Pixie Dust and Beyond

It’s official: momming is no joke. Ok, it was probably already official before I said it, but now I have the firsthand experience to back up the claim. I have spent the past year taking on my greatest role yet, “mommy,” to our little princess. In that short time we have already endured numerous learning experiences and made countless memories— including baby’s first Disney trip! I know the thought of taking a baby on a Disney vacation may seem absolutely daunting, even crazy to some people. There seems to be a long list of reasons not to do it: It’s hot. It’s complicated. They won’t remember it. You won’t be able to do anything. Well, I’m here to tell you it CAN be done and it is SO worth it. We had an absolutely amazing time on our first trip with Sophia. So amazing, that we have already been back for return visits! Here are a few things to consider when it comes to taking on Disney with a little one in tow:

• Convenience. Consider what’s important to your family and what you need/want to help make your vacation relaxing and successful. That starts with deciding where to stay. For us, that absolutely meant staying on property in a Disney Resort Hotel. You truly can’t beat staying in the heart of the magic and being so close to everything. Next, we considered things like resort location, transportation and travel time. It’s no secret that one of my favorite Disney Resort perks is the resort buses, but depending on the location, some resorts have multiple transportation options available, like watercraft or monorail transportation. Some resorts are even close enough to a park that you can walk directly to the park. Consider what sounds like the easiest option for your family and talk to your Travel Agent or research the different resorts to find the best option. 

• Plan to go with the flow. I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but it is probably the single best piece of advice I can give. It’s no secret that Alex and I are seasoned Disney travelers. We have a “Disney routine,” if you will. We know which parks to hit when, how to avoid the crowds, we have our “must do” rides and we know how to secure last minute Fast Passes for them or last minute dining reservations at our favorite restaurants, and we are expert speed walkers. (If you’ve ever been to the parks with us, you’ve seen how fast we can book it through the crowds. 🙂 Well, much like the rest of our lives, all of that changed when Sophia joined us on our Disney adventures. We adapted to a new, slower pace. Our top “must do” attraction changed from Space Mountain to the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. And I’m not complaining one bit! Yes, things were different, but everything with Sophia was new and exciting and we were having the time of our lives every step of the way. When you embrace the “go with the flow” attitude it quickly helps to manage your expectations so you don’t leave feeling disappointed, or that you’ve missed out on any experiences. We let Sophia be our guide. We would hit the parks whenever she woke up in the morning and adjust our Fast Passes accordingly, if necessary. We did our best to make it back to the resort around her usual nap time every day so she could stay well rested and happy throughout our stay (and we totally wanted to nap too). If at all possible, I’d suggest maintaining as much of your baby’s schedule as possible. Make a list of a few of your family’s “must dos” and make those reservations, be it Fast Passes or dining reservations and then let your baby lead the rest. Happy baby = happy parents and a magical vacation!

• Carrying your precious cargo— and no, I don’t mean the awesome souvenirs you’ll inevitably pick up (although, the right stroller can help with that too!) Depending on the age of your baby, you may have a go-to favorite when carrying your little Mouseketeer, be it a stroller or baby carrier/wrap, etc. I have a baby carrier that I love, and use quite frequently. It’s great to have your baby close by and to have your hands (mostly) free. But… Florida is hot. You and your babe will almost inevitably end up extra hot and sweaty from being in such close quarters in the sweltering Florida sun. In my personal experience, I tend to prefer the stroller in the parks— but, I have also brought my carrier and stored it in the stroller to use at night or during cooler times. So, if you’re big into babywearing, you can absolutely bring that carrier along with you. But overall, my advice would be to rely on the stroller for the most part. It’s great for holding your bags and literally taking some of the weight off your own shoulders, and it also serves as an excellent spot for impromptu naps if you decide not to head back to your resort. 
  

• Pack light. Ok, full disclosure, I can’t take my own advice on this one. I am a notorious over-packer, especially when it comes to Sophia. BUT when it comes to packing our park bag for the day, I certainly wanted to carry as little as possible. No one wants to carry around a backpack that weighs a ton when your body is already tired and it’s 85 degrees. Decide what the necessities are for you and your baby for a few hours in the parks (and make sure sunscreen is one of those necessities!) and stick to it. If you happen to forget anything, Disney will almost always come to your rescue.

• This brings me to my next point— take advantage of the Baby Care Centers. There is a Baby Care Center located in each park. This is a great opportunity to make a quiet stop to feed or change your baby and take a breather. The Baby Care Centers have a designated quiet feeding room equipped with big comfy chairs. There are also changing tables, restrooms and a little shop stocked with baby necessities.

• You actually CAN experience a lot of the attractions. You can take baby with you as long as the attraction doesn’t have a height requirement. Of course, only you know your baby, so use your own judgement when deciding whether or not your baby would enjoy the attraction. Here is a list of current attractions that do not have a height requirement.
  Don’t forget, this includes character meet and greets as well! I can’t tell you how heartwarming it is to watch your little one meet their (or your) favorite Disney character for the first time.

• Take photos! If your camera roll is anything like mine, it’s probably full of thousands of photos of your little one, so I probably don’t have to tell you to take photos. But really, take all the photos! And most importantly, utilize Disney’s PhotoPass Photographers! They are there to take photos of your family and capture those magical memories. You will see them stationed around most of the most iconic and photo-worthy spots around the parks. If you don’t see a PhotoPass Cast Member nearby, just refer to your My Disney Experience app and you can instantly locate nearby photographers. They will use their professional cameras to take photos and then they will scan your MagicBand to link them to your My Disney Experience account. If you’re interested in purchasing these professional photos you will probably want to look into purchasing the Memory Maker option when booking your trip. (Tip: you’ll also save $30 on this option if you purchase it more than 3 days in advance.) You can also ask the PhotoPass Photographer to take a photo with your own device if you’d prefer to stick to your own camera.

Most importantly, have fun and cherish the magical memories! You will likely encounter those that will say your little one is too young, and try to deter you from taking this trip. If this is something you want to do with your family, absolutely go for it! It will take some planning and room for trial and error, but when it comes to babies, what doesn’t require these things? If you immerse yourself in the Disney Magic and soak up the time with your little one, you honestly can’t go wrong.