Need Advise from the Baby Experts!

[disney's daughter]

Our family tries to go to Disney every year in February...Our last "baby"..(grandchild) is 8 years old...I always began taking our grandchildren when they were 4 years old...My oldest grandchild is 15. Well...Now, we will be having a new member due in July..( a little girl)....So, if all of us went again this next February....she'd only be a few months old...My son said she wouldn't remember anything...but, I know her cousins would love watching any reaction she might have....Here are some of my questions...(they may seem a bit dumb...like I said...my youngest granddaughter is 8 and she started going at 4..

Do you even think it is worth it for them to go this year with an infant? Should they wait another year and skip this one? What could she ride on besides It's a Small World? She wouldn't cost anything, would she? Flight there? Magic Your Way Package? It is better to rent one of the park's strollers or bring your own? Would Pop Century provide a bed for the baby or do you have to bring your own Pack and Play? (I know the airlines are cutting down on the luggage)
Any suggestions would certainly be appreciated...Our newest addition was certainly a pleasant surprise as her mother was told she would never be able to have children....

 

[Camno's Mama]

While we do stay offsite, everything I've read says she'd be free for everything. Also, I do believe that the resorts will provide a pack and play of some sort. There was actually another thread about that recently. I'm not sure if you have to pay extra for it. When we took our two to character meals, etc. the ones under three were free.

As far as deciding whether it's worth it, that's completely a personal decision. I think it's worth it. Vacations are family time, and a good bonding experience. Parents are relaxed and enjoying themselves. They're not cleaning the house, running errands, going to work, etc. That's good for kids...wherever the vacation may be. So, if the parents will enjoy the experience, I say, why not?

As a lap child, she would be free. (Although, I like getting a seat...it's more comfortable and safer). You can ride on Haunted Mansion (actually a good time to nurse and put her to sleep). You can ride on Pirates, Jungle Cruise, and other rides like that. Pretty much anything without a height restriction. Plus, there is that baby swap thing where the parents can stand in line and take turns riding. And we've gone in large groups a lot...someone can sit off if they don't really care about riding and just take a break and people watch. I always welcome that!

If they have a stroller of their own, I would bring it. It's easy to gate check the stroller and then you have it there. If it's just a single stroller you won't have a problem with it on any of the trams, etc. I took my double jogger on everything with no problem. I would also bring some kind of baby sling/carrier. Those are so helpful in lines, especially when they're little. I took my five month old a few years ago, and it was great! He loved being in it!

Bring the baby and enjoy yourselves. Babies are actually very easy to tote around. I'm actually more nervous about my two-year-old. He's a darter! I'm going to have to keep him buckled up!

 

[frtchr]

We took our DD at 11 months, and we're taking her again at 15 months. We'll also be taking her for a big family trip with grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins when she's a little over 2 and has a 6 m.o. little sibling! I say they should go for it. Why should they miss out on a great family vacation? As far as the baby not remembering anything, who cares? Sheesh, if I had to wait for my kids to "remember" a vacation, I wouldn't be leaving the house for years!

Have a great time!!!

 

[Mallow]

The only thing I would suggest is waiting to see what kind of temperment the baby has before making any final booking plans. I've read a lot about families having a wonderful time with their infants at Disney but that can depend on the baby. My son, as an infant, was very fussy and only slept well in the car or his own crib. I could not imagine him adjusting well the a new environment & all that stimulation. We planned a week long vacation at the beach when he was 5mo. & it did not go well & we left early. Now with my daughter she was a go with the flow baby from the start & I think she would have done very well with all the excitement.

If this is a yearly event the parents may feel better waiting one year if they have a very fussy baby.

 

[pigletof4]

My youngest was born in July 06. We took her to Disney in Feb. 07. Out of all the kids she was the easiest to take. I would go and have fun. The baby would be free and I think the resorts have pack n plays. We drove so we took our own. We took our own stroller that had the infant carrier/car seat attached and it work out well. We also went with friends so if she had to be carried without the stroller there were always a pair of arms that wanted her. Have fun and enjoy. PM me if you need any other help.

 

[disney's daughter]

Well...the parents would have PLENTY of help..That's for sure...They wouldn't even have to do the baby swap as there would be at least four of us "older" folks there...My sister will never let me hear the end of it...We have taken her older grandchildren to Disney before...but, not her baby grandchildren..Last summer...(June) she asked me to go with her to meet her daughter in law and two babies at Disney World each day while her son was at meetings...The first thing I said was..."I am not into babies any more..." and "Why would anybody want to take a baby? They won't know what is going on..."...and "This is going to be a "working" trip..."...but, I went...and actually had a good time...My sister's daughter in law is extremely efficient and I was in awe of how efficient she was...She brought her own double stroller (she and her husband and kids stayed off site...She drove to Pop Century where we were staying and got on the bus with us)...I believe that stroller had EVERYTHING in it...Unbelievable...and when she had to close it up...Wham...She did it in a matter of seconds... I think it would have taken me hours to just to figure it out...

Now...my sister is laughing at me..."Not into Babies...huh?"...."Babies don't belong at Disney, huh?" "Now...Look WHO is having a new baby in the family..." "Look who is talking about bringing a baby to Disney World...!"

I haven't even changed a diaper in about six years! Yikes!

 

[PrincessPoohsMom]

My DD has two trips under her belt (at 5 months and 1 year) and we're heading down in just a couple of weeks for her third (she'll be 18 months). We've had a great time on all the trips. She's always been a pretty easy baby in terms of schedule, but I will say that she's also extremely independent and now that she's a full-fledged toddler, very very stubborn! Oh how I look back fondly at that first trip...she was so much easier!

To answer your questions:
The baby will be free for park admission, hotel, and on the airplane provided he/she is a "lap baby".

Pop will have a pack & play in the room. I don't believe there's an extra charge, but you do have to request it when you make your reservation & again at check-in. I would suggest packing a sheet for the pack & play from home...they obviously provide you with linens, but DD slept better when the sheet smelled like home.

Definitely bring a stroller from home for a child that young. You'll need one with a full recline (so the baby can nap), a good sun shade, and a rain cover (nothing worse than coming out of an attraction to find the stroller soaked).

I'd recommend also bring a sling/wrap or front pack carrier. It'll help with waiting in line, loading/unloading rides, and to give the little one a different perspective than riding in the stroller. DD loved her front pack at 7 months.

DD has ridden everything without a height restriction in all four parks, plus she's been to most of the shows (the exceptions being the stunt shows and Fantasmic at Disney Studios, just too loud & intense at this point). She also really loves just walking around and looking at all the people. The street entertainment is also great for small children.

The key to traveling with an infant is to go at his/her pace (which will likely be slower than your other trips) and stick to the nap/feeding/bed time schedule as much as possible. Another suggestion: Offer to give the new Mom & Dad an evening off. Let them go have a nice dinner, see La Nouba, or just head off to a park by themselves. We were soooo appreciative when my parents took DD back to the resort and DH & I got to run around MK until midnight on our last trip.

Any other questions, just ask!

 

[tanyaandallie]

I do think it's very much a personal decision. If mom and dad want to go and don't mind traveling with an infant, then no reason to stay at home. If the baby is only 2 mos old, the baby is not going to "enjoy" the trip. She will just be along for the ride! Nothing wrong with being along for the ride. If mom and dad are not die hard Disney fans, I'd say skip it and go the next year.