Tips for Visiting Disneyland While Pregnant

I am so happy that I was able to experience the magic of Disneyland for the first time in my thirties. I feel like I was able to experience everything with the wide-eye sense of awe of a child, while still being able to appreciate all of the little details like an adult. Did I expect that I would be visiting Disneyland for the first time pregnant? Absolutely not.

I'll admit, when I first thought about experiencing Disneyland while 16 weeks pregnant, I was a little nervous. Would I be able to keep up with the group while spending the day out in the parks? Would I be able to eat everything that I wanted? Would I be able to participate on the rides? There were so many questions and I wondered if I had ultimately made the right decision to experience Disneyland while pregnant.

Thankfully I'm here to tell you that the answer to wether or not to visit Disneyland while pregnant is a huge, resounding YES! I could not have had a better time, and in hindsight can't believe how worried I was about the whole experience. The Disney Parks and Resorts have a special way of taking all visitors and families into consideration, so I don't think that you could find a better place to visit while pregnant. I had an absolute blast and would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

NOTE: I was 16 weeks pregnant while visiting Disneyland, and was lucky enough to be feeling pretty great overall. I know that this may not be the case for all women. Always check with your doctor or midwife before embarking on any travel while pregnant.

That being said, there were still certain precautions and changes to my routine that I had to take into consideration while experiencing Disneyland as a pregnant lady. A few tips and tricks that I picked up very early on into our trip that helped to make each day a success.  Here's a few suggestions to take into consideration if you're planning a trip to Disneyland while pregnant. These tips definitely helped me keep my energy levels up and maximize my time at the parks while 16 weeks pregnant.

Stay Hydrated With A Refillable Water Bottle

Probably my number one tip for keeping your energy up as a pregnant lady visiting Disneyland. It's no secret that staying hydrated is important while visiting the parks, but it's especially important when pregnant. Not only does taking the time to drink plenty of water help to keep your energy levels high, but it also helps to prevent any swelling that may occur from spending hours upon hours on your feet. While there are lots of options around the parks for purchasing bottled water, this can get expensive. Instead remember to bring a sustainable, refillable water bottle with you and take every opportunity to keep it filled - water fountains, and even visiting any of the hotels that are on the Disneyland property.

Oh, and don't worry about the inevitable bathroom breaks that come along with chugging back water. There are lots of bathrooms distributed around Disneyland, and I rarely had to wait in much of a line - even during peak park hours. If you're worried about finding a bathroom, consult the map portion of the Disneyland app.

Take Breaks, Stay At A Hotel On-Site

Taking breaks is key when navigating Disneyland while pregnant. As much as you feel as though you want to hit the ground running and keep that pace up the entire day, its important to recognize that the key to making it to the fireworks at night is to take plenty of breaks. Be it a park bench, sitting down for lunch or even having a seat on a curb while watching the parade: breaks are absolutely necessary to avoid burning through all of your energy too early on in the day.

I'll even take it a step further and say that one of the absolute best things that you can do while visiting Disneyland pregnant is to stay at one of their Disney Resort Hotels. Our stay at Disney California Adventure Park was absolutely incredible; not only for being a great hotel with amazing service, but also for helping me pace myself throughout our trip to Disneyland. There were certain parts of the day where a break on a bench simply wouldn't do. I was so grateful to be able to walk back to a room at Disney California Adventure Park and have a quick nap, or even just be able to lie down and unwind for an hour. I would even take disco naps right after dinner so that I was able to make it to the night time shows that Disneyland has to offer.

Staying on-site when visiting Disneyland can definitely be an investment, but goes such a long way for making your stay comfortable and maximizing your time while pregnant.

Be Mindful Of Rides

While most of the thrill rides at Disneyland are off-limits to pregnant women, the good news is that there are still plenty of rides that can be enjoyed! In fact, I was comforted to know that the list of rides that pregnant ladies can enjoy safely at Disneyland is much larger than the one of those off-limits.

I actually really enjoyed the rides available for pregnant ladies at Disneyland. Each ride was so entertaining, and served as another way for me to get a break in since you're typically sitting!

Visit In The Winter

I know this isn't often something that you're able to plan, but if you manage to visit Disneyland during their low-season of winter then it certainly yields a more comfortable experience for expectant mothers. I really appreciated the sunshine that comes along with a Californian climate, but loved the mild temperatures that California experiences in the winter. Being able to wear bare legs, sneakers and sock comfortably and a thick sweater is the perfect combination for a pregnant lady. Plus the added benefits of decreased chances of heat exhaustion and heat-related swelling are music to an expectant mother's ears.

Some Basic Tips

• Make sure to pack lots of snacks, or pick up some small treats in the park to eat throughout the day. I made sure to eat a little something every few hours and it made a huge difference with my energy.

• Wear comfortable shoes. I wore my trusty tennis shoes with a pair of socks the entire trip and, while not the most fashionable, they did my poor pregnant feet good. If you struggle with swelling during your pregnancy, consider opting for compression socks under a long skirt.

• I've been experiencing back pain during my pregnancy, so it was important for me to pack a light backpack to wear for our trip to Disneyland. The Fjallraven Mini Pink backpack is what I brought and I was very happy to have it.

Don't forget to check out my video that highlights a day at Disneyland, and some more tips on concurring the park while pregnant.

I would love to hear your thoughts! Have you visited Disneyland while pregnant? What are you best pregnancy-related travel tips? Let me know!

xo Joëlle

Thank you so much to the team at Disneyland for partnering with us for this amazing experience. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.