*The following blog post contains anecdotal information about travel during pregnancy. It is not presented or intended to be used as medical advice. Consult your OB/GYN or advanced practice provider before you travel for medical advice specific to your circumstances.
A Disney vacation is something the entire family can look forward to! With the attractions, characters, shows, and so much more, there is something for everyone in the family to enjoy! But as a travel specialist, I am occasionally let in on some joyous news, often before families are ready to announce it publicly– someone in the family is expecting a baby! While this is incredibly exciting, mothers-to-be are often understandably nervous about what they will be able to do during their vacation. Will they be able to enjoy the Disney experience with the rest of the family? In my personal experience- YES!
I have visited Disney World three times during my pregnancies and here are my top tips for your park visit:
1. Ask your physician for the okay to travel! Before planning your trip it’s important to consult with your OB/GYN about the additional risks and precautions to take while you are traveling. My doctor gave me some excellent advice regarding air travel, TSA security screenings, and even some good rules of thumb for what I could and could not ride in the parks.
2. HYDRATE! This is critical during those hot and humid park days! You will be happy to know that every Disney resort hotel room has its own minifridge. I bring a stainless-steel water bottle from home and chill the bottle overnight so it’s nice and cold for the parks in the morning. When I wake up, I fill the bottle with water I’ve chilled overnight in the refrigerator (you can buy a case of bottled water in the gift shop of your resort) and I am ready to go! When you are in the parks you can also walk up to any counter service food location to get a free cup of ice water!
3. Stay closer to the parks. This will allow you to not only be able to minimize the amount of time you spend walking to the parks but also allows you to get to your room and back quickly. This comes in handy if you start to feel like you need to lie down or take a nap at any point.
4. Take multiple breaks during the day. Whether you go back to your room or find an indoor spot to rest in the air conditioning, make sure that you are allowing your body time to rest. During my vacations, I tried to go back to the resort in the early afternoon since that is the hottest part of the day.
5. Put your feet up! Each evening, I would routinely put my feet up to try to avoid the swollen feet and ankles that are synonymous with pregnancy and so much walking!
6. Schedule indoor dining to get breaks throughout the day. The seating at table service restaurants is a welcome respite from the heat and walking. Having table service reservations allows you to be seated easily without having to try to find a table at quick-service restaurants.
7. Look ahead to know which rides are not suitable for expectant mothers. You can find all of that information at disneyworld.disney.go.com, then clicking on “Things to Do” and then “Attractions.” Once you are on that page, click on “Accessibility and Advisories” and then check the box next to “Expectant Mothers Advisory.” Check with your doctor for additional restrictions he or she may have for your specific case.
