Disney with a Baby
So we took Melody on her first trip to Walt Disney World back in February. I have been meaning to write a post about generally doing Disney with a baby, but the baby has been occupying my time and this post has fell to the bottom of the pile. Anyhow, it is quite different from all of my other Disney trips. We are actually planning another trip over the holidays, so I thought I should freshen up on Disney with a baby by finally writing this post!
Packing
Packing is easily the most stressful part of traveling with a child. This is especially true when you fly and are limited on what you can bring. I have created a packing list that I plan to publish in the near future that has really helped us in all of our trips. Aside from what all you should pack, they key I learned was HOW to pack. I gathered ALL of Melody's clothes. This included pajamas, socks, bows, etc. I organized them by day including any extras. I placed each "day" in its own ziploc gallon bag. I labeled each bag so that I could easily find what I needed while at Disney. I typically unpack my suitcases, but this is really nice if you don't unpack too. I didn't get a picture, but I also did this with some of her other things when I could. For example, I did a bag for each day containing her formula packets, burp clothes, bibs, baby food, etc. This was super helpful for parks too. Any "extra" clothes had their own bag.
Pack a Carrier - like an Ergo or Tula
We rarely use(d) our Ergo, but at Disney, it was exceptionally nice. There are a lot of areas you cannot take your strollers [buses, restaurants, some buildings, etc]. Since Melody could not walk at that time, it was really nice to have the Ergo in all of those places. A lot of times Brad would carry her especially if we were not going to be inside of there for a long time. However, when we knew Melody would be sleeping, we would go ahead and put her in the carrier. I used it most mornings and evenings because she would sleep on the bus rides to and from the hotel.
Stroller Tags
If you are taking a baby to Disney, plan on taking a stroller. While Disney has strollers you can rent, they are not made for super young children who you hope will relax and maybe even nap in said stroller. Disney strollers are hard, plastic, semi-upright strollers. I highly recommend bringing your own stroller, even if you fly. While there are off-property places you can rent nicer strollers from, there is something to be said about having your own stroller that you know exactly how to use. You will have to break down the stroller every time you get on a bus. You don't want to be that person that has no clue how to fold up his stroller with a line of park goers behind you. Either way, unless you have some super unique stroller, they all look alike. Granted you may think strollers are all unique, and they can be; but when there is a sea of hundreds of strollers and you are hoping to find yours, good luck! Even if you remember where you put it, there is always the chance a cast member has moved it. What helped us was our stroller tag. This may not help from afar, but this will prevent you from accidentally grabbing the wrong stroller upfront. They are fairly easy to make at home, and it can even be a fun craft to do before you leave.
Toys
Bring them! Yes, Disney World is full of toys and fun experiences for your child, but unless you want to fork over $20 for a tiny Mickey Mouse, bring the one you bought from Walmart with you! I am not saying don't buy souvenirs. We actually bought Melody one of those Mickey's in February. What I am saying is bring some of your own toys. This will help the baby unwind in the room, and at character meals, the characters would even play with Melody's toys to try and make her smile. We even brought a door jumper to help Melody burn off some energy before bed! **Tip: Make a list of all the toys you bring so that you are sure to bring them home. You hate to leave baby's favorite stuffed animal in a corner of the room under the pillows!
Rider Switch
While Brad and I didn't use Rider Switch often, we did use it a few times. The only ride we actually used it on was Soarin'. While at Epcot, our Fastpass+ tier one ride was Frozen. We ate breakfast at Garden Grill prior to park opening, so Brad was able to walk right on to Soarin'. Both times we used it, we did the following. All three of us went to the start of the ride and found the cast member working. We asked for a Rider Switch. They handed Brad a plastic card, and he went on his way in line. Melody and I went and sat at Sunshine Seasons. Since she couldn't walk, this was honestly just as fun for her. It was also nearing her feeding time. Anyhow, when Brad actually got to the portion before boarding, he gave the card to the cast member who gave him an old school Fastpass ticket. It listed the ride along with an expiration date. The expiration date was the end of the month. I am not sure the consistency on this date. The ticket is good for up to 3 people. When I was ready to ride, I went to the Fastpass+ line and gave them the ticket.
When we go during the holidays, we are going with my best friend Emily, her husband Justin, and their daughter Lydia. We plan on using Rider Switch much more effectively. If you plan it right, with a group of 4 people, you could really get 6 Fastpasses from your park visit instead of the standard 3 [maybe more!]. I don't think there is a day where we actually do this to that extent, but it is possible. The problem with our next trip is there are a lot of Fastpass rides we want to take the girls on too.
Baby Care Centers
Baby Care Centers are truly your best friend if you have a baby at Disney. The changing tables alone are amazing. They are huge in comparison to any you will find in a restroom at Disney [or anywhere for that matter]. Not only are the changing tables nice, but you have a nice, away-from-the-crowds place to feed your child. Each park has one Baby Care Center. I wrote about them before in a post so I won't go into the details of each one here. I did not get to visit Animal Kingdom last time, so hopefully I can report back on theirs after my trip over the holidays. Each one has its benefits, and if you have a young child, you should really look into taking advantage of these!
Sleeping Baby
When I am planning our upcoming trip, I am having to constantly remind myself about this aspect of taking a baby to Disney. Your baby will sleep. She will likely sleep during a moment that you really hoped she would be awake for. When we went to Disney before, we kept Melody on her usual schedule. However, Disney is a lot to take in, so expect your child to want to sleep more. Melody would fall asleep during times she usually did not nap. Sometimes it was still convenient because she was in her stroller. Other times it was during our favorite ride or during a picture outside of our favorite part of a park. Either way, be prepared to be "disappointed" in this aspect. You can have all these dreams about your child keeping her usual schedule so you plan down to the minute when she will fall asleep, but be prepared for her to sleep other times too. Be prepared to keep strolling by that ride you wanted to take her on so that you don't wake her when she just fell asleep. Of course you can wake her; she is your child, but then that is your beast to handle :-)
I am most positive people thought and still think we are crazy for taking a baby to Disney. Melody was 8 months old when we took her in February, and she will be 18 months old when she goes again in December. Most people think that is too young, and it is a waste of money. But these are such precious memories we have with her from one of our favorite vacation spots. I think as long as you are prepared and know what you are getting in to, you should have no hesitation with take a baby to Disney!
