Disney question of the day:
A: Having a new grandson is wonderful news, congratulations! He is one lucky baby to have such a thoughtful Grandpa! Lots of people wonder when is the best time to go; you’re not alone. I don’t think you should wait for any certain age. I think once a baby can smile anytime after that can be ”the best vacation ever!”. You might be surprised at the amount of attractions you can do with your grandson. Not to mention the parades and character meals. There is no limit to the amount of cherished memories you will make with him on your vacation. Take lots of pictures of him doing the things that please him most. While a baby won’t remember the trip, he can certainly memorize it through the pictures and stories you share with him as he grows. We put some of our vacation photos in a fabric soft-sided baby approved photo album (which I bought in our local BabiesRUs) and let our girls keep it in their toy box. As they grew it amazed us how often they picked it out of the toybox and asked to hear their “stories” about the pictures. Your grandson will know what he did on his vacation if you tell him all about it as he grows. This extends the magic for me and makes me so thankful I didn’t wait a minute longer.
One thing I have noticed is that every trip seems to take on a life of its own. When my girls were really little we tended to make sure we saw the parade everyday. We did character breakfasts and dinners. We went on Dumbo, Cinderella’s Carousel, it’s a small world again and again. They loved the repetition! Keep in mind you can always take your kids again when they are older…but you can never take them again when they were younger.
Let him take the lead, he will let you know when he is getting tired or has had enough for the day. If you follow his cues you all can still do heaps of other things after taking a break back at your hotel or in one of the baby care centers. All of the parks have clean, friendly and air conditioned baby care centers that are equipped with highchairs, changing tables, child sized toilets, rocking chairs. They also sell baby supplies, if needed.
On your trip, be sure to catch up with Mickey and Pooh. You could also start a new tradition by snapping his picture in a favorite spot of yours. Keep those pictures together to showcase these happy memories and track his growth.
Also worth noting, the Disney hotels have portable cribs available. (like a playpen) Let them know you need one when you make your hotel reservation. When scheduling your Table Service reservations request a high chair. Consider pre-shipping some of your stuff (diapers, wipes and cereal) to your hotel, in care of yourself/reservation number before you head to the World. This will help with keeping your checked and carry-on luggage to a minimum. Bring the baby’s regular canopied stroller with you. If the seat is constructed from a dark fabric, consider bringing a white cloth to cover the seat before you seat him as the light color helps keep his seat cooler. He will surely let you know what he needs, hakuna matata.
Have a magical vacation!
