ever been with kids/without spouse?

[holbear]

My DH has put his foot down.. He does not want to go AGAIN. We have been three times with the kids.. every other year for the past 6 years. We do other things as well, but my family lives in Florida and I like to get down there every summer.. we only go to Disney every other summer. The kids and I love it.

Anyway, has anyone ever done it without their spouse, or as a single parent? My kids will be 12, 9 and 7. Where did you stay? Did you try any water parks or was that too much? I've pretty much resigned myself to not even try to get him to go. Universal may be an option, as he might go for that, but I just can't get as into that choice.

I would love to hear from others that made the trip with kids alone.

 

[PEANUT1]

never did it but I say go for it!! Those ages will be pretty easy to deal with.

 

[rie'smom]

My daughter and I go all the time w/out DH. He's not into WDW and we are.

When we go skiing or something like that we does come along.

 

[mom2zandjsquared]

I just went in April without my DH and with my kids but I did have another adult with us my cousin and her two children so it worked out well as neither of our DH's went but I have gone many times on day trips with just the three kids by myself. Its hard for the older two since the youngest can't go on too much outside of MK but they still have a blast. A lot of times I wait in line with them to get on the ride then walk out and wait at the exit with the youngest. Oh we stayed at Pop in April.

 

[MomofKatie]

DD and I go on "girls only" trips every year or so. I'd say go for it (I have an only child, though, so don't know how difficult it would be with 3). As long as you have a good plan and brief the kids beforehand that they need to pay attention, follow your directions, and stay close to you, you should be fine.

If you can swing it financially, staying at a monorail resort would be great- less busses and easier access to the parks. If you are driving, offsite could be fine, but onsite with access to Disney transportation would probably be easier.

I don't see how the waterparks would be any more trouble than any other park. As long as your kids know water safety and are OK swimmers, you shouldn't have any problems.

Do your kids have cell phones (or would you be willing to invest in pay-as-you-go ones for them)? I always feel more secure knowing DD has her own cell- if she and I get seperated somehow, we can find each other by calling back and forth. Good quality walkie-talkies could work, too, but you will have others on the same airwaves to contend with.

Go w/out DH, and have fun!

 

[OKWMom]

I've gone with my DD (with autism) before I got remarried. And believe me, she was a handful. However, I enjoyed every single moment of those trips. I didn't do a waterpark because I would have had to be in two places at once on each slide. Heck, just the pool slide would stress me out because I couldn't decide if it was better to go to the top with her to make sure she made it ok or in the water to catch her after her slide.

We stayed at OKW because I really wanted a kitchen. I didn't think I could handle her in a restaurant after a day in the parks and figured it would be less stressful to cook or order in.

I'm married to a wonderful man now and he loves going to Disney with us, but I'd go by myself in an instant if he didn't want to go.

 

[mrs_noopie]

I had a brief stint as a single parent at WDW with DD3.

In Feb my SIL (my DH's sister) wanted to take her two kids for the first time, but her husband absolutely refuses to ever attend any amusement parks ever. So, we flew down there without my DH (who had no interest in going since we'd just been in Oct). The five of us stayed together in a 1-bedroom at BWV, we were two moms with three kids 5 and under, booked only for three days.

So, I wasn't there as a single parent UNTIL... a snowstorm back at home left just DD and I trapped there in Orlando for 2 more days (SIL was able to leave as scheduled). Luckily since the snowstorm was also keeping people from getting into town, we were able to move into a hotel room next door at BWI. I was able to buy same-day tickets for the P&P Party our first trapped night. The next morning we walked right into the character breakfast at the Swolphin with no need for an ADR. Then, we headed to Epcot which was the one park SIL hadn't wanted to visit.

I would think that going alone with kids your age could be fine and fun... but I really guess it depends on your kids and how easy they are to manage, supervise and entertain by yourself?

 

[DizzDoll]

I'm a single parent and the kids and I have been to wdw 5 times, and we like to stay at pop with a split to another resort. We have a blast.

 

[JohnsDear]

I have gone with just my dd who is know 20 and also with just my dh! Both times were wonderful!!!! DD and I enjoyed our girls only trip to Disneyland and my DH and I went to the world.

With my DH went took it slow only made a few ressies and enjoyed our toghter time.

With my DD we went on her birthday and did girly stuff!!!

I know it is easier when you only have 1 child but I say go for it, they are only young once so go while they still enjoy going with you!

 

[brockash]

I've gone once before without DH (he was in Iraq, and he doesn't think he's the Disney type.) That time I only had my 3 turning 4 year old son, and we had a blast. We're going again in 2 days and again my DH is in Iraq, but this time my DS will be 6 and DD is 17 months. I'm sure we'll have a great time. This time my DSis family is coming with us, so we won't be completely by ourselves, but I'm sure they'll be times when it's just me and the kids, and I'm not worried at all, I know we'll have a great time, and in all honesty I think I kinda prefer when it's just us. My DH is a huge breakfast eater, so I'm not sure we'd ever make it to the parks by RD, and that's a huge thing for me, plus I'm just a little bit of a control freak. I've never done the water parks - I think it'd be hard with a baby and last time we went it was Jan. (although while we were there I realized that doesn't mean much ) but your kids are older so that might be fine too. I would go and have a wonderful time!!

 

[LuvsTinker]

My DH doesn't go when I go with my mom and kids.

 

[brockash]

Oh and we stayed at ASMo and will be again this time

 

[KELSTER]

I'm a single mom and this September will be dd and my 9th trip alone. You'll have a blast!!!

 

[goofy4tink]

My dh likes WDW well enough, but not enough to go every year (more like every 18 months or so!!). DD, almost 15 now, loves WDW, so goes with me every chance she gets. But...every Dec I head to WDW by myself. Well, not all by myself...I'm there with a bunch of like minded buddies, all of whom I've met through the DIS boards. My dh is thrilled because I get to go, he gets to stay home. DD is miffed because she has school. But me? I love it. I get to do exactly what I want. I stay by myself, but meet up with my friends during the day or at mealtimes. Love my trips on my own.

 

[christa112]

I have never been without DH, but I would definately leave him home and go with the kids. LOL

 

[Picabo]

Right now my kids are too young that I wouldn't feel comfortable taking them alone. HOWEVER I already have plans to do Mommy/Daughter trips when they're a bit older. I think by the time they are 5-6 range I'd feel pretty comfortable doing it on my own. (DH isn't a huge Disney fan...well he's never been, next year is his first ever trip, but he's not exactly thrilled about it. haha)

I think your kids are old enough that you should be fine. Do you have 2-way radios or can you get them? That's a good way to keep track of them if you split up and have a meeting place/time set up.

I say GO FOR IT! I think you all will enjoy it. It's sure better than not going at all, right???

 

[kim_d]

My almost 4yo DD and I are going by ourselves in November. I would take our DS (who is almost 6) too- but he has school. It isn't that DH doesn't love WDW but he is taking our DS on a trip (to a football game out of state) and I wanted to do somethign special for my DD.

 

[gymjenn2]

i am a single mom and i am planning a feb trip with my DD, turing 4, alone. just the two of us. i am not too worried since i have been a single parent her whole life so i am used to handling resturants, and outing alone. but this is our first vacation so any input from other single parents would be great.

 

[holbear]

Thanks so much for all the replies!

My kids are easy to manage, but I think I will have to give up the idea of taking them to a water park. The younger ones aren't really strong swimmers and I think I would just stress out too much. I would not split up from them, but I do like the walky-talky or extra cell phone just in case (DS has been bugging me for one and that would make him really happy. LOL).

I'm tempted to try Coronado Springs, just because it will be a first time we don't NEED a deluxe room since we will just be a family of 4 and so it will be a lot less expensive. Wilderness Lodge or Poly does appeal to me for the ease of getting to MK, though.

I'm glad to hear so many of you have gone without sig. others. I won't give up our Disney trips altogether because DH is being a party pooper. It might be more relaxing without his 'been there, done that' comments anyway.

 

[rie'smom]

Holly, CSR has a great pool. My 14 yo daughter requested CSR for our Nov trip. She didn't like the Poly at all, however she did like WL.