Any moms travel to WDW alone with the kids?

[alicenwonder99]

We're leaving tomorrow: me, dd7, and ds5. It sounded like a great idea 6 months ago when I planned it. Now that it's tomorrow, I'm starting to worry that I shouldn't have planned this unless my dh could come with. I have all the bases covered: dh driving us to airport in the morning and checking in curbside. I have only 2 suitcases and one small duffle that will be checked, and we each have a small backpack and I have one small carryon (with our essentials) to bring on the plane. We're taking DME so there's no worry about car rental and getting there (or getting lost trying to get there). I booked the meal plan and made all the ADR's. I know which parks we're going to. I know which rides/attractions we'll see. I'm flying American, so I can check our luggage in at the hotel on our way home. Dh will be at the baggage claim to meet us at home.

So, why am I worried I won't be able to handle this? I'm with the children 24/7, I know my way around WDW. I think maybe because dh isn't going to be here this trip that is making me nervous.

OK, so please reassure me that this is doable. On our last trip, dh was sick for 1/2 the trip, so I spent most of it with the younger kids anyway.

Mary

 

[llp479]

This is totally do-able. You've got it all under control.

I was going to take our 3 dds by myself last April, but couldn't get decent airfare out of ORD. Took them downtown Chicago for the weekend by myself, and I don't know the city nearly as well as I do WDW - LOL!

Go and have a great time! At least you'll be leaving this lovely weather we're having. At least it's not in the single digits today.

 

[miche61]

alicenwonder99, it is totally do-able. I took my three kiddos in Nov. 04 and had the most awesome time! They were at the time DD11, DD8, and DS8. We had the most fun ever! They knew it was only Mom in charge, and never took advantage of it. I would do it over again and again. I loved that special time with them. Enjoy!

 

[tlynk]

I think you will have a wonderful time!

 

[tjmw2727]

I travel via airplane to wdw at least twice a year as the solo adult with my dd's who are now 8 and 10. We have been doing our girls only trip since they were 3 and 5. You are going to have a BLAST. You get to do all the fun stuff we do every day but with no cooking, cleaning and you can relax and have fun with the kids.

Some parts are a bit of a logistics struggle like parades when you have waited with a great spot only to have a dear child have to "go" but you deal and in the long run its so worth it. I love going with my dh but he dosen't have much vacation time and when he does have days off his fav place isn't WDW. So the girls and I go on school vacations and other times and dh joins us maybe once a year or for part of a trip.

You have the airport covered so the rest will be a breeze.

If you have any specific questions please ask and if I think of anything that I have enountered that may be helpful I will post here.

TJ

 

[ToTLaugher]

You sound like you have it all together to me!

Have a blast!!!

 

[fran99999]

I have taken my DS with me as a Mom/son trip several times in the last 4 years. Just go at the kids speed. I found it much more restive than the "family" vacation. If we wanted to stay and swim until 11am we did. If we wanted to just stop for a sit and watch we did. It was much easier as there was almost no schedule. OK we did have many ADR's but even those I canceled if something else seemed to strike us. We were on the Dining plan so I made sure we could eat somewhere else. Or we ate at a more expensive place the next night. It was great I didnt have to try to keep everyone happy and moving. No DH to whine out I dont want to wait in line for almost 1 hour just to go on IASW. or Dumbo.

Go set up a loose schedule and go with the flow. I now much prefer this to the family trip.

I should add I have 2 DD's 17 and DS7. So I think the age difference adds to my stress. My DS is a wuss and so am I as far as rides go. My DD's , and DH want the Splash Mountain... rides.

 

[AdventurerKat]

I am going alone with the 2.5 y.o. next weekend. I am working my way up to taking him and the 6 y.o. alone. lol. Anyway, I was going to do it earlier this year but we had to change our plans due to my job.

I think you have done amazing planning and sound like you have it all set. You're gonna be fine!

 

[Cinderella2004]

My DD and I went for Mother's Day 2 years ago. It was the best trip ever!!! We had a great time!!! It was so nice to go with her flow. You'll have a great time!

 

[Pixiedust34]

If we can swing it financially, I'd love to travel with just me and the kids in a couple of years.

I'm sure you'll have a fun trip! Take plenty of pictures, and take advantage of Photopass so you are in some of the photos. Enjoy!

 

[alicenwonder99]

Thanks everyone! I feel so much better after reading these posts. I know we'll have a good time. And this will be a "Dumbo or Die" type trip. We will be on Dumbo several times, IASW several times, we won't be doing any of the thrill rides, and we'll meet all of the characters.

We just had 10+ inches of snow dumped on us last night. I can't wait to get out of here!! I'll be waking the kids up in about 15 minutes and I'm finally getting excited again for our trip. I'm just thinking how much I'm going to miss the rest of the family. Dh couldn't get off of work, and dd17 has school. They like WDW, but not as much as me, so they really didn't want to go. They promised they will go with me next year.

I'll post when we get back and let you know how it went.

Mary

 

[tessqt]

Go enjoy you will be fine, I would get a double stroller though. We were there last week and by the 2nd day both kiddos 6 & 8 were tired of walking! LOL My 8 yr old is not a small one either, but I managed to push them my dh didn't. I was so excited about our first trip to WDW as a family, but now that has been done, our next trip will be the kids and I!!!

 

[momsully]

I took DS6 and DS3 in April for DS 6th birthday. DH could not get the time off so we went alone. It was a great trip and we had a lot of fun. We are planning another mom/kid trip for October of 2006. The only problem we had was DS3 was not tall enough for Space Mountain, Primeval Whirl etc. I let DS6 ride Primeval Whirl alone and a really nice CM took him on Space Mountain. Other than that DS3 is tall so he hit the 40 inch requirement for what we wanted to ride. Have a great trip!

 

[Yensid_MD]

Last spring I had a convention in Orlando, my wife brought our four children (9 months to 10 years) with us. She took them over to the park everyday and had a great time. You will be fine. Enjoy!

 

[homeschooler]

I know you have already left and by the time you read this, you will be home and have marvelous stories to share.

The first time I went to WDW it was without dh and with dd, 8, ds 4, and ds 4 mos. It was wonderful.

The first time I went alone DRIVING with the kids was a little different. Dh couldn't come and we couldn't afford the airfare for 4 so I needed to drive. The last month was torture because I knew I just couldn't do it. My father came over to the house, swearing and yelling. It would have been enough to scare anyone. He threw maps on the table and walked me through the trip. He acted to angry with me for even considering not going. I just took it all in and we went and had a wonderful time. Once we were home, my mother told me that that was the hardest thing my Dad has ever done in his life. He didn't want his baby driving to Florida and talking the grandestbabies with me but he didn't want me to be ruled by fear of doing something like that. None of us have ever forgotten how special that trip was because of Grandpa.

 

[Laurabearz]

As soon as my youngest gets a bit more independant and taller (he is 2 1/2 and 36 inches tall) I would love a mom and kids trip.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I took my six year old niece with me to WDW and we had a wonderful time!
It's totally do-able. I was a little nervous myself, but it turned out great and we have some really special memories.

The worst part...and it is only minor...is that I did miss having an adult to talk to once in awhile and it would have been nice once or twice to have a 15 minute "to myself" break, but other than that, it was great and I would do it again in a second.