On
Apr 25, 2013
Amanda from AB
Asked
Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.
Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.
“
Looking for tips on travelling to WDW with one year old. Is it a crazy idea to keep her up late some nights to see fireworks? Anyone have experience with that? Her regular bedtime is around 7.”
Hi, Amanda!
I’m glad to hear you’re planning a visit to Walt Disney World with your daughter! I’m a huge fan of introducing little ones to the magic of Disney early on, so we’ve been taking my son to the theme parks since he was just a few months old. The Baby Care Centers are a great resource for families with babies and toddlers, and there’s one located in each of the four theme parks. In addition to providing a convenient place to feed and change your baby, they are fully staffed and offer a variety of amenities that make life much easier. There are full-size changing tables, high chairs, a kitchen and a shop with baby food, formula, bottles, pacifiers, diapers, wipes, medicines and other essentials for purchase.
Deciding if you should keep your daughter up a few hours past her normal bedtime is a really personal choice and depends a lot on her personality, which you know the best. My son is a night owl by nature, so he has stayed up to see the fireworks and other nighttime shows several times, but I know other kids whose schedule for the next day would be thrown off by a late night. I think the best strategy is to play it by ear and take your cues from her. Also, keep in mind that the fireworks can be quite loud depending on your viewing location, so if she’s frightened by loud noises she may not enjoy the show.
Think about bringing a baby carrier along in addition to a stroller, and make sure you always have a change of clothes for her, plenty of diapers and wipes, and a hat to protect her from the sun. Most importantly, be flexible, take it slow when you need to, keep everyone hydrated, and make sure to work some downtime into each day.
I hope this helps, Amanda. Please write back with any other questions you may have!
Wishing you magic,
Courtney