Need Advice-First trip to Disney with a baby

[Mommy2Abby]

Hi Everyone!

I'm new here...and this is my very first post! I am also a new mommy, and I'm hoping that the other mommies out there can give me some advice.

My husband and I are both huge Disney fans, and we began excitedly planning my daughter's first trip to WDW almost as soon as we brought her home from the hospital. We are thinking of going the first week of December, and she will be 8 months old.

Whenever we tell anyone else that we are going to go in December, they act like we are crazy, telling us that we are making a huge mistake taking a baby so young and that we'll all be miserable the whole time. They tell us we're wasting our money on a trip that she won't enjoy.

We've never been to Disney in December, and we've never taken a child, so I'm just wondering if maybe they're right? Should we wait until she is older? Has anyone else taken a baby this age, and was it fun or were you miserable?

Thanks!

Mommy2Abby

 

[disney4us91]

Go ahead don't worry what everyone says, we took our baby at 5 months and are taking her again in 9 days and she will be 9 months, we are looking forward to it. We know we will have to take things a little slower but we are big Disney Nuts we have been many time we have a week there so we will have a great time, It was amazing how even at 5 months how alert and into everything she was. Don't worry and even if you don't get to do every little thing you are use to doing, there's always next time.

 

[megan4777]

We took our DD#2 when she was just 3m old. She rode in the snugli the whole time and it was WONDERFUL!
I would do it again in a second and I'm sure you'll have a great time!!

 

[waltskids]

I say go and have fun!! We took our DS when he was 3 months old and will be taking him again at the end of June when he is 7 1/2 months old. I never understand why people say a baby is too young, we had a great time. We have been on many trips to WDW before children so we weren't sure about traveling with a baby so young but it was wonderful. We found it to be quite easy considering all of the people who say "you are crazy". He would nap in his stroller or in his sling, we went on the rides with him and we just took it slower than we did before we had him. You will have a great time.

 

[DonaldsDaisy]

We took our DD at 8 months.She had a wonderful time. We did not get to see everything we wanted but were OK with that since DH and I have been there so many other times. We didn't rush in the morning and we made sure we went back to the hotel for an afternoon nap. DD was great in all the resturants. She loved anything with music and bright colors so we pretty much stuck with the Magic Kingdom. We went to MGM twice but only went on The Little Mermaid which she loved. She feel asleep the second time so DH and I just sat and relaxed. We did a few character meals which were a lot of fun. She loves attention from strangers so she was in baby heaven!

We flew from PA and didnt want to carry all the baby supplies. We ordered from garden grocer and it was the best idea. I also found that DD did not want to eat anything too heavy because of the heat. She ate lots of fruits and drank lots of water. Her schedule was a little off but she adjusted within a day or two once we got home. She also got her 1st tooth while we were there so it was an extra special trip!

 

[jpeka65844]

I also say don't listen to what anyone else says. The only thing we regret about taking DS (14 mos at the time) was the plane ride. THAT was pretty hellish!

Anyhow, here's what we found out:

1. Ship ahead (or get from grocery delivery) your diapers, formula, snacks, wipes, disposable sippy cups, etc....all the baby items you will consume while you're there.

2. Take toys. Now, I don't mean the big stuff but we wound up being in the room a little more than we thought and poor DS didn't have anything to play with.

3. Have snacks and drinks handy at all times. There were a lot of times that goldfish headed off a meltdown.

4. Think before making a sit-down ADR. Our sit-down meals became a nightmare. I've realized that we've created a bad habit in DS at home when he eats. DH works weird hours and DS does not eat dinner with us. So when DS is done, he gets down and continues on his merry way. Therefore, he didn't understand that at a sit-down restaurant at WDW, he can't get down when he's done b/c Mommy and Daddy aren't done. We had to tag-team our sit-down meals. Not fun.

5. Waiting in lines was hard. DS could walk and the last thing he wanted was to have someone hold him for 20-30 minutes while we waited for a ride. I WISH more queues accommodated strollers.

Wow, all that makes our trip sound worse than it actually was. That's probably why DH and I are going in Dec sans DS.



Denice T.
Olathe, KS

 

[pigletof4]

We just went in Feb. the first time with kids and I actually think the baby was the easiest. She was right around the 7-8 month mark. The older kids got to ride the bigger rides a couple of times in a row as we would get a fastpass and either dh or I would ride with them and then we would baby swap and the other parent got to ride also. Just remember sunscreen. We didn't use it a whole lot, but the one day my little one got a little red. HTH.

 

[Mommy2Abby]

Wow! Thanks Everyone! You've made me feel so much better already

We have been to Disney many times as adults, and I know we will have to take it slower than usual, but that's ok...we just can't wait to introduce our little girl to the Mouse!

Thank you so much for all of the advice too. I'm afraid I have a lot to learn when it comes to traveling with kids! I'm sure I will have lots of questions as we begin to make plans for our trip. I'm so glad I found this site. You are all so nice here!

Now I'm even more excited for our trip!

Mommy2Abby

 

[daandcb]

We took our first when he was around 9 months and the youngest last year when he was 8 months.....he loved it. Well almost all....he didn't care for the characters up close. He was fine the first few times then once he wasn't looking when minnie came up and when he turned around BOOM....he practically kissed her nose. He liked all the colors and i used the harness carrier so if he fell asleep we could still go on rides and walk without disrupting him. There wasn't a time where he screamed. As everyone else says though, take your time!

 

[tanyaandallie]

As long as you realize you either won't be able to ride the thrill rides or will have to baby swap on them you will be fine! I took my dd to DW at 5 mos, my ds to DL at 7 mos and at 20 mos. They did great.

Also, I think Dec. is an awesome time to go. We went early Dec. and the weather was amazing!

ETA - when we went with ds at 7 mos I carried him in our mei tai carrier the entire trip. I highly recommend a baby carrier for a child that age.

 

[1rockinmamato2]

I asked the same question here when I first started planning our trip for this fall. There are so many negative comments when I tell people that we will be taking a just-turned-2 year old and an 11-month-old. I even had my boss TELL me not to take them because they're too young. I just cannot figure out why anyone cares if they're not the parents, the ones going along on the trip, or the ones paying for it.

"BLAH, BLAH, BLAH" is all I hear anyone say now. I waited my entire life for my children and this may sound harsh but they're my children and I decide when they're going to Disney and they're going this fall.

GO! If you want to take your 8-month-old in December. DO IT!

 

[daandcb]

When we went 2 years ago, my kids were 2 and 3 1/2....and i heard all the time that they were too young and won't remember....then i heard it again last year when the older two were 3 and 4 1/2. They remember a lot!!! The 3 year old can tell you things that happened on both trips that even I forgot! He still goes on about Donald Duck taking his hat on the first trip and told him not to take it on the second trip! LOL While they may not remeber years from now, to see their eyes light up and the smiles....its totally worth it now!!!

 

[emmababy]

We went when DD was 9 mos old and are going right before she will be 12 mos old. The baby swap is great!! We were able to ride the adult rides. She loved fantasy land. Her expressions were priceless. She loved the characters. Thought they were big teddy bears. She kept trying to eat their noses!! We had a blast, so I so go!!

 

[MeLaNie9]

I think this is hilarious...we 1st took our older DS when he was 22 months and everyone, family and friends, told us he was way too young. However, we are about to drive to visit my brother in DC and then go to the Jersey shore with both boys including DS 6months and NO ONE is saying a thing about that - and this will be a 8 hour trip at least (much longer than plane trip to Orlando) with him in his car seat the whole time and then he'll be out and about with us on the beach and boardwalks for hours each day in the heat! People just seem to have their opinions on Disney vacations - I say ignore all the naysayers and have a great time!!!

 

[Ariel8676]

I have been taking my girls, who are 5,4 and 18 months, since my oldest was just 8 months, and we have been going to WDW at least 2 times a year since.
Will the child remember the trip..no probably not..will you remember the first trip to WDW with your baby.. YES. It is a great excuse to go back..lol
Remember a good lightweight reclining stroller, comfy clothes and clothes for the cooler mornings and nights.
I always recommend a GOOD carrier like a Beco(our favorite) or Ergo, a BabyHawk Mei tei (our second favorite)all great for back carries and much better for you and baby, or even a good pouch (great for hip carries)like a Peanut shell (actually sell them in some Nordstroms now) or Hotslings(select Target store carry them now) Makes standing in line and snuglging while walking around so much easier! Pm me with any questions.
You will all have a wonderful time...and will get GREAT pics (the characters LOVE babies!!!!)

 

[Mommy2Abby]

Thanks again for all the suggestions everyone!

MeLaNie9--I understand what you mean. We are going to be taking DD to Dallas in June and she will only be 2 1/2 months old to visit my grandparents, and no one is saying that she's too young for that trip. But everyone seems to have an opinion about our Disney trip!

Ariel8676--I do have a question about the carriers...we have one, but so far DD doesn't like it very much. She cries and cries every time I put her in it. It's a Baby Bjorn, if that matters. Any suggestions on how to get her to be more comfy in it...or is she still just too young? I would love to have the option to use that instead of carrying her in the parks. Thanks!

Mommy2Abby

 

[tanyaandallie]

I would definitely recommend a carrier other than the baby bjorn. They are ok when babies are small but are just not comfy as they get bigger. At 8 mos you will need much more support than the bb has to offer. As far as getting her comfortable in one, I'd try putting her in it every day. Make sure she is happy and get moving once she is in there. The movement is usually soothing.

My recommendations are the same as pp.

1. A mei tai - I have (and LOVE) a babyhawk. www.babyhawk.com It seems very similar to a bb but it holds baby in a seated position which is much better for your baby. They are also carrier that you can use much longer than a bb. I could still carry my 4 year old in it if I really wanted to! You can use it as a front carrier, hip carrier or back carrier. Super cute and super comfy!!

2. A more structured carrier like a beco, ergo or patapum. I have both a beco (www.ecobabies.com) and a patapum. I love them both but am partial to the beco b/c it's a beautiful carrier and it's cooler than the beco. These carriers are AWESOME for a back carry. The back carry is intimidating but once you get the hang of it it's really awesome! The big difference between these carriers and the mei tai is that it has a really thick padded waist band that is really supportive. They also clip rather than tie so less stuff to deal with.

At 8 mos I think you could go with either type of carrier. When we went when ds was 7 mos I took our babyhawk mei tai and our Kozy (www.kozycarrier.com). The both worked awesome. I carried him in a front carry the whole time and had no issues.

Pouches and ring slings are also really great but if you are going to Disney and going to do any extended carrying with an 8 mos old I'd go with a mei tai or one of the more structured carriers.

If you want tons of info on babywearing check out www.thebabywearer.com. They actually have a for sale or trade board where you can find good deals on previously loved carriers.

 

[Ariel8676]

I would definitely recommend a carrier other than the baby bjorn. They are ok when babies are small but are just not comfy as they get bigger. At 8 mos you will need much more support than the bb has to offer. As far as getting her comfortable in one, I'd try putting her in it every day. Make sure she is happy and get moving once she is in there. The movement is usually soothing.

My recommendations are the same as pp.

1. A mei tai - I have (and LOVE) a babyhawk. www.babyhawk.com It seems very similar to a bb but it holds baby in a seated position which is much better for your baby. They are also carrier that you can use much longer than a bb. I could still carry my 4 year old in it if I really wanted to! You can use it as a front carrier, hip carrier or back carrier. Super cute and super comfy!!

2. A more structured carrier like a beco, ergo or patapum. I have both a beco (www.ecobabies.com) and a patapum. I love them both but am partial to the beco b/c it's a beautiful carrier and it's cooler than the beco. These carriers are AWESOME for a back carry. The back carry is intimidating but once you get the hang of it it's really awesome! The big difference between these carriers and the mei tai is that it has a really thick padded waist band that is really supportive. They also clip rather than tie so less stuff to deal with.

At 8 mos I think you could go with either type of carrier. When we went when ds was 7 mos I took our babyhawk mei tai and our Kozy (www.kozycarrier.com). The both worked awesome. I carried him in a front carry the whole time and had no issues.

Pouches and ring slings are also really great but if you are going to Disney and going to do any extended carrying with an 8 mos old I'd go with a mei tai or one of the more structured carriers.

If you want tons of info on babywearing check out www.thebabywearer.com. They actually have a for sale or trade board where you can find good deals on previously loved carriers.

Thanks i was just coming back to post these sites..lol
Thebabywearer.com is awesome!!!!!! Good luck!