DisneyTips.com Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
While you can have a great time with a baby at any of the Disney theme parks, the Magic Kingdom is the park that is geared most towards young kids. Whether you’re heading to the park with your first baby, or trying to figure out how to manage an infant along with your older kids, a little planning will help you make the most of your visit. Follow these tips and you’re sure to have a great day!
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1. Your Oasis – The Baby Care Center
Every Disney theme park has a Baby Care Center, which is your one stop shop for cooling down, changing diapers, feeding, air-conditioning, and purchasing items you might have forgotten. At the Magic Kingdom, the Center is tucked away on the left at the end of Main Street, next to the First Aid station, between Casey’s and the Crystal Palace. It has a comfy, private nursing room, a spacious changing room where you won’t feel the pressure of a line behind you, and a well-stocked store where you can buy formula, baby food, diapers, over-the-counter medications, and other baby needs. While you’re welcome to nurse anywhere in the park, it can be nice to take a breather in the air-conditioning, and some babies respond well to being away from the distractions. There are also high chairs if your feeding solids, and a kitchen space where you can warm bottles.
2. Baby can ride!
Some parents are hesitant to head to Magic Kingdom because they think they’ll just be waiting with the baby while everyone else experiences the rides, but this doesn’t need to be the case!! Especially at Magic Kingdom, there are plenty of rides and attractions that are baby friendly. Babies are allowed on any ride without a height limit, and most of these are calm enough that you’ll feel comfortable riding with them in your arms. Your baby may be excited by and enjoy the new movement, sights, and sounds, making the ride even more fun for you! Fantasyland and Adventureland have the most rides that are baby-friendly (It’s a Small World, Prince Charming Regal Carrousel, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Under the Sea, Haunted Mansion, and Jungle Cruise to name a few) but Tomorrowland is worth some time as well!
3. You can still get your thrill rides in!
If you are more of an adrenaline junky and the idea of going to Magic Kingdom without riding the roller coasters, then rider switch is for you. Check in with a cast member at the entrance to the wilder rides, including Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and 7 Dwarfs Mine Train, and they’ll set you up so that two adults can swap out watching the baby while other rides. The person watching the baby doesn’t need to wait in line, so they can find a quiet place to sit or even pop into an air-conditioned shop while they wait. The second rider will go through the FastPass lane, so you don’t double your wait time.
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4. Definitely don’t skip nap time!
A day at Magic Kingdom with a baby can go downhill quickly when you skip nap time. Babies experience a lot of stimulation in the park, making nap time especially important to give their little brains time to process and rest. If your baby takes one nap a day and can handle being up a little late, you may want to head back to your resort for a nap-break mid-day. If baby takes more than one nap, or you need to leave the park early for bedtime, having baby nap in the park will be preferred. While every baby is going to respond differently to napping while out and about, there are several options for getting a good nap in at Magic Kingdom. If your baby will sleep in the stroller, you’re incredibly lucky and you won’t have to skip a beat. If you’re not that lucky, a carrier is the next best thing so you can stay on the move. There are several dark attractions that might help baby fall asleep (Carousel of Progress, Tiki Room, Mickey’s Philharmagic), so you might try starting the nap in an attraction in the hopes that they will stay asleep in the carrier when you head back outside. The Baby Center is also a great nap location, and mom can even catch some Z’s with the baby in the comfy nursing room.
5. Make it Special
A baby’s trip to Disney is a really special thing, and it’s nice to commemorate it with a special experience. Sure, the baby won’t remember it, but you will! Secure a FastPass for a Character Greeting with Mickey Mouse, schedule Baby’s First Haircut at the Harmony Barber Shop, or enjoy character dining at the Crystal Palace with Winnie the Pooh and gang. Take lots of pictures! Start a tradition by picking a favorite photo spot that you can revisit each time you return to the park to chronicle your child (or family) as they grow. Whichever you choose, find some way to commemorate the occasion so you can share the memory with your little one when they are older!
