Mommies-to-be in the Disney Parks often ask questions about how to make the most of their visits. Among numerous rides and attractions, only a small percentage advise pregnant women not ride. Expectant parents will still find plenty to do and enjoy at the Disney theme parks. This week we asked our Parenting Panel: What tips and tricks do you have for travelling Pregnant in the Parks?
Jen, also known as *Nala*, is an engineer, a Disney fan, and a MouseAdventure fanatic. She lives in Southern California with her husband and two future MouseAdventurers, ages 3 and 5. Jen writes:
My two pregnancies were, by all accounts, typical, which is to say that I had some discomforts off and on but was fortunate enough to stay healthy throughout. Primarily because of MouseAdventures and a wedding, we did take trips to the Disneyland and/or Walt Disney World (WDW) Resorts during both of my pregnancies. It was a different experience for sure, but still enjoyable.
Hot weather. I have always had a pretty decent tolerance for hot weather. This was not the case during both of my pregnancies, even though both my kids were winter babies, so I wasn’t even at my biggest during the summer months. Both WDW and Disneyland can be extremely hot in the summer, and WDW has the added bonus of the high humidity. I did spend a couple of days at WDW in the summer of my first pregnancy, and I was not prepared for how fast I’d get worn out walking around the parks in the heat. We spent a day at Typhoon Lagoon during that trip, and while I couldn’t ride many of the fast water slides, floating in a tube down the lazy river was one of my favorite parts of the vacation.
Morning sickness, food aversions, or eating for two? Especially if you have not been pregnant before, my advice is to plan to be flexible about meals on your Disney trip. This can be difficult with the current Advance Dining Reservation policy where you are charged if you miss your reservation, but remember that you can cancel without penalty up until the day prior. Be prepared for your favorite restaurant or Disney snack to suddenly sound terrible. Also be prepared to want to eat twice as much as normal. Either is completely normal and both could even happen to you on the same trip.
Rides. One thing I’ve always loved about Disney parks is that you don’t have to ride all the thrill rides to have a great time. Other than the MouseAdventure where I waited for my team outside Test Track for an agonizingly long 45 minutes, while sitting in a wheelchair, I have never felt that I missed out by having to skip a few rides while pregnant. If my husband or others in my group wanted to ride something that wasn’t recommended for pregnant women, I would wander the shops or go see a (nice, indoor, air conditioned) show or movie.
Wheelchairs. Two of our Disney trips were planned around MouseAdventures and took place in my third trimester, so on those trips we rented a wheelchair. I will admit that the main reason for the wheelchair was to move faster around the parks to complete quests quickly during MouseAdventure. However, at WDW when I was seven months pregnant, it was very nice to have it for other parts of the trip so I could avoid the long hikes around the bigger parks there.
Take a picture. Even when I’m not pregnant, I’m never a big fan of cameras pointed in my direction, and carrying the extra baby weight did not increase my desire to smile and pose. However, looking back at the Disney trips I took while pregnant, I am glad that I have at least a couple of photos of me to show my kids so I can tell them about the time we went to see Mickey while they were in mommy’s tummy.
Chris Salata, also known as GusMan, is a Disney-inspired author and photographer, and loves to help people get the most out of their Disney vacation. Chris writes:
When we planned our second Disney trip we did not know that they would have to be slightly changed, as we found out that we were expecting our second child. We were excited, even though when we told our daughter, she being rather young at the time, commented “Does this mean we have to cancel our Disney trip?”
We simply laughed and told her that we would make it work.
My wife was in her first trimester when we went on our second trip. We knew that some things would be different simply because she wanted to be extra careful. That did not stop us from having a great time it just meant that some attractions would be out of the question, while opening up opportunities to see things that we skipped over during our first trip. Before you reach for a book that might be titled What to Expect at Disney When You're Expecting here are some thoughts and tips that my wife and I would like to share:
- Talk to your doctors. I think this is the most important thing you can do in your trip planning while pregnant. Make sure that you are in good enough health to travel and that if there are special medical needs or considerations, they are addressed, as well. Be open with them about any concerns or questions you might have. Additionally, make sure you have phone numbers for any and all medical professionals that you may need to contact while out of town.
- Consider the time of year of your trip. Heat impacts everyone differently and even if you are a sunshine junkie, your body may tell you otherwise.
- Follow signs and placards regarding restrictions. There is a reason why some of those rides have warnings for those who are pregnant. Be safe and heed them carefully.
- Take care to hydrate and eat properly. Both of these considerations are easily fulfilled at a Disney Theme Park. Water is available everywhere you look, and is even free at quick serve places. Dining at a Disney Resort is easy to do in general and if you have special dietary considerations, just ask to talk to a chef.
- Plan for actual rest. I think we all get accustomed to pushing ourselves at the parks. Being pregnant isn't one of those times to follow suit. Take time out to rest and relax. This may give you the opportunity to see one of the many shows throughout the parks that are normally overlooked or spend some time with the family at the resort pool.
- Take time to make special memories. I say that because my daughter was able to have some wonderful trips with my wife and I and she cherishes those memories. Now that she is older and in college, and sad to say that not always able to vacation with us at this point, I am able to experience trips with just my son. Regardless of how many kids you may have or their age differences, it's never a bad time to pile on the special memories.
A Disney vacation is special no matter when you go. Being pregnant does not always mean that you must change or cancel all your plans. It simply means that you need to do a bit more planning than before.
Lisa is a married, stay-at-home mom of Joey (5) and Matthew (2). She has been a Disneyland annual passholder since 2002, and has made several trips to Walt Disney World, as well. Lisa writes:
I was a Disneyland Resort annual passholder through both of my pregnancies. Although it took some adjustments to my expectations for my first pregnancy, I still found ways to enjoy being in the parks.
It didn’t take me long to realize which rides were still OK to enjoy. The easiest way to tell is if there is no height requirement, it is generally OK to ride while pregnant (of course, it is always good to check with your doctor for any specific restrictions for you before you go). If you already have little kids, you are most likely limited to these kinds of rides anyway, as I was when I was pregnant with my second. But, don’t be discouraged! You still can enjoy many attractions, including The Pirates of the Caribbean, “it’s a small world,” Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, The Little Mermaid-Ariel's Undersea Adventure, Toy Story Midway Mania, and classics like the Disneyland Railroad and Mark Twain.
One of my other favorite pastimes while pregnant was eating. And, the resorts have such a wide variety of food to try, you won’t be bored. I figured that I since was getting in quite a bit of exercise walking around the parks, I made up for it by eating a lot of goodies. I can’t even pick a favorite food or place to eat. I just went with whatever I was craving that day. And, who was going to argue with me? I was the pregnant one, after all.
I have to say, while I was pregnant, I found a new appreciation for the sport of people-watching. If we were at the parks with others who weren’t restricted to ride everything, I would find myself a bench and happily wait for them. Disneyland attracts all kinds of people, and you might be surprised how entertaining it can be to just hang out and watch. Plus, what better place to sit and relax than at the “Happiest Place on Earth”? When I was pregnant with my second, I would bring a book to read while my other little guy napped in his stroller. I enjoyed grabbing an iced tea and a dessert, and finding a shady place to sit and read. Granted, a normal day guest who bought a ticket to get in might think it would be a waste of time to sit and read, but if you are pregnant, you need time to relax. Don’t overdo it, or push yourself to the point of exhaustion. Find yourself a calming place to sit, or even take in a show. Taking a half-hour out of your day to rest in the shade and get off your feet is a good idea for any Disneyland guest. It will give you a chance to recharge so you can enjoy the rest of your day.
If you are planning a trip to the Parks while you are pregnant, I don’t think you will be disappointed. Yes, you will be limited in some activities, but there is still so much to do and enjoy.
It's your turn—keep the discussion flowing!
Visit the Parenting in the Parks forum on our MousePad discussion board, and share your opinions about this topic or many others, or send your suggestions via e-mail. Reader-submitted tips might be used in a future article, and you might be selected to participate in an upcoming panel discussion!
