Just back with a 4.5 mo. old!

[Baileymouse]

Hi Everyone!

We were there from 10/30 - 11/04. What a great trip! We didn't get to do everything we wanted but we were able to accomplish a lot with our little one.

We stayed at the BCV - if you're not a DVC member and you have youngsters, look into renting points from a DVC member. The washer and dryer alone was worth it! We had a 1 BR and it was heavenly.

We rented a crib and a stroller from A Baby's Best Friend. What an incredibly good idea that was! Disney provides a Pack N Play - not too comfy for sleeping. Having the crib meant that Haley was able to sleep comfortably all night. We brought a blanket from home for scent purposes, but ABBF provided all bedding as well as the crib.

After arrival I ran over to Publix for baby food and other necessities. I had mailed a bunch of stuff ahead of time, and it was delivered to the room 10 min. after I checked in. So we were set!

Haley loved the stroller. She would sit up and look at everyone, and she loved the lights. We spent every afternoon and evening in Epcot where we would join our in-laws for dinner. We had brought the portable bouncy seat for the restaurants, but she fell asleep every night before our reservations were ready, and every restaurant let us bring in the stroller with her in it. That really helped. If you are making PS tell them to include the baby in the head count if you need to leave the child in the stroller.

We spent one day at the MK. Haley went on Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan, It's a Small World, and the Tomorrowland Transportation Authority. After that she fell asleep so I had to send everyone on without me, lol. I didn't mind.

We took Haley to Typhoon Lagoon one day, too. She wore the little swimmers and a bathing suit, and she enjoyed the raft ride around the park until some little brats (boys, around 10 or 12) deliberately aimed the spray guns at her. I kept telling them not to hit her, she's a baby, but they kept doing it. She started to wail so we had to take her out. Before that happened we did have a CM take a picture of her on DH and it's cute.

Luckily Haley doesn't scare easily and she enjoyed Illuminations. I was surprised - I thought she'd be upset, but she wasn't.

We tried to have down time every early afternoon where she could rest and we could recharge our batteries. It worked very well.

Any questions? Feel free to ask - and if anyone is going with an infant and needs a portable bouncy seat, this one is now available. Just PM me and I'll send it along.

 

[briannesmom]

Thanks for the info. I have been a little worried about upcoming trip with 4 month old daughter and 6 month old niece.

Amy

 

[1sttimedis]

Just curious what did you mail ahead? I'm looking for any good tips!!!

 

[Baileymouse]

I mailed ahead the following: large pack of Huggies, large box of baby wipes, 2 cans of powdered formula, 3 gerber bottles, portable bouncy seat, and toiletries like toothpaste, shaving cream, sun block, etc. Package weight was 14.5 lbs. and cost just around 10.00 to ship UPS ground. I mailed it a week in advance - it arrived on a Tuesday, we arrived thursday.

I knew that I wouldn't be bringing a chunk of my clothing back with me, so the left over stuff would fit in the suitcase. I gave my summer clothes to someone else because I'm losing weight and wouldn't need them back in NJ.

I wished I had sent a bottle brush. I wound up buying one there.

 

[Desnik]

Thanks for the report! Glad you had a good time.
We will be leaving soon and I just have a few questions on shipping the stuff before you left. Did you notify the resort that you had a package sent there? What did you write on the package? Your ressie#? Was there a reason you picked UPS? Were they cheaper/more reliable than USPS? Did you have to tell the resort when you checked in that you should have a package there, or did they just bring it to your room? Do you know if you want the package to be there on a certain day that can be arranged?
We are driving down and I am getting alittle overwhelmed by all the stuff I had to pack and fit in the car!! I'm glad to hear you had a good experience with ABBF. I am actually thinking of using them to have a crib for the baby. Are the pack 'n plays at the resort in good condition, but just not comfy for a baby? We rented points at BWV and can't wait!!

 

[Baileymouse]

Hi!

1) Did you notify the resort that you had a package sent there?
No, I didn't notify them - I've heard people send stuff all the time.

2)What did you write on the package? Your ressie#?
I addressed the package to me, C/O Beach Club villas. On the top, in marker, I wrote "Hold for 10/30 arrival" and it worked just fine!


3)Was there a reason you picked UPS? Were they cheaper/more reliable than USPS?
I picked UPS (and Fedex Ground is great, too) due to price and tracking. The USPS is MUCH more expensive - I was able to price it out online. I took it to a dedicated UPS facility, not a Mail Boxes Etc. type place which tacks on a charge. Both UPS and FEDEX ground offer better prices than USPS for this stuff, and the tracking is much more specific. It's also quicker in most instances, especially for us North Easterners, lol. 14.5 lbs, about 10.00, no charge for insurance up to 100.00, and reliable tracking.


4)Did you have to tell the resort when you checked in that you should have a package there, or did they just bring it to your room?
I sent my husband down to tell them to bring up the package. While he was down there, someone came up - completely crossed paths, lol. So they bring it up automatically.

5)Do you know if you want the package to be there on a certain day that can be arranged?

UPS has a shipping schedule online that you can use. You can plan what you're sending, weigh it, put in the cost and the zip code to zip code calculation - they will give you the arrival dates.

Don't ship 50 lbs. total, though - I heard Disney charges if the combined weight of packages is over 50 lbs. One way around it, if you're going to mail that much - send part to arrive the day you get there, and part to arrive the next day, so it's broken up. Still, I sent a lot of stuff and it came to 14.5 lbs, so that wasn't bad at all.

 

[Kuffam]

I've been thinking of mailing some stuff when we go in January so we don't have a lot of stuff the move through the airport. How did you mail stuff back? Did you do it at disney or is there a UPS or Mailboxs ect near by?

 

[Desnik]

Thanks for your response!!
You really helped me. I appreciate it.

 

[justhat]

Did you drive to WDW or fly? We're flying with our daughter from NJ in May and June, when she'll be about 10 weeks and 12 weeks old and we're wondering how those flights will be. On the may trip, my 6 month old cousin and 9 month old nephew will be with us (and their moms) so it'll be a very family oriented trip so we're planning lots of breaks and meals around the babies. Our biggest concern though is the heat in May and June, so we'll definitely have afternoon breaks to keep the babies cool. We also want to ship some stuff to the resort so I'm glad to hear that it worked out well and was easy. The May trip is girls only (except the 9mo) so since I'll be flying down with my mom and the baby alone, I want to minimize carry-ons and luggage. In June we'll be there 2 weeks so we're going to need lots of clothes so shipping down things like diapers would be a great help. I got lots of great advice from a post I made about a month ago, but it's always great to hear more information, especially since they'll be our first trips with a baby.

 

[Kuffam]

There is a Super Walmart (groceries and Dept store ) nearby in Kissimmee. If you have a car it'll be easier to run down and buy what you need (or run out of).

 

[2MuchOhana]

Baileymouse,

Thanks for the great report! Glad you had such a wonderful time!

Also very glad you had as wonderful an experience with ABBF as we did! We will be using them again for our upcoming trip. I truly believe it was worth every penny to get a good nights sleep. Hope Miss Hayley agreed it was too!

 

[akrake]

we are going w/our 3 kids in a couple of weeks. our youngest will be around 7 weeks. i've included her in the head count for the PS that we've made. do you think it was because it is a low season that you were able to bring the stroller to the table? i'm planning on using my sling, but will have a stroller also in the park. what restaurants did yall visit?
any other helpful hints? i'll be nursing my baby, so i'm not worried about bottles, etc. did you use the baby care centers alot? how was the weather?
thanks.
amie