Breastfeeding in Parks

[Crayons]

Can anyone tell me of any quiet, out of the way places to nurse my child? I'd like to have a plan of where I could do this in each park. She only needs to nurse probably twice during the day and she needs a low-active place, as she will pull off to look around.
Thanks.

 

[nuzmom]

In world showcase at epcot, there is a small park type setting behind the United Kingdom. There is a stage and they have bands off and on during the day, but when no one is playing, it can be a quiet place.

In the future world of epcot, there are small seating areas around Mission Space and Test Track (also over at living seas). You can find some less travelled areas there, too.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

In MK, there is a great place near the exit of Splash Mountain. Outside of the gift shop (that people walk through after exiting the ride), there are some benches in the shade. No one walks by because they all walk through the gift shop.

 

[terlane97]

The Baby Care Centers in the parks have nice quiet places for nursing. I used them in the past and will definitely use them again for my 3yr DS when we go back again this September.

 

[teresajoy]

If you wanted a nice air conditioned place to nurse every park has baby stations with nice rocking chairs where you can nurse. Just look on the guidemap, and they are listed there. Have a great trip!

 

[Disney2NJ]

I agree the Babycare Centers are the way to go. The one at Hollywood Studios (I think) is the best. There are small private rooms with rocking chairs. You can control the lighting too. As I recall, Epcot, Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom have group rooms. Everyone was extremely respectful and nice to chat...my daughter just kept getting distracted. While I'm no longer breastfeeding, I will definitely use the babycare centers for a calm, cool, clean environment to change diapers.

 

[katied]

Babycare Centers work well. AK also has private nursing rooms. MK and Epcot they are shared rooms - so there may be other women also nursing in the room (but only nursing moms are allowed in there). Also, these are great places to change a diaper, feed babies, or just give little ones a chance to cool off in some AC.

 

[teresajoy]

I agree the Babycare Centers are the way to go. The one at Hollywood Studios (I think) is the best. There are small private rooms with rocking chairs. You can control the lighting too. As I recall, Epcot, Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom have group rooms. Everyone was extremely respectful and nice to chat...my daughter just kept getting distracted. While I'm no longer breastfeeding, I will definitely use the babycare centers for a calm, cool, clean environment to change diapers.

I was trying to remember where the one with private rooms was! I did like that one! The only thing I didn't like about it (at least when I last used it 3 years ago) was that there was no adult restroom nearby. There was one little kid potty, but that was it. Does anyone know if they have they changed that?

 

[jack hannah bananah]

The baby care centers are great, but not always conveniently located.

I usually nursed during a show like Little Mermaid in HS, Philharmagic in MK, Ellen in Epcot. AK has great tucked away sitting areas throughout the park.

When I was nursing my now 2 yr. old, I felt I was the only one in the park nursing. Now that I am not nursing, I see women nursing every where.

 

[MonkersMama]

I just wanted to say YEAH!! Great idea to make a plan Crayons. The suggestion about nursing during shows sounds comfortable.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I have a friend who also nursed during the dark shows. I thought it was a fantastic idea.

 

[nuzmom]

Hey, we use the Hall of Presidents in MK as a cool off/nap location. I bet it would be good for nursing, too.

I find the dinosaur side of AK to be quieter than the Africa side, but there are alcoves all over. There are many shaded table locations by flame tree barbque. There are whole areas deserted when we're there. Just keep walking past the first "obvious" sitting areas and there's "out of the way" areas.

Seems to me that Disney Studios has the least "out of the main path" locations. Strangely enough, I think at the exit of TOT is fairly quiet. Go past the entrance and there is a large shaded area, by the gift shop. I think the seating is on a stone wall, so may not be that comfortable - anyone familiar with this area? Seems to me that there were some benches and it was actually pretty low traffic and quiet.

 

[Crayons]

Thanks for all the ideas of places to nurse. I'll write down the places suggested and see if we are near any of them when the need arrives. My daughter is 2 and I know that some people freak when they see a toddler nursing, so I don't want to be gaulked at.
Do the Babycare stations question you if you take a child (instead of a baby) in the private rooms? Has anyone nursed a toddler in the shared rooms?
She really only needs to nurse when she gets tired. So if we aren't taking a break back to our hotel, then I would like to find somewhere comfortable for me to sit to let her nurse and then nap for about 45 minutes (which I can hold her for napping too).
Thanks for the help!

 

[crisi]

Thanks for all the ideas of places to nurse. I'll write down the places suggested and see if we are near any of them when the need arrives. My daughter is 2 and I know that some people freak when they see a toddler nursing, so I don't want to be gaulked at.
Do the Babycare stations question you if you take a child (instead of a baby) in the private rooms? Has anyone nursed a toddler in the shared rooms?
She really only needs to nurse when she gets tired. So if we aren't taking a break back to our hotel, then I would like to find somewhere comfortable for me to sit to let her nurse and then nap for about 45 minutes (which I can hold her for napping too).
Thanks for the help!

Baby care stations won't question you - and since you can probably time it, you might find them the most comfortable option - they aren't always convenient for nursing an infant, but getting a toddler there is less of an issue - and toddlers can create "the look" that people don't usually send with babies (anymore). You either care about "the look" or your don't - if you didn't you probably wouldn't be asking the question.

 

[Malela9]

I live near Disneyland and can't say enough about the Baby Care Centers. I have nursed newborns to toddlers in there ( I didn't want the staring when my babies got bigger either. ) .
Especially if you have an easily distracted nurser, the Baby Care Centers are the bomb. They are quiet and cool and you can sit down with baby for a good nurse, instead of trying to get baby to latch on while they are trying to stare everywhere.
I was successful at nursing in rides and shows, but most of the time I just announced to my family ," I am going to the Baby Care Center." It was just easier for me and the baby I was nursing. It also seemed to get the nursing session over faster and both of us back to the action.
I wish the Baby Care Centers at WDW were as nice as the one at Disneyland. Disneyland's is so pretty and so Walt. The staff at all the centers are wonderful though. I still take dd who is 4 there to go potty if I don't want to bother with the big bathrooms. Have a wonderful trip!

 

[Karlzmom]

each park has a baby care center with private nursing rooms, rocking chairs/low lighting/foot stools. We became well acquainted with each one. Sadly, there is only one per park, so it can be a bit of a hike from across the way...but being less than shy, I used benches regularly and even a outcropping of rocks near EE in AK!

Whatcaha gonna do, baby's gotta eat

 

[justhat]

I did nurse my kids as toddlers, but not sure if I ever used the baby care centers for that. In any case though, no one would question you at all if you went into one with your child. I would definitely use those if your daughter will be napping too, as they're cool and quiet so she can get some decent rest in.

And a little OT, but your post really made me miss the nursing days and it's only been a matter of weeks since my son weaned! Before I had kids I never intended to nurse past a year, but both of my kids were nearly 2yo when they weaned and I wouldn't have changed a thing.

 

[scjo68]

Thanks for all the ideas of places to nurse. I'll write down the places suggested and see if we are near any of them when the need arrives. My daughter is 2 and I know that some people freak when they see a toddler nursing, so I don't want to be gaulked at.
Do the Babycare stations question you if you take a child (instead of a baby) in the private rooms? Has anyone nursed a toddler in the shared rooms?
She really only needs to nurse when she gets tired. So if we aren't taking a break back to our hotel, then I would like to find somewhere comfortable for me to sit to let her nurse and then nap for about 45 minutes (which I can hold her for napping too).
Thanks for the help!

I nursed my ds, then 18 months at the baby care centers. It never worked well for me to try to find a spot throughout the park to nurse. If there was any kind of distraction at all, he would stop, look around, and fuss. The nursing helped him to calm down and destress so he could go to sleep. But he needed quiet. The other problem was that I would sometimes unknowingly settle down in a smoking area- clearly that was a mistake. So, I took to just heading to the Baby care centers. I recall MGM/ HS having private rooms. And MK had a larger room, and there were several moms nursing quietly in there. My ds was the oldest by far, but if anyone thought it unusual, I didn't notice it. The CM's didn't seem bothered by his age.

Cherish this time!

 

[jack hannah bananah]

I just thought of another great place (especially if your toddler doesn't need to be fed for too long). My favorite place to nurse was on Tomorrowland Transit Authority. You are in your own "car". It is dark, and there are not many things to distract her.