Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Being Pregnant at Disneyland

As a pregnant mom, you might not think you can enjoy Disneyland as much, but that is definitely not true. You just have to be prepared! We planned a trip for my mom's 50th birthday and then I found out I was pregnant. I was about 5 months along when we went. I always thought you couldn't ride anything except the Fantasyland rides while pregnant, but after speaking with my doctor, he reassured me that it takes quite a bit of jolting to hurt your baby in the womb. There are several attractions to enjoy while pregnant at the happiest place on earth.




Here are a couple tips for pregnant moms visiting DL...

1) Wear comfortable shoes. I cannot stress this enough. It's important to wear comfortable shoes while pregnant anyway, but at DL, it's even more important. Let's face it, being pregnant is not the most comfortable situation in the world, so make it as enjoyable as possible by keeping your feet comfortable.

2) Bring snacks. I got the muchies like crazy while pregnant and anyone who has been to DL knows you can spend a pretty penny on food there. Be frugal and bring snacks like granola bars, goldfish and fruit snacks.

3) Know when to call it quits. DL is expensive so naturally you would want to stay til they kick you out so you get your money's worth. This was not wise while pregnant. I walked all day and all night and then suddenly, I just couldn't take it anymore. My family found me half asleep on the ground in the Emporium. I was done. My body was done. I worked out almost everyday of my pregnancy and that didn't matter. Eventually, your body will be done. Take a break throughout the day. Go back to your hotel and take a nap. Sit as much as possible. And when you start to feel tired, go home. Don't fight it.

4) Know what you can ride. There are very few attractions you can't enjoy while pregnant. You need to stay away from all the "mountain" rides - Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Thundermountain Railroad and Matterhorn Bobsleds. Also, California Screamin' and Tower of Terror could be particularly harmful to a pregnant mother. They tell you to stay off of Autopia, but you can get around that. Just make sure that the person behind you is an adult that you know and will be very aware of you at all times. The only reason they don't want you on Autopia is in case someone rear ends you. If you have a responsible adult behind you, you shouldn't have that problem. My mom was behind me in her car and we all made it out un-bumped. Because of the jolting in the attractions, you should also stay away from Indiana Jones Adventure, Radiator Springs Racers and Star Tours. Other than that, you can enjoy anything in either park.

5) Take advantage of the live performances. This is the perfect opportunity to go see that show you always wanted to see but never got around to because the rides were just too much fun! DL has amazing shows including musicals, animatronics, parades and more! Go visit Crush the talking turtle at "Turtle Talk" in California Adventure. Go see Aladdin the Musical! The Genie is hilarious. Visit Abraham Lincoln on Main Street U.S.A. or get an art lesson from the Animation Academy. There is so much to do at DL besides ride rides!

6) Take advantage of the baby switch for your non-pregnant thrill seekers. While I was waiting outside of Tower of Terror for my party to return, I asked a CM for a rider switch. That means I could essentially ride the ride with another person after my party gets off the ride. Of course I didn't ride the rides, but 2 of my family members were able to walk right back on the ride! It wasn't particularly busy at the time we went, so most of the CMs were cool and let all 5 of my party back on. At least they got to take advantage of my "disability",

7) Drink TONS of water. It's important to stay hydrated anyway, but especially while pregnant! It's so easy to get caught up in the fun and forget to hydrate, but always have a water bottle on you! DL charges for water bottles, but not for cups of water with ice! Stop by any restaurant and get a cup with ice water and stay hydrated!

8) Try a wheelchair. I didn't feel like I needed a wheelchair (until the end of the night), but if you are ever feeling overly tired or weary, go rent one from City Hall. It's nice to have someone push you around the park before you're going to have to push someone else around in a stroller for a while. It's nice for resting and it also is convenient to carry multiple bags.

I had a ton of fun being pregnant at DL. The CMs are so fun with you. I put a "1st Visit" pin on my belly for my unborn baby girl's first visit and they loved it! Minnie was so cute about it. She poked my belly and was so giggly. Everyone was very polite about my large belly and made sure to not bump into me. The only time it was annoying was getting weird looks while standing in line for the bigger rides like Space Mountain. I didn't want to wait all alone while my family was in line, so I waited in line with them and then just stood to the side during the ride, but some judgmental people gave me some dirty looks in line. It was kind of hysterical. That ended up being one of the most fun DL trips I've been on.

Have you ever gone to DL while pregnant? Share your tips below!

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