So I did a thing…
I’ve been a content “Disney adult” for a solid two decades. With the exception of a delightful family trip that included my 4-year-old niece, my experience with Disney parks has largely been enjoyed through the lens of a married-with-no-kids fan of the Most Magical Place on Earth.
Well, I went and had a baby…
Those who follow us pretty regularly probably caught hints this was coming when I wrote about 10 Things No One Tells You About Doing Disney Pregnant, but I’m happy to report our little one successfully made her entrance into the world late last year despite quite the storm of challenges—quite literally as she was, in fact, born in a hurricane. She’s living proof of miracles, both a rainbow baby and mighty little overcomer who survived multiple near grazes with death and peril through her earliest days, including a turbulent birth, major surgery, and multiple very-scary diagnoses. I’m happy to report she went from being the baby with the worst prospects in two NICUs to becoming a thriving, healthy little warrior who charms just about everyone we meet. We have many fond names for her, but for the sake of this article, we’ll call her Baby Bug.
Despite my love for Disney parks (and the stubborn determination to not let my annual pass lapse), I hadn’t planned on taking Baby Bug to Walt Disney World any time soon. We’re still getting the hang of parenthood, and I didn’t want to rush her into an environment that might be too stressful or where she might get sick in her earliest months.
Well, something unexpected happened recently, and I wound up with a surprise opportunity to introduce our little one to the Most Magical Place on Earth for the first time. Specifically, I found myself in Orlando with an afternoon to burn and two dear friends inviting me to join them on a mini-excursion to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The circumstances were ideal to test something I’ve long wondered…
What is it actually like trying to bring a baby to Walt Disney World?
My opinion regarding this subject has certainly softened over the years. When I first moved to Florida (and started writing for Theme Park Tourist), I landed firmly in the “don’t-do-it” category. I once experienced some rather spectacular controversy when I took too black and white an approach to the matter. Since then, I’ve listened, and this is an area where our reader-base actually changed my mind. While I do still hold there are some important situations where you should not bring a baby to Walt Disney World (more on those later), if baby is healthy and the family is very flexible, it’s not an impossible feat.
I knew I was treading into uncharted territory from the moment I pulled into the parking lot. These are the top ten things I found that took me by surprise…
1. You’re going to need A LOT of extra time
I always knew taking care of a baby was a huge job, but if you don’t have kids, it’s hard to describe the staggering amount of time it takes to get a baby just about anywhere—or indeed, just to keep them fed, changed, and happy. We’re talking hours upon hours in the best of cases, particularly since babies need to eat anywhere between 6 and 12 times a day depending on their age. The amount of time can easily stack up to the equivalent of a full-time job or more.
Much of the time spent caring for a baby is governed by a sort of feeding loop—the 2-4 hour inescapable cycle of changings and care that takes place from one feed to the next. While some parents may have this flow down to a science, it’s a source of struggle for many, particularly if baby has any feeding complications like latch issues, frequent dozing, reflux, or if mom struggles with over or under-supply or need to keep a pumping schedule. In our case, the feeding loop has proven particularly time consuming as we’ve been fighting for Baby Bug to be able to nurse regularly since her tumultuous NICU visit. We’re current in a season of nursing, followed by topping off with a bottle, followed by pumping. Baby is worth it, but fast, the process is not.
My point is when it comes to bringing a baby to Walt Disney World, you’re going to need an abundance of time and flexibility.
While I had been prepared for a visit to Orlando (our car is something of a mobile nursery as we travel to the city often), I had not originally planned on venturing into the Most Magical Place on Earth. Just getting organized enough to get into the parks took an astonishing amount of time—assembling her stroller, condensing stuff for baby’s bag, getting baby in the stroller, getting past security… By the time I entered the park, I’d circled through the feeding loop and it was already time to change and feed her again, meaning about an hour detour to the Baby Care Center.
You’re going to need to take feedings and changings into account if you plan to bring baby along for a Disney day, which will mean some pretty significant stops in the midst of your exploration. Some bottle-fed or very-efficient breastfed babies might be a bit more portable or low maintenance, but the majority of moms are likely going to experience a large amount of downtime to devote to baby care. This may mean planning regular points where you step away from your traveling party or possibly planning your itinerary around baby’s typical schedule (if they have one, which many don’t).
2. “We’re gonna need a bigger boat…”
I’ve made it a point during my years visiting Walt Disney World to travel as light as possible. I usually only need a small messenger bag for any given Disney visit, maybe with the addition of a few cool pouches if I was dressed up to visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Not such a feasible strategy with a baby…
If you’ve ever wondered why so many parents drive veritable tanks of strollers through Walt Disney World, it’s because of this issue—it takes a staggering amount of stuff to take a baby anywhere. Diapers, feeding supplies, formula or breast milk, a pump in many cases, and that’s not even considering travel specifics like a sunhat, sunshade, nursing cover, spare clothes, a few toys—makes you wish Mary Poppins’ time/space bending hat bag were available for rental.
I tend to fall into the category of over-preparing when traveling anywhere with Baby Bug—this might be a side effect of being a new parent or just a personality quirk. Our diaper bag is basically a military ruck customized for baby care (shout out to Tactical Baby Gear), and even that felt insufficient to carry everything I thought we might need. Other items ended up in our stroller (a modestly sized Colugo Compact), but you can’t rely on stroller storage too much—despite etiquette, it’s not wise to leave anything you’d be sad to lose in a parked stroller at Disney parks.
I may have over-packed for our Disney day, but it honestly wasn’t by much. There were a few odd items I probably could have condensed or left behind, but others proved very useful, such as keeping my woven baby wrap and ring sling on hand.
My best advice is to condense what you can. Think like a backpacker and look for ways to reduce the amount you need to carry. Many diaper bag staples come in travel size versions, leaving more room for items that you can’t do much about in size like diapers and bottles. Some nursing moms may be able to pack the lightest, while those who pump, bottle feed, or combo feed will likely need a number of extra accoutrements to match baby’s needs. In particular, don’t forget spare clothes in the event of a diaper blowout.
By the way, regarding all that stuff…
3. You’ll get to know the security team
If you’re used to zipping through Disney security, you might be in for an awakening trying to visit with a baby…
It’s not really rocket science that if you carry more things into the park, you’re more likely to be stopped by security. There’s a reason Disney started diverting families with strollers into a separate line. While it is possible to pass through security with a stroller or small diaper bag and avoid a full security search, it isn’t likely. In my case, I knew the chance was basically zero.
Fortunately, my visit to security was surprisingly painless, for one specific reason—we keep our diaper bag pretty organized. Prior to having a baby, my stops at security took longer because my little messenger bag generally just had a lot of stuff tossed in it. We tried that approach with baby’s diaper bag early in our parenting days and realized it was a recipe for stress trying to find anything we needed on the go.
We tried a few methods for organizing the bag but finally settled on using packing cubes to contain the stuff that couldn’t fit in sub-pouches (in our case, one cube holds feeding tools like bottles, powdered formula, and cleaning supplies while the other holds diapers, spare clothes, and odds and ends). We also have a cooler pouch that attaches to our diaper bag with a reusable ice pack inside to keep breastmilk, pre-mixed formula, and medications cold. One item I’ve heard recommended frequently on Facebook groups for moms with strict pumping regiments is the Ceres Chill, a cleverly designed cooler created to keep milk cold an extended time while maximizing convenience for security stops at airports and places like Disney. I’ve not had a chance to test it myself, but the base premise looks promising.
When passing through security, a polite attitude is key. I made it a point to work with security, explaining how to access each pouch of my bag and what they should expect to find in each section as they went along. In my case, the security team got quite a kick out of our diaper ruck. Things to stay cognizant of are making sure your stroller stays within Disney’s size guidelines, as well as ensuring your diaper bag doesn’t contain any banned items.
4. The Baby Care Centers are amazing
I’ve got to give it to Disney—they know how to take care of us mamas.
I can’t count the number of times I’ve passed Disney’s Baby Care Centers and never given them a second thought. I only became conscious of them after I became pregnant, and I must say they proved a very pleasant surprise on Baby Bug’s first visit to Walt Disney World.
So far, I’ve had the opportunity to visit the Baby Care Centers at both Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and both are fantastic. Magic Kingdom unsurprisingly has the largest set-up of the parks, but all four centers are stocked with just about everything a traveling parent might need including changing tables, lounge and rocking chairs, couches, TV’s with cartoons, nursing rooms, as well as feeding supplies and spare clothes for purchase if you forgot something. Oh, and don’t forget a kitchen stocked with a bottle warmer, temperature control water dispenser, and—most importantly—a sink, which can feel like an oasis for moms who pump or want to wash bottles for re-use.
I spent the most time at the Baby Care Center at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and I think my favorite feature was the changing tables. As a new mom, I’ve quickly come to dislike the changing stations in most public bathrooms. 99% of businesses I’ve encountered don’t keep liners on hand, and those aren’t easy to find for purchase. Yes, you can use a portable changing pad, but I find myself still nervous about germs left on the table.
Disney has a genius system for their changing tables—giant sheets of thick paper. You can rest assured baby is being changed on a clean surface because the entire table surface is one big disposable liner. This made changing Baby Bug’s diaper very, very easy.
As a mom who has had to overcome a lot of challenges fighting for baby girl and me to be able to nurse, I really appreciated the private nursing area. I’m a pretty modest person, so while I don’t mind nursing out and about with a cover, we’re still learning how to do that. There’s a lot of moving parts involved in our little girl’s feeding journey, and it was such a relief having a quiet, private space where we could do our thing without feeling like I was risking judgment from others who didn’t understand our situation. I’m also glad I had that option as at least a couple dads had to use the Baby Care Center too (something for moms to be aware of).
These rooms aren’t always available as it’s not uncommon for some babies to take 30-45 minutes to eat, if not longer. Be aware some of the Baby Care Centers utilize shared nursing rooms designed for multiple moms to use at once. I’m still elated there’s at least some sort of semi-private space.
One minor challenge to be aware of regarding the Baby Care Centers—while they do provide a quieter environment than the parks, they are also a refuge for parents whose kids have had it. I heard quite a few babies and toddlers having a less-than-magical-time during my session in the nursing closet, so this is something you may want to be cognizant of if your baby has trouble hearing other kids cry. A small white noise generator (we use this one) is a good investment to keep on hand just in case.
5. The revenge of Stroller Derby!
Yes, the stroller is finally on the other foot… or at least I hope it wasn’t on someone’s foot.
Stroller shenanigans have long been a subject of simultaneous frustration and amusement for me over the years. I think most Disney regulars have had at least one encounter with that one stroller-parent who’s lost their last marble and decides to go full Fury Road on their fellow parkgoers. I recall one incident as a kid where a woman straight-up shoved me out of the monorail with her stroller (with the kid in the seat, mind you). The first time I wrote about the topic, once again I took a bit too much of a one-sided approach and reaped a whirlwind of unhappy comments from parents of small children. One mom even inferred I was lucky she didn’t install metal spikes on her stroller for all the grief she experienced trying to navigate the parks.
This is another area where I’ve softened quite a bit over the years, and I have learned it’s a two-sided problem. Driving a stroller in a busy theme park is no joke, and it can be extremely challenging for parents to avoid bumping a few hips and ankles in the tumult, especially when people make sudden stops right in front of your baby. While there certainly are some bad actors who fling courtesy to the wind and decide to turn their prams into battering rams, the vast majority of parents driving strollers at Disney parks just want to get from A to B without any confrontations or dinged shins.
Both Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot had moderate attendance on the day I visited, but it didn’t take long for me to encounter the challenges of trying to drive a stroller through the parks. I’m used to moving at a pretty brisk pace at Walt Disney World, varying my speed and weaving through the crowd to keep from getting stuck. While I was able to move reasonably well with my light travel stroller, I definitely did not have the maneuverability I was used to, and I had to stay very cognizant of people around and in front of me.
While I didn’t run into any issues with other guests, I definitely got some perspective on why some stroller-parents get a little intense. I felt like I had to stay hyper-aware of guests around me for fear someone might bump into the stroller. The potential for conflict isn’t heightened so much by the awkwardness of the vehicle as it is by the instinct to protect your child. I wasn’t sure how I would react if someone callously plowed into my beloved baby. I could certainly see my Mama Bear side coming out quickly if a situation couldn’t be deescalated or if I feared baby might get hurt. This hyper-awareness only reinforced for me that its a good idea for parents visiting Disney with a baby to leave a lot of flexibility in your schedule, both for getting places and for stepping aside to reclaim your calm if need be.
One more important thing about strollers—I definitely found myself nervous about leaving the stroller anywhere. My research confirmed that despite popular etiquette, both accidental and purposeful stroller theft is a possibility at Walt Disney World. If you will be bringing a stroller, some good practices include finding ways to make your stroller stand out, making sure it is well-labeled, and never leave anything in a parked stroller you would miss if it disappeared. Some smart anti-theft measures include using wheel locks (or just removing a wheel whenever you park the stroller and carrying it with you), refraining from using Disney ponchos as covers (which makes most strollers look the same), and maybe installing an AirTag / Samsung Tag in a hidden place so you can track it if it goes missing. Do be aware Disney Cast Members frequently have to move strollers around to make space in parking areas, so don’t panic too much if yours ups and moves a short distance away.
6. You may come up with some creative hacks
This is probably a subject for a future article, but I do enjoy a good travel hack, and there are plenty you can try when traveling with babies at Walt Disney World.
The biggest hack I employed for baby’s first Disney trip was to utilize baby-wearing as much as possible instead of relying on the stroller. I’m a big fan of woven baby wraps (mine comes from this company in Scotland because they have a Tolkien-themed line), ring slings, and carriers for transporting Baby Bug. While we did use the stroller a good amount during our Disney excursion, I ultimately ended up pulling baby out and wrapping her instead. So long as you follow safe practices for your carrier or wrap, baby-wearing comes with dozens of advantages. I was actually able to travel much more comfortably wearing baby and pushing her bag in the stroller, even through the long walk between Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot.
The goal of hacks is to simplify your parks experience. Use pacifier clips liberally to keep toys and binkies from getting lost. Many nursing covers can service multi-function purposes—I ended up using mine as a mini hood to keep baby warm during our end-of-night walk. Most ring slings and woven wraps can easily double as a blanket to keep baby warm (just keep an eye on them to ensure it doesn’t get pulled over their face). The small plastic bags pet owners use for dealing with pet poop are great for dealing with diapers on the go or tucking away soiled clothes.
A small travel pillow can act as a mini-Boppy to help provide support during feedings or times you need to put baby down for a few moments. Related to this, you can also avoid having to lug around a large nursing pillow by bringing a Boppy-style pillowcase with you. Instead of bringing the pillow, stuff it with anything soft you have on hand like a sweatshirt, baby blanket, or even diapers (just give it a test at home to make sure you have enough stuff to fill it out).
7. Your day may look very different
It didn’t take me long to feel the impact of how different a trip to Walt Disney World is compared to the experience I was used to. Particularly if you are flying solo or will be acting as baby’s primary caretaker, you will likely find yourself making very different decisions when it comes to how you spend your Disney day.
In my case, I actually decided I wasn’t too interested in trying any rides. Spaceship Earth was the only one I momentarily considered, but in the end I skipped it in favor of long, leisurely walks through the park (an option available to Passholders that understandably won’t make much sense for many planning a Disney trip from abroad). As parents, we live in a perpetual state of learning how to lay down our preferences for the betterment of our kids. In the case of a trip to Disney parks, that’s going to mean staying aware of both baby’s care and their emotional state.
If you’re traveling with a partner, you might be able to enjoy some rides that baby can’t join you on by using the Rider Swap system (where one parent rides while the other stays with baby, then you switch—let the ride operators know ahead of time if you want to do this), but ultimately having a baby with you is going to affect your choices while visiting the Most Magical Place on Earth. Trying to keep things exactly the same as previous Disney visits is only going to leave you frustrated. Instead, find ways to enjoy the moment, and be patient and willing to adapt if your little one’s schedule doesn’t match your planned itinerary… or if they just don’t enjoy the parks like you do.
Ultimately, my first excursion to Walt Disney World with baby proved quite enjoyable, but part of why that was the case was I went in with a very low-pressure mindset. I kept my expectations low and just focused on treasuring the time I could spend with friends and my little one. I hit a few of my highlights but stayed adaptable so I could flex my plans if baby needed something. I couldn’t afford to get fixated on things that might result in disappointment (like the fact I still haven’t experienced Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind—one day!).
8. Remember where you parked
This one should go without saying, but it’s especially important if you’re traveling with a baby: remember where you parked.
You would think this would be a fairly simple as there are so many tricks to note your parking spot. You can take a picture of the row and section you parked at. You can ask your digital assistant to remember where you parked (though I recommend having a backup as Google has frequently failed me on this front). Even My Disney Experience has an app feature to help you remember your parking space.
I emphasize this point because I, Jett, the Disney travel writer who has literally written articles on this subject, managed to forget where I parked when I visited Walt Disney World with my baby…
I don’t know what it is about a visit to Walt Disney World that makes my brain turn off the moment I hit the parking lot, but in my eagerness to get from the car to the park, I frequently forget to note where I parked. Other times, I remember to do so, but my technology fails me. More often than not, I’ve found doing the Walk of Shame at the end of the day, forlornly pressing the panic button on my key fob in the hope of remembering where my vehicle is. It shouldn’t have surprised me that the effects of mommy brain would all but guarantee I would make this same mistake again.
It’s embarrassing enough to lose track of your car at the end of a Disney day, but I’ll admit it was a rather scary experience doing so with a baby in tow. To her credit, Baby Bug kept a good attitude and enjoyed the swaying of the long hike during my search. I kept husband on the line the entire time (he hadn’t been able to join us that day), but it took far longer than I anticipated locating our vehicle, and I was definitely stressed by the time the ordeal was done.
In truth, I let panic override my better judgment. If you ever find yourself unable to find your car with a baby in tow, don’t do what I did and hoof it through the whole parking lot. Head straight back to the park and speak to a parking cast member—they are very familiar with guests losing their cars and can provide assistance to help you locate your vehicle.
The better option? Set whatever reminders you need to keep track of where you parked.
9. Realize your baby might hate the parks (despite your best efforts)
It’s a hard pill to swallow, but the truth is, many babies ultimately don’t enjoy their visits to the Most Magical Place on Earth.
While some babies may enjoy the colors, sounds, and your company during a Walt Disney World visit, the truth is theme parks are often just too stimulating an environment for babies and toddlers. The crowds, overwhelming sights, and non-stop activity can wear down even mellow kids and leave parents forced to handle meltdowns. Rides and character experiences that older kids might find enjoyable can easily scare smaller children who don’t have any concept of attractions being pretend fun.
I appreciate how the authors of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World put it—many babies ultimately enjoy the resort pool far more than the parks. There are certainly exceptions (like the baby in a recent viral video who loved meeting Chewbacca), but many kids struggle more than parents expected.
I lucked out on our first visit—Baby Bug has a delightfully easy temperament for travel after her crazy NICU adventure. She’s used to being around people and even loud sounds thanks to our work with teens and adults in our community. She genuinely seemed to enjoy our visit to Walt Disney World. She slept peacefully as I pushed her stroller through Epcot, she beamed smiles at guests on the friendship boat, and she happily gazed at passing lights during our evening walk.
That being said, I went in with the deck stacked in our favor.
In my experience, the people who are most likely to have success bringing a baby to Walt Disney World are parents who are totally at peace with baby changing your vacation plans. In most cases, this means Florida locals and frequent visitors like Passholders. The reason it’s so much easier for these families to bring a baby to Walt Disney World is they can easily change plans if baby isn’t into the parks—indeed, you just get in the car and go home.
If your baby has shown signs of doing well in environments similar to a theme park, and if your family is comfortable staying flexible, you can totally bring a baby to Walt Disney World. The biggest perk is admission for babies is free. I’ve heard plenty of accounts from readers whose babies and toddlers love the parks, and I know a number of families who have kids who do great in the parks environment.
There are, however, a number of situations where I still encourage parents to wait until children are older (about 4 years old, usually) before bringing your littlest ones to the Most Magical Place on Earth. If your baby easily gets overstimulated, you will probably be better off waiting to attempt a Disney excursion. If your family vacations tend to be stressful or require tight planning, I would wait. Most importantly, if you live far away and have been saving up for a once-in-a-decade (or lifetime) Walt Disney World vacation that you want your kids to remember for life, wait until your little one is old enough to be able to enjoy Disney’s best. Your patience will be well rewarded.
What tips do you have for new moms bringing a baby to Walt Disney World for the first time? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook! Thanks for reading!
