Are the Parks Appropriate for a Pregnant Woman?

I've been to Disney World twice while pregnant and got along fine, so it's certainly possible for expectant mothers to tour the parks and have a great time. However, a few precautions are in order.

• Touring the Disney parks is a stamina game. You'll walk as much as nine miles in a typical day, so build yourself up by taking walks at home before you go.

• Be aware that quite a few attractions are off-limits for expectant mothers. This includes big-deal high-thrill coasters like Space Mountain, obviously, but a few milder rides like the Mad Tea Party are also impossible for an eight-months-pregnant woman to navigate. Make sure you have other adults in the party who can accompany the kids on rides that are off-limits to you.

• Dehydration can be a real danger. Drink lots of fluids and keep juice or water in your backpack for emergencies.

• Try to avoid the most crowded hours, especially on hot days when the combination of crowds and soaring temperatures becomes overwhelming. The parks are at their least crowded in the morning and things cool off and spread out a bit again in the evening. Try to take a mid-day break.

• This is definitely an occasion where it is worth the extra bucks to stay "on site" at a Disney-owned hotel. Whether at Disneyland or Walt Disney World, staying on-site makes it much easier to return to your hotel in the middle of the day for a rest.

• If that just isn't feasible, look for resting places inside the parks. The shows offer you a good chance to get off your feet for a while. Have lunch at a sit-down restaurant instead of just grabbing fast food. The Baby Services centers are also a good place for pregnant women to relax in an air-conditioned environment. Every time you sit down, elevate your feet.

• Standing still can be just as hard on your legs and feet as walking. Let another adult in the party keep the kids in line for rides. Rest on a bench and, if you wish, join them at the last turn of the line before they board the ride.

• Most important of all, check out restroom locations in advance. Restrooms connected to the Baby Service Center and sit-down restaurants are usually less crowded than those in the general park areas.

Last Updated January 2006