Anybody gone alone with a three year old?

[GEM]

My mom is not going to be able to accompany us on our Sept. trip as planned due some stuff that's come up that she can't really avoid. It was going to me, Paul, and my mom. Now, I'm seriously considering just canceling her part and going by ourselves. Paul is really easy-going and a great traveler, so I'm really not worried about "needing help". My concerns really have more to do with wondering if I'll be "lonely" without any grown-ups to talk to all week. He's SO excited about this trip, though and talks constantly about going to see Mickey and all the fun things he's going to do. I know he'll be disappointed if we don't go. If we just put it all off, it would be May before we could go.

What do you guys think? What would you do?

 

[happymommy]

I went alone with my kids when they were 4 and 6 (not their first trip at all by the way). Stayed at AKL for 4 nights (wish it was longer!). I had a blast, and so did they! We did what WE wanted (buzz lightyear, pooh, and just relaxing and swimming in the pool). I had plenty of adults with which to converse, and of course the kids! It was so much fun. I don't see any downside at all.

 

[happymommy]

Just wanted to add - can you imagine how great it would be to have one parent giving you so much attention? Plus he can dictate what he wants to do. Sounds fun to me - plus he could get a lot of attention. I am jealous - I want to be 3 again (JUST KIDDING).

 

[eeyoregon]

I have been a single mom for 9 years so the answer is Yes! I have taken my sons to both Disneyland and DisneyWorld many times. When they were younger it was more hectic but worth every minute!

I say go for it...make those memories!

 

[DissyLove]

When my son was three, my husband and took him together. When his sister was born, I went solo with 2 kids, only 6, one 4, and did ok. Not always easy, but we stayed laid back about our schedule and just did what we could, which was plenty of kid-friendly rides, meals, times. Have fun!

 

[GEM]

Well, I've decided we're going to go for it! Just a "Mommy and Paul" trip.

I'm actually pretty excited about doing exactly what we want when we want with nobody else to worry about.

Thanks for the input, everybody!

 

[lynetteSC]

have a great trip

 

[PeachesDoesHair]

I think it's a great opportunity to spend some time with him!

 

[lpandorf]

Have fun! I took my 4 yr old DD in 2004 for 4 days and it was great!

 

[happymommy]

Yes, have a great time!

 

[FluffyPumpkin78]

We live about an hour away from WDW, and ds and I have taken many spontaneous day trips. Sometimes I wake up with the "Lets-go-see-Mickey" itch. I love it. We can see whatever we want, not worry about what others want to do. If we want to ride Small World over and over, we can.

I think it will be a great trip, and a great bonding experience.

I am trying to talk dh into getting an AP, so that he and ds can go by themselves and have some "male bonding". I am sure it would be a totally different experince for ds. Alas, dh is not a Disney lover, but i think I am making some headway!

 

[Dizneydaz]

I've never taken my DD alone, to WDW (my DM always goes) but in Sept. 2004 my mom and 2 other members of our group left WDW and went to Tampa for a few days. MY DD was almost 5 then. This was the first time my DD had I spent time alone at WDW and I loved it-so did she The first day we spent out of the parks (went to Sam's club, swam, etc.) and the next day we spent at Epcot. We visited every country (for the first time she got all her tags and stamps on her mask) and we just had a wonderful time. I let her play with the toy trains in England for a long time. She also got to spend more time in Innoventions than we usually do and she loves it in there. It was very relaxing just the two of us. No other adults to consult about what to do next. (Don't get me wrong, I love traveling with my DM-but this was very nice too!)

We dined alone in the food court (ASMu) and ate an early dinner at Tepanyaki the second day. The rest of our group ended up coming back a day early (since basically Tampa was closed due to Hurricane Ivan predictions) so we only had 2 days and 1 night alone, but it's a time I'll never forget. It was "magical".

We also go to DL many times by ourselves as well as Knott's and Sea World. But this was the first, and only, time we stayed in a resort alone, together.

Go for it!

 

[tjmw2727]

I took each of my dd's alone to WDW when they were three and loved it. I wasn't ever lonely for adult company and it was nice to do whatever we wanted when we wanted. One night when dd fell asleep early I put her (pj's and all) into the stroller and took a walk to sit outside at the pool bar for a leisurly "beverage".

I love my mom & me trips and have continued to do them every year or every other year. Of course I take them both now, my first trip as the solo adult with both dd's was when they were 4 and 6. I am self employed and dh dosen't have much vacation time and what he does have he "prefers not" to go to WDW. So we still go without him - its a win/win.

I do suggest staying on the monorail if your doing mostly MK or at the Epcot resorts for Epcot and MGM if you can swing it. I also do better with ADR's for late lunches as our "big meal". We need the break from the parks and find you get a great meal for a bit less than at dinner.

Go for it, you will have a great time!

TJ

 

[MNdisneymom]

Hi! I'm completely a lurker here but I'm doing the exact same thing as you so I just had to respond....I am taking my 3.5 year old DS September 15-20. Nobody else in the family--my sister didn't want to take time off from work, and my parents just don't get the Disney thing. We're staying at POP and will be doing mostly food court meals (although we *are* doing the Playhouse Disney character breakfast at MGM)...My DS is a great kid (aren't they all?!?) and a good traveler. His only problem is that he's only 38 inches tall...which will keep him off Big Thunder, which he really wants to go on. But he was delighted to find out that he could go on Kali River Rapids, so that's something. (This is the child who looks at the video of Everest, and says "Mommy, let's ride that!" "No, not for a few more years, honey...")

Hope you have a good trip!

 

[lg3]

I am so glad you are going!

I had our DD3 to myself for a week in San Diego while DH was working there. I was very worried it would be a nightmare - strange place, fitting in naps, etc. It turned out to be fantastic. She loved Sea World and riding on the trolleys. We spent two days at Disneyworld by ourselves too. It was also a BIG thumbs up. Of course, I missed some of the rides that were too scary or too old for her, but that was okay. Everyone is so friendly to talk with that I really didn't miss any adult conversations. I will always cherish the time we spent with just the two of us. I only wish we had some people take our pictures more. Enjoy!

 

[tacomaranch]

I also had asked DH what he thought of my Ds and I going alone. He said he would be jelous if we went because he wants to go also.

I don't know if I can handle my Ds with autism by myself?