Any suggestions for big difference in ages

[SooziQ123]

We have a dd who is 4 & ds who is 12.....this is a family vacation, so I don't want to be split up all the time....I have had the talk with my son about "we will all get our turn to do special something".....what do you think we could do to avoid the whining?

 

[Kermit]

Have you ever been to WDW before? The reason I ask is that you'll probably be surprised to see how many rides they will both enjoy. There are very few rides with hight restrictions, compared to other amusement parks, and at 4, your daughter may be able to ride some of the rougher rides provided she isn't scared.

If you're staying on site, you may want to have one parent take the son to e-night. If your dd doesn't want to or can't ride the rougher rides, she wouldn't get much out of it anyway, and it would be a good chance for your son to bond with whatever parent took him. You could also have the other parent take him to Disney Quest on a day that the other parent went to the MK and rode Dumbo and It's a Small World with dd to her heart's content.

 

[sha_lyn]

last yr our kids were 2 1/2 and 10. i was amazed that we edid not have to split up often at all. the only times we did was at MGM while Ds and I did TOT and RNR and our 2nd day at MK Ds and I did all the mountains while Dh and DD did FL again.

 

[jdsm]

Our children are 11, 6, 4 and 3. I was very concerned about the differences between the pre-teen and the little ones. First of all, my firstborn and I had a discussion about this being a "family vacation" and that everyone would get something, but there would be "toddler time" too. I dreaded the inevitable whining and eye rolling, but it never happened. She enjoyed all of the "little" rides. We used the fast-pass option often so that the little ones didn't have to wait in line for the big rides. We also took her to some EE days for the bigger rides. (Disney has an amazing effect on pre-teens!!!)

 

[KimRaye]

Boy! Am I with you here! DS-13, 4th trip but, DD-3, 1st trip! We're renting cell radios, not frs, so that DH and DS can go off, while DD & I do the "baby stuff", according to them! I'm totally open to free-lanceing WDW but, we MUST stay connected and, I'll need a break once and a while from 3yoDD! I want some teen-age action as well!! You'll be ok!! Have a Great trip!

 

[poohlover]

We have 6 kids ages 15yrs - 3 yrs and we were really surprised in Feb. that we didn't split up at all. the older ones really enjoyed seeing the reaction of the younger ones. Maybe they are trying to relive their childhoods again?? LOL

One night my hubby took the older 2 to Cirque, and I took the younger ones shopping in DTD.

Another night my 3 boys stayed at the Neverland Club and we took the older 2 girls, and the 3 yoDD to Epcot to walk clamly thru the countries, the one thing my boys don't appreciate yet.

But there is plenty to do together. Don't worry. Be sure you know any Biggies that your son wants to do and then do a baby swap. It's really easy! Have fun!

 

[erinch]

DS-13; dd 5. daredevil fortunately.
we do an incredible amount together.
occasionally split up; ds and i did early entry to IOA, and rode the dueling dragons 11 times in a row!
I deal with his whining with a combination of
"we're spending all this money, and don't you remember when you were 5 years old?"
and small bribes---if you will go on dumbo, you and I can go to Disneyquest tonight,
or I'll give you 5 bucks for the arcade.

neither tactic recommended as stellar, but works...

 

[SooziQ123]

Erinch, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! I finally got the answer I needed.....BRIBERY....That works very well with my son, but I never thought about doing it in WDW....you know, family goodness & all.....we probably are going to split up once to do Disney Quest with DS & at that time go to MK & do "baby" rides with DD....we will have 2-way radios....my DH also just said Small World is out & Hall of Presidents is in.....I want to do it all!!!! Thanks again....

 

[wdwnutze]

We will be going in Aug. with ds 17, dd 9 and dd 2. We will plan some together time and some apart time. While I think it is important for us to do things together as a family, it is also important to split up and have some special time with the kids doing things "they" enjoy. We took the kids when youngest was 1y.o. and oldest was almost 16 and they did just fine. The ground rules were set from the start and each day we discussed what we would be doing and planned when we would separate.

 

[BethA]

We have 2 sons 12and 4 and did get the 2 way radios to keep in touch. Only split up when 4 yr old wasn't tall enough to ride---space mt. rock-n-roll rc, etc. Most everything else is great for families. Would go as early as possible and then spplit up and meet before lunch. Very few rides are too childish---they're fun at least once. 12 yr old wouldn't do Bear in the big Blue House and everything else he was great about doing as a family. We tried to hit Pooh and Snow White without them. They went to Epcot 1 morning alone to do test track---it was shut down. You really only have to spplit up if you want to. Have fun.