Hi -

I'm taking my family (wife, 6 1/2 yr. old and 5 month old) to Disney World in early May. The last time we went was for a day on our honeymoon way long ago in '89. I'm really looking forward to it, and I'm looknig for some help from the experts (you).

1) What rides can you potentially bring an infant on?

2) What would you say are the best days to go to each park? We're definitely planning on going to MK, MGM and AK, Epcot is still up in the air.

3) Which water park is better in your opinion - BB or TL?

4) Can you fold up a stroller and bring it on the train at the MK?

5) We're thinking of a charachter dinner. Any pros/cons between dinner / breakfast?

6) Can you drive to the Contemporary Resort (silly question, I know)

7) Any other tips or tricks for the parks in general, more specifically with an infant?

Thanks for the help,
Dave

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ActiveDave
Hi -

Years ago, I brought my 4 month old and my 4 1/2 year old. We were also joined by my in-laws for a few days which really helped a lot.

1) What rides can you potentially bring an infant on?

You can go on lots of stuff. Obviously, Splash, BTMRR, Space, test track, TOT are out of the question. However, on the rides that your 6 y.o. can go on, you can do a baby swap. While you and your 6 go on, you wife and infant wait in the exit side of the ride. When you exit, you take care of you infant and your wife then gets on the ride from the exit side. Of course, your 6 gets to go on again with Mom! Other rides, be careful of loud rides that will scare an infant.

2) What would you say are the best days to go to each park? We're definitely planning on going to MK, MGM and AK, Epcot is still up in the air.

Weekends are busier and I hear that Mondays at MK are equally as bad.

3) Which water park is better in your opinion - BB or TL?

My kids love TL, we've looked at BB and talked to others and think that TL would be the best choice. Smaller is more manageable with still plenty to do.

4) Can you fold up a stroller and bring it on the train at the MK?

Yes, of course if you're doing a round trip, you leave it behind. I don't think the rental strollers in MK fold, so you might want to bring your own, foldable umbrella stroller. The other parks have foldables.

5) We're thinking of a charachter dinner. Any pros/cons between dinner / breakfast?

Kids do better at breakfast, shorter meal and at dinner they can be tired and well.... you know. Contempary at Chef Mickey's is a favorite we try to hit each time.

6) Can you drive to the Contemporary Resort (silly question, I know)

yes.

7) Any other tips or tricks for the parks in general, more specifically with an infant?

With infants and with young children, I found it important to kkep them well fed, snacked and hydrated. By the time they are hungry or thirsty it is often too late. Carry a sip cup, bottle, and snacks age appropriate. the hardest part to adjust for us was to slow down to a kids pace. When we went 'pre-kids' we would go all day, go, go, go. Eat at off times, stay to closing. Can' do that. But the thrill of bringing the kids and sharing that thrill of their first visit, first rides, meeting characters - WOW. Nothing beats that.


Have a great time and let us know how it goes.

Not meaning to hijack, but hmblder that was such wonderful post :) I love organized, informative replies.

Anyway, back to subject, I have never been to WDW but I'm sure many of the same principals apply to all the parks.

a) Hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Sure, some might consider it over-doing it, but I make up a detailed list of all I might possible need to take care of the kids at the park, and find a way to pack it. That's what those wonderful oversize baskets are for under the stroller. Change of clothes, sweatshirts, plastic bags for soiled things, snacks, water, crayons and paper for the older child if you happen to eat in a sit down place, hats, sunscreen, the list goes on and on. I always feel more confident when I'm prepared.

b) Take your time and work together. We would take our two year old and our brand new weeks-old baby, and just play tag team. Mommy would hang out on a bench enjoying the view and feed the little one while dadddy took the two year old on teacups...and vice versa. Like Hmblder said, there are some rides all of you can do together, but splitting up at times can work well.

Have a great time--I'm sure you will. Take lots of pictures, too :)

Originally posted by ActiveDave
Hi -

I'm taking my family (wife, 6 1/2 yr. old and 5 month old) to Disney World in early May. The last time we went was for a day on our honeymoon way long ago in '89. I'm really looking forward to it, and I'm looknig for some help from the experts (you).

1) What rides can you potentially bring an infant on?

Many of the quieter Fantasyland rides are fine including Cinderella's Carousel, Peter Pan, It's a Small World, Dumbo, Snow White's Adventures, and The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh... as well as the Walt Disney World Railroad, Tropical Serenade - Under New Management!, Pirates of the Caribbean (but beware of the drop and potential scare factors), Jungle Cruise (but beware of potential scare factors), Country Bear Jamboree, The Hall of Presidents, The Haunted Mansion (scare factors, again, but an infant isn't likely to be too scared except for the darkness), Liberty Belle Riverboat, Tomorrowland Transit Authority, Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress (if it's open then), Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, and The Timekeeper (beware of darkness... and the fact that you'll be holding the baby throughout... and it might not be open).

At Epcot, El Rio del Tiemp, Maelstrom, the circlevision films, Living with the Land, and Sea Base Alpha are all fine.

At the Studios, The Great Movie Ride, The Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Playhouse Disney, One Man's Dream, the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage, Backstage Pass and The Magic of Disney Animation (but you'll carry the baby throughout both), Backlot Tour, Who Wants to be a Millionaire - Play It!, Jim Henson's MuppetVision 3-D, The Hunchback of Notre Dame -- A Musical Adventure should be fine.

At Animal Kingdom, It's Tough to be a Bug (potential fear factors, though), Kilimanjaro Safari, "Festival of The Lion King" at Lion King Theater (but very loud), "Pocahontas and her Forest Friends" at Grandmother Willow's Grove, "Tarzan Rocks" at Theater in the Wild, Wildlife Express and Rifiki's Planet Watch, "Flights of Wonder" at Caravan Stage, and the walking trails would be fine.

I'd suggest you look over the Fear Factors (http://www.mouseplanet.com/dtp/wdwguide/7_Children/older_kids/fear_factors.htm) and Age and Height Requirements (http://www.mouseplanet.com/dtp/wdwguide/7_Children/older_kids/restrictions.htm) pages for more specifics.

2) What would you say are the best days to go to each park? We're definitely planning on going to MK, MGM and AK, Epcot is still up in the air.

Mostly, I'd avoid the MK on Mondays. Sundays are still the quietest days at all of the parks.

3) Which water park is better in your opinion - BB or TL?

Personally, I wouldn't bring an infant to a water park... but just because of the inconvenience.

4) Can you fold up a stroller and bring it on the train at the MK?

Yes.

5) We're thinking of a charachter dinner. Any pros/cons between dinner / breakfast?

I like dinner better, too. Chef Mickey's, at the Contemporary, is still the best overall. Liberty Tree Tavern and the Garden Grill are good alternatives.

6) Can you drive to the Contemporary Resort (silly question, I know)

If you have a WDW resort parking pass (i.e., you're staying on site), you should have no problems. If not, you'll be permitted to park there only for a priority seating at a restaurant (and you'll have to prove that you have the PS!)

7) Any other tips or tricks for the parks in general, more specifically with an infant?

Yes, tons of them! They're all listed in the WDW With Kids (http://www.mouseplanet.com/dtp/wdwguide/7_Children/index.htm) section here in MousePlanet's WDW Trip Planning Guide. There's a ton of information that I first started to pull together when I first took my then 3 1/2 week old son. The questions you posed that are specifically related to dealing with an infant at WDW are answered in vast detail in that section!

I just visited WDW with a 9 month old and 2-1/2 year old. The baby did great on the Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan, and even Pirates of the Carribean. As mentioned before, definitely make use of the baby swap. Your 6 year old can essentially ride twice this way while only waiting in line once (once with you and then swap and once with your SO).

As far as the train goes, be aware that there are stairs to some of the train platforms (Adventureland, Main Street) and I'm not sure if there are ramps.

There is a great out-of-the way, non-crowded, quiet path to walk the baby between Tomorrowland and Toon Town. It runs along the backside of the Speedway, next to the railroad track. Hardly anyone takes this path, which makes it a great spot to walk the baby to sleep.

Have a great trip!

If you feel that you are getting beat by the heat, dont forget to sit a few in the Carnation Baby Care Center located next to the Crystal Palace. It's a great place to change diapers. It also is equiped with rocking chairs and microwaves so that you can feed a bottle out of the sun.

When I took my 6 mo old to DL, I strapped here into the baby bjorn for the lines and rides and she went wherever I went. Of course she couldn't go on the thrill rides but she went on everything else. Since she was at an age where watching everything was fun she was enthralled. When she fell asleep, I just turned her around and she slept. She was nursing then so I just found a bench when she wanted to eat. We had our 6 year old with us that trip also, we all enjoyed the larger rides with the baby switch pass.

Honestly now that my youngest is 2, things are harder than when the my dd was 6 months at Disney. Maybe it's because I have 3 now :D but I think when you can carry a child wherever you want to go then it's easier.

I hope you have a fantastic time!