DW w/ Young Children & breaks & stuff, etc.

[TBGOES2DISNEY]

Okay, I could use your advice. Our first trip in Sep 2006 was great, but it was so HOT that I thought for sure I would pick January or February for our next trip.

Well, we can't go in Sep 07 anyway, b/c we are expecting #3 this fall!

I thought we could just go in Feb 08 if the baby is easygoing. I think it would be a little more work than when we just went with our first two, but I think it's doable. My DH is a little nervous about it, but I think it would be easier than taking a 1 year old.

However, when I've been pricing stuff out, it is so HARD to take less of a deal when your first DW deal was free dining, KWIM? SO, I am at least considering Sep again.

Now, to make Sep work better for us, I would definitely buy water misters this time and try to take a break during the hottest part of the day. I would schedule better, making plans for what park we would go to and THEN picking a restaurant for that park. My question is how do you schedule? If we have an early morning, we could see the parade, have dinner, and head back to the hotel for resting and swimming and call it a day. If we have a morning where we sleep late, we could go in at parade time or after, tour, have dinner, and watch the evening show. OR, we could do early morning every day, afternoon break, evening show, but would we still be able to fit in parades? Last visit we didn't see MGM or AK parades. And if we do late evening, we wouldn't want to get up early the next morning, so it's hard to alternate early morning/late evening days.

Confused yet? So, to make a short story LONG, do you have any suggestions or plans that work for you?

Thanks for making it to the end of this message!

 

[ktturner]

When are you expecting #3? WDW is very doable pregnant, but there are several things you'd need to pass on. Also, if you're due close to that time, you'd be awfully far from your Dr, and at that miserable stage. You can make it work. I've 2 girls, I know better than to tell a pregnant woman she can't do something, we can do it all at that time, right?!?! Anyway, my advice would be wait. Go twice next year, make the second one during free dining!

Otherwise, lots of breaks and naps. let DH take the others for a bit while you break or nap, find quiet benches and camp out, don't push too hard, and bring one of those belly support things to help you with the extra pressure from walking so much. . .

Good luck with whatever you decide. WDW is magical, enjoy it!

 

[Lisa Hale]

When are you expecting #3? WDW is very doable pregnant, but there are several things you'd need to pass on. Also, if you're due close to that time, you'd be awfully far from your Dr, and at that miserable stage. You can make it work. I've 2 girls, I know better than to tell a pregnant woman she can't do something, we can do it all at that time, right?!?! Anyway, my advice would be wait. Go twice next year, make the second one during free dining!

Otherwise, lots of breaks and naps. let DH take the others for a bit while you break or nap, find quiet benches and camp out, don't push too hard, and bring one of those belly support things to help you with the extra pressure from walking so much. . .

Good luck with whatever you decide. WDW is magical, enjoy it!

Fantastic advice, just wanted to add...

Don't forget to take advantage of the Baby Care Centers at each park. They are cool, quiet, offer private or nearly private areas for nursing (if needed), high chairs for feeding and are a great place to just catch your breath and let the kiddies decompress for a bit. Plus, if you do need anything for the little ones, they most likely have it (diapers, food, water, ointment, bandaids, etc.).

 

[QueenGoblin]

I went in September last year, pregnant, due in December (my newest mouseketeer is on my lap as I type). It was my intention to take lots of breaks/naps, etc. but when we got there my DD and I were dragging my marathon-running DH through the parks all day long. I was fine, but I was just barely 6 months pregnant. I had a great time and really didn't mind the heat too much. I took a photo-copy of my medical records with me and we bought trip insurance just in case, but everything was fine.

Taking an infant along, I think it depends on his/her personality, and you won't know until she/he gets here whether you got an easygoing baby or not

 

[TedraL00]

In July 06, my family and I went to DW with my dd4 and dd13months. The schedule you are talking about using is exactly what I did. We always went back for an afternoon break and then went back for the evening when it was cooler. On the day we went to MGM we just stayed for the parade and then headed home. We, like you, never got to see the AK parade. Maybe in June or Dec. I also went to DL while 7 months pregnant with my second. I was fine. Like the others have said, use the child care centers and take breaks.

 

[tanyaandallie]

We went in the fall with our 3 year old and 20 mos old. The weather was beautiful the entire time we were there but we still took the afternoon break. For us it was just easier/better. We stayed at CR which made breaks really easy. We always got to the park for rope drop and then toured until right after lunch. Then we headed back for a little rest. After our rest we went back to the park, to dinner, etc. The afternoon break can really make a huge difference in the heat!

If you are looking for something to help you tour, we used Tour Guide Mike. I really like it a lot. The site is a bit tough to navigate at first but once you figure it all out it's great. He tells you what parks are the least crowded/best options for each day and evening of the year. He also has sample tours which worked very well for us. The Unofficial Guide also has sample tours.

I would start making ADRs as soon as you are able and get it all planned out. Of course, all plans are flexible and subject to change but for me it was nice knowing where we were going and when.

ETA - If it were me, I think I'd likely pay more and go in a cooler month. I would also probably rather take a 6 month old than a 1 year old. They are so portable at that age!

 

[Colinsmom]

ETA - If it were me, I think I'd likely pay more and go in a cooler month. I would also probably rather take a 6 month old than a 1 year old. They are so portable at that age!

ITA with both!! We've gone in cooler months and once in September, and felt like we just got more vacation in the cooler months since we weren't overheating, trying to escape the heat, etc.

We almost went earlier this year (DS2 would have been 11mo) but are glad that we're waiting until late fall. At that age, he just wanted to be down crawling all the time, and that's just not very doable in the MK! At 6mo they are so much more portable, sleep better in the stroller (well, most of them), don't want to be down on the ground, etc.