What's easier...taking an 8 month or an 18 month old to WDW?

[dopeylover]

Hi Everyone!

We just received the VERY exciting news that we will be expecting another baby in March! We're very excited about our DD having a sibling.

So, naturally, our next thought was...When can we take them to WDW?!

We had been planning on taking our DD in Nov. 2013, which would make the baby 8 months old. The first time we took our DD, she was a week short of a year, and we found we could actually take her on a lot of things, and she enjoyed them! I am a bit worried about an 8 month old though, I think there would be even less we could do w/ him/her b/c they would be almost 4 months younger than when we took DD.

So we were thinking of maybe waiting now til Nov. 2014, and the baby would be 1 1/2 yrs. old. My DD has become a WILD WOMAN with NO patience since she's turned 2, but if I can recall through the haze of my exhaustion, I don't think she was AS crazy at 18 mos. I am concerned about patience in terms of waiting in lines and whatnot at that age.

This does require some advanced planning for us, as we are not rich people and have to save, save, save (like most of us, I'm sure!)

Does anyone have experience taking babies of either age?

 

[Master Yoda]

Unless you have a child that is above average in height, there will be very little difference in what an 8 month old and an 18 month old can do at WDW. From my experience, the 8 month old would be easier than the 18 month old to deal with at the parks.

 

[dopeylover]

I was thinking the same thing, that maybe it would be easier to take a younger baby than older. It was pretty easy for the most part when our DD was 11 mos. old. We had planned pretty well.

 

[Master Yoda]

I was thinking the same thing, that maybe it would be easier to take a younger baby than older. It was pretty easy for the most part when our DD was 11 mos. old. We had planned pretty well.

Correct. At 8 months they are still pretty much still these cute little lumps that just eat, poop, cry and giggle. At 18 months they are usually walking, starting to talk and can be a little more of a handful in a public situation.

 

[SAV]

Agreed...8 month old will definitely be easier. Just keep in mind that the trip will be for you and not them since they won't remember a thing about it.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

For temperament alone I'd vote that the 8 mo old would be easier than an 18 mo old. It was around 18 months that my boys started getting opinionated. Then the moodiness set in. Ugh!

I didn't take either of my boys to WDW until they were 6/7 which is definitely something I regret most.

 

[bethymouse]

Oh my! I know you're very anxious to go to WDW, but IMHO it's very difficult, both babies and toddlers under 3. We waited until our boys were 3, and the experience was terrific! It was even better when they were 4, because we were able to ride the "big rides", which is something they'll never forget! This year @ age 8, the boys will get to ride Rock n Roller Coaster and Primeval Whirl: another Disney parks milestone!
If you do decide to go, check the Disney website. They have suggestions for toddlers/preschoolers. I would spend most of my time at the Magic Kingdom, and look for character meet n greets @ each park. The parades are great for little ones too! Have fun!

 

[bethymouse]

Hi Everyone!

We just received the VERY exciting news that we will be expecting another baby in March! We're very excited about our DD having a sibling.

So, naturally, our next thought was...When can we take them to WDW?!

We had been planning on taking our DD in Nov. 2013, which would make the baby 8 months old. The first time we took our DD, she was a week short of a year, and we found we could actually take her on a lot of things, and she enjoyed them! I am a bit worried about an 8 month old though, I think there would be even less we could do w/ him/her b/c they would be almost 4 months younger than when we took DD.

So we were thinking of maybe waiting now til Nov. 2014, and the baby would be 1 1/2 yrs. old. My DD has become a WILD WOMAN with NO patience since she's turned 2, but if I can recall through the haze of my exhaustion, I don't think she was AS crazy at 18 mos. I am concerned about patience in terms of waiting in lines and whatnot at that age.

This does require some advanced planning for us, as we are not rich people and have to save, save, save (like most of us, I'm sure!)

Does anyone have experience taking babies of either age?

Congratulations!

 

[dopeylover]

Thank you! We're very excited! I can't wait to share WDW with my little ones, it was my favorite part of growing up. Can't wait til he/she is here!

 

[LizC]

How about 8 months, and 18 months.

 

[foreverbelle]

I agree it isn't going to matter a whole lot, we found little difference our selves....but the 8 month may be a little easier to manage with another sibling. I only have one at the moment so I am probably not the best for advice, but I wanted to come on and say CONGRATULATIONS!!!

 

[DisDadEddie]

For us 18 months was easier. We took my son around that age and he still remembers Disney World and can't wait to go back again in August. He was able to interact with characters and really enjoy himself. At 8 months old he just would have no fun just lying in a stroller.Both of my kids made their first trips around the same age, my daughter was 20 months. There are more memories with them walking around and interacting, priceless memories. It was easy at that age too, they napped in the stroller and were great in the parks.

 

[JillC LI]

Unless you have a child that is above average in height, there will be very little difference in what an 8 month old and an 18 month old can do at WDW. From my experience, the 8 month old would be easier than the 18 month old to deal with at the parks.[/quote]

From my experience as well. Our kids are 10 and 13 now, but it was so much easier to go anywhere with them when they were under 1 than when they were between 1 and 2.

 

[buseegal]

another vote for 8 months because 18 months is a lot more active and more on the move. the standing in line will be harder at 18m. had a hard time with getting 3 year old to wait in line without bothering others around him. be prepared to hold in lines.

 

[RedBaron]

Oh my! I know you're very anxious to go to WDW, but IMHO it's very difficult, both babies and toddlers under 3. We waited until our boys were 3, and the experience was terrific! It was even better when they were 4, because we were able to ride the "big rides", which is something they'll never forget! This year @ age 8, the boys will get to ride Rock n Roller Coaster and Primeval Whirl: another Disney parks milestone!
If you do decide to go, check the Disney website. They have suggestions for toddlers/preschoolers. I would spend most of my time at the Magic Kingdom, and look for character meet n greets @ each park. The parades are great for little ones too! Have fun!

I totally agree with you. As excited as I was to take my kids to WDW, we waited till our youngest was 3. We would have gone sooner, but timing with my second pregnancy kept us from going. It was wonderful that both kids (5 and 3 at the time) could go on the majority of the rides and no one was in diapers. It was magical in every way and I would not recommend it any other way.

 

[DisDadEddie]

Overall it all depends on the kid!

 

[vinnya1726]

Overall it all depends on the kid!

I totally agree...it all depends on the kid. My daughter could handle it at 8 months...my son not so much.

 

[gccgrad1996]

I have not traveled with an 8 month old or an 18 month old, but I have traveled with a 13 month old and will be traveling with a 15 month old in August. We had such a wonderful time with our 13 month old, and the memories my husband and I have with her and the characters is priceless, that we decided to do it again with our 15 month old. I can't really say which would be easier, I would think the 8 month old, they are usually less mobile, not mine though both walked at 8 months. I am lucky though, both of mine love their carriage and they love rides and the characters. We have taken the 15 month old to an amusement park near us and he loved every minute of it.
Good luck!! It will be a trip full of priceless memories whether the baby is 8 months or 18 months. Enjoy!
Also, having the Disney channel app on my husband's I-phone definitely helped when waiting in lines with my almost 15 month old at our area amusement park.

 

[dopeylover]

Thank you all to everyone! We are really excited! You are all right, there are pros and cons to both ages. We will have to see how our oldest we be in terms of patience too, b/c she'll only be 3, and that can be a handful as well! Right now would be a disaster b/c she has NO patience for waiting in lines.

 

[popcenturylover]

We took our youngest when she was 8 months old and it was a breeze! The only drag was all of the stuff that you need to bring for an infant! I honestly think that at 3 and 1/2 she may actually be more difficult this time around!