DLP or WDW with toddlers (4 and 2) and pregnant

[Flymeaway4]

Was planning to do DLP with our children in early July; they are 4yrs and 2yrs and I'll be 6 months pregnant. Was planning Sequoia Lodge for 4 nights/5 days, so we could do half days in the parks, take our time, we'd have a pool for some down time etc. It's working out around £3300 (flights, hotels, tickets, half board).

To compare, I priced up a week in Orlando instead. This would be £4500-5000, depending on hotel (specifically, All Star Music or Art of Animation) and again includes flights, hotels, tickets and half board. I'm.now thinking this is better value, but would we be mad?! It wouldn't be a once in a lifetime trip, but I would want it to be enjoyable. Would you just go for it, or plan something else?

DLP. They won't get anything extra out of a longer flight and bigger site. It will probably be pretty overwhelming for you all anyway so be ready for a few meltdowns.

You need to have very good travel insurance to go to the US at 6months pregnant. If baby no 3 was to come early, you'd probably have medical and NICU bills of potentially up to $1m based on some of the US NICU mums i follow on SM. Have you looked into how much the insurance would cost? There is also the terrible case of Adriana Smith at the minute - Georgia (not Florida), but i would want to understand if a similar law exists in Florida.

Your 2yo won't remember the trip so maybe do DLP now and save WDW for when they are older? We went when DB and I were 10yo and 7yo and it was pretty perfect for us. We could do the big rides as well.

Have you looked at Eurostar instead of flying to Paris? Might be more chill for everyone getting there.

Oh Lordy, I’d do neither with those ages and pregnant!

I LOVE Disney and have been with babies and toddlers but it’s very full on and being 6m pregnant too would be too much.

Neither. Wait 2 years and all the kids will enjoy it more. Or even 4 years

Two littlies and 6 months pregnant?
No way.

I would choose something more relaxing.

My friend went recently and there's a surprising amount of rides you can't go on pregnant at DLP (and I assume WDW). Anything with a bar across the tummy.

Oh wow- we are in such a similar position to you! We have booked DLP for October with 5 & 1 year old and I have just found out I’m pregnant and will also be 6 months at the time.

no advice but would love any feedback after you have been 🙈😂

If it's a once in a lifetime trip, wait five years, save up and go to Florida for as long as you can. Take them at 9, 7 and 5. They'll be able to do so, so much more and they'll all be able to remember it afterwards which is half the value.

Don’t do either. They’ll enjoy both more in a couple of years and honestly it is the least relaxing holiday you ever get. Do something nice and chilled.

I've just booked to go to DLP with my husband and 4 year old. I'm pregnant too. You can pretty much do all of the rides (except Big Thunder, Space mountain etc). As you are pregnant you will be eligible for a 'bambi band' which gets you priority access for rides, shows, parades etc. So your little ones won't have to wait in the main queue (only rides you can actually to on). Also you can walk back to your hotel for a rest and you can't do that in Florida. I'd save Florida for a 2 week trip in a couple of years!

Can I ask if you checked about rides and being pregnant? I only ask because dsis went last year whilst pregnant and there were far more rides than those you have listed that she wasn’t able to go.

So there are rides you must not go on (ie rollercoasters) and others that say should not ride. These are normally ones with a lap bar e.g. phantom manor etc but you can actually ride these. It is up to each individual and how you feel etc.

Not bothered about 'big' rides, as our little ones are too small for those anyway.

The bambi band is a big selling point for dlp though, orlando do nothing similar, as far as I know

Is it possible to do either of them a bit more 'chilled'? In the knowledge you won't do it all, but knowing we'll go again at some point? Or am I being overly optimistic/naive? Once there, maybe it's impossible not to be sucked into trying to do more/max out. I've not been since I was a teen myself, so never had to plan a trip.

Here's a completely left-field suggestion.

Use £3500 to buy a 50 point Old Key West (WDW) Disney Vacation Club contract on the resale market (second hand - not direct from Disney - it's much cheaper).

This would allow you to stay at OKW for 1 week in a one bed villa, with full kitchen and washing machine and dryer, every three years (using banking and borrowing), in September (I know not great for when the kids are in school but it starts to explain the program). The contract only lasts until 2042 - so you'd get 4 "free accommodation" holidays.

You have to pay the annual dues on those points (currently around $750 but increasing each year - that covers the cost of refurbishing the property every few years, staffing and in park travel costs - the buses and water taxi).

When we go, we spend mornings shopping, swimming, choring, cook our own large lunch (which saves hundreds!) and then head off to the parks for afternoon and evening.

We have done this to fix the accommodation costs now for a large family holiday for our DGC in a few years time. I wouldn't take them until they were 10. Our own DC were around 4/9/10 when we took them. The 4yo remembers nothing and the 9/10 yo's were just old enough to enjoy everything and have some memories.

If it's at all of interest I can include some links for more info. I'm not a salesman and I plan to sell my contracts back after our grand holiday. Personally I prefer European holidays.

Are you crazy?

Have you considered one of the Disney 3 or 4 night cruises from Southampton this summer? That is Disney on a relaxed level with the most incredible service, food, entertainment, character meets and kids club (nursery payable for the younger one)

Yes, they are good, we did a Bahamas one late last year! Unfortunately, they only allow you cruise up to 24 weeks and I'm currently 22