WDW -- nursing friendly?

[AQW]

Congrats on your newbie! Your sweet angel deserves to eat whenever her little tummy is hungry - if people don't like it, they can put a blanket over their head and go eat their meal in the bathroom.

 

[JerseyMamaBear]

you guys are the best and made me feel a lot better!!!

 

[Juliet25]

great to know....we will be there next week with my 1 month old. I hate the looks i get from people who make faces like im doing something "dirty". I am always respectful and will cover up but people are rude and make a brand new mom who has never breast fed before feel like im doing wrong.

Hey, you're doing *right* by the most important person in your life!

 

[kaypee]

We did a lot of baby wearing. I found I could stand or walk and nurse very discreetly if I wore a nursing top (so my tummy was still covered.) This allowed the whole family to keep going when we wanted to.
We still found spots to sit--but a sling helped our family a lot since both kids were frequent nursers and I sometimes wanted to keep going.
(My mother once asked to take a baby and carry her for a while--But she was nursing and had been for the previous forty minutes in the sling while we shopped. My own mom had no idea she was nursing.)
My kids were very large babies, so this only worked well for about 10 months--when they were about 20 lbs. We had to get creative after that.
I have one photo of my dd at about 18 months in my otsbh sling--recently, she was looking at the photo and asking about it. It took ME a few minutes later to realize where we were and what she was doing. We had been hiking and she got tired and cranking wanted to nurse. So she nursed sitting up in the sling. My husband snapped a photo. It was hard to tell she was nursing.

I tried to be sensitive to others. Nursing (esp toddlers) does make some people uncomfortable. So I always tried to be as discreet as possible--for others sake. But I was never going to hide under a blanket or take my nursling in the bathroom. (I was once asked if I wanted to go in the bathroom at Walmart. I asked if I was offending someone. I said that I really wouldn't want to eat in the bathroom and I didn't think my baby should. . .)

I agree with the previous poster--you won't see these people again.

But I also think we should try not to offend people. Offensive language, swearing, "sharing" smoke offends me. Those people think they aren't doing anything wrong--But they should be sensitive to others who it bothers.

 

[El&Asmom]

Dd was 9 months old on her first trip. I loved the baby care centers. They were a nice break, and I had fun meeting other moms while we were feeding our kids. I met a DVC mom there, and it got me thinking about DVC!.
I did feed dd in the bathroom lounge area at Chef Mickey's. I remember a teenage girl that walked in that looked like she was totally grossed out. I thought it was so unfortunate that she would think feeding a baby was gross. I could see some younger grade school immature kids, but not a teenager.
Other than her, I don't think anyone ever noticed dd when she was nursing. We will be there next May with our new child that will be about 6mo. I'm hoping to get better at nursing in a sling so that s/he can eat on the go. I like the idea of using a nursing tank so that my unattractive gut isn't exposed. That has always been my issue with nursing in a sling. You would have thought that after having two kids I would have thought of that.

 

[bear74]

great to hear. we are going in sept DD # 2 will be 11 months I BF DD #1 till she was 21 months

 

[emh1129]

I've nursed all around the world
WDW is very nursing-friendly and you'll probably see a lot of other nursing moms, as I did.

 

[annacp]

I nursed DS all over Disney when he was 5 mos old. I tried to be as discreet as possible, but by the end of the trip I was so tired that I didn't care who saw what.

The Baby Care centers are nice (and air conditioned! We were so hot, even in December!) for a break from the busy parks though. They are marked on the park maps that you can get from your hotel or as you walk into the park, and all of the CMs are great about giving directions. There are lots of shady places to sit out of the way. And as others have said, rides are your friend! We must have ridden the TTA 2 or 3 times without getting off.

Have a nice trip! They're so easy at that age--DH and I took turns with him in the sling, and he was happy to sit in a high chair and play with a spoon. So much easier than the next year!

ETA: As far as restaurants go, I'm trying to remember what we did. Usually nursed before we went in, but I do remember nursing in the booth at Chef Mickeys. At Le Cellier, DS pitched an uncharacteristic hissy fit and couldn't settle down to nurse as we waited for a table. It was raining outside, and they were running over an hour behind seatings (start of the dining plan I think, before they knew what to expect and overbooked the place), so the waiting area was *crammed* full of people. I asked one of the hosts and he got the manager to let me into her office. I nursed him there and got him to sleep. For restaurants that are in hotels--you can find a comfortable chair in the lobby usually.

 

[ekball]

Another positive nursing experience at WDW over here! I nursed all over the place....baby care centers, rides, shows, nooks and cranny's, heck - I even nursed at Fantasmic! (I was completely covered with a blankie - it was Jan. - and I'm sure that no-one had an inkling as to what I was doing) There are so many little quiet nooks where I felt completely comfortable nursing DD - easy peasy.

 

[Zeebs]

I am waiting for the day someone says something to me about feeding, The closest I have been was over hearing someone in a resturant ask not to be seated near us as I was feeding.

Then overheard another women say later on when we stood up to leave that she didn't even realise there was another child.

I have all sorts of good things lined up to say.

I think I am discreet, I don't wave everything around, but I never cover up over the baby with anything, his head is in the way and when it isn't I move my shirt down. (only issue with this is when they go through the stage of bobbing on and off that is quite comical as his head comes off my shirt goes down and so on)

I fed in Disneyland, it was so nice I just sat down on a bench and people watched and relaxed. What could be more perfect, you and your baby in at Disney without a care in the world.

Kirsten

 

[Ducky4Disney]

It's so great to hear all these women come forward with such positive breastfeeding experiences - where ever they may be!

I forgot all about nursing on rides. I know I nursed during PhillarMagic, Muppets, and I think on CoP too; the true meaning of "dinner and a show"!

D4D

 

[labdogs42]

I know I nursed DS all around the World. Let's see, American Adventure, CoP, and Hall of Presidents, all of the baby care centers, and assorted benches and walls throughout the parks! I liked the shows and baby care centers because of the air conditioning! It was HOT in May and September and it was nice to be in the AC!

 

[JillPTFLA]

Another one who nursed all around the world! My younger one was about 12 wks for his first trip and we went about 3 or four other times until he was fully weaned at 2. Lots of great places to nurse...spaceship earth is wonderful...long and slow and air conditioned! I think he was nursed on just about every boat ride and in every show around WDW! I never had anyone comment or give looks...honestly, I wouldn't have cared but I really think nobody knew what I was doing anyway.

Have a great time! They are so easy to travel with when they are that little...a sling, some diapers and the "breastaurant" and you are ready to go!
Jill

 

[emh1129]

They are so easy to travel with when they are that little...a sling, some diapers and the "breastaurant" and you are ready to go!
Jill

So true. They are so very portable when they're little! (and if you tuck the spare dipe into the sling, then you're really set! )

 

[Scarlet_M]

I've NIP all over WDW. In my sling while walking the park, standing in lines, during attractions... I don't even know where the nursing stations are.

I also NIP anywhere else we go and have never had a problem. I'm modest about it though and most people don't even realize that I'm nursing. But even if someone did ever say anything to me it wouldn't make a difference. As far as I'm concerned, if it bothers you, then stop watching.

 

[katied]

I had no issues nursing DS at 6 and 8 mo at WDW, and DSister had no issues with her daugher at 23 mo at WDW. Yes - we used Baby Care at times, but DS also nursed on dark rides (Haunted Mansion, Pirates, Mickey's Philharmagic, etc) or in quite places. DS could never stand to be covered, so nursing covers did not work for me, but I always seemed to be able to find a quiter place to sit.

 

[Missin'Disney]

Well, I also enjoy the baby station, although had to wait for a rocker a few times on our October trip... But the easiest thing for us was nursing in the rides. Although the laugh floor is a little dangerous cause they randomly select audience members to interact with the characters via a humongous monitor. I actually nursed twice in there but was panicked the whole time that the baby would de-latch & I'd be bouncin' around on display

Good luck! You'll be fine!

 

[gigi1313]

i just have to share my most recent water park (non-disney) NIP experience... i was nursing ds w/a towel draped over us and his little piggies sticking out while sitting on a park bench... a few moms went by and gave me "knowing glances" and smiles of commradarie... one man went by and gave me a thumbs up (LOL?)... and then a teenage boy came over and asked me if i had the time! i could not get to my wrist watch due to holding the baby so i pointed to the little digital clock on my stroller... he checked the time, thanked me and walked away... he was OBLIVIOUS! LOL!

 

[terlane97]

I love the nursing stations but like others mentioned if the little one is hungry they can be far to get to sometimes. I have nursed on the rides, especially the ones that have dark lighting, Space Ship Earth and the Haunted Mansion ride even the one people mover ride at MK. We are going back in Sept. and my 3yr DS is still nursing so I know we will be hitting a lot of different places again .