Must Have Vaccinations Before Disney?

[MagicaDeSpell]

I know it's a little odd for a first post, but here goes! We have three older kids and are expecting a baby in October, of course the three older kids (currently 9, 6, and 2) are great ages for Disney so we're trying to figure out when would be best to go. The baby should have all their vaccines by the time that they're 2, but I'd love opinions on which are essential before going to Disney, either because an illness is really common there or because of the risk to Make a Wish kids who are there. It's just a shame that the Norwalk virus vaccine isn't out yet because I've heard that's pretty easy to catch in WDW.

 

[unrequited23]

Rotovirus--it's the most common cause of diarrhea in infants and children worldwide.

 

[MagicaDeSpell]

Rotovirus--it's the most common cause of diarrhea in infants and children worldwide.

Hmm, maybe that's the real cause of the Disney related diarrhea they were talking about in the taking babies to Disney world thread, I'll definitely put that on my short list.

 

[kboo]

Generally we had no problem traveling with our DDs after their 2 month vaccinations, which includes rotavirus. ODD went all over Europe from 8-12 weeks and I was on leave for 6 months - she got not even a sniffle until she started day care. She was EBF and we mostly kept her in the carrier, so she wasn't exposed to much and certainly wasn't touching much. YDD has pretty much had a constant sniffle since she was born because ODD brings germs home from day care and I take YDD along when I drop ODD off at "school." That said, we took YDD to AZ at 6-7 weeks and WDW at 3 months and had no issues whatsoever. With older kids around, I think the babies are exposed to more germs from them than from being in a new place with lots of people, especially since the infants aren't mobile and really aren't touching much.

 

[unrequited23]

Our ped gave it at 2,4, and 6 months. If your little one has a sensitive gut-preemie, milk protein intolerance, etc. it can be rough on their tummies for a few days. If you formula feed, using the water in FL might cause some issues just cause the baby isn't used to it.

 

[MagicaDeSpell]

kboo, I breastfed the older three when they were babies without trouble, so I don't anticipate trouble with the next baby, but you never know. I definitely appreciate any extra protection. From the sound of things, I'm probably just hormonal and overthinking it right now. Thanks for the reassurance!

unrequited23, I can just look up the local vaccine schedule, but that sounds about right, and now that I think about it, 6 months seems pretty ideal for a first visit, so long as I'm thinking of it as for the older children more than for the baby. I don't sweat the usual vaccine reactions, a bit of fever and grumpiness is a small price to pay in the long run. Fortunately the older kids never gave us tummy trouble after their shots.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Depending on your view re:flu shots, we generally make sure we are up to date on those before we fly anywhere.

 

[Calee]

Most of what you are going to catch at Disney is not something that there is a vaccine for. The baby will not have full immunity after one dose of anything anyway. I would go when you want to go and just have your kids get their vaccines when they are supposed to get them. Pregnancy makes me overthink things too

 

[MagicaDeSpell]

Depending on your view re:flu shots, we generally make sure we are up to date on those before we fly anywhere.

You're absolutely right, at least it's another reminder to us adults to get ours. If I forget to get mine one year and catch the flu I can't even complain to Facebook for sympathy because I have a high school friend in the CDC and the first thing they'll ask me is if I got my shot this year.

Most of what you are going to catch at Disney is not something that there is a vaccine for. The baby will not have full immunity after one dose of anything anyway. I would go when you want to go and just have your kids get their vaccines when they are supposed to get them. Pregnancy makes me overthink things too

Good points, definitely overthinking it. Oh well, that's pregnancy, overthinking Disney can just take a number along with every other crazy thing I'm worrying about.

 

[Tara1988]

I'm due in July and we are taking our kids in October. She will be a few months old, and our boys will be almost 2 and almost 6. I'm more worried about the boys who will be touching everything than I am about her. Parents of make a wish kids with weakened immune systems know the risks they are taking any time they take their kids out in public and they know how to minimize the risks as much as possible. Just follow basic sanitary and hygiene rules and everyone should come out fine.

 

[Pesky]

measles, per the last issue in DLR.

 

[MagicaDeSpell]

measles, per the last issue in DLR.

That's the one that worries me, first dose is at one year old and second is at four years old, but the risk is relatively high nowadays so it seems especially important to wait for it before getting into those really big crowds.

 

[Mousemommy1]

We took our DS at 3 months and he had all of his shots up to date at that point, but that's it. He was fine.

There was no way we were waiting until he was a year old to go, lol

 

[MagicaDeSpell]

We took our DS at 3 months and he had all of his shots up to date at that point, but that's it. He was fine.

There was no way we were waiting until he was a year old to go, lol

I'll take that as another vote for overthinking it then. Honestly I'm relieved by all your stories of success going!

 

[yaya74]

Most of what you are going to catch at Disney is not something that there is a vaccine for. The baby will not have full immunity after one dose of anything anyway. I would go when you want to go and just have your kids get their vaccines when they are supposed to get them. Pregnancy makes me overthink things too

Though Disney is babies-friendly, I would not dare to take my kids until they are at least 1 year old. I think Disney has a different crowd than the people we meet on the day-to-day basis. Disney parks have a high population of foreigners than where you and I live. Foreigners, due to different health and hygiene standards, may bring in viruses that are not commonly seen in US. The Zika virus is a great example! Measles and chick pox cases are more commonly seen now. Also, because of the cost of Disney trip, parents would often bring sick kids to the park, even at the resort, because they don't want to loose the cancellation fee! Remember the measles outbreak at Disneyland!?!

So to the OP, if your date is flexible, maybe wait until your baby is older and has stronger immunity.

 

[Anesthesia Fine]

Measles and chicken pox are more prevalent now because people don't vaccinate their kids on schedule. It has nothing to do with Evil Unclean Foreigners. The heck.

OP: you should be fine! I took my youngest at 4.5 months and just made sure we were all up to date on scheduled vaccinations and boosters. (My mom pointed out when I was worrying about it myself that at Disney, no one's asking to hold the baby...unlike extended family gatherings with toddler cousins! Weirdly enough, that helped.)

 

[MagicaDeSpell]

Though Disney is babies-friendly, I would not dare to take my kids until they are at least 1 year old. I think Disney has a different crowd than the people we meet on the day-to-day basis. Disney parks have a high population of foreigners than where you and I live. Foreigners, due to different health and hygiene standards, may bring in viruses that are not commonly seen in US. The Zika virus is a great example! Measles and chick pox cases are more commonly seen now. Also, because of the cost of Disney trip, parents would often bring sick kids to the park, even at the resort, because they don't want to loose the cancellation fee! Remember the measles outbreak at Disneyland!?!

Zika is scary, and after the latest announcements from the CDC, I'm planning to avoid the Gulf states while I'm pregnant, but fortunately Zika isn't likely to spread from casual contact in a crowd at WDW, unless their mosquito control has gone downhill since I was there last. FWIW, many other countries have better rates of vaccination than we do, especially in Central and South America. The places that have it worse than us are generally so poor I'm not sure they're sending a lot of people to Disney.

So to the OP, if your date is flexible, maybe wait until your baby is older and has stronger immunity.

No date set yet, trying to work out when would be best for all of us. Thank you!

OP: you should be fine! I took my youngest at 4.5 months and just made sure we were all up to date on scheduled vaccinations and boosters. (My mom pointed out when I was worrying about it myself that at Disney, no one's asking to hold the baby...unlike extended family gatherings with toddler cousins! Weirdly enough, that helped.)

That seems to be the drift of this thread, it's very reassuring. Good point about no one wanting to hold the baby! I have a few relatives here who were determined they were too old for a whooping cough vaccine and got bent out of shape that I wouldn't let them visit the last newborn. (They eventually did get their boosters, by which time it was all their own idea. )

 

[FlightlessDuck]

If our vet told us our puppy should avoid other dogs until it had all of its vaccinations, I would think the same is true for babies.

 

[Chucky!]

I think people bringing sick kids to the park is a greater risk than foreigners bringing unusual diseases, those diseases mostly can't be vaccinated against.

I think your biggest concerns would be respiratory illnesses and those spread by coughing/sneezing (flu, rsv, pertussis and measles). You modes of transport might be worth considering eg. planes/disney transport

Also given that a baby is most likely to be in a pram/stroller or carrier, they are less likely to make person to person contact with strangers, so it is very important that your family has all their vax up-to-date (especially adults who may not have had boosters for a long time). It is far more likely that someone else in your family would get sick and pass the illness onto the baby rather than the baby contracting an illness directly.

All that being said, I took my children on public transport before they had all their vaccinations.

 

[DopeyDame]

If our vet told us our puppy should avoid other dogs until it had all of its vaccinations, I would think the same is true for babies.

So are you suggesting no child go anywhere until they are 4 years old?