Top 10 Tips for Visiting Walt Disney World During Pregnancy

Are you visiting Walt Disney World while you're expecting? You've come to the right place! (In case you missed it, I'm pregnant!)

I've rounded up the top 10 things that I did for a successful and healthy visit to Walt Disney World during pregnancy!

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1) Talk To Your Doctor
I am not a medical professional. I am a travel advisor & travel blogger sharing my own experiences. Speak to your doctor.
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Before you travel to Walt Disney World, make sure that you’ve cleared this with your doctor. Explain your method of travel. (Flying, driving, etc.) Ask if you have any restrictions. Stock up on needed medications, make sure that you have your medical insurance information with you, and carefully heed your doctor’s advice.

Personally, my doctor didn’t restrict anything, but she did tell me to get up and move once per hour on the plane, and to drink extra water before, during, and after my flights. Which brings me to Tip #2…

2) Hydrate!
Like I mentioned, my doctor had me hydrating extra on my travel days. I’ve long been telling readers and clients to hydrate constantly in the parks. (My advice for all folks is to aim for one bottle of water per person, per hour.) In pregnancy, hydrate even more. Drink more water than you've ever drank before. (I always use a water bottle strap to save room in my park bag. I love this one!)

One day, early in our trip, I thought that I was staying on top of the water game. I was not. I was hydrating in the same manner that I do on every trip, and I paid the price later that night with some pretty bad nausea. In retrospect, I didn’t hydrate nearly enough. After that, I doubled my water intake, and that problem didn’t arise again.

3) Snack
Oh man, you’re going to have to snack? At Walt Disney World? Regularly, all day long? Bummer…

4) Rest
I always advocate for the mid-day break back at your resort. If you’re heading back to your resort, take a nap or just lie down in the cool room. Swim. Just make sure you’re still hydrating! If you’re still in the parks, this brings me to Tip #5…
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5) Find the A/C!
There are spots to rest, even if you’re in the parks. Take in a show, just so that you can sit back and enjoy the a/c. Find an indoor bench and cool off for a bit. (My rainy day tips actually lists tons of areas where you could sit and cool off for a while!)

6) Pay Attention to Warnings
Read ride warnings carefully. Signs outside the rides will very clearly state that “expectant mothers should not ride.” That’s you!

I know you want to ride your favorite rides. (I get it, trust me!) I know that Rise of the Resistance is the most amazing ride ever, and how rough is Test Track really?

Play it safe, sit out on rides with warnings for pregnant mamas, and find a cool spot to wait for the rest of your party if they choose to ride. There are plenty of rides that you can still enjoy, and the ones you have to miss out on now will still be there after your little one arrives.
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7) Wear the Right Shoes
Wearing the correct gear can make all the difference. Let’s start with your footwear. Comfortable shoes matter on every Disney trip, but they matter even more now! I personally prefer these sandals and these tennis shoes for the parks. If you have a dressier evening planned, wear flats. Now isn’t the time for heels, especially after a long day in the parks!

8) Stay Somewhere Convenient
This means somewhere in walking distance, on the Monorail route, or along the Skyliner route. Like I mentioned above, the mid-day breaks are key, and having to wait for a bus (they don’t always run mid-day like you might think!) is the last thing you’ll feel like doing. Of course, you can always use a ride-share service or Minnie Van, but those cost money, and those costs can add up.

Regardless of which Disney Resort you stay at, spring a few extra bucks for a “preferred” room. These are closest to transportation and/or food, and saving those extra steps is extra worth it when it comes to pregnancy exhaustion.

I do NOT recommend staying off-site if you’re an expecting mama. Your travel time will more than double, and you’ll be missing out on tons of perks only reserved for on-site folks. Plus, once you factor in paying for parking, travel time, etc., you aren’t saving much money. In fact, most off-site folks end up spending more in the long run.

9) Listen to Your Body
Time to tap into that intuition! Your body will tell you what it needs. If it needs a rest, give it a break. If it needs water, hydrate! (And then hydrate even more, for good measure!) If your body is telling you you need another Mickey pretzel with extra cheese sauce (mine definitely did) then feed it!

I will say that having a bit of protein really helped to eliminate my nausea, so if you can factor that into your meals/snacks, go for it! But if all you can stomach is carbs, that’s totally fine, too. Your priority is you and your baby, so keep both of you happy!!

10) Enjoy It!
Soak up this time. If this is your first baby, this is a really special time to enjoy a magical trip with just you and your significant other. If you’ve got other little ones, soak up this time as a family before your next little one arrives.

​You won’t get this experience back again, so take tons of photos, eat all the snacks, and dream about your next trip once your little one arrives!