Tips for Staying with Infants at Disney World
Traveling with little ones can be stressful but we have some tips that make staying with toddlers or infants at Disney World much easier!
1. Have diapers and other essentials sent to the hotel
One of the easiest ways to travel with an infant is to travel with less! If you don't have to pack diapers, formula or snacks, then that's a big weight off your mind and your back. The easiest way to do this is to send diapers and other essentials to your Walt Disney World resort via amazon or another online retailer. Send your package to your hotel addressed to yourself. Time it so that it arrives there the day or so before you arrive and it will be ready and waiting for you at concierge. How convenient!
2. Request a Pack N' Play before you arrive
You can request a Pack N' Play for your room before your arrive so that once your room is ready, you can settle right in. Just make sure you call (407) W-DISNEY and let them know that you need a Pack N' Play with your reservation. Full sized cribs and toddler beds are not available at Disney World. But bed rails are available for little ones who are too big for Pack N' Plays. This is a free of charge service but it is always good to let them know your needs before you check in.
3. Buy perishables from the commissary - not the quick service
You may be tempted to grab a single serving of milk from the quick service every morning but it is way more cost effective if you buy a larger container of milk from the little commissary store in your Walt Disney World resort and keep it in your room fridge. This is an amazing way to save money and bonus - they sell wine ;)
4. Get a room with a balcony
Traveling with toddlers and infants means that you are probably all sleeping in the same room. This means a much earlier bedtime than you are probably used to having. One great way to let your kiddos get their rest and still enjoy your evenings is to get a hotel room with a balcony (and hopefully a view). We stayed at the Grand Floridian at Disney World with our then 1 year old and our balcony was a great place to have a glass of wine and watch the fireworks while she caught up on her rest from an exciting Disney day. These rooms may come with an extra cost but it is very worth it!
5. Get to know your resort transportation
Babies need naps. If you are like me, you are a fierce protector of their naps because it keeps them happy and enjoyable to be around. When traveling with babies, I try to make sure that one nap is in an actual bed atmosphere (aka non-stroller nap). At Disney World, this can mean some travel from the parks back to the hotel and vis versa. Getting to know your resort transportation options is very helpful. Some resorts only offer buses and some offer boats and even monorail transportation. Buses and boats require that you collapse your stroller (the monorail does not) which is something to keep in mind if you plan on your child falling asleep on your way back to the resort.
A very helpful tool for transportation is in the My Experience App. If you have connected your Disney World resort reservation to your My Experience App, you will be able to select “See Bus Times” at your resort. This is a great tool to make sure you aren't waiting for your a bus for a long time or just missed your bus.
6. Take advantage of the Self Service Laundry
Kids are dirty - let's be real. Almost every Disney World resort has a self service laundry facility. Some Deluxe Villas have in room laundry facilities. We like to pack our own laundry detergent. However, there are select detergents available for purchase. Bonus, all laundry rooms have the ability to request a text message when a laundry cycle is complete!
7. Forget something? Ask for help!
If you forget anything, you can always ask the amazing concierge located in the lobby of your resort. I forgot the charging cable to our travel fan (a definite must - you can get it here). We looked for a replacement cable in the commissary but they didn't have one that matched. After thinking through every option, I finally went to the concierge out of desperation. They were so helpful and charged my fan for me while our daughter was napping everyday of our trip!