Hi Jenifer,
GO!!! It's a blast! My lovely daughter has been going to Disneyland since she was 6 weeks old. Now at 14 months she can enjoy more. Fantasyland has a lot of rides geared to the little ones and there is Toon Town over by Small World. Plus check out the Pooh ride over by Splash Mountain. Also if you go into California Adventures there is Flik's Fun Fair which is a play area for kids (but I suggest you skip the 3D Bug's Life show, a bit scary for little ones). Take a stroller that he can nap in and plenty of drinks and snacks. For my daughter we walk down to the waterfalls by the hotels and sit there for her nap, the sound of the water is soothing and there are places for you to sit in shade and relax.
My daughter's favorite rides are the Jungle Cruise in Adventureland, the Big Carousel and Dumbo in Fantasyland, Small World, and Pooh. She likes to people watch so lines aren't too bad for us if they are short. Ask any of the cast members where Characters are greeting guests. Make sure to take sun block and hats. Have fun!
Not too soon at all! My daughter has a great time there - we just went Monday and she is 20 months. My son always napped in the stroller, but she doesn't. If your husband is really against it then you could just take your son by yourself. Then there would be no pressure to stay all day since you were both free!
If you go, just be relaxed and stick to things your son will like. Stay away from the really dark rides (ie Snow White) and keep it fun.
If your intentions are to go on all of the rides then you shouldn't take the little one unless there others going with you that can switch off with you.
We have been taking our son since he was 2 month sold. My hubby works there so it has been a cheap date night for us. We take him and helove sit. Take hand sanitizer and sun block for sure. They have a Mother's room on main street where you can change,nurse,feed, and rock him if you need to. If he naps in his strolle rthan bring uit rather than rent one that he is unfamilliar with.
Around nap time you can always put him in the stroller and walk around the hotels. It is usually quiet back there.
What ever you do HAVE A GREAT BIRTHDAY!
Hi Jenifer,
I did the same thing as you on my birthday, when my son was 19 months old. I was wondering if it would be a huge disaster, but decided to take a chance - and we had a really great time! Because I'm neurotic, I actually gathered lots of info from different websites about the best rides for little ones his age and compiled them into a Word document so that I could plan which rides we wanted to go on, and which should be first. I can send it to you if you want.
My son still takes a nap in the afternoon, so we just went as soon as they opened and stayed as long as I could, till about 1:00. He fell asleep on the car ride home. Disney was exciting enough that he really wasn't fussy or anything like that.
Email me with any questions - I'm at [email protected].
Have fun!
Rachel
I think going to Disneyland is a great idea especially if you and your son will be free. We just went last week. I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old (he just turned two). They both did great. I was surprised that the two year old did great even in the long lines. Sat. and Sundays are usually packed. If you could go on a weekday, I'd suggest that. Also bring a stroller. Neither of my sons slept in the stroller, but my nephew took an 1 1/2 nap in his. There are so many great rides that kids your son's age can even enjoy. Also, don't forget that there is some type of pass that you can get where either your husband or you could wait in line for an adult ride. One person goes on and right when they get off, they watch the child and the other parent gets to go right on. Have fun!
Hello!
I've been taking my girls (almost 8 and 3) since they were 4 weeks old. And we go every 6-8 weeks!
If you think your boy will take a nap in the stroller, I say you should go for it! Chances are he might just pass out from exhaustion at some point anyhow, but you might get some crankiness just before as he fights to stay awake...
There's a child care center behind the photo shop on main st. that is a quiet place with high chairs and coloring books and such if you need him to "chill out".
Use the fastpass system as well as the child swap system, so you and your hubby can get on a couple of things just for yourself!
Check out micechat.com message boards as well as mouseplanet.com and mousesavers.com for more tips.
If everyone stays hydrated and fed, you should have a great time!
Why don't just you and your son go alone that way if it doesn't work out no money lost. I always took my daughter who is 21 know since she was 1 years old monthly and she loved it. My friends take their kids monthy and everyone enjoys it(all have season passes). One has a 5 year old and 22 month old and are in disneyworld this week for 10 days. I think parents limit themselves to what they can do with their children it is what you get them use to. Just take plenty of snacks and comfort item and have your lunch during his nap time in the stroller so that way you get to sit and enjoy time to yourself to on your birthday and you have the best of both worlds. If you can choose a weekday for less crowds do it. Have fun and Happy Birthday.
If hubby doesn't want to go, why don't you ask another family member to go along (I think you and your tot alone might be too exhausting... you need a 2nd person to take bathroom breaks, stand in food lines, hold a table, etc). Does Grandma or auntie or a friend want to go along? You could offer to buy their ticket for them, split their ticket, or cover the food and drinks all day as an incentive.
We are going this weekend with my 23 month old for the first time (same reason, husband will get in free cuz it's his b-day!). We've decided to just keep our expectations low and enjoy the park just being there- not worry about getting on every ride etc. If my kid decides to spend an hour in the gift shop, we'll spend an hour in the gift shop. If she wants to stand and look at some ducks in a pond for an hour, then we'll just roll with it.
I too wonder how our afternoon nap is going to fit in at Disneyland- I assume she'll fall asleep strolling around at some point and I'll sit in a shady spot with her and people watch while my husband goes on a grow-up ride, or I'll souveneir shop while he sits with her or whatever. We're just gonna play it by ear!
I don't think it's too young to go at all, find someone who will enjoy it with you and Have Fun! Take lots of pictures because he won't remember it ;)
Hi Jenifer
I say "go for it"!!!!!!! Just so you know, Older chidren get cranky when they're tired too~~so if you wait for that, you'll never make it to Disneyland. Just go prepared with little snacks and H2O. Take the husband or a friend~~you shouldn't miss out just because he doesn't want to go. Have fun!!!!
You should go. I think this is the only year where they are doing the free birthday thing and it is so expensive! Is there someone else you can take instead of/in addition to your husband to help you? My 18 month old LOVED Disneyland - we went last month on my birthday. My husband and mom came too to help with the kids - I also have a 4 & 1/2 yr. old. My younger one especially liked the carasel and Dumbo rides. She was scard of the Mr. Toad's Wild ride. When she was sleepy, we just let her nap in the stroller while my mom stayed with her, and then my husband, son and I went on a couple of rides. It was a great day - but we were definitely tired! Bring lots of snacks for when you're waiting in lines. Oh - they really liked Small World too, and Pirates of the Carribean.
Good luck!
Hi Jenifer, I'm glad i checked my e-mails today so i could respond to your situation. My mom works at Disneyland. My husband and i both used to work there. We have a 7 yr. old son. I grew up in orange county and went to Disneyland many times during my chidhood and even had an annual pass the years that i wasn't working there. My advice to you would be not to bother taking your son yet. We didn't take our son till he was in kindergarten. He'll get much more out of it and not be as overwhelmed or get cranky and tired halfway thru the day. Even when we go now,if we spend the whole day, it's exhausting for everyone!! and we still rent a stroller for our son because he can't last a whole day of walking. Believe Me, You'll all have a much better time if you wait till your son's older. Disneyland's not going anywhere! If you really want to go now because of the birthday deal than get a babtysitter for your son so that just you and your husband can go and have fun! My husband and i do that once in a while and it's great! It's a different kind of fun than when your with a child. Also remember, the weather plays a big factor on how your day goes. Disneyland can get really hot which can add to everyone geting cranky! Good Luck!! Happy Birthday!!! Carole D. Long Beach,CA.
You will all have a wonderful time. You'll need a stroller for nap time, you can use the Disneyland stroller and you don't have to worry about it getting stolen, but be sure to have a little blanket or two for shade or cushioning, and don't forget the sunblock lotion. If Dad doesn't want to go, maybe taking a friend or grandma would be more fun.
Go! Are you planning on having a wonderful time? This is what i would do. Go early. Plan on getting to the park before it opens. You need to park/tram/bday line/entrance line/walk down main street. Okay, do rides,and then leave at nap time. It wont be a full day, but, you'll be less agrivated. Or, if you have a kid that will fall asleep in a stroller, let him. and you can have a cold drink, people watch, shop, criuise aroun while he is sleeping. and when he wakes up do more rides. Disneyland will let you bring in snacks and water. but, a whole meal you need to put in locker. (they are pretty lax w/ kids in strollers, but, dont try a cooler and a big bag o' chips). WAe have passes so, i frequently go for just a few hours.
It is hard to say if your son will have fun. Our didn't have fun and she was about that age. Someone else that I know took his kids and his the two younger ones and the oldest had a lot of fun. The second oldest did not. The second to the youngest was about that age and had a lot of fun. That is a really great website that you can go to for tips about bring babies and toddlers to disneyland it is babesindisneyland.com. Our daughter ended up falling a sleep in her stroller.
If your husband doesn't want to go then you could leave your son with him and then you wouldn't have to worry about anything. Then you could have a carefree day.
I think Disneyland is a bit much for a 22 month old. Since your husband doesn't want to go, ask him to watch your son and invite some girlfriends to go with you on your birthday. I would.
Ugh. Go by yourself. Or get a sitter. We went when my first daughter was 2 1/2 and it was too hot, too sunny, too loud, $15 for a crummy cheeseburger, lines were too long, the characters scared her, she constantly had to use the potty, etc. When you have a free ticket, the temptation is to stay the whole day, but they can't handle that. I have decided the only way to do Disney with kids is to get a pass, so you can go just for 1 or 2 hours and come back another day. I still refuse to even do that. I haven't been back since then (5 years ago!). But I guess some people have fun!
personally i think people over think it when it comes to kids and disneyland.
i actually took my son when he was just barely 2 years old. he had a blast!
as long as you arent forcing them all over the place and just take it slowly (you wanna get there really early in the morning, like when it opens) he will have such a fun time! and remember, you dont have do EVERTHING the first time, disneyland will be here for a long time. although if you are going for you and not to enjoy your child then you should probably get a sitter. especially because he wont be able to go on very many rides, mostly the ones in fantasy land and toon town is really fun for kids, that closes early so if you are going there it should be first. the only problem with that is its at the back of the park, you can take the little red train to toon town though!
anyways, i hope you guys have a blast! we all love disneyland! we went for april fools day! we took all three of our kids, ages 14 months 3 years and 6 years
I would get a sitter or wait to go. Otherwise you and your husband will have to take turns going on the rides.
Jennifer:
Go and have fun with your child. There are hundreds of things to do at Disneyland with a baby or toddler. It is amazing to see their little faces light up when they see a character or go on the rides. You'll have more fun than you can imagine.
GO! If your husband REALLY doesnt want to go even if you got a sitter. Take your son by yourself or get a sitter and go with a friend. My kids are 4 yr. and 18 mos. we go ALL THE TIME. they Love, Love , love it.