Disney4me Posted 57 minutes ago Report Posted 57 minutes ago I spent a large chunk of my pregnancy and postpartum experience in Disney World, and let me tell you — it was NOT a walk in the park. (Well, I suppose technically sometimes it was, but you know what I mean.) Cinderella Castle Throughout my pregnancy and for my first year postpartum, I worked as a theme park reporter here at DFB, and it was a lot of fun. However, after I had my baby, I decided to breastfeed… and that meant that I needed to pump when I went to work! Pumping in Disney World more than 100 times taught me a lot, and I’m here to share some of my best tips and advice with you. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. The Basics of Pumping in the Parks The first thing you need to know if you’re planning to pump on a Disney World visit is that all four theme parks have Baby Care Centers. They’re not available in the water parks, Disney Springs, or at the resorts, but they’re a great resource in the four main parks. In each of the Baby Care Centers, there are dedicated rooms for nursing/pumping moms where you can have some privacy and quiet. Hollywood Studios Baby Care Center Magic Kingdom’s nursing room is one main space with several rocking chairs, all facing each other. Typically, they only allow the nursing or pumping mother inside with the baby, since this one is so popular. At EPCOT, there’s also one large room with open seating, but sometimes during my visits, they allowed other family members to come into that room, so it was the least private option of the four parks. Baby Care Center nursing room in Magic Kingdom Hollywood Studios recently got a Baby Care Center overhaul, and it’s now located near The Magic of Disney Animation. Its nursing room setup is the best of the bunch, with several “stalls” inside a larger room that each have their own rockers and privacy curtains. Finally, Animal Kingdom has two private nursing rooms that have doors you can close and lock. They’re nice and intimate, but there are only two spots, so you may have to wait during busier times. Inside the Baby Care Center at Hollywood Studios Now, you may not be able to make it to the Baby Care Center every time you pump. When that was the case, I would try to find some secluded seating in an air-conditioned space (pumping in the heat is the WORST) and I would bring my own nursing cover. I most often used wearable or handheld pumps in the parks, so that made it easier. I even pumped in my car between parks several times. Baby Care Center sign in Animal Kingdom Of course, once you’re done pumping, you’re going to need a plan to store your milk. The Disney World parks, water parks, and Disney Springs do not have any locations that will store your breast milk, so you’ll have to take care of that on your own. If your baby is with you and you’re giving them a bottle directly, that’s a bit easier, but I personally had to carry a milk cooler to keep the milk at a safe temperature until I got home at the end of the day. Whatever supplies you’re bringing with you, make sure they fit in your park bag ahead of time! You’re gonna need a bigger bag! One of my biggest pieces of advice if you’re planning on pumping in the parks is to prep the night before! For me, this meant freezing the ice pack that went in my milk cooler and charging my wearable pumps. Washing bottles and staging everything to go in my park bag ahead of time was also a common practice. I also carried FuelRods on me as a cautionary measure when I had the wearable pumps, just in case the battery died. Products I Recommend So, if you’re planning to pump in Disney World, what products do you need? Well, after pumping every week for over a year in the parks, these are some of my recommendations. This pump is widely touted as “the best in the business” ©Amazon Perhaps the most beloved pump out there is the Spectra S1, so this was a common option I saw moms using in Disney World. It has hospital-grade suction, and it’s rechargeable so you can take it on the go. It’s on the larger side, but you can get it with a carrying bag and all its accessories on Amazon. view ON AMAZON If you want to pump on the go! ©Amazon For most of my time pumping, I used a wearable breast pump. The one I had wasn’t my favorite, but the eufy Heated Wearable Breast Pump has quite a few fans for its compact design. Pumping while on the go is a bit of a challenging art, but you could also commit to sitting down to use this if you’re more comfortable that way. These are easier to take with you to the parks, and this particular pump comes with an app where you can adjust your settings. view ON AMAZON When you need to pump FAST and easy! ©Amazon In the last few months of my breastfeeding and pumping journey, as my production slowed down, a handheld pump was my go-to. The Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump was easy to travel with in my park bag because I could break it down into smaller pieces, and it was simple to clean. I could pump with this thing in 5-10 minutes, and it was a lot less hassle than the electric versions. Now, this might not be ideal when you’re still producing a lot, because your hand will cramp by the time you’re done pumping! view ON AMAZON Somewhere to store the milk ©Amazon Now, if you’re pumping in the parks and not immediately making bottles, you’re going to need somewhere to store your milk. The Momcozy 22oz Portable Milk Cooler has some really great reviews, and it’ll keep your milk at safe temps for up to 24 hours. The one biggest thing to remember is that you have to freeze the cooling mechanism the night before your visit to the parks! view ON AMAZON A nursing cover is a good tool to have in your bag ©Amazon If you’re planning to use wearable pumps or the hand pump, having a nursing cover, like this one from Blissful Diary, on hand can be a good idea. Getting your pumps settled just right while in public is a risky business, and having the extra coverage eases some anxiety. I preferred covers with the structured top opening so that I could see underneath, but no one else could see from a direct angle. view ON AMAZON My go-to bras for the parks ©Amazon Of course, I have to talk about the base layer for pumping in the parks, and that’s a good pumping or nursing bra! My go-to nursing bra brand was Kindred Bravely, and they have these awesome sports bras that were perfect for hot days in the parks. You don’t have to sacrifice support for function! view ON AMAZON Get the best clean-up tool ©Amazon Finally, my favorite clean-up hack was using these Dapple Baby Breast Pump wipes. They’re perfect for when you don’t have the time to do a full wash with soap and just want to get everything clean. I kept them in my park bag the whole year, and then I would give my pump and bottles a really good wash and clean at the end of the day. view ON AMAZON What About the Hotels? So we’ve chatted about what it’s like to pump in the parks, but what about at your resort? If you’re staying at a Disney Resort, it’s important to know the difference between having a beverage cooler in your room and a mini fridge. Mini fridges are able to store breast milk and medicine at “food-safe temperatures,” while beverage coolers do not. The following hotel rooms have in-room mini refrigerators: Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Resort The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Vacation Club Resort Cooper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge The Villas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village Disney’s Beach Club Villas Disney’s Boardwalk Villas Disney’s Old Key West Resort Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows Disney’s Riviera Resort – Villas and Deluxe Studio rooms Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Family Suites at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort Fridge at Saratoga Springs Resort Now, if you’re staying in one of those other hotel rooms that don’t have mini fridges (basically all the hotel rooms that aren’t DVC rooms or suites), then there IS a solution. Bell Services at your hotel will have fridge and freezer storage available, and you can stop by the Bell Services desk to request to store your milk there. You need to make sure your breast milk is in sealed, labeled containers inside a waterproof bag. Packing some Ziploc bags would be a great idea for making storage and transportation easy. Look out for bell services! If you’re a pumping mom tackling Disney World, you are a SUPERHERO. It might be challenging, but you can still have a great time as long as you come prepared. Make a packing list so that you don’t forget anything, and make sure to clean and reset your supplies each day of the trip. To see more Disney World tips for families, check out the video below! Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media for more Disney World tips and tricks! These Are the 9 Disney World Essentials Every Mom Needs! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you ever pumped in Disney World? Tell me about your experience in the comments! View the full article Quote
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