Disneyland and a Baby

[meredith55]

We are headed to Disneyland in 2 weeks! It will be my sister and I and my two daughters, 8 and 5 months. I have a couple of questions.

1. If I am wearing the baby, does she have to be facing forward on rides? I heard that somewhere and want to verify.

2. Can you use rider swap in conjunction with fast passes back to back? For example, my sister loves California Screamin. Can she ride it with fp with DD8 and get the rider swap pass and then I ride it with fp alone (or single rider) and get another swap pass? Then we have 2 to use later in the day? I know somebody recently talked about using fp with rider swap but didn't know if it will work this way back to back.

3. Nursing. I'm a pretty open nurser. I am of course as discreet as possible, but don't use a cover. Will this be offensive to people if I nurse on a bench or waiting for a parade without covering up?

That's all I can remember to ask now, though there may be more questions about babies later. Thanks!!

 

[Aladora]

3. Nursing. I'm a pretty open nurser. I am of course as discreet as possible, but don't use a cover. Will this be offensive to people if I nurse on a bench or waiting for a parade without covering up?

That's all I can remember to ask now, though there may be more questions about babies later. Thanks!!

I can only comment on the third question and that is to say that while it is nice of you to be concerned about how others may react to you nursing your baby, it is their issue if they are uncomfortable not yours.

 

[ADisneyFamilyof5]

Here are my thoughts:

1. The first time we took my youngest he was 7 months old and I wore him in the Ergo almost the entire time. Almost all the rides I took him on did not make me turn him around to be forward facing. He rode facing my chest on everything except Astro Orbitor and the Zephyr (that I can remember). I remember very clearly he had to be forward facing and his feet needed to be covered on the Astro Orbitor. It was Septmeber and 100° out and being a 7 month old he had nothing on his feet. I did not want to disappoint my other son who wanted to ride, so I just covered his feet with a burp cloth for the duration of the ride and it was all good. You can always ask a CM when you get in line if the baby has to face forward on that ride.

2. We have never tried this back to back rider switch so I can't comment. Some CMs will just give you a rider switch pass, but others (especially at Space Mt and RSR) will ask to see the baby before they give you one. DH has tried to speed walk to RSR at rope drop with DS9 while I walked the other 2 kids with the stroller and they would not give him a pass until we got there and showed the CM our baby.

3. I say do what makes you and your baby the most comfortable. Nobody should be offended by you feeding your child.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Regarding #3, if the weather is warm or if your baby is distracted by all the new noises and stimulus, there is a Baby Care Center in both parks. Both centers are really nice, private, and have a/c. My sister was grateful to use them on many occasions. When I asked, she did suggest a light scarf or something if you sunburn very easily. She got a light sunburn a few times and was surprised since she thought she was nursing in shadier spots.

 

[Epek]

1: there is at least one ride that makes you forward face- Toy Story Midway Mania. I'm trying to remember if there are others, but I think that's the only one I encountered. I was surprised because their reason is the whipping motion and the baby's neck. To me, if your baby is facing you, you are much more able to stabilize their head. I don't think I ever brought my dd on the teacups. It's possible that one is a forward facer too. Rodger Rabbit is not only forward facing, but also they make you sit your baby next to you! Imagine my surprise when they tell me this as I'm loading in the car with a 2 month old! It would have been great if that was mentioned before that point. The only thing they told us prior was no one could be sleeping.

2. I'm not sure you'd be allowed to get a second rider swap. It would depend on the CM's. If your sister and dd walk up to the ride ask for the swap pass and don't get asked to show the baby, you'd be golden because then you can do the same, but if they want to see the whole party and the recognize you all, they may deny the second one.

3. Nurse wherever and however you want to nurse. If people have a problem, they can you know what.

 

[amyg1975]

We use to use a fast pass, but also get a rider swap. It was great! Now that our daughter is taller, we can't do that, and miss it a lot.

The Baby care center are fantastic, because they are nice and cool, and more comfortable than a bench. However, if you are not near one, then do it where you want, and don't worry about other people.

 

[cgh]

1. I think it depends on the ride. On some rides, you need to remove the baby from the carrier. (sorry, I completely forget which rides).
2. Rider swap is awesome. You can accumulate the passes and use them whenever. They usually have an expiration date.
3. Nurse wherever you want. With my second, I never used a cover. There is a baby care center which is nice because it is air conditioned. We tried to go in there because of that. I can say that I was at WDW when my one son was 5 months and DL when he was 9 months and nobody ever gave me any flak.

5 months was such a great easy time to go! Mine would nap in the stroller, and no need to mess with solids.

 

[meredith55]

Regarding #3, if the weather is warm or if your baby is distracted by all the new noises and stimulus, there is a Baby Care Center in both parks. Both centers are really nice, private, and have a/c. My sister was grateful to use them on many occasions. When I asked, she did suggest a light scarf or something if you sunburn very easily. She got a light sunburn a few times and was surprised since she thought she was nursing in shadier spots.

I hadn't even thought about sunburn. Ouch! I'll make sure to have a light blanket just in case.

I plan to try out the baby centers as well. They sound awesome. Thanks for all of the info!!

 

[Elima2015]

1. We brought our youngest when she was 7 months old and it was actually a pretty easy trip with her - easier then that it would be now with her at 18 months. Each ride had different rules about the baby and I honestly can't remember even thought it was just a year ago. Your best bet will be to ask the CMs and just be flexible. I carried mine in a front carrier as well and sometimes it was fine to leave her, sometimes she had to come out and sit on the seat next to me. The one I was actually most surprised about was Hiemlich's Chew Chew train - she had to be seated rather than held on my lap (not even in the carrier!).

2. I don't know the rules on this one

3. Nurse your baby wherever you feel comfortable - other people can worry about themselves. I nursed my youngest in the parks and never had any issues. I second bringing a light blanket with you for either sun protection if you don't find a completely shaded spot or as a very light cover if she naps in the stroller or, we also used ours to boost her up a bit in the high chairs.

 

[dshimel]

Roger Rabbit, my 8 month old grandson had to be on the seat and facing forward. No lap sitting on that one.

I don't see why you couldn't ride swap back-to-back. Honestly, even with FP it is likely to take 10-15 mins minimum, and the people are unlikely to remember you as they may have seen a dozen ride swappers in that time.

I have never seen anyone nursing in Disneyland. I think most go to the nice air-conditioned baby centers. That said, I don't think it would be a "big deal".

 

[otten]

I can't speak to numbers 1-2 as I haven't been to DLR in decades be regarding number 3, as someone who has been breastfeeding for 5.5 years (different children), don't let other people's feelings about nursing in public be your problem. They are entitled to their opinions but it is not your job to make them comfortable. It is your legal right to feed your baby wherever you are.

 

[kaosin3d]

We took my daughter when she was 18 months and I nursed her all over the parks, including on the Storybook canal boats. No one said anything to me about nursing a toddler, so I'm sure you will be fine nursing a small baby!

 

[agamble]

I've taken babies several times, our son was only 3 weeks old on his first trip. Have fun and enjoy it.

1. If I am wearing the baby, does she have to be facing forward on rides? I heard that somewhere and want to verify.

No, not on most rides anyway. Someone said Toy Story above, but I wore my son against my chest when he was infant and he was always facing me. There are a few rides a baby cannot ride without being able to sit on his/her own. Oddly you can wear your baby on Tea Party if you choose, but you cannot wear a baby on the Ladybug Boogie. Also, there is absolutely no lap sitting (or wearing) on Roger Rabbit.

2. Can you use rider swap in conjunction with fast passes back to back? For example, my sister loves California Screamin. Can she ride it with fp with DD8 and get the rider swap pass and then I ride it with fp alone (or single rider) and get another swap pass? Then we have 2 to use later in the day? I know somebody recently talked about using fp with rider swap but didn't know if it will work this way back to back.

Yes! This is the way DH and I did rider swap, especially when we just had the one kid and were going by ourselves on the big rides. So you have 3 tickets because you have 3 paying guests. You can choose to get 3 FP for Screamin'. Daughter can ride with your sister and you can ask for a rider swap for you. Then you can ride with your FP (as long as it is still a valid time) and ask for a swap pass again. We never had a problem with this. However, keep in mind that swapping takes double the time, so even though you could in theory re-ride the ride multiple times, it will eat into your day. You may find you don't have enough time to get all of the things you want to do done if you re-ride the same rides. Also you could use 2 tickets to get a FP for one ride and one ticket to get a FP for a different ride and use the same strategy. That way you could ride two different rides.

3. Nursing. I'm a pretty open nurser. I am of course as discreet as possible, but don't use a cover. Will this be offensive to people if I nurse on a bench or waiting for a parade without covering up?

Do what you want. I think most people are pretty accepting of nursing these days. I find there are some rides and/or shows that are good for sitting and nursing. Pirates is a great one to try to put a baby to sleep. It's dark and you get to sit for a long period of time.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... Pirates is a great one to try to put a baby to sleep. It's dark and you get to sit for a long period of time.

In case you're only used to POTC at WDW, be aware that the ride has a second drop at DL. Someone posted that she was nursing an infant and got caught quite off guard by that second drop! The baby didn't seem to mind, though.

 

[meredith55]

Haha. I hadn't thought about that for Pirates! I'll make sure and be ready for those drops if I'm nursing.

Thanks, everyone!