Hiya Mackenzie,
Welcome to planDisney! Congratulations on your little one! My youngest is 13 months old, so while we are slowly ramping down our nursing/pumping journey, it is still really fresh in my mind.
I’m glad you are thinking ahead about this, since nothing is worse than having to pump and not being able to deal with it right away. The best place I have found to pump at EPCOT is the
Baby Care Center, located near the
Figment’s Inspiration Station at the Odyssey (on the side facing the World Showcase). They have outlets, private rooms, and comfy chairs, which are perfect for pumping. They also have a sink that you can clean pump parts and plenty of counter space (in my experience). The downside is that you cannot store your pump parts or breastmilk there, so you will either need to carry it with you or rent a locker at the front of the theme park. If you are planning to bring a wearable pump, I would still suggest popping in there to clean your pump parts and transfer your milk into bags or bottles (it would be much easier than doing it on the go). Now, about storing your pump parts and milk. I mentioned lockers already, and I’ve actually found them to be pretty great. I suggest bringing at least a soft-sided cooler (filled with ice packs; loose ice and dry ice are prohibited) and placing expressed milk in it after you pump inside the locker. Since I was a little anxious about my milk getting too warm, I also brought a special breastmilk portable travel cooler with a frozen ice pack, then put it inside a soft-sided cooler filled with more ice packs to keep the milk cold. It might have been overdoing it, but it gave me peace of mind. One additional tip: have backup pump parts and chargers with you. Trust me on this, the moment you don’t have them is the moment you need them. Lastly, don’t forget to stay hydrated and eat more than you think you should. With all the walking, you will definitely expend more energy than usual, especially with the pumping, so be sure to enjoy all the yummy snacks (and water) you can.
I hope this was helpful, Mackenzie. I know being away from your little one is an adventure on its own, and I want you to enjoy yourself without worrying about pumping. Before I let you go, I’m not sure where you are staying during your trip, but I did want to let you know that the beverage coolers in the resort hotel rooms (and most hotels in general) tend not be the best for storing breastmilk. I had to toss some of mine during one of my trips because it just never got cold enough to store. If you are staying onsite,
Bell Services will typically store breastmilk (secured and labeled in a Ziploc bag) in the freezer if you need them too. Another option is to use a breast milk shipping company for assistance. They often provide refrigerated coolers for short trips and can help you ship your milk home to South Carolina so you don’t have to worry about flying (or driving) with it. If you need anything else, please come back and see us. Have a magical time next weekend!
Happy Planning,
Ashley F.