Disney for Two: Enjoying the Parks While Pregnant

By: Rebecca Farrell (Follow me on Twitter @RMZFarrell)

Dear readers, as you have likely noticed from my recent blog posts, my husband and I are expecting our first child later this year. The little man, due in mid-October, was also the reason we recently changed our Disney Fantasy Western Caribbean Cruise to a 9-day Contemporary Club Level stay (read more about it here).

**For Jenn's Pregnant Touring Experiences, Click Here**

So while I’m sorry I can’t be blogging about the Mayan ruins at Tulum or a memorable meal at Palo, I am pleased to be able to share some unique insights with you about enjoying Walt Disney World with a baby on board.

But before I get into the specifics, I have to share this little tidbit – I have always been amazed at the number of VERY pregnant women I see wandering around Walt Disney World. Frankly, I admire them and don’t know how they do it. I have never been so tired in my life! OK, now we can move on…

Accommodations: Stay Close!

This was a no-brainer for us as we knew that a deluxe resort with a great location was an absolute necessity.  Prior to switching our trip around, we had already booked in three nights at the Club level of the Polynesian, our favorite resort.  When we changed our plans, we found a more cost-effective option was the Club Level at the Contemporary, and we were pleased with our choice.

Being close (walking distance) to the Magic Kingdom cut down on a lot of waiting around for Monorails and buses, especially important because my doctor didn't want me on my feet all day. Also, when it came time for a mid-day break to swim and nap, we could be back at the hotel inside of 15-20 minutes.

My advice:

Try to stay close to the parks

Take a mid-day break

Determine your tolerance for an evening park return on a case-by-case basis

Be Prepared for: Flexibility and Disappointment

I had NO idea how much this pregnancy would wear me out. Even at only 16 weeks pregnant, I was so tired after a morning in the parks that I barely had the energy to sit up a dinner much less go back to a park in the evening.  I even designed our itinerary with only five (5) park days out of eight (8) days on the ground at Walt Disney World, but that didn't seem to be enough!

My new level of tired (and, let’s face it, cranky) meant being flexible with several dining reservations, missing out on evening live sets by Off Kilter and the British Revolution, and even skipping IllumiNations fireworks for the first time EVER. Was it disappointing? Sure, and in the heat of the moment I may even have shed a few tears, but I know we’ll be back some day and we've done it all before.

The weather during our trip also meant that we ended up skipping a day at Animal Kingdom when mother nature was kind enough to make it rain ALL DAY and adding a day at Epcot instead. We figured we’d rather spend more time with the manatees at the Living Seas than be soaked to the bone during a Central Florida monsoon.

Finally, I was glad we decided NOT to invest in park hopper tickets because we never would have received our money’s worth on this trip. One park a day was all I could manage.

Below is a grid with how we spent our time on this trip, using the TouringPlans.com crowd calendar so we didn't hit any park on an over-crowded day:

Day	Activity
Saturday	Flight to MCO, dinner at hotel
Sunday	Epcot
Monday	Magic Kingdom
Tuesday	Break day – Massages at Grand Floridian
Wednesday	Magic Kingdom
Thursday	Break day – Hung out at hotels due to rain
Friday	Epcot
Saturday	Epcot

My advice:

Plan an itinerary that allows for flexibility

Listen to your body

Remember that you WILL be back some day with your little one!

Expectant Mothers Should Not Ride

I was already prepared not to be allowed to go on quite a few rides in my condition, but I certainly didn't hold my husband back. He enjoyed a few of those on the “no no list” while I took a snack break on a nearby bench.  By the way, being pregnant is an EXCELLENT reason to indulge in park pretzels and popcorn if I do say so myself!

Following is a list of rides that expectant mothers should avoid due to jerky motions, potential for motion sickness, etc.  (Note – this list was compiled from several sources – always speak to your doctor about what is safe):

Park	Location	Ride
Magic Kingdom	Tomorrowland	Space Mountain
Magic Kingdom	Tomorrowland	Tomorrowland Speedway
Magic Kingdom	Tomorrowland	Stitch’s Great Escape
Magic Kingdom	Frontierland	Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Magic Kingdom	Frontierland	Splash Mountain
Magic Kingdom	New Fantasyland	Goofy’s Barnstormer
Epcot	Future World	Mission: Space
Epcot	Future World	Soarin’ (this has to do with the harness that hits your abdomen)
Epcot	Future World	Test Track
Hollywood Studios	Echo Lake	Star Tours
Hollywood Studios	Sunset Boulevard	Rockin’ Roller Coaster
Hollywood Studios	Sunset Boulevard	Tower of Terror
Animal Kingdom	Africa	Kilimanjaro Safaris
Animal Kingdom	Asia	Expedition Everest
Animal Kingdom	Dinoland U.S.A.	Dinosaur
Animal Kingdom	Dinoland U.S.A.	Primeval Whirl

My advice:

Talk to your Doctor about your trip

Don’t do anything stupid

Take a break for a snack while others in your party go on rides you can’t

Our "Souven-Ears" - can't wait to wear them on our first Disney trip as a FAMILY!

Tiggerific Tuesday Trivia

When Walt Disney World opened in 1971, there was only 1 park - the Magic Kingdom.  Entrance into the park was $3.50 for adults/$1.00 for children - and included no rides.

Did you know:
Rides were available for different prices, based on their level of interest, from A-E tickets.  Today, we consider the "E" ticket attractions to be the mountains, but as their were none on opening day (Space Mountain opened in 1975).

A tickets included: The Main Street Vehicles, Omnibus, and Cinderella's Golden Caroussel

B tickets included: Swiss Family Treehouse, Main Street Cinema

C tickets included: Dumbo, Peter Pan's Flight, Mad Tea Party

D tickets included: Skyway, The Hall of Presidents (can you imagine!?)

E tickets included: The Haunted Mansion, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

And, with this trivia, I'm giving away a set of WDW Vinyl Magnets shaped like the original park tickets!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have a Great Trip Without Breaking the Bank

Just the other day, I was told "I can't go to Walt Disney World.  I can't afford that."

Now, I understand that a WDW vacation is not cheap, but it can be doable without breaking the bank!  There is a lot of bad information on the internet about going on the sly,  but I have some other options - ethical ones!

Visit During the Value Season
Yes, your children might be in school, but if they have a teacher work day you can tag an extra day off with, you'll miss the crowds and save some money.  Food and resorts all cost more during peak (school vacations - summer/Christmas/Thanksgiving/Spring break) season!

Find Cheap Transportation
Driving may seem less expensive, but if you're paying for gas, car costs, and time, it may not be the least expensive options.  I know from DC to Orlando, we've found flights as low as $150 per person round trip.  For a savings of over 9 hours (12+ hour drive), it's totally worth it!  Plus, we don't have to take extra days of vacation for extra travel time!

Travel When They're Young
They're free under 3, but no longer children in Disney's eyes when they turn 10.  Go before the double digits to save money on food and park tickets!

They have fun even when they're little!

Save Money on Food
Yes, I like eating at fancy-ish restaurants and WDW vacations are no exception.  BUT, it's also not necessary on every trip.  To save money on food:

• Share entrees - some counter service restaurants serve large meals (such as 1/2 Rotisserie Chicken combo with mashed potatoes and a veg for $9.99).  Maybe buy that with another side for a good meal for 2!
• Ask for no sides - while this may not always work, I've heard it tends to work easily for the kids meal.  You don't always need a side and drink with a kids lunch!
• Bring snacks/food for breakfast!  If you're not driving, consider using a grocery delivery service or send a package to yourself (from home or amazon) before you go - non-perishable goods - to save some money!
• Save some money to enjoy the food and snacks.  As AJ Wolfe of the Disney Food Blog says "food is a theme park" and I agree.  You'll totally be missing out if you don't eat any of the great food WDW has to offer!

Take Advantages of Discounts When Possible
While I don't always recommend the dining plan (even free dining) as the best option, it's better than paying rack rate and full ticket prices!  Touringplans.com has a ticket calculator that helps you find the best ticket for you and where
to find it!

Stay on Property
Yes, this is controversial.  Often you can find a "better deal" off property.  But, if you're really sure that you won't be able to afford this again, it's worth the $99/night you'll be paying in a Disney Value Resort.  Staying on property, you'll have free parking at the parks ($15 a day if you're staying off property.  Again, there are way around this, but they're not necessarily ethical or worth the effort!).   If you don't want to rent a car, you won't have to, thanks to Magical Express and free transportation.  Add in the value of extra time in the parks (extra magic hours) and the time you'll be saving driving on and off property...  Now, add in the perks of staying on property - all Mickey all the time - absolutely worth it for that once in a lifetime trip!

Skip loading up on Souvenirs
Set aside a set amount per person for souvenirs.  If it's $20, maybe everyone gets a hat or a tshirt.  Or, find a great pin, vinylmation, or other small trinket.  Maybe a $10 coffee mug.  Probably not all of the above.  Just like a regular shopping trip, try to set a budget to stick to!

Pack Well
Make your list and check it twice (check out one or two of our packing lists for examples).  Don't leave home without packing your own meds, ponchos (unless you want an $8 souvenir poncho), socks, comfortable shoes, etc...  Disney sells everything you need, but you'll be paying more than you normally would!  Of course, I love those incidental souvenirs, like the t-shirt I had to buy when Z peed on me...  yes, really.  Don't try new diapers on vacation!

Use a Fee-Free Travel Agent
While I hope to join the league of extraordinary free travel agents, I'm currently just a fan of their services!  Travel agents keep their eyes and ears on the news to find you the best deals and apply the best discounts to your trip!   If you plan your trip before resort discounts or dining discount are out, don't worry - they'll be applied when they come out!  So, while expecting to save 20% on your resort can't be guaranteed, if it happens after you've budgeted, you may be excited to all of a sudden have 20% more to spend on food, souvenirs, or your savings account!

Save, Save, Save!
We use a Disney Visa credit card for pretty much everything.  Our standard plan is to buy everything with CC instead of check/cash/debit, earn points, and pay off every month.  That way, we earn rewards on our everyday needs.  The Disney Visa might not get the best point, but, we now have a good amount of Disney dollars to use for our next trip.  They should actually cover the majority of our resort bill!  Plus, with the visa, you can get:

• discounts while shopping (10% on purchases over $50)
• discounts on dining (10% on many sit down meals)
• free photo op with characters in Epcot - includes a FREE photo!
• early access to runDisney events, resort discounts, and more!

Our Disney Visa picture 2010

Keep checking back for more great money-saving tips!

Transportation and Sick Kids - Perks of Staying on WDW Property

For our trips, we switch between staying on and off property.  While we all prefer staying on property, sometimes it makes more sense to rent a villa off property (more room/less money).

When we decided to stay on property instead of lugging around 2 carseats, I was nervous about not having our own car.  We always have our own car.  

What about nap time?

What if we need a quick getaway from a meltdown?

What if, what if, what if?

Well, we started off with another *mostly* great experience with Disney's Magical Express.

Little waiting and a nice and easy drive to our resort.

So relaxing that I missed our sign....

But other than that, the ride was almost perfect.

Now, one thing I had never really considering before when staying off property and having a car was - what would happen if one person got sick.  Would everyone have to stay home?  Would we take a cab?  

Mid-trip, Zachary had a fever.  He wasn't sleeping well at night (very unusual for him) then could hardly keep his eyes open.  He is constantly one to have a fever/cold symptoms while teething, and what would you know but a tooth popped thru on our 3rd park day.  But, with him not sleeping and needing to nap, we were left with 2 options - all of us go later in the day (which would have been our option staying off property) or split up.

So, Noah and I hopped on the first bus to Epcot and went on our way!

Not so good at the selfies, huh?

We learned that morning EMH hours aren't the best at EPCOT when you're there with someone under 40."  

But, we had an hour all to ourselves.  We had a peaceful morning, had a snack, met some characters, purchased a light-up Agent P hat (well, 2 - the first one didn't light up, so we took it back and they replaced it!), and learned about hydroponic vegetables.

I wish I could spell EPCOT in my produce!

After Z woke up from his early morning nap and had a calm breakfast, Adam and he hopped on the next bus and met us in Future World.

The next morning, we were able to do a trade off - Noah and Adam went to DHS and Z and I met them when we were ready instead of rushing out with a cranky/sick baby.

If there was ever an extra perk of staying on property, this is definitely one of them!

Morning Extra Magic Hours with Kids - Epcot

I seem to always recommend using Disney's morning Extra Magic Hours, don't I?  In our first 4 trips with a baby/toddler, they always made perfect sense - as early risers, we simply took advantage of what perk we had with a baby.

Even on Noah's 5th and Z's 1st trip, I had our schedule planned out based on crowd levels and morning extra magic hours.

But, when Z got sick and Noah and I headed out on our own, we stuck with our original plan to hit up Epcot for the crowds.  Noah hadn't had an "official" height check, so I wasn't sure if he was 40", but I figured even if he wasn't that there would be plenty for us to do in Future World.  Right?

WRONG.

Without Adam to ride-swap with, there was literally no point for us to be there.

Open in Future World for morning EMH are:

• The Land Pavilion (Soarin')
• Test Track
• Mission Space
• Spaceship Earth (not sure if this was actually open when we were there)
• Mission Space.

That left us with:

• Living with the Land
• Spaceship Earth (which we didn't do b/c I really don't think it was open!)
• post-show areas.

Yup.  After we were denied into Soarin', we rode Living with the Land which, while enjoyable, isn't quite enough for extra magic hours.

We shopped, admired some of the topiaries that were up in preparation for the Flower and Garden Festival, and were some of the first in line for Epcot's Character Spot.

He literally tried to run through the roses

If only he actually smiled in posed pictures...

And... that is the hat we had just bought for him during our shopping spree.

So -

we should have changed our plans - maybe headed to the Magic Kingdom for a non-EMH rope drop, but either way - getting up and out early to wait around from Nemo and Figment.... not worth it!  Sorry Epcot, no morning EMH needed for the little kids!