Disney with 1 adult and 2 little kids? Am I crazy?

[DisSmis]

I found a great deal on rental DVC points for later this month but my husband is Disney'd out (how is this possible ) and no one else wants to/is able to go. My oldest doesn't want to go without his dad So that would leave just me and a 3 year old and 1 year old. I hate to give up this trip (and lose the money I paid for the room when I thought I would have no problem recruiting another set of hands) but I am not sure about logistics. Has anyone done this? I have looked into Kid's Night Out mother's helper as a possibility it just seems like it might be awkward to tour with a stranger and I am not sure how FP+ would work since I already booked ours with our annual passes. Has anyone used them for mother's helper services or other options for another set of hands. I think I can do the plane ride and ME and rides by myself. What I can't figure out is how to get myself and the 2 littles (baby doesn't walk) and stroller on Disney buses by myself (I have never seen a driver help someone with a stroller so I assume that is out of the question) and figure I would have to do mostly table service since I'm not sure how I could do a buffet or QS with both kids.

 

[JeninTexas]

It is going to be tough no matter what, but if you are going at a crowded time, it will be even worse. We went to Disneyland a couple of years ago when my kids were 3 and 5. My husband got sick and was never able to leave the hotel room, so I had to do the parks by myself. It was a miserable experience trying to dodge the crowds while pushing a stroller and trying to keep an eye on the 5 yo. It was really stressful when I had both of the kids at the park by myself. Because DH was in the hotel room, I could leave one child with him for a while and take the other to the park for a while. That was manageable, but you are not going to have that option.

I hate to be a downer, but I think it is going to be a really stressful experience for you having two kids that young at the park by yourself.

 

[hart6066]

I think you should definitely go!!! But think of it just like you said--a trip with the littles. Do just what they want, when they want! If you can't get your money back anyway (but maybe double check on that) why not make it a mommy trip to remember? It might be really nice--maybe rethink some of the FP+---do more character interactions, etc.

DH had a conference at Disney when my oldest (now almost 13) was 4 months old. I went with him, and honestly one of my most treasured memories is the day just me and the baby went to MK! I kept the park map and marked the rides we did (Pooh, Dumbo, etc) and I still remember eating a strawberry shortcake sundae while he napped in the stroller!

Getting on the buses was hard b/c he was in the bucket car seat, but never underestimate the kindness of strangers...especially at Disney...to a mother traveling by herself with babies!!!

I mean I wouldn't recommend you keep a trip to New York City or something by yourself, but if you have the plane and resort paid for and non-refundable, just go and do what you can. You will make such nice memories! And if it gets too much, go back to the resort and go to sleep early or splash in the pool!

I wouldn't bother with getting a mother's helper or anything--your 3 year old will only want to go on rides that your baby can go on. People will help you fold up the stroller on the bus (did you tell us where you're staying?), and if you want to do a character buffet, just ask a server for help--I really don't think that's asking for too much.

Make it a Mommy and Littles vacation that you will remember fondly and will be different than the others!

 

[4under4]

I did a single day at Disneyland alone when my oldest two were 9 months / almost 3. It was fun, mostly because the little one enjoyed being in his stroller and watching everything. And I have traveled extensively with kids, but without DH - by plane, train & automobile. It's completely doable.

The question I would have for you though is will YOU have fun. If you think you will enjoy the time away, and can find ways to enjoy the rides with the little ones, then I say go for it.

Have you looked into taking a local college-age "mother's helper"? We took ours on our first big trip to WDW (and DH was actually there for that one), and it was WONDERFUL! I didn't pay her per se... just paid for her trip/food, and made sure she had time to go out on her own during nap time &/or after dinner. It was a win/win!

As for the stroller... if it's a small umbrella, you should be able to manage it one handed while holding the baby with the other arm. The bus drivers may not help you, but they also won't pull away as you are finagling everything ;-)

Good luck deciding

 

[suffieldhockeymom]

I would go and have fun! Take it slow and relax, you will be fine. Try family style meals, Garden Grill, Liberty Tree, etc if you don't think you can do buffets by yourself (although I'm sure a cast member will help if needed). A baby carrier might be good to bring ( I used mine until DS was 2) so that your hands are free.

 

[westonkamom]

Cast members asked me I would like them to take my daughter (then 4) through the buffet lines at Boma and Chef Mickey's, and if they don't offer outright, I'm sure they would be glad to help if you asked. It worked out great when they took my daughter through for me!! Also, I always brought a lightweight Maclaren umbrella stroller when I traveled alone with 2 kids...so much easier to fold up and easy to carry onto a bus while holding a baby. Good luck and have fun!

 

[Ronda93]

+1 on the kindness of strangers. If you can pull this off anywhere, it's Disneyworld.

 

[nemajovc]

You might look into a backpack leash for the 3 yo to prevent wondering- my DS loved his " monkey" and I loved the tail that meant I didn't lose him while distracted dealing with tickets etc- just introduce prior to trip

 

[North of Mouse]

I found a great deal on rental DVC points for later this month but my husband is Disney'd out (how is this possible ) and no one else wants to/is able to go. My oldest doesn't want to go without his dad So that would leave just me and a 3 year old and 1 year old. I hate to give up this trip (and lose the money I paid for the room when I thought I would have no problem recruiting another set of hands) but I am not sure about logistics. Has anyone done this? I have looked into Kid's Night Out mother's helper as a possibility it just seems like it might be awkward to tour with a stranger and I am not sure how FP+ would work since I already booked ours with our annual passes. Has anyone used them for mother's helper services or other options for another set of hands. I think I can do the plane ride and ME and rides by myself. What I can't figure out is how to get myself and the 2 littles (baby doesn't walk) and stroller on Disney buses by myself (I have never seen a driver help someone with a stroller so I assume that is out of the question) and figure I would have to do mostly table service since I'm not sure how I could do a buffet or QS with both kids.

Not easy - but I would have done it with my two at almost those ages - 1 yr. and 4. Did take some shorter overnight trips with them.

I would use a front carrier for baby, a 'monkey' leash for 3 yr. old and take a very lightweight umbrella stroller that can easily be handled with one hand - especially for the busses.

You could inter change using the stroller for the baby (breaks for you) and for the older child when necessary - plus have a little room on bottom of stroller for necessities (travel as light as possible). I would not count on the kindness of strangers for the busses (might/might not happen), but you could handle it easily by putting baby in carrier before getting on the bus.

Go, and enjoy - Going during the heat of summer not the best - You 'will' be tired the whole time, but if you want to go for the trip - it's not ideal, and only 'you' know your children's behaviors, but you 'can' do it!!

 

[Imagineer5]

I haven't done it with 2 but did do it with 1 - my DD was 18 months at the time of the trip last year. We went for a full week in August. We had so much fun we are doing it again this year and she will be 2.5. I have a TR (completed) if you are interested in reading it

Where are you renting your DVC points? I ask because on our upcoming trip I planned 4 of the nights at BLT due to the ability to walk to MK and get on the monorail for EPCOT.

Could you possibly rent a car? IMO with 2 and a stroller, that is what I would do. No juggling the kids and Disney buses. I brought our "big" stroller which my DD takes great naps in, but it is quite heavy and I couldn't imagine dealing with folding it for the buses. For my next trip, I plan to bring a smaller Maclaren for the times we have to take a bus, and *possibly* the big one for our time at BLT when we can just walk.

As for meal times - I 100% agree TS is the way to go. I attempted CS last time and hated every minute of trying to maneuver the stroller & food by myself then find a table in a crowded seating area. Terrible! Instead this trip I booked at least 2 TS per day. I hadn't intended to do buffets but Aria is pretty good at standing by me so I did add in a few character experiences for fun.

If you have any questions please let me know! I found I had such a relaxing trip because I wasn't concerned about getting on the "big" rides and had more time for character experiences! Also, factoring in pool time was a huge plus.

Hope you decide to go - I bet you'll have a blast!

Oh also for the 1 yo who doesn't walk, you could bring a carrier of some sort to make the times you need your hands (getting on/off airplane comes to mind) easier. I brought along my Beco and used it for the plane and also for the Wishes Dessert Party so she couldn't run away. I won't be using it this trip, but it would def come in handy with a 1 yo!

 

[SillySallySews]

I would skip the stroller and use a baby carrier. Your hands will be free and you won't have to worry about folding up the stroller on busses. I took my girls by myself last year just for MNSSHP and even though they are a little older I was still worried, but it worked out fine. Have a great time!