Am I going to ruin the trip for my school-age kids?

[DeeSee]

We were planning a WDW trip in March 2021, but are now planning a later date. We have three kids who, at that time will be almost 9, 6, and almost 3. We planned to leave the baby home for our 2021 trip, but plan on taking her now that she will be a bit older (old enough to really enjoy, young enough to be free!).

This will be my older two kids' second real Disney trip. Last time they were 5 and 3, so not as interested in or big enough for thrill rides. Now they are big enough for almost everything and my older child is especially interested in thrill rides. Without the baby, I envisioned this being a trip where we could do all the rides together as a family, stay out late, spend longer hours in the parks, etc. So my question is for those of you who have taken kids of various ages... am I going to ruin my older kids' trip??? I know that sounds dramatic, but please give it to me straight! Were your kids disappointed that you had to split up often? If you went with your older kids and left the younger ones home, do you think that was more enjoyable?

I'm not at all asking whether or not I should take my youngest or whether she's "too young". Right now, we plan on taking her. I'm just looking for honest opinions from people who've been there on how it affected your trip. Honest answers and suggestions for maximizing magic welcome!

 

[EsmeCullen]

No not at all. They will look back on the experiences you all shared as a family. You will all have a good time I’m sure! Make the best of it. There are lots of rides you can all do together. Is there another adult going so that you can do rider switch?

 

[unrequited23]

It will be a great opportunity to create one-on-one memories with your children, as well as, family memories. You are in the sweet spot. Your oldest is old enough to 'ride alone', so there will be no concerns over not having enough adults if the youngest is too small to go on a ride. Things may take a bit longer, for example if everyone wants to ride FOP you are probably going to spend at least an hour to get two groups through the FP line and ride, but there are lots of things to explore and snacks to enjoy.

Our boys are 2.5 yrs apart. On our last trip the youngest was tall enough to ride Splash and BTMR but had no interest in going fast or getting his head wet. We camped out under a shady tree while my DH and DS7 rode both and he people watched and devoured an entire bucket of popcorn by himself.

 

[mjkacmom]

We have 5, they ranged in age from 4 - 11 our last trip, we split up some of the time and it was still fun.

 

[Karin1984]

You are a family, unless there is a special occasion, like a graduation or something you can go on a trip with 1 child to celebrate. Otherwise, singling children out to give others a 'better' experience, I don't think that's a good idea. Maybe in practise it works out better now to leave the youngest with a relative or neighbour, but at some point in your life you will have to explain to your youngest why she couldn't come. She will see pictures of this trip in the future.

There are ways to make this work by splitting up, using FP wisely, etc. It will be fine. Your eldest is used to having his siblings around and that he has to keep them in mind is part of his life already.

 

[BarlowFamily]

When we took my niece (9 years old) with our family, she was disappointed at first that DS3 was making it a "baby" trip. That quickly changed when I explained rider swap with her. She was very happy to ride the big rides twice while the adults swapped off hanging out with the little guy. I thought it would make for a very disjointed trip, but looking back now, we had a great time. I would do it again. We packed pj's for the little guy and he feel asleep in the stroller every evening, so we were still able to have the longer days.

 

[ktlm]

I am sure it will not ruin the older kids trips. While I don't have experience with the multiple of my own kids trip, I do have experience with taking an almost 3 year old to WDW. It was wonderful. It was one of my absolute favorite trips, and she is 14 now. Everything was real and magical and wonderful to her. She had no problem sleeping in the stroller (although she hated the stroller at home and wouldn't even get in it), so we wound up pretty much staying in the parks from open to close. If (and I say if because she is a night owl) she went to sleep, we just kept going, wheeling her around everywhere. As far as naps, while all kids are different, we found out very quickly that going back to the resort didn't work for her-- she threw a fit about leaving the park and got mad at the resort and refused to nap at all--- we found that stroller naps worked best for her during the day. Usually she would go full steam all morning- and then as we sat at lunch she would wind down and get sleepy, and then she would get in the stroller and nap after lunch. Sure, someone had to stay with her while others did the thrill rides, and then trade off, but it was fine. The kids will be having fun as long as they still get to do everything, even if one of the parents is sitting with the toddler and you are split up at times. Also, it is probably better than the guilt you will be feeling at WDW if you don't take the toddler (our trip that time was in large part because I went on a business trip near DLR and took DH and left 2 year old DD at home and we went to DLR without her-- I kept thinking how much she would love things so we came home and booked to go to WDW in 6 months). You are all going to be at Disney together making memories!

 

[sponica]

The trip will only be ruined if you go in thinking it will be ruined.

A) kids are just happy being at disney. As long as the older kids get to ride the rides they want, it's fine.
B) One of my favorite memories is being 4ish and going to DL. My dad and I rode Mr Toad's Wild Ride while my mom took my younger sisters elsewhere.

We're taking a 4 year old and 8 month old next year.....assuming the world isn't on fire. My daughter will be so happy to be back she won't care that we'll have to rider swap the big rides.

 

[mjkacmom]

You are a family, unless there is a special occasion, like a graduation or something you can go on a trip with 1 child to celebrate. Otherwise, singling children out to give others a 'better' experience, I don't think that's a good idea. Maybe in practise it works out better now to leave the youngest with a relative or neighbour, but at some point in your life you will have to explain to your youngest why she couldn't come. She will see pictures of this trip in the future.

There are ways to make this work by splitting up, using FP wisely, etc. It will be fine. Your eldest is used to having his siblings around and that he has to keep them in mind is part of his life already.

While I’d take the 3 year old, every single 1 of my kids has been left behind on vacations, because we didn’t want to bring babies. Trust me, they couldn’t care less. Beach vacations, theme parks, camping - someone is staying with the grandparents. We’ve also left them all home.

 

[Hikergirl]

I have 3 kids, all 3 years apart like yours. I have never left one of them home for a vacation and none of our vacations were ever ruined, including WDW.
To be fair, we are a go with the flow family and not too hung up on making sure we are there at RD and ride every ride and stay till fireworks. I think it will really depend on how you vacation, if you are a get up and go full force all day in to night it might be tough with a 3 year old. If you are OK with going back early, or sitting out a ride or two then you'll be OK.

 

[Karin1984]

While I’d take the 3 year old, every single 1 of my kids has been left behind on vacations, because we didn’t want to bring babies. Trust me, they couldn’t care less. Beach vacations, theme parks, camping - someone is staying with the grandparents. We’ve also left them all home.

That makes a huge difference. This is a custom in your family. As I understand the OP, it's going to be a one time thing. And I don't think that's a good idea for family dynamics.

 

[TreeFalls]

It will be great! Some of our best memories are from when we split up- our first trip was with with 5, 3 and 7mo. 5yo went with me and baby to finish the wilderness explorers book in AK (hours of walking) and DH took the 3yo to MK to do whatever she wanted (chat with Mary Poppins and eat ice cream, as it turned out). The kids were thrilled because they got to do exactly what they wanted. The baby didn't care.

 

[mjkacmom]

That makes a huge difference. This is a custom in your family. As I understand the OP, it's going to be a one time thing. And I don't think that's a good idea for family dynamics.

We didn’t leave babies home for the kids’ sakes, it was to make it more fun for us parents. As a SAHM to 5 kids (had them all in under 7 years), our family dynamics are awesome, so much together time. Now that most are adults, they are still very close (I had weird kids who never fought, friends used to ask me if they ever argued).

 

[DeeSee]

While I’d take the 3 year old, every single 1 of my kids has been left behind on vacations, because we didn’t want to bring babies. Trust me, they couldn’t care less. Beach vacations, theme parks, camping - someone is staying with the grandparents. We’ve also left them all home.

Yes, we have done this before for various reasons as well and will likely do it again. The one who gets “left behind” gets a vacay at Nanny and Pop’s, which is basically Disney to them. lol

That makes a huge difference. This is a custom in your family. As I understand the OP, it's going to be a one time thing. And I don't think that's a good idea for family dynamics.

No, it would not be a one-time thing. We will go again eventually, but we are not American, so it would not be for at least a couple years. But I’m not planning on leaving her home, regardless. I’m asking how it has affected other families’ trips.

 

[DeeSee]

To be fair, we are a go with the flow family and not too hung up on making sure we are there at RD and ride every ride and stay till fireworks.

We are much the same! We have must-dos, but keep expectations very reasonable.

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences! I do feel better.

 

[Rory607]

The trip will definitely not be ruined, as long as the adults are on board with splitting up some of the time. I might be biased, but I was the youngest and I was never left at home. I was quite a bit younger than my siblings, so I’m sure it was tempting to leave me with someone, but they always brought me along. My dad often took my siblings to do what they wanted, especially at Disney, while my mom stayed with me. That never bothered me at all. I think it does go a long way for family dynamics. The youngest gets screwed a lot. I was hanging out in the hockey rink at one month old, but my siblings rarely came to my activities once I got older. The few times I remember them coming they complained and it really hurt my feelings

 

[LSUmiss]

You are a family, unless there is a special occasion, like a graduation or something you can go on a trip with 1 child to celebrate. Otherwise, singling children out to give others a 'better' experience, I don't think that's a good idea. Maybe in practise it works out better now to leave the youngest with a relative or neighbour, but at some point in your life you will have to explain to your youngest why she couldn't come. She will see pictures of this trip in the future.

There are ways to make this work by splitting up, using FP wisely, etc. It will be fine. Your eldest is used to having his siblings around and that he has to keep them in mind is part of his life already.

This! I would never leave one of my kids home. I know someone who still does this & her child is way way old enough now to know she’s being left out. Makes me sad

 

[mjkacmom]

This! I would never leave one of my kids home. I know someone who still does this & her child is way way old enough now to know she’s being left out. Makes me sad

You have one kid...

 

[LSUmiss]

You have one kid...

Still wouldn’t when/if I have more. Everyone goes or no one goes. Ftr I also wouldn’t leave DS home now & go on any vacation with DH alone either. That’s just me.

 

[mjkacmom]

Still wouldn’t when/if I have more. Everyone goes or no one goes. Ftr I also wouldn’t leave DS home now & go on any vacation with DH alone either. That’s just me.

My parents did it every year, I loved staying with friends. My kids grew up in the same town as their loving grandparents and loved sleeping over every chance they got, knowing they were safe and cared for even if mom and dad weren’t there.