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

[Disneyfan754321]

If you are truly worried about it.. get a babysitter one night. We went to a after hours party the people next to us in one of the lines was telling us they had a babysitter in the room so they could attend the party. I thought it was a great idea.

 

[SG131]

Everyone will have a great time. I did 4,7 and grandma so a little older than your youngest but still couldn’t ride some things. They had no problem splitting up sometimes because then they both got to do things they would enjoy. Or sometimes the little one was just too tired and glad to get to go back to the room early and the older one thought it was even more special since they got to stay out later . Since it sounds like both parents like thrill rides, I would just try to alternate who stays with the little one so that all the kids get time with both parents.

 

[DeeSee]

I should add, this will also be a long trip (likely 12 nights), with 8 Park days. So we should have ample opportunity to cover off everything we really want to do, even if it means only one parent rides a “big ride” one day and the other parent rides another day. My older kids also adoorrre their little sister, so they will really enjoy helping her experience WDW. I’m sure it will be lovely. Reading about your experiences is encouraging.

 

[Orion Nebula]

A) kids are just happy being at disney.

The amount of crying children seems to contradict that. lol

 

[sponica]

The amount of crying children seems to contradict that. lol

My mother in law melted down more than my 20 month old....so there's that.

 

[unrequited23]

My mother in law melted down more than my 20 month old....so there's that.

So true. We foolishly went with both sets of grandparents and they were harder to manage than the kids (2.5 & 5 at the time.)

 

[lsutigers03]

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!

I think it could end up being a positive for the older kids if FP+ is back by then. My wife and I brought our 5 and 1 year old last year and when one of us would stay with the 1 year old we did rider swap. So the 5 year old got to go on the attraction with one parent and then a second time with the other parent.

 

[brockash]

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!

Our kids are quite spread out... 12 years between oldest and youngest and we've never split up. Honestly most things all can go on; if not we'll do rider swap and maybe get a snack/bathroom while others are riding. We've always had tons of fun together. When the little ones are tired; they sleep in the stroller and we go about our day.

 

[FrankieWinthrop]

It won't ruin anything! You say "We," so I'm assuming there's another parent or adult going with you. With Rider Switch, the time apart is minimal and can often be done during the little one's nap pr something else fun for them. I have a 6 1/2 yo (who has ridden every ride at Disney) and a just turned 4 year old. He is counting the inches until he can ride Everest, too. We do rider switch when needed and it's been fun hitting milestones when the youngest is big enough to ride, too. What's funny is that though big sister enjoys us all riding together, she misses the days when she could ride twice with rider swap (once with mom and once with dad). In the old days, I'd FP something for Dad and Sister - like Space Mountain - and get Brother and I passes for the Tomorrowland Speedway at the same time. We'd do our FP and everyone comes right back together. We've also spent some time with a nice dessert and the self-serve drink station in Satu'li canteen with a napping toddler while the others rode FOP. Overall, I'd say if your little one sleeps well in a stroller, the older ones won't miss out on anything. We've never been the people to go back to the room for naps - we find a cool spot and chill for a while or push 'em onward while we keep going!

 

[20yBWDW]

We have done family trips (3 kids) and I have taken trips with just one child. They are definitely different, but both have their pros and cons. I think you'll find that having the 3-year-old for this one is not going to hamper the fun. It's not like the difference between teenagers and toddlers. The biggest difference probably would have been the late nights, but given the current hours, that is now a non-issue. Your older two will probably like the rider swap, and may like taking a mid-afternoon break to swim while the 3-year-old naps (although ours napped in the stroller at that age, too).

I will say as much as I love taking just one older kid, for the late nights, and focus on rides, I think it would have a very different feel to take everyone *except* one kid. There is no judgment in that--if you're good with it, great. But there was a pang of something when we would see something one of the younger kids would love, and they were not there to see it. It felt a tiny bit weird to pose for pictures, and if it had been 4/5, it would have felt that much weirder. But YMMV.

 

[LSUmiss]

My mother in law melted down more than my 20 month old....so there's that.

The hardest & worst trip we ever had was before DS was born when we brought my MIL. The entire family was miserable. DS has been at 7 mos, 14 mos, 17 mos, & 22 mos & all of those trips were easier than with her.

 

[tink89]

It is a family trip. Why would you exclude one of your children. Yes they will all want to do different things, but it is what it is.
DDs first trip she was 3 and some months. We went with family who had two kids 8 and 11. They all had a blast on their first trip.
This was at DL and I made a small list with each land and what rides DD would not be able to ride and I had alternatives. Food, other rides, shopping, or just relaxing. Someone always wanted to rest or not go on a ride so we just took turns watching DD when we couldn't ride together. The "older" kids were fine with going on the "baby rides"

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I’d be more worried about the older ones spilling the beans to the younger one about characters and Mickey Magic.

 

[Orion Nebula]

The hardest & worst trip we ever had was before DS was born when we brought my MIL. The entire family was miserable. DS has been at 7 mos, 14 mos, 17 mos, & 22 mos & all of those trips were easier than with her.

Best trip I have had was without my mom or my kids.................. LOL

But my kids are at the age now where they are not "cute" and complain constantly. My wife and I went alone last summer and man that was so much more relaxing and enjoyable.

 

[sponica]

Best trip I have had was without my mom or my kids.................. LOL

But my kids are at the age now where they are not "cute" and complain constantly. My wife and I went alone last summer and man that was so much more relaxing and enjoyable.

Back before the world went bonkers, we were planning on upgrading our tickets to APs and had totally planned in an adults trip for that reason.

 

[SL6827]

I got you all beat. Me and my husband have two girls and they are eight years apart. We had no issues but we did have other help during the first few years in the park.

 

[Orion Nebula]

I got you all beat. Me and my husband have two girls and they are eight years apart. We had no issues but we did have other help during the first few years in the park.

I think what made it extra nice for us is that we had never really taken a trip without the kids. It was a totally difference experience and ended up being fairly romantic. It also made us feel young again, holding hands, sitting around the resort sipping on wine etc. It honestly felt Magical in it's own special way.

 

[Rory607]

Best trip I have had was without my mom or my kids.................. LOL

But my kids are at the age now where they are not "cute" and complain constantly. My wife and I went alone last summer and man that was so much more relaxing and enjoyable.

We were at WDW last fall with my dad. It was the first trip we had a grandparent along who could actually help and not make life harder. We had gone with my in-laws before and they were more work than the kids! Anyway, my dad offered to watch the kids one night. Around 4:00 the kids were done and getting cranky. He took them back to the resort to swim and eat dinner. My husband and I had the rest of the night to enjoy F&W and Epcot, just the two of us. It was the most magical part of the trip

 

[SL6827]

I think what made it extra nice for us is that we had never really taken a trip without the kids. It was a totally difference experience and ended up being fairly romantic. It also made us feel young again, holding hands, sitting around the resort sipping on wine etc. It honestly felt Magical in it's own special way.

The next time we go to the parks, God knows when, we will have our youngest daughter with us for certain but not our oldest. She is an adult now and just doesn't care for Disney World as much as me and her sister do. But I know that when we return my youngest and her friend that will go will not want to "hang" with us anymore or at least on the next trip. They will want to feel grown and explore the parks on their own, and that it fine, that is life.

Me and my husband will for the very first time be there in the parks and too ourselves. It will most certainly be bittersweet. But that is life and time passes by. I am sure we will have a blast, but I do know the next time will be different.