To ask if you would take an 18 month old to Disneyworld?

[PurpleFlower1983]

Posting here for traffic.

We’re thinking about booking to go to Florida next year, our little girl will be 18 months old at that time. We would be going in August so it will be hot.

For context, we always said we would wait until our little one was 5 or 6 until taking her (both me and my husband have been to Orlando several times when we were younger but the last time was around 9 years ago). I know she won’t remember it but the reason we are considering next year is that my parents would desperately like to go to Florida again, especially with our little girl. My mum is physically disabled and has several chronic conditions, her health has deteriorated significantly over the last 8 years and continues to do so. We would be looking at flights with a stop to make it more manageable for her but it is something she really wants to do.

Has anyone been with a child this young? I know it is completely set up for children but I’m just wondering if anyone had any real life experience/tips. Would you go in our situation?

I've been numerous times with DH and dc.
We first brought ds when he was 7 months and again when he was 22 months and dd when she was 14 months.

We go cos we can do it cheaper than a week in Spain due to family if we were spending what most people pay we wouldn't have gone until dc we're older.

We've done a few theme parks including magic kingdom and studios and we enjoy them as a family but we are also realistic about dc getting tired and grumpy very easily. It can be frustrating when your children don't respond to how you think they will to their favorite characters. I was so excited about my dd meeting Minnie Mouse but the reality was she was terrified of her Long queues can be hard when you're trying to hold/entertain dc as buggies aren't allowed in queues so a good baby carrier is ideal.

If you do decide to go look into parent swap for rides, fast passes to minimize queuing and find a hotel which has a kitchenette style as we found we were back in the hotel by 7pm most days as dc we're tired. Having facilities to make food helped loads even to microwave popcorn to watch a movie or something. We also hired a car with dc as it was easier whereas when we went pre dc we just took I ride.

I would go direct from UK though we did with all ours and it was much easier then the time me and DH went through New York. There is a chance your luggage or buggy mightn't make it into your connecting flight.

August is prone to hurricanes too mind you when we went last May we also got hit with a freak storm which lasted the whole two weeks we were there

If you do go you'll have a great time. We're planning a trip to Disney Paris this year as we've 3 dc now and I've found Facebook groups amazing for tips and advice such as which rides are busier at certain times, where to eat with toddlers and best place to watch the parade. I'm sure there's one for Disney world too.

If you're not used to the heat and humidity I would reconsider. I went went there last August for a wedding and it was very harsh. If you're staying on site and can go back to your room it is a lot more tolerable.

Going against the grain, I wouldn't do it until your DD is older. She is only a few months, so you can't tell whether she would likely enjoy it.

My DD developed a fear of people in character suits when she was probably 18months and she wouldn't go on the little £1 rides in shops. We took her to Butlins when she was 2 and she wouldn't go on any of the rides and hid from the teletubbies and other characters.

I have been in August, it's sooooooo hot. We have done DLP with 2.5 yo and 5mo old and it was brilliant so I can't see it being awful other than the heat. If 18mo is happy in a buggy it could work. Obv it's not ideal but you know that and are doing it for your parents. We did Vegas with an 18mo, flight was no problem at all, when there are more adults than kids it's usually fine.

If you search disneyfind on Instagram, she has a blog about taking her 2yo there last year, they both loved it! I think If you can reconsider a different time of year, or accept that it will be a different holiday than before kids, then it's very doable, especially if they have a love of Disney already. Also will you regret not going with your mum more than having a few 'toddler strops'? (Obviously not that simple but you know what I mean haha) Take regular breaks, don't fill every day with park hopping I think it would be great!

Been several times, the first time we went our dd was 1 yo, ds was 5 yo.

We all enjoyed but we went in April/May so it was cooler. Such a good holiday (other than the flight), kids ate the food with no problems, weather was fab.

At the parks in the night we used to go to a coffee shop, kids sleeping, me and dh would have a coffee while everyone trooped out, when the crowd dwindled we'd then leave, far less stressful.

Dd loved seeing the characters, not scared at all. She insisted on us buying her a Cruella De Vil doll

For the rides we did baby switch, do they still do that?

I bought walkie talkies out there to save our phone bill. To save time, me and dh used to split up to take one child on different rides then contact each other on the walkie talkies to meet up after. Worked like a dream.

Would you consider Christmas - the weather is so much better and with the disability pass the queues would be fine. Its so magical and there Celebration (a disney run town community) is absolutely magical

Yes, do it for your mother and the memories.

OP Climate change? just saying. Clearly you all are happy flying and I hope you have a good time with your ma..

Do please get proper travel insurance for your ma - the last thing you want is not have proper medical care for her should anything happen nor to have to meet any of the humungous US bills for the slightest things. People have had to sell their houses for a medevac.

Not got time to read the whole thread, we took DD1 for the first time at 16 months, she could walk and talk and loved every minute. At that age she was eating and drinking regular food and was never particularly fussy, slept in her buggy and if we needed time out we went back to our hotel or an indoor restaurant.
Does she remember it, no, neither does her sister who got to go to Paris at 1 and Florida at 2. But DD1 remembers her trips from age 5.

She is now in her 20's and has been to all the Disney Parks around the world many times as she loves them so much.