Disney alone with 3 kids - do-able?

[BurnsideMommy]

Can this be done? A bit of background and the situation:

We're supposed to go this summer, but DH needs to postpone to October because of a business trip. I don't want to miss the 50th events so I'm considering taking the 3 kids on a shorter trip in July and then the big family trip in October.

Our kids are: 4 year old boy, 2 year old boy and 2 month old baby girl (nursing).

We'll drive down (about 14 hours). Obviously planning lots of nursing stops, diaper changes, potty trips, couple rest area run-arounds, bringing lots of snacks, water & activites. Take 2 days to do so.

We'd stay off site (we'll stay at the Disneyland Hotel in October), at either the Comfort Inn or Hilton (looking at packages on getaway travel). We'll book through AAA for the enhanced fastpass in October, so that's not a big deal now. We'll do charecter breakfasts and maybe Medieval times or Pirate's dinner. We'd spend 3 days in the parks.

We have a single stroller (but the 4 year old often sits on the tray and holds the handles when he needs a rest - it's sturdier than it sounds and hard to describe). 2 year old runs off so he rides in the stroller, and baby in the sling. I'm thinking my neck/back will get sore and maybe buying a double stroller would be a good idea? Is it going to be too bulky to manouver?

Will we even be able to go on the rides since it'll be me with all 3 of them, and obviously limited with what baby can ride. What can we ride?

Is this a really bad idea? I was really looking forward to going this summer and am so excited about the kids first trip that I want to be sure I'm thinking realistically about the difficulty of this trip.

 

[SILLYANDI]

I frequently (weekly) visit DL alone with my 4 kids (8yrs, 6 yrs, 4yrs & 18mon). We have AP's and I have taken them all since they were babies (weeks old). It is do-able, but I'm not sure it would be worth a 14 hour drive honestly (especially in July). We don't spend more than 4-5 hours in the park, then go home (we live 15 mins away)There are several rides you can all go on, but it gets pretty crazy in July-hot, crowded and miserable. I wouldn't recommend going unless you are prepared for one of two scenarios-

1) Very short visits in the park with lots of rest before/during/after and not a whole lot of rides. FP's are not available for most of the rides the baby can go on, and I would never send my 4 & 2 yr old on a ride without me-so FP's are not going to be an option for you most of the time. Have I mentioned it gets very hot and crowded?

2) Melt downs in the early afternoons and again in the evenings, frustration for everyone (Mom are you done feeding the baby yet? Why do we have to stand here so long? I'm hot, I'm hungry,I want to sit down....) and a VERY LONG ride home. I told you about the crowds and heat right?!
Either scenerio you will have sore legs and shoulders (carrying one, pushing one or two gets exhausting) with no "relief" from DH.
I don't think the 50th celebration events are so great that I'd absolutely have to come at the peak tourist time to see them. Most of the stuff they've done is permanant (castle upgrades, Space MT re-do) and will still be there when you get there in Oct. They are starting a new promotion then anyway, The year of a million dreams and it could possibly be more exciting, because it is fresh and new(this might be a personal opinion because I have seen all the bells and whistles of the 50th celebration for 2 yrs now).

I breastfed all of my kids, it's not the easiest thing to do in a crowded theme park with 2-3 other kids running around/trying to entertain themselves on a bench. If you are going to brave it, I can suggest some nice-not so public areas where the kids can "explore" without getting lost or in trouble-while you are feeding the baby.

If you want the kids to have a magical first trip, wait till Oct when crowds are way smaller, and DH can team up with you to handle the workload. You will be much happier that you waited, I'd bet money on it!
If you do decide you absolutely have to go, let me know, I will give you the list of all of the ideas and tricks I can think of to make your experience as good as possible.
We were there Monday and it was CRAZY. I won't be going back again until September when all the locals are back in school!
Good Luck ,Andrea

 

[Amy&Dan]

I think it would be doable if you are going more to just experience the 50th and not really ride rides but I am not sure I could say its advisable! Some rides, like Pirates and Small World for instance would be fine since the rows seat 4, full sized people. Others will be tough, like Dumbo where I am not sure they will let all four of you get on together even though you would be holding the baby. And since your four year old isn't old enough to ride alone that could be a sad scene if you can't get on that one! My best advice would be, can you possibly leave the baby with Grandma or an aunt or friend ( I know thats probably impossible given your nursing however)? Or do you have a relative, like grandma or a sister or maybe a family friend, niece or nephew, say around 10 or older that could go with you? My son is 11 and my daughter 9 for instance and if you had a child that age or preferably a bit older that could ride many things (like Dumbo or Peter Pan) with the four year old that would make your life infinitely easier. My kids loved being there this past week with their five year old cousins and were able to ride many rides just them and a cousin (like Dumbo, Buzz, Toad and many others). If you had one more person, even an older kid that could team up with the four year old or two year old on some rides that would make a huge difference. And an adult that could help with driving would be even better. We just got back and I agree with SILLYANDI, it was crazy busy this last week (I was there on Monday too). My brother was with us and he had friends that were there with their three boys who were 5, 3, and five months. They had both parents and between the heat, the crowds and the logistics of tending to all the needs of small children inside Disneyland, they were exhausted and overwhelmed.

I so understand your wanting to go for the 50th but the 14 hour drive alone would make me think twice. And I would definitely advise getting a double stroller. I see parents with double strollers that look much slimmer and less bulky than the RV sized one I had many years ago! Even if the four year old doesn't ride often, you have more storage space and can also put the baby in it lying down for naps and to give your back a rest from the sling. Good luck, I hope it all works out for you one way or the other, at least you know you will go in October at the very latest. And I have heard that Remember will continue running thorugh February. Also, many of the decorations will take quite awhile to remove so I think even in October you will see many signs of the 50th still around. Good luck!

P.S. You might post this question over on the Disney for Families Board. Even though that is really more about WDW than Disneyland, there are many good tips over there (it gets a lot of traffic and postings) that would be just as valuable for Disneyland as WDW.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

We are squeezing our trip in at the end of September, specifically to catch the end of the 50th, so I understand your eagerness to see it all. It's true the 50th decorations will be taken down in October, but I've heard the other 50th activities will continue through the end of the year. That's the stuff we would most care about, so I think we would have been happy going in October as well.

The weather in October sounds really nice, the crowds will be much less, and you'll be together as a family on such a wonderful vacation! (And you're much braver than I, I wouldn't imagine going with DS5 and DS2 by myself, let alone with an infant and driving the whole way - YIKES!)

 

[drag n' fly]

Gee people thought I was crazy taking a 2 year old to Disney with my other 2 kids and my husband.

It will be extremely exhausting for you and the kids. The heat, the crowds and no help combined with the kids not meeting height restrictions on a lot of the rides and the inability to do parent swap.
I do not recommend it.

All the "Disney Magic" in the world will not make up for the exhaustion. You really need to decide is this the memory you want to have with your kids? Is the 50th that important?

You will make the best decision for you and your children. If you do go have a safe and happy trip!

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Oh wow, I don't know. When my son was 1 years old we took him to Disneyland, and it was both DH and I. Even then it had it's challenges with a little one, and I was glad DH was there (like the heat, crowds, feedings (a lot easier now that he can have that burger with us I tell ya!) and how tired and cranky they can get because of it all, even in the stroller!). But with three kids? I'd say you are brave!

I think it's very doable though, and that is the one nice thing about Disneyland. There are a ton of wonderful kiddie rides. But I would look at all the factors mentioned above, and then decide if it would be worth it. The 50th decorations is pretty neat to see, but if it were me I'd probably just wait until October.

 

[darph nader]

Whoa, ambitious. May the force be with you.

 

[JulieNMM]

I went to DL with my 2 kids when they were 2 months old and 2 years old. (No DH). I had a double stroller and I would definitely have to recommend that. I loved my double stroller because it held the baby carrier (where baby slept) and tons of supplies (diapers, wipes, sweaters, etc).

We were able to go on Storybook Canal, Dumbo, Small World, meet characters, see the parades, see shows.

But we went for one day and were staying with my parents who live nearby so no long drive (although it is a 7 hour drive to get there and I did that alone).

Personally, I wouldn't do this trip, if I were you, unless you could get someone else -- anyone else -- to go with you. Like another poster said, even if it's another slightly older kid that would help. Otherwise, save it all for your big trip in October. It's just not worth it.

JULIE

 

[crazymomof 4]

Do you have a mother or mother in law that might want to go and help you? I did this last February with my mom and aunt, stayed at the CCI and had 3 rooms. Kids were 14mo. (nurser), 3yr old, 9 yr old and 11 yr old. I would of rather had my husband there, but we made it. I don't know if I could have done it without the help though. My older 2 are very helpful also. But... I say if you think you can why not? You can take all three kidos on a lot of the rides. you can even take advantage on the POC to nurse. When my littlest was 3 weeks old I nursed him on some of the rides (discreetly) and that way you can keep moving. Good luck whatever you decide!

 

[fidoprincess]

I'd do it in a heartbeat but!! I would pick a different hotel that you could walk easily back and forth like maybe Best Western Park Place Inn. At least you would not be dependent on a shuttle or driving and once the stroller is up and ready, you do not have to fold it to get on another vehicle. I would borrow, rent or buy a double stroller or even some of the adapters that hook 2 strollers together. Then go for it! Do not count on wearing the baby the whole time, you will be too exhausted and hot.

Plan out your days with rides in the morning and see all the shows in the afternoon. I know one day we had a "water day" this past trip and took the kids to CA where they have the big "sprinkler park" around bugs life and my kids loved it. They wore fast drying clothes (boys have to wear shirts) and water shoes. They spent hours there and you could easily sit on a bench and nurse the baby right there with a light blanket. Another day they wanted to play on the redwood challenge trail for hours.

You would have to decide how comfortable you are with nursing in public. I was fine with it and even nursed in line and on rides with a light blanket and no one even noticed so it was no big deal as long as you have the right clothes and the technique down. That would be the determining factor in my book because if you have to go to the baby center or back to the hotel each time, it will be a drag.

There are lots of things you can do all together: jungle cruise, tiki room, haunted mansion, pooh ride, peterpan-yes we've seen 3 plus a baby many times, casey junior train, small world, storybook, teacups, even toad's ride-4 to a car, alice in wonderland-put the 4 & 2 right in front of you, carousel, both the Mark Twain and the Columbia ships, Tom Sawyer Island, all of the shows and parades and probably more than I can think of right now. There are more things you CAN do than won't be able to do. Just go and take it slow and easy and figure you will be in the hotel more than most. Plan for down times and bring snacks drinks all the things that make it easier and even a lollipop or two for those meltdowns in line-lol! They work wonders.