Travelling to WDW with an infant

[fx2594]

Hello All-

My wife and I have been to WDW many times over the last ten years or so, so we think we know the place pretty much inside & out. However, this year will be a little different, as this is our first trip with our 1st child. My daughter will be about 8 months old when we go next month, and I was wondering if any of you had any experience with going to WDW with an infant that you'd like to share. I'm especially curious about which attractions we can go on with her. Obviously rides like Space Mountain are out, but I'm not sure which ones are OK, including the 3D shows.

Any thought you have that can help us get more of of this trip would be appreciated.

Thanks-
David from Long Island

 

[Vanryan]

We took a 10 month old and had a great trip! Mickey's Philharmagic wasn't open yet, so I am not sure about 3D movies, but most rides without a height requirement will be fine. 8 months is a great age for traveling, just use baby swap if you want to ride any big rides.

 

[swilphil]

I've taken infants at 6 months and 11 months. The only rides that are definitely out are the ones with height requirements and especially loud ones. Our kids went on lots of things where they could just sit on our lap. Avoid the 3D movies at AK and Epcot, but Muppets and Mickey Phil. should be fine though they won't wear the glasses.

A lot of other shows are surpisingly interesting to the infants, like Beauty and the Beast. Definitely hit Disney Playhouse too.

 

[paulsimon]

We go quite often with our kids. We have an 11 month old and September will be his third trip.

Most of the Fantasyland rides are good. You have to be careful though. Trust your instincts. If your child frightens easily you may want to stay away from rides that seem innocent enough - except through the eyes of an infant. Even Philharmagic may be scary due to loud music. We usually try to move all the way to the end of the aisle so if we need to we can leave quickly during a show.

Also, September is so hot. Be careful about keeping your baby hydrated. The baby stations in the parks are great. We find them very useful - not just for the baby but for ourselves as well. It's a good place to heat a bottle or if you're nursing they have private nursing rooms. It's also great just to cool off. Plus, if you forget something like formula, pacifiers, diapers, diaper creme, etc...they sell it there. We have used the baby stations in the Magic Kingdom (next to Crystal Palace) and at Animal Kingdom (by Pizzafari). I'm not sure where they are located at MGM or Epcot.

 

[maps]

bring a really good stroller with you---one that reclines so baby can take a nap.

 

[JenniferW]

We went with an infant (when she was 6 months and 12 months )and will be going with a 20 month old in Nov. Bring a Baby Bjorn or other front back for her. We rode a few rides with her in it and she loved it. Also, it is a great time since when they start walking they won't be up for it, but at this age they are thrilled to be seeing so much!

Do not interrupt nap time, this is of the highest importance and have loads of nibbles for them to eat while you are in line and going anywhere else.

Our daughter loved ALL the rides, especially It's a Small world and Haunted Mansion. As they get older they start getting scared so I imagine your child will like more now than later.

Try out anything new at home so there are no surpirses (new food, new sippy cups, bottles, having sunscreen put on, etc)

Also, carry with you any medicines you might need (gas drops, ibruprofin, etc.) as you can find them there, but you don't want to waste time on that.

Bring swim diapers for checking out the pools as that can be pleasant.

Have a blanket and some plastic rings that interlock to cover the stroller so your child won't be distracted when they sleep. Sometimes it's also to discourage strangers from coming up and touching a sleeping baby! Also, works well for nursing, wiping off any wetness from any splashing, etc. (that was more helpful for us at Universal) Those rings are nice to attach a few toys to that can hang from the stroller or the baby carrier and then they won't drop or be thrown!


Our daughter liked the Mickey's Philharmagic show except for a few surprises (water spraying, etc) You might cover her face when it looks like something MIGHT happen, there's enough foreshadowing to figure that out!

Also, make sure your stroller has sufficient sunshade for your child and reclines so they can sleep. The rentals they have at Disney aren't great for under ones : (

Have fun and remember you will go slower, get through less attractions, but watching your child react can be an attraction itself : ) It's so exciting to experience as a family!!!

Jenn

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

You will have an awesome time!!!

The Baby Station that is near the first aid center behind Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom.

They have a nursing room for mommies, high chairs to feed them their meals and a tv playing disney cartoons...and the largest changing tables in the world--actually counters that are sectioned off...and full sheets of paper that cover the entire table.

they have a station in each theme park--but this is the only one we have visited...

Oldest daughters first visit 11 months and youngest daughters first visit 4 months.

Dress your baby in cotton and save the cute souvenir outfits for home or the evenings--alot of the cute clothes they sell in the shops aren't the best breathable fabric and can make baby uncomfortable in warm weather.

Characters--so as not to freak your child out--we always let our child see the characters and let her indicate if she wanted to be closer. In Mickey's toon town--if the "germs" on the carpet don't bother you--we would actually put our daughter on the floor and let her go to the character. To this date--they love the characters and I think it is because of a gentle and not forced approach early on that has helped them not be afraid.

With the Baby Bjorn--if baby will nap in bjorn--even better--no naptime interruptions!

 

[danicaw]

We took our DS in Jan when he was 7 months old and had a wonderful time. We have been 5 times since we got married (including our honeymoon) and we knew it would be different with a little one. But it was wonderful. We took some Grandparents with us, which made riding some of the rides easier, but for the most part we just did what DS could do.

I would recomend going when the crowds are light and weather is mild. We were able to really relax and take our times in the parks, take breaks for naps and still felt like we saw a lot.

We stayed on property, makes returning to the room for a break/nap easy.
We used the provided Pack-N-Play cribs for DS to sleep in. Worked great. Cute Mickey sheets provided and one less thing to pack and check on the plane. Also requested a high chair in the room to make in room meals a bit easier.

We took a stroller with a full recline which DS slept in almost once a day (one nap in the room and one on the go...it worked well for us). We took our Baby Bjorn carrier - I would recomend a carrier of that style. You can walk on several rides without taking the little one out of the carrier and they are in a great position to see and feel secure.
Our little guy loved the shows with lots of music, fell asleep almost everytime we went on Small World, and really enjoyed the Character Breakfast at Crystal Palace - priceless video of DS with Pooh and the gang.

Other recomendations include:
Disposable Bibs!
First Years Brand disposable baby spoons - these are diswasher-able and great, but if you lose one its no big deal.
Baby Centers are awesome!
In general take you time, go on your little ones schedule and take a lot of pictures/video. Just Enjoy!