WDW and newborns: share your BTDT experience

[designermv]

We have a trip booked for December and I just found out I am expecting and due in November.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet, but I'd love to hear from some moms who have successfully made the trip with a newborn (1 month old at time of travel).

We will be on the monorail, and while DH is not coming, my mother is, so I'll have plenty of help. DD age 5 will be with us too.

Thanks so much!

 

[smkiya]

I'd also love to hear the responses. I'm due in June and so our little one will be about 4-5 months (depending on when he decides to make his appearance). From what I've heard and read, it's easier having a 'youngin' as opposed to a 7-14 month old. Newborns primarily eat and sleep, and are light enough to carry for longer distances out of the stroller. My biggest concern would be with having an infant so young in the middle of cold and flu season. You may have to take more protective action with him/her like immunizations, keeping her covered, and keeping other little kids and adults from getting too close... "oh look at the cute little baby.... AHHH CHOOOO!!!" or "I didn't wash my hands, but I'm going to put my fingers in her face anyway." YUCK.

Though depending on when you go in December, crowds may be light. Plan on taking breaks during the day, and where you stay will matter also. Are you breast or bottle feeding? Will you have a stove to warm a bottle or a refrigerator to keep it cold... they advise against using microwaves... I'm sure thousands of people have done it without a hitch, just try and be prepared, and make sure to involve your pediatrician. He may have a contact in Orlando just in case you need a quick check up while down there. I would also take baby for a checkup just before leaving to get the all clear and important numbers in case of emergency. Good luck and Congrats!

 

[here757]

I'm in the same boat!!
my baby due in july and the trip scheduled end of august..
scribbing
op.. best of luck.. its fun once you feel them move

 

[smkiya]

I just thought... I'd get trip insurance also. We all hope for a happy natural delivery, but it's not always what we get. If you should need a C-section for whatever reason, one month may not be enough recovery time for YOU! Just something to think about.

 

[designermv]

I'd also love to hear the responses. I'm due in June and so our little one will be about 4-5 months (depending on when he decides to make his appearance). From what I've heard and read, it's easier having a 'youngin' as opposed to a 7-14 month old. Newborns primarily eat and sleep, and are light enough to carry for longer distances out of the stroller. My biggest concern would be with having an infant so young in the middle of cold and flu season. You may have to take more protective action with him/her like immunizations, keeping her covered, and keeping other little kids and adults from getting too close... "oh look at the cute little baby.... AHHH CHOOOO!!!" or "I didn't wash my hands, but I'm going to put my fingers in her face anyway." YUCK.

Though depending on when you go in December, crowds may be light. Plan on taking breaks during the day, and where you stay will matter also. Are you breast or bottle feeding? Will you have a stove to warm a bottle or a refrigerator to keep it cold... they advise against using microwaves... I'm sure thousands of people have done it without a hitch, just try and be prepared, and make sure to involve your pediatrician. He may have a contact in Orlando just in case you need a quick check up while down there. I would also take baby for a checkup just before leaving to get the all clear and important numbers in case of emergency. Good luck and Congrats!

Thanks for the feedback. Germs would be my biggest concern, I think. I'll be breastfeeding and staying at the Poly. Our flight is short, under two hours, but I do worry about having a wee one on a germy airplane. If I got the babe it's own seat, I could drape a light blanket over the carseat, I guess. As far as the parks are concerned, I'm not too terribly worried about germs as I'll carry the baby in a sling or have it covered/protected in a stroller.

 

[designermv]

I just thought... I'd get trip insurance also. We all hope for a happy natural delivery, but it's not always what we get. If you should need a C-section for whatever reason, one month may not be enough recovery time for YOU! Just something to think about.

I will *likely* have a repeat c-section as my big-headed daughter was going nowhere at 41+ weeks and I miserably 'failed' the induction.

My recovery last time was easy-peasy, so I'm hoping I'll have good luck this time around too. Great idea on getting trip insurance, thank you!

 

[designermv]

I'm in the same boat!!
my baby due in july and the trip scheduled end of august..
scribbing
op.. best of luck.. its fun once you feel them move

Congratulations! Yes, I am looking forward to feeling him/her move. It's been 4+ years since I had my daughter, I've forgotten how wonderful that is. Until they're dislocating your ribs at 38 weeks.

 

[fussymonkey]

I have taken a 4 month old to Disney. It was fine, easy as could be. I would def. check into trip insurance, in case you need to have a c/s. I went to DC 2 weeks after my last c/s and it was kind of rough. I wouldn't walk around disney one month post op. For a natual delivery, though, you should be fine.

We bottle fed, which is harder than breast at Disney, and it wasn't bad at all. No need to refridgerate/heat bottles. We just kept a bottle of bottled water with us and mixed the formula when needed. It was really simple. Of course I didn't heat any of my kids bottles, just used lukewarm tap water, which made being on the go much easier.

Newborns just sleep so easy to have in the park.

I wouldn't worry so much about the germs on the plane. The baby gets your immunities from your breast milk. I've never had one my kids get sick as newborns and I took them everywhere. They are much heartier than we give them credit for.

 

[Shleedogg]

Sorry, this is going to be long . I wrote this to another dis-er right after we got back so I think I included every little detail. DD was 2 mos when we went.

We had a good time but it was definitely different than our other Disney vacations. We have a really well-behaved and mellow baby so she was pretty easy the whole time. The real "issue" is that she's still eating every 2-3 hrs so that really slowed us down. We'd do about 2 rides and she'd be ready to eat again. I'm not sure about the crowds in Sept (the one time we went at the end of Sept, it was dead) but if it's busy you might be feeding him after every ride.

I'm nursing and my modesty (what little of it I had left after childbirth, lol) went out the window. They do have a baby care center in each park which was so great. DD got very over stimulated during the day with all the sights and noise and when she would eat, she wouldn't eat very much. We found that if we'd go to the baby center at least twice a day it would do wonders for her in terms of calming down, eating a full meal. It does take at least an hour though between travel time (there is only one per park and they're usually at the front of the park), feeding, changing. If you're formula feeding I would think it would be a big pita at the parks. Having to worry about bottles, mixing formula, cleaning bottles, etc. The other thing is my daughter likes to snack for lack of a better word. We had nursing problems at first and so I exclusively pumped. She would eat an ounce, want a break, then 30 min later want a little more. I don't think you can do that w/ formula, leaving it out after it's been started. Breast milk is fine at room temp for 4 hrs, but I think you have to discard formula after a short per of time. That would be a big concern for me.

If you are nursing, I would recommend buying a cheap hand pump. DD's feeding schedule got messed up, not eating as much/as often and I found myself engorged and it was great to be able to pump a little of it. It was also nice to have a bottle for the morning since after she was fed and we got ready and into the parks (about 2 hrs) she would be hungry again. This way MIL or FIL could feed her and DH and I could go on a ride or two. It was also great for the morning when we went to Chef Mickey breakfast so we could actually eat and she could too.

Changing is not a big deal. At first we would go to the bathroom and the baby changing station each time, pita. I would just lay down the changing pad on a bench and change her, much quicker.

Our little one is sleeping through the night, so that wasn't an issue for us. If she wasn't, I think that it would be hard to get up and go to the parks every day. We were still tired though and only stayed one night to see fireworks. We also took breaks some days and went back to the hotel for some calm time for baby.

The baby swap is great. You can bring on two other people with you after the first person rides. That way you don't have to ride alone. I don't think I'd want to go w/ a baby though w/out other people. MIL, FIL and niece 14 were such a big help. They enabled DH and I to ride some rides together which was really nice. I think having to ride every ride alone would take some of the fun out of it for me.

Also, get a baby carrier. I have a Moby Wrap and I love it. DD definitely got sick of sitting in her stroller for too long. I'm terrified of carrying her around Disney in my arms. People are rude, running and pushing through crowds sometimes and I was terrified of dropping her or getting bumped into. The Moby holds her so close that it feels to her like she's being held and leaves both of your hands free. It also is really great on the back. I can't recommend it enough.

Going w/ a little one is definitely possible, you just have to realize you're not going to be able to do everything you want and you're going to have to move slower than you normally do. It can be frustrating at times. DH really found that out when we wouldn't be able to wait in line or go to an attraction the rest of the family was because she needed to eat.

Sorry this is so long! If you have any other questions, feel free to ask! Congrats on your baby!!

 

[Shleedogg]

Wanted to add one more thing. I'd steer clear of the Lights Motor Action stunt show. It is SO loud and once you're in, you can't leave. The area you enter through they use for part of the show and cars are racing down it. It's an awesome show, but it really upset DD.

 

[designermv]

Thanks so much for the replies, ladies. I will def. stay clear of the Lights, Motor, Action show.

Shleedog, is that your wee baby in your ticker? What an adorable photo! You gave me a ton of great info, thanks so much. I do plan on getting a new sling for the baby. I'll look into the Moby wraps. I've heard good things about them. Did you bring a stroller too? Did you have to fly to WDW, or did you drive?

 

[HLAuburn]

I am all for taking babies to DW, but I have to admit, I think 1 month is too young. Like you mentioned, my biggest concern would be germs. We took DD at 18 months, and right after the trip, she was sick for the first time in her (short) life. I think it's just a lot of germs, and different germs that kids aren't normally exposed to. Especially in the winter, I think people's kids might be sick, and rather than cancel a $3000 trip, they take them to Disney with a snotty nose and a cough....the buses were full of them.

My DD is 3 months old and I had a repeat C/S. For me, it was a longer recovery the 2nd time around. Even at a month, walking for short periods of time would irritate the incision....I know I couldn't have handled walking around a park at that point, and I think I have a pretty high pain threshold. Up until 6 weeks post-op, I wasn't supposed to lift anything heavier than the baby.

On the positive side, I think staying at the Poly is good since you won't have to spend a lot of time on a cramped bus and it will be pretty easy to get back to the room. The "Baby Centers" are great, too, especially for nursing and diaper changes.

Any chance of delaying the trip, maybe even a couple months? Jan/Feb is a great time to go. I think by 3 months, the baby will be into more of a routine and at least had her/his first set of vaccinations.

Sorry to be the voice of dissent, but I personally I wouldn't take a 1 month old. Good luck with your pregnancy! Congrats!

 

[RN4Babies]

I have some thoughts as both a mom and a neonatal intensive care nurse (who goes to many c-section deliveries)....

Both of my kids were c-sections. I was feeling great about three to four weeks after the first one. The second one took a LOT longer to recover from; about eight weeks. Just walking from the bus to the entrance of a park would have done me in. You're having major surgery; you can't count on your body being ready for a trip to WDW a month later. Also, your doctor may not release you to travel before you're six weeks postpartum.

As a NICU nurse, I see premature babies delivered all the time who need to be in the hospital anywhere from days to months. Believe me, I pray and hope that you have a healthy uneventful pregnancy and delivery, but a premature birth or complications can happen to anyone. Germs wouldn't concern me with a one month old who was born full term until three months of age or so; she'll have immunity protection from you during that time. However, if the baby is born pre 37 weeks they're more susceptible to infection, and after three months she'll have some immunity from your breast milk, but not as much as during the immediate newborn phase. Take along some chlorox wipes in a ziploc bag and wipe down whatever you can on the plane, in restrooms, etc etc.

I'd be postponing the trip until the baby was older and you're sure you're fully recovered from the c-section.

 

[EthansMom]

I'd postpone until the baby is a few months old (or older). My DS was two weeks past his due date (and I was induced even then). Add in recovery time and you *could* barely be recovered by the time you're on your trip.

Also, December is a horrible time for illnesses. I wouldn't want my newborn on an airplane or around lots of other people. (We took DD to WDW when she was 11 months and she got pinkeye. Ugh!)

Honestly, I'd definitely postpone the trip.

 

[designermv]

Thanks for the "it may be better to wait" side of the coin advice, I do appreciate it. I definitely have a lot to think about, and I'm thankful I have a very decent cancellation policy with my T.A. I have my first appointment on April 15, and I'll likely wait until mid-late summer before I make any big decisions. It is good to hear both sides, so thanks so much for your replies. Honestly I'd love to have a VBAC so I'm keeping an open mind on that front. I guess I was (naively) assuming that since my first baby was a big, healthy, 41 weeker that my second one would be too, but I know that babies have their own plans.

 

[Shleedogg]

Thanks so much for the replies, ladies. I will def. stay clear of the Lights, Motor, Action show.

Shleedog, is that your wee baby in your ticker? What an adorable photo! You gave me a ton of great info, thanks so much. I do plan on getting a new sling for the baby. I'll look into the Moby wraps. I've heard good things about them. Did you bring a stroller too? Did you have to fly to WDW, or did you drive?

It is a wee baby in my ticker It's DD at 1900 Park Fare. You are very welcome, I know I tried to find out as much info as possible before we booked our trip. I have several very helpful SILs that have traveled with infants.

We did bring our stroller and infant seat. We flew and had no issues. She was great on the plane. The only problem was feeding her on the plane on the way there. DH and I got a center and aisle seat so there was someone next to me as I was trying to bf her. It was a little awkward, but oh well. Oh, we also LOVED the boppy pillow for the plane. DH put it on his lap and DD slept in it for the flight so we didn't have to hold her in our arms. You're allowed one bag and carry-on item, so DH had a bag and the boppy.