Disney Veteran but 1st Time Mom at the Parks Tips/Advice

[LMO429]

Hi!

I am a Disney World Veteran been going since I was a a kid and we have been going every 6 months for over 10 years now. However this will be my First Time traveling with my son who will be 11 months old at the time we go to Disney world this upcoming October so I need advice on what to pack/things to do. This vacation will be all about him we will not be in a rush to get everything done since we go so often. We will be staying at the beach club in October 2016.


What stroller do you suggest I rent the City Mini or the City Mini Gt???? I was thinking about using an umbrella stroller to and from the airport and having the city mini waiting for us at the hotel to tour the park with

What extra activities would you plan to do ex, First Haircut on Main Street?

What dad back pack would you recommend?

anyone use any sort of cooling pad for the stroller would this be a waste????

any tips for packing bottles/cleaning bottles while at the hotel??

what outside the box items do you bring with you to the park

also its so hard to make adr reservations not knowing what my son's schedule will be 6 months from now.

any other tips/advice would be greatly appreciated.

thank you!!!

 

[LMO429]

Oh and I know I can send a box of supplies diapers etc to the hotel any tips advice???

also we do frequent cabs on alot of previous vacations..do any cab companies have car seats already installed???

 

[NJlauren]

I took my DD at about 10 months and again at 17 months.

I rented the city mini and did the umbrella stroller for the first trip and the 2nd trip I brought my stroller from home. We we're staying at the pop the 2nd time and I just didn't think we would have the space for 2 strollers. I would rent again as I think the city mini folds better for the buses then my uppa baby. Either stroller should be good.

I would make the ADRs at the times you want and if his schedule changes adjust them as they get closer. I found breakfast and dinner easiest to predict. My DD was always an earlier riser so we did early breakfast and dinner around 530 on both trips. Even with early breakfasts she ate before that.

Do you baby wear? I loved being able to have DD in the ergo on the first trip, but I will say I hated leaving the ergo in the stroller and found it annoying to carry when she wasn't on it. But overall it was great for us.

I ordered a bottle brush and small soap from garden grocer (also can use Amazon) and cleaned the bottles at night. And let them air dry.

I packed 2 extra park outfits in ziplocks for each park day. We didn't always have accidents, but the heat, and the food getting all over, so it was nice to be able to change DD mid day/late afternoon.

DD loved the fruit/veggie pouches on both trips so we had a bunch of those with us, and snacks puffs etc. DD was a big sleeper in the stroller on the first trip and about 10months. I did have a fan that I clipped on to the stroller, she ended up loving to play with it, but it seemed to work.

I think the first hair cut is a great idea! I wanted to do it so bad but DDs hair wasn't long enough. Also make sure to get a first trip button.

The baby care centers are great, they have supplies and stuff if needed. I have only been to them in MK and Epcot but both were great places for a quick break of needed or a great place to feed or change a diaper.

Feel free to ask me anything else!

Eta: we used garden grocer and love them!

I don't think cab companies have car seats (if your going from hotel to park) they did when we used them from airport to hotel. I would plan on skipping the cabs between parks/hotel. Some people will say you can hold him for a short trip, but that's up to you.

I packed all the extra bottles in a ziplock in my checked bag, only carried on what I needed for the flight.

 

[LMO429]

NJLAUREN thank you for all the tips!

I currently have the nuna ivvi stroller and no way will I be bringing that to disney it is just way to bulky! I will have to read your trip reports too!

btw ironic we are both named lauren and I live in NJ too lol

 

[LMO429]

What is the difference between the city mini and the city mini gt?????

 

[jvz82]

We brought my son at 12 months old (and we've brought the other kids at various ages). Honestly, I don't feel like we packed anything all that different than a regular outing with him. Lots of snacks because if we were waiting in line he got antsy. We brought our own stroller. He was nursing so we didn't really pack bottle stuff, except I think maybe a sippy cup for water. I would suggest going early in the morning (right when the park opens) and then going back to your hotel in the afternoon for a nap/rest. As for not knowing his schedule, I feel like the little ones just have to work around your schedule a little bit. Lots of times my son just fell asleep on rides or whatever. I'd schedule earlier meals because more than likely he'll get hungry earlier.

 

[NJlauren]

What is the difference between the city mini and the city mini gt?????

To be honest I have no idea! I got the city mini and used kingdom strollers and had no problems!

Oh funny about being from NJ and Lauren too . I'm in Essex county!

 

[JWigs]

The biggest difference between Mini and mini GT is the wheels. One is more off road capable and other is not.

I would suggest baby wearing as well. My DD wasn't carried a lot at home but at disney she always is since the lines can be so long. One time we came for halloween, dad forgot her Ergo in the car. Our arms fell off that night taking turns holding her for lines and character meets.

You can ship things ahead to the hotel. Just make sure you estimate the shipping costs. Also, with Uber you can request cars with car seats. It's a newish thing maybe in the past 9 mos.

 

[jvz82]

Oh yeah, forgot to mention baby-wearing. I brought my Ergo and wore my 12 month old a lot. We had a double stroller too for him and the 2.5 year old and 4.5 year old to share, but I mostly baby-wore until either I was too hot or too tired, lol. He fell asleep much easier if I was wearing him compared to in the stroller. There was too much to see so he didn't want to sleep in the stroller!

 

[pigletgirl]

A couple of thoughts:
1. This trip will be radically different than what you are used too. (You probably know this by now. )
2. Slow down and enjoy the moment, rather than trying to fit in A, B and C. There are many things my DD loved at 15 months, that your son will love too. She loved watching the ducks in MK! She loved watching the fountains in Epcot. The safari in AK was also a huge hit. She also loved meeting the characters! It was so refreshing seeing all of this through her eyes.
3. If he is walking by then, letting him out of the stroller and stretching his legs (preferably in a less crowded spot) is nice too.

 

[quagmire0]

I think you've already got the right mindset of 'taking it easy' and planning for him. That was our biggest adjustment when we travelled for the first time with our first born. But the secret to a good experience at Disney with your young ones is the same as just about everywhere else: food (snacks), water (bring a refillable/spill proof drink container - free water at all the restaurants), and rest (mid-day break/nap)

 

[SweetMissy]

We just went with our 7 month old. He was pretty easy. Only difference with him and our #3 who was 4 months for his 1st trip was he's eating solids. We had garden grocers deliver baby food to our resort and of course ordered more than needed but it was one less thing to pack. You can also do diapers, wipes, etc. We pack our own diapers though....just scatter them throughout all the suitcases. I breastfeed, so I don't have to worry about washing bottles and whatnot but I'm assuming you can just bring a bottle brush with you. I finally checked out one of the babycare centers during our last trip and saw a mom who was cleaning out her pump parts... there's a sink in there just like in your resort room.

 

[kohlby]

I also strongly suggest babywearing. Actually, the trip we took with an 11 month old had him in the stroller exactly ZERO times. He refused it and hung out in the sling the entire time. Even if you have a baby willing to use the stroller, babywearing can help while you're in the lines.

For ADR's, I'd suggest making them for lunch instead of dinner. Even if he's on a schedule, you have no idea if he'll stick to that schedule on vacation. My kids never did as babies. (Or toddlers or preschoolers). If you do the ADR for lunch, then you'll have more flexibility in case he decides to skip his nap. My nap loving kid decided not to nap until 6pm our first day at Disney when he was 11 months. It improved after that, but not by much - with the earliest nap being at 4pm. At home, he had a nap at around noon every day and was a good napper.

I'd bring your car seat for any cabs you're taking. There are some car seats that are lighter weight and easier to take along. I can't remember of the one I've heard recommended quite a bit - the brand starts with a C and the car seat name starts with an S I think. And it wasn't that expensive either. Someone else here likely knows what I'm talking about.

 

[LMO429]

The biggest difference between Mini and mini GT is the wheels. One is more off road capable and other is not.

I would suggest baby wearing as well. My DD wasn't carried a lot at home but at disney she always is since the lines can be so long. One time we came for halloween, dad forgot her Ergo in the car. Our arms fell off that night taking turns holding her for lines and character meets.

You can ship things ahead to the hotel. Just make sure you estimate the shipping costs. Also, with Uber you can request cars with car seats. It's a newish thing maybe in the past 9 mos.

Great idea about uber with the car seats I always forget about using uber

also would you need off road wheels for disney since everything is paved??

I also strongly suggest babywearing. Actually, the trip we took with an 11 month old had him in the stroller exactly ZERO times. He refused it and hung out in the sling the entire time. Even if you have a baby willing to use the stroller, babywearing can help while you're in the lines.

For ADR's, I'd suggest making them for lunch instead of dinner. Even if he's on a schedule, you have no idea if he'll stick to that schedule on vacation. My kids never did as babies. (Or toddlers or preschoolers). If you do the ADR for lunch, then you'll have more flexibility in case he decides to skip his nap. My nap loving kid decided not to nap until 6pm our first day at Disney when he was 11 months. It improved after that, but not by much - with the earliest nap being at 4pm. At home, he had a nap at around noon every day and was a good napper.

I'd bring your car seat for any cabs you're taking. There are some car seats that are lighter weight and easier to take along. I can't remember of the one I've heard recommended quite a bit - the brand starts with a C and the car seat name starts with an S I think. And it wasn't that expensive either. Someone else here likely knows what I'm talking about.

 

[LMO429]

I have the ergo baby carrier so I will be bringing that on my trip as well but I forgot about it actually so thank you for reminding me about it!

how are the cribs disney supplies in the hotel room. Did your children have any issues with sleeping in them???

 

[NJlauren]

the brand starts with a C and the car seat name starts with an S I think. And it wasn't that expensive either. Someone else here likely knows what I'm talking about.

I think you mean cosco scenera, we have it and it fits under our uppa baby and we travel with it, and very light. but I wouldn't want to schlep it around a park all day.

 

[LMO429]

We typically stay at the grand Floridian or beach club but I choose the beach club due to the fact there are more things to walk/stroll too than at any other resort. with all the dining options between epcot, boardwalk swan dolphin and Hollywood studios being so close by I figured that was our best bet as far as a resort goes.

 

[JWigs]

Great idea about uber with the car seats I always forget about using uber

also would you need off road wheels for disney since everything is paved??

You don't need any offroad wheels for disney since it is all paved

Also, the cribs Disney provides is basically a pack n play and daughter has no issues. They give sheets and we bring her blanket from home and she passes out after a long day.

 

[TravelingTotMom]

There's a lot of great advice on here. We took DS at 7.5 months and just after he turned one (when he started walking for the first time while we were in the Boneyard at AK). Here are a few additional things that worked for us.

-Use a backpack instead of your regular diaper bag. Make sure you take clorox wipes and hand/face wipes.

-Our first trip we took a cloth cover for the high chairs, but we found it was just easier to wipe them/the table area down with clorox wipes. There are also disposable plastic placemats (Disney themed too) that stick to the table. Those are great for meals.

-The baby food squeeze packs are awesome. DS would actually hold them and suck them out, as opposed to having to be spoon fed.

-With two parents and one child, the Disney busses really are not that bad. One holds the baby and one holds the stroller. No worries about a car seat (can you use Magical Express from the airport too?).

-If he's using teethers or a pacifier, put them on links (to attach to the stroller). I also packed a second set of teethers/links in a ziplock, so if the other fell/was thrown, I could just give the new set instead of trying to find a place to wash them off.

-Make sure you get him a Mickey Ears hat w/his name on it! Also maybe his first character meal? DS's was at Tusker House, but Garden Grill would also be a great option b/c they bring the food to your table.

-At that age, DS watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, so he recognized a lot of the characters. There is also an old Disney Sing-a-long, Disneyland Fun, which shows the characters at the park. DS watched that before going and hasn't had any fear of the characters.

 

[LMO429]

There's a lot of great advice on here. We took DS at 7.5 months and just after he turned one (when he started walking for the first time while we were in the Boneyard at AK). Here are a few additional things that worked for us.

-Use a backpack instead of your regular diaper bag. Make sure you take clorox wipes and hand/face wipes.

-Our first trip we took a cloth cover for the high chairs, but we found it was just easier to wipe them/the table area down with clorox wipes. There are also disposable plastic placemats (Disney themed too) that stick to the table. Those are great for meals.

-The baby food squeeze packs are awesome. DS would actually hold them and suck them out, as opposed to having to be spoon fed.

-With two parents and one child, the Disney busses really are not that bad. One holds the baby and one holds the stroller. No worries about a car seat (can you use Magical Express from the airport too?).

-If he's using teethers or a pacifier, put them on links (to attach to the stroller). I also packed a second set of teethers/links in a ziplock, so if the other fell/was thrown, I could just give the new set instead of trying to find a place to wash them off.

-Make sure you get him a Mickey Ears hat w/his name on it! Also maybe his first character meal? DS's was at Tusker House, but Garden Grill would also be a great option b/c they bring the food to your table.

-At that age, DS watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, so he recognized a lot of the characters. There is also an old Disney Sing-a-long, Disneyland Fun, which shows the characters at the park. DS watched that before going and hasn't had any fear of the characters.

So many great suggestions here thank you!!!!!!!!