of our own for the entire time (liked not having to deal with rental/return, less bulky and didn't have to deal with having nothing between parks and resort....as small as kids are at that age they get HEAVY when you have to carry/hold them for any length of time for a bus wait or walking from bus/monorail to room, etc). We let him nap on the fly, didn't try to force him to keep any schedule, and planned mealtimes on the early side of the spectrum, which all worked out pretty well.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

Wow, very encouraging gang! Thank you for the reassurances. Sounds like this really is a good time to go because they're less... Toddlerish. Letting them nap whenever the mood strikes is a good idea. And being lightweight is definitely a bonus, heh. I suspect there will be ample need to carry the lil' one - so that's a big win. Makes a LOT of sense to bring our own stroller... The only reason I hesitate is the worry that someone might abscond with it while parked? That would really suck (for multiple reasons). But having something between park and resort and being able to "stroll" the child and purchases/diaper bag would be awesome.

 

[Wildflower]

Wow, very encouraging gang! Thank you for the reassurances. Sounds like this really is a good time to go because they're less... Toddlerish. Letting them nap whenever the mood strikes is a good idea. And being lightweight is definitely a bonus, heh. I suspect there will be ample need to carry the lil' one - so that's a big win. Makes a LOT of sense to bring our own stroller... The only reason I hesitate is the worry that someone might abscond with it while parked? That would really suck (for multiple reasons). But having something between park and resort and being able to "stroll" the child and purchases/diaper bag would be awesome.

Have used our own for the better part of 10yrs (two boys, 7 yrs apart....age 5 is about the cutoff where we make them walk) and have never had one taken. This is not to say it couldn't happen but.... That said, make it VERY obvious that it's yours so someone doesn't mistake yours for theirs (be it ribbons or stickers or whatever).

Oh and fwiw, we had two UppaBabys....G-lite. they unfold and collapse easily and are more sturdy than standard umbrella stroller, plus have a strap where you can sling across your back to carry if you need/want to.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

Have used our own for the better part of 10yrs (two boys, 7 yrs apart....age 5 is about the cutoff where we make them walk) and have never had one taken. This is not to say it couldn't happen but.... That said, make it VERY obvious that it's yours so someone doesn't mistake yours for theirs (be it ribbons or stickers or whatever).

Oh and fwiw, we had two UppaBabys....G-lite. they unfold and collapse easily and are more sturdy than standard umbrella stroller, plus have a strap where you can sling across your back to carry if you need/want to.

Ahhh, excellent! Just what I was hoping to hear. I didn't think it would be a common problem (not that, like you said, it couldn't happen). Good point about "personalizing" it to make it stand out. Not only for easy identification but also as a deterrent.

We have a Chicco lightweight (11lbs!) travel stroller in bright orange... So no missing that one, heh. It too has a strap and carrying bag, detachable cover. IIRC, it was about $70-80. Really nice unit. Survived going to Europe and back without a mark.

 

[dreamfinder]

We just did a trip with our 14mo. I think we averaged 5-6 rides/attractions a day. And saw fireworks twice, MK from Poly beach (1 night stay there) and the DHS fireworks over the top of Epcot on our way out. Normally we would have done that many rides 2 hours after rope drop, and seen fireworks almost every night of the trip. So yeah, radically different is an understatement.

As far bringing your own stroller, I'd be more concerned about the baggage handlers doing something to it than it getting stolen in park. As long as you don't do something foolish like leaving a camera bag underneath it, it should be fine.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

Well, there's no turning back now! The trip is booked... 62 days to go.

Going to bring the personal stroller, "customize it" a bit and err, roll with it...

We just did a trip with our 14mo. I think we averaged 5-6 rides/attractions a day. And saw fireworks twice, MK from Poly beach (1 night stay there) and the DHS fireworks over the top of Epcot on our way out. Normally we would have done that many rides 2 hours after rope drop, and seen fireworks almost every night of the trip. So yeah, radically different is an understatement.

As far bringing your own stroller, I'd be more concerned about the baggage handlers doing something to it than it getting stolen in park. As long as you don't do something foolish like leaving a camera bag underneath it, it should be fine.

Yeah... I'm thinking we won't be hitting nearly as many rides as in the old days, let alone rope drop to closing. Oh well - on to a whole new adventure!

 

[RandomPrincess]

You will have a great time!

 

[BoarderPhreak]

You will have a great time!

Thanks!!! I think it's going to be a blast.