Hello,

My wife and I pre planned a trip to disneyland late last year for the end of this month. We have 3.5 yr old twin daughters so they are excited. Well, lo and behold, I guess my wife and I had too much fun on New Years Eve because 9 months later, Sept 10, 2005 to be exact, we had a baby boy. Now we don't want to disapoint the twins so my wife and I decided to go ahead with our vacation plans, although I have some reservations. However, being the husband I always lose. Anyway, anybody ever use the Baby Centers at either DL or DCA? What's there, what's it like, what services do they offer. My wife saw it on the DL website but they don't give much information. Any help would be appreciated, and wish us luck.......

On our recent trip I made use of the Baby Center for my two year old nephew. I was quite impressed with it. The changing tables are huge, the room is immaculate and quiet and the staff is very helpful. I also discovered that you can buy diapers, wipes, etc.., if you need them. (I offered to watch my nephew while the other adults went on Star Tours, with the diaper bag.) In case you're wondering, they charge $1.00 for one diaper and $2.00 for a small box of wipes. It was worth every penny. The biggest expense was the $7.00 I forked over for a Mickey Mouse balloon as a bribe for my nephew to let me change his diaper. He really wanted to wait for his mommy.

In addition to the posh changing tables (center in DL) - they have mini toilets. There is a nursing area where you can nurse, they don't allow people to come in with you for nursing so it's very quiet. They also have high chairs - my son used to get very distracted eating in the park with all the stimulation around. I found it easier to take him in there -nice break on hot days as it is air conditioned and quiet. The center in DCA is not as big but provides the same things. I don't remember if they have mini-toilets...

There is some info here at MP, in the trip planning sections. Here is a link to one of the articles. Its a bit old, but should still be accurate. http://www.mouseplanet.com/akrock/hello.htm

I agree, the baby center is great! If you need formula, they only sell Nestle formula. And the closest grocery store, is not very close or in a good area, so bring your own formula if your wife does not nurse or needs to supliment (or if you need babyfood). Men are allowed in too (of course, but I had to ask when I visited in March), the nursing areas are private and guarded by a very sweet lady. Babies are good for business, so they'll take care of you. Have a great time!

The baby center is great. I have a 5 year old, 3.5 year old twins and a 10 month old so I can relate.

I'll give you one of my best tips too. Over in Toontown there is a circular sitting area to the left as you walk in. If you park your stroller at the enterance and sit on the bench right there you can let the twins run around for a while and you can rest. My kids always need a little running time and it's an easy spot to keep them contained while you feed baby.

The baby center at the castle end of Main Street, down the side street called "East Plaza," is a godsend for baby-caring parents. It's right near First Aid, also a handy place to know.

When my kids were small, I took them in there regularly for diaper changes on the long padded Naugahyde tables with the walls on the edges and velcro straps that kept a squirming kid from discovering Linoleumland. They also have small flush toilets for kids' use.

They can sell you diapers and baby food if you need them -- it used to be at cost, it may still be, I haven't been there in over ten years -- and they have quiet places with high chairs for feeding and a lounge for breastfeeding (my wife says it's quite nice).

Best of all were the sweet granny-lady types in nurse's uniforms who staff the place and can help you with anything you need. I remember one time I had a fidgety kid with a particularly messy diaper and the lady came up and started gesturing with one hand and saying gibberish to distract him while with the other hand she grabbed a diaper-disposal bag, opened it with a flip of the wrist and placed it -- standing up, no less -- right where I needed it, all the while distracting my son as I cleaned him up.

The only drawback is that they have a one-baby-one-adult policy, so only one adult can enjoy the atmosphere at a time.

There's a Baby Center at DCA, too, but as my kids were well past the baby-center stage when DCA opened, so I got nothin'. Except that it's by First Aid, behind the Tortilla Factory.

--t

The only drawback is that they have a one-baby-one-adult policy, so only one adult can enjoy the atmosphere at a time.

Not anymore. You can have two parents per child.

But you can only have one mom and one baby ratio in the feeding area.

Adrienne

My husband and I have gone in several times over the last 23 months and have never been told "one person per child". I'm guessing Adrienne is correct in that it is in the nursing area where there is only to be one person with the child.

WOW, this sounds wonderful! I never knew about it. We started going to DL when my youngest was 1.5 years old. I could have used that area too! :(

Let me just say this, I want a baby BADLY.. and I noticed EVERY little one in that park all 8 days we were there. There were some babies that were only DAYS old. I think the youngest was 5 days old. I was shocked that anyone would take a baby to the park, but ya know what? Babies sleep most of the time and would be less trouble (in my experience) then say a 2 year old would!

You'll be fine! Just remember to bring a blanket to cover the stroller with. It was hot while I was there, but still saw many people with their babies wrapped UP in blankets. I would just drape a blanket over the stroller to keep the sun out. And make sure it's not a sentimental blanket either. I think we lost our babies first blanket at the park, I was SO sad. But at 1.5 years old, she really needed HER blanket. A little one like yours can just use ANY blanket for a drape.

Have a GREAT time, and don't forget to get a family portrait!

My husband and I have gone in several times over the last 23 months and have never been told "one person per child". I'm guessing Adrienne is correct in that it is in the nursing area where there is only to be one person with the child.


It depends how busy it gets. Sometimes when we go especially at the baby center at DL, we are limited but at other times we are not. I love the baby center at DCA because its never that busy. There is a little potty for the little tikes but there is no privacy door. It is smaller than the one at DL but not as hectic.

Thanks for the information everyone we really appreciate it.

Congratulations on your little oopsie. Be sure to get him his first pair of mouse ears!
The baby centers are wonderful. I prefer the one at DL itself. They have little potties there for kids too, I take my 4yo there whenever we are near Main Street. It is VERY clean. They have high chairs, nursing rooms, padded changing tables, microwave, some feeding supplies etc. I think you will be pleased with them.

We were at DLs baby center yesterday. The baby center opened in 1969 and has been in operation since. It definitely is the place to go with your babies for a mid day break. There were four attendants to address the needs of our two kids. While at the baby center. I asked about the huge toilet bowl looking container in the changing area and they laughed and said it use to be used to wash diapers!

Another tip: Our two year old took a nap on the train while laying on his blanket.



Disneyland® park: The Baby Center is located at the end of Main Street, U.S.A., across from the Central Plaza next to First Aid.

Disney's California Adventure™ park: The Baby Center is located next to the Mission Tortilla Factory in Pacific Wharf area.

Downtown Disney® District: Sorry, Baby Centers are not offered in Downtown Disney® District.

While at the baby center. I asked about the huge toilet bowl looking container in the changing area and they laughed and said it use to be used to wash diapers!

That thing is called a "hopper" and it's a combination washtub and toilet. If Junior's diaper overflows and you have to wash out some clothes, you can wash 'em out in that... and flush it when you're finished.

Very handy thing, the hopper.

--t

I asked about the huge toilet bowl looking container in the changing area and they laughed and said it use to be used to wash diapers!

I've taken at least one of my children to DLR with cloth diapers (I can't remember if I took the middle one, also.) But I never dunked.

Adrienne

DadandFamily - I was there too yesterday!

My overall feelings...it was cool, but I wasn't as impressed as I hoped I would have been.

DD is almost 7 months, and gets pretty distracted while nursing. I tried several times, but everytime one of the attendants greeted a new guest, DD looked up. The nursing area is private, but only a curtain divides the room from the main entry & highchair feeding room.

Also, there were 2 attendants, and when there wasn't any guest coming in, they were speaking with one another, again distracting DD. Wasn't that big of a deal (I realize I AM in a theme park, and can't expect the whole place to quiet down while I nurse, LOL!!) I guess I should have asked one of the attendants for help too...I couldn't even get DD's diaper back on properly, she was in a very squirmy mood. I went outside with her outfit half on to have my dad hold DD while I fixed the diaper & clothing.

I ended up nursing on Its a Small World. That ended up working great! :)

I wish they could find a place in Fantasyland for the baby care center. Once we got down that end of the park, we just made do...we weren't about to trek down to mainstreet for a clean place to change a diaper. :)

STILL, it is such a great idea, and it just didn't happen to work well for me yesterday.

I ended up nursing on Its a Small World. That ended up working great! :)

I also recommend nursing on POTC. Of course, you might want to wait until after the drops ;) The Train can be a great place to nurse, too - you don't have to get off until you're done!!

Also, to the OP, my oldest son's first trip to DLR he was 19 days old. The middle son was 17 days old. I won't tell you how old the baby was because we really neglected him... 12 weeks. I know. We obviously didn't care as much.

Adrienne

Here's a photo of the hopper (dunking toilet) http://www.mouseplanet.com/akrock/hello2.jpg and a link to more detail on the Child Care center http://www.mouseplanet.com/akrock/hello.htm

Yes! When my son was a baby - he did one of those "up the back out the sides" I had a change of clothes but they brought me some soap and a plastic bag and had me use "the hopper"! We were at DLs baby center yesterday. The baby center opened in 1969 and has been in operation since. It definitely is the place to go with your babies for a mid day break. There were four attendants to address the needs of our two kids. While at the baby center. I asked about the huge toilet bowl looking container in the changing area and they laughed and said it use to be used to wash diapers!

Another tip: Our two year old took a nap on the train while laying on his blanket.



Disneyland® park: The Baby Center is located at the end of Main Street, U.S.A., across from the Central Plaza next to First Aid.

Disney's California Adventure™ park: The Baby Center is located next to the Mission Tortilla Factory in Pacific Wharf area.

Downtown Disney® District: Sorry, Baby Centers are not offered in Downtown Disney® District.