Disney World With a Baby

This post is a little late, but better late than never, right?! 

Last month we went to Disney World, which is seriously one of my very favorite places! Kenzie was so happy in her stroller at the parks and completely entertained seeing new places and people watching. She loved the parks, which made me love the trip.

This was her second time going to Disney World, which has four different parks, and the whole time I kept mentally making a list of advice I would give to other moms going with a baby. Does anyone else do this?

I kind of laughed at myself, then thought, wait, I really am going to make a list of advice! My list is small, but I think these things could made the difference between an exhausting day at the parks or an awesome day at the parks!

This list could work for Disneyland too, or really, any amusement park. So without further ado, here is my advice!

Take the big stroller
Wondering what stroller to take, the big one or the small one? I've done both. The umbrella stroller is lightweight and great for travel, but not my favorite for the parks. If I'm going to commit to a stroller for hours upon hours, I want to have my big, sturdy, stuff-everything-but-the-kitchen-sink-in-the-bottom stroller. Plus I wanted Kenzie to be as comfy as possible and have a little tray for her sippy cup and snacks.

Bring snacks
Speaking of snacks, Gerber baby puffs were awesome for keeping Kenzie happy. I would sprinkle some on her little stroller tray and she was content for a long time. I also brought yogurt bites, which she loves. We took a lot of baby food breaks, but I thought both the puffs and yogurt bites were a great, quick, non-messy snack for her to eat in her stroller.

Take a lot of snacks for you, too! At the end of the day you have literally walked for miles around the park. A small lunch isn't going to cut it. I bring trail mix, grapes, tons of water water bottles, cookies, and anything else that will give me energy to play all day. 

Take a Break

Nap time can be a little tricky to navigate at the parks. But I have to say, it's always best to leave during the hottest part of the day, which tends to also be the most crowded time of day. The combination of the two can lead to a big baby meltdown. And possibly a mommy one too.

So definitely leave! Go back to your hotel for a nice break. You can eat lunch, rest, let your baby take a nap, or go swimming. We did all four. When we got back to the parks I felt refreshed, Kenzie was happy, and we had such a good evening! 

Go on all the baby-friendly rides

Okay, if you're worried that there aren't baby attractions, don't be, there are tons. Not only that, Disney offers a rider's swap pass that lets parents take turns riding attractions. But if you're wondering what rides your baby can go on Disney World, here are a few:

Pirates of the Caribbean
Haunted Mansion
The Jungle Cruise
Peter Pan
Midway Mania (Toy Story ride)
Winnie the Pooh
Little Mermaid
It's a Small World
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
Finding Nemo
Spaceship Earth
Kilimanjaro Safaris

There are so many more throughout the parks, but that gives you an idea. Plus are a lot of little play areas and a splash zones that's great for babies and toddlers (once they can walk or hold themselves up).

If I left anything out that you would suggest for Disney parks with a baby, let me know!

Also, most of these pics are from the resort we stayed at, Disney's Port Orleans. As you can tell, we took a lot of swim breaks, considering most of the pictures are at the pool :) And the carriage is the real carriage from Disney's new Cinderella film! How cool is that?

The fun swimsuits are from Radswim.com. I love their suits so much and it was so fun to match with Kenzie! 

Our first family trip!

Take me back! We had such a good time on our first family trip to Florida. It was so fun to have a full week of family time and so many firsts with Kenzie. Traveling with a baby is hard, but I loved seeing her little smiles as she played with Kellen on the beach and at different parks. 

Here are my favorite places to visit and things to do in Florida: Daytona Beach, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, The Harry Potter parks, and Mickey's not so scary Halloween party. You can see all our pics below! 

The Yes Man Theory

A couple of years ago a movie came out called Yes Man starring Jim Carrey. In the beginning of the movie his character Carl shuts everyone out of his life. He doesn't like his job, his relationships, or really anything about himself. Then he sees an old friend who invites him to try a new theory. You say yes to EVERYTHING. No matter what anyone asks you, no matter what opportunity presents itself, you have to say yes.

Skeptically, Carl begins to practice this theory. At first it goes terrible and puts him in a lot of uncomfortable situations, including giving a ride to a homeless person who asks if he can have his wallet and use his cell phone. All of which he says yes to.

Very soon, however, Carl realizes that fantastic opportunities arise when he begins to say yes. He makes new friends, becomes successful at work, and starts finding talents and skills he never knew he had. His whole life turns around for the better.

Obviously it's not smart to say yes to everything, and sure enough Carl learns this as more sticky situations arise. By the end of the film he realizes that he doesn't necessarily have to say yes to everything. The inventor of the yes theory explains that by just being positive and open to new opportunities he can come out of his comfort zone and find new adventures and happiness in everyday life.

I love this idea, and I've tried to apply to my life. To clarify, I don't say yes to everything, that would be silly. But I've tried to to come out of my comfort zone and try to new things, even if it seems scary at first.

One opportunity may lead to ten more. Meeting new people may lead to lifelong friendships, relationships, and networking possibilities. You may even discover a new talent or skill by simply trying it out. (Carl learns to speak Korean, takes guitar lessons, and learns to fly).

Here are a few of the things I've said yes to in the past year:

Being interviewed on television.
Speaking at writing conventions, camps, and classes.
Traveling to the Middle East.
Setting up a book tour throughout California and Utah.
Signing at Authorpalooza and Comic Con.
Throwing a book launch party at Barnes and Noble.

I'm so glad that I said yes to these opportunities. Each one seemed terrifying at first, but they all lead to other amazing adventures.

It doesn't have to be something huge like traveling to a different country or skydiving. Everyday life is exciting and wonderful. Sometimes simple things like public speaking, being social, or reaching out to someone can get you out of your comfort zone and make a big difference in the future. By being positive and open to new experiences you can find great opportunities and adventures in life!

Visiting Petra, Jordan. 

Helping at the New Student Orientation at UVU. 

Talking about The Siren's Secret on ABC. 

Signing at Costco.  

Teaching at a BYU creative writing camp. 

Visiting Istanbul, Turkey. 

Speaking on a panel at Salt Lake Comic Con. 

Finding a hidden waterfall on Oahu. 

Stopping by Orlando, Florida.