Bringing little kids

[SewingMom]

We had planned to go to Disneyworld the first week in September and one of our older kids (in college) was going to go with to help us with the three youngest kids. Now her school schedule has changed and she can't go unless she is back before August 20th.

My husband still wants to go, I'm just not so sure about taking 3 little kids without help. We don't want to go in July or August because of the heat and crowds but I guess we could wait until November when one of the older girls has a school break.

The ages of our three youngest if we go in September will be 4 1/2, 2 1/4, and just turned 1. What do you think? Would you just go as planned or wait? How hard will it be to take three little kids on rides with 2 adults? I'm not worried about the big roller coasters, we don't mind skipping those. I just won't want to have to skip half the rides because we don't have enough hands, you know?

Only problem is I'm so excited to go it would be hard to put it off for a couple of months. I feel like a little kid waiting for Christmas!

 

[Grandmax3]

I say go, you can always use 'child swap' to ride the the ones the baby can't ride.

 

[Zeebs]

Because your wee one is so little, you will be able to go on just about every ride as a set of 2 and 3 so you won't miss out on lots of rides, only ones with height restrictions.

If you older one meets the height restrictions, the previous poster is correct you can use the rider swap for those, so you and your husband can take turns riding with your eldest while the others do something else.

Others will disagree, but I would stay offsite, this is what we did. Our touring plan involved getting up for opening.... thus getting a car park quite close to the parks, (meaning not having to use the trams, buses and folding down strollers etc) we would tour until mid to late afternoon, (our littlest napped in the stroller) and then head back to our accommodation for a swim, then some dinner either out or back at the condo and then the kids were in bed close to their normal time at home. Then hubby and I relaxed in comfort and not in the toilet waiting for the kids to go to sleep.

We didn't have any meltdowns and the kids did very well too . We did have one late night at MNSSHP but rested that day and the next. That way they got to see some fire works.

A lot of the condo, houses have all manner of stuff required for kids, we brought our 11 month old his stroller from home, but used a small umbrella one from the condo for our 2.5 year old. Which was handy as it was small it hooked over the back of our stroller when it wasn't being used. It was great having a high chair, for breakfast and the odd dinner back at the condo. It was also nice not to have to eat out for every meal with the kids, they are pretty good kids but they do get sick of eating out all the time.

We will soon be three children, with about the same age range as you we do plan to make another visit to WDW the logistics of three scare me quite a bit, but not alot I can do about it now

I hope this has been of some help to you.

Kirsten

 

[tjmw2727]

I would still go - hey I take my kids as the solo adult

If they are typical children and you have no issues with the zoo, grocery etc then I don't see why you coudn't/wouldn't take the trip. Would you skip Disney if you didn't have older children to help?

I would make sure that you have a double stroller that the baby is comfy in and consider using a sling or snugli as well. You can't take the stroller into lines or some pavilions so for me wearing baby was a lifesafer. You can also wear the baby if the older child needs a rest int he stroller.

Except for the height restricted rides you can fit 1 adult and 2 kids into a seat so seating isn't an isue. I did this until my kids were old enough to ride alone. Most trips it is me, my sister in law and 4 kids, my 2 & her 2 so we are outnumbered 2-1 and we have a blast

Treat it as as a vacation and don't try and do too much, remember to relax and go at the kids pace and not try and see/do everyting. Even if your time at the parks is short you will be able to enjoy the pools and remember - no cooking & cleaning so you can really focus on your family

 

[okeydokey]

People bring little kids to Disney every day so it must be doable. My youngest was 2 the first time we went and it was great. I loved seeing it all through his eyes.

We take our little ones everywhere else, so why not Disney; it's made for kids.

 

[miprender]

I say take them. But having said that we usually have my mom with us.

However, this trip will be just the 5 of us. I am dreading the airport more than anything else as we have gone to the parks some days without the help of my mom and we were fine.

Go and have fun

 

[CandleontheWater]

I say go and have a great time!

 

[Cruz91]

Don't miss out on the magic of the 'older ones' by waiting on the little one to get 'big enough'. Our littlest one was 22 months on our first trip and he had a GREAT time.