Going Alone to Disney with small children. Yay or Nay?

[charmedlife3517]

When in doubt....ask the experts.

So I am booked at Boardwalk villas for our upcoming Disney trip. I absolutely want to stay at Boardwalk as I have been looking forward to it for months upon months. However, I just found out that my husband can not go with us now and I will have to go to Disney ALONE with 2 small children I have tried endlessly to get somebody to come with me but have yet to find somebody to go. Really I dont get it. I would jump at the chance to go to Disney for 6 days. Anywho, we are technically going with my bff and her family but they are staying at Port Orleans Riverside in the Alligator Bayou. So we will be together at the parks but part ways on our way to and from the hotels. Am I taking on too much trying to handle two children on my own or do you think it will be okay? I will be there for 6 days and my kids are 5 and 9. Should I switch my reservation to Port Orleans? I have never been to Disney so the idea sounds okay but the reality may not be. HELP

 

[tink20]

When in doubt....ask the experts.

So I am booked at Boardwalk villas for our upcoming Disney trip. I absolutely want to stay at Boardwalk as I have been looking forward to it for months upon months. However, I just found out that my husband can not go with us now and I will have to go to Disney ALONE with 2 small children I have tried endlessly to get somebody to come with me but have yet to find somebody to go. Really I dont get it. I would jump at the chance to go to Disney for 6 days. Anywho, we are technically going with my bff and her family but they are staying at Port Orleans Riverside in the Alligator Bayou. So we will be together at the parks but part ways on our way to and from the hotels. Am I taking on too much trying to handle two children on my own or do you think it will be okay? I will be there for 6 days and my kids are 5 and 9. Should I switch my reservation to Port Orleans? I have never been to Disney so the idea sounds okay but the reality may not be. HELP

I'll go and help....JK. Seriously though, I think with the ages of your children that you should be fine. Go and have a great time.

 

[bz8bls]

Grandmother who took twin granddaughters who were 4 and their brother who was 6 at the time. We had a fantastic time and I created a very special photo book that they will always remember.

 

[CoolPool]

Surely you understand that everyday there are thousands of single or divorced or widowed parents taking their children to Disney. Its really not that hard. Have a great trip!

 

[FantasiaMagic]

IMO I think you will be fine. The ages of your children are not toddler age so it should be ok. Also, you aren't completely alone since your friend will be there!

Have a wonderful trip to the world!!!

 

[*Fantasia*]

You can do it! Just bring a light stroller for your 5 yr old, so your child won't get tired easily. I found that a better time to do rides is during the parade and the fireworks. Most are watching the parade and the fireworks in front of the castle.. The lines are a little shorter, less wait. Take advantage of morning EMH and the fastpass.

 

[kaligal]

Little kids, no way.

Kids your kids' ages? Sure! I'd totally go!

 

[HNT2419]

Just wanted to add..the person you are going with is probably Awesome!!!

 

[francie57]

Keep the Boardwalk reservation - you won't be disappointed. Your friends can visit you at the resort and you can go see them. If you are going to be spending the days in the parks with them you will actually enjoy having some alone time. Make sure you have a stroller for the younger one and go and enjoy.

 

[twinboysmom]

5 and 9? Yep.

 

[ktmo]

I just did a solo trip with my two DDs 5 & 7. 5 nights at CBR. Very doable. We had a blast. I didn't have any real issues. The only real issue was not having a fastpass runner. Some of the rides my oldest had to ride with a stranger (Everest), but we talked about it ahead of time.

We didn't do all that we would have if DH had come, but it was still a fantastic trip. I did bring the stroller for my 5 year old. I knew that it would be easier if she just rode in the stroller. She hasn't really used a stroller in years, but I wanted to make it easier on me. I also needed the stroller to carry all of our stuff, since DH wouldn't be there to help carry things.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

I go with my 8 year old daughter every single year and LOVE IT! Sometimes my sister and her husband come along for part of the trip, and sometimes they do not. Either way, it is FUN!

The first time I went with my daughter, she was two and my sister joined us. Since then, I have made at least part of the trip (if not all) alone with my daughter at ages 4, 5, 6, 7, and now, next month, 8!

I cannot tell you how much fun we have! It is a BLAST! You'll be fine in any resort. Go and have a GREAT time!

 

[Pixiedust34]

Our upcoming trip will be the 4th one I take with just me and the kids. It'll be fine!!

The one thing I learned fast when my kids were young was that buffets were a lot of work. It's a lot of up and down for mom if they are too small to be trusted with loading and carrying their own plates. Your 9 yo should be fine, but the 5 yo may need help. The one recommendation I'd throw out is that as far as character meals go, family style meals ('Ohana breakfast, Garden Grill Dinner) are a lot more relaxing than buffets. Of course, you can do buffets, but being waited on is nice when you're in charge of 2 young ones.

You can have a good trip with the kids. Balance park time with relaxing time. My kids rose to the occasion and pitched in with helping carry luggage, food trays, keeping the room tidy, etc. You'll be amazed at how smoothly it can go.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Surely you understand that everyday there are thousands of single or divorced or widowed parents taking their children to Disney. Its really not that hard. Have a great trip!

Exactly what i was thinking. im a single parent. I started taking my son to disney alone years ago and we were just fine. Your 9 yo isnt considered "a small child". When you said small children i was expecting toddlers. But theyre 5 & 9. You'll be fine! I would honestly change resorts to POR so you can at least be closer to your friends. It would be easier for ypu and more fun that way. Have fun!



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[charmedlife3517]

Sorry, I guess my post wasn't very clear. I am not questioning whether I should go to Disney bc I am going regardless. The question is if it will be ok being that far away from my friends as I dont know how big Disney is, how much work it takes just getting to and from the parks, how crowded and chaotic things can get, etc. So I guess in terms of being able to meet up with them and the amount of travel it will require since I dont want to wear myself or my kids out with a ton of travel back and forth. I obviously dont plan on having my friends take care of my kids along with their 3.

As far as it being "easy" I have friends that say its hectic taking their kids with their husband there to help and I know several couples that take grandma and grandpa along so that they can get a break. I don't know anybody who has ever gone alone with their kids which is part of the reason I posted. I can say it sounds easy but I have never done it and just wanted to hear from other who have done it. To those of you who gave helpful advice.....Thanks!

 

[twinboysmom]

We go alone, just DH and I with our twin 2 year olds (their 6th trip in December). I have also spent a few hours alone with them in MK. It was doable. Not the best experience but doable. So I know for children your age, you will be fine. If you're not experienced at WDW I would suggest you get one of the many guidebooks, read stes like easywdw.com, and spend a lot of time on these boards. The family board is a great place to ask questions. Try your question there and ask specific questions regarding your concerns.

 

[charmedlife3517]

Thanks! I wasn't sure where to post this. I have a couple of guide books and luckily my trusty friend who will be a phone call away.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

Now that I have read your update, I advise keeping your reservation at the Boardwalk, especially if you are concerned about getting around the parks.

To me, it's easier getting around to the various parks from that great location, than it would be from a moderate resort. At the Boardwalk, you can walk (or take a boat) to Epcot and Disney Studios and bypass the buses altogether. From Epcot's Future World, you can take the monorail to the Magic Kingdom.

Or you can choose to take a bus from the Boardwalk, too. The Boardwalk offers lots of choices that the moderate resorts do not.

At POR, you will most likely be dependent upon the bus system to get to the four theme parks (unless you or your friends have a car). There is a nice boat to Downtown Disney from POR. But, I think your friends will enjoy visiting you at the Boardwalk. It is a beautiful resort.

There's nothing wrong with being close to your friends, too, if you want to arrange it that way (and save some money). I think you will LOVE the Boardwalk area, though.

I would not sacrifice a stay at a Deluxe resort to be closer to friends for security or ease of transportation, because a Deluxe resort is TOPS in both of those areas. But I might sacrifice a stay at a Deluxe resort to be closer to friends for fun. It's up to you!

Edited to add: What I am trying to say is that I think the Deluxe resort will be more helpful to you in getting around to the various parks than having friends along for the ride. Disney makes it super easy to navigate wherever you are going. My family turned me loose as a teenager and my younger nephew and I went all over Disney property by ourselves. Everything was just a monorail (or bus or boat) ride away!

 

[twinboysmom]

By the way Op, I missed it was your first trip. Sorry about that.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

Sorry, I guess my post wasn't very clear. I am not questioning whether I should go to Disney bc I am going regardless. The question is if it will be ok being that far away from my friends as I dont know how big Disney is, how much work it takes just getting to and from the parks, how crowded and chaotic things can get, etc. So I guess in terms of being able to meet up with them and the amount of travel it will require since I dont want to wear myself or my kids out with a ton of travel back and forth. I obviously dont plan on having my friends take care of my kids along with their 3.

As far as it being "easy" I have friends that say its hectic taking their kids with their husband there to help and I know several couples that take grandma and grandpa along so that they can get a break. I don't know anybody who has ever gone alone with their kids which is part of the reason I posted. I can say it sounds easy but I have never done it and just wanted to hear from other who have done it. To those of you who gave helpful advice.....Thanks!

I have one more thing to add about navigating inside the theme parks.

I actually found it easier with me and my daughter alone than I did when my sister and her husband joined us. I love their company, but they have needs of their own, and we were always giving in on our wishes to accomodate them. Or when we did not give in, they acted a little put out.

For instance, on our last visit, we wanted to stay in Epcot a while longer, and they wanted to go to the Magic Kingdom. We agreed to meet them at the Magic Kingdom, before the fireworks, and stay late for the Evening Extra Magic Hours. But by the time we got there, they were tired and wanted to go back to the resort. They blamed me for not getting to spend enough time with their niece. I felt guilty, so I gave up on the Evening Extra Magic Hours, and we all went back to the resort together.

Of course, we left after the fireworks (which was silly), because there was more than an hour wait for a bus, when we could have been having a good time going on rides with NO LINES. But what can you do when you are trying to please more than one person?

So yeah, I definitely enjoy being in the parks without other adults at least SOME of the time.