Doing Disney World with a baby is fun and exciting way to test your ability to balance “This is the greatest idea I have ever had!” and the backlash of everyone who has never done it or did it wrong.
Sure taking a baby to Disney World may not seem like the best idea on the surface. I will even agree that maybe this trip is not for everyone. But what I can tell you from my own experience of not only having done it but also from my years of working for the magical mouse, is that this has the potential to be one of the most fun trips you will take with your new bundle of joy.
Go Time!
Walt Disney World is in Orlando Florida. This means there are certain months of the year that we affectionately refer to as “walking on the sun months”. That being said it is not always the best time of year to take a two-month-old. Or kids… or even people you like for that matter.
But don’t be fooled by its southern location. There are still times of the year that are perfectly ideal for taking baby to Florida. For instance if you live somewhere where winter is not the most pleasant time of year, this is the most ideal time to visit down south. Not only do you get away from shoveling snow but you can also get a tan while you do it. Of course during some of this time there is also those school holidays which make Disney World not so magical. So avoid times like Christmas through New Year’s and any extended holiday weekend. If your kids have school off for a holiday they are probably not the only ones. Hundreds of thousands of other families also have those extended holidays and they have the same idea as you.
This leads me to the other side of the equation which is the best time to go. When the kids are little and before they’re in school they don’t have nearly the same time constraints as they will. So take advantage and go when no one else has the time off. Ideally find a time when flights to Orlando are cheap. Airlines tend to set low prices because not as many people are traveling. If prices are low there’s a good chance the parks are slower.
These are Rides?
Remember from the beginning that this trip is going to be much different than any Disney trip you may have taken in the past. Although your last trip may have been filled with Rock’n Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror and all the mountains your equilibrium could handle this time may not be. This time you may find yourself on things like the Winnie the Pooh ride and everyones favorite ear worm “It’s a Small World”. But you should take advantage of the slower pace and enjoy the meet and greet with characters. These are the pictures that will resurface 40 years from now. They will be accompanied by the family whisper of “Why is grandpa crying over a picture of me with Mickey Mouse?”
Not to say there won’t be a splash Mountain ride mixed in there but this time you’re probably going solo. So instead take this time to do all the things you haven’t done in the past. There are a ton of shows and really there’s even a handful of rides infants can go on. “Rides” is probably a loose term for what these really are but you will certainly be seeing them through a new lens.
Thank You for Being a Friend
If it is all possible take somebody else with you. Whether this be family or a friend, having extra hands at Disney World makes everything a million times easier. This may even be worth working into your vacation budget a little extra to bring the new grandparents along with you. I’ve been told now by many grandparents that they enjoy watching their kids be parents more then they ever imagined. So let this be fun for everyone involved and take the help where you can get it.
Nap time is the best time
Our little guys will get tired multiple times throughout the day. There is a lot to take in visually, audibly, and physically. Plus when you add in the heat element everybody gets tired quicker. This may be the prime time to head back to your resort for bit. Thankfully Disney transportation is great and can get you back to your room quick for a couple hours before coming back at night.
If you are someone who is looking to get every minute out of your time, you can stay in the parks and hit a couple of the quieter, air-conditioned, darker shows. Each park has their own best places for nap time. The important thing to remember is to utilize nap time not only for the baby but also for yourself.
Sunscreen
So much sunscreen! Especially if you chose to travel during those “Walking on the Sun Months”. The only thing worse then finishing your day at Disney looking like like Sebastian the crab, is having a sunburned baby. It can be so easy to forget to put sunscreen on again and again but it is vital to keeping Disney magical.
This is only scratching the surface of what you should keep in mind when doing Disney with a baby. The best thing you can take with you on this trip or any other is patience. The more calm you can remain the better the trip will be. So contact Disney and let them do all the planning for you. Grab a drink at the nearest bar when you get there and soak in all the Disney magic for awhile. This will be a trip you think back on and we all want to remember it positively.
Cheers!