Disney while pregnant

[cerilene]

We have our very 1st Disneyland trip planned for December!! I'll be about 7 months pregnant and while I did Disney World pregnant, I have no idea what to expect at Disneyland. It will be DH, DD (almost 3 at the time), my parents and myself.

What rides can't I do? What are the good restaurants? How many days do we need (we'll have either 3 or 4 days to spend) for each park? Any other good tips anyone can share?

 

[skiingfast]

If you aren't sure what you should or shouldn't ride, ask a doctor.

You should read the DLR guide for WDW vets. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

When are you going? 3-4 days is fine but if near Christmas you might want more. Park hopping is easy so I wouldn't suggest allocating days to parks.

 

[cerilene]

We're going the first week of December. I'm trying to decide if we'd stay the 4th, 5th and 6th or just two of those nights. Which days are best to go to?

Thanks for that link! I'll have to check that out tonight.

 

[skiingfast]

Probably all of those days. As a minimum, and it shouldn't be too busy that early in the month, DLR takes 3 days. You will also want the long hours of a weekend to get full entertainment.

Also to add to you reading you will want to look at the Christmas Superthread. It's similiar to WDW but the events are done a little different.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2612827

 

[cerilene]

You should read the DLR guide for WDW vets. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

This link is the BEST!! Thanks for sharing it.

Any other touring or dining tips?

 

[rillsung]

I have also done WDW pregnant and not DL... I too will be about 7mo pregnant when we go to Disneyland lol. I have been to DL many times, though not in the past 4 years. I expect it to be pretty similar to Magic Kingdom on what I can ride.

 

[Davids-Coco]

Wear your shoes a little big. I found mine were swelling much more when we went during my second pregnancy. Also, if your 3 yr old is still napping, take that time to put your feet up. If not, still get some quiet time. It made a world of difference. Don't expect to go full bore. You are going to be at least half again as tired as you would a normal day at home.

As for eating, just enjoy. I had a hard time eating much at that point in my pregnancy at one seating. Lots of little snacks or meals. Menus are online so go with what tastes good. Reservations are only 60 days out, so whatever kind of cravings mood you have been having is probably your best bet.

And congratulations!

 

[MyYearWithTheMouse]

I went to Disneyland 2 weeks before DS was born! Plus the whole time before. DL is not bad pregnant. Just take it easy, expect your feet to swell (or your ankles!). Rest a lot. Bring high-protein snacks and drink lots and lots of water. It really does depend on how you're feeling at that point. I had a rough pregnancy and did my last 2 Disneyland trips renting a wheelchair and that was a godsend. Just play it by ear and you'll be fine.

 

[rillsung]

Wear your shoes a little big. I found mine were swelling much more when we went during my second pregnancy. Also, if your 3 yr old is still napping, take that time to put your feet up. If not, still get some quiet time. It made a world of difference. Don't expect to go full bore. You are going to be at least half again as tired as you would a normal day at home.

As for eating, just enjoy. I had a hard time eating much at that point in my pregnancy at one seating. Lots of little snacks or meals. Menus are online so go with what tastes good. Reservations are only 60 days out, so whatever kind of cravings mood you have been having is probably your best bet.

And congratulations!

Bummer forgot about not being able to eat much at that point! We are doing a lot of buffets LOL. Better bring the Maalox since I already have heartburn problems any time I eat maranara sauce hehe.

We will also have my DD4, DD2 and going with my SIL and BIL and their DS2.

I went to Disneyland 2 weeks before DS was born! Plus the whole time before. DL is not bad pregnant. Just take it easy, expect your feet to swell (or your ankles!). Rest a lot. Bring high-protein snacks and drink lots and lots of water. It really does depend on how you're feeling at that point. I had a rough pregnancy and did my last 2 Disneyland trips renting a wheelchair and that was a godsend. Just play it by ear and you'll be fine.

I suspect its different driving over for 1 day vs a bigger trip for several days (especially a first trip). I would imagine that if you live close, you probably usually take things slower. We are coming from a ways away and will want to squeeze everything in (we're doing 5 days in the parks).

 

[daniele_ut]

I've done 2 WDW trips while pregnant (one in the heat of June) and until this week had nothing but encouraging things to say about a pregnant woman's ability to do the parks. I am 20 weeks pregnant with my 4th baby and last Friday, the day before we were due to leave for our week at WDW and a cruise, my ultrasound results made the maternal fetal specialist recommend no travel for me until after I deliver. I'm heartbroken, since I've always been healthy and never expected that I wouldn't be able to travel. Even the week before my OB had given me the green light but I have some unforseen complications that mean I could have uncontrolled bleeding and should not be on my feet as much as I would be in the parks and that I shouldn't be more than 20 minutes from a hospital.

I'm not telling you this to scare you, just to prepare you that it's a remote possibility over which you have little control. We even had trip insurance but because I wasn't pregnant when we planned the trip I didn't pay a lot of attention to the pregnancy exclusions. As a result, our cancellation may not be covered. The cruise was paid in full and past the time frame for refunds and our Disney tickets were booked through the YES program which means they are non refundable and non transferable. They can only be used this week so we are out a good deal of money.

I hope you have a totally healthy pregnancy and that you'll have a great DLR trip but I'd encourage you to get trip insurance that allows you to cancel for any reason.

 

[Disneyland1084]

I went to DL when I was 5 months pregnant, and I had a GREAT time! I went on Pirates, Teacups, Alice, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, etc...Being pregnant didn't stop me from having fun. There's also the shops and bands in Downtown Disney to enjoy.

 

[rillsung]

I would honestly be scared to go on a cruise at 20 weeks pregnant. Being that far from medical help should something happen can be pretty scary. At the parks though at least you can have access to appropriate emergency services. My first pregnancy had unforseen complications too (though the stupid midwife didn't bother to tell me...) and I did WDW for about a week at about 7mo, taking it real easy.

Though I was crazy enough to go to Tokyo Disneyland at 18 weeks preg on that same first pregnancy lol

 

[taaren]

I went about a month before DS now coming up on 5 was due. Just take it easy. We contemplated a wheelchair, but it wasn't necessary. At the time we travelled with friends whose children were in the 5-8 age range so I ended up going on Monsters Inc and Buzz Lightyear with them over and over while the rest of the adults went on Space Mountain and Tower of Terror. Honestly it was okay, but if we decide to have another baby, I think I'll skip DL that year and pick another vacation ... it was fun but not nearly as fun as when I wasn't pregnant.

 

[cerilene]

I was 8 months pregnant when we did WDW and had the best time! I had to pee every 5 seconds, but that was the only real drawback to the trip. On the plus side I did visit every bathroom at the World with the exception of one at MK that I didn't know existed!!

I'm excited about DL, but it does seem like there are more rides there that I won't be able to do than there were at WDW. Guess that just means we'll have to go back!!

 

[Aussie Princess]

I just got back to Australia after doing DL at 26 weeks pregnant and i was ok as long as everything was done slowly and with afternoon breaks (we also did lots of dining to help with the breaks)

we did 4 days in the parks and that was plenty - we did a lot of things we wouldnt of normally done like Animation Academy, rode in the front of the monorail, etc etc.

Just take it easy it wont be as hot as it was for our trip but also drink plenty of water

 

[Davids-Coco]

You mentioned driving... Keep in mind that you need to be getting up every couple hours at minimum to keep your blood moving. We took a trip at 7 mo with my first and my doctor wanted us to stop every hour so I could walk around. Also, while you are sitting in the car, don't forget to move and stretch your legs. You can do the alphabet with your ankle and that helps too.

Also, check and have a list of the closest doctors/hospitals within your health plan and their L&D numbers just in case. If nothing else, for peace of mind.