Going with a baby. Tips?

[DisneyLover2122]

Hello everyone! We are going to Disney in 2 days (this friday, wooohooo happy dance) We are taking my nephew (7 yrs old) our baby girl (7 and a half months old) my husband and I, of course. Any tips for going with kids? Any good (non-expensive) places to eat lunch? Child Swap tickets? We will be visiting Magic Kingom, Hollywood Studios and Epcot Center. We are taking our own stroller. Thanks everyone

 

[mommary]

I have a similar situation when we go in May. Traveling with a 19 month old and will be taking our own stroller.
My question is do I have to be concerned about leaving our stroller parked while we are on a ride or should I just rent one
while we are in the parks?
Thanks.

 

[DisneyLover2122]

@mommary That is a very good question, will the stroller be stolen?

 

[DisneyLover2122]

Also, with the Child Swap ticket, do we make the whole line carrying the baby until we are inside the attraction? Or people with babies are put to a side?

 

[DisneyLover2122]

Also, why am I seeing so many complaints about FP+? I know FP existed before but what has changed? Sorry for so many questions, I haven't been to Disney in 4+ years.

 

[andrencau]

We have been going to Disney with children since our now almost 9 year old was 9 months. We have never gone with such a gap between ages as your group is. First thing, your stroller will be fine. I would mark it in some way (ribbon on the handle, battery operated LED, etc). Know too that the stroller will most likely not be in the same place as you parked it simply because Cast Members constantly move strollers to keep things orderly. It will be in the general area as where you parked it, but doubtfully in the same spot. One positive to having your own stroller is that you can stroll right to the room with your child in stroller. One negative with having your own stroller is that it has to be folded up and held on most forms of Disney Transportation. So if you use the bus/some boats, you will have to take your child out. If you are staying in a monorail resort, you can go all the way to the room without taking your child out (huge for if you are heading to the room for a nap and they fall asleep on the way).

We have never used Child Swap, but I believe it works sort of like a paper FastPass. I do not think they will allow someone who is under the height limit into the line. So you tell the Cast Member at the entrance of the ride that you want to do child swap and they will assist you.

My best advice for cheap places to eat, cheap is in the eye of the beholder. Remember that you can bring food/snacks and drinks into the parks, so if all your children eat are pb&j, I might pack that. It also depends on what you want (sit down, character interaction or quick burger to go).

 

[nco91590]

I LOVED traveling with a baby. It was a lot easier than going with toddlers lol!

Bring a stroller, get a stroller fan (if you're going during warm weather). I've never had any issue with strollers being stolen. Don't leave expensive stuff in it because I have heard of it happening. Use the Childcare Centers to cool off and let the baby crawl around. Go to the parks early, head back to the hotel after lunch for nap/swim, go back out at night.

Rider swap works like this: You and your spouse will need to go to the CM at the entrance of the line and request a RS ticket. One of you will go through the line (or FP line depending on whether or not you have a FP) and once you get to the exit of the ride, the other parent goes through the FP line. The return ticket is good for a month and you can take up to 4 riders with you. We used this alot on our last trip. We all had small kids so it was fun to go on with my sisters while the husbands stayed back.

 

[andrencau]

The negative for my family of FP+ is that we can no longer get multiple FP's of the same attraction. For example, at DHS we would attempt to ride Toy Story Midway Mania 2-4 times in a day. With the new system, you get one chance with FP and the rest is standby. With FP+, we are now forced to choose 2 other FP's that we have little or no interest in.

 

[nco91590]

Also, why am I seeing so many complaints about FP+? I know FP existed before but what has changed? Sorry for so many questions, I haven't been to Disney in 4+ years.

We actually LOVED FP+ when traveling with kids. It allowed us to get on rides without waiting. Eliminated a lot of meltdowns in line.

 

[adrienne21snow]

Your stroller will NOT be stolen, but don't leave your purse/phone/wallet whatever sitting in it because that could disappear. I haven't specifically heard of stuff being taken at Disney, but I have heard about it at Universal-seems it was an employee sadly. My tip is to take advantage of the Baby Care Centers located near the entrance of each park. I was able to nurse my son there in peace, quiet, and (limited) privacy. Even if you don't nurse, I suggest taking the baby in there for some changes/feedings because the parks can be so overstimulating for little ones and the care centers are very peaceful.

Rider swap is great-you'll be given a piece of paper that entitles you to return usually any time that day and ride without baby. You can bring your older child too so they get to ride twice-my 5y/o is a huge fan! Bring baby in line with you, esp. if there is a long line because the CMs can't just take you word for it that you have one. NCO9150 explained really well above.

FastPass+ is great with kids. Anyone with kids can tell you about "best laid plans" and the system allows you to ensure you get on the rides you want even with all the little unpredictables that come with little ones.

 

[Crystal824]

We first took my DD when she was 9 months old. She has been on 4 trips since then. She is now almost 5. You shouldn't have an issue with your stroller. We have never had a stroller stolen or things taken from it. However, I would still be cautious. I don't leave anything I can't afford to lose in the stroller. I always take my wallet, cell, and camera with us when we park the stroller. I generally just leave the diaper bag with snacks, diapers, and extra clothes. As a PP noted, your stroller will often be moved by CMs attempting to keep the strollers organized. Don't freak out if it isn't where you left it.

We always take snacks and drinks in a soft-sided cooler with us so we have access to stuff for the kids. That saves a ton just in drinks alone.

Make use of the baby care centers if you are nearby. The bathrooms at Disney generally have only one changing table so there can be a line to change an infant. All the baby care centers have multiple changing tables. They are generally clean and calm.

With rider swap, everyone including the infant approaches the CM at the attraction entrance. If you have FP, you go to that line, if you don't, you go to the standby line. You ask for a child swap pass. They will hand you a paper rider switch pass. Then the baby and the non-riding adult leave the line. The person riding goes through. Later, the person who didn't' experience the attraction, can go through the FP line with the rider switch pass with up to two other people. The good news is your nephew can ride twice with each of you.

 

[mesaboy2]

@mommary That is a very good question, will the stroller be stolen?

Highly unlikely.

Also, with the Child Swap ticket, do we make the whole line carrying the baby until we are inside the attraction? Or people with babies are put to a side?

Guests too short to ride an attraction cannot enter the queue.

Also, why am I seeing so many complaints about FP+? I know FP existed before but what has changed? Sorry for so many questions, I haven't been to Disney in 4+ years.

See the green link in my signature.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

We went last year with our 8 month old. I was paranoid bc of the sun. I didn't want him getting sunburn and he wouldn't wear a hat. My husband ended up spending most time with the baby going back and forth for breaks from the sun and naps (we were staying in the Contemporary, so not such a bad trip). Also my biggest piece of info is to plan out bottles (if you use bottles) to be around the time where you are near the baby stations. There are only 1 baby stations in each park and they are usually located at the front of each park. Anyways it was tough when we need to give my son a bottle bc we had to get to the baby stations to heat the bottle up. Lets just say my hubby did LOTS more walking that week than a usual Disney person, lol. He did lots of back and forth walking, lol. It was a lot of fun and my baby had lots of fun and he actually started crawling at Disney! We are going back this year and now he will be 20 months at our vacation time. We are working on talking with him but he only says a handful of words, lol. Hoping that the magic of disney does it again and he starts talking a bit more, LoL. Have fun and don't try to over plan things just go with the flow!

 

[Dismama2boys]

Definitely use the baby care centers! We found that if we had to change the baby in a regular restroom, the women's often had a wait for the changing table several people deep, but the men's restroom never had a line. Therefore, DH got to change a lot of diapers! Snacks for the kiddos is a great idea.... You can hand them something almost immediately, rather then having to look around for something suitable and then purchase it. If you have a baby carrier, definitely take it. I wore my babies far more than they stayed in the stroller. Have a great time!!

 

[TeeterTots]

Rider swap is great-you'll be given a piece of paper that entitles you to return usually any time that day and ride without baby. You can bring your older child too so they get to ride twice-my 5y/o is a huge fan! Bring baby in line with you, esp. if there is a long line because the CMs can't just take you word for it that you have one. NCO9150 explained really well above

Does the parent receiving the pass swipe their MB so you can make new FPs?

 

[adrienne21snow]

Does the parent receiving the pass swipe their MB so you can make new FPs?

They do not-the idea is that you will still use that FastPass at a later time. The second parent could go immediately after the first exits the ride through any time until the end of the day.

For example: Last week, the four of us (me, husband, 5y/o, and 2y/o) walked up the FastPass entrance of Soarin and scanned our bands, the attendant handed me a paper ticket that entitled up to three members of our party to return to ride Soarin whenever we wanted. My husband and 5y/o continued to the attraction while 2y/o and I hung around the area (we grabbed a drink and watched some videos on Youtube). About 15 minutes later, my husband and 5y/o emerged from the ride exit, I handed the baby to my husband, and then went back to the FastPass entrance with my 5 y/o and the pass so that I could get a chance to ride. My 5 y/o got to go too. We could have come back later to do this, but I was ready and my daughter was super ready to ride again.

 

[TeeterTots]

Makes sense now! Thanks

 

[DizneyLizzy]

Just got back from a two day trip with my just turned one year old. I found a great resting/stroller napping/nursing place ever - in the innoventions with the where's the fire and piggy bank thing, there is a huge open space with benches. I never knew this existed before last week, but it was a great place for some AC and open space.