Am I Crazy for Plannining This?

[bushdianee]

I just booked a 5 night trip for my niece who will be 2 1/2 and myself for June. Now other family members are telling me and her father (my brother) that I am crazy for taking her by myself. It is one sister and an adult neice. They don't think that I can handle her by myself. I babysit for her 2-3 evenings a week and have her overnight every other weekend. She behaves really well and listens to me. She even calls me Mama! ( at her Mom's request) I have taken her many places and not had a problem. Granted not for 5 nights but her parents and I don't forsee any problems . I plan to go at her pace which should be fairly slow. We will plan for naps daily and will probably plan most days at MK or AK. I have the dining plan and am trying to schedule some character meals as she loved Santa this year and has responded well to characters at restaurants. I am taking a stroller for the airports but will probably rent one at the parks so that I won't have to deal with DN and a stroller on the buses. I also have one of those puppy backpacks that has a long tail with a handle for when she wants to walk. She loves that when we go to our zoo here in Omaha which is huge. I think that Dsis is jealous that I am taking her first. I didn't ask her to go along because she is already planning a trip with her boyfriend this year and would be able to go to WDW too. I will be turning 50 a days before we go so has anybody else "grandparent age" taken a toddler alone? Any tips would be appreciated. By the way I don't have children of my own but I do teach 1st grade and was the oldest of 8 so I have PLENTY of experience with kids. Thanks for letting me vent!

 

[minkydog]

You'll be fine. Two year olds are exhausting--wear comfortable shoes and get a lot of rest. Since you know her well and she knows you, I imagine it will go well. Unless she gets homesick. Then all bets are off.

Have a great time!

 

[Aliceacc]

You want to go. She wants to go. It's OK with her parents.

Ignore everyone else. You're a responsible adult, not an idiot. When she has had enough, you'll slow down. You'll get her naps when she's tired and drinks when she's thirsty.

I'm almost 50 and my youngest child is about to turn 5. Don't let anyone convince you that it has anything to do with anything.

Go and have a wonderful time!!!

 

[jazzmine]

I don't think that you are crazy at all! It sounds like you are very close with your niece and that you'll both enjoy the trip a lot. Have fun and don't listen to the nay sayers! You know what you are doing and if you feel that you can handle it, that's all that matters.

 

[alicenwonder99]

OMG! You two will have so much fun! I remember the first time I took my younger children alone to WDW. When you go at a young child's pace, you see the park differently. On this trip, you will not be waiting in long lines or waiting for FP times for the big rides. You will be riding the Fantasyland rides over and over and over...lol.

One word of caution: when my ds was 2 1/2, he was afraid of pretty much every ride at DL. We were there 5 days, and the whole family took turns going on Its a small world, and the carasol. Those were the ONLY 2 rides he didn't cry on. It's years later, and we now laugh about it...lol.

I recommend staying at monorail resort. You can leave the child in her stroller on the monorail. Also, it's alot easier to get back to your hotel from MK when you're ready for a nap.

The little ones also seem to really enjoy doing the KidCot stations at Epcot. So, make sure you don't miss any of them!

Have fun, and let us know how the trip goes.

 

[bushdianee]

Thank you all for your positive replies. I am feeling better about the trip. My DNiece loved the rides at a local carnival and doesn't seem to be afraid of much of anything. We are very close. She is closest I'll ever have to having a child and besides being my niece she is also my God-daughter. Plus we even live on the same street! When my Mom and I were looking for a house to buy together my brother actually found us this one. In exchange for all of the babysitting I do he takes care of all of our yard work.

 

[drivencrazy]

I think it is wonderful that you are able to do this with her! Our youngest little girl was about 2 1/2 when we went (last May) and she had a blast! She went on and LOVED all the rides she was tall enough for!

Do you know where you are staying? I would suggest that you take a light weight stroller with you... it's not to hard to fold it up and get on the bus even with a little one... that way when you get back to the hotel if she is sleepy she can ride and you don't have to carry her. They get so heavy when they are sleepy! We bought a "chicco" for the trip, it weights about 8 pounds and has a strap that you can put it over your sholder if needed.

Wish you a fun filled time with her in Disney!

 

[drivencrazy]

I think it is wonderful that you are able to do this with her! Our youngest little girl was about 2 1/2 when we went (last May) and she had a blast! She went on and LOVED all the rides she was tall enough for!

Do you know where you are staying? I would suggest that you take a light weight stroller with you... it's not to hard to fold it up and get on the bus even with a little one... that way when you get back to the hotel if she is sleepy she can ride and you don't have to carry her. They get so heavy when they are sleepy! We bought a "chicco" for the trip, it weights about 8 pounds and has a strap that you can put it over your sholder if needed.

Wish you a fun filled time with her in Disney!

 

[drivencrazy]

I think it is wonderful that you are able to do this with her! Our youngest little girl was about 2 1/2 when we went (last May) and she had a blast! She went on and LOVED all the rides she was tall enough for!

Do you know where you are staying? I would suggest that you take a light weight stroller with you... it's not to hard to fold it up and get on the bus even with a little one... that way when you get back to the hotel if she is sleepy she can ride and you don't have to carry her. They get so heavy when they are sleepy! We bought a "chicco" for the trip, it weights about 8 pounds and has a strap that you can put it over your sholder if needed.

Wish you a fun filled time with her in Disney!

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

My sister took DD4.5 to SeaWorld and the NIck Hotel alone for a week in Sept 06 when she was a little over 3.

My sister has no kids. She does take Gainey overnight on occasion, but only once every couple of months.

They had a wonderful time! My sis did say she needed a nap when she came home, but that she would do it again in a heartbeat.

DD found out her Auntie said they should vacation together again, and she is now trying to get her to take her to Hawaii.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

grr double post

 

[hlbrink]

I think you will be just fine. Since it will just be the two of you, you can concentrate on things that she likes to do and work around her schedule (building in naps, rest breaks, etc.)

I wish one of my aunts had made this kind of decision when I was a kid