{"id":41949,"date":"2015-10-06T12:00:15","date_gmt":"2015-10-06T16:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/?p=41949"},"modified":"2022-05-04T23:12:57","modified_gmt":"2022-05-05T03:12:57","slug":"surviving-walt-disney-world-infant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/surviving-walt-disney-world-infant\/","title":{"rendered":"Surviving Walt Disney World with an Infant"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-41969\" src=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/CinderellaZaydenText-266x400.jpg\" alt=\"CinderellaZaydenText\" width=\"266\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/CinderellaZaydenText-266x400.jpg 266w, https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/CinderellaZaydenText.jpg 399w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 266px) 100vw, 266px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Walt Disney World is an amazing and magical place for kids of all ages. \u00a0I was fortunate enough to be able to take my daughter to Disney for the first time when she was only 4 months old, and my son when he was 7 months old. They won\u2019t remember those trips, but my photos and memories of those first encounters are some that I will always cherish. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One big advantage to traveling to Disney with a child under the age of 3 is the cost. \u00a0Park tickets are free under 3, children under 3 can eat free at the buffets (and can share your meals at quick service and sit down restaurants). \u00a0A child under 2 can sit on your lap on an airplane, so you eliminate that fee as well. \u00a0Once a child turns 3, the cost of a trip to Disney increases greatly! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-41958\" src=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/IMG_4762-400x300.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_4762\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/IMG_4762-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/IMG_4762.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The key to a successful trip with an infant is preparation. \u00a0Here are a few lessons I learned from my experiences. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Take a Baby Carrier:<\/strong> \u00a0With so much to see, a forward facing baby carrier is a wonderful tool. \u00a0You can keep your little one close and he or she won\u2019t miss all of the action! I found a 360 carrier to be the most versatile. \u00a0Your little one can be forward facing for viewing the action, and you can turn him around to face you when they need a nap or a little downtime.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Bring a Stroller:<\/strong> \u00a0A stroller is a must in the parks. \u00a0Not only do you have a place for tiny travelers to rest, but you also have a spot to store any extra stuff you bring with you! I preferred to take my own, as the hard strollers <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/disneyworld.disney.go.com\/guest-services\/stroller-rentals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disney rents<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> would not be comfortable for an infant. \u00a0I took my jogging stroller, and although it was a bit bulky on the buses, I liked knowing my kids had a comfortable and familiar place to nap and travel. \u00a0Keep in mind that the stroller must fold up to go on any transportation service. \u00a0The train in the Magic Kingdom was the only place I had trouble maneuvering with my larger jogging stroller. I found it actually easier to just walk and meet my party at the next stop than to try to get baby and stroller on and off the train.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-41960\" src=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/102_0528-2-400x300.jpg\" alt=\"102_0528 (2)\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/102_0528-2-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/102_0528-2.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Take a Small Backpack:<\/strong> \u00a0A small backpack with essentials was helpful to keep with me everywhere I went. \u00a0A few diapers, a small pack of wipes, changing pad, nursing cover, cell phone, camera.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Bring a Diaper Bag:<\/strong> \u00a0A diaper bag to hang on the stroller can contain everything else you might need for your theme park adventure. \u00a0Diapers, wipes, baby food, bibs, nursing cover, extra clothes, sunscreen, hat, blanket, extra camera essentials (batteries, memory cards), battery pack to charge phone.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/disneyworld.disney.go.com\/guest-services\/baby-care-centers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Baby Care Centers<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>:<\/strong> \u00a0Each of the 4 Disney theme parks has a Baby Care Center designed exclusively for parents to change, feed, and nurse the tiniest travelers. \u00a0These centers sell any baby supplies you might need (food, diapers, sunscreen, etc.) and offer changing tables, nursing rooms with rocking chairs, and feeding areas with high chairs. \u00a0Although changing tables are available in most Disney bathrooms, and high chairs are available at all eating establishments, the quiet and air conditioned environment of the Baby Care Centers can be a nice break for both baby and parents!<br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-41951\" src=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/IMG_4677-2-266x400.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_4677 (2)\" width=\"266\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/IMG_4677-2-266x400.jpg 266w, https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/IMG_4677-2.jpg 326w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 266px) 100vw, 266px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Meeting the Characters:<\/strong> \u00a0Standing in line for an hour to meet a character only to find that your baby is \u00a0sleeping (or worse, horrified and screaming!) when your turn finally arrives can be a disappointment. We found two options worked better for us than the general queue lines. You can use a FastPass for your most important character meets. Pick your FastPass time before your trip for a time when baby is usually awake and happy. \u00a0With the My Disney Experience App you can change your FastPass time easily for most FastPasses if your little one needs to rest up before meeting Mickey. The other option that worked well for us was to make a reservation for a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/walt-disney-world\/dining\/character\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">character meal<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. \u00a0The character meals allow interaction with no lines and no waiting. You can relax and enjoy a meal while the characters come to visit your table.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-41956\" src=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/IMG_4922.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_4922\" width=\"376\" height=\"252\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/IMG_4922.jpg 376w, https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/IMG_4922-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 376px) 100vw, 376px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Long lines can be hard on kids of all ages!<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dining: \u00a0The under 3 crowd can eat for free at the buffets throughout Disney. \u00a0For quick service or sit down meals, your child can either share your meal or you can purchase an extra meal for him. \u00a0When making dining reservations, be sure to include the infant in the total number of people in your reservation, even if there is not a cost or he\/she will not be ordering a meal. \u00a0Dining reservations go by the total number of people, regardless of age.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-41954\" src=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/IMG_4779-400x266.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_4779\" width=\"400\" height=\"266\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/IMG_4779-400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/IMG_4779-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/IMG_4779.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/disneyworld.disney.go.com\/guest-services\/rider-switch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rider Switch<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: \u00a0Most rides with a height requirement participate in Disney\u2019s Rider Switch program. \u00a0If you approach the cast member at the ride entrance and let him or her know you would like to do the Rider Switch (all members of your party should be in attendance), you will be given a Rider Switch pass. \u00a0It is essentially like the old paper FastPasses. \u00a0It gives the parent staying with the baby or toddler a chance to ride without waiting in a long line. \u00a0The pass is good for 2 people (note: our passes actually said 3 people, but Disney\u2019s website says 2, so make sure you read your pass carefully!), which for my six year old daughter meant she got to ride most rides twice! The Rider Switch pass is usually good for a few days, so there is no need to use it immediately if that doesn\u2019t work for your family. The Rider Switch also works for older children who do not meet the height requirements or do not wish to ride.<\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/102_0528-2.jpg\"><br \/>\n<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/102_0494-2.jpg\"><br \/>\n<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-41955\" src=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Sorcerer-Mickey.jpg\" alt=\"Sorcerer Mickey\" width=\"347\" height=\"233\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Sorcerer-Mickey.jpg 347w, https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Sorcerer-Mickey-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 347px) 100vw, 347px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Photos: Some of my favorite Disney photos are of my babies meeting the Disney characters. \u00a0They both loved Tigger &#8211; maybe because of his bright orange color, but possibly because of his energetic and upbeat personality! Make sure you snap some pictures of their faces when they meet those larger than life characters! \u00a0The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/walt-disney-world\/parks\/photo-pass\/\/memory-maker\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Memory Maker<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Package is a great deal at this age. \u00a0\u00a0Let the photographer know you would like some non-posed reaction shots when the little ones meet their heroes &#8211; most photographers are happy to oblige! \u00a0You can get some wonderful photos of the entire family!<br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-41961\" src=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/DSC06445-2-300x400.jpg\" alt=\"DSC06445 (2)\" width=\"300\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/DSC06445-2-300x400.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/DSC06445-2.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>By slowing down and enjoying Disney through the eyes of a baby, you sometimes find magic and treasures you would have otherwise missed, like this campfire at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Expectations: \u00a0The biggest piece of advice I can give is to alter your expectations of what a trip to Walt Disney World will be. \u00a0Traveling with an infant is a completely different experience from traveling with older children or adults. It will be a slower paced experience. You won\u2019t get to ride every ride and see every show. You might need to head back to your resort for a while in the afternoon for nap time (possibly for the baby, possibly for you!) You might have to skip some of the late night activities. \u00a0But any sacrifices are completely worth it when you see your sweet baby smile at Tigger or reach for Mickey\u2019s nose! \u00a0Disney World through the eyes of a baby is pure magic. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>This is one of my favorite photos from a January trip to Disney. My daughter (4 months) and nephew (14 months) fell asleep on Grandma and Grandpa&#8217;s laps while sitting on a bench in The Land in Epcot.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-41962\" src=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/DSCN4399-1-400x300.jpg\" alt=\"DSCN4399 (1)\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/DSCN4399-1-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/DSCN4399-1.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have you traveled with an infant to Disney? \u00a0Do you have any suggestions for visiting Walt Disney World with a baby? \u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h4>Incoming search terms:<\/h4><ul><li>https:\/\/www themouseforless com\/blog_world\/surviving-walt-disney-world-infant\/<\/li><\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Walt Disney World is an amazing and magical place for kids of all ages. \u00a0I was fortunate enough to be able to take my daughter to Disney for the first time when she was only 4 months old, and my son when he was 7 months old. They won\u2019t remember those trips, but my photos&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":78,"featured_media":41952,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1695,1,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41949","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-theme-parks","category-uncategorized","category-walt-disney-world"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41949","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/78"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41949"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41949\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":85647,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41949\/revisions\/85647"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41952"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41949"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41949"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41949"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}