Are you heading to Disney World with a newborn soon? Check out what to expect and how to prepare!
Doing Disney World with a newborn isn’t the same as visiting with toddlers, kids, or even teenagers – it’s a totally different ballgame. From all the baby gear, to early mornings, to diaper changes and feeding, here’s what to expect (and what I’ve learned) when bringing a newborn to Disney.
Disney World With a Newborn Tips
It’s All In The Preparation
Between diapers, bottles, burp rags, and more, babies tend to come with a lot of stuff. Well, now you’ve got to carry that around the parks with you. And, if you’re anything like me and are used to going to the parks with the least amount of bags and “stuff” possible, this can be a big change. Combine that with the ever-present urge to overpack for your kid and suddenly the thought of walking 12 hours in the heat seems overwhelming.
But, remember, newborns are flexible! They sleep a lot of the time and feeding is just about packing the right things. So, pack what you know is essential to feed your baby and keep them comfortable, and leave the rest at home or in the hotel room. You don’t need to bring your whole house with you!
It’s also important to think through whether you want to bring a stroller, carrier, or both with you. In my experience, both are helpful but not always necessary. The stroller is nice to have for carrying your things and your baby around, but you can’t bring it on rides and it’s not always easy to take into stores and restaurants. Having a way to baby wear frees up your hands so that you can still ride, shop, and walk around when you need to hold your newborn.
Your Hotel Choice Can Make a Huge Difference
Before I had kids, I typically chose my Disney World hotel based on where I could find the best deals and transportation options. It wasn’t until I traveled with a newborn and toddler that I realized it REALLY matters where you stay…and it’s usually not the cheapest hotel available.
While you can certainly have a great trip with a newborn at any of the Disney hotels, there are a few things that make some resorts better than others. I’ve stayed in both standard rooms and family suites with newborns and find that the family suites make everything a bit easier. With two rooms, you don’t have to go to bed at 7 PM with your newborn or sneak around in the hopes that you don’t wake the baby.
Art of Animation Suite. Photo by Brett Svenson
So, if there’s any time to splurge on a hotel, it’s when you’re traveling with a newborn. Like it or not, you’ll probably be spending a lot of time at your resort between early wake-ups, afternoon naps, and early bedtimes. Staying at a Moderate or Deluxe Resort can be nicer than a Value Resort since there are so many more restaurants and things to do at these hotels. Plus, if you get a theme park view room at a Deluxe Resort, you don’t even have to miss the fireworks while your baby sleeps (as long as they don’t wake up to the noise).
Jam-Packed Mornings and Early Evenings
No matter when I put my newborn down to sleep, it seems that we’re always for the day somewhere between 5-7AM. And, it’s important to take advantage of that precious early morning time! When you travel with a newborn, you’re likely forfeiting late nights in the park, so early mornings are key to getting on any big rides that you want to do.
So, grab your morning coffee and get ready to hit the parks with your newborn bright and early!
There Are Rides You Can (and Can’t) Go On With Your Newborn
When I transitioned from Millennial-Disney-adult-with-no-kids to Millennial-Disney family, I was surprised by the number of attractions that we could still do — even with a newborn! If a ride doesn’t have a height requirement, then your baby is good to go with you. Of course, your newborn probably is going to sleep through a lot of the things you go on. But, you don’t have to skip your favorite attractions just because you have a little one.
For the rides that do have a height requirement, use rider switch! I’ll admit that it’s a bit more lonely riding things like Tower of Terror alone, but rider switch is super simple and makes it easy for you and your partner to still ride bigger attractions and take care of your newborn.
Baby Care Centers Are Your Most-Visited “Attraction”
They say feeding a baby is a full-time job and that can especially be true in the newborn phase. Between that, diaper changes, and the ever-present need for air conditioning, you’ll likely find yourself stopping by the baby care centers a lot on your park days.
These centers are easy to find, but they can be quite a walk depending on where you are in the park. I like to plan to visit the baby care center about every 2-3 hours with a newborn. It’s a nice break from the heat and noise and gives you a bit of a plan for getting all the big “baby tasks” in during your day since it’s easy to lose track of time.
Air Conditioning is Your BFF
The Florida heat and humidity can be dangerous for babies, so expect your newborn to need to eat a lot more and try to keep them cool by filling your day with the most air conditioning possible. Instead of walking by a store to get to your next ride, walk through it. And, try to prioritize rides with indoor queues and eat at restaurants with indoor seating.
This is one part of doing Disney with a newborn that you won’t mind at all!
Realistic Expectations Are Important
The biggest thing to remember when doing Disney World with a newborn is that you need to remain flexible. You may not get to every attraction you wanted to and your entire day may be derailed by a nap gone wrong. When you’re planning your trip, write down 3-5 things you really want to do each day. Then, focus on getting those things done and tune out the rest. Anything extra you get to do with your newborn is just the cherry on top!
So, don’t let anyone scare you away from taking your newborn to Disney World! Yes, your trip will look different than all the others that you took without kids (or even with older kids). But, you can still have an amazing trip. And, hey, as someone who’s done it, I’ll give you the “parent of the year” award just for trying!
