Getting a little nervous about trip

[la79al]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not second guessing ADR's or anything like that yet. I am more worried about our family actually going. It is going to be DH and I and the kids, ages 13, 9 and 2. I am worried that our family trip is going to turn into DH taking the older kids and doing the big rides while I hang out in Fantasyland with the little one, maybe meeting up for meals, as long as they aren't the babyish Pooh character ones or the scary Rainforest Cafe ones. I see myself heading back to the resort every afternoon so DD can take a nap and me missing every PM EMH so DD can get to bed. Tell me it won't be this bad. Tell me that the Disney magic will let the kids be tolerant of waiting for the little one (and maybe sit through a Pooh meal?). Tell me that my laid back, easygoing baby is going to turn into a laid back, easygoing toddler who will still sleep in her stroller and be able to stay up late at least a couple of nights. Tell me that bribery still works as a last resort.

 

[yasuern]

Relax

Bribery still works and well I might add

It's a family vacation and this includes your little one too - take turns if needed in FantasyLand so both you and your DH have a chance to see that reaction to WDW that I feel only kids 2-6 can show its MAGICAL just to watch!

OR

Stay together no matter the little one will have to do some waiting while the kids yourself and DH(use childswap) do larger rides but they are usually so amused just to be allowed to run about a little or have a ice cream and I remember my DD (4y/o) she slept in the stroller a few times without problems(YES MY 4y/o had a stroller)

AND

Then the older kids need to be patient and do Fantasyland too - I personally enjoy much of FL - Peter Pan - Philarmagic, Small world to name a few. I also like the characters too!


So enjoy your FAMILY VACATION and try not to stress to much


Sue

 

[DisneyBabies]

Bribery still works as a last resort.

DH and I are only bringing our DS on this trip, but we are already talking about a time when we bring all the kids at the same time. We are planning on spending the majority of our time together, but we will also set aside time for the big kids to go with DH and the small ones with me one day and swithch the "line up" another day. We will also make sure that all the kids understand that it is a trip for everyone, so each of the kids will get to have one day where they pick all our meals and the park we go to. Easier said than done, but you just have to tell the kids everyone has to be able to do things together (even if they don't like what others want to do ). I am sure your trip will be great, just try to relax and have fun!

 

[3boymthr]

Stick together. Get your older kids in on the act! Recruit your older kids to help entertain the youngest; offer to pay them (cash or that expensive souvie the just have to have, etc.) to help with youngest by keeping her entertained while you wait in lines for ride swap. The power of bribery is awesome especially for the older kids. Plus your youngest will probably enjoy things outside of Fantasyland like Tom Sawyer where she can get out of the stroller and roam and the older kids probably will too.

As far as the nap thing get her used to going for a walk in your stroller at nap time before the park trip. If she'll fall asleep at home in the stroller, she'll fall asleep in the park. One way to make the trip a little more enjoyable for her and to condition her more to the stroller is a place for a nap thing - allow her to walk around on a harness when you first get there. That way at nap time she'll actually be tired. Or if she just won't sleep in the stroller, use this time as an opportunity to go back to the room and take a pool break for the whole family. You and DH can take turns being in the room.

 

[disneyandme]

Sounds like you and your husband need to get on the same page about vacation. Maybe if you take the little one in the am while he takes that older ones to ride, then he can go back and do nap and you and the older ones can play some more. On the next day, switch roles. Also, a bunch of things can be done as a family-rides, shows, etc. Remind the older ones that any eye rolling or comments will result in not getting to do what they want-- bribery is not necessary, they should be old enough to respect that different interests of the members of the family.

 

[DISNEYNV]

We were in Disney this past December with our kids ages 4 and 1, so there was also a big age difference. To be honest I was afraid of the same thing: that DH would just take DD and leave me to fend for myself on the kiddie rides! Well, there really was nothing to worry about because most everything at Disney is a family friendly attraction or show. The rides that DD wanted to go on and DS could not we took turns taking her on. Just let DH know that it us your vacation as much as it is his and you will need help with changing diapers and getting ready each day for the parks! Don't worry too much... It is a family place and even if you are stuck on baby duty there is so much to do with the little one. Take her to see a character meet and greet, ride the Haunted Mansion or Pirates of the Carribean... Even our 13 month old loved it!!!

Share an ice cream cone or push her around and check out the shops or just all the little details in each park. There is more to Disney than just the rides

 

[3princesses+aprince]

I'm sure you'll be fine once you're there. Just plan to stick together. My dh and I wouldn't even think of splitting up, it's a family vacation. Stay together. The other 2 will have to wait around for the little one and vise versa. My kids are ages 4-12, and I realize there will be some waiting around, but there really are no "baby" rides, there rides that everyone can enjoy. Even character meals are for everyone! Just let your dh know that you're not really willing to split up!

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

I haven't read the other replies but this is what we did. We're a family of five - kids ages at the time 8,4 & 2. DD4 turned 5 on the trip so she had a great bday.

Most of the time we were all ready to go back to the hotel in the early afternoon and take a rest or swim. Most of the times DH wanted to nap anyways and DS8 did not want to nap and neither did I so sometimes DS8 & I went swimming, walk around the resort, shopping or to AK - his favorite park. We picked 2 mornings (Tuesday and Thursday) to break up the week that we would have DD2 sleep in and not have to get up and get going. One morning DH took the older to to a character breakfast and then MK. DD2 and I slept in - played with her toys - went for a walk to the giftshop at our resort and bought some special souvenirs for her. We had lunch at the food court and just an easy day. This was the day that DD8 came back wanting to go to AK while the others napped.

On Thursday, it was DD4's 5th bday and MK EMH in the morning. So I went with DS8 & DD5 to the MK and did all their favorite rides in Fantasy Land and Tomorrow Land again. DH and DD2 met us at BBB at 11:30 for DD5's makeover and then we had lunch in the castle, watched the parade and went back to the resort.

So I guess to make a long story short - be flexible and take turns and have special memories with all your kids. Some days DD2 did nap in her stroller so she did rest that way as well.

Good luck and just have fun.

 

[saratogadreamin09]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not second guessing ADR's or anything like that yet. I am more worried about our family actually going. It is going to be DH and I and the kids, ages 13, 9 and 2. I am worried that our family trip is going to turn into DH taking the older kids and doing the big rides while I hang out in Fantasyland with the little one, maybe meeting up for meals, as long as they aren't the babyish Pooh character ones or the scary Rainforest Cafe ones. I see myself heading back to the resort every afternoon so DD can take a nap and me missing every PM EMH so DD can get to bed. Tell me it won't be this bad. Tell me that the Disney magic will let the kids be tolerant of waiting for the little one (and maybe sit through a Pooh meal?). Tell me that my laid back, easygoing baby is going to turn into a laid back, easygoing toddler who will still sleep in her stroller and be able to stay up late at least a couple of nights. Tell me that bribery still works as a last resort.

Its easy to get young kids to tolerate parks more is to rest a day and then do a park, rest a day then do a park. If you have a nice amount of time (7 days) then this could work well. For example, go to a park on day one but rest on day 2, go to a park on day 3 rest on day 4, go to a park on day 5, rest on day 6, go to a park on day 7. It works even better if you don't want to visit all 4 parks. This allows young kids to be able to sleep in and get to bed early on rest days so they can say awake for more time on park days.

And don't forget about baby swap. The whole family can stick together while still riding thrilling rides. I guess you just have to tak to the older kids and tell them this is a vacation for everyone and they have to do things for their little sister too. Tell them if they do her rides yo'll do their rides. And make sure to remind your DH of this too.

Dont worry, disney if for families and once your family gets there they'll want to be together. HAVE FUN!!!!

 

[SmallWorld71]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not second guessing ADR's or anything like that yet. I am more worried about our family actually going. It is going to be DH and I and the kids, ages 13, 9 and 2. I am worried that our family trip is going to turn into DH taking the older kids and doing the big rides while I hang out in Fantasyland with the little one, maybe meeting up for meals, as long as they aren't the babyish Pooh character ones or the scary Rainforest Cafe ones. I see myself heading back to the resort every afternoon so DD can take a nap and me missing every PM EMH so DD can get to bed. Tell me it won't be this bad. Tell me that the Disney magic will let the kids be tolerant of waiting for the little one (and maybe sit through a Pooh meal?). Tell me that my laid back, easygoing baby is going to turn into a laid back, easygoing toddler who will still sleep in her stroller and be able to stay up late at least a couple of nights. Tell me that bribery still works as a last resort.

Definitely go over the rules with the 2 older ones before you go. Find out what they want to do and let them know that part of traveling as a family is doing what everyone wants do, and doing it nicely! For example, my boys would never choose to go to princess meals, but we go because it is one of their sister's top choices. They don't whine because they know we are doing thier favorites as well and they actually seem to enjoy watching their sister having so much fun. Give them a say in the planning and they may surprise you with how well they behave during things that are chosen especially for their sister.

Use baby swap. This will be a HUGE bonus for the older ones as they will get to ride the big rides twice thanks to their little sister. I think my boys were a little disappointed when their sis became tall enough for the bigger rides. If you are not sure how this works, let me know.

Hopefully DD will sleep in the stoller. My kids always did.

 

[michael's mom]

Why don't you all stick together all morning and do the things that you can do as a family and then one of you (alternate) take the little one back for a nap. The older kids can do the older kid rides at night when the little one is back sleeping. I will tell you though, my DS was perfectly fine at night in the parks...he kept to his schedule on his own...in his stroller. But, he's a great sleeper so that could have helped.

 

[redrosesix]

Well...I'm probably going to say something completely different. On our last trip, we were there as part of a group attending a competition. We did two park days with 6 of the girls plus one baby brother together, so the ages were 1 1/2, 6, 8, 9, 12 and 14 -- pretty much covers the same age range as you are dealing with.

With the exception of the really big rides like BTMRR and SM, all of the kids did all of the rides together. The 12 and 14 year olds loved the Magic Carpets of Aladdin and Peter Pan, etc -- probably more than the younger ones. The younger ones felt like they could ride anything with the older ones and only the toddler skipped the big rides. So, I'm thinking you might be pleasantly surprised at how it works out.

As for nap time, everybody needs some down time in the afternoon -- we usually go back to the resort for a nap or a swim. If you do this and go back in the evening, maybe you or DH can stay longer with the older kids.

 

[michael's mom]

Definitely go over the rules with the 2 older ones before you go. Find out what they want to do and let them know that part of traveling as a family is doing what everyone wants do, and doing it nicely! For example, my boys would never choose to go to princess meals, but we go because it is one of their sister's top choices. They don't whine because they know we are doing thier favorites as well and they actually seem to enjoy watching their sister having so much fun. Give them a say in the planning and they may surprise you with how well they behave during things that are chosen especially for their sister.

Use baby swap. This will be a HUGE bonus for the older ones as they will get to ride the big rides twice thanks to their little sister. I think my boys were a little disappointed when their sis became tall enough for the bigger rides. If you are not sure how this works, let me know.

Hopefully DD will sleep in the stoller. My kids always did.

Okay, it's crazy how we bump into eachother here. I quick responsed this and didn't see your response until after I posted...hahaha! See you in the a.m.

 

[tinkermom23]

I was worried about this too, our kids are 2 and 9. But I talked about it to DH and found that he is looking forward to a few afternoon naps!! and I can take DS9 t the pool or whatever.
Also, I made a large activity book from the Creative Disigners and added some extra journal pages so DS9 will need to spend some quiet time to write and read about his trip. That way, when we get home, he'll have a keepsake and he can show it at school or whatever.
There is one part where I think we will split and that is in DHS where DH & DS9 will go see the Lights Motor Action and the Backlot tour while I take DS2 & DD2 to go see Mermaid & Playhouse Disney. Otherwise, we don't plan on splitting up.
But I think you need to talk it over with your DH beforehand and make sure you are both doing this together and that you will both give & take.
Good luck!

 

[powellrj]

My kids are 25, 17 and 12. We have always had a big age difference to work with.

I am going to be the different one here. As someone who traveled with a teenager and a baby, I would let the older kids and your DH go do their thing in the morning and met for lunch and then do things as a family the rest of the day.

We would get to the parks when the rope dropped and I would take the older kids and DH would take the younger ones and we would met at lunch. By that time everyone had done what they really wanted to and there was no complaining. We like to do a sit down lunch and then hit the parade or rides the whole family can do and then go back for a nap or to swim.

I guess I always looked at it differently. I knew the youngest had many more years to travel with us and our time with our oldest was going to be short. If your 13 year old is anything like our kids, once they reach older teen years, they don't really have the time to travel with us because of school and work commitments. Our oldest stopped traveling with us once he was 16 and this will probably be our middle DS last family trip. He is going to college in the fall and if all goes as he plans, he will travel with his school. Heck on this trip he already has plans to go with his friends on the Disney College program for several days so we don't expect to see much of him on this trip.

I would NOT use bribery at all. I think its a bad thing to start. Just remember its their trip too and try to let them have sometime to enjoy it. Your time with them is so short and will go quickly.