On our recent trip to Walt Disney World, I was surprised as to how many people commented on our new baby. She is four months old. Aside from the oodles of remarks about how adorable she is (and she really is), many people were shocked that I would venture to Walt Disney World with a new baby. My comment was always the same “She is my fifth child and she is the easiest of them all”. Judging from the looks on their faces, I guess my response did not convince them of my baby bliss–or perhaps the strange looks were in response to my five children. I cannot be sure….but that is another post!So I compiled a list of reasons as to why I enjoy traveling to WDW with a new baby:
10. FREE airfare! Yes, she flies for free as a lap child, saving me about $200. Plus, since she is nursing, having her snuggled in my arms and eating during take off and landing REALLY helped her to be comfortable and in turn made for an enjoyable flight for everyone
9. She doesn’t complain while waiting in line for rides or complain about going on the Carousel for the fifth consecutive time
8.Most of the time you can get a seat on a crowded bus or monorail, as people will usually give up their seat for a mama and her babe (of course, there are the select few who pretend not to notice a mother with a broken foot standing with her baby while they and their able bodied teenage girls sit comfortably….but I digress)
 |
| Stroller adorned with “1st Visit” button. |
7. No complaints about when or where we will be eating or endless requests for snacks and drinks…seriously I think my other children were going through a growth spurt during our trip because HOLY COW could those kids eat!
6. Great reason to head back to the resort in the middle of a hot day~Baby needs a nap!
5. FREE dining! Truly, hassle free, no cost dining. No meal decisions to make..no “I don’t want pb&j again”…
4. BABY CARE CENTERS. Each of the four parks have a WONDERFUL center where you can change and feed your baby. With comfy chairs and air conditioning, it is a great place to cool off and relax for a bit while baby enjoys her lunch or dinner. These facilities also offer restrooms, high chairs, and microwaves. It is a nice quiet place to nurse your baby as well. There is also a cast members on duty to assist you if needed and they do sell select baby/child care items.
3. Displaying the “My First Visit” button on the stroller and/or baby sling.
2. Four words…BABY IN MOUSE EARS
 |
| My 1st mouse ears! |
1.Watching my new little one experience Disney magic for the first time. While I know she cannot comprehend what she is seeing, she was, however, totally mesmerized by the all lights and music. Her excitement renews my own “Disney Magic”
There is my list. While a new baby at WDW presents some challenges, she was no more “work” than my older children. It did take a bit of extra planning because she has different needs than the other children, but that doesn’t make it difficult or unenjoyable. If you are planning on traveling with a new baby here are some tips:
- Most WDW resort rooms are equipped with a pack and play. If your little one will sleep in it, great! If not, be sure to ask for a crib (and yes, you have to be very specific and say “crib-not pack and play“. Otherwise, they will either: A. tell you there is a pack and play in the room or B will bring you ANOTHER pack and play). Three out of my five kids would NOT sleep in a pack and play, so it was always essential that we nab a crib. You can request a crib when making reservations and when you check in.
- Plan for baby seating if your little one is unable to sit up on her own. We gate checked our travel system so we could bring both the stroller and the infant car seat. It was a little cumbersome, but since Baby Girl can’t sit up yet, she cannot sit in a high chair at restaurants and I REALLY did not want to have to hold her at every meal. Another option is renting baby gear from a reputable service. We have done that in the past as well.
- Provide time for baby to be out of her stroller/car seat. While she may be snug as a bug in her sweet little ride, she will want time to be held and stretch out. If you use a baby carrier or baby sling, pack it daily in your bag. You will be glad you did, especially for days when baby REALLY just wants to be snuggled. Keeps your hands free for taking photos or, like in my case, wrangling up the other kids.While at the resort, allow baby some time to stretch out on the floor. Now, if you’re a germaphobe like me, you’ll want to pack a blanket or playmat. We actually brought our play mat from home. By allowing opportunities for your little one to be out of the stroller, you will actually be making it MORE enjoyable for her when she has to be in the stroller..which equals happy baby and happy family!
- Keep in mind that all babies are different and that with a new baby, you need to be flexible. Some babies will be fine to go full force, all day at the park, while others will only be able to tolerate a few hours at a time. Utilize the baby care centers located at each of the parks for a quiet feeding time or head back to your room midday for a “rest and stretch” break. Because most guests want to make the most of their time, money, and park tickets, it may be frustrating to not spend every moment at the park. To help alleviate the stress of “not getting to see everything” consider buying a park ticket that covers all the days of your stay. My pal @DIZKRAZKATE has a great blog post regarding park tickets..check it out..
 |
| Baby Girl enjoying some stretch time at BLT |
-
Remember to restock your diaper bag with baby essentials. I know it seems like a silly reminder, but we ACTUALLY forogt to do this one day and discovered at Chef Mickey’s we had run out of diapers! Luckily, we were staying at BLT, so it was just a short walk back to our room to restock. So it is just a good idea to double check your bag before you leave your room.
-
Finally, take A LOT of pictures and enjoy your magical vacation with your sweet bundle of joy. These tiny moments pass so quickly, so capture every minute of it.
Leave a Reply