Traveling to BWV with an infant

[fx2594]

Hello All-

My wife and I purchased an interest in DVC about 6 years ago, just before we got married. We've been to BWV a number of times together and feel we know the ins & outs of DisneyWorld vacations pretty well.

This trip we have our first curveball, in the form of our 7 month old daughter Lauren Rose. This will be our first vacation with her, including her first plane ride. We're meeting my parents, brother, sister, sister-in-law, and three nephews (12, 8, & 5 months) down there. We're going two days ahead of time to 'settle in' since we've never travelled with a baby before.

I have a specific question: I called BWV to ask what they could provide for infants and was surprised to learn that high chairs are not available. For some reason I assumed cribs, playpens AND high chairs were standard at hotels, but I guess I'll just add that to the lengthy list of things that I assumed wrong when it comes to being a parent (I swear, babies should come with a manual!). For those of you that have travelled with an infant, how did you handle the high chair issue?

In addition to that question, I'd appreciate and love to hear any stories or advice that you can share about making the most of a trip to WDW with an infant.

Thanks!

David (Valley Stream, NY)

 

[Dizzy4Dizney]

Our DD first trip to Disney was when she was 7 months and we stayed at the BWV. 3 years ago, they had high chairs. It's one of those wooden ones with buckels you usually get at a fast food restaurant, but it fit her fine.

All the rooms should have a pack-in-play and she slept in that fine. We asked for a crib, and it was horrible! It was about 30 years old, brass and the matress was thin and noisy plastic! The pack-in-play was much better.

We had a blast with our DD at that age. You should have a great time too.

 

[huey duey & luey]

I know a few people have rented some items from A baby's best friend. You can probably find more info on the family board. If you have a car you may want to think about buying a portable booster that attaches to a chair. They can usually be found between $15-20. I know I have read that OKW had highchairs I would have assumed that most hotel had them, but could not be guaranteed. Good luck
Tara

 

[DebbieB]

I thought DVC equipped all of the rooms with high chairs in the closet (the wood frame kind).

 

[LisaSt]

Our kids started going to Disney with us at about 4 months old. They have a pack N play for them to sleep in in every DVC room. We rented a buggy for the first one and just brought our buggy for the other 2. Ours just fell asleep during the day in the buggy so no need to go back to the room for anything. We used the baby feeding stations at the parks for my wife to breast feed them it worked out really well. They also had diapers and wipes and food etc in the feeding stations to purchase if you needed it and didn't have it.

 

[jweiss]

I'm taking my 6 month old to BCV next week for a week. I called last week and was told that they DO have high chairs. I'd call again, and see what answer you get this time!!!!!

 

[Alysa]

I am almost certain you can just call the front desk and have a high chair sent up. Maybe they do not have them because they do not have restaurants in the actual hotel? One good tip I have is take the baby's clean unwashed bed linens for the pack and play. Also if you are going to be in a studio remember to take a kettle - I always forget and have to buy one at the grocery store. Last thing - board books! The familiar wind down really helped our DD. If you like, here is a trip report with some other tips in it...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=570103

Have a WONDERFUL time!

 

[Pa@okw95]

There are some things you have to do with a baby on an airplane. I believe there are special ear plugs for them. It has been awhile for me.

 

[Granny]

Originally posted by DebbieB
I thought DVC equipped all of the rooms with high chairs in the closet (the wood frame kind).

I've never seen a room with a high chair already in it. Just the Pak n Play playpens.

I agree with jweiss...call again and you're likely to get a different answer!

 

[Nanajo1]

We've always had the wooden restaurant type high chairs in our OKW closet. We requested a second one last time and it was promptly delivered. We have rented an exersaucer from A Baby's Best Friend whch was great for down time in the room.

 

[ilovediznee]

We took our DD when she was six months old and they had them at BWV, but I called and asked them to put it on our confirmation sheet and to send me an updated one.

That way if we got there and they said none were available, then you had a copy where you asked for it and they can find you one. Certainly they can go to a restaurant on the Boardwalk and get you one for your stay. While putting it on the confirmation sheet is not a guarntee, it would help to have it for reference.

 

[canwegosoon]

I always used to bring one of those mulit colored folding ones. They were so easy to use.

 

[DVCDawn]

Relax, having an infant at WDW is a snap. My DDs are 5 and 2 and since they've been born we've made 4 trips "home" to BWV without any major problems. Off the top of my head, here are some tips to remember when traveling to WDW with an infant:

1. HIGHCHAIR: Don't worry about the highchair thing. I am certain that if there isn't one in your room, Mousekeeping will be happy to bring one up for you. My last trip was in December 2003 and getting a highchair was no problem.

2. CRIB: If your baby prefers a crib you can request one. They are on a first come, first served basis, but I have never had a problem getting one. I believe that the earlier you check in, the better your chances are of getting a crib. One note about the crib -- pack your own sheets. The crib comes to the room with a sheet, however, it is not fitted and I always feel safer when I know that the baby won't get herself all wrapped up in it in the middle of the night.

3. PACK N PLAY: If you choose to use the pack n play, be sure to pack your own set of sheets, too. I don't believe they are provided.

4. BATHTIME: The tubs are those huge jacuzzi ones, and bathing can be difficult. You may want to purchase one of those small inflatable ones (about $10.00 at Buy Buy Baby) to pack so that you don't actually have to get in the tub with the baby.

5. BABY BJORN (or something like it): I found this to be indispensible. My youngest DD's first trips to WDW were at 3 months and again at 9 months. I just strapped her into one of these things and brought her on every ride I could. She loved it and I wasn't worried about holding on to a squirmy baby on Aladdin's Magic Carpets ride.

6. STROLLER: I can't empasize this enough -- bring your own stroller. You'll be happier, your child will be happier and you'll be able to find your stroller easily at one of the stroller parking areas. It should be no trouble on the airplane -- most airlines allow you to "gate check" your stroller -- meaning you push it down the jetway and fold it up just prior to getting on the plane. When you arrive, it will be waiting for you in the jetway in Orlando.

Have a great magical time -- I'm sure you and your family will enjoy WDW in a whole new way now!

DVCDawn

 

[MikeB63]

We have also been DVC members for many years and this October we will be bringing our 7 month old daughter with us for the first time. We usually stay at Old Key West and there was always one of the wood frame high chairs in our unit. Maybe BWV doesn't because of space issues? I have looked into babysaway.com for getting a regular crib since I don't like the idea of her sleeping in the pack n' play all week and I believe they can also provide high chairs. Please let us know how everything went when you return. I would love to hear about all your experiences with a 7 month old.

 

[kweaver]

There are wooden high chairs in the SSR units.

 

[Patty3]

We were at the BCV in May and had two small children and needed two high chairs. I requested this when I made our ressie and had no problem in getting them. As for the plane, my DIL had to fly to New Hampshire several times with a child under 1. For their ears, her doctor told her to just make sure that the child is sucking on a bottle during take off and landing. She did this and the child was fine, no ear problems.

 

[JimFitz]

I am heading to VWL in September with my twin boys (22 months) and our third son who is 5 months.

I was told cribs will be no problem and there is a pack and play in all rooms. I will be using a baby bjorn and bringing our own stroller.

 

[MinnieGi]

We have stayed twice at OKW and twice at BWV and there has always been a wooden highchair in the coat closet of each villa. I assumed every unit had one, but if yours doesn't just call the front desk or mousekeeping and they will bring one up.

WDW is a great place to vacation with an infant. We will be bringing our almost 6 month old in Feb. 2005. We traveled with DD when she was an infant too.

For the plane: we either had DD suck on her bottle or a sippy cup during take off and landing. She had no ear problems. A 7 month old might still like her binky. I would try and time our flights to be during nap time for DD and she almost always fell asleep. At times when she was not asleep we entertained her with books, stickers, and small toys.

Parks: We always found bringing our own stoller preferable. It had a nice storage basked, reclined and a big sun canopy. DD would often nod off for a catnap when she was tired during the day and wake up refreshed. We never stayed in the parks all day anyway except for our last day when we were catching our flight home. Those days when she needed a longer nap we rode TTA around and around again. They did not mind and said quite a few parents do that!!

Villa: Having a DVC villa is great to be able to spread all of your baby's things out. Of course having the kitchen and laundry in the room is excellent with a baby!

Good luck and have a blast with your DD!

 

[mmmcq]

Most of the important suggestions have been covered, but I'll add a few:

We travelled to BWV when our 3rd child was 6 months old having just bought into DVC the previous April. We requested and got a room on the first level with a patio out onto the pool. This way we were able to go in and out of the room (I have two older daughters) while baby was napping in the MBR. (We had a 1BR).
It wasn't too noisy and in fact was really very pleasant.

This April we spent 7 days in a 2BR and I asked for a room near the elevator. That's key if you're on a higher floor.

I have alway brought my own McLaren stroller to Disney. The one Disney rents are not great for infants and they are plastic and hot. BTW - I bought a carryon bag for the stroller 6-8 yrs ago from a catalog (which I can look up if you need it) as well as a bag for my car seat and they have served me well. Friends borrow them all the time. Wiht the bags I can decide at the last minute whether to check them or not as regular bags. (Sometimes it's not worth taking a stroller out to the gate. It's just much easier to keep an infant in front pack and check the stroller). And if I check them, they stay dry and clean. Florida is subject to quick unannouced showers after all and I don't want a wet car seat when we try to make a fast get away from the airport.

FYI - The McLaren strollers are sturdier than most and last decades. They manuever well and are easily collapsible. Just last year for our summer trip to DVC I bought a new one rather than have my 10 yr old one repaired. I figured I could get at least 2 trips out of it and I may be able to use it one more time next year with my 5 yr old.

Another tip....on hot summer days I take a room towel or beach towel from home and line the carriage so it isn't hot when we put the little one back in.

BTW - In the carry on bags for the stroller and/or carseat I am able to store/ship other baby items like a booster seat (strapped into the carseat) and/or when this third DD was 2 - a portable snap on seat for the table or counter.

As I mentioned, we were at BWV in April of this year and there was a high chair in the closet as well as the porta crib. I don't think they supply linens for the crib, however....so I've always brought my own, especially blankets since the units are air conditioned.

You'll have a great time. I fondly remember that April tip when our youngest DD was 6 months. We were sometimes in the park at midnight on E nights in the MK. She did great and it was fun. And now I have a 4 yr old who loves Disney. She's already been there 4 times in 4 years!

 

[jerrb]

I have requested a high chair for two visits at three resorts (one visit split between BCV and VB).

It was no problem and the high chair was in my room waiting.

You can just email member services with your confirmation number and dates of stay and they should get back to you quickly.

Have a great trip!