A few Q's about DL with a 1 YO

[sarahtar]

We'll be visiting DL in March with DS5 and DD1. I haven't been since 1989, and I'm the only one in the family who has been there.

Anyway.

I'm a babywearer, and though we own a stroller, we have used it only once. I'm wondering, though, if I might want to bring it to DL? I can wear the 1 YO pretty much all day, though I might appreciate a break now and then. And I'm also wondering if the 5 YO will get tired and appreciate a break from the walking? Will having a stroller be worth how much of a PITA it is to have to push a stroller all the time?

Also, what about diaper bags? I'm planning to bring her along (obviously) on everything without a height restriction. What do you do with a diaper bag? Pack light and bring it with me on rides? Or leave it with the stroller (if we take one) and trust in the honesty of our fellow DL guests?

How are CMs about breastfeeding? (I haven't had a chance to research CA law on NIP, but I'm guessing it's pretty liberal?) Am I going to get asked to go to the baby room to nurse, or can I just nurse (discreetly) as we tour?

 

[bumbershoot]

If you don't mind links to a couple of pictures to share our first visit to Disneyland when DS was 1....

he'd just had a milky snack as we sat on the bench.

DS in the mei tai, as he spent most of the day!


We did rent a stroller, but DS refused to be in it. We didn't even own a stroller at that time. But since DS is now a 5 year old, and his legs do indeed get tired, since you'll have a 5 yo with you, I would assume he might want to hang out in it every so often.

On that trip we did leave stuff in the stroller...on a subsequent trip we had something stolen from the stroller, so we don't do that anymore. Either make sure you only leave easily replaced, low value items, or don't leave things at all.

CA is good with nursing. But I'm a modest person and never particularly enjoyed NIP at any point! Such a disgrace to my parents...my dad once flipped out when he realized I was going to go nurse in the bathroom at Denny's. OK he didn't flip out, but he did tell me that "no daughter of his" was going to do that, and he quickly helped me figure out a place to sit that was easier for nursing than sitting in the booth.

Anyway, the baby care centers, I'm sure, are nice, but I'm not big on wooden rockers. For us, Pirates was perfectly fine for nursing while he was still little, as was Small World, BUT Small World is bright and well lit, AND it has cameras all over now. It didn't back in our nursing trips, so I felt "safe" in there...but with the cameras now...I'd be more careful with the blanket placement.

 

[sonnyjane]

At rides like Nemo, I know there is usually, in my experience at least, a CM standing near the strollers keeping an eye on them, and I think it's the same at Small World. I don't recall seeing CM's outside of places like Peter Pan or the other dark rides watching strollers, but I may not have been paying attention.

The only advice I will give it not to leave valuables or electronics in the stroller. I had a friend that got her digital camera snatched out of her stroller at WDW, but she did state to me that it was in a visible camera case on top of the diaper bag, so it was an easy target.

 

[goldies 5]

We were just there in December. I wore my baby almost the entire time. We had to share the stroller with the 5 and occasionally the 7 year old. You will want a break every now and then and your baby will want to stretch out and lay down sometimes too. We personally use a backpack bag to carry our things and just take it on the rides with us. We usually have our camera in it. I have also taken just diapers, water, snacks old sweatshirts and just placed them in the bottom of the stroller. Do not leave anything of value on or in the cart when you are not present. The CM's respect your right to breatfeed and are very curtious. I just use a blanket to cover my carrier and baby and clip it in the back. This way baby can't show the world the goods.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Bring a stroller ~ your older child will appreciate the break and you might enjoy not wearing your little one for a bit. March is cooler ~ I couldn't imagine wearing a baby in July or August!

 

[letthembelittle]

I too would bring the stroller, your kids might surprise you and never need it but it is better to have it just in case in my opinion. I had no issues feeding ds on the various benches around the park (with a blanket over him) while waiting for others to go on rides or for parades to start. And we always left our diaper bag in the stroller but brought our camera with us on the rides. Have a great trip!!

 

[Monkey Monkey]

I agree with bringing the stroller! I wear my baby but sometimes I need a break, and sometimes DS (4.5) gets tired and crabby and the stroller is a perfect "time-out" for when he needs some quiet time.

The laws on nursing in public in California are accommodating: you can nurse anywhere you are legally allowed to be.

 

[kimara]

NIP is easy there. its a family place, and most people are fine. we usually take a stroller even when our child was in the wearing stages and your DD5 will probably use it more than DD1. we always leave the diaper bag in the stroller and have never had any problems, but we keep all valuables with us in pockets or a *small* backpack or purse. it will be great--HAVE FUN!!

 

[sarahtar]

Alright, thanks so much for the opinions and experiences!! We'll take the stroller and pack two bags - diaper bag for snacks and dipes, and a small bag for valuables.

 

[abouley]

I agree with the previous posters about bringing the stroller in large part for the 5 year old and for when you need a break. I wore my DD a lot but my back ached after a day at DL!

I always brought either one of those little diaper packs or a ziploc bag and carried diaper changing stuff in it. That way it was easy to grab and go for diaper changes and I didn't have to lug the whole bag with me. I do bring a bag to put snacks in and then usually just put the change of clothes in the bottom of the stroller. I've found the less bag to have to get out of the stroller and have them check, the better! Our diaper bag was kind of tough to get in and out and always constitued a struggle. If you can hang it on the back of your stroller that makes security easier and to get things in and out of. Otherwise, you might think about no bag!

Also, in the bag you carry with you...you might want to carry a few wipes, one diaper, a couple of emergency snacks and maybe a small water bottle. We have broken down on rides before and been completely without anything and it was hard to deal with my kids "I'm thirsty, I'm hungry" over and over again for 20-30 minutes isn't fun! Also, sometimes you leave the stroller and wander far from it and then don't have what you need to change a diaper close by.