Which resort best if taking an infant??

[mistaroo]

My husband and I are planning a trip in February. We will be first time parents and will be taking our then 4 month old infant with us. We are excited about being parents but have no idea what to consider when picking a resort with an infant in mind. We have gone to WDW a million times as a couple but never with any kids.

What, if anything, do we need to take into consideration when picking a resort when travelling with an infant?

Which deluxe do you think is the most infant friendly (or are they all the same)?

Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated as I have no idea what travelling with an infant will entail.

We plan to stay at Animal Kingdom lodge for a couple days at the end of our trip but want to stay at another resort as well. We noticed last time we were at AKL that they had a porta-crib thingy folded up in the closet- do all deluxes have them in the rooms? Some may say we are crazy for taking a small infant to WDW but we had to cancel our 10th wedding anniversary trip this May because I was way too morning sick to travel. My husband and I are dying to go back and February is the soonest we can go.

Thanks for reading and please give any advice you have to give!
Thanks,
Mistaroo

 

[WildGrits]

I have been dragging my childern around the states since they were 3 months old. The best part about bringing younguns to Disney is that you aquire a new way of vacationing that is more laid back.

If you need a break for the Magic Kingdom, Carnation has a wonderful baby center right next to the Crystal Palace.

As far as I know, cribs are available at all resorts. As are fridges. Our best bet was always to request a king size bed and then order a crib. That way you end up with lots more space.

I'm sure you will all have a great time. You can never make a Disney fan too young.

 

[Kermit]

Which park do you plan to spend the most time in? I'd stay at a resort that was convenient to it. If you usually spend a lot of time at the MK, you could stay at a monorail resort, or you could stay at one of the Epcot resorts you can walk to if you usually go to Epcot the most.

I think you'll have a great time. A four month old baby will probably be easy going enough to go along with just about anything as long as you don't overdo it. If you're nursing, you won't have to pack much extra at all since you probably won't be starting solids at that point. You'll just need diapers and a few changes of clothes each day. Talk to your pediatrician about sunscreen, and try out whichever one you choose a few times before you go to make sure Baby's skin isn't sensitive to it.

 

[riggins]

We went in April with our 9-month old and had a great time. We rented DVC points and stayed in a 1-bedroom at BWV during the bulk of our stay. We spent the first night at ASMo since we arrived late in the day, and then went to BWV for the rest of the week. The night at ASMo was terrible. Since the room was so small, she was able to see us out of the playpen/crib. She woke up several times during the night and could see us there and would cry until we got her. Since your baby will be younger, s/he probably won't be able to sit up and see you, so it might be better. The BWV room was great. We set up the crib in the living room and she slept much better. The kitchen was great for keeping bottles and half eaten jars of baby food refrigerated.

We spent equal amounts of time at all the parks so location wasn't a huge consideration, but walking to Epcot was really nice since we didn't have to take her out of the stroller to get on the bus. Getting on and off the bus was pretty easy, but we liked walking. We ended up walking to Epcot every evening. Since she was happy to just fall asleep reclined in the stoller, we were able to stay out later at Epcot and just walk back without disturbing her.

Hope you have a great trip. Don't listen to the people who say you are crazy to take a baby. Find the baby stations at the parks, take breaks and have a great time.

 

[tazdeb]

We brought our 2 DD when they were 1 1/2 and 8 months (both were adopted). Everyone said we were crazy, but it was the best trip to disney we ever had and have been every year since. You have to stay at an Epcot resort. We stayed at the YC and they treated our kids like queens! We got a king bed with 2 cribs with refrigerator (extra 20 a day). Our room had a balcony from which we could sit and talk without waking the kids. LOCATION is the key with 2 little ones and the EPCOT resorts are it. You can walk into epcot, boat to MGM , walk to the Boardwalk resort resturant s and bars. plus it is a short ride to everything else because of its central location......With a child that small baby swap on the big rides will be used but my wife and I really liked just taking it slow and watching the shows and street performers.... shopping and enjoying our 2 DD in the happiest place on earth. It IS a different expieience with kids for the first time but if you're a disney lover you wont be able to wait to go back and see it through thier eyes again and again........TAZ

 

[llane]

We've taken our littles ones on trips since they were 2 months old. It's almost easier when they are this young because they can sleep in their stroller and be easily carried. Eventually, they won't know any difference. I've got pictures of them sleeping in all the parks, castaway cay, niagara falls, pretty much any place we've been.

Rides that may scare my 5 yo (peter pan, snow white) won't phase a little baby. Just be real careful getting on and off the ride.

imo Any monorail resort is a plus with little ones.

 

[kimberwing]

We stayed at the Polynesian in April with two little ones, and it was wonderful. All buildings are within a short distance of the monorail, plus, central transporation is just a short walk away from the resort. They have two pools and a nice sand beach.

The Poly was wonderful because the rooms were very spacious...bigger than what I saw on my tour of rooms at the Grand Floridian, excluding the super dooper deluxe rooms. We had two queen beds and a crib. The crib fit between one queen and the wall, so we didn't have to put it in the middle of the room.

The cribs are wooden and very sturdy. We inpected the heck out of it! They provided real crib mattress sheets, but we brought our own just in case. I like cribs way better than the pack and plays, by the way.

The nice thing about the Poly was that we had a room with a balcony, and DH and I sat out there while the boys napped. Of course, your little one will nap way more than my boys, and you can keep park hopping!

Remember to request a crib when you make reservations, and remind them when you check in. Also, bring a stroller with you (your baby will not be able to use a rental....it's too big) and bring some type of baby carrier, which my girlfriend swears by for use at WDW.

Have a great time!

 

[RobinLyn]

Mistaroo, If you want to stay at a deluxe Resort, my choice with an infant would be ANY Resort on the monorail.... it was a vacation saver for us when the boys were young (now teens!). It was so nice to return to the Resort quickly for naps, clean ups, just about anything and then return to the parks when ready. Which park do you plan to spend most of your time? If MK or Epcot, then for sure a monorail Resort. We like the Polynesian, but would pick the GF because we have not stayed there yet. They have a great buffet at 1900 Park Fare, we eat here every trip. Now are sons are 13 and 16 and we will be staying at the Yacht Club this August because of the Boardwalk and Epcot location to the Resort. We really don't spend as much time at MK like when they were little. Stormalong Bay is looking good to them these days and we spend a few nights at Disney Quest. We rent a car these day so getting around is not a problem reguardless. My one word of advice, especially if not renting a car, MONORAIL! Have a great first trip with your new born, how exciting!!

RobinLyn

 

[lisaost]

Whew....lots of good advice here. First of all Congrats!!

I would say for me - when I had one baby (now all the rules have changed for us though!) it was not so much where we stayed as how we travelled. You won't be able to rent park strollers...they are no good for a 4 month old. So you'll need a lightweight stroller with good shading for the baby and a good recline so the baby can sleep in it. If you are looking at those 'travel systems' where the infant car seat snaps in - it would be good because baby can sleep in the infant seat when you're using whatever transportation (car, bus, monorail, boat) and one of you can carry the baby sleeping in the seat and the other load the stroller on and off. The drawback is that the stroller might be heavier than you'd like, and I never had a problem with my kids moving them in and out of strollers and car seats. Sometimes they wake, sometimes they don't.

If I were in your shoes, I would try to avoid the busses. Then again, the Monorail can only help you for two parks. That leaves you with a car, which some don't like but I like it because I feel like I have control over my movements and are not subject to the transportation system schedule. Sometimes with a baby you just want to get into an air conditioned, QUIET car - even if you have to wait in a line of other cars to get out of the park.

As for the crib, mine would sleep better in their infant car seat or stroller than in a crib.

As for sunscreen, my ped. said absolutely NO sunscreen on babies under 6 months. But since you are wisely going in February, you can probably just use lightweight receiving blankets and clothing to keep the baby covered - along with a good large shade on your stroller - to keep him/her safe from the sun.

As was also said.....4 month olds sleep through parades, fireworks and dinners at nice restaurants. Enjoy this vacation!! Things get more challenging as the months and years go by! ENJOY!!!!

 

[travelcoupons]

Originally posted by lisaost

As for sunscreen, my ped. said absolutely NO sunscreen on babies under 6 months.

Your ped. must not keep up with developments...
The American Academy of Pediatrics says sunscreen is ok:

http://www.aap.org/advocacy/archives/augsun.htm

 

[lisaost]

She knows....she just doesn't agree! LOL!

 

[KathyK]

We went in May with our then 5.5 mo. old DD. We stayed at BWV, as we are DVC members, and that is our home resort. We had a 1 BR, and it was absolutely perfect. I was able to wash her bibs and clothes in the washing machine and her cereal bowls and spoons in the dishwasher (we were just starting solids at the time). The king size bed in the 1 BR was perfect for us, and there was plenty of room for the P&P that DD slept in (we also co-sleep part time, so the king allowed us plenty of room to bring her in bed with us when we needed to). Since DD and I are early birds and my DH is a night owl, the living space gave me the opportunity to have some time with baby in the mornings w/o disturbing DH's sleep.

I would heartily recommend any of the HAFH resorts. IMO, a 1 BR should be perfect for your needs. Oh, and while on the trip, we spoke to another DVC family, where the mom said that they joined DVC when they took their first vacation with their then 8 mo. DD. They were staying at WL, and found themselves constantly washing bottles and bibs in the bathroom sink. That was the reason they decided to join DVC.

One more thing to keep in mind. They do not provide fitted sheets for the Pack and Plays (or the regular cribs, I believe), so be sure to bring your own.

HTH

--Kathy

 

[MeMeMouse]

I agree... the 1 bedrooms are the best for an infant. My baby is 41/2 mo and I found the kitchen and the washer/dryer a must! I loves the WL because it was so quiet. The grounds are so nice to walk baby at night and the pool is quiet for afternoon naps. Can even see the fireworks on the beach without even waking baby up! (I am a vacation club member so I may be favoring those resorts - HeeHee). No matter where you stay make sure you take it easy.. pick a resort with a great pool and relax.

 

[mistaroo]

Thanks for all the advice!!!
Now I have the info I need to pick the best resort. I seems that as long as I have a fridge I should be set. I think while the baby is very little and I don't really need all the extra space I'd rather do polynesian concierge than a villa but I will check out the bwv just the same. I hadn't considered the need for doing laundry before since I never needed to before now. I can always send out I am glad to know that all resorts have pack n plays or cribs available and I will definitely take linens for it.

Thanks again for your help, I really needed it!