#1 – A Good Lightweight and/or Easily Collapsible Stroller
I won’t spend too much time on this since it tends to be discussed often, but in a nutshell when bringing a stroller to Disney World, you want one that has most if not all of these qualities: easily collapsible, lightweight, easily maneuverable, and has a manageable footprint/size. Many people also choose to rent a stroller from a company like Orlando Stroller Rentals. Other people prefer to have some familiarity with the stroller they use and so choose to bring one from home. I personally do not recommend renting a stroller from Disney. For the price of a Disney stroller rental for 4 days you can buy a stroller in Disney’s gift shops.
You can purchase this or a similar stroller at the gift shops in Disney Parks. Found this one at the gift shop at the Transportation and Ticket Center gift shop.
#2 – A Good Baby Carrier/Wrap
Something not discussed as often as what stroller to bring is the choice to bring along a good carrier for your baby. Bringing a baby carrier makes traveling through the airport and waiting in lines at the park much more comfortable. It frees both hands for carrying and gives your arms a rest when without your stroller.
When I traveled to Disney, I brought along three different carriers because I prefer carrying over putting my baby in the stroller. I liked the added bonus of bringing along the Baby Bjorn so that my baby could face forward on rides and sit easily in my lap. But since facing forward can be overstimulating for a baby, I was careful not to leave him facing out for long. For longer periods of time I found a soft wrap or an ergonomic carrier like the Ergobaby, Ergobaby 360, or this one by Evenflo more comfortable for this reason. Plus, both my husband and I could wear it so we took turns with the baby so neither of us would get tired. If you don’t own a carrier you might consider buying one. Some Orlando area stroller rental companies even rent out baby carriers. They can be quite the backsaver and provide a way for baby to feel safe and close to you while experiencing new places and exciting rides.
The Peoplemover was one of our baby’s favorite places to take a bottle and fall asleep.
#3 – Stroller Rain Cover/Extra Poncho
Whether you choose to bring your own stroller or rent one, you will want to bring along a rain cover for your stroller. I have heard many a story of people who forget to bring one along or go on a ride and come out to find their stroller and everything in it soaked. Because the weather can be unpredictable and rain storms are frequent in Orlando, you will want to invest in a rain cover. If you are renting, most stroller rental companies will also rent or include a rain cover for your stroller. If you bring a stroller from home, you can buy a rain cover fitted for your stroller or buy a universal one that fits most strollers. In a pinch, you can always use some clothes pins and an extra poncho if needed, but I enjoyed having one fitted to my stroller as it assured me our stuff and our baby would stay dry.
#4 Secure-a-Toy Straps
These Secure-a-toy Straps are one of those “never knew I needed it til I got it” kind of things. These make sure you can secure anything with a loop or opening to your baby stroller or carrier. It ensures that toys or pacifiers or even blankets (if you use a loop tag) don’t fall to the ground. This is great when you are out and about in the Disney Parks and is also great for ensuring you don’t loose that precious luvy that can’t be replaced.
The earmuffs, secure-a-toy and muslin blanket came in handy on our flight to Orlando!
#5 – Baby Sound Canceling Earmuffs
These earmuffs are at the top of my “buy for everyone who has a new baby list” let alone my must haves for Disney list. This came in handy so many times on our trip! Since it muffles sound, it helped calm our baby when there were loud noises on rides and during fireworks. It also allowed him to sleep better in an otherwise noisy and busy environment. We especially loved it on the plane- he slept most of the plane ride there and it helped protect his ears!
#6 – Muslin Blankets
There is a reason these muslin blankets are so popular. They are of course great as blankets, especially when your baby is still is the swaddling stage but beyond that because they are lightweight and take up little space they are a must-have to bring along when traveling to Disney. They are very versatile and can double as nursing cover, towel, burp cloth, and stroller/car seat cover. Because they are lightweight, they are perfect for the warm weather but also great to cover your little one indoors in the cold AC.
Our baby’s Dumbo Plush sporting his Mickey Ear Hat.
#7 – Baby Mickey Ears!
Last but not least is the essential Mickey Ear Hat for baby! This was the cutest thing ever and actually pretty reasonably priced. We chose to buy our ears during our visit to Disney Springs where we found them at the World of Disney store but you should be able to find them in most of the Disney Parks as well. If you are having trouble finding it, you can check Disney’s new merchandise app, Shop Disney Parks. Just type in ‘Mickey Ear Hat’ in the search bar and it will tell you exactly where you can buy the ears in the park!
So, those were my top 7 must-haves for visiting Disney with a baby. Of course if you are the type who likes to be ultra prepared and are a chronic overpacker like me -especially when it comes to traveling with baby- here are a few other honorable mentions you might consider bringing along as well:
Handheld Feeders
These are great so baby can feed himself while you enjoy delightful Disney food! Just strap one on to the highchair or stroller with a Secure-A-Toy and you’re good to go!
Shade Covers for stroller
If you have a smaller canopy you might consider one of these shade covers or if you want even more protection, these are also great for keeping the sun out and providing a shaded stroller for sleeping.
Mickey Teether
This terry cloth Mickey teether was so helpful on our trip since our little guy was teething. As an added bonus, since it takes ice, we could just go into any quick service location, ask for a free cup of ice, pop some in and he was good to go! I was also helpful for keeping him cool.
Stroller Fan
Although Disney does sell stroller fans, you might consider purchasing your own stroller fan to save a bit of money. My little guy loved his – not only was it great for keeping him cool, it was pretty fun for him to watch – he played with his the whole time!
For more on bringing your baby or young child to Disney, check out the Disney for Familiesboard on disboards
Note: If you do consider buying something suggested in the article on Amazon please consider using Amazon Smile and selecting Give Kids the World as your charity of choice. A small percentage of the order will then go to benefit this great organization. You can read more about by visiting their website at www.gktw.org.
