WDW with a 6 month old...

[lmartin]

There must be loads of threads like this... but I've read through a few pages as well as searched for "6 month old" and "baby" and I'm struggling to find any. So... either point me in the direction of some useful threads or add your tips here!

After cancelling a big family trip October 2020 and then August 2021 we decided we couldn't justify waiting any longer to start a family and so we're expecting a new arrival mid-May 2021 all being well.

However, we and the rest of the group are still keen to go at some point - we have tickets we can move to next year, a villa we can move to next year and we've seen a poll on a Facebook group which seemed to suggest people would rather do Disney with a 6 month old than a 2 year old - so we're now considering rearranging for third time lucky to end of November (after thanksgiving) / beginning of December. We'll have the support of a big group.

What are people's opinions of travelling to WDW with a baby of this age - and what are your top tips!?

[dannigizmo]

Originally Posted by lmartin

There must be loads of threads like this... but I've read through a few pages as well as searched for "6 month old" and "baby" and I'm struggling to find any. So... either point me in the direction of some useful threads or add your tips here!

After cancelling a big family trip October 2020 and then August 2021 we decided we couldn't justify waiting any longer to start a family and so we're expecting a new arrival mid-May 2021 all being well.

However, we and the rest of the group are still keen to go at some point - we have tickets we can move to next year, a villa we can move to next year and we've seen a poll on a Facebook group which seemed to suggest people would rather do Disney with a 6 month old than a 2 year old - so we're now considering rearranging for third time lucky to end of November (after thanksgiving) / beginning of December. We'll have the support of a big group.

What are people's opinions of travelling to WDW with a baby of this age - and what are your top tips!?

See more...

Hello 👋

I would say for defo it was easier our daughter wasn't walking yet first time we took her she was just turning 1 and we had the best time. A remember being on the plane with a baby maybe bout 18 months across from us and felt soo sorry for the mum walking up and down with her son the whole flight , her back must have been breaking. Though this wasn't every 18 mo baby of course and I would maybe have still considered it though we didn't go back till she was 4, and that was amazing again for lots of other reasons.

Had a condo for space and just dipped in and out of the parks as much as we and her could cope with, with down days to chill, play, pool time etc.

Think best way to see it is dont expect or plan too much and just go with flow. We went in January too soo was just nice weather for her and parks were less busy. Always gd facilties too for babies in the parks.

I wouldn't hesitate again to take a young baby but feel its what u make of it whatever age ur child is, though age 2 to 3 would be the toughest for me, those tantrums 🤣

[YorkshireT]

It was a long time ago but remember it being no problem whatsoever.

[lmartin]

How did you guys handle prams/strollers and car seats etc...? Take your own or rent there? To be honest I think I need just as many 'tips' about just having a baby generally ha. We went looking at prams this weekend and even though they fold up, they're reasonably bulky so assume too big to take to the aircraft door and possibly too fragile/expensive to trust to check in!?

[dannigizmo]

Originally Posted by lmartin

How did you guys handle prams/strollers and car seats etc...? Take your own or rent there? To be honest I think I need just as many 'tips' about just having a baby generally ha. We went looking at prams this weekend and even though they fold up, they're reasonably bulky so assume too big to take to the aircraft door and possibly too fragile/expensive to trust to check in!?

See more...

We rented the car seat but took a buggy think was a silver Cross we checked it in. Was fine apart from missing the cup holder when we gor back 🤣

[ST1TCH]

I have been with a 4 month old, 8 month old and 2 and a half year old, all at different stages.
I'll admit I found 4 months hard we went with a larger group and being so young it was hard to work round the schedule of feeding and sleeping. It felt like alot of the time he would have just fell asleep by the time you got to a ride he could do. But I did have undiagnosed PND at the time, so I think that added to the feel of it all.
8 months was really enjoyable he wasnt sleeping too much and on less bottles, he loved the characters and the constant entertainment.
To be honest 2 and a half was really good as well he understood more what was going on and really got into all the characters. But I'll admit he was a very chill 2 year old, my youngest would have been way more of a challenge.
We got a cheaper stroller off Ebay that we could take to the gate. But they did lose the hood off it. Which is kind of necessary in florida. So make sure everything is very securely attached.
I bottle fed which did take abit of organising. And also we took all the nappies/wipes in the case, because we were staying onsite and it was just abit easier.
If I was staying offsite with a large group if possible i would try to make sure I had my own means of transport. Just so I felt I could work around the babies needs without feeling like I was making others as well.

Even though some trips were harder they all made amazing memories and I wouldn't change them.

[AliceCooper9]

Done 6 months and 2 year old.
Would not do it with a 6 months.
Too stressful.
Worry about the heat and sun. Constant feeding. They sleep at inconvenient times like when you want to see a show. Having to take a stroller everywhere and one which they can sleep in comfortably.

Not worth it. Wait until they are older just they before they are 2 as you won't have to pay for a plane seat for them.
Good luck

[Rapscallion]

We went with our 4 month old. Lots of research said it would be easy and a good time to go while they are so young.

We found it very hard actually. But, it will totally depend on your baby and high maintence they are at home.

The flight over was, sadly, a nightmare. High spirits and positivity go out of the window with a baby screaming and her fighting sleep for 10 hours. The stress of that was...memorable! You know your own baby though and how likely or unlikely this might be.

We struggled the first few days. She was strapped to me in a carrier at first. It was physically tiring and she would cry on all the rides. Trying to grin and enjoy it through gritted teeth. It did sap the fun. We made the mistake of trying to holiday as normal. Whereas we needed to take it much easier and be less led by dining reservations and fast passes.

For the first 3-4 days she had significant meltdowns at mealtimes. We had to walk out of 50s Prime Time as she was screaming so much.

It did settle down. She used the stroller more . We had a really nice time as we all adjusted. But yeah it was very tough actually for the first few days and I think we all felt a bit tearful and stressed about it.

I read later about a development phase called the "4 month sleep regression" which we may have encountered.

[theotherblonde]

Congratulations on your pregnancy! This is amazing. Having had a baby eight boys and looking into Disney world holidays with a baby (haven't been yet) I can try my best to give some advice.

I actually think six months is a good age. When my son was born, I was really unwell and it took time to get used to having a baby. If it was saying taking him at 2,3 or 4 months I would have said no because it was still alot then to handle. Once, he passed 3 months he started sleeping through the night and his character/personality started to come out more. Its also something amazing to look forward to because as a new mum when I was struggling, I would have loved the distraction of having a holiday to plan and organise.

As for the logistics of everything. Most prams (the one I got anyways) come as a travel system where you get the carry cot, sight up right part of the pram (from six months) and the car seat. The car seat fits into the wheels part of the pram also and we still use this regularly to take our son out in. I have read that a full day at the park in a car seat is not ideal for baby so take the pram part as well.

There are many services/companies in Orlando where you can rend baby stuff from such as cot, car seat (they even come with the hire car).

In terms of where to stay, I always think on-site with a baby is easier. Even when we go to Tesco or for lunch say, it takes time to get baby ready, sometimes your leaving the house and they are sick again or need a nappy change last minute, need milk or fall asleep and you end up taking longer to do anything. At least onsite, your already there and you do not need a car seat for onsite transportation such as the bus or monorail.

Don't worry about becoming a parent, it will come naturally in time. I would say at six months, the baby will be eating solid food by this point. The health visitor would advise six months but we started around 4 months.

Your advised to make your own meals from scratch for baby but we just use the ready made baby food you can buy in Tesco. We always go for the healthy organic ones. I am sure you can get these in Orlando in Walmart (not sure about taking them with you). We sometimes buy small pouches or jars and you just heat them up in boiling water. Even if you do make food from scratch, this is a good solution while on holiday.

Milk depends on whether you are breast feeding or bottle feeding. I would just bring bottles, buy milk over there and make up bottles in your room/villa etc. We have a coffee style machine that makes the milk for us but I am sure we couldn't take that on a plane with us.

In some sense its easier to have a hotel/villa that has washer/dryer services also as you do lots of washings with a baby. Even with 2 weeks worth of outfit changes, sometimes at that age, they need changes twice or three times a day. So check that out also and make sure you can wash and dry clothes. Do the hotels onsite offer this service?

In terms of going on the rides, enjoying the parks etc. I think it would be the best experience. There are so many baby rides that the little one can enjoy and the Disney website has all the info on age ranges etc for all attractions.

It is also cheaper to take children under 3 as they do not need park tickets, I am sure they are not charged for the room and they can sit on your knee on the plane (maybe exactly to 3 for plane).

From reading previous replies, it also depends on what kind of baby you have also. You will not know this until baby arrives. My son only cries when he is hungry or tired. You put a bottle in his mouth and give him cocomelon and he turns from sad to happy in one minute. I would suggest not having major park days the first few days or just going with the flow. An onsite stay would be easier to come and go to the parks.

[Firstxmastrip]

we have taken them at 3mths and 18 months and loved both!
obviously we were lucky it was a straight forward pregnancy and delivery but for the flight we requested a basinet, which we got one way but not the other, both flights were fine, lots of cuddles and milk.

once there it was so easy with the 3 month old, we used a carrier for shows and ride queues, we bought a special uv cover for the buggy so didnt have to worry about sun cream all the time, although we did order some of the specialist under 6 mth sun cream for when needed.

it was a great holiday, bit of a slower pace but that was fine for us.

The only killer was the 4/5 am feeds, which although he adapted well to the sleeping time zone and slept through, he woke everyday at that time so we just took it turns but a week or so in when the park tiredness kicked in it was a bit brutal but once we were up we were up and it was fine.

also if bottle feeding the us dont use sterilisers like we do so we took our own microwavable one. Also take more nappys than you need, they were so expensive out there, we took a suitcase full but needed to buy one more pack and they were so dear! also take more powdered milk than you think if you are using it as its hard to find an exact match to the one the babies used to.