Has anyone visited Disneyland with a 3 week old baby?

[grandmotherof10]

We will be visiting Disneyland in mid-August with our son and his family. They just had a baby which will be 3 three weeks old when we arrive at Disneyland. Was wondering if anyone had done this and if they could give us some pointers.

 

[missmulan]

my DD was 6 weeks when she first went. i won tickets to see Toy Story inside Lincoln's Theatre and brought her with us. At 6 weeks, all she did was sleep. It was fun for us.

 

[DLmom]

My daughter was 6 weeks when she made her first trip too. I had one of those front kangaroo pouches which she was in all day and she slept through most of it. The baby care center was great for all our needs. We did all the dark rides--I did hold her head a little tighter on the drops for POTC.

I have to share one of my favorite DL stories. At that point in time there was a picture spot along the river of America where different characters would sit and people would go up and have someone take a picture. Donald Duck was up there so I told my DH to take our picture because there was no wait. He said, "Okay, but do not give the baby to the duck." So I went up and Donald motioned that he would hold the baby. I gave my daughter to Donald and sat down to pose with them. My husband took the picture, but as I came off the platform he said, "I told you not to give the baby to the duck!" That was almost 19 years ago and he still is mad at Donald!! We are going to DLR in November without the kids to celebrate our 25 wedding anniversary and I am thinking about doing a vacation planners thing of some kind, so I asked him who his favorite character is. He thought for a minute and said any of them except for Donald Duck!!

Thanks for letting me share a fun family story.

 

[TravelingJen24]

We took our baby when he was four weeks old, but it was in Dec. He slept a lot, but also wanted to breastfeed a lot, which was sort of hassle. He still was able to do the dark rides and train, so we still had a good time. We spent a lot of time just hanging in the room enjoying the fact that we could relax. Overall it was great.

 

[DLovinFam]

That is a cute story! Thanks for sharing....

 

[crazymomof 4]

My youngest was 3 weeks old last December when we were there. Very easy because all they do is eat and sleep at that age. I had no problems and we all really enjoyed him. It was also very hot the week we were there we just had to dress him down.

 

[tinafromidaho]

I would just keep a close eye on the baby as it will be hot and the baby's body temperature will heat up alot faster than everyone elses. sorry I'm sure you know to do that.

 

[Vanvmom]

Carnation sponsors a Mommy room over between the Cafe and the store where you pick up your photos. It is staffed with women who are dressed as Mary Poppins style nannies. There are LARGE private rooms with glider rockers where you can go and privately nurse your baby. They have a room full of changing tables (and they even have toddler sized potties for little ones who are "training.")

It was such a special little touch. I can't believe I went to DL for so many years without even knowing this room was there!

 

[dsnyfrk5]

We have 3 kids and annual passes to disneyland. Each one of our kids have been to disneyland at about 3 weeks old. There is a fantastic Baby Center in both parks. They have changing tables, high chair and a big private room for breastfeeding. It is a wonderful place. Have fun

 

[Kaelyn]

we also took my friends' six week old baby, but that was to florida. the only real problem we had was the heat. so scuttle from air conditioning to air conditioning and you'll be fine. the baby care centers are a godsend, and make suer you utilize the baby swap so that everyone can enjoy everything. it made things alot easier for us, and with six adults, no one had to ride anything alone.

 

[Zoemakes5]

We've not taken one that age to Disney, but to other "parks". In addition to the other info. the ladies gave, I'll share some of my "tips".
(1) get and bring a snuggli or sling. you aren't able to bring strollers in any of the lines, and with a snuggli or sling, you don't have to worry about baby being hit or jostled like you would if you were holding him/her. An added bonus, if you nurse, is that you can usually do so in relative privacy with a quick blanket over your shoulder with the snuggli or sling (I prefer the sling, myself
(2) bring one of those battery operated fans. Great way to keep you and baby cool
(3) in a ziploc bag, bring a damp wash cloth (great for cooling down as well as "clean ups"
(4) have a blanket handy, as the rides are often super-air-conditioned that time of the year

Otherwise, with my experience of DL, there should be many, many things your DS and his family should be able to do. In fact, there are fewer things I can imagine them NOT being able to do (such as Soarin, Space Mt., etc.) with the little one, as most everything is child/family friendly and they can do the swap.
One "note of caution", and I hesitate even saying this, since you ARE a grandma of 10 but if this is DS and wife's first child the issue may not be what they're "able" to do, but the dynamic of being nervous first time parents w/little bitty baby. If she's nursing, she may not be comfortable nursing in public, may have to stop and go somewhere private, etc., may be more nervious about the baby, generally, may take longer periods of time to change, feed, etc. And, she'll only be three weeks from HAVING the baby.
Maybe recommending a wheelchair might be a good idea, even, as then she can sit down instead of walking?
Anyway, best of luck and enjoy your trip.

 

[grandmotherof10]

This is my DS and his wife second child. She will be 3 weeks to the day when we arrive at Disney. She weighted 9 lbs and 8 ozs when she was born and my DS says she is hungry all the time sounds like we will take lots of break for her mom to breast feed her. Thanks everyone for all the good info and the sling was a great ideal. We will take break often and go back to the hotel with her in the heat of the day. Thanks again to everyone as you can see I'm very proud to be a grandmotherof10

 

[jasonk5]

So you can bring an infant on the dark rides, train, and POTC? Any other rides?

My wife and I took our 2 month old to Hawaii last year (like others have said, all he did was sleep). Now he is almost 1 and we will be going to Disneyland. We planned to not go on any rides, since we thought he wouldn't meet the height restrictions. This is good news that we can experience some of the rides, and not stick to just shows and parades. Thanks for the help!
Jason

 

[Zoemakes5]

Your one year old will be able to go on more rides than he is restricted from. Most of Fantasyland, the Jungle Book and Tiki Birds, Winnie the Pooh, Buzz Lightyear, and so on...all are rides he can go on and would probably really enjoy. We took my DD when she was 13months and she LOVED small world. Had to go on it a number of times. Oh, and the Tea Cups! When people have talked with me about taking their little ones, I tell them there's not really an age that's too little, it's just a different experience. I find that older infants/toddlers find wonder in the smallest things...that balloon tied to the stroller, a big ole' sucker, the pretty flowers (DD spent alot of time looking at this), sitting in the stroller taking it all in, taking a ride on the little cars that go up main street....you get the idea. And, definitely, front row seats to the parades. (A "trick of the trade", for ones that age, bring a bottle of bubbles to open up when DS gets antsy waiting on the parade route! ) Also, the best thing I did when we went when my daughter was 13 months was to buy a sling! We still had a lot of holding to do (while in lines, especially) with her at that point and you can't bring the stroller into any lines. Standing in the lines, the sling helped immensely on the back and arms. Also, I found that on a number of occasions, she'd turn into me and snuggle up and fall asleep, which she absolutely refused to to in the stroller, too much to see and do!