Disney with little ones...need advice

Our DD will be 14 months old when we go to Disney next month. We are staying at Bay Lake Towers which is connected to the Contemporary. It is our first vacation and I have some anxiety with how smoothly it goes. Our DD is incredibly easy going though she is only used to sleeping in her crib or in her carseat when in the car. We are flying down at night and staying six nights.

Here is my question: Did you child keep their same schedule when at Disney? If not, how did it differ?

Message edited 5/14/2011 9:12:02 PM.

Re: Disney with little ones...need advice

We went when he was 2yo. He totally burned himself out until he passed out cold. We are going for his 5th bday again an learned a lesson-do 2 days with a day of downtime and then another 2 days...he was definately overstimulated last time!

Re: Disney with little ones...need advice

Was he cranky? I am curious whether she will fall asleep in the stroller and let us stay in the park.

Re: Disney with little ones...need advice

We went with DD recently @ 23months in Feb.
I went into it adhering to her usual mealtime schedule, but naps hardly happened for us....simply because you can't bring your stroller on line with you, and my DD isn't a great napper.
Good Luck!

Re: Disney with little ones...need advice

He was too busy to nap so he would usually not. He would pass out between 9-11pm (very late since bed was 7pm). He was so knocked out we would wash him down and get him in PJs and he didn't wake up! But he would sleep in 2-3 hours longer. He was difficult by the end of the day.

Re: Disney with little ones...need advice

DD#1's 1st trip she was 15 months - and second trip was exactly a year ago this week (she was almost 3 and DD#2 turned one at the end of the trip).

This is what we did - with minor adjustments the 2nd time.

We got to the parks early - when we could we hit the EMH mornings - my girls were waking around 7 am anyway sometimes a bit earlier or later so it wasn't too much of a stretch to wake them 630 or 645 on EMH days or 715 or so for 9am starts. We had a quick breakfast in the room, dressed and was at the park by around 745 for EMH or 845 or so for 9am openings. We toured that particular park for the morning. Then would either have lunch around 12 or so and head back to the resort around 1 OR around 12 or so we would head back to the hotel and have lunch there.

Then we would relax at the resort - it was nap time, if there was time we would go for a swim, then shower and head back to the parks for dinner around 4 or 5 and eat and do a few rides.

When it was just DD#1 she stayed up later so we stayed a bit later in the parks - like around 9 OR a few times she fell asleep and we stayed a bit and walked around and watched the fireworks etc - but she was easy to move to her bed and wouldn't wake up when we moved and changed her.

DD#2 was never easy to transition so we would head back to the hotel earlier around 8 or so unless we didn't plan to go to a park the next morning.

As far as naps. Both girls on their 1st trip were still doing 2 naps a day - so they would cat nap for 30-45 mins in the morning around 1030 or so and we used that time to get a drink and sit, go on rides with height restrictions that they couldn't ride etc.

I believe you said your DD naps in the car seat so she should nap in your stroller too so that would be easier for you - if you go to places like EPCOT or MK - b.c you can walk to the MK or roll your stroller onto the monorails to get to EPCOT - you don't have to wake your DD to move them. But you will if you go to AK or HS b.c you will have to fold the stroller.

I know a lot of people try to spend most of the days in the park - but with the lines, heat, etc. I like to try to keep them closer to their schedule. But you have to know your DD and if she will do okay if you do a major schedule change. I like leaving for a break mid day - mainly b.c that is when the parks are starting to get really packed, it is the hottest time of the day and by that time you have gotten a bunch done and if you then go back to the hotel for naps/swim etc you can recharge and go back refreshed.