1 adult, 4 kids...possible?!?

[KariAnn0613]

How realistic would it be for a mom to take 4 children by herself during off season? Kids would be ages 9, 7, 5, & 4. All kids are well behaved and are used to traveling with mom alone. Never have tried a theme park alone though. Thoughts?

 

[4under4]

I've done it with my 4! I'll admit yours are a bit younger than mine were when I did, and they were very familiar with the parks. But like you, we have traveled without DH since they were infants. Just take a lot of time to prep them about the crowds & rides, plan for bathroom breaks in the family bathrooms, etc. Also, get them each a dog tag with your contact information and teach them how to identify a CM vs a "stranger". Last advice is to get them all matching shirts, even if just plain tees. It really will help you keep track of them, and if you do get separated (always my worst fear), it's easier to say "looks just like this, but bigger/small".

You can do it!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

on rides the younger 2 will always have to be seated with you as they are younger than 7 years old. they will not be able to ride with one of the older ones as you have to be 14 to ride with younger kids

 

[Lilliputian]

I do it, but not completely without my husband. We frequently go with him when he's in conferences, but he'll also take some vacation days and go to the parks with us on those days. I've actually taken 5 boys ages 9 and under, and this fall I'll be taking 6 boys ages 12 and under.

It would be really, really difficult to never have another adult with you. Your youngest likely can't ride all the rides that the oldest wants to ride, and you may not want to send the older two into lines while you wait with the little ones. And as someone else mentioned, children under 7 have to sit with someone age 14 or over. There are a few rides where sitting 3 across just isn't possible.

I would take someone with me, even if for only a few days. We arrange our trip so that on the days I'm flying solo, the kids know that we don't go on anything with a height restriction. (We always have a baby too short to go on anything restricted. You could modify for however tall and brave your youngest is.) Then on the days my husband is with us, we ride all the things we couldn't do when he wasn't with us.