1 Yr old & have a lot of questions!

Doodlebug25413 · Apr 5, 2015

I haven't been to the world in several years. (Since before the new Fantasyland expansion)
I am looking at a trip with my 1 year old next month, quite possibly with just myself, unless I can super sweet talk my BFF going with me. (Unfortunately my hubby is working)

This is just a need to get away & just enjoy Disney type trip. Nothing overly planned out & not looking to see & do everything. We will be going back next April for a week long trip as a family. I'm only looking at Magic Kingdom & maybe Epcot or Animal Kingdom. I know he's so little, won't remember anything. But he loves just seeing everything around him. (Especially lights & music)

The traveling part to & from isn't really bothering me as much, it's the room & the parks themselves.
I know I can do Magical Express. Looking at getting a decent baby carrier without having to bring the car seat. Also I will be bringing my lightweight stroller. Baby is walking but not enough to walk on his own without falling after a few steps.

I have heard the cribs that Disney provides are like the Graco play yards/ pack n plays. This is fine for us if that's the case. He sleeps fine in ours. Does Disney charge an extra fee for this? And I would bring our own crib sheets to use. And would there be room enough for this say at Pop Century or at Port Orleans resort rooms?

I have heard Garden Grocer is good to use to have items delivered to the room. Anyone have any experience using them? Is it worth it?

Any advice from others with little ones would be great.

Thanks in advance!

ajwolfe · Apr 6, 2015

I've never stayed at Pop Century, but we did stay at ASMO and use a pack and play. It was tight, but we were able to do it. We've stayed at both POFQ and POR and I don't think you would have any trouble finding room for a pack n play in those rooms. As far as I can remember there is no add'l charge for the cribs at Disney.

Have fun!

The Uh-Oa! · Apr 6, 2015

POR rooms actually have a really nice little space in the bathroom that should fit the pack and play, where you can put them in there and pull the curtain and still keep your lights on in the main space. Disney also provides sheets for them, so no need to bring them unless you really want to have your own. If you have a king room then you'll have even more space next to the bed though. It should not cost extra to get a pack and play. Baby carrier is a must for waiting in lines! We've taken ours at 5 mo, 8 mo and 18 mo and used an Ergo each time, and we were very happy with it. If your stroller can lay flat (or near flat) that's a bonus. We've done it with and without, and the time we did it with the lay-flat stroller was GOLD! He was able to nap so much easier in there.
They can sit on your lap on Magical Express (though ours got a little antsy, we managed!). We haven't used Garden Grocer - last time we did our own grocery shop, and the the time before that we just ordered non-perishable stuff from Amazon (we are Prime members), like diapers, wipes and baby food packets. If you really do need cold food or something and don't want to pay gift shop prices, then I'd do Garden Grocer. Otherwise, Amazon works well for great prices.

Have fun! I'm one of those crazy moms who actually likes taking babies who won't remember to the parks.

They are relatively easy for us!

The Uh-Oa! · Apr 6, 2015

And I will beat the drum that I always do: Use and enjoy the baby care centers!!!

schmass · Apr 6, 2015

Garden Grocer is awesome! We use it every trip now. Besides some breakfast items for the room, we order diapers and wipes, so it saves a ton of room in the suitcase.

feistygalkmc · Apr 7, 2015

Yes, baby centers baby centers baby centers lol! We used them everyday last year. It was a great place for our dd to cool off get changed and they had a cooler of nice cold water. We would spend about 30 minutes inside each time except for quick changes. Something that I found helpful is if the baby center is further away than I want to go is to use the handicap restroom. It was just easier for us and much quicker. My dd hated laying down on changing tables, in fact, she was terrified. I just wheeled her inside in the stroller and let her stand up while I changed her diaper. There's much more room for this maneuver in there than a regular restroom and stall. With that said, if there was someone coming towards the restroom in a wheelchair I always let the go ahead and do their business first. I only used these if it was 'all clear'. And we kept it very short and sweet! 5 minutes if that or less, I always made sure she was strapped back in her stroller otherwise she would have run! Lol

Little ones love the play areas also. We didn't use them that much last year but are definitely going to this year in attempt to wear her out so we don't have to go back to the room each day. That took about 3 hours or more out of each day. And many times dd didn't sleep when we did get back to the room. She was 1.5 on our last trip, this year she'll be 2.5 so now she is starting to get opinions and things lol it will be a lot of the same but a few different tactics.

Oh one more thing we learned, our dd also got antsy on a crowded bus so we learned to wait for a bus where we can sit. If we have to stand all the way back to the resort, we will wait for another bus and let someone else go ahead. It just made our lives easier.

kjs1976 · Apr 7, 2015

I will echo some other points: Baby Care Centers are AWESOME! Garden Grocer has always worked for us.

We've taken DD at 8 mos, 20 months, 2 1/2...so I can tell you a think or two about travel with a baby! We stayed at POFQ and the kiddie pool was perfect for her at those ages. When she took her morning nap in the stroller, 45 min to an hour, that let us have a quiet cool break somewhere or allowed for DH to go off an ride a thrill ride or two. She has always LOVED characters so we spent a lot of time with characters at those ages.

It will be awesome and you will love watching him suck everything in. Yes, it will be for your memory only, but those are some of the my fav memories. I cried when DH walked down Mainstreet USA with DD on his shoulders for the first time! We try to recreate it every time we're back, as DD is now 7.

Doodlebug25413 · Apr 8, 2015

Thanks everyone for all the info. My oldest was 5 when he went the first time so things were completely different.
I've listened (awhile ago now) the baby care center review that Julie did on the Podcast. Definitely going to take advantage of them.

He's just now starting to walk, still getting the hang of it. Looks like the BFF can't make it, so I may be doing this alone.

little miss minnie · Apr 9, 2015

We took my daughter at 9 months, and she'll be 20 months when we go again this September. When we went when she was 9 months, we were staying for 11 days, so we wanted a more comfy sleeping option for her, so we rented a crib from A Baby's Best Friend. They delivered the crib the day of our arrival and picked it up the day before our departure. The room we stayed in also had the pack and play which we used as well. Just take your own sheets and wipe the PnP down as I doubt they get cleaned very often. I would just verify with your resort to make sure they have them in the room youre staying in. As for feeding, we took a bunch of those Organic food pouches and some age appropriate snacks and crackers. We also had some groceries delivered from Whole Foods, like some fresh fruit, water bottles, etc. We also made sure to have lots of Babyganics hand sanitizer and hand wipes to help with germs and such. A stroller fan was also helpful for keeping her cool on the hotter days we were there. We took our baby carrier, but my girl was never really a fan of it, so she spent most of the time in the stroller.

Oh, and the Baby Care Centers ARE amazing. If you run out of anything, or forget something, they have it! We ran out of diapers one day, but instead of having to go back to the resort, we just had to run to the BCC and they had packs of them. Super helpful!

Imagineer5 · Apr 9, 2015

My dd is now 3, but she's been to WDW about 11 times. A few times I've taken her by myself, including for a week in August when she was 1. It was a fantastic trip and I love the bonding that happens during our trips together.

You've already received advice but I wanted to mention - bring a COMFORTABLE stroller. You mentioned bringing a lightweight one, but be sure that your son naps well in it.

Also my DD was always fine in Disneys PnP's and we always had room wherever we stayed, so I wouldn't worry about that.

I always had snacks, puffs, squeeze packets etc and didn't limit ADR's - Crystal Palace was especially fun at that age.

Doodlebug25413 · Apr 11, 2015

Well, I have no idea if he's going to nap in the stroller. He is Mr. Can'tMissAThing. So we may end up heading back to the room. But we will see.
I think I may bribe my older kid in coming with me, just for the help. Don't know yet.

Betty Rohrer · Apr 11, 2015

OP your son sounds like my grandson not missing a thing but as soon as bus started he fell asleep then woke up as soon as we started off the bus. he then would not go back to sleep in the room, just made him cranky. also remember that you will have to get him and the stroller on and off the bus by self. you will not be able to leave him in stroller and bring him on the bus. I see that as your hardest part of trip

lucyddr · Apr 23, 2015

We took our twins last year at 20 months old. We stayed at Riverside, and were able to comfortably fit the 2 Graco Pack n Plays in the room. Disney provided them without extra charges and even had cute little Mickey and Minnie sheets! One thing to consider is using Happy Limo instead of Magical Express. We have used them for years and can't imagine ever using Magical Express again! They pick you up at the airport, help with your luggage, provide a 15 minute Publix grocery stop (worth the cost alone), and take you straight to your resort! We've just found that using them gets our trip off to a great start and ends the trip without stress.

As for the stroller, we are believers in comfort over size/weight. Our kids napped in their stroller daily while at Disney, which was a huge blessing. I managed to carry both of them (combined weight of 40 lbs) while DH handled the backpack and stroller. It's hard, but manageable!

Like everyone else, we found the Baby Centers to be wonderful! The only negative experience we had was at the small one at Hollywood Studios. We went in to cool off and change our 20 month olds. The nursing area was just curtained off of the main room and there was a family trying to nurse their infant to sleep. My kids woke their baby up and I could see that they were not happy with us. I just felt bad...so after that we tended to avoid them for fear of messing up anyone else's day.

Have fun! Our first trip was so hard, but we are going back again this year...so that pretty much proves it was worth it!

Doodlebug25413 · Apr 24, 2015

He will fall asleep in the car, I guess the monotonous hum does it. LOL
I guess I'm wondering what attractions would be good for a 1 year old as well. I know most of the meet & greets & shows, but I don't know if Dumbo would be too much.
He also will not sit still or still in my lap. I'd have to strap him in a carrier or something.

msmama · Apr 25, 2015

If it's just the two of you and the room has two beds you could get bed rails (all resorts have them) and he could sleep there.

Your child will be able to ride anything without a heigh requirement. My son, at 10 months, was already walking and didn't sit still for anything. Though on rides he either sat nicely and just stared or fell asleep (he did lots of mini naps rather than a big one on that trip). We also found mid day breaks didn't work for us but rather did early nights (left the parks either just before or after an early dinner).

Doodlebug25413 · Apr 27, 2015

Its definitely going to be a trial and error trip with him. But we are planning a vow renewal next april, my best friend is moving to florida in July. So I really want to try & see how well he will travel
plane or train wise. Car he's ok. We've already done a couple of trips- 5 hours. My teenager said he will go with me to help. So that was a little relief, but the additional cost. Disney has gotten
outrageous the last few years!

Doodlebug25413 · May 9, 2015

So now my dilema is what in the world can he do besides the characters, parades & shows? What rides can he do? He's a wiggly thing, so I'm not sure.

TIA

Mousemommy1 · May 9, 2015

At the Contemporary last week we were able to get a full size crib. We did bring our own sheets though because little guy has sensitive skin.
I agree with using the babycare centers, they are really nice!

NJlauren · May 9, 2015

My DD is Mrs doesn't want to miss a thing.... However she fell asleep in the stroller quite a few times during our trip last week. She was watching everything but would get so stimulated that we would put the sun shade down give her a bottle and she was out. it was nice we could walk around while she napped, grab a snack, shop, it was perfect. You may get lucky and get a couple of naps out of him in the stroller.

I agree your biggest obstetrical is going to be removing him from the stroller to take the bus.

I was skeptical about the baby care centers but did love them, it was a good break to let DD walk around play and relax out of the heat for a few minutes, or a half hour.

Doodlebug25413 · May 13, 2015

So the BFF has INSISTED I wait until Oct to come for a Disney trip. She said that way she can take off work & come spend what we call our magic time together.
So I won't need to bring the teenager with me. I have also been looking at things for air travel to help at the airports.

I'm not far from Hershey Park. I think I may make a visit with the teenager & 1 of his friends so he's not bored & test out any rides he may be able to ride. He may hate them, and then I'm stuck.

Baby Care stations are definitely on my list of knowing where they are. We are about to head to Outerbanks in a week for a mini vacation, so I'll be able to continue testing him out & also the baby carrier I bought

1 Yr old & have a lot of questions!

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She lacks the indefinable charm of weakness

Thanks for the magic, Walt!

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Working Mom of twins!

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