When I was pregnant with both of my kids, I knew I wanted to plan a babymoon – a time to relax and just enjoy the last few weeks of being a family of 2 (or 3 in the case of my second pregnancy).
For both babymoons, my family headed to Walt Disney World.
I know what you’re thinking … Walt Disney World is not what comes to mind when you think of a relaxing vacation.
But hear me out…
When you have a watermelon sized belly, you are forced to move at a more relaxing pace and several rides at the parks are a no go – roller coasters, thrill rides etc. Having visited Walt Disney World both times I was pregnant, I can honestly say, it was the two most relaxing trips to the mouse’s house.
1. Visit During Low Season
If you can swing it, try to visit during low season or when it isn’t too crowded. Avoid major holidays and summer if you can. By visiting during low season, you’ll avoid long line ups – for food and rides.
Both times we babymooned at Disney World the longest I had to wait in line for a ride was 20 minutes.
Granted, we visited in early December and then late January so it was very quiet and crowds were quite low at the parks. Weather was great too because it was warm enough for my husband and daughter to do without jackets and winter gear while I was in a t shirt and capris for most of the trip – one of the benefits of being pregnant!
2. Take Advantage of Disney Genie, Disney Genie+, and Lightning Lane
If you want to go on the more popular rides (ones that pregnant women are allowed on of course), try to book those online before your trip. This will cut down on lining up completely as you can just walk onto the ride/show at the designated time.
RELATED READING: How to Keep Kids Busy While Waiting in Line at Disney World
3. Plan for Some Daily Downtime
Plan for some downtime every day – whether it be a nap or just people watching from a quiet spot in the park or hotel.
When I was pregnant with my daughter, my husband and I took a few hours each day to either nap at the hotel or relax somewhere quiet. Lying in a hammock at the Grand Floridian is glorious by the way – even in December. If it looks like I’m stuck in the hammock in the picture above it’s because I am. Having a bump to deal with makes it a bit more difficult to get out of – my husband had to help me after he snapped this photo. 😉
For our second babymoon, I napped with our daughter every afternoon. It was the only way both her and I could make it to and enjoy dinner time and the rest of the evening. This was one of the reasons we love staying on-site! Disney’s transportation system makes it so easy to get back easily for some downtime.
RELATED READING: Why Book a Moderate Disney Resort for Your Next Disney World Vacation
4. Make Advance Dining Reservations
If you are on the dining plan or plan to eat at any sit down restaurants at the park, resort hotels or Disney Springs, make sure you make your reservations in advance instead of taking the chance of finding a table the day of.
It’s stressful researching menus and planning what you’re going to eat months or weeks in advance but it’s even more stressful having to wait 1.5 hours for a table.
RELATED READING: Everything You Need to Know About Disney’s PhotoPass Memory Maker
5. Wear Flip Flops or Comfy Sandals
While flip flops or sandals aren’t the best shoe for Disney World trips because of all the walking involved, your feet are probably a bit bigger than normal. Or in my case a lot bigger. I went up a full size and my feet were unrecognizable due to swelling. Isn’t pregnancy fun?
Walking around in flip flops or sandals is much more comfortable than trying to stuff your sausage of a foot into running shoes.
I tried wearing new sandals (these are the ones that accompany me on every theme park vacation
6. Don’t Push Yourself
With four parks, Disney Springs and some incredible Disney owned resorts in the area, it’s hard not to want to see and do everything. This is not the time to race to be the first person on a particular ride each day or to make it for rope drop (when the parks open for the day).
You can do all of that during your next visit with baby in tow. When your baby gets older, you’ll HAVE to do all those things so you might as well relax now while you can!
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I love to visit during low season. Everything is so much more relaxing when it is less crowded.
Love these tips. I don’t want to be a downer when pregnant and ruin everyone else’s fun, but these tips sound great to join the fun, but also take care of myself.
these are some great tips, I will have to share this with my niece who is expecting and going to Disney soon.
Great advice. I’d like to visit in late January as well.
Oh a babymoon, I should have taken some of those! I went to Sea World when I was 7months pregnant in FL, the most miserable day of my life. Ugh the heat just made me tired, cranky and moody. Though I’ll never be pregnant again, I would definitely wait until off-season when the temps are cooler. Great tips!
I like the idea that you took advantage of being pregnant to slow down and have a more relaxing and enjoyable holiday – what great thinking!
Making dinner reservations is a very smart idea! I would probably still wear sneakers even if I was pregnant though, but that’s only because I’m soooooo prone to blisters from sandal straps.
These are some really great tips, I can’t imagine being pregnant at Disney! That would be so hard!
We love to visit Disney and besides what other people say or hear you can relax at the resorts, they are amazing and there is soo much to do or very little to do, just all depends on how much you want to do..lol.. What a great Babymoon idea.. thanks for sharing, such a great post
Wow, great tips! I just went to the mall and I’m exhausted, I can’t imagine a trip like Disney. I love your ideas, thank you for sharing!
so what does it say about me that i do those tips when i’m not pregnant? 🙂
i would have had pics of all the characters rubbing my belly if i was pg in disney. i wish i could be all “im’ totally joking” but i wouldn’t be!!
i also encourage anyone to nap at disney. it’s never a bad idea!!
Those are great tips! I’m currently expecting & have been debating making a road trip over to Disneyland {I’m in Vegas, so it’s much closer than Disney World} but I’m still undecided if I can handle it since I’m inching up on my third trimester. These tips are really making me think I can do it though!
You are brave – I don’t think I wanted any trips when I was prego! BUT, I have to admit your tip to get the FASTPASS is a great one for prego moms!!!