Disappointed - please help!

[Partyof12]

Our family of 14 was going to Disny in April for Grandma's 60th birthday. We had a great time 2 years ago and were all looking forward to going again.

One sister is now pregnant and the baby will only be 2 months in April. So we decided to go in November instead before the baby. But of course, everything we wanted to do like the Cinderella breafast and the Hoop De Doo are sold out for November. So I suggested we go next November instead and no one wanted to wait that long. And Grandma was really looking forward to the little 3 and 4 year old girls seeing Cinderella again and also wanted the Hoop De Doo show because she heard it was so great for the kids - ages 2-4.

What should we do? Any ideas or advice mess would be really appreciated. Thank you.

 

[sanibelover]

I say go when the baby is 2 months old - no easier time to travel with a little one than when they are new. They don't get easier for a LONG time..............

 

[ekball]

I say go when the baby is 2 months old - no easier time to travel with a little one than when they are new. They don't get easier for a LONG time..............

I'll second that! We took DD at almost 3 months old and it was really nice. She slept most of the time, and we just had a nice, relaxing visit to the parks. Of course we were there at a very slow time, low crowds, nice weather, all things to consider too...

 

[3princesses+aprince]

I would say go when the baby is 2 months also! I know it's not your decision, but maybe something can convince her. Yea, the baby will probably sleep nicely in the stroller, it will be happy in one of those slings/carriers. At about 9 months in November, oh my! she/he will want to get out of the stroller, will probably fight naps, etc.. (or she/he may be good)
But if it was me I would go in April with my 2 month old.

 

[DVCisME]

Just a suggestion, if you do go when the baby is two months old, I would have the formula delivered to the hotel. We did this with my son when he was six months old directly from the company, like the kind in the hospital. We did not have to worry about it being cold or warm, or vany mixing. Plus we had the disposable nipples, so we just got to throw everything away. Good luck planning your vacation!

 

[Ariel8676]

I went in Feb with my 2 month old..it was great. We nurse exclusively and it was so easy. I did have her infant seat with a snap and go stroller, but also took my sling and mei tei.
My other 2 girls visited WDW when they were about 2 months old too...it is so easy!

 

[Partyof12]

Thank you everyone for your quick responses. I never thought it would be so easy with a 2 month old! Besides there will be 8 adults to help her out. Please keep them coming - maybe we can convince her.

 

[PrincessV]

I don't foresee any issues with baby going at 2 months old, but do consider Mom's ability to handle Disney 2 months after giving birth. Obviously, it wasn't a problem for lots of folks, but I can honestly say there was no way I would have been able to handle the physical toll Dinsey parks take 2 months after I had my son. I went through a very long, very hard labor and my body took a long time to get back to normal, not to mention the sleep deprivation of having a newborn. I can't even imagine trying to do this after a C-section.
I'm really not saying it can't be done, and hopefully she'll have an easy birth and speedy recovery. but go in knowing she might not and have a back-up plan.

 

[laceemouse]

Honestly, we did the HDD show last December with our kids ages 14, 12, 10, and 8. We had a great time, but many of the jokes were over the younger kids' heads! I wouldn't necessarily say that a 2 and 4 year old are gonna LOVE it. It is a long time to sit still, no characters, ect. I would not be certain that I would have wanted to make a Disney trek 8 weeks after giving birth (also, you are going on the due date, my first 3 ALL came VERY LATE) Mine were no where CLOSE to sleeping any amount of time then. I nursed all of mine, which I loved, so no one else could get up and feed them for me. Also, just all of the baby stuff you have to take. The youngest we ever took one was 5 months old, but we lived in Jacksonville so it was a short ride. Ask the expectant mom! I would rather go ahead and go pg if it were me. Tell Grandma "we will do some character meals this time and catch the HPP on a future trip." November would be nice and cool! While everyone in your family is in "baby making mode" you are gonna have this issue A LOT! It is hard to plan way ahead during those times. Like the previous poster said, you have NO IDEA how her pregnancy, labor and delivery are going to go. A c-section would really complicate things. JMHO!

 

[KristiKelly]

We went last Sept. Our DD turned 3 mo during our trip. I breastfed exclusively. I Bf'd on alot of the rides, DH asked for the backrow so I could have a little privacy. The Baby Care Centers are great. We bought a Baby Bjorn, (DH would wear one of these but would not have worn a sling). We carried her alot in that and we were able to get on & off rides with the Baby Bjorn without ever waking her. If baby is sleeping, restaurants will allow strollers.

 

[ekball]

Thank you everyone for your quick responses. I never thought it would be so easy with a 2 month old! Besides there will be 8 adults to help her out. Please keep them coming - maybe we can convince her.

More input, to help you out

YES!!!! It was only DH, DD (2.5+ months) and I on our trip....having extra hands around would have been heaven! For LOTS of reasons.

I'll second (again) some of the other posters...
*Taking a 9 month old??? UGH!!!
*We breastfed too - very very very easy in the parks. Great baby care centers to accomodate families, but also lots of private, quiet nooks where DD nursed and mommy took a rest for a bit.
* Yes, travel with a 2 month old is sooooo much easier than when they are older. We traveled to Wyoming (from CT) last year when DS was 2 months for a wedding. A loooooooong travel day, but he did GREAT. Much easier than DD who was almost 2.

As for mommy - there is no way to know ahead of time how she will be after L & D, that's true. I was lucky - up and about pretty quickly. To me, it felt so great to be able to get out and about, walking around, enjoying the weather (we were there in Jan. - MUCH nicer weather than we would have had at home), and enjoying being together as a new little family . We took it slow - listened to our bodies so to speak, as well as really watching and listening to DD. We did not push it. This was a very different trip for us - much more laid back. It was so great.

Also, and please no flames here , sometimes I think it's all about your frame of mind. Having a new baby is tough in many ways, but like anything else in life, attitude makes all the difference in the world. Yes, they (parents) will be tired (new babies are tiring). But they'd be tired whether they were at home or at Disney! Yes, baby will be work. But baby would be lots of work whether at home or Disney! Why stop living because of a new baby?? No, I'm not saying that all pre-baby activities would be appropriate with a new baby, but traveling....well, as you can tell, I'm all for it. We always talked to our pediatrician before our travels and made sure we had her .

Lastly, if your DS really doesn't want to take the new baby, and that's her prerogitive for sure, I'd give my next vote for going while she's pregnant. As long as she's having a good, healthy, safe pregnancy, and feeling well, it may be a nice little hurrah before baby arrives (did that too while pregnant with DD - to Wyoming again).

OK, i'll close now...

Good luck!!

 

[eeyoregon]

Please think carefully about taking a newborn to the World. April is a peak month for viruses, bugs and sickness. Our April trip this year ended with DS getting the Norovirus and being confined to the hotel room until he was well enough to fly home. No matter how much hand washing, you are/will come into contact with 1000's of other people from every part of the world. My DS was 13 and I have NEVER seen him so violently ill (DS 10 got it 4 days later) and I just can't imagine a tiny newborns immune system being strong enough to battle such germs.

 

[disney09]

If you go when the baby's 2 month old, consider a wheelchair for the mother. She'll be tired and she might thank not to walk that long. Disney equals lots of walking, and she might not be up to that.
Of course, she might be someone who recovers pretty easy and she might not need it. Also,the baby could at this point be a sleeper or not, mines wouldn't sleep all night until 6 months old, and 3 hours was the most they slept, and that amount of sleeping made me very cranky.
Consider that when the mother is home she can sleep while the baby sleeps, and cannot do that while traveling.
It's a very hard decision, since you don't know how the baby will be or how the mother can handle it.
Good luck and I hope you and your family have a great trip!

 

[INdisneyfamily]

Took my daughter when she was 5 months. Baby Care Centers are wonderful! Took a break in the middle of the day and went back to the hotel for a little rest while baby napped. Worked out well. Best part was during character breakfast, Minnie picked her up and kissed her. One of my favorite memories and photos!

 

[Williamsfamily7]

Try to convince the new-mom-to-be to go when her baby is 2 months old.

#1 - I think the baby will be very easy to handle (lots of naps and plenty of adults to help)

#2 - Unless the mom has a what I would consider a very difficult birth, I think she should be in fine shape to handle the parks.

#3 - If she's gonna start worrying that much about germs, good luck with that! I'm a big believer in getting out there and exposing my kids to LOTS of stuff (noise, people, etc, etc,) from a very young age..........I don't think I'd take a "new born" under 6 weeks, but I'm sure a 2 month old baby will be fine. My kids are now very healthy teenagers, having been very healthy babies, toddlers & grade schoolers. I would never worry about the whole germ aspect of WDW. The world (and I mean the earth, not WDW) is a germy place. Deal with it.

Good luck.

 

[surfgirl]

my 2cents?

Go in November... much easier to go before baby.

I realize there are a few sold out things, but HDDR is alot for little people, and as for Cindy - Could you do dinner at GF, instead? Option #2: plan on building in 'line time' to stand in line and meet characters [certainly is a cheaper option too ]

As a mom of three, I remember what it was like going someplace with my first - I was overwhelmed whether it was short or long. I never knew when the meltdown would happen. Having said that, we drag our 3 many places I didn't think we would... but I didn't have that confidence with the 1st. I would give your sister benefit of the doubt and go now.

What does she want to do?

good luck!

 

[SadieDog]

More input, to help you out

I'll second (again) some of the other posters...
*Taking a 9 month old??? UGH!!!
*We breastfed too - very very very easy in the parks. Great baby care centers to accomodate families, but also lots of private, quiet nooks where DD nursed and mommy took a rest for a bit.
* Yes, travel with a 2 month old is sooooo much easier than when they are older. As for mommy - there is no way to know ahead of time how she will be after L & D, that's true.

Also, and please no flames here , sometimes I think it's all about your frame of mind. Having a new baby is tough in many ways, but like anything else in life, attitude makes all the difference in the world. Yes, they (parents) will be tired (new babies are tiring). But they'd be tired whether they were at home or at Disney! Yes, baby will be work. But baby would be lots of work whether at home or Disney! Why stop living because of a new baby?? No, I'm not saying that all pre-baby activities would be appropriate with a new baby, but traveling....well, as you can tell, I'm all for it. We always talked to our pediatrician before our travels and made sure we had her .

Good luck!!

No flame here. I agree.

 

[liznboys]

I'd much rather go pregnant than with a 2 month old. And I did-I was pregnant on our last trip (about 5 months along.) So I think going this Nov. is the best idea. I think "Grandma" needs the convincing, not the pregnant sister. Just my opinion, good luck!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Please think carefully about taking a newborn to the World. April is a peak month for viruses, bugs and sickness. Our April trip this year ended with DS getting the Norovirus and being confined to the hotel room until he was well enough to fly home. No matter how much hand washing, you are/will come into contact with 1000's of other people from every part of the world. My DS was 13 and I have NEVER seen him so violently ill (DS 10 got it 4 days later) and I just can't imagine a tiny newborns immune system being strong enough to battle such germs.

I second this.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

All moms are different, but I would have been able to do the parks much better when my DS was 2 months than when I was very pregnant. I had a hard labor & delivery, but bounced back quickly. My DS was born on a Friday. We left the hospital on Sunday, then spent all day the following Saturday at basketball games. I felt much better then than I did the last couple months of pregnancy.

I can see why grandma wouldn't want the kids to miss a meal with Cinderella. As someone suggested, try for dinner, if your sister wants to go in Nov. If not, would she consider the Princess Storybook breakfast instead? Did you check that one for availablility? They could also see Cinderella at dinner at 1900 PF. On the other hand, I don't think kids that young would really enjoy HDDR anyway.