Tips & Tricks for Taking a Baby to Walt Disney World

Planning a trip to Disney World can be a little overwhelming. This is even more true when you have a tiny Disney-goer in tow. If you’re planning on taking a baby to Disney World, you may be wondering what sorts of things you should consider. Lucky for you, this is something we’ve done before, so we know all the ins and outs of making sure you and your little one have an awesome time during your days in Disney.

  

1. Check Your Expectations

Disney World is exhausting no matter who you are. That said, it’s even more tiring for babies and the parents of those babies. What does this mean? It means you likely won’t get to see and do everything during your time there. Instead of heading into this trip with the goal of doing as much as possible, try to change your mindset and focus on slowing down and really enjoying this time with your tiny one before they grow up.

2. Locate Baby Care Centers

One super cool thing about the Disney parks is the fact that they have baby care stations. These stations have everything a mom or dad might need to make themselves and their babies comfortable while visiting the parks. This includes comfy seating, restrooms for parents and older children, changing tables and more. Be sure to take a look at some maps and find these stations so you know where to go when you and your little one need a break.

3. Choose Your Stroller Carefully

You will definitely want to take a stroller when heading to Disney with a baby. Not only that, we highly recommend being picky about what stroller you take. Look for one that folds flat so you can change your baby and let them take naps. You’ll also want one that folds up easily for bus rides and has plenty of storage underneath.

4. Pack a Stroller Cover

Florida is notorious for its afternoon rainstorms. Avoid a soggy, smelly stroller by packing a plastic stroller cover. While we don’t recommend leaving the baby in the stroller with the cover on, it is worth taking your little one out of the stroller during these downpours in order to keep your stroller nice and dry.

5. Make Your Stroller More Noticeable

There are a LOT of strollers in the Disney parks, and the Cast Members stationed at stroller parking stations will often move strollers around to keep things orderly as they come and go. This means it can be incredibly easy to lose track of your stroller after you’ve parked it. Rather than walking up and down each row of stroller trying to find yours, we highly recommend doing things to make your baby’s ride stand out from the rest. One great trick involves tying a Disney balloon to the stroller handle so you can find it from far away and walk right to it.

6. Take a Carrier

So far we’ve talked a lot about strollers. However, it is important to note that your little one won’t be able to stay in the stroller the entire time. Strollers can’t go into queues for rides, nor can they be taken into shows. On top of that, sitting in a stroller gets super hot, meaning the baby will likely want breaks from it anyway. For this reason, you are going to want to bring a comfortable, breathable carrier that allows you to wear your baby close while keeping your hands free.

7. Keep Baby Shaded and Cool

We mentioned that sitting in a stroller is hot, and we aren’t kidding. The Florida heat is intense, and since little babies aren’t able to control their own body temperature as well as we can, they can overheat easily. Additionally, baby skin is likely to burn in the Florida sunshine, and infants under 6 months old should not wear sunscreen. Because of these things, you will want to do your best to make sure baby is shaded and cool. A stroller fan and cooling towels are great for keeping the stroller cool, and baby hats and muslin blankets work well alongside the stroller hood to keep the sun off of sensitive skin.

8. Avoid Mid-Day Heat

Another way to avoid overheating your baby is to skip the super hot afternoon hours entirely. The crowds at these times tend to be extra intense anyway, making it an ideal time to take a break from the parks, head back to your resort room, and have a nap with your baby before returning in the evening.

9. Rehydrate Your Little One Often

All of that Florida heat can cause dehydration quickly. In order to keep your baby from becoming dehydrated during your trip, be sure to nurse or give bottles often. If your little one is old enough, bottles or cups of water are also a good idea. Also, you will want to watch for signs of dehydration such as fewer wet diapers and constipation.

10. Carry Two Bags

In addition to taking baby out of the stroller, you’ll also need to carry any valuables with you when you leave your stroller behind for any reason. However, lugging around one huge bag that contains everything you need for a day in the park with your baby is a huge pain. Therefore, we recommend carrying one small bag for valuables that can be carried onto rides, and a second larger bag for diapers and other baby necessities that can be left behind.

11. Pack Extra Diapers and Clothes

Speaking of diapers, pack plenty! If your baby is drinking more, they will almost certainly be filling more diapers, and that means more diaper changes throughout the day. In addition to plenty of diapers, you should also throw in an extra outfit or two. Babies are messy, and this fact doesn’t change while in Disney World, so being prepared is always a good thing.

12. Use Rider Swap

In Disney World, any of the lower-key rides without height requirements will allow babies on board. That said, there are bound to be some thrill rides you would like to ride that baby can’t do just yet. In this case, be sure to make use of the rider swap option, which allows you to wait in line while another adult waits with the baby. After one of you has gone on the ride, the adults switch spots, with the second one being allowed through a special queue that skips the vast majority of the line.