Am I crazy to go alone with 3 kids?

[BelleBeautyandtheBeast]

I have family living in Florida and one of them has a wedding in July that I plan on attending. My DH cannot join us so I will be taking all 3 of my little ones by myself. When we go they will be 2, 4 and 6 years old. I would love nothing more than to go down to Florida early and spend a few days at Disney before the wedding. But I am concerned about how much I could actually do with 3 kids.

I took the oldest 2 to Disney alone when they were 14 months and almost 3 years old. There were stressful moments and we didn't ride many rides but we had a great time. My oldest STILL talks about when we went to Disney LOL. These kids are no strangers to amusement/theme parks, we frequently visit local parks and have Six Flags season passes.

Anyone else taken their kids to Disney alone?

 

[Pembo]

Belle-I'm amazed that you took a 14 mo and a 3yr old, let alone consider taking a 2,4, and 6 yr old! I won't take all 3 of mine to the grocery store alone!

Only you know what you can handle! If it's a family wedding, is there anyone that can meet you at Disney? Good luck in whatever you decide.

 

[tjmw2727]

I take my two girls alone often, they are 7 and 9 and we started going to wdw when they were 2 and 4. DH joins us sometimes but its really not his thing and he dosen't get the school vacations we get. Its lots of work and lots of fun and only you can decide if its right for you and your kids. If your used to going places with the kids, and I imagine you must be <g> then it will probably be fun. Take a minute to assess the stress level of say the zoo, local park, amusement park, etc and then think some more.

If you do decide to go my advice would be: #1 and most important.....stay onsite if you can possibly afford it. Use disney transportation and rent a park stroller. This way you won't have to lug a stroller on and off the bus as well as the kids and any bags. We rent a fridge but even at disney prices its worth it to have cereal, bagels and fruit for breakfast as well as some lunches and snacks and cold drinks. We usually plan a sit down meal for late lunch. This gives a break from the parks and a nice meal (our daily "big meal") for a lesser price. Dinner is usually sandwiches in the room or counter service.

If you can at all afford it the monorail resorts make wdw alone with kids much easier.
HTH and have fun.
TJ

 

[CEDmom]

First let me say you are a very brave woman to even contemplate this. I have one and am sometimes overwhelmed I think Pembo had a good idea about seeing whether a family member would be willing to meet you at Disney. You'd all be able to stay in one room since your youngest is under 3.

 

[catwho]

I would take all three of mine! And I have spent a day at Epcot with my three alone. Since you have 2 that are fairly young, I would definitely recommend taking or renting a double stroller. that way you only have to keep up with the oldest one. LOL!! There is a lot that all of you can do together and that includes rides. You might have some problems with some of the rides require that there be no more than 3 people in a seat and that a child has to be 7 years old to ride alone. I know you can fit all 4 of you on most of the "bench type seats" such as in Small World, Jungle Cruise, Pirates, teacups. You could even spend quite some time at places like TSI and the Boneyard in AK. At Epcot, Living with the Land, El Rio del tiempo, Maelstrom, Ellen's Energy show. At AK there would be plenty to do, including the safari. Your youngest may be a bit too short for Kali though.

I take my kids everywhere. I know how they act in public and am confident that I could easily parent them somewhere like WDW. You know yourself best. If the thought of taking three kids to WDW frightens you, then don't do it. But obviously, you have enough confidence in yourself to ask the question and it sounds like you just need someone else to tell you that it can be done. It can be done. There was a possibility that i was going to be taking my 3 kids alone in 2 days, but my xh managed to get the time off (yay!)

 

[miche61]

You are not crazy. If my DH decides he doesn't want to do WDW again in a few years, I will bring mine. They are now 6,7,and 10 though. I do think I would have done it when they were younger too. I took my then 5yo alone and we had a great time. As long as you know what you can handle, make your own hours, do it. The kids will remember it, except the 2yo.

Go for it! Have a great, relaxing time.

 

[Blondiex46]

WEll if you are then I am also. I think it depends on the kids. I have 9 year old special needs kids (mental health issues) and I take them by myself and will probably again in April (unless I can find another adult to go with me.) Unfortunatelly my kids "take off" and go where they want and I sometimes can't keep up. You know your kids better then anyone so based on that you know how they will be. Staying on site is a great idea, also seeing if you can take some and leave one with someone. JMO

 

[BelleBeautyandtheBeast]

Thanks for all your posts. I would love to find another adult to go with me but no one seems interested How can anyone turn down an offer to see Disney? LOL My family thinks I am insane for even considering this idea. My DH is being very supportive about the idea of me taking the kids alone.

I'm sure they would all be behaved and we wouldn't have too many issues. I take all 3 of them everywhere by myself, my DH isn't home much. I am always on the cautious side when it comes to something big like this. It is wonderful to hear that others have taken their kids alone or would.

I will have to make a list of rides that we can all ride together and avoid the ones we can't. But i am very excited at the idea of going back to Disney!!!! We will stay at a value resort on site, I wish I could afford to stay at a monorail resort but that isn't in the budget for this trip.

 

[pershing]

Originally posted by BelleBeautyandtheBeast
My family thinks I am insane for even considering this idea.

I'm right there with you on that one. We leave in 22 days and my family are still shaking their heads at me! I have three DS's: 8, 7, and 5. DS 7 has Autism.

I admit, I am getting nervous. BUT- We are staying at a All Star onsite as recommended. And I booked 10 days so that if the day is falling apart, we just go back to the hotel and try again another time. I have reserved a fridge for the room and plan to rent a double stroller for the youngest.

I've also had DS8 and DS5 practice holding hands to cross street or parking lot, so I can concentrate on DS 7's wanderings.

I've also prepped the oldest to understand that we may have to just follow along behind DS7 the first day until he settles down.

I read Birnaum's book for Kids to all of them and they all have picked their 3 fav's attractions.

I saved some extra and booked the two youngest for Neverland Day Care so me and the oldest can hit some of the attractions the other two are too short for, along with the World Showcase.

Lastly, I used the money I saved from the Fairy Tale Package and booked a 3 day cruise on Disney Wonder, so I can RELAX after all the running around and MOMMOMMOM stuff. The kids will go to the clubs and I will go get a massage! Halliluya!

That's the plan anyway. I'm sure it'll turn out different, but I'll take notes.

 

[tjmw2727]

Originally posted by BelleBeautyandtheBeast
Thanks for all your posts. I would love to find another adult to go with me but no one seems interested How can anyone turn down an offer to see Disney? LOL My family thinks I am insane for even considering this idea. My DH is being very supportive about the idea of me taking the kids alone.

I'm sure they would all be behaved and we wouldn't have too many issues. I take all 3 of them everywhere by myself, my DH isn't home much. I am always on the cautious side when it comes to something big like this. It is wonderful to hear that others have taken their kids alone or would.

I will have to make a list of rides that we can all ride together and avoid the ones we can't. But i am very excited at the idea of going back to Disney!!!! We will stay at a value resort on site, I wish I could afford to stay at a monorail resort but that isn't in the budget for this trip.

Cool and good for you, don't worry about staying at the All Stars as the transportation is very good. You will have plenty of room with two children in one bed, you in another and a portacrib for free for the 2yo.

In your case I would seriously consider renting a double stroller as opposed to bringing one. Managing 3 kiddos and the "backpack" in addition to a stroller on and off the bus is more than I could deal with and I only had two! A park double stroller will easily fit two of your kids at a time and three in a pinch. I imagine one or more will want to walk anyway so taking turns could be an option. Plus the park stroller is really easy to push even when loaded. Look into the length of stay stroller rental - saves only a little money but lots of time in line.

Remember that even though you may be a bit limited in what you can ride all the shows and parades as well as many rides will be ok for 4. I would also consider a snugli or sling if your 2yo is small enough. You may want (or need) to carry him/her through a line or two or on/off a bus and even on a ride.

Have a great time.
TJ

 

[Belle5]

with my sons ages 11,9,7,5, and 3 months for 10 days. DH was with us at night and on the weekend--but I had the kiddos in the parks (including Sea World, Universal, Busch Gardens and WDW) Monday-Friday for two weeks. Granted--my 11 and 9 years olds were helpful but there was a lot of managing that had to be done when it came time for me to nurse or change a diaper. We stayed in the FW cabins and loved every minute of that trip.!

 

[homeschooler]

but you aren't alone. There are a bunch of us that have done it and had a wonderful time. I have done it a couple of time and would do it again in a minute. (As a matter of fact, my DH is heading for Vegas for work and I am trying to figure out how I can get me and the kids to Disney for a couple of days) So, don't stress it JUST GO and have fun. Your kids will remember funny things that happened "the time Daddy didn't go with us."