Tips for Disney Trip with a Baby?

[kmdrago1783]

Hi!

My family and I are going to WDW in October. My husband and I have two girls who will be almost 5 and 11 months.

Any tips on managing Disney with a baby?

We are flying and it's only about an hour and a half flight. We are also staying at the Polynesian so having Monorail access will be a plus. We do plan on going back to the hotel for mid day breaks when possible.

We are planning on renting a double stroller from Orlando Stroller Rentals-- usually my four year old doesn't use a stroller but I want to have the option since we will be doing a lot of out of the ordinary walking.

My baby is pretty low key and goes with the flow and will nap in the stroller. Just want to see if there are any things I haven't thought of to be prepared.

Thanks!

 

[Thing 1]

The biggest suggestion I offer is to plan changes so that they do not occur around the trip. If you are nursing, plan to continue till after the trip. EASIEST by far. If you use formula, don't switch to milk till after the trip. Formula is easier. Don't take away bottle or passie until after the trip. So nice to have a comfort object. Do introduce lots of easy finger food between now and the trip to allow you to use them during travel and meals. Dont introduce any new food right before or during the trip....discovering new allergies on a trip is no fun. Think through your routine now and see if there are things you can introduce to make the trip easier.....Baths?? Maybe start occasionally showering with a parent so he will be used to it on the trip. Introduce a sippy cup now, and think through the bedtime routine. Is he rocked to sleep? Maybe think about starting something you can do in the hotel room. Think about clothes.....is he outgrowing summer stuff? He will need summer in October. Hit the sales now. Be sure you have enough of all his normal hygiene products...don't change or introduce anything new before or during the trip. Think about purchases now.....sunscreen, sun hat, sun glasses...clothes. Take any baby medications and your own dr's #. Maybe try to introduce him to character somewhere like chunck-e-cheese to see his reaction before the trip.

 

[tinkerbesh]

PP has great advice.

Each park has 1 Baby Care Center. Nice place to change diapers, breastfeed in a quiet room, have snacks, and there's a room with a tv showing cartoons.

This past trip was our first when DS2 was drinking milk. We found it tricky to find milk at Epcot. Couldn't get it anywhere in World Showcase (or the Baby Care Center), but finally found some for sale at Electric Umbrella. So I would say plan ahead on that if you need it - we thought we planned so well, but that caught us off guard.

Also take advantage of Rider Switch passes at rides that have a height requirement. 1 of you and your 5-year old will get to go on some stuff twice that way.

 

[Mousemommy1]

While babies have a lot of stuff, taking babies to Disney was a lot easier than I imagined. We did not take our older girls until they were 3 and 5 yrs old but we brought our son in April and he was only 3 months old. He was super easy to travel with. Feel free to ask any specific questions.

The only thing I will say is that we flew with him as a lap child. I didn't like that at all, it was too stressful when things got a little bumpy (we have a 3 hour flight) so we got him his own seat for our trip next year.

 

[GatorMama]

Get a great carrier like an Ergo or Tula because you can't take strollers to many areas and arms get tired holding heavy babes for so long. Maybe even a carrier and a ring sling to change how you're carrying her.

 

[disneypolybride2008]

wow that is almost us!! -see photo! We have DD4 and DD will be 13 months. Plan on strollers for the airport, that is a lot of walking. We have a double stroller but i think we will bring two separate ones. I have the City Mini Lite that nearly reclines for the baby, she loves napping in there.. if she is asleep in it i will just roll the stroller in the room near me.. we are also on a monorail resort.. the GF, for 5 days and then we are switching to AoA b/c DD4 loves Ariel's house, plus we will do AK and DHS those days. The monorail is supposed to be on shortened hours, so they said call ahead 2 weeks to ask what the schedule is. For this trip, we are bringing a travel nursing pillow that inflates, i will try to get her used to it before we go. I'm only planning a few TS meals, the rest are QS but that is a better value anyway since we love character breakfasts.. also DD4 can order an adult meal with the QS plan. I did not want a bunch of TS meals like we normally do b/c babies don't last that long for dinner. We took DD, now 10 months, out to TS places a few times here at home and she did great, but they let us bring in the stroller. At disney they won't, and i dont want her chewing on their high chairs, so QS will be the way to go. Funny because i used to say, 'why would anyone buy the QS plan?' ha ha. I nurse her hourly now, so i can plan on using a lot of my disney time doing that! Atleast DH and DD4 can go on rides while i nurse. We are planning lots of pool time. I'm hoping for 1/2 days at the parks and then 1/2 day for pool time. The GF has movies on the beach and campfires (you can bring your own stuff or buy it there), and then we can watch the water pageant and fireworks from the beach. -as you can from the Poly. Hope you know Poly is under construction (quiet pool and pathways/landscaping, so maybe request a room away from the noise), we are planning on a late start for the day. I don't think the baby will get off her normal schedule too much. At night i plan on seeing the fireworks and parade in MK when it is open late, but on MNSSHP nights i think we'll do a QS at the resort, pool time, beach night. DD can fall asleep in her stroller. Bring sticky notes to put over the auto flush for DD4. We also are not going to plan anything without FP+ unless it is a large seating show. That works with the 1/2 day plan anyway. Dont miss the 3pm parade, it looks awesome!! -at MK. We are bringing a separate umbrella stroller for DD4. -and DH can push her. As for the carrier option someone mentioned.. if you are going to try that.. do it well ahead of time. I read reviews on amazon and picked the 'best' one and it was aweful. I was sore for a day and i only had the thing on a few minutes! (DD weighed 20lbs). DH and I can take turns. Good luck! -i think the DD4 will be the one to worry about, she's SO much more work than the baby!!! Someone told me that when i was at a dr apt with my newborn. the lady had a newborn and an older one or two and said that they are more work than the baby, and i thought how is that even possible.. well she was right!!! the baby will be a breeze

 

[ruthies12]

I highly recommend doing a really simple sling like this one, it made it very easy to take the weight off my arms while standing in line and then I was able to slip it over her head to take her out of it so she could sit forward facing on my lap while on the rides. I took both my of DD's at 10 months old and wished I'd had this with the first one.

http://www.amazon.com/Balboa-Baby-S...qid=1438736580&sr=8-1&keywords=dr+sears+sling

 

[ruthies12]

Also if your little one is on formula getting the pre-mixed bottles and disposable nipples was the best, you can buy them on amazon and ship directly to your hotel.

 

[Jarmo]

One thing we didn't think of, especially if you are using a carrier, make sure to do a diaper change more often than usual to avoid a diaper rash.

 

[jerseygirl82]

We purchased a stroller/clip on fan and it was invaluable in keeping baby cool. We also took lots of breaks and enjoyed touring the parks at a slower pace. DD2 will be 3 months when we go in November and I can't wait!

 

[MunchkinSweetPea]

Bring really lightweight blankets, I personally love the Adan and anais muslin swaddled blankets, and clothes pins to attach to the stroller sunshade or else your kids will have really tan legs from napping halfway under the shade lol. Also ask for the rain cover with the stroller and be sure to cover it when leaving it parked. It rains often and sporadically in Florida.

 

[MunchkinSweetPea]

We purchased a stroller/clip on fan and it was invaluable in keeping baby cool. We also took lots of breaks and enjoyed touring the parks at a slower pace. DD2 will be 3 months when we go in November and I can't wait!

I second the stroller fans! We have two for our double.

 

[tinkerbesh]

Bring really lightweight blankets, I personally love the Adan and anais muslin swaddled blankets, and clothes pins to attach to the stroller sunshade or else your kids will have really tan legs from napping halfway under the shade lol. Also ask for the rain cover with the stroller and be sure to cover it when leaving it parked. It rains often and sporadically in Florida.

My husband hooked up one of those muslin blankets with Velcro so it attached to the stroller tray. Worked like a charm.

Great tip about covering with rain cover every time you park the stroller. Just wanted to add this is a good thing to do even if it's sunny & there's no rain in the forecast. Because Florida!

 

[MommyMeNDisney]

I highly recommend doing a really simple sling like this one, it made it very easy to take the weight off my arms while standing in line and then I was able to slip it over her head to take her out of it so she could sit forward facing on my lap while on the rides. I took both my of DD's at 10 months old and wished I'd had this with the first one.

http://www.amazon.com/Balboa-Baby-S...qid=1438736580&sr=8-1&keywords=dr+sears+sling

I have a Balboa sling; however, I haven't used it since DS was itty bitty. I was actually going to sell, but I'm afraid to get rid of it, since it costs so much. How does it work for you with a 20+ lb baby? I have a Moby, but I'm not using it now since it's so hot. Right now, I use my Baby Bjorn. DS is 22 lbs now. I can only use the Baby Bjorn a few hours before my back hurts. I bought a ring sling (the one with a lot of fabric), but I haven't used it yet. I need to learn how to use it (the different carrying styles), so I can use that when I take DS to Disney in December.

 

[MommyMeNDisney]

I'm debating between DS's travel system stroller and his umbrella stroller to take in the park this December. He will be 19 months when we go. I want to bring the travel system stroller because it has cup holders for DS and me, it reclines, it has more storage options, the shade is bigger, etc.

Any recommendations based on experience?

 

[ruthies12]

I have a Balboa sling; however, I haven't used it since DS was itty bitty. I was actually going to sell, but I'm afraid to get rid of it, since it costs so much. How does it work for you with a 20+ lb baby? I have a Moby, but I'm not using it now since it's so hot. Right now, I use my Baby Bjorn. DS is 22 lbs now. I can only use the Baby Bjorn a few hours before my back hurts. I bought a ring sling (the one with a lot of fabric), but I haven't used it yet. I need to learn how to use it (the different carrying styles), so I can use that when I take DS to Disney in December.

My dd is right at the weight limit of 35 pounds for this sling and I am still using it, it still works great and I plan to still use it when we go to Disney in December even if she is over the weight limit, I just wont take my arms off of her and go hands free, just in case the fabric starts to rip. But it still helps to save my arms from feeling like they are going to fall off from holding her. She is a very active toddler so the only times she wants me to hold her if she is really tired or scared of something. Therefore she doesn't spend long in the sling anymore. I think that is why I still like this sling, it isn't uncomfortable to wear even when she isn't in it and it is really easy to slip her in and out.

 

[ruthies12]

I'm debating between DS's travel system stroller and his umbrella stroller to take in the park this December. He will be 19 months when we go. I want to bring the travel system stroller because it has cup holders for DS and me, it reclines, it has more storage options, the shade is bigger, etc.

Any recommendations based on experience?

Personally I'd go with the travel system stroller. Especially if your DS is a napper cause it is almost impossible to nap in an umbrella unless you have one of the bigger ones that reclines. IMO the only real reason to go with an umbrella is for folding up ease on transport, but I was always able to fold my travel system stroller up with my diaper bag still hanging on the back and to me that it made it much easier for taking on and off the busses than an umbrella would have been.

 

[kmdrago1783]

My dd is right at the weight limit of 35 pounds for this sling and I am still using it, it still works great and I plan to still use it when we go to Disney in December even if she is over the weight limit, I just wont take my arms off of her and go hands free, just in case the fabric starts to rip. But it still helps to save my arms from feeling like they are going to fall off from holding her. She is a very active toddler so the only times she wants me to hold her if she is really tired or scared of something. Therefore she doesn't spend long in the sling anymore. I think that is why I still like this sling, it isn't uncomfortable to wear even when she isn't in it and it is really easy to slip her in and out.

I've never been a carrier Mom, but this sling looks really easy to use! Thinking about ordering it and trying it out before our trip...

 

[MommyMeNDisney]

My dd is right at the weight limit of 35 pounds for this sling and I am still using it, it still works great and I plan to still use it when we go to Disney in December even if she is over the weight limit, I just wont take my arms off of her and go hands free, just in case the fabric starts to rip. But it still helps to save my arms from feeling like they are going to fall off from holding her. She is a very active toddler so the only times she wants me to hold her if she is really tired or scared of something. Therefore she doesn't spend long in the sling anymore. I think that is why I still like this sling, it isn't uncomfortable to wear even when she isn't in it and it is really easy to slip her in and out.

Oh ok thank you. I guess I need to put my balboa sling back in the rotation.

 

[ruthies12]

I've never been a carrier Mom, but this sling looks really easy to use! Thinking about ordering it and trying it out before our trip...

I was never a carrier mom either until I got this! I bought it at my local babies r us and brought it home to try out specifically for Disney before our last trip. I put the baby in it and sat down on the couch, slipped her out and faced her forward like I would on a ride, then stood up and slipped her back in it like I would getting out of a ride. That is when I fell in love with it. Every other carrier I've seen has been too complex with wrapping and buckles, etc. I loved the simplicity of this one.

A lot of carriers I noticed require two hands to put on and off, which means you can't already be holding the baby when you try to put the carrier on. This is a problem for me because I'm usually already holding the baby when I realize she is not going to let me put her down and I need to get the carrier. I'm not coordinated enough to do anything complex with a carrier and not drop the baby! I love the fact that I can get this sling on and off very easily while already holding dd.

Hope this all helps!