If you are thinking about planning a trip to the theme parks during your pregnancy, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. For instance, what attractions are safe and not safe to ride, as well as keeping well hydrated. You also need to keep in mind how far along you will be during your trip. Based on my experience, I would not recommend going when you are farther than 24-28 weeks along.
Here are some tips for expectant mothers in the parks, as well as some tips on getting great maternity photos.
1. Pace yourself. As someone who is used to being there when the park opens and going hard all day until closing, I was in for a surprise when I had to try out more benches than normal. Don't be afraid to take a break when you need it. You will be doing a lot of walking, so sometimes a short rest is necessary to catch your breath. Because you will not be able to ride some of the more popular attractions, you will have extra time to sit and enjoy people watching.
2. Try new things. If you are a WDW veteran, this is a great time to try things you've never done before. For example, if there are less popular attractions that you have never experienced (because perhaps time didn't allow it), now is your chance to try it out. If you have odd cravings, now is also a great time to try to restaurants and quick service meals. We ate more than normal on this trip, and really enjoyed trying out new places.
3. Avoid certain attractions. Disney posts health restrictions outside all of the attraction ques. The ones that have an expectant mother warning are: Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, the Barnstormer, Dinosaur, Expedition Everest, Mission Space, Primeval Whirl, Rock n' Roller Coaster, Splash Mountain, Star Tours, Test Track, and Tower of Terror. Kilimanjaro Safaris also has a pregnancy warning, however, after thoroughly researching why, I chose to ride it and was totally fine. The main reason for the warning is because of the bumpy roads. But if you're from a rural town like I am, you probably drive on roads every day that are much rougher than the safari. There are other rides that do not have a warning, but can make some pregnant women sick (if they are prone to it). These are rides like Dumbo, the Mad Tea Party, Aladdin's Flying Carpets, and anything that spins.
4. Drink plenty of water. This is especially true if you are going during hot weather. We were there just a week ago, so we had pleasant Spring weather that wasn't too hot. It's a great idea to carry a water bottle with you and refill it at the water fountains. This is a great way to save money, and Disney water is yummy.
5. Wear the most comfortable and supportive walking shoes you own. This applies to everyone, not just expectant mothers. I highly advise against wearing any type of sandal or flip-flop to the parks. You need shoes with good walking support, otherwise your feet, legs, and back will hurt much more than necessary.
Taking Maternity Photos in the Parks
Disney is a perfect place to get unique photos! There is no shortage of beautiful spots around all four theme parks. Because we didn't spend as much time on attractions as we normally do, we had plenty of time to take photos. Here are some tips for doing your own maternity photos in the parks:
1. The classic shot in front of the park icon. The photos that almost everyone gets on every trip are the classic poses in front of Cinderella's Castle, Spaceship Earth, the Tree of Life, and the Sorcerer's Hat. All you need to do to make these maternity shots is to place a simple hand on the belly. This draws the viewer's eye to where your bundle of joy is being carried. There are always PhotoPass photographers in these locations. They will be happy to take a photo with your camera, as well as one with PhotoPass.
2. Use props. A pair of baby shoes, a sonogram photo, or even a personalized baby ear hat make great props for maternity photos. You can hold the objects, or place them in the image by themselves. Because we knew we were having a boy, we bought a personalized ear hat and placed it in various locations such as the Partners statue and the monorail, to have some distinctly Disney images.
3. Look for places off the beaten path. World Showcase at Epcot is a treasure trove of photo opportunities. There are tons of places to get great photos that don't necessarily scream "taken at Disney World." My favorite spot is the Morocco pavilion, underneath the archway and around the hidden fountain just to the left. Asia land in Animal Kingdom has lots of interesting walls and doors that provide a great texture for your images. In Magic Kingdom, use the castle wall or the archways in the entrance to New Fantasyland to create a classic look.
4. Meet the characters. Who doesn't love a classic photo with Mickey? Depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy, you can even get the characters to help you reveal the gender to friends and family, or even make the big announcement that you are expecting. If you plan to do that, be sure to bring a sign or something that makes your announcement, then just ask the character to hold it in your photo.
5. Posing. When doing maternity portraits, I always ask my clients to place at least one hand on their belly in every shot. This draws attention to the very purpose of the photo. You can place one hand on the top of your bump and the other underneath, or just one hand in either location. Also remember to take some shots that are just of the belly, keeping your back all the way to one side of the frame (like we did in the first image on this post). Leaning against a wall is a great classic pose that is very flattering to most anyone. Take a step or two away from the wall and lean back so that your shoulder blades (and not your entire back) are touching the wall. Take the foot that is farthest away from the camera and step in back toward the wall, letting your knees bend slightly. Keeping your weight on that back foot gives you a slimmer figure and really shows off that gorgeous baby bump (See the black and white image above). One last thing: don't forget to take some photos where you are looking down at your belly. This too helps draw the viewer's eye to the focus of the image.
I hope you can find these tips to be helpful on your trip. Don't be afraid of visiting the parks during pregnancy. If you and baby are healthy, there is no reason why you can't have just as much fun as you always do. I loved it so much, that I hope I am able to visit during any future pregnancies!
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