Pregnant 1st-timer to Disney needs advice

[candielips]

I will be going to WDW from Dec 23 to Dec 28 and staying at POFQ. However I am 3 mths pregnant and looking for some ideas or suggestions to help make the visit as enjoyable as possible. Or maybe some things to avoid as well. Which rides are safe, which are a definite NO?

I have never been to WDW before & am so excited to leave.

TIA

 

[missesdisney]

Congrats on your pregnancy and trip to Disneyworld. My son is now 5 and I was there twice while pregnant. The things to avoid are obvious but talk to your doctor first to be sure. Mine told me not to do any spinning for certain. The one ride that warns that I was ok with was the safari at animal kingdom - no worse than driving on local potholes but you really need to check with your doctor. There are clear warning signs on anything rough and most are obvious such as roller coasters and such that you shouldn't ride. You can always ask cast members for info as well. Good luck!

 

[kpm76]

Congrats!! DH and I went to WDW this past October when I was 6 weeks pregnant. We found out I was expecting a week before we left. Unfortunately, my morning sickness kicked in the 2nd day of our trip and we were on the Dining Plan...LOL. Needless to say, I didn't really get my monies worth.

Hopefully, you are feeling well. Make sure to drink lots and lots of water. It's so important to stay hydrated anyway but especially when you are pregnant. I took lots of breaks, mostly because I was nauseous but also because I was really exhausted and it was still warm when we were there. There are lots of nice little spots to sit down and people watch. It was just DH and I on this trip so I waited for him while he went on all the big rides. All of the attractions have warnings for pregnant women so I just followed those.

This past trip was a really different one for us because we are used to going all day long, but I just could not physically handle that. My best advice is to take it easy, don't push yourself, drink lots of water, make sure to eat regularly (that was hard for me) and remember that this trip is extra special

 

[Maggi May]

Congrats on your pregnancy!
You are going at a great time of the year as you shouldn't have any problem with the heat. I went when i was preganant in June and really had to watch it.

The guidemap for each park includes a warning symbol on each ride that for those with health conditions and/or are pregnant. The rides are pretty clearly marked with signs in the queue.

The only general advice I can give is the same advice to anyone with a healthy "normal" pregnancy. Make sure to get your rest (not always easy on vacation), drink plenty of water (even if the weather isn't hot) and be sure to take plenty of snack breaks. Don't feel that you have to be limited, but also know when you need a break.

And, you might want to check out posts on the Families DIS board. I think there have been some good discussions there. If you have time and can find it, The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World has a whole section on pregnancy and detailed descriptions of the rides that would be helpful.

Congrats again, and hope this is the first of many trips for you.

 

[LAL77]

Hi there. Congratulations. I'm six months pregnant and just back from a week at Disney World with my DH and my two girls (2.5 and 3.5). We had a great time but it was tiring for sure. We took breaks in the middle of the day for the girls but I was definitely benefiting from them as well. Being early in your pregnancy, I can assume you're going to feel tired too so rest when you can.

I rode with my girls on everything in fantasyland plus some others.. (peter pan, small world, dumbo, pooh, aladdin's carpets, snow white, etc.). I saw a pregnant lady - maybe 4-5 months along- getting off of Pirates of the Carib. but I personally didn't do it. I also rode Soarin and Nemo. I'm not really into "big" rides even when I'm not pregnant so I wasn't missing out on anything.

We took advantage of the rider swap a few times. We used it so that my husband could ride a ride with one daughter and then go back and ride it with the other in cases when I couldn't ride but they could (Barnstormer, Indy Speedway, Safari @AK etc.)

You're going to have a great trip. Plenty of foods to choose from when you are having those "I could eat.... But definitely not that..." moments.

Good luck!
Lesley

 

[cleo]

I second (or is it third?) the motion for lots of water and lots of rest. I didn't do either when I went at 2 months pregnant and I paid for it for a long time. I came home sick and exhausted and it took months to catch up.

It's hard to take mid-day breaks when you're so excited, but they are crucial in the early stages. Even if you sit down on a bench for an hour, a few times each day, take those rest breaks. You might feel great through your whole trip, but your body NEEDS that rest.

And Congratulations on the impending Bundle of Joy! Whatever you miss now you'll be able to see through your child's eyes in a few years time.

 

[ajcolorado]

Have you seen these articles:

http://allearsnet.com/pl/pregnant.htm
http://allearsnet.com/pl/pregnant2.htm

 

[disnut8]

Congratulations!

I've never really had to worry about being pregnant while at Disney World but I do have some limitations on going on the attractions. But I can still enjoy them as much as possible.

At Twilight Zone - go through the preshow and then ask to take the Express Elevator right before everyone boards the regular elevation. You'll see the library introduction and the creepy boiler room. You just won't do the drop.

At Rock N Roller Coaster - go through the preshow with Aerosmith and then tell the seater person you don't want to ride.

At Dinosaur - go throught eh preshow and then tell the seater person you don't want to ride.

Expedition Everest has a really nice waiting area to the right of the entrance so you can see everyone coming down the drop. Really cool.

At Mission Space - go through the preshow with Gary Sinise and then when you are led to the capsules, tell the Cast Member you want to leave.

This way, you get to experience alot of the attraction without going on the actual ride portion. When you ask to leave, you will be taken to a spot where you can easily meet up with the rest of your party. And you can stay with your party most of the time.

Oh - and Disney World does have lots of bathrooms.

 

[two-foxes]

I'll be 18 weeks pregnant when we go in a couple of weeks. The main attraction rides I will indulge in are POC (MK), Soarin' (Epcot), and the Safari (AK). Plus, I'll spend alot of time in Fantasyland (It is a good time to enjoy the rides we usually pass up!) I am bummed about not riding Everest, but I will certainly go thru the queue with DH. Any roller coaster/spinning rides will be a no go for sure, but there are plenty of attractions throughout WDW that are fun that do not include high hills or spinning teacups!

We are planning on buying a case of water and will carry several bottles a day to the parks, but also take a mid-day break back at the resort. Also, I will probably take granola bars or Luna bars for snacks.

The articles another poster gave from allears are great!

Good luck, congratulations and have a blast on your first trip!!!

 

[candielips]

Thank you for all of your advice. Those articles were really helpful as well as all of your tips. I am definitely going to miss the "big" rides but the sacrifice is so worth it.

I can't believe we leave in a week!