Posted by Lyssa Hurst on August 30, 2010

My Happiest Place on Earth

We’re going to Walt Disney World! And I’ll be 28 weeks pregnant…gestational insanity you might say?? Perhaps, but it is my family’s favorite place and we can’t get there fast enough. Is Disney World a crazy vacation destination for a pregnant woman? I say, it’s perfect!

It has been a crazy summer here in NJ–hot and humid like none in recent memory, great preparation for Florida’s weather. I have been working a lot this summer. I need to accrue a certain number of hours to be eligible for maternity leave. A trip to the moon would be fantastic if it means some time off from work–this mama needs a break!

There is something to be said for going someplace familiar. This will be Quinn’s 8th trip to Disney (he is 5). We know our way around and feel relatively safe here. We know the food, the best places to relax and enjoy a Mickey-shaped ice cream bar and where to score free glasses of ice water… I can find the drugstore, the Urgent Care Center (yeah, been there, done that before) and the hospital. Especially while pregnant, I am not a fan of the unfamiliar.

Disney is a place where the average daily walk is about 8 miles. There are thrill rides, temperature extremes and some outstanding adult beverages. It goes without saying that some adjustments will need to be made to accommodate my “condition”. There are also many small details that can easily be missed in and around the World when caught up in the usual frenetic pace of touring–this will be a good time to stop and smell the proverbial roses.

My husband and I made many trips to Disney World with dreams of bringing our children–it took a while–but we have relished every trip with Quinn. Knowing the joy of sharing Disney with him, we hoped to have another child to add to the mix and it is finally about to happen. One of Disney’s slogans is “Where Dreams come true”, I am a believer. The pace of this vacation may be slow and I will likely be able to write a tour guide (or at least an ode) to the restrooms on Disney property–but I am so excited to spend some quality time with my favorite people in my favorite place on earth.

1 Comment »

1. Lyssa,
   Good for you for taking a vacation! We just went to DisneyLand a few weeks ago with our two boys (ages 4 and 19 months) – I was about 25 weeks pregnant at the time. Since we’re just about 2 hours away, we drove up just for the day, but it was a fantastic time! I felt like I got exercise from all the walking around, and like you mentioned, it’s a familiar but magical place. I used the belly as an excuse to sit out a few rides (and their lines), but for the most part I was able to thoroughly enjoy the day. I feel like it’s a lot easier now to take such a trip than it will be a few months from now with a newborn in tow!

   Comment by Amanda — September 1, 2010 @ 8:52 pm

Leave a comment