Disney with a Newborn: Complete Planning Guide (0-3 Months)

“You’re going to Disney with a newborn?! That’s crazy!”

That is often the response I got when I told people that our family was heading to Disney with a newborn.  I started to question myself and ask “How hard is this going to be?”.

Honestly, I think my biggest fear was being away from our home base and not having what we potentially needed in the parks.  So I scoured the internet for answers, looking for every tip and trick I could find about visiting Disney with a newborn, but I kept coming up short.  There are plenty of people sharing tips for visiting Disney with infants or toddlers, but newborns (0-3 months old) is a whole different ballgame.

How do you take someone who can’t lift their head, who eats seemingly every hour, goes through multiple outfits a day, and has absolutely no consistent sleep pattern?

From our experience, the answer is yes – it absolutely can be done.  And trust me, it is completely worth it!  Disney with your newborn can be magical and allows you to appreciate the parks in a whole new way.  After spending a week at the parks with our 3-month-old, I learned that a little planning makes a huge difference.  Here’s everything I wish I’d known before we left.

ADJUSTING YOUR EXPECTATIONS

I caution people to manage their expectations when it comes to traveling to Disney with a newborn.  I am someone who loves to rope drop every single park and stay through fireworks finale. 

With all the feedings, diaper changes, and rider swaps though, you are likely to move far slower than you have in the past.  The best thing you can do is shift your mindset to focus on creating family memories rather than trying to do everything. 

I thought the trip was going to completely revolve around our little one, but I was actually pleasantly surprised how much my older kids were able to achieve.  One of the biggest benefits of taking a newborn is that they sleep the majority of the time.  With Disney, there are also numerous rides with no height requirement that they can go on.

Yes, newborns are unpredictable, but we weren’t dealing with the overstimulated, hot, tired, and hungry toddler meltdowns that are so common at Disney. Personally, I would choose to take a newborn to Disney over a toddler any day.

WHAT TO PACK FOR DISNEY WITH A NEWBORN

As a first-time mom, it was really intimidating to be away from all the comforts of our house knowing we’d be in the parks the majority of the day. It really forced me to think ahead to everything we were going to need, which, news flash, babies travel with a lot of stuff. But despite all of that, we spent a week at Disney and I was able to fit everything for our daughter into one carry-on suitcase.

For Baby

For our seven-day trip to Disney, I packed at least fourteen different outfits.  That might seem overkill to some people, but, at that age, newborns can easily go through two outfits in a day between spit-up, diaper blowouts, and other little messes.

Yes, Disney does provide laundry services if you need them, but who really wants to spend their vacation doing laundry?

Plus, dressing up babies for Disney is so much fun!  You can find adorable Disney onesies just about everywhere, including Costco, Walmart, Etsy, or Amazon.

With newborns, I also recommend getting some bibs to help protect those cute outfits and hopefully make them last the whole day.  Additionally, the Florida sun can be brutal, so invest in a good sun hat and lightweight sun shirts for your little one.

Hot Tip: Use an over-the-door plastic shoe organizer for storing all of your baby’s  outfits. It folds up neatly into a carry-on size suitcase and can easily be hung on the bathroom or closet door in your hotel room.  Space is already limited at Disney resorts, so this is a simple way to keep everything organized while freeping up valuable drawer space.

Diaper Bag

I personally love using a backpack-style diaper bag. It was incredibly convenient being hands-free when I was holding my baby with one hand while trying to collapse the stroller with the other (a much needed skill for Disney transportation).

When packing, I generally planned for about ten diapers per day. Again, it was probably more than I actually needed, but I’d much rather have too many than not enough. If you happen to run out, you can easily have diapers delivered to your resort through Instacart or purchase them at one of the Baby Care Centers in the parks.

Inside our diaper bag, I always packed an extra baby outfit along with a pair of zip-up footed jammies, which made for an easy transition to bed after returning from the parks. As someone who has an extra spitty baby, I also learned to pack an extra shirt for myself (you’ll thank yourself later!).

Feeding Needs

Feeding needs for baby depends on what you route you take.  Breastfeeding is probably the easiest thing you can do at the parks plus it requires very little extra packing.  There are plenty of shaded, quiet areas throughout Disney if you’re looking for a little more privacy.  You can also use a really cute Disney nursing cover! Or, if you aren’t about breastfeeding in public, then be sure to check out Disney’s Baby Care Centers (more on that below!).

While my daughter was relatively used to breastfeeding at this point, what I didn’t expect was how much Disney would throw off her normal schedule.  With all the new sights, sounds, and smells, she wasn’t sleeping the way she normally did at home.  Because of this, I found myself going longer between feedings, which put myself at risk for mastitis, which was the last thing I wanted to deal with on vacation!

To help prevent this, I recommend packing a handheld pump, even if you don’t regularly pump.  It allowed me to take the edge off and bridge the gap between her feedings whenever I needed to.  My most shameless moment was having to pump while driving to Florida after my daughter finally went to sleep after crying for hours.  There was no way I was about to wake her!

Even if you regularly use an electric pump, a handheld pump might be easier to pack than the whole kit and kaboodle.

Hot Tip:  Pack sunflower lecithin supplements and ibuprofen in your bag to help ward off mastitis even more.  They were absolute lifesavers when I started to feel those first warning signs.

If you’re exclusively pumping or plan to pump throughout the day, don’t worry! You can take your pump into the parks.  Many moms recommend using the Ceres Chill to safely keep collected milk cold throughout the day.

When you return to your resort, you can ask the front desk to store your milk in their freezer.  They generally are happy to oblige, but call ahead first if you are uncertain.  While resort rooms have a drink cooler, they don’t get cold enough to safely freeze breastmilk.

Hot Tip: Pack a small travel bottle-cleaning kit so you can easily wash bottles and pump parts at the end of the day.

Carrier

The easiest way to get around Disney with a newborn is to wear them! Baby wearing allowed me to stay hands-free, feed my daughter, and let her nap without ever having to move her.  Maybe you’re lucky and your baby loves stroller naps, but my daughter wanted to be attached to me like Velcro.

Fortunately, babies are welcome to ride on anything without a height requirement.  That means they can enjoy everything from Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railroad to Frozen Ever After and even classics like Pirates of the Caribbean.  The best part of babywearing is that we could enjoy all of those and not disturb her if she happened to be napping.

Note: Some cast members may require you to take your baby out of the carrier on some rides for safety, but we did not personally encounter that.

If you’ve never tried babywearing before, I strongly recommend practicing before your trip since some babies don’t like it.  Newborns tend to do better in wrap-style carriers, so I love the Boppy hybrid wrap.  Once your baby is a little bigger, I would switch to a more structured carrier like the Ergobaby Omni, which provides much better back support for the miles and miles of Disney walking you will be doing.

The only thing I caution about is choosing a breathable carrier if you’re visiting during the hotter months.  Florida heat can be intense so make sure you are giving your baby plenty of breaks from the carrier and seek out air conditioning frequently.

Alternatively, baby carrying is amazing during the cooler months because your body heat helps keep your little one warm.  I loved throwing on an oversized zip-up sweatshirt that wrapped around both of us during the chilly parts of the day.

Lie-flat Stroller

A stroller is an absolute must at Disney, but for long park days with a newborn, I wouldn’t recommend relying on your infant car seat stroller.  Babies shouldn’t spend extended periods of time in a car seat, and they also don’t get the same airflow that they would in a stroller (no bueno on hot Florida days).  Instead, opt for a stroller that reclines completely flat.

As a first-time mom, I had the big Graco travel system with bassinet attachment. While it was lovely for walks around our neighborhood, I knew it would be too cumbersome to take on and off Disney transportation.  If you’re staying at a Disney resort that uses buses, you’ll need to fold your stroller before boarding, so you’ll want something that is lightweight, company, and preferably easy to fold with one hand.

For a newborn, it is especially important to have a stroller that reclines as flat as possible since they can’t support their own heads yet. I strongly recommend the Mompush Lithe V2 Lightweight Stroller (this isn’t an ad for them… I’m just a major fan of the stroller!).

This stroller is compact, lightweight, affordable, folds with one-hand, and reclines completely flat.  I originally bought it for our Disney trip, but it has quickly become our go-to everyday stroller. 

Do you even need a stroller? My vote is yes. My daughter rarely used it because she preferred being held, but it was nice knowing we had it if I needed a rest or perhaps be lucky enough to sneak in a stroller nap.  At the very least, it was a great place to store our diaper bag and other park necessities for the rest of us.  

Weather Needs

As I mentioned before, Florida’s weather can change quickly from day to day or even throughout the same day. So, make sure you pack for every possibility, whether that’s an extra blanket for cooler mornings, a clip-on fan for the hot afternoons, or a rain cover for those inevitable Florida thunderstorms.

Choose a stroller with a big sunshade, like the Mompush Lithe V2 mentioned above, and make sure to bring a sun hat to protect your baby’s little head. Our Ergobaby carrier came with a built-in shade cover, which was helpful for the sun and the rain.

Speaking of rain, as an overplanner, I thought long and hard about how to keep our newborn daughter dry in the event of a pop-up rainstorm.

Of course, an umbrella is an easy solution, but I prefer to keep my hands free and not use an umbrella in the heavy Disney crowds.  We also had a rain cover for our stroller, but since my daughter wanted to be held most of the time, it wasn’t very useful.

Our family usually goes the disposable poncho route, but I couldn’t figure out how to fit her underneath mine without worrying about covering her face. Instead, I found the best option to be the slightly fancier disposable rain jackets that button up the front. I simply buttoned us both inside the jacket while she was in the baby carrier and pulled the carrier’s shade over her head for extra protection.

Hot Tip: Scotchguard everything! While Scotchguard doesn’t provide 100% waterproof protection, it does create a barrier to help repel water. I added Scotchguard to our shoes, stroller, diaper bag, and my Ergobaby to prevent it from getting soaked in rainstorms.

Postpartum Wardrobe for Mom

While I spent so much time thinking about what to pack for our newborn, it didn’t even cross my mind what I was going to wear. I had been so accustomed to rocking my Disney attire at the parks during our previous trips, that it didn’t occur to me that those outfits wouldn’t necessarily be breastfeeding-friendly.

For me, I found nursing tanks to be great and then layered up with an oversized zip-up hoodie that could wrap around my baby carrier. I also lived in leggings as I’m still in that awkward postpartum in between size where nothing quite fits.

I still wanted to dress cute and bring a touch of Disney, so I would accessorize with things like a Monsters University baseball hat or Minnie ear scrunchies.  As a new mom who was still recovering though, I chose to prioritize comfort over anything else.

Hot Tip: If your baby is anything like mine, then you likely live your days covered in spit up and slobber.  Therefore, I recommend packing extra shirts for yourself and always bringing a spare in your diaper bag.

SETTING UP YOUR DISNEY RESORT ROOM

Disney Resort Baby Perks

Disney resorts allow you to request a complimentary crib (Pack ‘n Play) for your room, so you don’t have to travel with one. I believe this can be a lifesaver for parents with older infants or if you are flying and don’t have the space to bring your own.

We drove to Disney, so I ultimately decided to bring our own Pack ‘n Play instead of borrowing one from Disney for two reasons:

1. We still sometimes have to do the dance of delicately placing our daughter down while trying not to breathe and wake her. For me, it is easier to do this with the higher up bassinet insert rather than the Pack ‘n Play Disney offers that sits low to the ground. It saved my back during multiple feedings at night.
2. She is familiar with her own Pack ‘n Play which comes with a star mobile. Sleep with a newborn can be so hit or miss that we felt bringing a piece of home would help ground her with what she is used to.

Hot Tip: For those overplanners like me, who studied YouTube videos of our tiny All-Star resort room, a Pack ‘n Play can fit between the dresser and the shelves with the coffee maker. It helps keep the crib tucked out of the way to maximize space.

Disney also offers a number of other complimentary perks for those traveling with a baby including diaper pails, bottle warmers, and infant bathtubs.  Just make sure to stop by the front desk when you first arrive or call ahead to request as amenities can vary.

Sound Machine

Before our trip, I read countless recommendations to bring a sound machine into the parks, but we found we didn’t need that with the amount of general people background noise. However, I do recommend using a sound machine in your hotel room.

The walls can be super thin and people get back late after the parks close. Just give yourself some peace of mind by using a sound machine to help drown them out and not wake your newborn.

Night Light

If you are in the stages of waking up multiple times a night to feed and change diapers, then a night light could be very useful.  These were especially great for making sure I didn’t wake up my other kids in the middle of the night.  We like to use the dimmable ones around our house, which also pack easily for travel.  

Blackout Curtains

One thing I considered before going to Disney was how I was going to keep the room dark at night. With two older kids, I didn’t know if our newborn was going to be able to sleep while the rest of us were doing our own nighttime routines.  Fortunately, the curtains in Disney resorts do a decent job keeping out the light.

I also considered a blackout cover for her Pack ‘n Play, but ultimately felt we didn’t need one and she had no problem going to sleep. I have seen some people bring Slumberpods, but they might take up more floor space than you are willing to sacrifice.  As a family, we just turned off the room lights and my other kids relied on their tablets and headphones.

NAVIGATING DISNEY PARKS WITH A NEWBORN

Transportation

One of the first questions you’ll probably ask is, “How do I get to the parks?”.  Staying on Disney property means that transportation is easy and complimentary.  If you are staying at Moderate or Deluxe resorts, they might have access to the Skyliner or Monorail.  These are extremely easy with kids because you don’t have to break down your stroller.

Alternatively, the All-Star Resorts rely only on buses.  Because the buses can get quite full, you’ll need to fold your stroller before boarding.  That’s why having a lightweight stroller with a one-handed fold works best.  As someone who stays at the All-Star Resorts any time we go, I can honestly say it isn’t nearly as bad as others might make it out to be.

Hot Tip: Put all of your baby stuff in one large canvas tote bag so you can easily remove just one bag when collapsing your stroller and when going through the security checkpoint.  Once you get through security, you can then unpack and adjust things in your stroller as needed.

Feeding Your Baby

As a first-time mom who exclusively breastfeeds, I was probably most nervous about feeding my daughter at the parks, especially in public. I questioned what we would do if we were in line and she needed to eat or if there was no place private.  “Do I just whip out my boob in front of everyone?!” was the question I kept asking myself.

Disney is fortunately very helpful towards making sure mamas have everything they need for their babies. You are allowed to bring all feeding necessities into the parks including pumps, coolers, glass bottles, etc. Even though I chose to breastfeed, I also brought my manual hand pump just in case.

We carried my daughter around in our Ergobaby carrier frequently, so before we went to the parks I practiced feeding her while in the carrier.  It took some getting used to for both of us, but it was great because she could feed and then go directly to sleep in the carrier without needing to transfer her anywhere.

Hot Tip: If you are a new mom who is concerned about feeding in public, practice at a semi-private place like your local park. Once you get to Disney, you will realize that no one notices you feeding your child. The first day I was nervous, but by our last day there I had no problem just feeding her wherever we happened to be.

Dining Reservations

Disney dining is great for infants and toddlers who can sit in a high chair, but what about the newborns who flop over if you try to sit them up?  Honestly, I didn’t have a great solution for this.  Strollers are generally not allowed in restaurants unless your baby is asleep in them.  The best option I found was for my husband and I to take turns holding her while the other ate.  It wasn’t the best solution, but it worked.

Explore More: Need help making dining reservations?  Check out my other post about How to Make Disney Dining Reservations.

Baby Care Centers

If you are heading to Disney with a newborn, make sure to familiarize yourself with the baby care centers, which are offered for free in every park. Disney Baby Care Centers provide a quiet, air-conditioned place for feeding, changing, and just taking a break if needed. They also sell baby essentials like diapers, wipes, and snacks if you forget something.

Baby Care Centers are typically located near the first aid stations in each of the parks. The only downside is that these tend to be near the front of the park, making it difficult to reach if you rely on them throughout the day. Magic Kingdom by far has the best care center with large rooms and multiple changing stations and they recently updated the center at Hollywood Studios.

Why I love Baby Care Centers! We only utilized these when they were convenient to us. When I loved them most though was when my husband and two older kids were waiting in a long line for a ride. It made for an easy place to hang out inside, away from the weather elements.

Rider Switch

Speaking of hanging out while others are waiting for rides, one of the best things about taking a newborn to Disney parks is getting to utilize rider switch. Just because you have a baby, it doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the rides that you love to ride.

To use rider switch at Disney, you must find a cast member at the start of the line (or sometimes at a nearby umbrella) and let them know you wish to use rider switch. This allows one adult to stay with your baby while the other rides. Once the first adult finishes the ride, you switch places and the second adult enters through the Lightning Lane.

Rider switch is a great way for you to ride all the rides you love. However, while you don’t have to wait in the standby line, know that utilizing rider switch does take extra time. As someone who is used to rope dropping and taking advantage of Early Entry hours, rider switch definitely slowed us down.

Hot Tip: If you have another kid, they get to ride twice with each parent!  My older kids loved this option and didn’t mind the slow down.

Genie+ & Memory Maker

Genie+ is Disney’s paid program to skip the lines.  You might ask, “What’s the point of paying to skip lines if your baby can’t ride most things?”.  Honestly, it’s a personal preference, but for our family, it was worth it.

Since we were already using rider switch on most of the larger ries, we knew we’d naturally be moving at a slower pace.  Genie+ helped make up for some of that extra time and allowed us to make the most of our days in the parks.  Additionally, the last thing I wanted to be doing was standing for hours with a newborn who at any moment could start having a meltdown or, even worse, a diaper blowout.  So, it was important to me to minimize our time in lines as much as possible.

Now, you don’t have to get Genie+ for every park you visit, but I think it is definitely worth it for Magic Kingdom where you will be able to ride the most rides with a newborn.

Alternatively, if the rest of your family wants to go on the bigger rides, I found Genie+ to be most valuable at Hollywood Studios because rider swap can otherwise eat up a lot of your day.

Disney also offers another optional add-on called Memory Maker.  Again, this comes down to personal preference, but for our family, we chose to spend our money elsewhere.  While it was our daughter’s first time at Disney, any PhotoPass pictures would have been of the back of her head in the carrier while she slept.  We found it easier to take our own photos when she was awake and looking at the camera.

DISNEY WITH A NEWBORN: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Should I stay on property?

I would absolutely recommend staying on Disney property.  Everything is contained within the Disney bubble and makes it very easy to navigate with a newborn.  The provided transportation prevents you from having to drive and park.  It makes it easy to go back to your room in the middle of the day if you need a break.

Disney also goes above and beyond at catering to families so I would take advantage of that.  The baby-friendly amenities alone make staying on property worth it.

Which park should I go to first? 

If this is your first time doing Disney with a newborn, then I recommend starting with Animal Kingdom.  It has a lot of different things for your baby to look at, but overall it is a smaller park that doesn’t require a full 12-hours to go through.

Having an easier first day allowed us to figure out what we forgot to pack and how she was going to react to being in the parks.  All of my concerns were put at ease and figured out that first day.

If you only have one day in the parks though, then I would recommend doing Magic Kingdom.  It by far has the most rides with no height requirement so you can ride the most with your little one.

How many days in the park do I need with a newborn?

This is a personal preference and comes down to your family’s vacation style.  We don’t get to Disney World incredibly often so I like to do all four parks in one trip.  However, I always recommend doing a down day exploring the resorts or pool in order to give yourself a day to recover.

The best thing you can do is set your expectations to go at your child’s pace.  I personally found it easier for my daughter to take naps on the go, but if you need to return to your room for some quiet time, do that.  Expect Disney with a newborn to look a little different than how it might have previously been.

What’s the best way to see all the characters?

Personally, I don’t love waiting in lines to see characters unless it is an absolute die-hard must-see character.  I personally prefer to invest in a character dining meal.  You get to see a handful of characters with less waiting in an air-conditioned space while getting to eat.  Plus, you will still get all the cute photos you want.

What rides should I do?

Look into Magic Kingdom for the most rides with no height requirement for your newborn.  Everyone has a personal preference though on what rides they feel comfortable taking their baby on; it is your choice.  I personally had no problem taking our daughter on every ride she could go on.

Some people get nervous about the jerky dancing scene in Minnie & Mickey’s Runaway Railroad or the short drop in Frozen Ever After.  I kept my daughter secure to me in her carrier and just held her head steady when I knew those moments were coming.

Remind yourself that it is okay to not do it all though.  It’s more important to focus on experiences rather than checking all the boxes.  Make sure you also utilize rider switch for the rides that you want to do if your baby can’t.

Is it safe to go to Disney with a newborn?

Again, this is a personal preference on what you are comfortable with.  I was certainly concerned about taking my daughter when she was too young for vaccines.  Being around that many people also put us at risk for colds and the flu.  I personally felt very comfortable having her pretty much attached to me and us being outside for most of the time.

It is best to consult your pediatrician about your concerns for their specific recommendations based on your baby.

Can I bring my baby in the resort pools?

Yes, babies wearing swim diapers are welcome to swim in Disney resort pools.  Other moms have brought swim floats for their baby to use in the pool, but be cautioned that they are allowed at the discretion of the lifeguards for safety reasons.

What should I do if my baby has a tantrum?

First things first, don’t panic.  Your kid isn’t the first to have a meltdown and certainly won’t be the last.  It is okay if they cry.  Trust me, no one is judging as much as you think.

My moment of panic came when my daughter started to melt down on the bus at the end of the day and we were all trapped in a small space.  I can’t tell you how many moms told me not to worry about it though as I repeatedly apologized.  It’s true, other moms have been in your same shoes and they don’t care.

GOING TO DISNEY WITH A NEWBORN: IS IT WORTH IT?

If you’ve made it to the end of this post, then you are probably right where I was with worrying about every little thing that might go wrong.

But, honestly, once we got there, it wasn’t nearly as difficult as I thought it was going to be.  It took a little extra planning, but it ended up being one of my favorite family vacations.

So, would I do it again?  Absolutely, in a heartbeat.

As much as I would love to take my toddler now who recognizes all the characters, I am actually more nervous about the things I can’t control – heat, long lines, tired little legs, and hangry meltdowns.  In many ways, I found that traveling with a newborn is easier than with a toddler, even if they may not remember the trip themselves.

But, here’s the thing… your baby might not remember their first trip to Disney, but you will!  I will forever remember my daughter being mesmerized as we went under the sea on the Little Mermaid ride or seeing her gaze into Minnie’s eyes.  Disney takes on a whole different experience seeing it through their eyes.

If the idea of taking your newborn to Disney excites you, then go for it.  Take the leap and make some Disney magic.