Lap Infants at Magic Kingdom?

[GusGush]

We are headed to Walt Disney World in 23 days with a party of 11, ranging in age from 6 months to 61 years of age. I've been many times and am sort of the organizer of this family vacation -- therefore, I'm trying to learn in advance what the rules will be regarding taking infants (a six-month-old and a fifteen-month-old) on some of the very smooth, "tame" attractions, such as Small World or even Pirates. Can the babies be held in our laps on attraction that don't have a restraining bar, or will we need to switch off? Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[jcemom]

You can take the babies on anything that doesn't have a height restriction (i.e. the 'Mountains' and such). That is just one thing I LOVE about Disney...your entire family can stay together on almost everything!

 

[Amy&Dan]

That is the thing that is so great about Disney parks, there will probably be more rides you will be able to go on as opposed to not. If you go to the Disneyworld website and click on attractions it will give the height restrictions if any for the various rides. With kids I think it is always a good idea to measure them before you leave so that if there is something they have seen in a book or planning DVD you can tell them up front they are too short. Saves that agony of being measured at the ride and the crushing disappointment if they don't make it on! By the way these big family trips are so much fun! We had a group of 12 ranging in age from 3 to 80 at Disneyland last December. What memories! Enjoy your planning and your trip!

 

[addicted2disney]

I first took my DS at 3 months and he rode everything with us.... Buzz, Maelstrom, Haunted Mansion.. everything!! It really was great. You cant take them on anything with a height restriction, but that where the parent swap works. Now, you can NOT parent swap on a non height restriction ride. For example... the baby had just fallen asleep and we were going to ride Buzz. I asked for a parent swap and they dont do them at those rides. ONLY the ones with a height restriction. It was really easy going with him. I even picked him up while he was sleeping and rode on rides.. he never woke up! It was great. It was nice to get the baby out of the sun ( it was in the 80's that January trip!!) and so many of the shows and rides are cool and have air conditioning. Take advantage of the Baby Centers. They are awesome and have everything you could possibly need.. changing tables, bathrooms, nursing rooms, rocking chairs, high chairs, polar water, microwaves, and a shop where you can pretty much buy anything you need or forgot.

 

[frannn]

She went on all the rides with us (not thrill rides), and either sat on or laps, or in between (like at Pirates). I am not into coasters or other thrill rides, so we skipped those anyway. If you wanted, you could do a baby swap on those. We had more fun watching her than anything else! The only things I would be sure to do is take lots of liquids for the young ones, make sure the strollers have shades, and take along some small snacks and activities to deter cranky moments. There are baby centers in each park that have changing tables, filtered water, and have baby supplies available for purchase. Just a note- we thought we didn't take enough diapers one day to MK, and didn't want to buy a small pkg for a small fortune at the baby center. We found a machine in one of the bathrooms that had a packet with a diaper and I think a wipe for about 1. We didn't end up needing it, so I can't vouch for the quality, but the cost was much better than the baby center for a quick fix!

 

[Pocahontas1]

We went last June with DD who was 3 months at the time. I remember baby swapping on Buzz. We just walked up to the CM at the fast pass line and asked for one. Maybe that has changed. I can't think of a reason we didn't let her ride except that she would have interferred with my ability to earn points

Disney is the most baby friendly place I've been to, even though Universal has better baby swap areas.

 

[liznboys]

I can't think of a reason we didn't let her ride except that she would have interferred with my ability to earn points

LOL!!!! My 11 month old was my "point interferer" on Buzz last month. LOL

But anyway, to the OP, just like everyone said, there are plenty of rides where you can hold your little one on your lap. The only things we didn't take our 11 month old on were the rides with a size restriction. And he had fun!

 

[jenjenmouse]

I am going with a group also ranging from 7 months to 53 years. I am also the organizer and was going to post the same sort of question. I read through the replies and was wondering where the baby stations are located in each park and is there a map or something on the Disney web site?

We will be there from June 7th to 14th at the AKL. Yippee!


Jennifer

 

[liznboys]

I am going with a group also ranging from 7 months to 53 years. I am also the organizer and was going to post the same sort of question. I read through the replies and was wondering where the baby stations are located in each park and is there a map or something on the Disney web site?

We will be there from June 7th to 14th at the AKL. Yippee!


Jennifer

Check out this link:
http://www.allearsnet.com/pl/infant.htm#babystatloc

The Baby Care Centers are wonderful!!

 

[GusGush]

Many thanks to all the moms who chimed in about taking infants onto non-height-restricted attractions. Not only do I have a 15-month-old, but I'm also an expectant mother. I was begining to wonder if I would have an opportunity ride ANYTHING -- between the (current) baby and the pregnancy. I'm so glad we can go on many things with our baby daughter (along with my sister-in-law with her baby son).

As I posted to the helpful folks on the Resort threads, your answers have given me one more thing to look forward to! Thank you! P.S. -- Wonderful to hear about the baby stations!

Because I'm fanatic planner, I just bought a 2005 Magic Kingdom map on eBay for sixty-five cents so I can scout everything out -- hopefully the stations will be marked.

For what it's worth, it was a GREAT idea of whomever to offered their old Magic Kingdom map on eBay . . . . Because I will (allegedly) be "leading" 11 family members around the Park, I was anxious to reacquaint myself with the layout and new attractions before we're all standing on Main Street, looking at me for direction on what to do first . . . .

Thanks again! What a great service this board provides!

 

[jcemom]

I have Epcot and MGM maps from my February trip. I'd be happy to send them on to you if you think you'll need them. Just PM me your address if you'd like and I'll get them into the mail! (I don't see an AK map here, but I may have one, I'll have to keep looking for it if you want it.)