Infant Tips

[jerzyzkat119]

So I am starting to get a little stressed. I have been to Disney numerous times in the past 10 years, yet I have never done Disney with a child. I just recently had a baby boy, July 31, 2012 and we are planning our first trip with the baby March 1st-8th. We were originally supposed to go in December, however, I decided I wanted to wait until he was a few months older. He will be 7 months old at the time of travel. What I am looking for are any tips on traveling with an infant and doing Disney with an infant.

Where: AoA - LM section and have the normal dining plan.
When: March 1st-8th
Who: Me, DBF, DS, and my boyfriend's mom (we are all flying from NJ) also joining us will be my mom and her husband (who are Florida residents)

I'm just concerned that I will fail at this because I usually feel like I have Disney so under control. This time, I'm concerned. I appreciate any advice you may have.

Like silly stuff I'm thinking about - a diaper bag...is that something I can leave with my stroller in stroller parking, or do I carry a smaller bag so that I can take it on rides and what not? (I would of course carry my personal items in a smaller bag to take on rides and all)

Here are a few pictures of my family!


CHASE PATRICK with his Mickey Mouse blanket (he is my Disney Baby )

Here are the proud Mommy and Daddy

 

[MHSweb79]

I've seen a TON of diaper bags left with strollers at Disney. It's up to you if you feel comfortable doing that or not. Just be sure that they are closed up tightly- the squirrels have learned that a little digging through an open (or even partially open) bag can give big rewards and they'll hop right in.

As for planning, well, you are of course aware that your entire trip will revolve around DS's schedule and moods, so you'll have to be a lot more flexible. With all those grandma's around, you should be able to get a few hours to yourselves, and that's where I would spend my time on planning.

As for what a 7-month old will enjoy at WDW, I'd say he'll enjoy whatever he enjoys at home- music, singing, colors, motion, etc. Just be sure to keep him comfortable and well rested.

I would consider getting the Photopass CD so you can get lots of pictures of the whole group- everyone will want one of the baby (and themselves) in front of the castle!

 

[pikaboo27]

Aww, what a cutie. My DS has that same green onesie! lol

I would not leave a diaper bag on the stroller. We carry a Skip Hop diaper bag (it's black and grey and therefore masculine enough for DH to carry lol) and it has my wallet, the camera, and everything DS needs. I did leave things like his Ergo carrier and the floppy seat in the stroller when we weren't using them, but otherwise, everything went with us on the attractions.

We've done 3 disney trips with DS (at 10 weeks, 4 months, and 6.5 months) and it's been great. My favorite though was this most recent trip at 6.5 months. Before he was just along for the ride. Now he loves the characters and all the people and the colors. Such a great time.

 

[jerzyzkat119]

Thanks ladies! I know we will have a lot of extra hands to help us and give us some time. I know I will be working off his schedule. As of right now he seems to have a pretty laid back temperament. Hoping he stays this way.

 

[hipporina]

I understand your stress. We are leaving a week from Saturday and our youngest will be 7 months too. We adopted all of our other kids older, so this is our first time traveling with a baby and I'm stressing. I'm planning on ordering most of the stuff I will need for him (diapers, wipes, baby food, etc) from diapers.com and having it delivered to the resort (we are at AoA too). Our little guy is very easy going (as the youngest of 9, he has to be) and I think he will love it.

 

[2binak]

We took DD when she was 8 months old and it was actually a great trip! We kept a bag attached to the stroller that held a few diapers, wipes, changing pads, snacks & a blanket so we could quickly grab them as needed. We kept extra of those items in our backpack which was with us at all times. We'd replenish the stroller bag as needed. We also kept water, bottles, formula & babyfood in our backpack so that we could feed DD where ever we were, with or without the stroller.

Ziploc #1 - clean disposable bibs, disposable spoons, disposable table toppers & bottle nipples
Ziploc #2 - for dirty spoons & dirty bottle nipples (we used Playtex Nursers)

We also had a Rayshade which provided full protection from the sun. I would highly recommend getting one, even if your stroller has a great sunshade like ours did. The shade helped keep out all light and some noise during naps.

 

[dsneprincess]

We took both our sons as infants. We left the diaper bag with the stroller for the most part if we were just on a ride & off, like POTC. However, in Tomorrowland, we would carry because we would park stroller & go on TTA, Buzz & COP, so there would be more chance of needing something out of it. I carried bottles of water & used the formula packets for formula so no need to keep bottle cold or try to heat up. Brought extra receiving blankets, too: for warmth, makeshift changing pads, to cover baby when person nearby was coughing or sniffling, sun protection, etc. We used UV swimshirts for DS#2 as infant as that was an August trip. Carried extra wipes to wipe high chairs, which I covered with a high chair protector. Carried change of clothes in a ziplock to keep dry in case of rain & to have for wet clothes if needed. Had a bar of fels naptha soap in room to wet & soap formula stains (or any other stain on anyone's clothes) at end of night, hang to dry & then can hold to wash when get home & stain will still be gone. Poncho or rain cover for stroller, the bags they sell for pet cleanup for dirty diapers, esp. in hotel rooms! I will keep thinking.

 

[esquared221]

First of all- what a CUTE baby!

I've been to WDW with DD when she was little and so I thought I'd weigh in on this

A smallish back pack is the way to go. You can pack all the essentials for DS and your wallets, phones etc and easily take it with you on the rides. Whatever doesn't fit (hoodies, changes of clothes etc) can be stashed in the under the stroller compartment.

Just follow DS' cues, take it slow and take LOTS of pictures. Sounds like there will be more trips as DS gets older so don't feel like you need to cram everything into this trip. Have fun!

 

[crzyeeyoreangel]

Just started to plan our 2nd trip and babys first....he will be a year old makes me feel better than you all have younger than me going.

 

[turtle man]

i would recommend, not going. Do you really want to be one of the mothers pushing stroller around all day, up hills, down hills. Pushing a stroller through crowds. I would wait until my child can walk around on his own all day and remember the vacation. It would be easiest for you, and less stress on your family.

 

[dsneprincess]

i would recommend, not going. Do you really want to be one of the mothers pushing stroller around all day, up hills, down hills. Pushing a stroller through crowds. I would wait until my child can walk around on his own all day and remember the vacation. It would be easiest for you, and less stress on your family.

Ignore this!! We took a toddler & a 12 year old in August. It is SOOO much easier when they are happy & contained in the stroller. Disney is not a tough park to push a stroller through, unlike some others. (Hershey's hills come to mind here!) Yes, the baby sets the pace & schedule somewhat, but no one has to deal with the wisecracks & attitudes you get from a 'tween. Disney is super baby friendly.

 

[jerzyzkat119]

Ohhhh no it doesn't bother me! People who judge and try to discourage me only make me laugh. That was not a tip i was looking for, but everyone has the right to speak their mind! We are going regardless of what any debbie downer thinks. My mom couldn't afford to take me until I was 16, and though I absolutely loved it, and still do, she wishes she had those younger memories with me.

This will not be DS only trip! Because I'm so obsessed, we will visit once a year if we can. So yes, I want to be one of those stroller pushing moms, who must conquer the "hills" with an infant and his schedule to follow. He's only this young once and my entire family is more than willing to help. My son will not "ruin" it for anyone!

Disneyprincess - yes those hills in Hershey are a nightmare, and guess where else... Sea world! I did that pregnant in March and was aching by the end of the day. Like I said my mom is a Florida resident so I only see her once or twice a year now. She thought sea world would be great because of all the shows and exhibits, well those hills and large spread out layout were enough!

We will take it slow and enjoy what we can - there will always be another trip on the horizon!
I thank all who gave useful information and will be using it while we plan for March!!!

 

[Samuelle]

Hi, we took our DD when she was 6 months old and it was no trouble! I really recommend using the babycare centres in each park, they are a lovely place to feed and change your baby and just take some time out if you need it. Have a great time!

 

[Tricia's mom]

You will never travel to the world this easy ever again !!! LOL.

Have a magical trip.

 

[GS2263]

I took my son when he was a baby. It was NO problem at all! No, he didn't remember any if his trips until he was 3 1/2, but we LOVED watching him have fun. I'm certainly not keeping him home until he'll remember everything!

My daughter was 5 and we still took her in a stroller. It's a great place to stash jackets, etc., and most kids aren't used to walking for 12 hours a day. (We NEVER go back to the hotel during the day.) Keep what you'll need with you for the amount of time you think you'll be away from the stroller. (Ex: 30 min. wait time, plus the length of the ride.)

They have great baby stations as well! (Check out the one in MK behind Crystal Palace!)

Don't forget a light blanket, and maybe clothespin type clips to use as a sun shade when they are napping!

Have a magical trip!!!!

(Stop in town hall for a first visit button. If the baby is in need of a haircut, the barber on Main Street does first haircuts, with perks!...Chevk it out!)

 

[AZMermaid]

We took my son to Disneyland at 8 and 13 months. It was WAY easier at 8 months and he was not an easy baby at all. Our only trouble was naps because he is just not a stroller napper. He just turned two and to this day he as taken exactly 3 half hour stroller naps, all in Disneyland. We LOVE this bag for Disneyland and day travel. http://www.kellyscloset.com/Planet-Wise-WetDry-Bag_p_3580.html We cloth diaper so it is great for holding dirties and clean, but it is awesome anyway for being super lightweight and portable. For his 8 month trip, we fit 2 bottles, diapers, wipes, a change of clothes, a bib and probably a small toy in there. We also brought an insulated lunch bag with snacks and the formula divider. That stayed in the stroller at all times. We don't leave anything in the stroller we would be devastated to lose. They have since come out with this bag, but I don't have it to vouch for it. http://www.kellyscloset.com/Planetwise-Sport-Bag_p_4331.html

 

[hipporina]

We just got back with our 7 month old and it was amazing! He loved it and we loved experiencing it through him. I worried and worried for nothing. It was so easy and so much fun! I will be blogging in detail about my trip if you want to read more, but here are the highlights.

1. Get a good carrier and get comfortable using it! I used a Beco Gemini and I can't imagine the trip without it. He spent as much time in that as in the stroller. I know we looked a little silly wearing the baby and pushing an empty stroller, but it worked. You won't be able to take the stroller in line or into several of the future world pavilions. During those times, the carrier is essential. It was also great when he got sleepy because he would nap in the carrier and we would just go on about our business.

2. I didn't take my regular diaper bag into the parks. I got a toddler size backpack and put a change of clothes, his baby food, and his miscellaneous things like hats or small toys in that. I attached it to the stroller handle with a "mommy hook", basically a large carabiner and left it with the stroller all the time. I also took a travel diapering kit that holds diapers and wipes and folds out into a changing pad. I left that in the stroller too and just grabbed it as needed. Our valuables went into a backpack that we kept with us, just like we did before we had a baby with us. I breastfeed, so we didn't have to deal with bottles or anything.

3. He loved everything, especially the characters and the music. I loved watching the awe on his face. We watched part of the video we took during the trip, and most of it is video of him, not the show. We have about 5 minutes from festival of the lion king and about 30 seconds is the actual show, the rest is Jude watching the show and dancing! It is definitely a different way of seeing WDW!

4. Since Jude slept so well in the parks (mainly in the carrier but sometimes in the stroller), we didn't worry about keeping long hours at the parks. He would usually fall asleep around 8 or 9 like at home and sleep throughout the evening. When we got back to the room, he would wake up for a little bit. We would bathe him, let him crawl around for a while, and then put him to bed for the night. We ended the trip exhausted (as usual) but he was fine! Better rested than the rest of us for sure!

5. Be prepared that child swap can be very time consuming. Many times I let my dh take our older kids and then just chose not to go myself. I found that many of the rides I normally loved just didn't have the same appeal without Jude and I didn't want to take the time from my other kids' day to ride myself. Several times, my mom sat with Jude while the rest of us rode and that was ideal.

If you think of anymore questions, ask. Just be prepared for the most magical trip you have had! WDW with your children is so special!