Pregnant at Disneyland: What’s In Your Bag?

February 1, 2018 in All Posts, disneyland resort, pregnant by Vy

So you’re planning to go to Disneyland and you’re pregnant – do you know what to pack in your bag?

When I frequented Disneyland as a teenager, I was the member of my group with the ‘Disneyland backpack‘. Maybe it was my upbringing as a Girl Scout that always reminded me to “be prepared,” but my backpack would be packed full of snacks, water, and all the items a teenager needs when spending a full day at the Parks. As I got older, I started wearing small purses that would make security checks a breeze, simply carrying my wallet and my phone – not much else.

Now that I am expecting, the Disneyland backpack has made a glorious return – and I’m here to share with you the Babes in Disneyland recommendations for must-have items when you’re spending a day at the Parks!

First, Choose a Sturdy Backpack!

The bag you choose to carry throughout the day at the Parks is important – it needs to be large enough to hold your items but not too bulky – you’re already carrying extra weight around with your baby bump so don’t weigh yourself down with more stuff! I personally use a light REI-branded day backpack that has outer pockets for my reusable water bottle. However, showcase your Disney spirit with one of the backpacks we’ve seen at the Parks, including contributor Jessica’s “Kingdom of Cute” backpack from Wonderground Gallery (designed by Jerrod Maruyama) or some of the Disney JanSport backpacks that you can pick up at Downtown Disney. They aren’t too big and contain lots of zippered pockets and places to store your items!

Important First Aid Items

It’s hard to ignore the unwanted pregnancy symptoms that might rear their ugly heads while you’re trying to enjoy a day at the Parks. The symptoms may vary from heartburn (we knew you couldn’t resist those nachos!), unsightly varicose veins, and just overall swelling of hands and feet. I tend to bring a small first aid kit or a small pouch that has some essentials – most notably antacids (such as Tums) for when you’re indulging in snacks in the parks and a bout of heartburn kicks into gear. You’ll never find me without any lip balm – it’s important to also keep your lips from chapping.

Consider bringing compression bandages, because with all the steps that you are taking in the parks and standing all day, you might find yourself with swollen ankles. Tissues and wet wipes/baby wipes are also useful for keeping things clean. Speaking of clean – keep some hand sanitizer in your bag (and if you forget it, you can always purchase some in the Parks – they have some adorable covers to go with the sanitizer!)

: Hitchhiking Ghosts sanitizer holder

: Hand sanitizer

Portable Charger or Charging Bank

I hardly travel anywhere without extra power for my cell phone. Especially now that Disneyland utilizes the MaxPass system, it’s easy to drain your battery using your phone to manage FASTPASSES and as your backup camera for all the Instagram photos you’re taking. Having a portable charger in your bag ensures that you’ll always be able to access your Disneyland app to seek out those must-needed resting spots, places to eat, and other information you need. If you don’t happen to bring a portable charger, you’re in luck – Disneyland now offers portable chargers in the Resort through a brand called FuelRod. For a flat fee of $30, you get a fully charged portable charger aka “fuel rod” – and if you use up all the juice, you swap the empty charger for a new one. You get free unlimited swapping, so if you visit frequently, you can swap it out for a new one every time you’re in the Parks.

Look for the kiosks like the one featured below.

Pack a Reusable Water Bottle

While many quick service restaurants may give you free water in a cup upon request, it’s best to bring your own reusable water bottle to the Parks so you can fill up and stay hydrated as you go. Pregnant mamas-to-be need to keep up their hydration, especially during a long day at the Parks and there are water fountains and water filling stations scattered throughout the Resort. For example, a water station can be found near the Mint Julep Bar in New Orleans Square, Tomorrowland Terrace, Rancho del Zocalo, or inside Red Rose Taverne in Fantasyland. The Disneyland App also gives you the location of drinking fountains throughout the Park (look for this under the ‘Guest Services’ section), and you’ll find water fountains usually stationed right near the restrooms.

A Pair of Flip Flops

Although we tout the virtues of wearing a sturdy pair of sneakers to last you through the Parks, sometimes a pair of flip flops are just the right answer when your feet begin to feel hot and swell up. If you have room, be sure to pack some flip flops just to give yourself a break and let your feet rest!

Your Camera (to Document the Bump!)

Always have your camera ready to hand to the PhotoPass photographers – they are more than happy to help you capture some fun moments with your growing bump at the Parks! If you have PhotoPass for the day (or built into your Annual Pass), Disneyland photographers will take several shots of you and commemorate the experience. As you can see, I have had a lot of fun watching the bump transform during my visits to Disneyland (Halloween/Christmas/Lunar New Year!)

Your Doctor’s Info and Your “Go” Bag

This one is for the pregnant mamas that are visiting the Disneyland Resort but are very easily be in the window of time where baby could arrive at any moment. This is where we recommend having your doctor’s information readily available and your hospital go-bag waiting for you in the car. We have known some women to walk around the Resort as a way to induce labor – so if you’re close to your due date and you’re trying to get things moving along by walking around the Parks, make sure that you have all the stuff you need at a moment’s notice in case D-Day (delivery day!) begins earlier than you expected!

These are just some of the important items we think you should carry with you on a Disneyland day while pregnant, but this is definitely not a comprehensive list! We hope this is a jumping off point for you to know that you can still make the most of your visit to the Parks with a little preparation.

Let us know in the comments – what are/were your must-have items when going to Disneyland while pregnant?