Should You Go to Disneyland While Pregnant?

My answer? Absolultely.

As a veteran mama and die-hard Disney fanatic, of course my answer is yes. I will admit that “pre-baby me” would probably tell you otherwise, but after having experienced Disney multiple times while pregnant, I’m all for it.

In a recent Instagram post, I shared that every time we’ve thought about not renewing our Disneyland Annual Passports (APs) and have ended renewing after all, we’ve actually gotten pregnant! The first time this happened, I was a little upset because I thought I would not be able to enjoy the parks. But I realized I was only upset for one reason – I couldn’t ride any “big kid” aka thrill rides.

During my first pregnancy, what I learned while visiting the parks was that there are so many other things you can enjoy! So today I’ll be sharing what you can do while pregnant at the Disneyland Resort.

1. Watch the Shows

What I noticed a lot of adults who visit Disneyland neglect are the amazing shows! Depending on the time of the year, between Disneyland (DL) and Disney’s California Adventure (DCA), you have at least a dozen shows to chose from. Yes some are geared more towards children, but they shows we cannot miss (especially while pregnant at Disneyland Resort) are:

• World of Color (DCA)
• Frozen – Live at the Hyperion (DCA)
• Mariachi Divas (DCA)
• Turtle Talk with Crush (DCA)
• Mickey’s PhilharMagic (DCA)
• Parades (DCA + DL)
• Fantasmic (DL)
• Dapper Dans (DL)
• Disneyland Marching Band (DL)
• Enchanted Tiki Room (DL)
• Mickey and the Magical Map (DL)
• Storytelling at the Royal Theater (DL)

Tip: For large shows like World of Color or Fantasmic, there’s always a designated section for persons with disabilities. If you are unable to stand and wait for long periods of time because you’re farther along in your second or third trimester, let the cast member of that section know you are pregnant, and they will find a spot for you and your party.

2. Meet the characters

Whether you’re a Disney fanatic like myself, or it’s your first time at the parks, meeting the characters must be on your to-do list. If you’re visiting the parks with a group of adults, this is an activity I like to do while waiting for my group to get off a ride. If you utilize the Disneyland app, you can easily find out where and when characters will appear.

3. Ride the “Little Kid” rides

While many adults visit for the thrill rides, let’s not forget that Disneyland Resort is place for everyone of all ages. So of course, there are plenty of rides left to do even while pregnant. In each land, there’s a ride for you. If you’re unsure if you are able to ride, each ride does have a sign with ride restrictions. The same restrictions are also posted on their website if you’d like to plan before you go.

The warning for expectant mother’s will specifically say “EXPECTANT MOTHER SHOULD NOT RIDE.”

TIP: If this is your first pregnancy, just remember that all the rides you can ride now while pregnant are also the same rides you’ll be able to take your baby/toddler/little kid on later once you take them for their first visit to the parks!

Here’s a list of some of the rides I love to enjoy while pregnant at Disneyland Resort:

• it’s a small world (DL)
• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (DL)
• Jungle Cruise (DL)
• Disneyland Railroad (DL)
• Pirates of the Caribbean (DL) – if you’re missing some thrill, this does have two small drops!
• Haunted Mansion (DL)
• Winnie the Pooh (DL)
• Peter Pan’s Flight (DL)
• Mad Tea Party (DL)
• Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind (DCA)
• The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure (DCA)
• Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters (DCA)
• Monsters Inc Mike & Sulley to the Rescue (DCA)
• Toy Story Mania (DCA)
• Pixar-Pal-Around (DCA)

4. Try all the snacks

Ok so earlier I mentioned meeting characters while your friends are all waiting for a ride right? While that’s one option for something to do while you wait, my go-to “activity” while I wait is actually EATING. Specifically, eating all the snacks!

If your friends get Fastpasses for rides, chances are you won’t be waiting more than 20-25 minutes at a time. If they’re standing in the standby line, yes definitely go see a character. If they’re using a Fastpass, grab something to nibble while you wait.

Here’s a list of my favorite snacks to nibble on while pregnant at Disneyland Resort:

• Churros
• Cream cheese pretzels
• Dole whip float
• Soft serve
• Matterhorn Macaron
• Popcorn
• Mint Juleps & Beignets
• Smoothie from Schmoozie’s
• Corndogs
• Jack-Jack’s num-num cookie

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5. Plan sit-down dining reservations

I’ve already mentioned snacking, but let’s be real, the best thing to do while pregnant at Disneyland is eat. So on top of eating all the snacks, before you make your way to the Disneyland Resort, be sure to make some dining reservations. Of course you can easily do this when you’re not pregnant as well, but when you’re pregnant I feel like you have even more reason to make reservations.

Here are my favorite sit-down restaurants that take reservation. All of these restaurants are perfect for making a reservation while pregnant at Disneyland Resort.

For Breakfast:

• Carnation Cafe (DL)
• Plaza Inn Character Breakfast (DL)
• Goofy’s Kitchen (Disneyland Hotel)
• Lamplight Lounge – brunch on the weekends only (DCA)

For Lunch & Dinner:

• Carnation Cafe (DL)
• Blue Bayou (DL)
• Cafe Orleans (DL)
• Carthay Circle (DCA)
• Lamplight Lounge (DCA)
• Goofy’s Kitchen (Disneyland Hotel)
• Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen (Downtown Disney)

Tip: You can make dining reservations up to 60 days in advance. Some restaurants like Blue Bayou fill up quickly on reservations so be sure to book early if you have a place you’re dying to eat at!

Tips for Your Disneyland Vacation While Pregnant

Other than what to do in the parks while you are pregnant, here a few tips that might be helpful during your pregnant visit.

• Take a midday break.
• Bring refillable water bottles.
• Book a hotel walking distance to the hotel.
• Fly into the Long Beach airport or Orange County airport, and use Uber/Lyft to get to your hotel.
• If you’re visiting during the warmer months, go inside the Animation Academy (DCA) or the Main Street Cinema (DL) to sit down and rest.
• Request a complimentary “First Visit” button for your new baby from a cast member inside City Hall on Main Street.
• Take all the baby bump pictures!

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No matter what you do, just listen to your body and have fun! Some ladies are discouraged to go do to Disneyland while pregnant because they think they’ll “miss out” on things or will get too tired, but remember Disneyland is the happiest place on earth. So just go and enjoy the magic!

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And be sure to check out our latest Disneyland vlog over at our Youtube channel – @LivngwiththeNgs – where I also share some of these tips!

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