Any experience doing WDW with 6 kids and 2 parents?

[Mom of 6]

We will be visiting WDW for the first time in Feb. Our children are 12, 10, 8, 5, 3, 15mo. Do you have any experience with the age ranges of several children and seeing what everybody wants, or at least hitting the big things? I know we can split up, one parent taking the older, the other the younger. But, I think the parent with the 3 younger kids would have it the hardest. It would be challenging to keep the little ones waiting in line, especially if someone needs the bathroom--we all would have to leave our place. I think the older (12, 10 and 8) are too young to go on their own. Any ideas? Has anyone done this? Thanks for your imput. I really appreciate it!

 

[topcat011]

Its only my opinion... you are on vacation as a family and thats the way it should go. Have everyone make a wish book (the top things they wish they could do while in Disney) that way everyone can do what they want. Get the guides working for you. While the wee ones are doing dumbo and cinderella castle the olders can go to Pirates and see the area over there. Good luck
PS-- I agree the older ones are too young to tour themselves.

 

[campingcorgi]

You know your kids, but don't be surprised if your 5 year old likes to do the big kid stuff with the older kids. Even some 3's are daredevils and depending upon size may be able to do some of the big rides.

Use the baby swap whenever you want to ride something, too, and some of the kids can ride again with you.

I'd say spend most of your time together as a group and only split up when necessary. Just have fun and go with the flow!

 

[Mom of 6]

That is a good suggestion. How does it work? Do they allow the parent waiting to go on with the children who just got off with the other parent. (I think I worded that right!?)

 

[BevS97]

yes, the child can ride twice.
It works in different ways on different rides, so the best thing is to ask the first CM you see at each ride.

 

[peanutzmom]

I don't know how daring your smaller ones are, but there are very few rides the 5 year old (and possibly the 3 year old) won't meet the requirements for. Most rides have a 40" minimum, with only one or two rides at each park with a taller minimum. My son has been doing Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, and Test Track since he was about 3 & a half (as soon as he hit the 40" mark) and loved all of them. It will depend on the temprament of your kids, though. If they don't meet the requirement or are not ready to tackle some of the "big kid rides", then baby swapping should make those rides quick & enjoyable for the whole group. There are a lot of "pre-show" things going on in the lines to keep everyone (even the baby) amused as you wait in line for the rides -- exhibits, animatronic characters, little movies being shown, etc.

 

[midge dionne]

The last time we went to WDW was in late April/early May of 2002. Included in our group was myself,dd 21yrs and 37 wks pregnant,ds 16 yrs in wheelchair, dd 6yrs,ds5yrs w/ADHD and 16 friend to help out. Whatever possessed me to do this? The doctors told me that my son might not make it until August when things woudn't be so stressful on dd.( Michael lived until 8-22-03). That being said we had a great time! We had been to WDW before and knew where everything was and what we wanted to do. I think WDW has a policy that children under the age of 10 must ride with someone over the age of 10 or maybe an adult,I'm not sure. The biggest problem we had was seating arraingments on the rides. The are many different types some 2 or3 and then it depends on the size of everybody. Food can be costly also. We did alot of sharing-portions are big. Planning is everything and all of the kids can get involved-the wish list idea is great. Don't underestimate the older kids to enjoy things that may seem chilish-it'stheir first time and everything is magical...Have a great trip!!!!!

 

[Jordan's MOM]

I too agree to stay together most of the time. I also agree the oldest three are too young to go off on thier own but should be fine to go through a line alone as long as someone meets them at the end of the line. You could do some one ride splitting up sometimes if the rides are close together. A example would be space mountian & Buz lightyear. They are pretty close together and could be done at the same time by different family members. There are also things the little ones can do while waiting for the older ones to come off a big ride. Splash mountian has a small play area near the ride. Perhaps a small snack to share while the older kids ride. Most of the smaller rides can also be enjoyed by the older kids too. Just take it slow and all will be fine.

Jordan's mom

 

[grlzmom]

I agree that you guys would probably be best sticking all together.

Your older ones are a little young to go it without mom or dad, especially this being their first trip, it is overwhelming.

We take all of ours (7 ages 14, 12, 9, 7, 2, and 12 month twins).

We stay together part of the day, and we do utilize child swap. But, we also grin and bear it and go off with the bigger ones, leaving one of us (taking turns) stuck with the little ones which is difficult since there are three of them. We also utilize the baby care center during this time for the babies to unwind a little. Our last trip at Christmas was the first time we allowed the 14 and 12 year old to venture off together a little bit without us. But, they have been there ALOT and we have been working towards this for a couple of years. Cell phones do make it a little easier to keep up with them

I dont know about the age rule to ride alone though, because we do have our older ones ride splash mountain with the 9 and 7 year olds while we wait underneath in the little play area (which is very nice for little ones).

You will have a great time.

We do have our children make a list with which items they really want to do in each park, each day. We do have a good time, but it does take some planning. Having that many kiddos kind of makes it harder to be so spontaneous.

Hope you enjoy your trip!!

 

[poohlover]

I also have 6 kids, ages now 17- 5, we have been 3 times since the youngest was born, she went when she was just a year, 3 yrs, then 4 yrs.

Luckily our older ones really enjoy seeing the younger kids "have fun & experience the MAgic". Mostly we stay together. If Dad wants to do Space Mountain with some, I would do Astro Orbiter with the others.

Or, the older ones might watch the younger ones while 4 of us ride a ride. We have had trips where we didn't get to do "just what we wanted"...but I figure there are more trips down the road & they will only be little for so long!

A few times last trip we would split up for a hour or 2. My little princess REALLY wanted to wait in line to see Ariel...the boys wern't going to tolerate that! So Dad took them to Haunted Mansion & Big Thunder. Of course the older girls really wanted to see the little one enjoy Ariel, so we split up tyhat way.

My oldest last time were teens (16 & 14) , they did go off on their own shopping 2 times I think.


We are begining to have problems going "all together" & it will only get worse...oldest is off to college next year! So do what you can at a pace you can ALL enjoy. They are only little for so long.

Luckily even my DH now sees this & is suggesting a trip over the summer as a last "family" trip. But that could alos be as HE is missing our next surprise trip in April...he opted to go fishing instead : (

 

[Mom of 6]

Great suggestions, thank you all!


To grlzmom and poohlover, it sounds like you have "been there, done that" with a large family.

I appreciate the ideas, as I was feeling the subject has not be adequately addressed in the guidebooks I have read. It seems to me that most tips are geared to families that have about 3 children, all under the age of about 7 yrs.

I do agree, they grow fast. I am a big advocate of family togetherness, but wasn't sure if it would work at WDW. I now know it can, and that the older ones will enjoy their time too!

Thank you so much!

 

[nigel-bigel]

midge dionne, I'm so sorry about your son.

Nicole

 

[mearjan]

Last summer our family had no problems splitting up somewhat tho i guess it was more of each day i took one of our 4 DS and it was his day to ride whatever he wanted well 3 of the 4 since chris was only 4 months old but on the day that was his turn i kept him while DW rode whatever she wanted to and hadnt been able to before. We found splitting up to be no problem at all because we had text messaging turned on for our phones and we could give any updates we needed without even getting charged for roaming.