Do I Do It Alone With 2 Kids...If So ..How??

[Englands Disney Gang]

Been to WDW twice (this year and last). Hubbie has said he wont go next year as he wants a holiday in Cyprus with us all and his work only gives hime one main holiday a year. He has told me if I want he has no problem in me taking the kids on my own. I have 2 boys aged nearly 7 and 13. I am looking at September next year. The boys really want to go but we will be on a budget. I dont drive so need to stay really at a Disney hotel...I need all the knowledge, tips, hints, ideas, encouragmnt to do this on my own with the boys as normally hubby sorts this out. Been with Virgin and TCD (not a good experience with TCD) but am willing to do anything to get back to WDW next year!!....I know its a long time off yet and maybe best to wait until last minute to book....bt what would you do in this situation???.Our main holiday to Cyprus will be beginning of August and need to save for WDW. But so desperate to go back!!

 

[Miffy2003]

I would not hesiitate to go and take my 2 DDs on my own. Trouble is, there's no way DH would let me

If you think you would be happy coping with the boys on your own then you go for it I say

 

[jns]

Go for it
and stay on site or at one of the downtown hotels for easy transport to parks

I would have no problem going on my own with the boys but couldn't get away without my mother ,Husband , brothers wanting to go

 

[angel659]

Hi

Go for it. I went last year with my 4 year old daughter as we booked a last minute flight for myself and my daughter. We flew with My Travel and stayed at All Star Movies. This year we are going in 19 days yipee!!

I was fine we flew to SFB instead if MCO. We used Coach USA for airport trips.

If you dont mind leaving your dh behind go honestly it is great. Once your through departures and on the plane your addrenaline kicks in and you just cant wait to get there. We only went for a week, wish I booked for two.

You can either get some fly drive quotes or package deals. I would stay in a budget on disney site ASM is great and for the boys ages Sports is great as well. You have all the free transportation you wouldnt need to worry about driving. We saved a fortune booking it seperately.

Good luck

Michelle

 

[Mr-D]

If you look at package holidays then you will have to be careful about the pricing. You will get stung for adult under occupancy.

D

 

[mickeydumplings]

Hiya Jane
I know exactly how you feel I am to going next year with my two boys 12 and 13 and it is a bit scary. ( hubby is left looking after our dog long story but feel we cant leave him with anyone ) Me and the boys went to DLP this year on our owns and it was fine but Paris does feels around the corner compared to Florida. But thanks to this board and all the nice people giving advice I think we will have a wicked time. We are staying at Pop going to get a town car from airport so we can go to the supermarket. And hopefully be brave enough to go to Universal if not on a bus then in a taxi. When i first thought about going thought we would not be able to being a non driver but clearly not the case.

I have booked with cosmos and paid 2100 for second 2 weeks in july so with my transport from airport and disney tickets think it is an okay price

Maybe the only problem i will have will be never wanting to holiday anywhere else again


Debbie

 

[arieliwish]

Maybe the only problem i will have will be never wanting to holiday anywhere else again - You got that right!

We used the WDW transport on 4 or 5 days this year, even though we had a car. As long as you allow plenty of time to get around, its so easy to travel around the world. You can also park hop on bus/boat/monorail without worrying about getting back to the car.

I ventured to Walmart alone and had a drive along the 192 and felt completely safe - majority of people in walmart were Brits!

For a relax try Disney Quest, you can have a cuppa (and a nice cheesecake!) While the kids explore the free arcade and virtual reality games. There's also free internet access in there, so you can check into the boards!

DH is still recovering from a stroke, so I'm in charge of the planning and driving, and generally everything, so it sometimes feels like I'm on my own with the kids, especially if DH is tired. I wouldn't hesitate to go for it, and have another great time!

 

[jdybnsn]

Hi

I wouldn't hesitate about going on my own as far as practicalities go - after all, its not like you are not going with very small kids.

However, cost wise, and for my own sanity, I think I would definitely try and see if I could find another adult family member or friend to go with you - there must be other 'big kids' out there that you know ?

When I went to WDW the first time as a single mum, I went with a lady who was 78 !!.......and it was her 4th time,...... and she came with us again last year !!! - and yes, she did quite alot of the rides !!!!!

 

[Ruth B]

Hi
i went on my own with my 9 year old last Oct. I didn't want to drive so we stayed On i-drive for 5 nights, and used the i-tolley to get to sea world and discovery cove. We then stayed at universal for 2 nights( brillent front of line access) then AKL for 7 nights.We got the towncar service between the airport and all hotels. I found this a great way to get around without driving. I would suggest booking flights etc direct expecially going as one adult( otherwise your oldest child will be charged as a adult.) make sure you give yourself and the kids breaks as especially doing it on your own can be very tiaring! Best wishes Ruth

 

[Mr-D]

Having just returned I can tell you the hardest part of being the only parent is not having somebody else to say no when they want to buy/do everything in sight. The rest is easy

D

 

[Soprano]

I took my brother when I was 24 and he was 8. It was my first US trip. I didn't drive and stayed off site.

Perhaps you could stay on International Drive in a hotel with a free bus service to theme parks? I know people say you need a car, but I have gone three times without and had no problem getting around. Buses are very cheap and easy.

You should save quite a bit of money staying off site too. I have only started to consider saying ON site at Disney, I have always been put off as I didn't want to have TOO much Disney. I don't like the idea of splitting your hotels either. As it becomes a bit of a hassle packing and checking out again.

 

[Madjock]

I took my two DDs (then 4 and 10) on my own for one week last Oct for exactly the same reason as yourself. My decision was a bit spur of the moment after receiving an email from ebookers about cheap flights! I booked Virgin flights via ebookers and then ASMo via dreams unlimited, which included the ultimate pass. Staying onsite and using the Disney transport was really easy. Having been a couple of times before one week was enough to see and do all we really wanted, two would’ve been great, but one was better than nothing!

We did miss DH but we had a great time and I would definitely do a solo trip with the girls again if I had to without any hesitation.

I say go for it, you’ll have a great time with the kids.

 

[Astrid]

I'm a single parent and have been taking my two to WDW since 1999 on my own - when we went the first time my son was 6 and my daughter was only 3 and we had the most wonderful trip.

Your two are quite a bit older than that so a lot more self-sufficient so I'd definately say 'go for it'!!

I have no problems getting a good price for our holidays. The first two times we went I did a package with Jetlife (not sure if they're still around) and stayed off site, and since then I've been booking independently, staying off site and on site.

Even though I now have a boyfriend and we're all off there again next month - all 7 of us!! I'd have no problem just going away just with my two again and in fact I'm (shhh don't tell anybody!) considering doing just that over one of the half terms next year!!

Astrid x

 

[disneyholic family]

i did this a number of years ago when my kids were something like 8 and 10....
we stayed at the All Star Music and it was GREAT!!....we had a wonderful time....
we were there for 2 weeks (and used only Disney transportation)......if you have any questions, feel free to private message me...

 

[stevechase]

hi,

Dont know if this helps, at our local Going Places (at the Merry Hill shopping Centre, Dudley, West Midlands)

They were advertising in the window last weekend. For 2 adults, 2 kids in either May 06 or Setember 06 2 weeks at the Pop Century resort, £ 1930.00

It caught my eye as a good price.

Cheers

Steve

 

[jns]

Maybe the only problem i will have will be never wanting to holiday anywhere else again


Debbie

I quite agree

 

[happytraveller]

Hi, i'm a single parent and have taken my three children to orlando 3 times on my own.This year we went to toronto and next year hopefully california.When we did go to orlando we used virgin for the single parent discounts.Good luck and enjoy your trip

 

[Englands Disney Gang]

WOW!!!!!.....What a great response I did not expect that!!. I have been looking at package holidays and it seem TCD are coming up cheap at £1750 to Pop Century for the middle 2 weeks of September next year. I dont want to book it yet (cant afford to book it yet!!) I am not sure what Town Cars are??? they have been mentioned a few times can someone give me an idea who and what they do?? as a trip to the Supermarket would be great!!. Had a good chat with the boys and explained the situation they dont seem worried about dad missing!!
I think its just the thought of myself being alone incase anything goes wrong (I am sure I would panic!!) now I sound pathetic!. If I have a 'I cant do it day' I will come on here and you all have my full permission to give me a kick up the bum and tell me to get a grip!!!

 

[fizz13]

Its so weird you have posted about this because I am going through a similar dilema. i have already booked to go next october with DD6 who will be 7 then. the trouble is I am leaving behind DS4 and DS1. DH is more than happy to look after them but I know DS4 is going to be heartbroken when he realises what is going on. i have already paid a fair bit of money to virgin with a package deal and the only way I could turn it around and afford it would be to change my booking to a flydrive and book the hotel with disney seperately. the idea was to have a girls trip and go at a more relaxed pace. taking DS may result in tantrums and tearing from one attraction to the next. I don't think i can leave him knowing how much he would love to go back.

Sorry to jump on your thread, but while everyone is discussing your situation, I may just see if anyone has advice for me too. Hope this is ok,
Claire xx

 

[disneyholic family]

I think its just the thought of myself being alone incase anything goes wrong (I am sure I would panic!!) now I sound pathetic!. If I have a 'I cant do it day' I will come on here and you all have my full permission to give me a kick up the bum and tell me to get a grip!!!

when i went with my two kids (my husband couldn't come with us that year), it was the first time i was going anywhere 'on my own' after having been diagnosed with an illness that has attacks that can occur at any time without warning...
since my first attack about a year and half prior to that trip, i had barely been out of my little town on my own since i was so afraid of the consequences of another attack...
but little by little i made baby steps further and further away from home...

but a trip across the atlantic with two children was indeed a daunting thought (even if we are americans, so at least we're on the "correct" side of the ocean when we're at WDW)...
one thing i did was to have the kids wear bum bags with important information inside - emergency phone numbers etc.......that way if anything happened to me, they would be able to get help or at least have the information so that the authorities could get help...

in the end, i was perfectly fine, but it made me feel more secure that they had the bum bags with them.....they also carried their autograph books, pens and little cameras in their own bum bag....they liked that....oh...and spending money from grandma...

by the way, the summer we were there, a hurricane hit WDW...it was the first time in the history of WDW that it was shut down....as i said we stayed at the all star music....they were extremely organized regarding hurricane preparations and we felt absolutely secure the entire time...

it was a wonderful trip that we all talk about to this day (despite the zillions of other trips we've made to WDW)....my kids are now 20 and 18.....so it was about 10 years ago....