Taking a newborn to Disneyland! HELP!

[thephoo]

Hi everyone!

I'm just in the throes of planning my sixth trip to Disneyland with a friend and her daughter who are Disneyland virgins - hurrah! We'll be going in October for Halloween, much to my daughter's delight (we're Disney Halloween virgins) and as I'm pregnant at the moment, by then we're also going to have a teeny tiny baby with us Which seems quite unbelievable at the moment - but as this trip needs booking I need to get some things straight in my head so I know it's definitely feasible to take a newborn (the baby will be around 3 months then).

A few facts first!

Firstly we're travelling by Eurostar, as usual, and we're staying at Sequoia Lodge (my first time staying here too).

Has anyone on here got any experience of staying at Disney with a tiny baby? Any top tips?

I was just reading through some peoples' comments about staying at SL and I was wondering if there was anything special I should request (location of room, for example).

I basically just want to check that I'm not insane for thinking it'll be ok to go with an ickle baby...!!

Thank you in advance

 

[figaro2]

Hi, we went in November and our baby was abit older than yours - 6months, but I suppose it wont be much different,
You can request a cot in your room, bring some extra blankets though, my LO slept in it fine after the first night but when we used his familiar blankets it was fine. Not sure if you formula feed but we took some washing up liquid and washed his stuff in the sink in the room and took ready made cartons so it was easy around the park.
We also had a 3 year old with us and for the first time ever took to going back for a nap for a few hours in the afternoon, the youngest got abit grumpy not having time to roll around and I think being so out of routine was abit overwhelming for him. I know it's hours you could be in the park, but the time we did spend there was made ether by the fact the kids had had a break!
LO went on lots of rides, he loved POTC! We didn't take ours but I'd recommend a baby carrier while you're there for a smaller baby, of you plan to go on rides, having them strapped to you will be abit more secure for a baby that isn't sitting up!
Hope you have a good trip!

 

[figaro2]

Also, you will find a lot of restaurants have loads of prams outside, as though you can't take them in, but some will notice your baby is very young and let you take yours in, others if you just explain LO is too small for a highchair they will let you bring it in no problem x

 

[torsie24]

Heya,

No advice but I can't wait to hear how you get on.

We're probably going to wait to take our baby until she's 1 (if I can be that patient) as I've read DLRP is different to WDW and they aren't allowed on any of the rides until they are 1. And I'd be sad not to take her on Small World and the Storybook Boats and things.

I bet it'll be a wonderful trip though.

Huge congrats on your pregnancy - hope its going well. X

 

[Cariadbach]

We took ds when he was 8mths and it was ok.We had a pop up travel cot for him and took a cold water steriliser with us.We dont use pushchairs so it was easy enough to get around with just a sling.
His favourite ride was iasw!!I think it would be a lot easier with a teeny as hopefully they'll sleep quite a lot

 

[MickeysFavouriteGirl]

DD will be 13 months when we go in March (her 1st trip!!) I've read to take a bicycle lock to tie the pram up whilst your on rides/eating.

We're driving this time, don't fancy the eurostar with a baby and 7yr old!

 

[tinks_1989]

We went DD was 6 months and she loved it.

We did quiet a few rides with her Its a small world, Pirates of the Caribbean, Pinocchio, Peter Pan and the storybook ride. We were told she had to be one to go on dumbo (or anything similar Orbitron and Flying carpets in the studio) tea cups, Csey Junior and Buzz Lightyear.

She loved characters and got a lot of attention when we saw them.

We stayed at the Davy Crockett and had access to a microwave to sterilize and a kettle to warm bottles (you can ask for a kettle though at any hotel I think you need to pay a refundable deposit though). Of course if you are breast feeding this wont be a problem.

The baby centres in both parks are great and seem to be the nicest/cleanest toilets inside the park. There are microwaves in there and some where to sit.

Our baby/body carrier was great . Saves having to worry about the pushchair when not on rides and dont have to worry about aching arms if you do decide to wait in a long line for anything.

Push chair was great when watching parade though helped guard a bit of space.

Regarding requesting a room I would just ask for a quiet room.

recommend a baby carrier while you're there for a smaller baby, of you plan to go on rides, having them strapped to you will be abit more secure for a baby that isn't sitting up!
Hope you have a good trip!

You aren't aloud to have them on the ride in the carriers its to do with their health and safety. We saw lots of people being told they couldn't use them in December.

 

[MickeysFavouriteGirl]

Dumbos and flying carpets are closed whilst we're there was really looking forward to taking DD on them! Never mind - it gives me an excuse to go back yet again lol

 

[thephoo]

Wow thanks for all your advice!

You've all been really helpful I think it's hard because as that baby's not here I can't judge whether I'll be breast feeding or bottle feeding, etc! As the baby will be so young I'm going to have to take a sterilizer (if I'm bottle feeding) and think I'll need to use those old fashioned sterilizing tablets(??)

I wasn't sure about rides but thought I'd be ok to go IASW? And then ok to go in attractions like Cinemagique, Animagique and Stich Live, etc?

The other thing I have considered is taking enough nappies and wipes to tide me over but then buying some from the supermarket on the first day, just so they don't take loads of space in my bag? Has anyone done anything similar?

Thanks for all your advice, I think if the baby's bottle feeding pre-made up formula is a great idea, as is taking your own blankets I don't feel as mad now for planning it!

 

[thephoo]

Torsie24, I went last March with my friend when her little boy was 1 and to be honest it was a piece of cake It seems so much easier when they're actually eating food and don't need to have everything sterilized!

Mickeysfavouritegirl....my little girl will be 7 when I go in October with the new baby - on the Eurostar!! Luckily I'm travelling with my friend and her little girl too and she has promised to help - thank goodness! I don't think it'll be too bad because I travel a lot with just my DD as my OH works such long hours and she's pretty well behaved. I'll definitely be charging the iPad and taking lots of snacks to keep her occupied though!

 

[MickeysFavouriteGirl]

I think the eurostar would be easy with a younger baby but my DD is already a wriggle pants and into EVERYTHING, I think trying to keep her in one place for the journey would be a nightmare lol. At least with driving she has her own seat, we're planning frequent stops and overnight ferries.

 

[tinks_1989]

Wow thanks for all your advice!

You've all been really helpful I think it's hard because as that baby's not here I can't judge whether I'll be breast feeding or bottle feeding, etc! As the baby will be so young I'm going to have to take a sterilizer (if I'm bottle feeding) and think I'll need to use those old fashioned sterilizing tablets(??)

I wasn't sure about rides but thought I'd be ok to go IASW? And then ok to go in attractions like Cinemagique, Animagique and Stich Live, etc?

The other thing I have considered is taking enough nappies and wipes to tide me over but then buying some from the supermarket on the first day, just so they don't take loads of space in my bag? Has anyone done anything similar?

Thanks for all your advice, I think if the baby's bottle feeding pre-made up formula is a great idea, as is taking your own blankets I don't feel as mad now for planning it!

We also went when DD was almost 1 and we were stil sterilizing. The tablets are great but the first lot I bought needed a lot of water I never checked. Make sure you do lol I found ones later on that need 1/2 the water lol.

We did stitch live and lights motor action it was nice to have some where to sit down

We booked before DD was born and I know what you mean it's so hard to be organised when you just don't know what the baby will be like. I was worried about naps, bottles etc but we had a great time and we have now been 4 times with her and she isn't 2 yet so it didn't put us off

 

[thephoo]

I think the eurostar would be easy with a younger baby but my DD is already a wriggle pants and into EVERYTHING, I think trying to keep her in one place for the journey would be a nightmare lol. At least with driving she has her own seat, we're planning frequent stops and overnight ferries.

I drove with my (then) 3 year old DD for her very first trip to DL and it was brilliant. We took a night ferry, she was awake for the ferry and played with a little French girl then as soon as we got to Calais and strapped her in the car she zonked out and slept all the way to DL - amazing.

It was perfect until we pulled in at about 3am, she woke up, realised we were in DL and started shouting for Mickey Mouse. I got 45 minutes sleep that night before we had to go to the park! It makes me laugh thinking about it now, it's one of my favourite Disney memories with it being her first trip. We were all so excited!!

I would love to drive again some day though, all in all it was really pleasurable and it's nice to have control over your stay - I love ferries too But I think the petrol prices and an extremely road rage prone OH put me off driving again though to be honest

 

[thephoo]

We booked before DD was born and I know what you mean it's so hard to be organised when you just don't know what the baby will be like. I was worried about naps, bottles etc but we had a great time and we have now been 4 times with her and she isn't 2 yet so it didn't put us off

You've just reminded me of another of my questions!

Obviously I will be booking before the baby is born too, did you just add your DD onto the booking later?

 

[MickeysFavouriteGirl]

Our car only costs us £75 to get to DLP and back (810 miles!) its ridiculously economical! Our ferry is 2am, hoping to be at DLP for 8.30am!

 

[thephoo]

Our car only costs us £75 to get to DLP and back (810 miles!) its ridiculously economical! Our ferry is 2am, hoping to be at DLP for 8.30am!

That's amazing! I live in York so it would cost us atleast double that to get to Dover in the first place!

Are you going to go straight into the park when you get there then?

 

[tinks_1989]

You've just reminded me of another of my questions!

Obviously I will be booking before the baby is born too, did you just add your DD onto the booking later?

We were just asked for an initial, surname and I think they put date of birth as the day before we booked the trip. We were just asked to update them once she had arrived. We booked through Thompson so the travel agent did it all for us.

 

[thephoo]

We were just asked for an initial, surname and I think they put date of birth as the day before we booked the trip. We were just asked to update them once she had arrived. We booked through Thompson so the travel agent did it all for us.

Ah ok, I usually book online.

I imagine I'll be ok just to add the baby on later won't I? I could just phone them direct once he/she has been born...

 

[MickeysFavouriteGirl]

Our car only costs us £75 to get to DLP and back (810 miles!) its ridiculously economical! Our ferry is 2am, hoping to be at DLP for 8.30am!

Yes we're going to park at the Santa Fe, collect our tickets and go straight there! We're in North Derbyshire so a fairly long journey too.

 

[MickeysFavouriteGirl]

I am no good at quoting from the app lol