Doing Disney with a 1 month old?

CrystalS

DIS Veteran
Joined
Mar 7, 2009
Baby is due for mid August.

I'd really like to do a DisneyWorld trip in Sept/Oct if they announce Free Dining again! I'd hate to miss such a great deal because I know that's the only way we will get to Disney, is with such a great deal. (Flight costs from BC, Canada are high, so we have to make up for it with disney deals, lol).

I don't think I'd have a problem bringing a young baby to WDW because I wouldn't need to pack around formula (I breastfeed), and baby's are pretty portable at that age and mostly just sleep anyways, lol. (yes I know, I could end up with a fussy cry-all-the-time baby, but if that were the case, then I'd just cancel the trip I guess).

But I'm not sure if DH would be on board with taking a one month old on a trip like that.

So I'm just wondering, do any of you have experience with taking such a young baby to Disney that you'd like to share?
Did you take breaks often or was baby fairly "portable"?
Any advice?
If you've done it, but wouldn't do it again, why?
If you've done it and WOULD do it again, why?


Thanks so much!
 
I think my concern would be how are YOU going to feel? Are you going to have a c-section, or a v-birth? I was up and around really early after DD's c-sec but I had to because she was in the NICU in a different city. I dont think I could have done Disney. I know some women are up and at 'em more quickly with a v-birth, but some are really torn up and haven't healed yet. Just a thought, I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer!

If they extended Free Dining until October and beyond, I would *defnitely* go then :goodvibes Just a little extra time to recover.
 
We went when DS was 2 mths old. He was a breeze. But it was 2 mths not 1, and I did have a c-section, I waited till I got my 6 week check ok by the doctor and his first round of immunizations.

Good luck with whatever u decide, I enjoyed the slow pace we took and we enjoyed ourselves and so did our kids!
 
I did it. My baby was 6 weeks old when he went to DW the first time. It was a great trip. No fussiness, he was very alert and looking at everything. I did not breastfeed but carrying along the formula was not really an issue.

We did not take breaks. DS slept most of the day anyway so we just wheeled him around in the stroller or carried him in the sling. He hung in and didn't complain at all.
 
I think 1 months might be a little too soon to do a Disney vacation. We are actually going to the beach when my baby is one month, but a beach vacation is a lot different than Disney!

I would think that you may be a little sleep deprived at that point. Many babies get nights and days mixed up right around that time. Also, what will you do about all that heat and sun? A new baby is so delicate. I am not taking our new baby on the beach when we go away, but just having my husband take our daughter while me and the new baby relax in the condo. The pool at the resort we are going to is indoors, so I won't have to worry about the sun there. I'm not sure if there are those kinds of options for you at Disney...

I would stay home until the baby is a few months older. Deals can be found at any time of the year. You just have to be more creative. You can stay off-site for a lot less than the free dining discount...

Good luck with whatever you decide! My baby is also due in August!!
 
we took a 6 week old on our first trip, we also had an almost 3 year old, and an almost 2 year old. It was fabulous. The baby was great, she was so easy.
She slept, and nursed anywhere and everywhere. I wore her all day, at least 95% of the day in a sling.
We brought a single stroller too.
We traveled with friends who had a almost 2 year old and a 10 week old. It was a ball.
We pretty much opened the parks, and closed the parks. We were there in december, so it was cooler.
My ONLY concern with that time of year, was when we went in september it was HOT HOT HOT. And I KNOW I would not want to have worn a baby in a sling at that time of the year. So, that could of possibly changed the whole trip.
But, there are lots of places to relax, even in the parks where you could relax.
I know the baby care centers are great, we visited the one in MK once. And not even the trip with our newborn.
I think a million things could happen with your pregnacny, but plan for the best, plan the trip. If you have to move it back, so what.
Babies are so very portable, I am not a germaphobic person, so that didn't bother me, and I was up immediatly after birth doing what I needed to do.
Have fun, the characters eat up little babies (not for real), but they LOVE LOVE LOVE little babies. We had some amazing character interactions that trip.
 
We took DD at 10 weeks, but I wouldn't recommend a trip at 1 month. When we booked DD was supposed to be 3 months, but she arrived 12 days late, so was only 10 weeks when we went. I thought we were really pushing the limits. It was a great trip, but I must admit that I was exhausted (still waking to nurse several times per night) and I had two sets of grandparents with us to help!. What happens if your baby doesn't arrive on your scheduled due date -- you haven't got much wiggle room if you plan a trip at 1 month. Also, even if you don't have a c-section, you will likely still be recovering.
 


My 3rd child will be 1 month old tomorrow. I could do WDW right now, but I would be pretty exhausted too. My daughter is sleeping roughly 4-4.5 hour stretches overnight so it's really not terrible, but with other kids I am tired. I would just plan for lots of breaks and I would think you'd be okay.

We took my first 2 kids to WDW at just under 3 months each and went to the beach when my 2nd was 3 weeks old. All of those trips were fine, but by 3 months old we pretty much had a routine down, and the beach trip was really laid back so the lack of sleep didn't affect me.

We actually wanted to go to WDW 2 weeks ago, but didn't book anything cause we wanted to wait and see when exactly this baby would be born and how things were first. Well, though I had 2 'regular' deliveries, with my 2nd being extremely easy, this baby ended up being a c-section so that ended the trip. As it turned out, at 2 weeks out, I could have done it, and it would have been preferable to the snowstorms we had here that week, but the 1st week or so after the c-section was HARD.
 
Thank you everyone for all of your replies, I really appreciate hearing opinions from both sides.

I don't think recovery would be too much of an issue for me. I know each delivery is different of course, but with my first I had an uneventful pregnancy (no sickness even) and had an easy delivery. And I was up and moving around right away.
The sleep thing probably wouldn't be a problem either, lol, DS still wakes up at night so I'm already used to interupted sleep.

I definately wouldn't go earlier than 1 month, so if we had to push the dates back we could (does disney do this without penalty if we use their insurance?).

Another option I was considering would be to do a Disney cruise later on, say at the 3-5 month mark (babies have to be at least 12 weeks to sail). Things might be a little more relaxed as far as the daily pace goes.
We could even do a couple days at disney before or after if there are any deals/as money would permit.

Thanks again for all advice/opinions, its certainly something to really think about, thats for sure.
 
Just want to say you Moms are amazing!
After delivery I was out... and I mean OUT for a good 2 months. Walking was a chore, let alone up and down the stairs... :lmao:
I can't imagine walking around WDW. And I'm a disney nut!

Thank God DH was so patient with me.

I'd say it's a little risky just because you can't be sure how you'll feel after the delivery but if you can get reservation with a short cancellation policy and do insurance you'll probably be ok.

Good luck and congrats! :)
 
I have children similarly spaced as your will be. Mine may be slightly closer together. There are a couple of things to seriously consider before making a decision. I understand that your oldest doesn’t always sleep well and you believe you function well with little sleep, my experience with #2 made me totally reconsider what tired meant. When my first was very little I got up and fed him through the night and then when he slept so did I. I coped quite well and was forming complete sentences most of the time.

The deal is different with #2. I was up every 2 hours to feed #2 which meant about an hour of sleep in between feedings and then at 7am, #1 was up. I honestly, felt better 72 hours after my c-section when I got home than I did for about 12 weeks and I had some help.

The other consideration is the time of year you are considering. I grew up in Seattle and The first summer I spent in the south about killed me. The August heat in Florida is nothing to mess around with. We took the kids in October and it was unseasonably hot. I needed 1 gallon of water a day to continue to make enough milk for the baby. And nursing a baby in 100 degree heat is not a lot of fun. Your BC body likely doesn’t handle heat well, and I would also be concerned about the changes in temperature for the baby between really hot and cool. If you have skinny little babies, it may be hard for them to regulate.

The other issue to consider is how is you oldest and DH going to sleep in the same room with you and the baby. We went to PHX when the baby was 8 weeks but had a suite so at least I could put a door between us. I don’t think we could have done a standard hotel room. Their schedules were just too different at that point.

We made our first Disney trip as a family of 4 when the baby was 6 months old. It was the most exhausting trip I have ever been on. Having to be the last to bed and the first one up every morning to get the baby fed and then everything ready for the parks got old really, really fast.

Congratulations
 
I have children similarly spaced as your will be. Mine may be slightly closer together. There are a couple of things to seriously consider before making a decision. I understand that your oldest doesn’t always sleep well and you believe you function well with little sleep, my experience with #2 made me totally reconsider what tired meant. When my first was very little I got up and fed him through the night and then when he slept so did I. I coped quite well and was forming complete sentences most of the time.

The deal is different with #2. I was up every 2 hours to feed #2 which meant about an hour of sleep in between feedings and then at 7am, #1 was up. I honestly, felt better 72 hours after my c-section when I got home than I did for about 12 weeks and I had some help.

The other consideration is the time of year you are considering. I grew up in Seattle and The first summer I spent in the south about killed me. The August heat in Florida is nothing to mess around with. We took the kids in October and it was unseasonably hot. I needed 1 gallon of water a day to continue to make enough milk for the baby. And nursing a baby in 100 degree heat is not a lot of fun. Your BC body likely doesn’t handle heat well, and I would also be concerned about the changes in temperature for the baby between really hot and cool. If you have skinny little babies, it may be hard for them to regulate.

The other issue to consider is how is you oldest and DH going to sleep in the same room with you and the baby. We went to PHX when the baby was 8 weeks but had a suite so at least I could put a door between us. I don’t think we could have done a standard hotel room. Their schedules were just too different at that point.

We made our first Disney trip as a family of 4 when the baby was 6 months old. It was the most exhausting trip I have ever been on. Having to be the last to bed and the first one up every morning to get the baby fed and then everything ready for the parks got old really, really fast.

Congratulations

Thats a lot to think about :) Thank you so much for your advice.
Maybe just doing a Mexican Riviera Cruise with a day or two at DisneyLAND a little further down the road when baby is a bit older would be a better idea....
although I would miss the waterparks at WDW, lol (we didn't get to go to them on our first trip)
 
Just want to say you Moms are amazing!
After delivery I was out... and I mean OUT for a good 2 months. Walking was a chore, let alone up and down the stairs... :lmao:
I can't imagine walking around WDW. And I'm a disney nut!

Thank God DH was so patient with me.

I'd say it's a little risky just because you can't be sure how you'll feel after the delivery but if you can get reservation with a short cancellation policy and do insurance you'll probably be ok.

Good luck and congrats! :)


I'm right with you! I had a third degree tear, it took the DR. 80 minutes to stitch me up and it took me forever to heal. I was also out for 2 months I couldn't stand for more that 5 minutes at a time without feeling serious pain. Not to mention the sleep deprivation. A big round of applause for the mommy's that have conquered Disney with a one month old!!!

Hopefully you will have a delivery with no complications!
Good luck to you and CONGRATS!!!!
 
Concerns are 1) how are you going to feel? you may not be up to trekking around the world 1 month postpartum, for me going to the grocery store was exhausting 2) 4 weeks old in that heat and humidity with that many people and an immature immune system. In any event, it is something you will need to think about and discuss with your doc and your babys doc
 
I agree that it will be CRAZY-hot and that a 1-month-old will have a difficult time regulating his temperature. And they are too young for sunblock, so it's a challenge to keep them shaded but in cool clothes. Add that to the germs, and there is no way I would personally risk it. Is there any way you could push it to late September, at least?

I just posted in another thread, and we took DD when she was almost 4 mos (and DS 3 years). It was my least enjoyable trip for ME personally, because I was overtired and wearing/nursing DD most of the time, but I don't regret going, because DS had a blast (and DH) and we get to go frequently anyways. We went in April, and it was unseasonably warm - though not mid-summer-HOT. If it had been more temperate, I would have enjoyed it more.
 
We had a trip planned and baby arrived late! He was six weeks old when we went. He was wonderful-slept or nursed the whole time. I had a surprise c-section (1st birth hadn't been) and honestly that was the first week I was up to that much walking. Any earlier and we would have missed out on a lot.
 
I don't think recovery would be too much of an issue for me. I know each delivery is different of course, but with my first I had an uneventful pregnancy (no sickness even) and had an easy delivery. And I was up and moving around right away.


The sleep thing probably wouldn't be a problem either, lol, DS still wakes up at night so I'm already used to interupted sleep.


To the first point above, like I mentioned in my other post, my newest baby was born via unexpected c-section. My first was a forceps delivery, which caused a lot of internal tearing, so that was a little tough to recover from, but overall not terrible.

Baby #2 was a breeze. Water broke at home, I was barely able to get to the hospital in time, 2 pushes and he was out. No pain meds, nothing. Incredibly easy delivery and I was up and walking to the nursery with him and didn't stop.

Then this one had her umbilical cord over her head and was basically an emergency c-section. No one had any idea this would be the case till I was well into labor so it was quite the surprise. But it was either go to the OR or risk my water breaking and my baby's umbilical cord getting compressed. The first time I got out of bed after the c-section was quite easily the worst pain I've ever been in in my life. :sad2:



The sleep thing, granted I have 3 which is quite different than when I had 2, but let me tell you, 2 kids getting up overnight is waaaaay different than just 1! My first didn't sleep through the night till she was 2.5yo, right before my 2nd was born, so I never had 2 getting up simultaneously. Then #2 was an excellent sleeper from infancy so my fatigue was still pretty limited. Now I have the 3rd. She's pretty average as far as newborns go with sleep, I guess, but over the weekend my son had a virus and was up overnight. I was seriously delirious during the day. It was crazy. My baby was up at 4am, nursed 30 minutes, then my son was up for 30 minutes, then I slept 30 minutes and the baby was back up. It was maddening.

Even when he's not sick and sleeps all night I am still exhausted all day cause I am keeping up with 2 other kids and a newborn and it's tiring.


But with that said, I maintain what I said above, that it would be do-able, but with many rest breaks planned. I also didn't realize your 1st child isn't sleeping all night, which does make a difference, at least for me. But barring those unusual circumstances I would think you'd be fine. But that cruise option would be the way I'd go now that you brought it up.
 
I honestly wouldn't take a newborn to Disney. There are so many unknowns that you don't know if your baby will end up in the NICU, you don't know if you will end up with a c-section. You don't know if the baby could end up with food allergies and need special formula. So much you don't know. I honestly would wait a year and take the baby and celebrate their 1st Birthday at Disney rather then their birth.
 
My daughter took her 7 week old to WDW in June, 2008, for an extended family trip to celebrate my mother's 80th birthday. If you take a 4 week old in August, you need to plan on opening up the parks each morning, going back to the room at noon and napping and hanging out until late evening. In the afternoon after the day gets hotter and all that concrete heats up, you do not want to be outside with your baby. If you are at the front of the line at rope drop, you can get a lot done during the first 2-3 hours.
 
Baby is due for mid August.

I'd really like to do a DisneyWorld trip in Sept/Oct if they announce Free Dining again! I'd hate to miss such a great deal because I know that's the only way we will get to Disney, is with such a great deal. (Flight costs from BC, Canada are high, so we have to make up for it with disney deals, lol).

I don't think I'd have a problem bringing a young baby to WDW because I wouldn't need to pack around formula (I breastfeed), and baby's are pretty portable at that age and mostly just sleep anyways, lol. (yes I know, I could end up with a fussy cry-all-the-time baby, but if that were the case, then I'd just cancel the trip I guess).

But I'm not sure if DH would be on board with taking a one month old on a trip like that.

So I'm just wondering, do any of you have experience with taking such a young baby to Disney that you'd like to share?
Did you take breaks often or was baby fairly "portable"?
Any advice?
If you've done it, but wouldn't do it again, why?
If you've done it and WOULD do it again, why?


Thanks so much!

I just re-read your post..You really shouldn't judge this current pregnancy by your previous ones.This labor and delivery could be the same as the others , or it may not. I know women personally that had 2-3normal ******l deliveries and were fine in 2 days and then on the 3-4th pregnancy they had a c-section or severe postpartum depression and were incapacitated for weeks.I would play it by ear.No 2 children are the same, and no 2 pregnancies/labors/deliveries are identical either
 

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