If you’re expecting and have a Walt Disney World trip planned, you may be feeling very excited, and possibly a little nervous. I know I was – this time last year I was visiting Disney while eight months pregnant!
I'm sharing some tips, based on my experience that should help you have a great time, too. Disney while pregnant is much more manageable, fun, and memorable than you may think.
Whether this is a vacation you've had planned for a while, or a trip to celebrate your pregnancy, you may want to talk to your healthcare provider about your travel plans. No matter how far along you are in your pregnancy, it's always a good idea to inform your provider that you'll be traveling.
You should also consider purchasing travel protection just in case your plans change. If you've booked a vacation package, travel protection can be purchased any time prior to final payment for your trip!
This is the time to pack more than you may need on vacation. Here are some things you may want to bring – some things may differ from your normal packing list.
Comfortable, supportive shoes
Don't forget your favorite slippers for the hotel room
Compression socks (even if you’re not prone to swelling)
UPF clothing, hats, sunscreen, sunglasses, etc.
You may find that you’re more sensitive to the hot Florida sunshine than normal
Empty water bottle, hydration enhancer, etc.
You can get free iced water at Quick Service Dining throughout the parks, so you refill your water bottle as often as possible
Personal fan, cooling towels, etc.
Pregnancy safe medications
Minty gum
You won't be able to buy any Walt Disney World Resort
Snacks
A small bag to carry your water bottle, meds, and snacks in the parks
If you are prone to swelling, you may want to leave any rings at home. I decided to wear silicon rings on our trip, and I’m really glad I did.
If you're visiting during the warmer months, or you just like to swim during your midday break, don't forget to pack your bathing suit like I did!
If you don't normally stay in the magic at Walt Disney World, this is the time to do it! You'll be able to take advantage of complimentary transportation, which will make it much easier to go back to your Resort hotel for a midday nap.
You may want to consider an upgrade to a Deluxe or Deluxe Villa hotel for this stay, too! You’ll have an extra comfortable space to come back to for some rest and relaxation.
We stayed at Disney’s Riviera Resort last year, and it made a huge difference in our experience! It was SO nice to have comfortable accommodations to return to for a midafternoon nap and at the end of a long day. Having access to the Skyliner and a direct bus ride to the other parks and Disney Springs was a huge perk, too!
Once you get to the parks be sure to pace yourself and take breaks – visit the baby care center, walk through the shops, or enjoy indoor attractions with nice, cold AC. Don’t feel bad if you don’t do many rides! I was worried that I’d feel left out, but there is so much to see and do.
If you do plan on enjoying some attractions, you may want to purchase Genie+ to cut down on the amount of time you spend on your feet, especially in the Magic Kingdom! You should consider avoiding attractions with height requirements, even if there’s no expectant mother warning.
You'll want to use the My Disney Experience app to help minimize the amount of time you spend on your feet – use mobile order at Quick Service Dining locations or find the nearest restroom so you’re not walking more than you have to!
Unless it's a must-do, you may want to skip is Animal Kingdom. It is so spread out and there's little seating. It's also the park with the least amount of pregnancy safe attractions. If you've never gone to Conservation Station for the Animation Experience, this is a great time to go.
You might find Magic Kingdom is the best park to visit while pregnant. There's not too much you can't do, there's a good amount of seating, and tons of theater-style attractions when you need to take a break in the AC. You'll have to skip the roller coasters, but you should be good to go on everything else!
Hollywood Studios is another great option, though if your a Star Wars fan you'll have to skip both attractions on Batuu. Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is a safe bet, and you'll be able to enjoy the live action stage shows. Toy Story Mania! is also a good choice, though your belly may get in the way! There's not a lot of shade, but the shops and restaurants are excellent. You can easily explore the whole park without overdoing it.
If you've always wanted to explore the World Showcase pavilions at EPCOT, now is the time! A full lap around World Showcase is 1.2 miles – you'll want to take it slow. You'll really only have to skip the attractions in World Discovery (Mission: Space, Test Track, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind) you'll be able to enjoy everything else. If they're running, take advantage of the Friendship Boats to save yourself some steps.
If you're nervous about traveling to Walt Disney World while pregnant, talk to your Travel Agent – we can help make your trip as manageable, fun, and memorable, not to mention as relaxing and comfortable, as possible!
Ready to plan some magic? Send me an email!
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