Breastfeeding at Walt Disney World
I have traveled to Disney twice when nursing and I was pleasantly surprised with how equipped Disney is for nursing mothers. My mindset with each kid was a little different and thus my experiences were. No matter what your style for nursing is, Disney has got you covered. Here is my firsthand account of breastfeeding in Disney.
My First Trip as a Nursing Mom
My first trip as a nursing mom was when my first was 7 months old. At that age, he was still nursing quite often and I was honestly a little nervous about it. As a first time Mom, I was much more concerned about breastfeeding in public and knowing that Disney is a busy place, I was very apprehensive. However, each park has a wonderful Baby Care center that has pristine changing stations, bathrooms, feeding areas with highchairs, water for bottles, basic baby items like baby food, bibs, sunscreen and above all a nursing room. The nursing room is reserved for only nursing mothers and is quiet with dim lighting and a bunch of seating options. It is a great place to take a break and not have to be concerned about the general public being around. Some moms used covers and many did not and it was a very comfortable place to feed. I would also nurse my son on quiet and dark rides and that was great too. Relaxing and no one knew what was going on which at that time I was worried about.
My Second Trip as a Nursing Mom
My second trip as a nursing mom was when my daughter had just turned 1. At that point she was only nursing a few times a day normally before naps and at bedtime. As a breastfeeding pro at that time I was much more comfortable and a lot less concerned about any judgement from other park guests. If you have never noticed, there are tons of benches at the Disney parks and many of them are somewhat hidden between attractions and stores. I was very comfortable just stopping at a bench when I needed to nurse. I still brought a cover and would usually have the stroller positioned in front of us, just to have some privacy but it was nice not to feel like I had to go to the Baby Care center.
I did not pump or bring pumped milk or formula on either of these trips but if you pumping or supplementing, Disney also has you covered. The before mentioned Baby Care Centers are great for preparing bottles and have the essentials for feeding in case you forgot something. You can also pump in the nursing rooms. Another great benefit is that all Disney resort rooms are equipped with a mini fridge that is perfect for storing any pumped milk or formula.
A few closing tips I have for nursing moms at Disney
- drink plenty and I mean plenty of water. This is so important for nursing moms but Disney is generally pretty hot and you are walking a ton. You don’t want your supply to suffer and you for sure do not want to become dehydrated.
- Don’t forget a cover if you like to use those. I always had one on me just in case I wanted to use it since my kids seemed to want to nurse more often in the heat and I liked to just nurse anywhere.
- Dress comfortably and don’t forget your nursing bras or tops. This makes things much easier when nursing in general.
- If you have special dietary needs make sure to mention them when you check in for table service meals. If you are dining at a quick service location, ask to speak to a chef. If you are purchasing from a snack stand, ask to see the allergy book. My son had a milk allergy and I was strictly avoiding dairy. To be quite honest, Disney was the some accommodating place and I ate better there than I did any other time being dairy free.
- Take advantage of nursing on some of the dark and/or cool rides and attractions. I loved doing this. It kept everyone cool and I felt that I wasn’t spending any extra time finding a place to nurse. Here are a few of my favorites as they are a bit longer and give you enough time to finish.
- spaceship earth
- haunted mansion
- carousel of progress
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Julie Hauck *o*
MickeyTravels, LLC
Authorized Disney Vacation Planner- Platinum Level
1-513-313-9531 (cell)
julie@mickeytravels.com
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