Originally Posted By spaghettiboy Hello all! I am considering taking my son to Disneyland in late November. He will be 13 months old, and I will braving the resort with him and I alone. Are there any thoughts, pros, cons, do's or donts! Let me know. I really wanna do my research on this possible adventure! Thanks a million!
Originally Posted By familyguy You must be crazy thinking about taking a baby that age as a single Dad!!! Don't do it!
Originally Posted By ecdc You're not crazy, just be prepared to not be able to do many rides with him. Just enjoy the atmosphere and soak up the rides you can do. He won't remember much, so make the most of it for you and your memories.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "You must be crazy thinking about taking a baby that age as a single Dad!!! Don't do it!" Glad someone else said it.
Originally Posted By phruby It would be way easier if you took mom along too but if your up to the task, go for it! I for one took my kids when they were that age by myself. I just told my wife, I'm taking the kid to Disneyland and she agreed but didn't want to come along that time. We had a great time.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance Hey, I took an 8 month old, a 4 year old, and a 30 something year old husband. If I can do it, you can! Disney is great about providing changing tables in the men's rooms, and as long as you're prepared to not go on big rides, you'll still have a ton to do together. I don't get why people say, "Why go? He won't remember it." What about the fun experiences he'll have at the time? What about the memories for you? What about the shear joy he'll some day experience seeing an infant version of himself in pictures at Disneyland? What are you supposed to do? Sit in a room and do nothing because he won't be able to remember things at this age forever? DO IT! DO IT! DO IT!
Originally Posted By familyguy Don't listen to these guys.....they won't be the ones at the park with a screaming child in the heat waiting in ungodly lines for dumbo. Take him to your local park and push him on the swings....take pictures..and then take him home and lay him down for a nap while you drink a beer.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss When my nephew was four years old, I took him to Disneyland; just the two of us. I suppose I might take a two or three year old, but at 13 months it would be lost on someone so young ...it'd be more for me, not him/her. Have you ever been to Disneyland? Late November is holiday season at the parks. It will likely be crowded. As stated previously, you won't be able to ride many of the signature attractions. Consider too that no toddler can stay awake the whole time; you might feel like you spent a lot of money to walk around and not do much as you might want or hope.
Originally Posted By Kidz-n-k9s We took my son when he was almost 13 months old for his first trip in late September 2008. It was a family reunion so I had plenty of help. I would do it as a single parent, but I really know my way around the park. A trip with one this young is different type of trip. We were not there at rope drop, skipped all the rides with height restrictions, went back to the hotel each day for a nap, and left around 7-8 pm. My biggest problem was that he wouldn't sleep. I now know this is the type of kid he is, but my daughter's first trip was at 8 months and she slept through some of the rides (Pirates) and in her stroller. My son became cranky and we spent time each day just walking the stroller or bouncing in my arms. It isn't easy, but it is doable. If you decide to do it, take it slow and steady. Start small and not in the dark if your child might have issues. My sister started her 22 month old on Pirates and he wouldn't ride a thing after that, but now he is almost 9 and rides Tower of Terror. Know where the Baby Centers are located in both parks. They have baby supplies and very nice changing areas. I'm with CC - this is not about memories for him. He won't remember a thing. My kids have been countless times and don't remember trips until they were closer to 5. But I enjoyed each trip we've taken, how the trips change, and the experiences we have.
Originally Posted By phruby Best thing to do if you need to put a baby asleep is to ride pirates. Then take the rafts over to TSI and hangout towards the back of the island at a bench.
Originally Posted By LuvsDsnyTrips I took my son at 11 months (along with a couple of other children).... while, he (of course) does not remember any of it........I remember all of it and he enjoyed Dumbo, Pirates, Haunted Mansion.....all attractions that could be rode thru... He also loved the parade and the fireworks. And make sure and get pictures back in Toontown and take those same pictures of him 2 years later (or whenever) and you will be amazed at how much he has grown. Have fun!
Originally Posted By familyguy >>Then take the rafts over to TSI and hangout towards the back of the island at a bench.<< Right! Cause that's what you want to do in the parks when you spend hundreds of dollars to get in for a few days; sit on a bench on TSI.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Well, at 13 months old, you don't have to pay admission for him. That's a plus.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Your son will have a fun day with dad anywhere. If it makes you happy, he'll likely pick up on that mood, too. I took my kids as infants. They don't remember it, but I do. It was fun and you get some good pictures. Haters gonna hate. Plus, like Jim said, babies get in free. (Lucky babies.)
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance "they won't be the ones at the park with a screaming child in the heat waiting in ungodly lines for dumbo. " My point was that was me with an 8 month old along with a 4 year old, and we had a great time. November will be perfect because it won't be so hot like it is in the summer.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Take him to your local park and push him on the swings....take pictures..and then take him home and lay him down for a nap while you drink a beer." This would be me as a parent. I'd probably call the sitter and go to DL alone and leave the baby at home. I'm horrible, I know. lol
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Best thing to do if you need to put a baby asleep is to ride pirates." Really? With two waterfall drops, skeletons, exploding canons, gunfire, etc?
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance "This would be me as a parent. I'd probably call the sitter and go to DL alone and leave the baby at home. I'm horrible, I know. lol" I don't think that's horrible. I'd never recommond someone take a baby to DL that didn't really want to. There's nothing wrong with getting a sitter if you don't want to deal with a baby at DL. However, if someone really wants to take their baby along with them, I'm here to say you can have a great time if you prepare ahead of time and don't get unrealistic expectations. First, your baby might be terrified of the characters. Be willing to accept that, and stay clear of them if he is. I always tried to expose my kids to the characters ahead of time via movies or toys. My son wasn't really afraid of them, but he was weary. ALl of our pictures with him at a young age are of him staring at the characters, never at the camera. i guess he was afraid they might do something unsavory if he took his eyes off of them. hahahaa
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>Really? With two waterfall drops, skeletons, exploding canons, gunfire, etc?<< Sounds like pretty much every family gathering at our place.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance I'd skip the Snow White ride too. I've heard of some parents who have made the mistake of starting with that ride, terrified the kid, and then the kid refuses to ride anything else.
