1 adult 2 little kids?

[salmar]

My husband will be at a conference much of the time, and if my mother can't join us, I may be alone at the parks with a 1 and a 3-year old (in low season luckily!).

Will Disney allow me to take both children on a ride with me or would that be considered unsafe? We are thinking MK and AK mostly, and I won't try any waterparks or pools with both, of course. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[emma'smom]

I just did this last week with a 24month old and a 4 year old. Where are you staying? The biggest issue for me was managing the stroller on the bus while still keeping an eye on dd24months. I did do this to get to Downtown Disney for the BBB one day. Mostly, I stuck to the boats to Epcot and MGM because I could just wheel them on IN the stroller.

My dh joined us in the late afternoons and evenings for dinner and park time...so getting sleepy children home wasn't so bad.

I took both of them on all of the rides with me....three isn't so much when two of them are pretty small.

We also went to a few character meals. The buffets were really hard because I had to either take them both with me or leave them both within eyesight at the table and this was just uncomfortable, even though the table was right next to the buffet.

We did Garden Grille and this worked out well since they served the meal (and they had characters).

In MGM, we spent time in the "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" playground. We were going to do the Boneyard at AK, but it was raining so I diverted to Epcot tha day. Mostly, I let them play in fountains, saw shows, etc. Things that would keep them either really active...or sort of contained!

Have fun!

 

[salmar]

We'll be somewhere on Disney grounds, but have not selected the exact hotel yet. Thanks for the tips!

 

[truecrime13]

When my dad would take my brother and I to the parks early in the morning he had trouble but as we grew up it got easier. When I asked my dad how it was takeing us tothe park he said "I will never do it again".​

 

[TinkerbEllnor]

OP- I could have written your exact post.

We are leaving tomorrow for DH conference and have a 1 and 3 yr old. I am getting pretty nervous about taking the 2 little ones by myself, but luckily DHs conference is done by 1pm each day, so I have reinforcements for much of the day.

When I get back, I can give you more detail about how it went and what I would do differently, but here are some thoughts in my pre-trip plan

*we are staying at a monorail resort. I figure that most of the time that I will be alone at a park will be spent at MK. I know that I will not be able to fold up a double stroller and lug it onto a bus while holding a 1 yr old DD in my arms and making sure 3 yr old DS does not take off running as he is known to do. Rolling the stroller onto the monorail is a huge plus.

*Character breakfasts- avoid buffets. How would you handle a tray and 2 little ones at the same time? Ohana is family style breakfast. Garden Grill is family style too, but I don't think they do breakfast anymore.

*I plan to use a hip hammock for 1 yr old and toddler harness for 3 yr old for lines. (please no flames- my 3 yr old can run faster than me)

*I plan to start very slowly with regards to ride intensity for the 3 yr olds sake. Of course, we are staying away from all the height restricted rides for obvious reasons, but we are also shying away from HM, POTC, and Snow White the first day for the fear factor.

*Scout out the play areas where your little ones can run free a bit- Pooh's Playful Spot, Tom Sawyer Island, Toontown play areas, HISTK playground, Boneyard, etc

Like you, I am worried about the safety factor in 2 kids/1 adult. What if they both start furiously squirming away from me while on a ride? I am staying awake nights thinking about the headlines of a drowning on IASW or plummetting off Dumbo. I'm sure it will all be fine, but a mother is gonna worry anyway.

I can let you know how it went upon our return. Happy planning!

 

[SmallWorld71]

Please, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I swear I've been on Peter Pan, Dumbo etc... with 3 in a seat. The only rides where I can't picture three sitting together are the ones with individual seats (like Space Mountain) which your children would be too little for. I think as long as you don't push yourselves you will have a great time. I would definitely watch the planning video with your 3 year old and see what kinds of things interest them. Also, if your 3 year old is insisting on some water time, keep in mind that all Disney resorts have kiddie pools and you can also borrow life vests for free so you wouldn't have to worry about someone falling into the big pool. I would also suggest bringing food with you in the diaper bag. It could be very tricky managing a tray and two little ones. Contrary to the official word, Disney will let you bring food in, just not glass.

 

[eebadeeba]

I travel with 9 mo old and 4yo. Used an Ergo with the little one, so hands are free to fold the stroller. The Ergo or some other baby carriers will go up to 40 lbs. (I used it with my older one until she was over 2.) This made the rides & buffets easier too. The only rides that I can think of in MK that you won't be able to do (besides the big ones) are the Tomorrowland Speedway, Astro Orbiters, and the Barnstormer. Also need to make sure that you are not travelling on the bus when the 3yo is sleeping. That was my biggest fear. Hope you have a great trip.

 

[northriver]

Also don't be afraid to ask for help if you need help getting the stroller folded or even if you need help at resturaunts. I think most of us with little kids would go way out of our way to lend a hand!

I think practice will help. Your 3 yr old is old enough to understand the genuine need for cooperation. Practice going out and about, folding and unfolding the stroller.

I think having the little one in a carrier of some sort and having a leash for the 3yr old is an excellent suggestion! Especially if your kids are used to the arrangement.

And finally I think a monorail resort is perfect. We are looking forward to staying at the Poly since we have a monorail stop at the Poly and can also walk to the TTC and not have to transfer it is extra convenient. The Poly has a zero entry pool for the little ones, and sand beaches for the kids to play on too.

Good luck!

 

[LuvOrlando]

We'll be somewhere on Disney grounds, but have not selected the exact hotel yet. Thanks for the tips!

If you can afford to stay on the monorail line it would make life with 2 little kids much easier since most people with tiny kids prefer MK.

I took my 2 kids a few years ago and remember fitting both of them with me on every ride. Since both are pretty young you can probably hold the baby and let the 3 yr old sit with you for most kiddie attractions. No worries, WDW is VERY kiddie family friendly.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

just wanted to say have fun and good luck, you are getting some great advice!!

 

[the_seamstress]

Yeah, Thank you the wonderful ideas!

 

[tjmw2727]

I have been doing Disney as the solo adult since my dd's were 1 and 3. We are lucky enough to have gone at least once a year and they are now 10 and 12! Everything you can ride with kids your ages, ie anything without a height restriction you can sit three to a seat no problem.

As far as meals - my strategy was to plan a late sit down lunch not buffet but table service as our big meal. We always did a grocery stop or had groceries delivered so we could also eat in the room.

My general plan of action was breakfast in the room usually cold cereal, bagle or muffin. Our big meal of the day is lunch, like I mentioned before, table service so we can all get a break and a nice lunch. I would usually end up at the resort most evenings so dinner was at the food court but packed to go so I could carry it to the room or to a table.

Honestly its easier than it sounds, if you think of all the things you do with your children alone on a daily/weekly baisis WDW is just that only more fun!

TJ

 

[BuzzandAriel'smom]

We stayed at Pop and it was easy to take care of 2 little ones there. The baby pool is the best I've ever seen. It has a soft floor and it is zero entry with litttle shoot up fountains and pool toys in it. Also they have a pop jet fountain that the kids loved. I had my kids alone a few times as did my mother in law and there are some things you can do alone. Dumbo seats are perfect for 1 adult and 2 little ones. So are alladin. You can all fit in one seat on Pooh, small world, any of the shows would be not too bad. Mickey's Philharmagic, Lion King, Pocohontas. You could go on a character hunt. As for the busses, the bus drivers will most likely help you if you need it.

 

[flynnmnstr]

DH will be at a conference for 3 days. My boys are 5 & 2. I've done it alone with my older son but never the two of them.

Everything above sounds like great advice. The only thing I do not agree with (for me) is the playgrounds in MGM and AK. Those can get a little busy and its really easy to lose track of you child when you only have to look after one. My boys are super active. I don't think I would be comfortable being there alone with them. The water playgrounds are definitely something we will do though. Most resorts have playgrounds (we stay at the Dolphin) so I plan on spending some time there either early in the day or after dinner.

I made ADRs for sit downs for both lunch and dinner. I don't think that counter service is an option.

I booked a Pirate Cruise for my 5 year old one morning and I am taking two year old to character breakfast during that time.

I may even book a mother's helper for one afternoon to help out or stay with the little one during his nap while I take the older one to the pool. More so to meet her and have the kids meet her so that later in the trip DH and I can have a night out to ourselves.

I plan on taking buses to the parks in the morning when kids are fresh and have energy, but I am going to take a taxi home for the parks after lunch or early afternoon. The kids are going to be wiped out by then and I will not have a stroller for the both of them. I plan on renting a double in the parks and checking my single.

I am really looking forward to this but a little nervous at the same time. Wish me luck.

 

[TJA]

I'd say use a carrier for the 1 year old while going on rides. The 3 of you will fit on all the kiddie rides that way because the 1 year old will be attached to you.

I'd stay away from character meal buffets during the day, maybe plan some for night time when your DH can join you.

Try to stay at an Epcot resort (for walking/boating directly to Epcot and MGM) or a monorail resort (for monorail access to MK and Epcot). I say this because you'll want to roll your stroller right on the monorail or boat rather than worry about unloading it and folding it up while watching a 1 year old and 3 year old.