Water park with baby?

[LdyMags]

My best friend, her husband and I are going to WDW in May with their 3 kids, 15, 11, and 8 months. We all want to go to one of the water parks while we are there but aren't sure how feasible it is with the baby, any suggestions? Has anyone taken a baby there before? can you take a stroller?

Thanks!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I would do Blizzard Beach. IMO the children's area at TL was a nightmare. It is too spread out and too many older kids. I also am not a fan of sand and it is everywhere there. Blech! I took a just turned 1 year old to BB and it was so much fun. She had a ball! No, she couldn't go an any big slides but it was still great. I took the stroller with no problem. The play area is nice and you can go down the smaller slides in that area with a baby. I would do it again in a hearbeat. All of the kids had so much fun there.

 

[scrapquitler]

We went to Typhoon Lagoon when my son was 9 months old. I think we had the stroller with us most of the time, but I'm not positive. I do know that he and I had a good time just floating around in the lazy river most of the day.

 

[Kayleebug]

We'll be bringing our 7 month old to TL this summer. I'm very nervous about it, too. I'm also wondering the best suncreen to protect his very delicate skin. He has been modeling his swimsuit, sunglasses, and hat today that I bought him for the trip, though. Too cute!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Aveeno is a great sunscreen for babies.

 

[flynnmnstr]

But it also depends on the baby. If you have an 8 month old who is OK with just floating around on a lazy river and sitting in a stroller or splashing around that's great, but with a 15 and 11 year old going also it is going to be a very split up kind of day. They are going to want to do the big slides and wave pools.

Personally I would have someone choose to stay back at the resort with the baby and save the $40 for that adults ticket. If you have a theme park ticket to use that day; go into your park of your choice and walk around and take in the atmosphere. If not DTD is an option.

My DH did this on one trip when older DS wanted to go to Sea World. I took DS to SeaWorld (we knew the younger one was not going to sit through the shows, so we would be separated for most of the day anyway) and DH took younger DS to DHS to do the playground, Playhouse Disney and character meet and greets. We met up for dinner.

If everyone really wants to go just realize that you're going to be separated a lot of the day. And baby swapping will need a lot of coordination.

Blue Lizard is an excellent sunblock; technically you can use it on a baby younger than 6 months too because it's made out of zinc oxide. My older DS is allergic to every sunblock on the market. This is the only one that works and it is excellent!

 

[KSG'sDisneyMem]

Arrive at Blizzard Beach early and try to grab one of the areas with a covering. Not sure the exact wording for it, but it is like an open gazebo, with chairs under it. Just focus on a location like that with some decent shade offering and a bit of space to set up for the baby. Blizzard Beach is awesome and the older ones will love it.

 

[LPNmom]

My sister had her 2 month old infant with us on our last trip in 2006, she had an infant carrier that was made for water. My sister loved it, the carrier was like a snugglie, but for water. My whole family took turns holding baby in the wave pools while her parents played for a little while on the slides. My niece also loved the lazy river, took a long nice nap with mom and dad!

 

[Kayleebug]

My sister had her 2 month old infant with us on our last trip in 2006, she had an infant carrier that was made for water. My sister loved it, the carrier was like a snugglie, but for water. My whole family took turns holding baby in the wave pools while her parents played for a little while on the slides. My niece also loved the lazy river, took a long nice nap with mom and dad!

ohh, can you find out what this is called exactly? That sounds perfect!

 

[Colleen27]

We took both the older kids on beach vacations their first summer and they were both out on the boat/swimming in the lake where we dock, so I'm not even worried about waterparks with the baby at Disney. Babies tend to like water, as long as it is warm. At least all 3 of mine have.

We swap off who hangs with the baby while the other parent hits the big slides with the older kids. On this trip, we have it particularly easy because my mom doesn't do anything more thrilling than the kiddie area and the lazy river, so she's happy to take it at baby-pace while DH & I run around with DS and older DD.

One thing I would suggest is to look into a rash-guard style bathing suit for better sun protection. There are sites that specialize in sun protection clothing, but they're a bit on the pricey side. I discovered this year that Gymboree carries the short-sleeved bathing suits made from the SPF 50 fabric, so I ordered both girls' suits from them for $20 each instead of the $40 they cost at a specialty store.

 

[tloveswdw]

All my children have been to WDW waterparks, other water parks, oceans, pools and LOVED it...

we always wear them in a either a
Hotsling Poolsling, (useful in the shower too)
http://www.swankyslings.com/home/swa/smartlist_23/hotslings_pool_pouches.html

or the Bodyglove
http://www.amazon.com/Body-Glove-Baby-Carrier-Black/dp/B000813EQ8

Have fun! BIG brimmed hats, and rash guards will deffinately help!

TL has a lot more shade! And the zero depth wave area is fun!

 

[LPNmom]

ohh, can you find out what this is called exactly? That sounds perfect!

I think it was called the Watertot, you can find them on ebay for pretty cheap. She also used this for the shower, since they are pretty slippery when you wash them with soap.