Am I going to be ok?

[kadesha]

I need some positive reinforcement from you guys!!

I am heading back to Disney in June using the 4/3 offer! However, I will be going alone with my 4 and 5 year olds. I am so worried. Am I going to be able to manage? There is so much that DH does when we go to Disney and I'm worried about having to do it all by myself with 2 little ones. Can some of you share positive experiences and advice with me!!

Thanks!

 

[MichelleVW]

You'll be fine......I was a single mom for years and traveled all over alone. You can do it

 

[MarkinNM]

WOW, your going to be busy!!!!

I say go with the flow, no plans just have FUN!!!!

 

[PilotWife]

You'll do great!!!!

My DH just returned from more than a yr overseas, and we have 3 small children (8-5-3). After my yr of being a "single parent" I had such a great sense of accomplishment, and I found out I am much stronger than I ever thought I was.

My bet is that - after this trip you will feel the same way!!!!!! Good Luck, have fun, and most of all, have a schedule but dont be to hard on yourself when you deviate from it. Go with the flow!!!

Jennifer

 

[MonorailDriver]

The only thing you need to plan are meals, let the kids do the rest...it may sound crazy, but if your doing what they want they will be happy. Just keep them fed, hungry kids are grouchy kids!

I know where coming from somewhat, I'm a teacher and have chaperoning the Senior Trip to WDW for a few years now, the first time I did it I was overwhelmed until we got there, trust me when I say the "Magic" takes over every time...Disney will make sure your kids have fun. It works for teenagers, it will work fro little ones.

 

[disneyjunkie]

You'll be fine.

Single parents have been doing this forever.

 

[crazytp93]

You'll do fine and have a memorable time with your children!

 

[DisneyLover75]

I will be feeling your pain! I'm going with my 5 and 6 year olds alone for the first time too.

I know I'll be fine too, but it's still nice to read all the replies!

Good luck, you'll have a blast!

 

[Tomh]

No problem, really. Although I had my wife (not to mention my mother, and my adult cousin) along when we were there in August, believe me when I say that it was all about Daddy. I handled pretty much everything, and I'm quite sure I'd have done just as well if it had just been me and the three kids. Granted, two of my kids are older, but I don't think you will have any problem at all with them.

 

[jngwright]

I agree that you will be fine! I am doing a mommy and me trip with my boys in April and am very excited! I am planning more "down time" this trip and am hoping that helps everyone stay calm. We will be talking more about sticking together and what to do if we do become separated.
I am not bringing a stroller, but will rent one if need be! With a 4 and 5 year old, you will want a stroller (if just for containment and help carrying the "stuff" that goes along with kids!).

Have so much fun!!

 

[happily single]

I'm leaving in the morning for my first trip alone with the kids. I will be travelling with dd11, ds9, turning 10 on the trip and ds4. Also ds9 is developmental delayed. I plan on not planning anything. I only have one adr planned and the rest will be counter service.

Just go slow. I'm sure you do it alone at home most of the time, Disney isn't much different.

 

[rentayenta]

They are your children. Of course you will be fine.

 

[mykidsand_i]

You'll be fine. Just don't plan to go there and do EVERYTHING...do what they want. Don't plan on going on any "2 rider" rides like dumbo though- because they're to young to sit together in a seat with out a parent- I won't tell you the horor story about what we saw when we were there. They had to stop the ride, because there were two small four/five year old age kids riding together and the four year old was tring to get up in his seat. They stopped the ride quickly, but man it was scary to see! Other than that, most rides seat more than 2 people with no problem.
You won't have any problems at all! Many women and men bring kids those ages and don't have a single worry! Good luck and have fun!!!

 

[Teki]

Youll be fine, Ive never done it my self with kids so young, but I used to take my little brother and it wasnt so bad, Im sure youll all have a ton of fun.

 

[kadesha]

Thanks for the replies! I am worried about the 2-seater situation. Dumbo is one of their favorite rides. Will they let us all in one "car" if one sits in my lap? If not, I am going to have to deal with some grumpy kids! lol!

Usually I leave early and don't come back to the room until after the late EMH. This time all I am going to plan is my meals. There is no way I'm going to overdo it! I also have park hopper on my tickets and I usually do not. I think that'll make it easier.

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it!!

 

[MariaEllerºoº]

I had been a single mom for years on end with 3 little one's and took the children to Disney every year. You'll be just fine!!! Disney is the easiest place to vacation!

 

[puzzles]

I need some positive reinforcement from you guys!!

I am heading back to Disney in June using the 4/3 offer! However, I will be going alone with my 4 and 5 year olds. I am so worried. Am I going to be able to manage? There is so much that DH does when we go to Disney and I'm worried about having to do it all by myself with 2 little ones. Can some of you share positive experiences and advice with me!!

Thanks!

My sister just took her three kids ALONE to Disneyland for a few days. She was really worried about it, but she had the best time. The kids are 7, 6, and 4. She had a reward system for every day. They earned these little tickets for every time they listened to her, or didnt argue, or fight, etc. At the end of each day she let them choose a small little reward for the 'tickets'. Then if they all got over 5 tickets they got to have ice cream and swim at night.

She said the only really hard part was when she was in a crowd and found it hard to keep them all close to her. She was trying to hold their hands, but she said it was hard. Parade and fireworks crowds were tough. She said after the first night at the parade she vowed to be back at the hotel before dark.

I dont know how she handled the rides specifically.. thats a good question. Since she has the 7 year old, that might be easier. He is a good leader and could easily keep the 4 year old sitting during a ride. But that is a valid concern.

Another thing she told me was that they all wore matching brightly colored shirts, so she could glance up and see them instantly. She gave them each a lanyard with some pins on it, and in the plastic ticket holder thing was a fold up sheet with her contact info, and allergy info, etc. just in case...

I think you'll have a great time!!

 

[kadesha]

My sister just took her three kids ALONE to Disneyland for a few days. She was really worried about it, but she had the best time. The kids are 7, 6, and 4. She had a reward system for every day. They earned these little tickets for every time they listened to her, or didnt argue, or fight, etc. At the end of each day she let them choose a small little reward for the 'tickets'. Then if they all got over 5 tickets they got to have ice cream and swim at night.

She said the only really hard part was when she was in a crowd and found it hard to keep them all close to her. She was trying to hold their hands, but she said it was hard. Parade and fireworks crowds were tough. She said after the first night at the parade she vowed to be back at the hotel before dark.

I dont know how she handled the rides specifically.. thats a good question. Since she has the 7 year old, that might be easier. He is a good leader and could easily keep the 4 year old sitting during a ride. But that is a valid concern.

Another thing she told me was that they all wore matching brightly colored shirts, so she could glance up and see them instantly. She gave them each a lanyard with some pins on it, and in the plastic ticket holder thing was a fold up sheet with her contact info, and allergy info, etc. just in case...

I think you'll have a great time!!

That is a great idea! I am definitely going to make up some kind of ticket/reward system! Thanks for that idea!! We always do the lanyard with their info in it, so I'll do that again too!

I don't really know how June crowds are. I've been in May and they weren't bad then, but I'm a little worried about June since that's when all the kids are out of school. I don't do well with really big crowds, so that may make me have a nervous breakdown or something! I'm just going to do the best I can!

 

[twokids0204]

My suggestion would be start to prepare them... get them excited about the trip, but make sure they know the rules.

Oh, and have rules. haha....

i.e No fighting over next ride. Have a system 5 year old picks first, then 4 year old, then 5, then 4... (maybe the pick has to be a choice set by mommy - you don't want one kid picking "It's a small world" a MK and then next kid picks "Safari" at AK and back and forth...that would be a drag... literaly.

anyone have any more "rules" suggestions to make her life and trip less stressful?

 

[Schmeck]

You'll be fine. Just don't plan to go there and do EVERYTHING...do what they want. Don't plan on going on any "2 rider" rides like dumbo though- because they're to young to sit together in a seat with out a parent- I won't tell you the horor story about what we saw when we were there. They had to stop the ride, because there were two small four/five year old age kids riding together and the four year old was tring to get up in his seat. They stopped the ride quickly, but man it was scary to see! Other than that, most rides seat more than 2 people with no problem.
You won't have any problems at all! Many women and men bring kids those ages and don't have a single worry! Good luck and have fun!!!

Since when is Dumbo a two-person ride? We've ridden with one adult and two small children before. We've also done 3 to a seat on BTMRR.

Most rides that they will be able to go on will fit one adult and two small kids no problem!