Hooray! I caught up with all my Disney posts! This was the last trip we took in February and we won’t be back till September.
Other Disney posts:
Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Trip 1
Disney’s Epcot and Magic Kingdom: Trip 1
It was a completely different experience this time, given that Alexis could walk. And oh my was it challenging!
There’s a week in February that is very low in attendance, so Kristy (Lexitwin mom) and I spontaneously decided to grab our mamas and take a three generation girl trip to Disney. Sans our men.
We were delirious, obviously! Well, at least I was. Kristy lucked out with Alexa being very content in the stroller the whole time at that age. Having a baby in the stroller seemed SOOOO nice and relaxed compared to what me and my mom had to deal with, that Kristy had to hear “YOU SUCK!” every time Alexa would fall asleep in the stroller. Haha! At some point, she would go “Check this out!” and laugh/snicker every time Alexa (Lexitwin) would fall asleep in the stroller.
I am just glad I wasn’t crazy enough to have gone there without my mom. I expect our September trip to be pretty similar, but we are, at least, going there with that expectation.
What was so hard this time?
As a new walker/runner, there was no stopping Alexis. Picture this: crowds, a new walker who falls easily, crazy determination on Alexis’ part, and us actually needing to go somewhere and not just where she wants to go.
Lesson learned: DO NOT go to Disney with a new-ish walker unless you know for a fact they will sit in a stroller for long periods of time or you’re prepared to visit nothing and simply walk around following your toddler.
Is that going to stop us from going to Disney in September again? Neh!
But I am excited to see if anything changed.
{Age reference: 13 months}
You see that stroller in the back with a cute little girl sitting nicely in it while Lexi tries to jump in the pool and chase ducks? Mhm! YOU SUCK, Kristy! Bwahahahahaha! 🙂
23 comments
Fun! Where is WDW is that fire truck? I’m taking my son and I know he’d love to see it.
I believe that was in the innoventions exhibit in Epcot. A big building right past spaceship earth on you right.
Your Lexi reminds me so much of my Lexi! She was also extremely active at that age and a late talker. She started talking at 3 and hasn’t stopped since! She is almost 10 now and has finally started to calm down a little lol she is definitely very athletic and loves sports.
I adore Lexi’s dress in this post! Looks cool and comfy. Perfect for Disney!
Have you ever thought about asking Alexa’s mom what her secret is to getting Alexa to sit in the stroller? My husband and I never gave them an alternative at that age, because I can’t imagine it being fun for anyone to have to spend the whole day chasing after the toddler. Plus the whole safety factor. I would be worried out of my mind that they would get too far ahead, or wander out of my line of sight the second I took my eyes off them! But I’m a nervous nelly, so…
Any tips on eating cheaply at Disney? I would love to plan a family trip sometime soon!
There’s no secret lol
They put her there, she sits. Voila!
I believe in letting kids explore and experience life even if it’s inconvenient to parents. We went to Disney for her, not me. It was safe for her to run around from the crowds stanpoint, just not from the falling down standpoint ( which she did plenty)
I can see the value of letting babies explore, for sure. I just have to wonder… should we let them explore at the inconvenience of others? Public places can get rather crowded. Don’t you worry that she might A) get lost in the crowd, or B) get in someone’s way?
Nope.
It’s controlled exploring. You follow them making sure they are safe and aren’t hurting themselves.
No offense but I find these kind of questions silly.
She is 1-2 year old baby, we follow her every step ready to interfere but letting her take the lead when possible. In most aspects of life.
I want a kid who is used to thinking for herself and deciding on her own, not one who simply follows rules.
That being said, if she didn’t have a preference for most things like she does, I’d most likely just do what’s convenient and easiest for me like have her in the stroller. But fortunately or unfortunately that’s not the case and I’m happy to let her experience the world the way she enjoys it in the safety of parental supervision.
I’m not trying to be rude, but most 1-2 year old have a preference about what they’d like to do and when they’d like to do it, that doesn’t make the action or the timing of it appropriate. Our job as parents is to guide and direct our children while still allowing them to explore and grow, not giving into their every whim and desire.
I completely agree.
Wow Alexa has beautiful eyes! What a gorgeous girl!
We took our brood there when our twins were 2 and our baby was 1 and although we had fun and they all showed a ton of patience, I don’t have any interest in going back for a couple more years…or maybe we shouldn’t go in March because it was so busy!!!!
March can be crazy busy. I won’t really go there unless it’s Beg. of Feb, September or some weeks in the fall and December
Omg, Alexis’s friend Alexa is such a cute one!
Disney is so much fun! Was it your moms first trip?
Do you mind if I ask what you did when you guys had to, in your words, actually get somewhere? Did you have the stroller, or did someone carry her? What about in certain situations like the parking lot, very crowded areas, or lines– does she/did she understand that he had to be “restrained” for her safety
No, my mom has been to Disney 4-5 times already ( I drag her there each time she visits us).
We did have a stroller, it’s virtually impossible to go there with a 26lbs baby who won’t babywear without a stroller. So what we’d do is either put her in a stroller and let her complain if we really needed to get somewhere fast ( for a show), or walk with her ( preferably by hand) towards the destination and if she is really unruly and runs in the opposite direction, I would just grab her an carry her myself.
I don’t think we’ll have that big of a problem now, because she will hold my hand and walk with me in the direction that I do and can actually be reasoned with now… Ahhh it makes me so excited just thinking about it.
I have been reading your blog for a while now but have never commented. Lexi is so adorable! I have an 8 month old baby girl so it’s fun to read your Lexi updates and best for baby posts. Just wanted to comment and let you know I think your blog is great!
We are planning on a trip to Disney with our little one and she’ll be 18 months when we go. She does love running around, but she’s often good in the stroller for walks. Do you think we should just wait on Disney until next year or go for it now? I’m off for Labor Day so we are thinking LD weekend. I know it’ll be busier than the rest of September and fall until the holidays, but it’s my only time off.
Would it be a big trip for you? Like a once every several years deal? If so I would definitely wait till at least 3 to get the most out of it
I fits no biggie and you can go there again soon, then sure, why not.
But 18 months isn’t the easiest age to take them to Disney at least judging by my own daughter. And they won’t get AS much out of it.
We just moved down to Boca Raton, so we’re like 2 hours and 45 min from Disney now. I’ve never been before (I know! Crazy, right? It’ll be as much for me as it will be for her! :)) and it’s my only time off this year. If it goes well, we’ll probably get season passes because like you, we don’t want to go in the summer but we plan on visiting often in the fall/winter/spring. Thank you for the advice!
I see! Well, I wouldn’t go there thinking it’s for you, because most likely it won’t be. But since you’re so close ( we are 3 hours away), and will hopefully go there more often, do it! Just prepare yourself for a very relaxed visit without rushing to try and hit rides… You can go ride the attractions next time. Also, any weekend in September is dead, so you could always go then if you’re not working on the weekends.
Good points! Labor Day weekend just barely comes into September and it’s the only time I’m free in September. I’m off most weekends in October and November, though. Do you think 3 hours is too far to go on a Friday night and leave on a Sunday afternoon? We wouldn’t arrive until like 9 on a Friday night and she generally goes to bed at like 7:00, so I’m a little nervous to do that (but she’s great about sleeping in the car). Thanks for your advice! I don’t care much about riding the rides, I just want to experience it and let her see it all.
October and November weekends can be dead too.
If you don’t mind the drive, I do not think that one full day is too bad for a toddler. Again, if you just go with the attitude that you are there to walk around a see. Plan 1 or 2 rides total and forget about much else.
And you’re not into riding the rides most likely because you haven’t been to Disney. Some of their rides are simply magical… Just really nice and full of wonder…
If you asked me, I’d say see if you can make it to the new Circus area in the back to ride the Dumbo and splash in the splash area, watch the parade and ride the Peter Pan or Winnie the Pooh rides.
Alternatively, you could skip MK and go straight to Animal Kingdom for safari ride, lots of beautiful shows ( lion king, nemo, all indoors which is good in the heat), the dino playground your 18 months old will love, and animal trails and petting zoo.
Oh, I’d love all of the rides. I’m big into rides at all amusement parks, I just meant it wouldn’t break my heart not to go on them if she’s not up for it right now.
Great advice; thank you!!! I think I’m going to go for it and get a season pass so I can also go later in September and perhaps Oct/Nov. I’m sure during the holidays it’s totally crazy since it’s so beautiful and the kids are off right before Christmas.
There’re some weeks in December where it’s manageable. Our trip before last was in December. Google “best weeks to go to Disney”, there’s a site that lists them in order of busyness. Have fun! 🙂