10 Tips for enjoying Disneyland when pregnant {Travel Tuesday}

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Since it’s “Baby Week” on the blog and “Travel Tuesday” it’s the perfect time to share my top 10 tips for enjoying Disneyland when pregnant!

Back in June, I was 34 weeks pregnant when we spent 3.5 days at the Disneyland Resort (for the opening of Cars Land), plus a 6 hour car ride each way. Were there times I was uncomfortable? Actually in pain? Exhausted? Yes, yes, and YES! But, it was also awesome and so worth it! So, having experienced the parks in my uber pregnant state for multiple days, I thought I’d share my tips for enjoying a Disney trip while pregnant (Aside from #1, tips are in no particular order! 🙂 )!

  1. Talk to your Dr. When I got the invitation to come, the first thing I did was figure out how far along I’d be and if we’d be able to swing it. Then, of course, I talked to my Dr. about it. Even with the cord issue & everything, she thought it was no big deal at all and told me to go. I did have her number programmed into my phone though, just in case. So, definitely, make sure you consult your Dr. regarding your particular pregnancy, trip timing, and concerns.
  2. Stay on-site. If you can swing it, I highly recommend staying on-site. Aside from all the other amenities the Disney Resort Hotels offer, their proximity to the parks makes them extra desirable when pregnant. The Grand Californian is closest to the parks, so that certainly would be best in terms of walking comfort. But, the Disneyland Hotel isn’t too far a walk form the monorail stop either. Their proximity makes it a little easier to get back to for naps or a little rest period during the day– maybe a time to put up those tired, swollen feet!
  3. Water, water, water! Drinking plenty of water is always important during pregnancy, but especially so when you’re traveling. Remember, staying well-hydrated can help with the swelling too. So, drinking lots of water can help keep you feeling a bit more comfortable (though of course there is the downside of needing more frequent potty breaks!).
  4. Wear good shoes. A comfortable shoe with good support is for sure a MUST. This is not the trip for cute shoes! 🙂 Even just unsupportive shoes can really have a negative impact. For the Cars Land Red Carpet Premiere event, I made the mistake of wearing something “cute”. They were just flats–no heels, nothing crazy. But, they were terribly unsupportive. After standing for about 3 hours, by the end of the night, I seriously could barely walk. My hips and feet hurt so bad! From then on out, tennis shoes it was!
  5. Wear a pregnancy belt. This really only applies for those already sporting a good size baby bump (like I most definitely was at 34+ weeks). My sweet mom was so worried about my comfort level on the trip, that she bought me this Ultimate Maternity Belt. It was comfortable, easy to put on & off, and really helped my lower back on the trip! At less than $20, it’s definitely worth considering!
  6. Pack healthy snacks. There are definitely healthy snacks that you can buy at the parks, but in reality, not every cart vendor in the park is selling apples & bananas! 😉 You are allowed to take food into the park (check the Disneyland website for complete rules), so go ahead and throw some fruit, nuts, granola bars, etc. into your park bag for some healthy options throughout the day. Oh–and if chewing gum helps keep the pregnancy nausea at bay, make sure to pack some of that too as it’s not sold at any of the Disney Resort properties.
  7. Take breaks! Stop & take a little rest whenever you need it (or even before you do)! Take opportunities to sit down on benches, take in a show, head back to the hotel for a rest, seek out some slow-paced long rides– just breaks to get off of your feet!
  8. Familiarize yourself with the park map. Every pregnant lady will inevitably need bathrooms and food! 🙂 So, it’s nice to know the nearest stops for those. Plus, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the rides. Rides that are marked with an exclamation point surrounded by a red triangle will indicate to you that “expectant mothers should not ride.” Some of those rides are the obvious thrill rides (like Indiana Jones, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Matterhorn, Space Mountain, Star Tours, California Screamin’, etc.), but some that are fine even for some of the youngest visitors (like Luigi’s Flying Tires, Radiator Springs Racers, Autopia, etc.) still carry that warning. Note though, that the warning is merely that–a warning. It’s still your decision on whether or not you’d like to ride–the cast members won’t kick you off (use your judgement & see tip #1). Here are some of my favorites for pregnant mamas: It’s A Small World, Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Haunted Mansion, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. These are by NO means all of the “ok” rides. I just happen to think these are among the best as some of them are among the longest ride times in the park–perfect for a nice rest!
  9. Plan ahead & give yourself extra time. Needless to say, you might not be quite as quick on your feet as usual. In fact, if you’re like me, you might be doing the pregnancy waddle everywhere. So, just know that you might not be able to do quite as much as usual or at the same pace. Planning for that is helpful! 
  10. Take a picture! Be sure to snag a Disney baby bump shot. You can show your kiddo that they’ve been to Disneyland and didn’t even know it! 😉

Have any of you been to a Disney park while pregnant? Any tips I’ve missed?

 

Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link.

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I’m Sara, a mom to three adorable boys living in the Arizona desert. As a former teacher, I love sharing my passions with others. So, have a look around for creative inspiration about cooking, creating, celebrating, traveling with kids, and more everyday mom endeavors!

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15 Responses

  1. You are a super mama – I can’t even imagine how exhausting (but fun) that must have been! I went to Disney World when I was about 20 weeks pregnant with my second daughter. It was tiring, but really fun! Comfortable shoes and lots of water are key!

  2. You forgot the fun part…EAT EAT EAT I flew to Disney World when I was 7 months pregnant while my son was 10 months old to meet up with a friend. Thank goodness I had great pregnancies and I didn’t have a huge belly. I had to rest a lot and it was very humid but I would do it over again!!!

  3. I’ve never been to Disneyland, and I will not be there while pregnant (I’m done having kids) but I will totally be bookmarking this post and sharing it with my friends who are travelers. I love that you didn’t let your pregnancy slow you down 🙂

  4. I go to Disneyland once a month as a an Annual Passholder (5 hours each way) and I’m not 7 weeks along. I’ve doing some DLand research for mommies to be and your advice is very helpful! One other site came to mind when you mentioned memorizing where the bathrooms are – The Happiest Potties on Earth !! http://www.mouseplanet.com/potties/ Its a great tool to have before going to the parks! 🙂

  5. All great tips! One more I would add is to use the Disneyland RR! for getting around the park. It is a nice, shaded way to get from one land to the next without walking. Also if you go round trip, it can just be a good place to rest your feet for a while, especially if you have other kids with you. A ride on a train is much more entertaining than sitting on a bench! 😉

    1. Thanks, Michaelyn! Yes! Absolutely, the Disneyland RR is a great place for some R&R! 😉

  6. Great post! I’ve done both Disneyland and Disney World pregnant and it’s not easy! Disney World was the hardest – I wore a belt and a support cami, otherwise I don’t think I could have done it! I recently wrote a post about this too. Besides the belt, water and rest are the best advice too!

  7. Thank you so much! Absolutely speak with your doctor first! Everyone is so different that you never know what situation you may need to prepare for when in the parks.

    1. Hi Hannah,
      Everything turned out just fine! I was monitored very closely throughout the 3rd trimester because of it and did have to be induced early because his fluid levels were very low & his growth percentiles kept dropping each appointment. Here’s our birth story: https://www.momendeavors.com/2012/07/baby-brothers-birth-story.html He’s now 2.5 and still our smallest little guy, but all is well!
      My best friend had an SUA baby though…and she carried her to 40 weeks, no issue. And, she’s off the charts size wise! 😉
      Hoping everything turns out fine for you!

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