Going to Disney with an infant?

[bridgek]

I was wondering if I could get some advice from families that have gone to Disney World with an infant. We had planned on going to Disney in the next year, we had already purchased a place (staying offsite, kicking myself for that). At Christmas we found out we were having another little one. Well, I was wanting to go in October to Disney but we will have a 7 year old, a 3 year old and a 2 month old. My husband is not liking the idea of going with a 2 month old but we have to go in a year since we already paid for a place. Any suggestions? Please help I was wanting to go in October and trying to get my Mom to go with so we have an extra set of arms and she hasn't been there in 20 years.

 

[pookybean]

we just went in dec with a 2 week old. the trip had been booked for well over a year and if she came on time (which she did on the last possible day!) we were going to go!

she slept on the airplane both there and back. i brought 3 sealed ready to feed formula bottles, security didnt say there was too much or anything. gated checked the stroller. i had her in a snuggli, while we were going up and down i had to hold her and then just buckled her back in so i could have free hands.

we brought a cosleeper but the beds just werent big enough. after 2 days of dh trying to sleep at the foot of the bed we asked got the pack and play from the resort. we didnt want to have to rent a bassinet if we didnt have to, thankfully she slept just fine in the pack and play. there was a crib sheet on the actual mat but they kept putting big blankets and sheets in the crib every morning. we had her small blanket in there but they did it anyways. at the end of the stay we had a huge pile of linens on the shelf. LOL just funny to me....

in the parks i alternated with the stroller and the snuggli. i used powder formula in the parks so just always had a bottle of water with me and a ziploc of powder and mixed it when i needed it. the only time i went to a baby care center was when i needed to buy more diapers (we were there 2 weeks) and the only size they had in the resort were huggies 3. they had 2's in baby care but they were still too big. they looked really nice but were never around when i felt i could use one. i really think they should have more. maybe one on each side of the parks....

i took her on almost all the rides that did not have a height restriction, and all the shows. she slept right through wishes, illuminations and fantasmic, the sounds did not bother her at all. i was a little nervous on the moving walk ways but dh always had me on one side and a cm always came to the other.

all the ts's we ate at let me bring in the stroller so she could stay asleep or lay down. never had any problems with that at all.

the most important thing is go at the pace you feel comfortable with. i had 9 other people there so i could hand her off when i got tired. i was fine in the post partum sense but holding her either in my hands or the snuggli i found my back hurt a lot. oh and baby swap worked great. basicly think of what you think you might need times it by 2 and then still bring more. i had 2 big cans of formula plus a couple of ready to feed bottles that i knew i wouldnt need all of on the plane going home and i still had to buy formula there (they only sell good start and she uses similac, but she was alright using it for a couple of days) and i also had 2 packs of diapers and i still needed to buy more of those as well. i did take a little time and do some of her laundry since its hard for babies to rewear stuff and i didnt want to pack a ton of stuff.

hope i helped a little bit, i know when i was looking for info on bringing a new baby i couldnt really find much or many who had done it/thought it was a good idea, but shes 10 weeks now and still doing great, we are actually going back in oct, she will be 10 mths then...i suspect it will be a harder trip! LOL

if you have any other questions you can email me at pookybean@msn.com

megan

 

[pookybean]

posted twice???

 

[skitt]

Infants that age are extremely portable, it will be easier than taking an older one. Taking your mother would be great help. Are you planning on flying? I've heard it is not recommended taking an infant under 3 months(?) because of their delicate ears and because planes are absolutely full of germs.

 

[famprovost]

i,

Since my son was 3, we had promised him to take him to Disney when he turned 5... by the time he did, I'd just had twins boys... but a promise his a promise so we went...

We stayed offsite and did 6 days of disney with a 7 y.o., a 5 y.o and 41/2 month old twins... we didn't miss a thing... we got to see everything we wanted too. We used fastpasses and switch passes so the bigger kids got to do the rides twice in a row.

The kids slept in their stroller very well and we had a great time. We've taken once a year since then.. they loooooooooove Disney

Martine

 

[WIDisneyFan]

We have 2 kids and both of them were at Disney at the age of 3 months. To be honest a 3 month old is far easier than a 2 year old

Just keep in mind a little one will need more breaks and find the baby care centers at each park

 

[PrincessPoohsMom]

As PP mentioned, you'll probably find your 2 month old to be easier than your older ones. DD was 5 months on her first trip, 1 year for her second, and will be 18 months in April for her third. I find myself wistfully thinking, "Gosh, it was so much easier when she couldn't run away or express her opinion quite so...forcefully..."

Things to bring that you'll find make your life easier:
*stroller from home that reclines fully (baby will nap while you walk around)
*rain cover for the stroller (keeps it dry while you're in an attraction, and is great for blocking the wind on cool or blustery days)
*front pack (Snugli-type) carrier or sling/wrap (makes standing in line, getting on/off rides easier)
*more diapers, wipes, formula (if you use it) than you think you'll need (better to have the brands you & baby are used to, even if it means packing another suitcase)
*a crib sheet from home to put on the crib/pack & play (we found DD slept better when the sheet smelled like home)
*lots of pacifiers, if baby uses them (I was always paranoid about losing them)

The key will be to take it nice and easy, but really, you'll find it won't be as hard as you might fear. The baby will be able to go on any attraction without a height restriction. Pretty much any restaurant will let you roll the stroller in if he/she is sleeping (I'm sure it might an issue sometimes, but we never had a problem). The baby centers are supposed to be very nice, though we've never used them. Just be mindful of the sun (since the baby will be too young for sunscreen) and get plenty of rest yourself, since you'll still be recovering! If Mom is willing to come along as an extra pair of hands, great, but if not you & DH can manage. You'll have a great trip! I'm sure your older ones will love getting to "show" their new sibling Disney World!

 

[blessedby3]

We just took our newest DD3 mos. last month. We had a blast and she was great. She still was not sleeping through the night so we were a bit more tired than usual, but we still got a lot done. I was nursing then, but she went on a nursing strike while there (and still is) so luckily they sell formula there. Its only Carnation, though. We used the baby care centers for feeding and changing when we were near one and they are nice. We had to buy a bottle one night when I realized I had left ours in the hotel. They sell gerber ones as well as pacis, and gerber baby food, etc. Most anything you could need would be in the center and they have microwaves and water coolers too if you need them. Our DD takes a paci too and I was worried about losing them as the PP stated so I brought 3 paci "leashes" and only used the paci on the leash. We came home with all of them thankfully. I also used the snugglie and front sling as well as the stroller. Our DD LOVED the shows like Lion King, Nemo and Bear Jamboree. I was shocked at how much she payed attention to things around her while we were there. She definately enjoyed herself. I agree that taking children as infants is MUCH easier than taking them once they start walking and are moblile. Take your new bundle and HAVE FUN!!!

Oh yeah, taking your mom is a great idea too- unless of course you have the luck we did. We took my mom to help with the baby and mom got hurt getting off the airplane (twisted her knee) and was limping for 3 days. Then she got a virus on day 3 and missed 5 days in the parks!!! We ended up nursing Mamaw instead of her helping with the baby!! Oh well- a trip to remember

 

[love2go2disney2]

Thanks for answers. I just found out we are expecting #3. We planned to go Oct15- 21. However my due date is oct4 and I will be having a C section. So we were thinking of going before the baby is born or maybe in december.
We are not quite sure yet!

 

[wewantmore]

We went when Joseph was 3 months old. He did great. You've already gotten some great advice.

Michelle