Comment from family has me rethinking!

[JJ&JSMOM]

Our kids' Uncle stopped by today and when the kids said they were going to Disney he was very excited for them. But he looked at me and said "I don't envy you taking 3 kids to Disney" and he laughed. I replied by saying " I know it will be a lot of hard work but I think we'll have fun!" I know he meant nothing by it as hes a very nice guy. Our kids are well behaved so he didn't mean anything against them its just theres 3 of them.

It resurfaced a concern of mine that I've had all along. DH and I have been wondering if we should have waited another year for DD2 to be older. I just feel that DS7 and DD4 are at great ages to go and they should be able to go and not have to wait another year for DD2. I think DD2 will do ok...shes in her terrible twos so we'll have some moments but I'm hoping she'll be ok overall.

Now I'm really wondering if we are nuts! I'm going into this vacation knowing that it will be a lot of hard work and I'll be exhausted most of the time. So I feel I'm going into this with my eyes wide open. We leave in 23 days so we are going. Sorry to ramble on...just wondering if anyone had any advice on traveling w/3 young kids. Are we nuts for taking three young kids to Disney? Yes I know I'm opening myself up here! Be gentle! Thanks!

Joanne

 

[Mouse House Mama]

As a Mom of three (soon to be four!) I can tell you that it is all in the way you look at it. We don't think it's work and our kids are well behaved (most of the time anyway! ) Our kids are younger than yours too. We have always had a great time. We never stress over things and have learned to pack light! We don't even take a diaper bag to the parks. Just a few diapers and a pack of wipes thrown in the back of the carriage. Go with the flow. You will have a great time. Enjoy all the sillyness (sp?) and just take your time. The kids are going to have so much fun that you will find it impossible not to be as excited. Have a great trip!
Jennie

 

[pkjne]

No I think that your right your older children are at the ages they are going to LOVE it. The younger one you said is two................I think that there maybe a little much stimulation with her and all but I think all in all your doing the right thing.
I can't wait for our trip I have three children they are nine and seven and then five so we will have a handful also and my five year old daughter has already said she is not a baby so not sure about the whole stroller thing with her. We have not told them that we are going yet I hope that she will decide that she likes the stroller idea.

Have a good time I think your doing a wonderful dream when you see your children's eyes for the first time when they step foot in DISNEY it will all be worth the tempers you are going to have and you will have them but you know what EVERYONE with children there are going to have them at some point. SMILE

ENJOY The place is magic things may turn out better then you think SMILE

 

[Traveliz]

Just go with the flow. You are right to realize there will be some difficult moments - but that is totally age appropriate for a two year old (and probably with the older ones as well!).

Make it an adventure, do not personally seem stressed (kids pick up on that) and it should be ok (maybe not perfect - but no trip is every 100% perfect).

I have to say though one of my best trips was me taking my daughter (17 at the time) along with her cousins who were 4 & 6. The forl -- the 4 year old has always been a difficult child - and I knew we would have our challenges -- and we did - she had a major meltdown that will make a great story forever. On the other hand she also said some precious things and we had some really sweet memories from things she did and said.

Anyway good luck and it should be fine.

Liz

 

[mom-mom2three]

Yes, it is a little more work to take a two year old but it will be worth it we took our 2 year old last December and while we had to take the parks a little slower we still loved it! Our two year old really enjoyed the Christmas lights and the Animal Kingdom. Your other two children are at the perfect age, they will love it

 

[mom2aredhead]

I just feel that DS7 and DD4 are at great ages to go and they should be able to go and not have to wait another year for DD2.

As the oldest of 3 siblings, spaced apart almost EXACTLY the same as yours, I thank you, on behalf of your oldest, for not waiting for the baby to be older.

 

[mom-mom2three]

The pic at the bottom of my post is the 2 year old I was refering to. He loves his Mickey sun glasses and the red stroller we bought after we got there. The stroller was a life saver. It is light weight and easy to get on and off the buses. I highly recomend it.

 

[daisax]

I think the more you try to cram themostfunpossible into a vacation, especially with little kids, that's when the stress hits.

Because they're so small, enjoy the magic where you find it. Have a plan, but be prepared to ditch the plan if somebody's completely mesmerized by the talking trash can, or the little splashing water thingies that come out of the ground. You can take that as an opportunity to herd everybody on towards the Next Big Attraction, or just find a bench and let the fun unfold. The Big Attractions (or their successors) will be there on future trips -- gear this one to where they are now.

Split up if you have to, and be sure to shake up the way in which you sit in rides if you can, so one kid rides with Mom alone while Dad has the other two, sometimes the two older ride together while Mom and Dad and baby sit together, etc. But each kid should have the opportunity to share different experiences specifically with a parent if possible. If that means you ride Dumbo in 3 different combinations -- why not?

And be sure to take some time to do some rides for yourselves, even if you have to ride solo. At Epcot, grab fastpasses and do Test Track or Mission Space while the other adult watches the kids play in the fountain coming out of the ground, then switch. At MGM, maybe one adult can split off and do some rides with the oldest while the other and the younger kids see the show geared to toddlers. Depending on your length of stay, one parent can even "sleep in" with the kids and then take them to breakfast and the pool while the other goes and does some solo attractions, and one can stay back at the hotel and pool after nap time on a different day while the other goes exploring for an hour or two.

 

[luvmy3jewels]

We are taking our three little monkeys (2, 4 & 6) to Disneyworld in two weeks. I think we will all have a great time. After hearing about large crowds and how easily it can be to loose a child there, I was not comfortable being outnumbered so I invited my mother to go along with us on this trip.

I was really tempted to stay on-site, but we decided to stay off-site in a townhouse where the kids can have their own rooms. We have 7 day tickets to the parks, which we are planning on taking in the parks at the kids' pace and going back to the townhouse for naps and downtime. I think it's really important not to push them to their limits, because if they get too worn out none of us are going to have a good time. This is a vacation for us and having fun is the most important thing.

We've also taken the kids' to Busch Gardens a couple of times as "practise runs" for DW. I was suprised at how well my 2 year old did on those trips...but 7 days may be a different story.

Good luck with your trip!!!

 

[hrsmom]

I think you'll be fine! The first time we took our kids they were just 2 and 3 months! When we go in May they'll almost 4 and almost 2 and it'll be their third time going already! Just try to go with the flow and try not to stress out about having to see everything as quickly as possible. Your 2 year old will be able to go on so many of the rides at MK, really there are only a few she won't be able to go on.

 

[mama4]

....you definitely are NOT crazy! Yes it will be difficult at moments but isn't every day difficult at times? Your older two will have so much fun and you might be surprised at how much fun the littlest has as well! Use the advice you've gotten from the DIS (schedule naps/breaks, follow your childrens schedules, don't try to do everything, etc) and you'll be fine! We've taken our 3 boys (all of them together) 4 times and the last time I took my daughter as well at 7 mths old and w/out my dh (I did have Grandma there to help though Here's a pic of ds (now 3) on his 1st trip to WDW at less than a year old. I have many great pics of him smiling like that during his 4 trips! So don't worry, go and I hope you have the time of your lives....

 

[drivencrazy]

Hey, looks like we'll be there at the same time!

We have 4 kids and I have been told that it's a lot of work to go to Disney with more than 2.......... I'm not worried at all. We are a family and we do everything together, we always have.

2 of our girls are older 12 and 9 and then we have a 4 year old boy and a 2 year old little girl. We are probably going to have our hands full, but it will be lots of fun!

Just enjoy and go with the flow, that is our plan!!

 

[bzzymom]

I first took DS to WDW when he was 2.5. He absolutely loved it. He will be 10 this June and he has been 9 times total. DD just turned 3. I took her at 11 mo, 19 mo and just under 2.5. She has no memory of her first 2 visits, but she definately remembers things from her visit last summer. She talks about eating with the little einsteins and about goofy's rollercoaster. I think 2 is a great age to go.

 

[liznboys]

I'm going into this vacation knowing that it will be a lot of hard work and I'll be exhausted most of the time. So I feel I'm going into this with my eyes wide open.
Joanne

You are obviously mentally prepared, so you're going to be just fine.

 

[liznboys]

Awwww, cute pic Kristi!

 

[PiperPizzaz]

Sure it is more work than taking one or two but, I can't see how it is more work than normal (at home). If you can take them to the mall or out to dinner I think you shouldn't worry. Enjoy your trip!

(Yes, I only have 1 child but, have 12 younger bros and sis. )

 

[Darcy03231]

As long as you don't have the mentality that you have to do/see everything this trip you'll be fine. As others have said, take your cues from your kids. I found what worked for us was to go to the parks in the morning, go back to the hotel in the afternoon for a swim and a rest and then go back to the parks at night for another couple of hours. Some days the kids did better than others. One day we were there it was particularly hot and crowded and no one was having a good time. We left after about 2 hours and spent the day by the pool (hardly anyone at the resort). Everyone had a great time and we did go back that night after the parks emptied out. It was such a great day we now plan at least one pool day while we're there. I found the key when they were little was less is more. Now at almost 16 & 14 they can go all day and night. I'm worn out before they are.

 

[poohbearrocks]

we just got back yesterday...i took just 2...and while difficult i went BECAUSE my ds was 2 1/2 ... my dd is 6 and we took her and that age and to see the magic in their eyes!! my dd while she loved it...and had a blast is at the age of..."they aren't real" that is just a dressed up person...so... I wanted to take him NOW!! he is a TON more vocal and high strung...so we decided Disney land -vs- world...only 2 parks spending most at magic kingdom...and taking a break for a swim and nap...we didn't do the princess faire when we had planned, so the last day my granny took the 2 year old and me and dd spent some alone time, which was great too!!!

good luck and HAVE fun!! plan what you want...then don't be UPSET that the plans change!

 

[Ellester]

I haven't read all the other posts, so I'll just give you my opinion. Don't sweat it! You deal with three kids every single day, it will just be way more fun at Disney than it is at the grocery store! Ours were 8, 5, and 2 on our last trip in January. We did have some bumps (full details in my trip report), but I can't imagine going without all the kiddos. All my kids have been to Disney at least once before they were three, I think it is an awesome age to take them. They totally buy into it all! By 5, my kids were already aware that not everything there was "real". My biggest advice would be to plan some time each day to just let them run and play. Either at a playground at the parks or hotel or somewhere, it really helped our kids to unwind. I'm sure you are going to have a wonderful time!

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

My youngest was two when he went first, and I don't regret a thing. I think it was a great decision to take him when we did. We had several people who told us he wouldn't remember anything, and that we should leave him behind, but I am so glad that we didn't. An ironic point is that around 6 months later after the vacation it was the two year old who was wanting to go to meeks house. I say go for it, yes some times will be hard, but only you know your children.