I recently went on a trip to Disneyland/California Adventure with my family, and I had a blast! We enjoyed Pixar Fest, where Kyle and I shared an alien dessert and I got to eat ratatouille, which has looked insanely appealing ever since I first watched that movie.
But it was definitely different going to Disneyland with a baby bump than it is going solo, so I decided to make this blog post.
First off, please note that this post is titled “Survival Guide,” not “Super Fun Happy Time Guide.” Sure, Disneyland is the Happiest Place on Earth, and I absolutely love it. But I can pretty much guarantee that, if you’re pregnant, it’s going to be a lot less magical and a lot more of waiting around. You can still have fun though! Here are my top tips for enjoying a trip to Disneyland/California Adventure while pregnant:
I enjoyed the beautiful views of the castle and Pixar Pier and even was cheesy and got a First Visit badge for my belly.
First off, please note that this post is titled “Survival Guide,” not “Super Fun Happy Time Guide.” Sure, Disneyland is the Happiest Place on Earth, and I absolutely love it. But I can pretty much guarantee that, if you’re pregnant, it’s going to be a lot less magical and a lot more of waiting around. You can still have fun though! Here are my top tips for enjoying a trip to Disneyland/California Adventure while pregnant:
1) Don’t Go While Pregnant
If you’re thinking of starting a family, and you’re thinking of taking a trip to Disneyland with your sweetheart, do the latter first. Or wait until you have kids. If you are going to go while pregnant, make sure it’s not your first time or a once in a lifetime thing where you have to see and do everything. If you’re in your first trimester, beware of all the smells that could trigger some puking (even good ones) and the extreme fatigue that will have you wanting a nap every hour. If you’re in your third trimester, PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY DON’T GO WHAT ARE YOU THINKING??? Possible exception: if you’re planning on being in a wheelchair or scooter the whole time. Second trimester is definitely doable, and I definitely still LOVED being at Disneyland, but if you can pick between going while pregnant and going while not pregnant...it's no contest.
2) GOOD SHOES
I don’t mean cute - I mean SUPPORTIVE. Your back will be KILLING YOU if you do not wear supportive shoes. Following some tips I’d read on other blogs, I wore these sandals (which I’ve already raved about here) and brought flip flops for later in the evening when my feet had swollen to the point of overflowing off/out of my shoes.
Day 1: Half day, wore sandals all day, feet were red puffy painful water balloons by the end of the day, but my back felt just fine! Which is amazing because, even before I was pregnant, theme park days of walking around made my back HURT.
Day 2: Full day, wore sandals until dinner, then switched into flip flops and felt instant relief. By the end of the night, my back hurt SO BAD. Not worth it for the freedom it gave my feet.
Day 3: Very full day, wore sandals all day, wanted to chop off my feet at the end of the day and back also hurt (but not as bad as the day before). Ultimately, I think 3 days is just a lot for a pregnant body to handle, and it is so much better to have supportive shoes and swollen feet than flat open shoes and back pain.
3) Find those secret spots
It may seem like there aren't many places in Disneyland you can go that aren't hot and crowded, but they exist - I promise! Here are two in California Adventure that saved me:
Benches/bathrooms/drinking fountains across from Cozy Cone in Cars Land
TONS of sitting space and shade, food, bathrooms, and water all right there, you can see some Cars characters drive by or park by the Cozy Cone - it's a great place for pregnant ladies!! And those cute cones have some yummy food, lemme tell ya. The Pickle Popcorn and Chile Lime Corn in a cup were two of my favorites!! They also have what is essentially a spicy meatball sub in a cone made of bread, different colored churros, ice cream treats, and nachos.
Hidden seating at Flo's V8 Cafe in Car's Land
Car's Land is where it's at for pregnant ladies! If you walk pretty much all the way around the restaurant, there's TONS of seating in the shade that lots of people don't know about! Also, hint hint: you can order food from a lot of places on your phone through the Disneyland App and just go pick it up when it's done! No waiting in lines = more time to elevate those feet.
Disneyland Park isn't as awesome as California Adventure in terms of secret shady seating, but there are some tables in Tomorrowland kind of off to the side that have umbrellas - a good spot to wait while people go on Matterhorn or Space Mountain - though there are also benches and bathrooms by Space Mountain that are nice and cool too!
4) Take care of yourself
These aren't suggestions.
I'm telling you you have to do these things if you're going to Disneyland while pregnant:
- Bring lots of healthy snacks and lots of water
Saves you money, keeps your nausea/blah bloating under control, and makes sure you stay hydrated (SOOO important!!) - there are tons of drinking fountains around the parks to refill too!
- Bring a fan - preferably one that mists
I got this cheap one from Walmart and OH MY GOSH was it a savior when I was waiting in line. You can get overheated so easily when pregnant, and this helps SOOO much! I still use it all the time at home - see more in an upcoming survival guide about being preggo in the summer!
- Apply sunscreen, wear a hat, and reapply
You burn easier when you're pregnant, and in general I'm here to tell you that no cute hairdo is worth a sunburned scalp. Don't forget to put lots of sunscreen on your feet too!!
5) Go with good people
Being together is what makes vacations fun. You sitting by yourself for most of the day while everyone else only goes on the big rides is not fun. So I would a) make sure you're going with a group that has at least a few people who won't want to go on all of the big coasters (shout out to my little bros and sissy here), and b) make sure you spend time with them while you're there! If your feet can take it, wait in line with them and then just bow out when they get on. Sitting alone on your phone or wandering stores by yourself is not a good way to have fun at Disneyland. Good people? Now that's a way to guarantee you have a good time.
I hope this helps your trip to the Happiest Place on Earth be a little happier and more magical!
Advertising Disclosure: I may be compensated in exchange for featured placement of certain sponsored products and services, or your clicking on links posted on this website.
3) Find those secret spots
It may seem like there aren't many places in Disneyland you can go that aren't hot and crowded, but they exist - I promise! Here are two in California Adventure that saved me:
Benches/bathrooms/drinking fountains across from Cozy Cone in Cars Land
TONS of sitting space and shade, food, bathrooms, and water all right there, you can see some Cars characters drive by or park by the Cozy Cone - it's a great place for pregnant ladies!! And those cute cones have some yummy food, lemme tell ya. The Pickle Popcorn and Chile Lime Corn in a cup were two of my favorites!! They also have what is essentially a spicy meatball sub in a cone made of bread, different colored churros, ice cream treats, and nachos.
Car's Land is where it's at for pregnant ladies! If you walk pretty much all the way around the restaurant, there's TONS of seating in the shade that lots of people don't know about! Also, hint hint: you can order food from a lot of places on your phone through the Disneyland App and just go pick it up when it's done! No waiting in lines = more time to elevate those feet.
Disneyland Park isn't as awesome as California Adventure in terms of secret shady seating, but there are some tables in Tomorrowland kind of off to the side that have umbrellas - a good spot to wait while people go on Matterhorn or Space Mountain - though there are also benches and bathrooms by Space Mountain that are nice and cool too!
4) Take care of yourself
These aren't suggestions.
I'm telling you you have to do these things if you're going to Disneyland while pregnant:
- Bring lots of healthy snacks and lots of water
Saves you money, keeps your nausea/blah bloating under control, and makes sure you stay hydrated (SOOO important!!) - there are tons of drinking fountains around the parks to refill too!
- Bring a fan - preferably one that mists
I got this cheap one from Walmart and OH MY GOSH was it a savior when I was waiting in line. You can get overheated so easily when pregnant, and this helps SOOO much! I still use it all the time at home - see more in an upcoming survival guide about being preggo in the summer!
- Apply sunscreen, wear a hat, and reapply
You burn easier when you're pregnant, and in general I'm here to tell you that no cute hairdo is worth a sunburned scalp. Don't forget to put lots of sunscreen on your feet too!!
5) Go with good people
I hope this helps your trip to the Happiest Place on Earth be a little happier and more magical!
Advertising Disclosure: I may be compensated in exchange for featured placement of certain sponsored products and services, or your clicking on links posted on this website.
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