Disney’s Greatest Tourist Attraction Yet
When I told my Mom that I wanted to take Bean to Disney’s Animal Kingdom for his birthday, she didn’t squeal with delight at Bean’s first visit to Disney. She didn’t get all excited about rides and parades and fireworks. She didn’t gush about the Magic of the Kingdom. Mom’s only words were, “Wait until you see the baby care centers.” And then her eyes glazed over and she started muttering about diaper changing tables and dimly lit nursing rooms.
I thought she was insane.
Until I walked into the Baby Changing Center at Animal Kingdom. And I realized that outside the gates of Disney World, everything was cold and dark in comparison.
For those of you who haven’t been to a Disney park or who have but, like me, had not yet experienced the awesomeness of a baby changing center, allow me to give you a tour.
The baby changing center is a building for families with small children to re-group during a day of fun. You walk into the lobby and it looks sort of like a doctor’s office. But off of that lobby is a TV room with (what else?) a Disney movie playing and a few small tables and chairs. This room, I am guessing, if for your older children while you take care of the wee ones. Or, I suppose it could also be a break room for the family if you just need a cool, air conditioned, clean place to sit for a while. I also imagine it would make a nice little time out location for a tot who is on the fritz during the day and needs to just sit still for a minute.
Also off of the lobby is the baby changing room. The crowning glory in the Disney Empire, if you ask me. It is a room filled with baby changing tables. And not those cheap plastic ones in public restrooms. Good, sturdy, big, clean changing tables with cushions.
Also in this room there are high chairs like you would find in any home kitchen. There are also microwaves and even a bottle warmer. There are plastic plates, bowls, and eating utensils, along with purified water. Basically, everything you would need to feed your baby.
Off of this nursery room there were several smaller nursing rooms with rocking chairs for mothers and babies who needed to nurse. Or, these rooms would be great for a little one who needed a quiet place to catch a quick snuggle with mom or dad.
I think my favorite part of the baby changing center was that they had everything a family of small children might need if they forgot something for the day. They had diapers, wipes, sunscreen, baby food, juice, bottles, binkies, and even infant and children medication for a tyke who might have had a little too much fun in the sun. And everything was reasonably priced for about what you’d pay at Target or Walmart. Some of it was even free!
We took a little time out for Bean Man in the morning here. It was a great break from all the heat and I made sure to give his little face a wipe down with a clean wash cloth that I brought packed in a Ziplock. I remember my Mom and Dad doing this when we were little and traveling. They’d pack a clean, dry washcloth in a baggie and then while we were out and when we got hot, they’d take it to the bathroom and run it under cold water. It was the greatest feeling when you were hot. Bean loved it, too!
He was so appreciative!
After he was squeaky clean and cool, we took a few extra minutes to enjoy the air conditioning.
And we also loaded up his stroller tray with snacks and filled his juice cup back up with cool apple juice.
We spent about 20 minutes in the baby care center and when we left we felt like we were fresh out of our house. It was the nicest, most convenient, thoughtful, innovative, genius thing I’ve seen as a mom so far.
I wonder if I could convince Target to put one of these in their stores? I’d never leave again.
29 Comments
Elisabeth
OMG!! WOW! I want to got to Disney just to visit the baby changing center. I have never seen such a thing. And silly me though that the family restroom/lounge area at our local mall was spiffy.
Nate's Mom
Katie – wait until you go to the one at the Magic Kingdom. It’s Victorian. The rocking chairs in the nursing room were beautiful, aged wood chairs and the walls were graced with actual Victorian portraits of adorable children and babies. We visited three care centers @ Disney – Epcot, Magic Kingdom, and Animal Kingdom – and each one was differently themed, decorated, and all were super fun. Staff was so great. I’m with you – it’s one of the BEST things about the park. I only wish there was more than one in each park…it was a pain to walk all the way back to the start of Magic Kingdom to change Nate’s pamper. Yeah, and the mini mart? Disney truly thinks of EVERYTHING.
Glad Bean enjoyed the baby care center – now we can’t wait to hear how he enjoyed his Disney birthday celebration!!! 🙂
Elizabeth
I’m so glad to know that Disney still holds the ticket to the best changing areas ever. I haven’t been in a park in 20 years, but I can remember having three little ones, and needing a place to nurse – in the Magic Kingdom (on a midnight Youth Group trip).We stopped in one of these, and I was amazed at how wonderful it was! Clean, comfortable, and roomy – it was everything you describe – I think they should advertise this in their travel packages!!!
Sarah H.
Woah! Awesome! Who new?!
Sarah H.
That was supposed to be “knew”
Jen D
You know you are a parent when….
You read this post. Get excited about it. Ask your husband to read the post to see how amazing it was and his mouth is wide open while reading it saying “wow.” and “incredible” and “thats amazing.”
I just decided this is how you know you have both arrived into parenthood.
Katie
Chris and I thought the same thing! I never knew I could be so excited about things like changing tables!
Caitlin
Things like that make a big difference! While I was home on Maternity leave, I knew all the stores and restaurants in my town that had the “good” changing areas or nursing rooms. Heck, I even got excited for the gross, dark mothers room at Babies R Us. The Disney version is heavenly! They definitely know their audience, keep the moms and babies happy and they will keep coming back!
Maryellen
My husband and I and our baby girl met the in-laws in Disney last week. When I heard that they had baby centers, I made sure it was the first thing I located in each park. They were so fantastic!
Candace
ok…I feel like getting on-line and booking a trip today…I read this and then had my husband pause the TV so he could check it out…..and we have decided a trip to Disney with 4 children under 3 will be possible…with a few “breaks” in these amazing areas….oh, to be a parent 🙂 I can’t wait to see more pics of the day!!
Jen at Cabin Fever
All I can say is WOW. That is the piece-de-la-resistance of changing centers! And I bet a lot of research when into that whole idea. They did their work. That makes me excited to go there when I can kids. 🙂
Cabin Fever in Vermont
Sandy
my husband and son are heading to disney this friday…i must tell them of this eutopia. maybe they can catch a nap while there…then again, they may get kicked out since my son is almost 12 =o)
deanna
Another great feature is teeny, tiny potties for kiddos who are potty-training – or for the kids who are a little frightened of the automatic-flush-of-doom in the regular bathrooms.
Mindee@ourfrontdoor
Those people at Disney are GENIUSES.
Ella
Wow – thats a pretty impressive change/rest area!
Whitney
That’s IT, That’s IT! I’m going to DISNEY!!!!! I’m seriously floored. EVERY PLACE ON PLANET EARTH should have this. Wow. Wow. WOW. When’s the next flight out?
Maybelline
I’ve been to disney several times and never ever saw the baby care center or knew of it.. Wow! I guess what peolpe say it’s true: you totally see life (and even disney) in a whole different way once you become a parent..
Christina
Wow. That’s all I have to say about that.
But I would like to say that the picture of his hug on your neck is about the cutest thing ever. 🙂
Tiffany
Wow. I’m not even a mom and I think this is cool. Disney scores high marks again! Sometimes I wish the whole world could be like a Disney park.
Shannon
You’re such a great mom! I’m gonna have to remember these things when I become a mom one day!
Megan (Best of Fates)
I am blown away by the washcloth idea. Clearly, I had sub-par parents.
Oh, the cool, wet joy I missed out on as a child.
Very sad.
Krista
That’s the BEST thing ever. I think I just fell in love with Disney even more. I hate changing my babies when we are out and honestly have been known to avoid it at all costs. Wow, I am speechless it is that great.
Valerie
Oh wow. Leave it to Disney to do something like that. What a great idea.
Lisa
WOW very cool. I’m not a mother yet so I can’t truly appreciate how useful that would be but it looks amazing and so child and parent friendly!
susansamson
That is awesome! How cool of an idea, better than Babies R Us provides.
Heather in ND
As a Child Care Provider I am totally jealous!!
Ann G-B
And here I thought that we would have to wait until our kiddo was older to bring him to a theme park. Clearly we would be missing out!
Does Universal know about this? I am hankering to go to Harry Potter world!
Amy Altadonna
As someone who appreciates, nay, relishes, a good clean spacious restroom with character, this is really the most incredible place! To cater to the hot and tired with all the things they might need to refresh themselves and their families is really a gift!
MInd if I post a link to this on my blog? I chronicle my experiences with public restrooms, and this one can’t be beat!
xo
Amy
Tabs
So, I know this is a WAAAAAY late comment but I am a WAAAAAAY late reader sometimes (and I was looking though what you did for Bean man on his first birthday to find ideas for my son’s first birthday coming up in February). Aaaaaanyway, this post…I have no words. I thought Ikea’s baby room was awesome but it doesn’t even hold a candle to this. (although I still really really REALLY appreciate Ikea’s baby room) I almost have no words for this post because, well, this is awesome…I think I’m almost drooling… Disney really does know how to take care of their “customers”.