Ever taken just one of your kids to Disney at a time?

[DduzDis]

I always dreamed of taking my (unborn) kiddos to Disney. Now that I have a 2 yr old and 5 yr old, I’m dying to take them but the thought of it just exhausts me! Every time we vacation as a family I am destroyedddd for a full week after!

But I used to love taking DS5 when he was a toddler, before DS2 was born. DH is not a Disney fan so I didn’t mind the solo parenting with just 1 kid. With 2 kids now, solo parenting at Disney terrifies me

So my question is: if you have taken one kid, how does that work? Do you take the other soon after? I would want to do that.

Just a couple nights one weekend. Then take the other kid a few weekends later. Likely will rent DVC points for a monorail resort. Whoever stays home with dad will get to go to stadium games and other fun things, and be spoiled by grandparents.

Just not sure if we will both miss the absent kiddo or if it will be great quality 1:1 time (which has been sorely lacking for both kids)

One of my most memorable trips was taking my DD7 who is my roller coaster girl, for the MK AP Preview of reopening in 2020. We did 2 days in MK (the day before and the day of reopening) and I think we did a day in AK as they were the only parks reopening at that time. We stayed at the Poly and I let her set the pace. She has been enough to know her way around and what she wants to do. I had an incredible time. I will also say that when we take a family trip, if we split to go do separate things this same older DD is always with me and younger DD is always with DW (not a roller coaster girls either). DW did also make sure to do special things with DD4 who stayed behind on this one.

Fast forward a couple of years and a cancelled guys trip I found myself with a week of vacation, no destination, a couple of DDs (now 9 and 6) who are about to head back to school so why not check DVC availability and piece together a trip to WDW if we can. I approached DW about my idea to take both girls by myself on a 15 hour drive (first time for this too) to WDW IF I can get a week of rooms booked. She agreed and we were on the road 3 hours later for a reservation at OKW the next night. My DD9 is very responsible and listens to instructions (sometimes DD6 chooses otherwise). So having DD9 to escort DD6 in the bathrooms on the road and at WDW was awesome (though Disney moms are excellent help if needed in WDW too). I again had a very memorable trip. We bobbed and weaved as the days unfolded. I mentioned DVC so we are not new to managing the parks and transportation. We did have to tone down the attractions side as DD6 is at MAX a Barnstormer girl. We had a blast at any rate. The cap to the trip is still astounding to even me....without intending to that morning ,we drove 16 hours straight through because my girls were on their best behavior, I was well rested and we all wanted to get home to see mama. This was an incredible trip and bonding with my girls on this trip is absolutely priceless. This just took place at the beginning of this month a few weeks ago.

If you get a chance to take any similar trips, I highly recommend it. We all had a wonderful week (to include DW who got an unexpected week of total peace). These trips are not well planned (on purpose) and letting the kid(s) have some say makes them even more special for them. (Of course I do retain veto power or just redirect if they want to do something I am opposed to).

 

[tguz]

Yes. I took my oldest the week before she turned 3 with my mom and sister, and left the 1 year old at home. We took them both two years later (two weeks before the youngest turned 3).
I then took both girls at 10 and 8 and left 2 year old brother at home. That trip was crazy easy and they could go go go. We all could have gone but neither of us really wanted to deal with a 2 year old at Disney again and he had no clue at the time so DH happily stayed home. I'd do it all over again...getting that time with the two oldest before they went full tween on me was amazing. My favorite part of the trip was that they held my hands!
We just went again with all of us and the youngest that got left behind last time was 6 1/2. When we told him about the trip he kept saying "I can't believe the whole family gets to go!" and "Now we can take down that picture at Epcot with just the girls and put up one of all of us!"
Different groups of people/kids produce different kinds of trips...I think there is value in all of them in different situations! My youngest is so much younger I can totally see a scenario in which we take him alone again...although the girls might not let that fly.

Sounds like a good plan, I wouldn't want to deal with a 2 year old at Disney either. I loved taking all my kids when they were older.

 

[danceintherain]

This is so great to hear! I am so glad it is working for you.

Would LOVE any and all tips you have, particularly: did the kids change their minds last minute and get upset about you leaving with sibling? Anything happen on the first 1:1 trip you didn’t expect?

Also: Everyone has convinced me!

I just booked DVC at BLT for 2 nights in Oct with my little baby (2.5 yr old) while 5 yr old stays home and goes to his top choices (“stadium soccer game and McDonalds”) with DH.

He said he wanted a 6th birthday trip with mom in March so that’s what he’s getting! I’m so excited to try Big Thunder with him! And keep him up a little late for fireworks! He will love it all!

Thankfully airfare is super cheap for our dates ($128).

I am so excited to spoil my baby with attention and bond with him in a way we haven’t gotten to do yet. When I am alone with both of them (even when DH is around) I just never feel like I can give either of them my full attention. I really need this.

And obviously I am going to dress the baby in the most adorable Halloween costumes! Too bad MNSSHP is sold out.

My daughter was a little upset, when I took her brother, but she got through it with the knowledge that I'll be taking her on her own trip at some point.
We also don't always take all our kids everywhere, so they're somewhat used to it.
My younger boys only care that I'm not around. They don't really care who I'm with. I can't take them everywhere with me.

 

[DisneyFave]

One of my most memorable trips was taking my DD7 who is my roller coaster girl, for the MK AP Preview of reopening in 2020. We did 2 days in MK (the day before and the day of reopening) and I think we did a day in AK as they were the only parks reopening at that time. We stayed at the Poly and I let her set the pace. She has been enough to know her way around and what she wants to do. I had an incredible time. I will also say that when we take a family trip, if we split to go do separate things this same older DD is always with me and younger DD is always with DW (not a roller coaster girls either). DW did also make sure to do special things with DD4 who stayed behind on this one.

Fast forward a couple of years and a cancelled guys trip I found myself with a week of vacation, no destination, a couple of DDs (now 9 and 6) who are about to head back to school so why not check DVC availability and piece together a trip to WDW if we can. I approached DW about my idea to take both girls by myself on a 15 hour drive (first time for this too) to WDW IF I can get a week of rooms booked. She agreed and we were on the road 3 hours later for a reservation at OKW the next night. My DD9 is very responsible and listens to instructions (sometimes DD6 chooses otherwise). So having DD9 to escort DD6 in the bathrooms on the road and at WDW was awesome (though Disney moms are excellent help if needed in WDW too). I again had a very memorable trip. We bobbed and weaved as the days unfolded. I mentioned DVC so we are not new to managing the parks and transportation. We did have to tone down the attractions side as DD6 is at MAX a Barnstormer girl. We had a blast at any rate. The cap to the trip is still astounding to even me....without intending to that morning ,we drove 16 hours straight through because my girls were on their best behavior, I was well rested and we all wanted to get home to see mama. This was an incredible trip and bonding with my girls on this trip is absolutely priceless. This just took place at the beginning of this month a few weeks ago.

If you get a chance to take any similar trips, I highly recommend it. We all had a wonderful week (to include DW who got an unexpected week of total peace). These trips are not well planned (on purpose) and letting the kid(s) have some say makes them even more special for them. (Of course I do retain veto power or just redirect if they want to do something I am opposed to).

This is so heartwarming and brought tears to my eyes! Thank you for sharing your story! It definitely validated my decision to book these 2 trips!

 

[DisneyFave]

Yes. I took my oldest the week before she turned 3 with my mom and sister, and left the 1 year old at home. We took them both two years later (two weeks before the youngest turned 3).
I then took both girls at 10 and 8 and left 2 year old brother at home. That trip was crazy easy and they could go go go. We all could have gone but neither of us really wanted to deal with a 2 year old at Disney again and he had no clue at the time so DH happily stayed home. I'd do it all over again...getting that time with the two oldest before they went full tween on me was amazing. My favorite part of the trip was that they held my hands!
We just went again with all of us and the youngest that got left behind last time was 6 1/2. When we told him about the trip he kept saying "I can't believe the whole family gets to go!" and "Now we can take down that picture at Epcot with just the girls and put up one of all of us!"
Different groups of people/kids produce different kinds of trips...I think there is value in all of them in different situations! My youngest is so much younger I can totally see a scenario in which we take him alone again...although the girls might not let that fly.

They held your hands! What a sweet story!! I hadn't thought about the pictures... I will have to make one big album with both of their trips in it!

 

[NicoleBold]

I'm debating this right now. We are going in March, we will have a 4.5 year old and a 2 year old. My in-laws offered to watch the 2 year old. Now my parents decided they want to come, so I am feeling some feelings about not brining our son when we have 4 adults around. We did just buy DVC though, so we will be going again the following year, and have plenty of trips for both kids.

 

[DisneyFave]

I'm debating this right now. We are going in March, we will have a 4.5 year old and a 2 year old. My in-laws offered to watch the 2 year old. Now my parents decided they want to come, so I am feeling some feelings about not brining our son when we have 4 adults around. We did just buy DVC though, so we will be going again the following year, and have plenty of trips for both kids.

Yeah you make an interesting point. I realized in planning this that I was really interested in:

1) Being the only adult to worry about (adding even one more adult to the mix and worrying about their interests makes things more complicated)

2) Having close 1:1 bonding time with my kiddo.

That said your parents will enjoy being able to participate in everything with you both! And not have to stay behind on the "boring" activities with the toddler.

 

[danceintherain]

I'm debating this right now. We are going in March, we will have a 4.5 year old and a 2 year old. My in-laws offered to watch the 2 year old. Now my parents decided they want to come, so I am feeling some feelings about not brining our son when we have 4 adults around. We did just buy DVC though, so we will be going again the following year, and have plenty of trips for both kids.

It really depends on the kind of trip you want to have. Honestly, I prefer traveling with 2 year olds over 4 year olds, because my 2 year olds can't ride some stuff. My 4 year olds have the tendency to not want to ride things, and make that decision at the last possible moment.
DH can only handle so much in a day, and would much prefer resting in the room. So it has never been a question of both of us being able to ride something with one of our older kids. I would be the one to go anyway...