What To Do When You're Pregnant In Disney World

When I was 12, I went to Disney World with my parents. It was just the Magic Kingdom and Epcot back then. My mom was about 2 months pregnant when we went. We decided to go to Epcot, because she felt there would be less she couldn't do there. What I remember most about that trip was the food. We literally ate our way around the World Showcase. From egg rolls in China, to pastries in France, to cannoli in Italy, and on and on and on. We went on the few rides they had in the different countries, we explored the gift shops, and we ATE. It wounds like it would have been a let down of a Disney trip, but it wasn't at all. I was so excited about the twins that were growing in my mom's belly, and I was happy just to hang with her, and eat, and talk (oddly, while I know my dad was there, I have very little memory of him - I think he must have taken off a lot to ride the few rides that my mom couldn't). There were manatees in The Seas building and I LOVE them, so we spent some time watching them. Then, we ate some more. It was a blast!

During my most recent pregnancy, I was fortunate to go to Disney World twice - once at 17 weeks and once at 32 weeks. As is always the case, each of these trips was unique and had it's own experiences, and the pregnancy caused differences in each trip, too.

I am usually a, Get To The Park For Opening & Leave At Closing, kind of person. I NEVER sleep in while I'm at Disney and I rarely get to bed at a reasonable time. The first trip - at 17 weeks - we pretty much did that, and I insisted that pregnancy wasn't going to slow me down. So, we didn't get enough sleep, and it kicked my butt. Once day, I voluntarily left the park early (like 4:30pm) with my toddler, just so she and I could get some extra sleep. It was clearly catching up with me. So, the next trip - at 32 weeks - we planned every other day to be a "sleep-in day." It worked out well and, arriving at the park about an hour after opening turned out NOT to be the worst thing ever. We still had a FABULOUS time!

We always take advantage of the free cups of water you can get at any of the counter service dining areas. We typically pick up a cup or two a day to keep everyone hydrated in between meals. Well, when you're pregnant, you need to drink MORE to keep yourself hydrated - especially in the Florida heat in September. I learned that the hard way, when I passed out in line to see Ariel. Luckily, I was with my husband and the kids, and it wasn't just me and the kids. I felt it coming, but not fast enough to actually get out of there. I came to immediately, and was fine. The space was very confined, it was hot, and I hadn't had anything to drink yet that day. After that, I stopped and picked up a cup of water every single time I walked by a dining area. The only downfall to that is the amount of times I had to take bathroom breaks, but that's pretty much par for the course when you are pregnant.

There were rides I skipped, obviously. No roller coasters, nothing too bumpy or fast - you know, all the rides that have warnings about pregnant women. On the first trip, I braved the Tea Cups, but on the second one I skipped them. I already got nauseous easily enough. It was not worth it. I made my husband take the kids by himself.

So simply put, when you are at Disney World and pregnant, you need to eat more, drink more, and sleep more than you normally do. Once you get that concept secured, my biggest suggestion is to Embrace the Pregnancy. Enjoy the trip as a pregnant woman. You won't be going on Splash Mountain, but you can enjoy the Hoedown in Frontierland (which is totally fun, and I suggest you do, pregnant or not). You won't be riding on Tower of Terror, but you can enjoy the shows by the Citizens of Hollywood (something I rarely take the time to do, but they are pretty funny). And you won't be going on Test Track, but you can eat your way around Epcot and discover many new favorites. The only thing I really wish I had done on either of my pregnancy trips was take a picture with Mickey, with his hand on my belly. I didn't think of it until after I was home, and I wish I had. Otherwise, I had a blast, my kids had a blast, and I get to tell my new baby boy all about how he has been a Disney lover since before birth!

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