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Diapering & Potty Training at Disney World
The idea of taking an infant to Disney World can be daunting, but with a little fore-knowledge, it is totally doable. In this 4-part series, I’ll go over the basics of baby care at WDW and some tips and tricks from some moms who make it look easy.
Disney & Diapering
You’ve taken your baby out of the house before, so being prepared for diaper changes on the go isn’t a new thing. It really isn’t that different at Disney, except that you may be away from your home base for many more hours than you are used to.
Be Prepared: The 5 Basics
Diapers:
You know how many diapers your baby goes through in a day at home – bring that many with you plus two. That’s a lot of diapers to stow. That, along with all the other baby accoutrements means you’ll likely have a larger diaper bag that you’ll keep in the stroller. When you park your stroller to head off to a ride, you won’t want to drag that along. So remember to bring an emergency diaper and some wipes with you in a small day bag.
Depending on the length of your trip, diapers and wipes and other baby gear can take up a lot of room in the luggage. You might consider just packing enough for the first couple of days, and either shipping a box to yourself care of the resort (note your arrival date on the box) or ordering what you need from a grocery delivery service like Garden Grocer, or from Amazon Prime or Amazon Now.
Wipes:
How many wipes do you typically use for each diaper change? Make sure your travel packs of wipes contain at least that many x10. If you’ll be there more than a few days, you can buy multiple travel packs. Or, keep a large package in the room and bring a day’s supply in a Ziploc
Clothing:
You’ll want to bring a couple spare outfits in case of blow-outs or spit-ups. You know this. I’m not telling you anything new. I just mention this to prepare you that the adorable custom Cinderella-themed onesie you bought on Etsy might not last the day! Also – you might want to bring an extra outfit for yourself. Something light that can roll up small like a tank dress. When my girls were little, they seemed to ruin my clothes as often as their own!
Bags:
A 2-gallon Ziploc bag is handy for stowing dirty clothing. I’ve been trying lately to buy less single-use plastics, so if you’re doing the same – you might want to invest in a reusable wet/dry bag like this one from Bumkins:
Changing pad:
You might want to consider disposable changing pads – who knows the last time those public changing tables were cleaned? (Actually, Disney is known for getting high marks for the cleanliness of its facilities, but you never can be too safe)
The good news is, as a family oriented destination, Disney World has made an effort to cater to the needs of parents of small children. You can find changing tables in almost all women’s and men’s restrooms and there are a good amount of companion restrooms as well.
If it’s convenient, head to the Baby Care Center (there is one in each park) when it’s time for diapering. There you’ll find several full size changing tables in a clean and comfortable environment – so much nicer than a public restroom. Diapers and wipes are available for sale but the sizes are limited, and of course the prices are higher than at home. However, it’s a great option in an emergency!
You’ll also find a unisex bathroom in the Baby Care Center with a TINY TOILET so it’s perfect if you have a toddler or preschooler. These centers are the only place in the parks where you’ll find these lower toilets – although most of the public restrooms do have low, child-height sinks.
Which leads us to…
Potty Training on the Go
What do you do with a toddler or preschooler who is in the midst of training or newly trained to use the potty? This is actually more challenging than diapering a baby because it can be so unpredictable. Here are some strategies that might help:
Frequency:
Make bathroom stops a part of your itinerary. Don’t go more than 2 rides / shows without making a potty stop, EVEN if little mister swears he doesn’t have to go (they lie!)
Autoflush:
If your tot gets freaked out by automatically flushing toilets, bring a small pad of post-it notes to cover the sensor while she’s doing her business. Little ones tend to wriggle around (especially when they’re trying not to fall in) and that can cause the toilet to think they’ve gotten up.
Portable toilet seat:
Unless your toddler does all his business at the Baby Care Center where they have a preschool toilet, he’ll have to use big boy toilets. If you know this might be a problem for your little one, they make foldable, portable toddler toilet seats that are perfect for traveling
Make it fun:
Your little one won’t want to stop the magic to go to the bathroom. Try to make a game of it. Pick up an extra park map when you arrive and let your kiddo put a potty training sticker on each location he goes in. Give a him a small treat if he gets more than 4 stickers in a day.
Don’t Push It:
It’s okay to backtrack a bit and put your newly trained child in a pull-up while on vacation. The excitement, unfamiliar surroundings and unpredictable schedule are key ingredients for potty accidents. It’s almost inevitable. Save yourself and the little one a lot of stress by having a back-up system. We did this and had no problem picking up the potty training right where we were when we got home.
Have you toured Walt Disney World with a baby or a potty-training toddler? Share your experiences in the comments below. Just beginning your vacation research? Check out my How to Plan Your Trip in 10 Easy Steps and download my free planning timeline. Use the CONTACT form for a no-obligation quote or just email me at rebecca@magicaltravel.com.
