DisneyWorld-1 Year Old

DO NOT LISTEN TO PEOPLE WHO SAY TO WAIT!!!!! We have four children, ages 2 to 14 and in the 15 years we have been married, we have been 10 times. We have never taken an infant, but one year olds, DO enjoy Disney, and you can too. Do the reasearch on sites that help with the trips and read posts. Go early in the morning, and take a leisurely nap at the hotel in the later afternoon, then go back at night. Don't do extra magic hours...too crowded...and get to the parks at opening. You litteraly walk on to all the important rides. Do only the shows he would be interested in, and experience the resort...there is always tons to do there. Characters are available starting at ten at most of the parks, so go to those places at that time instead of trying to greet them when you arrive. It is simple if you have a plan. We just got back a couple of weeks ago...8 days with the four kids...and it was a wonderful trip. Just do the research! Also...make sure you don't go during peak times...that can also be figured out by looking on the Disney site or calling Disney. We booked our trip in late July for October, so it was really last minute, but I spent a long time doing research between the time we booked and the time we left. We even changed our reservations a couple of times! Our two year old loved it and she did great last year too. There are so many character meals, now, that you can certainly find MANY things for him to do. If we can do it it with four (two of the kids do the big rides and two are too small) and have everyone enjoy the trip, you can do it with one! There is even a place on the Disney site that helps you plan a trip for little guys. We found that it was fun to let her out and play on the little kid attractions (non ride, play ground type things) that are scattered around every park. If you plan your trip around these things instead of waiting in lines (go early!!!!) then you will have a blast and so will he. We have litterally have to watch our Disney video ten times a day for our two year old because she had so much fun.

Have a wonderful trip!!!!!

My family was at Disney World (Florida) this past July. We have a 7 year old and a 2 year old (now 3). For Disney itself, if you are looking for lots of rides, be sure to check because a lot the rides have height restrictions and your son may not be able to ride. My suggestion would be to definately check out Disney Hollywood Studios because there are shows that are geared towards the younger children that both of mine enjoyed. You do get to see Mickey, and lots of other characters, at the studio. We also went to SeaWorld and the kids loved it as well. Much more kid friendly especailly if they like animals. I hope this will help you some and maybe others had different experiences they can share as well.

Hi MH H,
I have taken my daughter (just 3 yesterday) to Disney world twice now. SHe was 6wks old the first time (okay she got nothing out of that trip but her older brothers loved that she got to go too) and again last year. She loved every minute of it. Disney World has FANTASTIC "cast members" that will answer ANY of your questions if you just ask! They also have a MIckey Mom's club that is made up of "regular" people who are there to answer email questions so your trip can be the best it can be! WWW.WDW.com and AllEars.net are great sites you should check out if you haven't already. Disney is a place the prides themselves on people having great vacations so make a list of questions (non too big or small) and start planning, remember with a slogan of "THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH" there is probably a way for everyone to have a fantastic vacation! GOOD LUCK!

I would recommend going to Disney LAND over Disney World. Disney Land is a lot smaller and more doable with young children. We took our 14 month old son there in April, and he LOVED IT! There are only 8 rides in the whole park that he couldn't go on. All the other rides you get to go on with him. The park wasn't very crowded either because it was the off-season. Make sure you go when it is not crowded so the lines aren't long. I would recommend going as soon as the park opens, letting him take his morning nap in the stroller, and going back to the hotel before his second nap, so he can get at least one good nap. We did the whole park in 4-5 hours because it wasn't crowded. It was soooooo fun! Don't listen to the people who tell you to wait until they will enjoy it more. It's important that YOU are enjoying it. Take lots of pictures to show him when he gets older, and bring him (and possibly a sibling :) ) back when they are older. There is no reason not do it now. Good luck and I hope you have lots of fun!

I just wanted to second M B's response about the web site allears.net. It is a great site and can give you a "World" of info on what to do with kids in different age groups as well as ideas for rides ect.that are age appropiate so you can plan your days accordingly. Just don't freak out if your son freaks out seeing Mickey in person. They are ALOT bigger than a stuffed figure or what they see on TV or in books.
Have fun and say hi to Eyore for me!

Having had children at disney world all the way from 1 yr to 21 yr olds. The best disney trip you can give your one yr old is to wait until he is 5 or 6 or even 8 or 9. a baby is going to be fussy and cranky at being trapped in a stroller for long portions of each day you are at disney world. there is actually vety little that you can do with a one year old there. yes the sites and sounds will be stimulating. but the lines are long. very long. the wait times are big and a baby needs naps (at 1 all of my kids still had naps in the morning and afternoon. you may want to rethink this and do it a little later. this is probably going to go agains everyother mama source moms thoughts but we have been to disney about 15 times in the past 25 years. and the amount of crying babies and stressed out moms makes it a not so good trip and it is especially something that a one year old will not rmember the next week much less years later.
S.
on a seperate note if this disney day is for your husband then get a sitter for the baby and have a day to enjoy disney with your husband. One of the best disney trip i had was with a bunch of girlfriends with no kids.

Wait till he's old enough to really enjoy it. He's not going to remember it, and it will really be a waste. You'll be in a hotel, dealing with baby, not to mention you wont be able to go on most rides, some of the shows are not a good idea as the flashing lights can cause problems, he'll be stuck in a stroller, and you will all be waiting waiting and waiting. Wait till you can see his face light up when he sees his favorite character. He's really too young now to have a favorite, and he's really not going to know the difference as to whether or not he's there. He probably wont even recognize the characters. Do yourself a favor and have a nice fun party at home. Going to Disney will be a major let down for you because there's not a lot for him to enjoy or understand yet.