Overwhelmed by Disney with a one year old - tips?

[Anonymous]

Actually I'm overwhelmed by the whole thing to be honest. I'm usually a planner but I'm finding it hard to know where to start. But what is definitely worrying me most is the just turned one year old.

We are going in February. We are staying just outside the parks (1 mile) and have 2 days in MK only. 30 day window for fast passes opens in a few days. 3 older kids, oldest is 10. The one year old is a fairly chilled out baby and can nap on the go.

What is the best way to handle things - do DH and I take turns with the lines with the older kids on the rides? How many things can the one year old get on? Are we basically going to spend the whole time separately? Any suggestions for how to handle the fast pass booking? Would love advice from anyone who has been with a baby...

[Anonymous]

I don't think your kid will get much out of it at that age

If you want to go for the grownups then cool...but no way in heck would I have bothered taking my kids to Dw at that age.

[Anonymous]

A 10 and 7 year olds won't get much out of it? We're not going for the one year old, just can't leave him behind!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A 10 and 7 year olds won't get much out of it? We're not going for the one year old, just can't leave him behind!

You said 3 older kids..how old is the 3rd one?

[Anonymous]

10, and 7 year old twins

[Anonymous]

Our one year old loved it! They can go on anything that doesn’t have a height requirement (basically roller coasters ) just tagging along to the rides the big kids like will be fine. Use the baby care centers for a break, and try stroller naps mid day. I’d only do things with fast passes and fun lines (dumbo, Winnie the Pooh). Get to the park at rope drop, do a few rides, Get fast passes starting around 1030. Use nap time for roller coasters and big kid rides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our one year old loved it! They can go on anything that doesn’t have a height requirement (basically roller coasters ) just tagging along to the rides the big kids like will be fine. Use the baby care centers for a break, and try stroller naps mid day. I’d only do things with fast passes and fun lines (dumbo, Winnie the Pooh). Get to the park at rope drop, do a few rides, Get fast passes starting around 1030. Use nap time for roller coasters and big kid rides.

Thank you! This is just what I needed to hear.

[Anonymous]

It will be okay. There's a lot that a one year old can go on! (I think including even Dumbo). Disney also has baby ride swap so you can swap out with your husband for rides.
The big question is whether your older kids like roller coasters or not. At that age, some kids don't really like roller coasters at all, but some really do.
Popular fastpasses are:
Peter Pan
7 Dwarves
Thunder Mountain
maybe Space Mountain
maybe Winnie the Pooh
If your kids like roller coasters, plan on splitting up for bits of time while they do those. Otherwise, you can basically stay together all day. You may want to try to plan the roller coaster fast passes for nap time. One old trick for naps used to be to ride the train around the perimeter of MK. I'm not sure if that's running now, but if it is, whoever stays with the baby could do that.

My big suggestion is to bring snacks for baby to eat in line. We went through a lot of those pureed fruit packs and the Gerber puffs while standing in line. It keeps them busy/happy for a bit.

Also, Disney has baby stations in a couple of places. You can go in and sit with baby, they sell bibs and diapers, etc. If you're still nursing and want a place to take a break, it works pretty well for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It will be okay. There's a lot that a one year old can go on! (I think including even Dumbo). Disney also has baby ride swap so you can swap out with your husband for rides.
The big question is whether your older kids like roller coasters or not. At that age, some kids don't really like roller coasters at all, but some really do.
Popular fastpasses are:
Peter Pan
7 Dwarves
Thunder Mountain
maybe Space Mountain
maybe Winnie the Pooh
If your kids like roller coasters, plan on splitting up for bits of time while they do those. Otherwise, you can basically stay together all day. You may want to try to plan the roller coaster fast passes for nap time. One old trick for naps used to be to ride the train around the perimeter of MK. I'm not sure if that's running now, but if it is, whoever stays with the baby could do that.

My big suggestion is to bring snacks for baby to eat in line. We went through a lot of those pureed fruit packs and the Gerber puffs while standing in line. It keeps them busy/happy for a bit.

Also, Disney has baby stations in a couple of places. You can go in and sit with baby, they sell bibs and diapers, etc. If you're still nursing and want a place to take a break, it works pretty well for that.

Thank you so much!

[Anonymous]

I don't think your kid will get much out of it at that age

If you want to go for the grownups then cool...but no way in heck would I have bothered taking my kids to Dw at that age.

Reading is a lost art.

[Anonymous]

I went with a one year old but my older ones were younger than yours.
The one year old can do a lot of rides, I think. It's a small world, pirates of the Caribbean, little mermaid.

The older ones might like - thunder mtn, space mtn, mine train. Car race ride thing.
I would do the ride swap on some of those with your husband.

I got a FP for the one year to go with me to meet Anna and Elsa.

I was topless more than I wanted / expected nursing the one year old - (she turned 1 a few days after we left). I see PP says there are nursing area - maybe there are but i wasn't walking extra to get there. I'm slightly exaggerating but it was really hot and she was moving the cover to stay cool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went with a one year old but my older ones were younger than yours.
The one year old can do a lot of rides, I think. It's a small world, pirates of the Caribbean, little mermaid.

The older ones might like - thunder mtn, space mtn, mine train. Car race ride thing.
I would do the ride swap on some of those with your husband.

I got a FP for the one year to go with me to meet Anna and Elsa.

I was topless more than I wanted / expected nursing the one year old - (she turned 1 a few days after we left). I see PP says there are nursing area - maybe there are but i wasn't walking extra to get there. I'm slightly exaggerating but it was really hot and she was moving the cover to stay cool.

Thank you. I am still nursing too, though the baby is getting less interested at nursing in public anyway so I'm hoping it won't be too much of an issue. Planning on bringing lots of snacks as another PP mentioned!

[Anonymous]

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is awesome for the big kids but you probably cant get a fast pass 30 days out (on property people will have it fully booked 60 days out) because it is new so plan to get there right as you get in.

[Anonymous]

we are going to Disney at the end of the month with a 1yo, 7yo and 9yo. We are staying on monorail Polynesian Resort so we can go back and forth to the room. I would try to have a plan for one parent to be able to go back to rest with baby.

We first went to Disney with a 1yo and 3yo many years ago. There are tons of rides for the baby. Back then we only rode rides that were tame. My 7yo still does not like roller coasters so my husband usually will ride a coaster while I do something else with the younger 2. We are mostly together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our one year old loved it! They can go on anything that doesn’t have a height requirement (basically roller coasters ) just tagging along to the rides the big kids like will be fine. Use the baby care centers for a break, and try stroller naps mid day. I’d only do things with fast passes and fun lines (dumbo, Winnie the Pooh). Get to the park at rope drop, do a few rides, Get fast passes starting around 1030. Use nap time for roller coasters and big kid rides.

I second this. Also, your one year old will have a blast. If you do fast passes you won't have to wait in lines. Also, to save fast passes for rides, go to character meals instead of using fast passes to meet characters. Also, if your older kids want to go on a ride that your one your old can't you can usually all go on line together and the parent with the one year old can drop out at the end and just not get on the ride.

If you want to make sure stroller naps happen, bring your own stroller, don't use a Disney one. They aren't very comfortable.