My husband and I first went to Disney World together almost 13 years ago. After that trip, we couldn’t wait to bring our kids there. Walking them down Main Street, getting their first pair of ears, riding Peter Pan for the first time. All of it. And yes, of course, I was excited about the little outfits.

What we didn’t know was that we’d deal with fertility issues for three years before our daughter, Story, was born. It made her first trip at 6 months old sweeter. We had waited.

As a mother, this trip was unforgettable. As my own trip-planner, I learned that the most random things will happen (like 24hr stomach bugs), that your kid will always *do* better than you think, and that babywearing is queen when it comes to travel.

Here’s all the tips I’ve learned from bringing a baby to Disney World.

Tips for Bringing a Baby To Disney World

Getting to and from the airport and to the parks is probably the thing that stressed me out the most. My husband and I are minimalist packers, and the thought of bringing a car seat on the airplane made us both want to cry – haha. You essentially have three options when it comes to transportation, and there are pros and cons to each.

Option 1: Leave your car seat at home

This is the option we go with. It looks like this:

When getting to and from MCO (Orlando Airport), take an Uber with the “+ Car Seat option.” You could also reserve a “Minnie Van” through Lyft, which can have up to 2 car seats already installed (this is temporarily unavailable, but should be coming back soon!).

Once you’re at your resort, take the baby sans car seat on the:
Buses
Monorail
Boats + ferries
Skyliner

For more about Disney resorts and transportation, read this post here.

Option 2: Gate check your car seat + stroller

You can gate-check your car seat and stroller, then just pop the car seat – without the base – in your rental car, Uber, or however you’re getting to your resort.

Option 3: Rent a car with a car seat

If you’re staying off-site, this would be the way to go.

Babies + sleep in Disney

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• Keep baby’s sleep schedule the same as it would be at home. Except in Disney, you have more sleep options: a baby carrier, stroller, or a nap in the room.

• As soon as we arrive at our room, I call the front desk and request a ROLLING CRIB (like this one). It’s more comfortable than the Pack n’ Play that’s usually given. It’s not a guarantee, but I’ve always gotten one when I’ve asked.

• Bring hairpins to tighten the room’s blackout shades, along with a travel white noise machine. This year we’re trying a Slumberpod – we’ll see how that goes!
  
  
  

In the Parks

• Take advantage of the Baby Care Centers in each of the 4 parks. These saved me on our first visit with a baby. A dark, quiet room with rocking chairs to nurse, changing tables, etc. Even microwaves to heat up bottles! When we randomly needed baby Benadryl for a swollen eye (so weird), they had it there. They sell formula, diapers, and some medicines. It’s FANTASTIC.
• Babywearing is allowed on “all height” rides. Story stayed in her Wildbird sling for about 70% of our park days.
• Bring a stroller fan to keep baby cool.
• While babywearing, wear a wide brimmed hat on yourself – not baby – to protect them from the sun.
• It’s Florida law that you can breastfeed “wherever and whenever you need to.” Don’t feel shy! I’ve nursed on benches, in restrooms, out to dinner, and on rides.
  
  

Dining out with a baby in Disney World

• When you’re making a dining reservation, babies count!
• Disney will typically bring the “kids’ food” BEFORE your meal – we always ask that the food be brought out at the same time. That way, we can eat our hot meal while baby is distracted and eating in their high-chair.
• Pro tip: wait to put baby in their highchair until it’s time to eat.
• Most restaurants have you leave your stroller outside, which can be a pain if your Little just fell asleep. Sometimes they’ll take pity on you, but don’t count on it. If you have a car seat/stroller combo, you can bring the car seat in with you!
• One time we walked to our dining reservation while I wore my daughter in a sling. She fell asleep on the walk there and I got to sit and enjoy my meal while she slept on me! The best.
  

Some people may think it’s a bad idea to bring a little baby to Disney World, but the entire family LOVED it. And hey, at least she was free? When I look back at all our trips with Story over the past five years, that first one is at the very top.

Here’s a recap:

When’s the best time to visit Disney World?
Three tips for choosing your resort
What’s “My Disney Experience?”