vettechick99
<font color=purple>Why do I open these threads?<br
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2004
- Messages
- 8,085
Hi all! We just returned from Disney World. This was my 25th trip, DHs 6th, and DDs 4th, but our very first time going with a bun in the oven. How an extra 15 lbs equals a bun is math I'll never understand.
But anyway, here are my top tips!
1. Ya just ain't gonna do it all. I went into this trip knowing I was not going to be able to do all that WDW has to offer, or even a good bit of it. How about a little bit? No? That's ok. DD3 is small and can't ride any thrill rides, so while DH did those, we did other things just us. In fact, we did quite a few things we'd never done before because of DD and the pregnancy. Enjoy the little things about Disney. Particularly their playgrounds. And benches. Oh those heavenly benches.
2. Go at the right time, part 1. I went 22 through 23 weeks pregnant. You can't ask for a better time to vacation. Ok, how about not pregnant. Let me rephrase. So you can't ask for a better time to vacation pregnant. I was past the I'm-gonna-vommit-but-I'm-too-tired-to-sit-up stage, but not into the I'm-a-beached-whale-whose-ankles-are-these-get-this-baby-outta-me stage. So I say go anytime from 15 weeks to 25-ish weeks. Any earlier or later than that and you might just be miserable. As an added plus, during the second trimester your appetite is quite healthy so I got to enjoy the amazing foods WDW has to offer. It could only have been better if I had free dining.
3. Go at the right time, part 2 (because this needs multiple parts). Our trip was late April. Spring is a great time to go because the weather is fantastic. The first part of the week was great - 70s and 80s. The last part was nearing 90s. That was getting a little rough. You already have to drink a lot of water when pregnant, and when you are sweating you just can't seem to stay ahead. So going in the summer seems like a bad idea all the way around. Bad, bad. Just bad.
4. Go at the right time, part 3 (because two is not enough). Don't go when it's busy. We had upper-moderate crowds and I'm a low-crowd kind of gal. You will just get annoyed standing in line, or wishing the lines weren't so long, or muttering why is this line so long, or...oh just get the hell out of my way people, can't you see I'm pissy and pregnant?
5. Home is where the nap is. I feel best in the morning, so DH was kind enough to get up for rope drop everyday. Some days we made it to 1 or 2pm, but other days we didn't make it past lunch. We went back to the resort for several hours to nap or just rest. And if you aren't a napper like me, at least lay down and watch tv. I have to give DH props for taking DD to the pool or entertaining her while I rested. And by rested, I of course mean Facebooked.
6. Frankie Says Relax! When this is your first trip (or perhaps 25th), you feel the compulsion to do it all. But some evenings we just had to say screw it all and stayed at the resort. We only went back out a few of the nights. So that means some days we only spent a few hours in the parks. It's ok, take a Disney break! Believe me, Disney will be there next trip and it'll be just as expensive.
7. You don't need no stinkin' parks! Plan a day or two to do nothing. Instead of doing nothing, on our 5th day we went to Typhoon Lagoon and that seemed to work out ok. TL doesn't require near the amount of walking the other parks do and you can spend a good amount of time just sitting in the shallow-end watching your child float away on her swimmies.
8. I call time-out! I felt great all week. Never overdid it, and drank lots of water. But still on our last day in the parks my back and belly started to hurt just a little. A few hours later it was like I'd had a major ab workout, no thanks to Mari Winsor. And let me tell you, sore abs when you're pregnant feels less like wow-that-was-an-awesome-workout and more like when-did-I-turn-90. We ended up leaving the MK right after lunch and taking a long break at the resort. Instead of an evening of dinner and parks, we just went to dinner. And we only went because it was Boma and I believe that has to be a pregnant woman's paradise. Also, if we hadn't planned on leaving the next day, we would have cancelled our plans and stayed at the resort. So when you start to hurt just a little, take that as a big slap upside the head.
9. Maternity schmaternity. I'm a teacher and can handle skirts, and cute tops, and strappy sandals all day long, but at Disney I went back to basics. So plan to wear tennis shoes. Also remember that by the end of the day, you are a little more bloated than when you got up. And by little, I mean yet another child has taken up residence in your belly. So wear comforable pants. Maybe even...*gasp*...maternity pants! Yes, I can still wear my old stuff with a Belly Band, but I usually felt better in maternity shorts and tank tops. You can still look cute in maternity!
10. Make like Handy Manny and have all your tools. I recommend this for any trip, but go with a weekly and daily plan. Touring plans, Disney line apps - all very important. This is me checking the Lines app in the Boneyard (Hon, if you're taking my picture, who is watching the kid?) Anywho, no sense wasting time walking across the park if a ride is closed or the line is too long.
We had a wonderful time, even though it was tiring. DD3 enjoys WDW more and more every time we go. Can't wait to get this next one brainwashed too!
But anyway, here are my top tips!
1. Ya just ain't gonna do it all. I went into this trip knowing I was not going to be able to do all that WDW has to offer, or even a good bit of it. How about a little bit? No? That's ok. DD3 is small and can't ride any thrill rides, so while DH did those, we did other things just us. In fact, we did quite a few things we'd never done before because of DD and the pregnancy. Enjoy the little things about Disney. Particularly their playgrounds. And benches. Oh those heavenly benches.
2. Go at the right time, part 1. I went 22 through 23 weeks pregnant. You can't ask for a better time to vacation. Ok, how about not pregnant. Let me rephrase. So you can't ask for a better time to vacation pregnant. I was past the I'm-gonna-vommit-but-I'm-too-tired-to-sit-up stage, but not into the I'm-a-beached-whale-whose-ankles-are-these-get-this-baby-outta-me stage. So I say go anytime from 15 weeks to 25-ish weeks. Any earlier or later than that and you might just be miserable. As an added plus, during the second trimester your appetite is quite healthy so I got to enjoy the amazing foods WDW has to offer. It could only have been better if I had free dining.
3. Go at the right time, part 2 (because this needs multiple parts). Our trip was late April. Spring is a great time to go because the weather is fantastic. The first part of the week was great - 70s and 80s. The last part was nearing 90s. That was getting a little rough. You already have to drink a lot of water when pregnant, and when you are sweating you just can't seem to stay ahead. So going in the summer seems like a bad idea all the way around. Bad, bad. Just bad.
4. Go at the right time, part 3 (because two is not enough). Don't go when it's busy. We had upper-moderate crowds and I'm a low-crowd kind of gal. You will just get annoyed standing in line, or wishing the lines weren't so long, or muttering why is this line so long, or...oh just get the hell out of my way people, can't you see I'm pissy and pregnant?
5. Home is where the nap is. I feel best in the morning, so DH was kind enough to get up for rope drop everyday. Some days we made it to 1 or 2pm, but other days we didn't make it past lunch. We went back to the resort for several hours to nap or just rest. And if you aren't a napper like me, at least lay down and watch tv. I have to give DH props for taking DD to the pool or entertaining her while I rested. And by rested, I of course mean Facebooked.
6. Frankie Says Relax! When this is your first trip (or perhaps 25th), you feel the compulsion to do it all. But some evenings we just had to say screw it all and stayed at the resort. We only went back out a few of the nights. So that means some days we only spent a few hours in the parks. It's ok, take a Disney break! Believe me, Disney will be there next trip and it'll be just as expensive.
7. You don't need no stinkin' parks! Plan a day or two to do nothing. Instead of doing nothing, on our 5th day we went to Typhoon Lagoon and that seemed to work out ok. TL doesn't require near the amount of walking the other parks do and you can spend a good amount of time just sitting in the shallow-end watching your child float away on her swimmies.
8. I call time-out! I felt great all week. Never overdid it, and drank lots of water. But still on our last day in the parks my back and belly started to hurt just a little. A few hours later it was like I'd had a major ab workout, no thanks to Mari Winsor. And let me tell you, sore abs when you're pregnant feels less like wow-that-was-an-awesome-workout and more like when-did-I-turn-90. We ended up leaving the MK right after lunch and taking a long break at the resort. Instead of an evening of dinner and parks, we just went to dinner. And we only went because it was Boma and I believe that has to be a pregnant woman's paradise. Also, if we hadn't planned on leaving the next day, we would have cancelled our plans and stayed at the resort. So when you start to hurt just a little, take that as a big slap upside the head.
9. Maternity schmaternity. I'm a teacher and can handle skirts, and cute tops, and strappy sandals all day long, but at Disney I went back to basics. So plan to wear tennis shoes. Also remember that by the end of the day, you are a little more bloated than when you got up. And by little, I mean yet another child has taken up residence in your belly. So wear comforable pants. Maybe even...*gasp*...maternity pants! Yes, I can still wear my old stuff with a Belly Band, but I usually felt better in maternity shorts and tank tops. You can still look cute in maternity!
10. Make like Handy Manny and have all your tools. I recommend this for any trip, but go with a weekly and daily plan. Touring plans, Disney line apps - all very important. This is me checking the Lines app in the Boneyard (Hon, if you're taking my picture, who is watching the kid?) Anywho, no sense wasting time walking across the park if a ride is closed or the line is too long.
We had a wonderful time, even though it was tiring. DD3 enjoys WDW more and more every time we go. Can't wait to get this next one brainwashed too!
...and sat out a few more rides...but really, it's not a big deal.
!!
Oh, well. Maybe when we go in January.
