Go when pg or with a small infant??

[KATIESMOMMY]

Hi all, I have a major dilemna. I just found out I am pregnant..am due Sept11th. Ok here is the problem. I won a trip from McDonalds, have to book by end of March and has to be taken by Dec 16th. I have a DD who will be 2 in April. When would you go?? Before or after the baby is born??I originally planned on going the first week of Dec but now not sure...am scared to bring a 3 month old. Now none of us have ever been there......so HELP!!!!

 

[timandlesley]

We brought a 6 month old and it was great. With baby swap you can go on the rides, if you are pregnant you can't. With a little one that age you can actually enjoy the meals because they sleep through most of them. We thought it was easy traveling with your daughter at that age. I wouldn't want to go pregnant in my oppinion just too much walking and you would be VERY pregnant.

 

[katiesmom2]

Hi There!

I am Katie's mommmy too!

I've been to Disney (Land) twice when I was pregnant. Both times, I was 3 weeks from delivering and I enjoyed the walking and getting out.

As far as taking a new baby at 3 months, as long as you think you will be recovered, it may not be a problem at all. The baby will sleep most of the time and there are baby changing stations where you can change diapers, feed the baby, warm bottles, etc. If you have or buy a baby bjorn-type thing to carry the baby, you should be able to get on and off mellow rides with the baby with no problem. There may be some rides that you or DH would have to sit out with the baby, but if you don't mind that , you will be fine.

Remember, you will probably still be getting up at night with the baby, so you will be tired.

Take all of this into consideration when you make your decision - and good luck!

 

[WDWNicole]

I would go before the baby is born - make it a special "pre-baby" trip for your first child (and you!).

 

[RangerPooh]

DH and I went to WDW when I wsa 5 months preg. and had no problems. I took things slow and stayed off the roller coasters. Like another poster said if you go when pg it might make it a special trip for the 2 year old.

This being said, we went when our DD was 2 weeks old! The trip was planned months before we knew that we were pg and we're go with the flow people (thankfully DD has been fine with this) so we continued with our plans. On this trip we utilized baby swap, the baby care center, and took our time. Since DD slept most of the trip it was a piece of cake. She either rode in her stroller or front pouch. DH ate with her in the pouch as not all resturants allow you to bring in your stroller. If you go with a little one just take your time. Baby swap is wonderful. Bring extra diapers, formula, as the parks are $$$ and amy not ave the size/brand that you use. This age is a breeze.

 

[Nicolepa]

Having done it both ways I would go when I was pg and make it a special trip for your dd. I have taken infants at 7 months and 5 months and there was a huge difference. I found it to be so much tiring to take the 5 month old because they can't sit up by themself. So even when you are on the ride you can't really rest.

If i can go pg anyone can. I get terrible pain in my legs when pg and walking is very hard for me. Was I sore, yes, but it was great. I just took my time, we mainly rode the rides my daughter could ride, so that meant I wasn't left out of too much. I also would park myself on a bench and people watch while the family rode rides.

 

[MATTERHORN]

I have to say that I would definitely go once the baby is here! It is so easy with a three month old (went with DD at 3 months after c-section recovery) and I was perfectly fine. I felt much better than I did while pregnant!

If you utilize all the tips for babies, you can have a fabulous trip to celebrate being a family of four!!! And December is a great time with an infant as it won't be too hot, and it will be comfortable for you to sling/baby bjorn without getting overheated. Your other DD is young enought that there won't be many (maybe 2) rides that she has to miss out on because of a baby, and even those you can take turns with her. Have fun!

 

[MATTERHORN]

Well just realized I forgot to say, CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Also September 11th is my birthday too, and my first DD was due Sept. 11th on my birthday, but came a week late. It's funny because everyone will say how much it sucks to have that day as your birthday or give you a pity look when you tell them your birthday (in your child's case!) but you know what? I am thankful that I am still here to celebrate my birthday no matter what day it is on, unlike the poor people that passed in that senseless tradgedy! Anyways, take care and I hope you have a happy, healthy pregnancy!

Andrea

 

[staci]

Depends on your pregnancy. My first one I would have been fine. This one there is no way.

If you have an easy pregnancy I would think April or May could be fun with your DD and celebrate her and her birthday. If not, wait until late in Dec.

I would have no worries about bringing a 3 month old; it is more the 3 month old AND a 2 year old that I would worry about! If your dd is easygoing it could be a really great trip! The weather in early December should be pretty nice for a baby to be out too. We went first week of October and it was still almost too hot for ds; there were days I was worried about him and the heat.

My next trip I definitely would like to try for a December one just for the decorations!

 

[puffkin]

I just went pregnant (25 weeks) and it was probably the best trip my DH and I have ever been on besides our honeymoon. We took things at a VERY slow place and had a great time. With a 2 year old, you wouldn't be able to do the big rides anyway, so that wouldn't be too much of an issue.

That being said, I just mentioned to my husband the other day that I probably couldn't go anymore because I would just get too worn out. But I think it would be great to have that time with just your two year old before the baby comes! Try and plan the trip between 15-25 weeks so you will be in your 2nd trimester.

 

[klj27]

We were planning to go summer 2004, but then I got pregnant and was due in March. We decided to go over Thanksgiving 2003 while I was pregnant. It was a great trip. We took it slow, but it was a really special time for our family. We went again in summer 2005 when the baby was 16 months old and had our best trip ever (until this summer that is!).

 

[Nicolepa]

Well just realized I forgot to say, CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Also September 11th is my birthday too, and my first DD was due Sept. 11th on my birthday, but came a week late. It's funny because everyone will say how much it sucks to have that day as your birthday or give you a pity look when you tell them your birthday (in your child's case!) but you know what? I am thankful that I am still here to celebrate my birthday no matter what day it is on, unlike the poor people that passed in that senseless tradgedy! Anyways, take care and I hope you have a happy, healthy pregnancy!

Andrea

Andrea,

I just wanted to say what an awesome attitude you have about your birthday. My MIL's birthday is Sept. 11 and all we hear every year is about how she hasn't had a birthday since 911 and nobody cares about her birthday anymore etc, etc. (We live far away but we always send a nice present, this year we were able to take her out to dinner, her dh always takes her out, she is not neglected in the slightest.)

 

[idreamofdisney24/7]

I've been reading this site for years and finally decided to post..Especially after reading this post.
I am 5 1/2 months pregnant also. We debated whether to go during our kids February vacation. But, decided not since I would be about 7 months pregnant. I'd rather go when the baby is born. We will be taking this newborn when she is 7 WEEKS old!!! My husband and I have been there 9 times with our kids in the last 10 years (flying from Boston). My smallest child just turned 2 (the others are 8 and 11). We took her when she was 3 months old .. but, we drove.. she slept just about the whole way and she was excellent in the parks.. I did have to wake around 3ish to give her a bottle... I bought the ready serve bottles from Walmart so I didn't have to worry about mixing formula, etc.. We are Disney veterans and don't think twice about our little addition..we'll take advantage of baby swap for the newbie and the 2 year old for most rides.. the baby centers are very nice and always seemed clean..
It's not going to be the easiest..but, we love Disney and there's nothing we would rather do but vacation as a family..

 

[jennifer293]

I ADMIRE all of you that went while pregnant...I went for a week NOT pregnant and I could barely walk by the 4th day..LOL My legs felt like JELL-O!

I was a very miserable person both pregnancies so I wouldn't have lasted an hour at Disney. My feet were swollen from early on and it hurt to get out of bed much less walk around something of that magnitude. UGHHH the thought of it makes my feet hurt now. I am so glad my baby making days are over!!

 

[lilostitch]

IMO, it is a crap shoot

My first DD was a breeze to take anywhere, at any age. God love her, she is still a breeze!

My second DD was a challenge to take anywhere until she was a year old. She was a terrible napper until an exhausting Disney trip at age 9 months (exhausting for ME ). As soon as we got home, I sleep trained her little fanny, and she has been a great napper and sleeper ever since (no flames please). We were at Disney last week, and DD is now 19 months. She was awesome, and I wasn't sure what to expect!


The point is, you just can never know for sure which would be best. Just go with our gut! After all, it is Disney, it will be magical no matter which you decide. Just take things slowly and enjoy it... no worries

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I would keep the plans as is. At least you would have more certainty that the trip would take place.

How you feel at any point in pregnancy is also a crap shoot. I had morning sickness for a very long time and wouldn't have been up to a trip even if it were free. Later in pregnancy with the heat--very tough.

We did take ours for her birthday when she was 2--but I don't think we did the parks. It was hot--but it was a good trip for her last "hurrah".

So it could go either way. But I would check into what happens if it becomes medically impossible for you to travel as planned if you schedule it during your pregnancy.

 

[MATTERHORN]

Andrea,

I just wanted to say what an awesome attitude you have about your birthday. My MIL's birthday is Sept. 11 and all we hear every year is about how she hasn't had a birthday since 911 and nobody cares about her birthday anymore etc, etc. (We live far away but we always send a nice present, this year we were able to take her out to dinner, her dh always takes her out, she is not neglected in the slightest.)

Thank you so much! (Sorry to hijack the thread, I still think the OP should go after baby is here!!) I am sorry she doesn't realize what a blessing it is that she is still here to celebrate with her family!

Andrea

 

[WIDisneyFan]

First off congratulations !

I would say go after - we took our 3 month old son last June and it was a wonderful trip

That being said I do agree it is always a bit of a roll of the dice, we have been very lucky in that our son has always been a pretty happy baby and nothing much seems to bother him so he did great at WDW, add to that the fact that my wife could not have done much as the first 3-4 months of her pregnancy were VERY hard on her.

 

[MickeyP]

I vote you go while you're pregnant. I had a little boy in my class go to WDW with his family while his mom was still on maternity leave. The baby came back with whooping cough. Be aware there are a lot of illnesses out there for a baby not immunized yet.

 

[sara74]

My vote is for going when you are PG. Of course that is what I'm doing in April so I have to vote that way! Let DD have a special trip. And I hadn't even thought about the risks to the newborn, but they are real and I would think about that when deciding whether to go with the little one on the inside or the outside!