Go To Disney World with Children Under 3yrs!

2 years old

We love Disney and when we found out in 2010 that we could afford to stay at Fort Wilderness for pretty cheap along with our 1.5 year old not costing us a thing.  So we jumped at the chance to go to Disney World. Most people would tell us how crazy we were to go to Disney when Maddy was so young. Well I am here to tell you that it was not crazy at all. I would say definitely go to Disney before it is too late! Here are the reasons why.

1. They are FREE at Disney Parks under 3 years old!! With Disney tickets being very pricy this is a huge plus!
2. Under 3yrs do not have be on the meal plan. How Disney works is if you want to have the meal plan option everyone in your room party has to have one. This gets pricey but children under 3 do not! Now that Maddy is over 3 we would have to paid for the meal plan for her which would not be worth it so we stopped doing the option. 
3. Under 3yrs get to eat free at all of the character buffet meals or any buffet meals. For

   

   1.5 years old

   non-buffet meals you can share your meal but if you want them to have their own meal you have to paid for it separately. Disney always gives you tons of food so this was never a problem.
4. They will LOVE the characters! Maddy and Hadley have both LOVED seeing the Disney characters every time we go. We took Hadley to Disney when she was just 6 months and I was surprised how much she loved the characters. We quickly found out that Trigger was her favorite. Then last year she was 1.5 years and I was equally surprised how much she LOVED the Disney Princesses. I thought it would only interest my 3 year old Maddy. This was definitely two of my favorite Disney memories. 
5. Each year we go they love different things. Maddy have gone 3 times now and we have found that she has loved something different each time. First year it was Winnie the Pooh, then  Snow White, and last time all of the princesses. 
6. There are tons of rides, shows, and parades geared to them.  Any ride a pregnant woman can ride, they can ride.
7. They do remember! Maddy and Hadley who are 4 and 2 years old right now remember all of their Disney trips. My daughter Hadley who is 2 years old sings "Its a Small World" DAILY. Maddy keeps telling us each ride she wants to ride and with who she will ride it with.



6 months old

8. You will NEVER regret going to Disney with your children too early but only that you have gone too late. They are young enough to believe each character is the really thing. I cant really explain how wonderful it is to see your 2 year old light up for their favorite character. This is wear I have had many crying moments in the park.  

6 months old

3 year old and 1.5 year old

1.5 years old

Disney Project: Beginner Everyday Princess Dress, Sleeping Beauty

Dress: Sleeping Beauty
Sewing Pattern: Simplicity 5695
 Fabric Used: Joann Fabric- all fabric is Calico but I wish I used better quality fabric.
Sewing Time: 1 day

Sewing Experience level: Beginner

Instructions: Follow the instructions on the pattern.  Then added the bustle by making a shorter skirt and cutting in 2 then gathering.

Notes:
I have made a bunch of these because they are not heavy and are great to wear out to the store or park. This is also a really EASY dress project for beginners. This is how I started making princess dresses.

Disney Project: Sewing Cinderella Apron Dress

Dress: Cinderella Apron Dress
Sewing Pattern: McCall 6619
 Fabric Used: Hobby Lobby and Joann

• Blue- Broadcloth
• White fabric- Calico Fabric
• Silver Trimming and ribbon from Hobby Lobby

Sewing Time: 2 days

Sewing Experience level: Beginner

Instructions: Follow the instructions on the pattern but I then added extra ribbon on the back so that the straps would stay on easier along with the extra trimming on the front.
  
Notes:
I LOVE this outfit but my youngest is not super into dressing up yet plus really messy so it worked great for her being able to take it off when she didnt want to wear it.
This dress is great for going to Disney during the hot months or cold bc you can add any shirt underneath. You can take it off when you are eating and both my 2 year old and my 4 year old can wear it.

Disney Project: Sewing Sofia the First Dress

Dress: Sofia The First

Sewing Pattern: McCall 6420 
          - Dress B without long sleeves
Additional Pattern: Cinderella bustle from Simplicity pattern. 
 Fabric Used: Joann's fabric-

• Top Skirt- light Purple Satin Dress fabric
• Under Skirt- White satin
• White petals- Fusible Wonder Under double sided and White satin dress fabric. 
• Bustle- Transparent Dress Fabric
• Extras- Purple cord, purple ribbon, white beading, and lining.

Sewing Time: 5 days
-Took longer because I made 2 dresses.

Sewing Experience level: Intermediate

Instructions:

1. Cut out the pattern for dress B besides the long sleeve.
2. Cut a copy of the front skirt pattern out of brown shipping paper and shorten the dress a few inches to where you want the petal of the dress to fall. 
3. Take a round plate and free hand out the bottom of the pattern. This is going to be the top purple petals of her dress.
4. Cut 4 petals out of purple fabric 
5. Cut the top of the dress out of purple fabric. 
6. Cut out the white under skirt by measuring 1.5 of your childs waist with the length you would like the dress to hang. (I find that if I measure exact then you get it a little shorter which is better for walking around the park.) 
7. Now find a plate the size of the white round symbol on her dress and cut out a circle with brown paper and then free hand the symbol out of the circle. 
8. Take the extra white satin and iron wonder under bond on one side of the fabric leaving the paper attached to the back and draw the pattern on the back.  Make sure it is fused on the wrong side of the fabric. Cut out 4 symbols. 
9. Iron the symbols on the 4 dress petals you cut out earlier. 
10. Next sew all of the dress petals together to make a skirt leaving one side not sewed. 
11. Make a narrow hem on the bottom of the petal skirt (May want to do before 10.)
12. You may add the beading at the bottom of the dress at this point by hand or by machine. 
13.  Finished the skirt.
14. Next make the white under skirt by sewing together and adding ribbon like sofia's dress. 
15. Make shorter bustle from Cinderella pattern. 
16. Sew skirts and bustle together around the top by pinning to fit together. 
17. Next gather the now one bottom skirt with zig-zag stitch and crochet thread technique.
18. Now follow the dress pattern instructions to add the skirt to the bodice.
19. After the dress is constructed added the additional features to the dress by hand. With the bead the front and neckline of the dress then the cord. 
20. Now just add a petticoat and amulet.

Sofia the First Birthday Party

We found our amulets at Khols in the jewelry department. 

Disney Project: Autographed Princess Purse

Instead of the traditional autograph book at the Disney how about a princess purse or backpack for them to sign! My cousin Julie had this great idea. This way your little princess or prince can show it off all year. You could also bring an extra one to give as a gift! The purse was bought at Magic Kingdom in Fantasyland for around $35 and they also have larger totes available too. The characters will sign anything that you are not wearing at the time. 

Back

Front

 If you have any fun autograph ideas post a comment!