Trip with a newborn

[M likes the mouse]

Hello,
We are planning our first trip as a family next October. Our daughter will be 12 weeks old at the time of the trip and we have some planning questions.

First, if we decide to go to F&W events like Sunday mornings with, parisian breakfast or demos will we have to buy an entry for the infant to be allowed on the premises?

Also, if we decide to book an event, are strollers permitted into the festival center?

Finally, those of you who went with newborns, what kind of stroller did you bring? We will most likely have a bugaboo chameleon with either the reclining seat, car seat attachment or a bassinet. On top of that we will most likely have or a baby carrier.

Thank you very much!

 

[nonnydd]

First of all, congratulations!! In October, you could still get very warm days, and be in air-conditioned venues, so have layers and be ready with an adjustable umbrella/shade of some type on the stroller.

Memorize where the Child Care centers are in each park; they are clean, have nice changing tables, are quiet, and even have nursing rooms. One of my favorite Disney moments was when I left the heat, visual overload, and noise outside, and sat in a semi-dark group nursing room, listening to moms and babies quietly whispering and cooing; like another world. The centers also stock pricey single-diaper kits, baby food, and some first aid items. It is better to pay up for a diaper than to shlepp back to a hotel when you unexpectedly run out.

I'm not sure about different events; you might want to call the venue. Most restaurants and rides will have a stroller parking area; we have been allowed to bring a small stroller with a sleeping child to our table when we asked politely. You might want to bring a semi-lightweight slim stroller with a carseat attachment for versatility. It is hard for big prams to get through a crowd. I find that the larger the wheel diameter, the smoother the ride on the pavement.

Be ready to adjust your plans; I've had to escape Illuminations with a tot who was afraid of loud sounds. But it is all worth it. Best wishes!

 

[BadgerGirl84]

We went to WDW with our daughter when she was not-quite 4 months. I don't know about any of your F&W questions.

Regarding the stroller, many people use the car seat attached to the stroller. I did NOT want to do that. First, it's not recommended to have your infant in the car seat for longer than what they have to be. Second, car seats are HOT. We brought our regular stroller (Britax B-Agile--I have a love/hate relationship with it) but also used the Britax Infant Insert that works as head support for the stroller or the Britax car seats. At 3 months old, most babies don't have the head or neck support to just be sitting up in the stroller...and the insert gave my daughter all the support she needed. Plus it has a cool side and a warm side. I LOVED it for that age and I'm sure the insert would work with other strollers. I wouldn't bring a Bugaboo to WDW--I'd be too afraid of it getting stolen!

 

[Dismama2boys]

Definitely take a carrier....I wore my littles far more than they stayed in a stroller. I don't know answers to most of your other questions, but did want to say that as well as congratulations!

 

[ayz75]

We took our 5 months old to DWD last year and had a great time. We got the uppababy gluxe stroller which is suitable for 3 months+, it was relatively lightweight and folds like an umbrella (of course, not as light as the real umbrella, but it is meant for babies from 3m, so it is a lot more sturdy ) we did not drive, so we definitely didn't want to bring our bugaboo with us and lug it on the bus.. so invest in a good umbrella that is suitable for 3m+ if you can!

We also brought a carrier though! You will need one when you enter the rides (there are lots that have no height restrictions meaning you can carry your baby in) carrier is not required but it definitely feels like a safer option than holding the baby in your arm.

 

[Crystal824]

I haven't ever taken a baby quite that young, we almost did this past year though. My maternity leave was up in mid-Sept. We considered going right before, but I just thought it would be too hot in early Sept. If she had been born a month later, we probably would have gone in October.

I have taken my oldest daughter at 9 mo. Do take advantage of the baby care centers. I don't really have an answer to the F&W questions. However, you don't need a ticket for a child that young to anything else (the park in general or the hard ticket parties). If I had to guess, I would say no, you don't need a ticket for the baby. As for the stroller, I'm not sure. I haven't been to any of those activities. I will say many times strollers aren't allowed if the area is small. Definitely take a baby carrier, just in case so you are prepared to wear the baby in those areas. You will likely need one anyway, as strollers aren't allowed in some other areas of the park anyway, the Land for instance.

 

[lillygator]

we started taking DD now 10 at 4 weeks old - newborns were the easiest I think (but we don;t have to deal with flying etc). I can't answer the F and W questions, but we just brought a stroller that the infant car seat clipped into. I also wore her in a baby bjorn quite a bit.

 

[twinspluscade]

I'd be reluctant to take a baby to any of the Food and Wine events, just because I'd imagine it's mostly adults that go to those, and they may not be happy to have an infant in the midst. Do they even allow kids? You might want to double check that.

 

[Greenfield1984]

Can't answer about strollers in the festival centre, however we brought DD at 6 weeks old. We used our City Mini Double which reclines almost fully, and I mostly wore her in my wrap. It was the easiest trip with a child we've ever done. She just stayed on me the whole day, I fed her in the wrap, rode rides with her in the wrap, she napped on me in the wrap... I definitely recommend a carrier for a baby that small, makes it so much easier to get around than a stroller!