Have you done Disney with 2 kids with age gaps?

[cam&phoebsmom]

I know-long title! (sorry)
My son will be 7 when we go and my DD will be21 months.

Any tips for helping them both enjoy?

We have discussed splitting up and re-meeting when needed if DD needs a break at the hotel (etc.) but if you have any trip saving ideas I would love to hear them.

 

[mommyof2princesses]

We do disney with kids who are 8 1/2 years apart! dd13 and dd4. We have been going together since they were 1 and 11. We do the parent swap on some rides. Dad and dd13 go ride while we wait, then mom and dd13(again) go ride. Not the most fun, but it worked for us. This year dd4 (who will be 5 3 days before we go) can ride on many more rides. So, less waiting! Many rides in MK are ridable by any age!

 

[Harvestmooner]

My kids are 6 1/2 years apart. The first time we went we had a 7year old and a 5 month old.
There are some rides that everyone loves and there are some things we split up on. That's what's great about WDW that things appeal to 'kids' of all ages!
Our younger child is a dare devil and our older child is alittle more cautious, but both LOVE the roller coasters!!! I think you have to do what works best for your family-but remember it is your vacation as well as the kids!
Have a great trip!!!

 

[ChrisandDon'sMommy]

Just taking it day to day. Our sons will be 10 years old and 16 months!

 

[HeidiPA]

Our girls are 6 1/2 years apart. They were 4 and 11 the last time we went to Disney. This trip, they'll be 15 and 8. Now we've added a 2 year old son to the mix (and will be travelling with friends with a 6 month old). Age gaps don't seem to be such a big deal at Disney. I become a big kid there myself. Everyone just gets into the magic and has fun!

 

[cam&phoebsmom]

I have read that for the parent swaps they let the older sibs ride again with the parent who did not get to ride.
Has anyone encountered any rides where they do not allow that?

I just want to br prepared in case my DS thinks he can re-ride and then they won't let him-especially in situations where we use a Fastpass (like on Soarin' or Splash Mountain).

 

[carrie6466]

The first time we went was for dd's 4th birthday. DS had just turned 18. Yep, our only 2 kids are 14 years apart. We also had my niece with us who was about 18 mos at the time. Everyone had a blast. Sometimes DS and I went on a ride the kiddies couldn't go on (space mt, Tot, Rock n Roller Coaster), while DH took the girls on a 'kiddie' ride (small world, carousel, muppets 3D). Then we'd switch or my brother, DH and son would go off and us girls would do something. We did stay together a lot, because DD was 40 inches, so there was a lot she could do. The rest of us mostly just took turns watching the baby if she couldn't go. Everyone had a great time and we're all going back in Oct for MNSSHP...they will be 19, 5, 2 1/2 and a 9 month old new niece

 

[scjo68]

I have read that for the parent swaps they let the older sibs ride again with the parent who did not get to ride.
Has anyone encountered any rides where they do not allow that?

I just want to br prepared in case my DS thinks he can re-ride and then they won't let him-especially in situations where we use a Fastpass (like on Soarin' or Splash Mountain).

I know when we were there, the Test Track child swap ticket specifically said it was for one rider only. I do not know if they strictly follow that rule or not, we didn't ask.

I know for sure dd rode Soarin with both of us using child swap.

 

[ChristusG]

Disney, especailly the MK, is a place where age gaps really dont matter. At MK the little one can ride just about anything except the three mountains.

 

[scjo68]

My kids are 6 1/2 years apart- now age 4, ds, and age 10 1/2, dd.

We've gone each year since ds was 18 months old.

We do split up quite a bit of the time, but enjoy lots of attractions together. DD loves to do things with her brother, and doesn't mind riding the "younger" rides with him. Actually, I think she really enjoys them, and likes having him as an excuse to participate. She wouldn't admit to enjoying Playhouse Disney when she was 9, but I know she did. And she wouldn't have done it without her little brother.

WDW is a much easier place to tour together than Kings Dominion, our local park, because there really aren't any baby-only rides at WDW. When we go to Kings Dominion, we've had to split up way more, because dd is too big for most of the kiddie rides, and the rides she likes at KD are way too wild for ds. There is plenty in the middle at WDW, though.

We always ended up splitting up at night. DD would stay late with one of us
to watch fireworks, go to P&P party, etc., while the other one would take ds back to the hotel for bedtime. This worked for us, and it is so easy if you stay on site. I don't know how we could have done thatif we stayed off site.

 

[pigget74]

Our kids are 13, 10, 2, and 10mths. Have not gone with the newest one yet, but have been three times with the 2 year old. We do a lot of parent swaps--have even done these with fast passes. We do split up some--for example in the evening when the younger would be tired I would take him to the room and DH would stay at the park with the older ones. It worked for us and gave him some one on one time with the older two or just the oldest. We go again in November and have aloready decided this is the way to go.

My older 2 would argue and who would get to sit with little man on the kiddy rides--they loved seein his reactions.

 

[agentpleakley]

My kids are 6 1/2 years apart. The first time we went we had a 7year old and a 5 month old.
There are some rides that everyone loves and there are some things we split up on. That's what's great about WDW that things appeal to 'kids' of all ages!
Our younger child is a dare devil and our older child is alittle more cautious, but both LOVE the roller coasters!!! I think you have to do what works best for your family-but remember it is your vacation as well as the kids!
Have a great trip!!!

I could have written this post word for word - especially the bolded . Everything will be fine -- you will have a great time!

 

[cam&phoebsmom]

Thank you all!
We were pretty sure MK would not be a problem since DD can go on most things-and the things she is too short for (like Splash and Haunted Mansion) we will swap out for if my DS even gets brave enough. And at Goofy's Barnstormer one of us will take my DD to Donald's boat as she LOVES to splash!

We decided to stay on-site again not only because we loved it last time and the free dining, but because it gave us much more flexibility in how we dealt with DD.

 

[tkmmc]

cam&phoebsmom:
It seems as though our children are about the same age and we'll be in The World at the same time. During our trip my oldest will be 7 and my youngest will have just turned 2 (2 weeks before). I've thought about how my 2 year old will fare but have tried (repeat TRIED) not to worry too much. I know this will sound horrible and typically I'm not one to let the younger one suffer so the older one can be happy BUT... I'm thinking that since she won't remember this trip, I don't want to "split up" too much to accomodate her. My husband, older daughter and I WILL remember this trip and I would like for most of our memories to be of a vacation together. Of course we will look for rides/activities for my little one to enjoy and we will go back to the resort for an afternoon break (something we may not do if she were older). I just don't see us really splitting up for any significant amount of time. We'll see though, you never know how things will play out. With a two year old, I guess I'll try to be prepared for anything. I know every family is different and I'm sure you'll have fun no matter what you do. I just thought I'd share since I've thought a lot about this.

 

[jennilouwho]

I know when we were there, the Test Track child swap ticket specifically said it was for one rider only. I do not know if they strictly follow that rule or not, we didn't ask.

I know for sure dd rode Soarin with both of us using child swap.

DH and I had my parents and 17 month old DS with us last time. Every time we did child swap, 3 adults were allowed to ride with the pass. Usually DH and I took turns and let my parents both ride with us since they had never been and probably will never go again. Test Track let us have 3 people as well. Every ride did.

 

[cam&phoebsmom]

cam&phoebsmom:
It seems as though our children are about the same age and we'll be in The World at the same time. During our trip my oldest will be 7 and my youngest will have just turned 2 (2 weeks before). I've thought about how my 2 year old will fare but have tried (repeat TRIED) not to worry too much. I know this will sound horrible and typically I'm not one to let the younger one suffer so the older one can be happy BUT... I'm thinking that since she won't remember this trip, I don't want to "split up" too much to accomodate her. My husband, older daughter and I WILL remember this trip and I would like for most of our memories to be of a vacation together. Of course we will look for rides/activities for my little one to enjoy and we will go back to the resort for an afternoon break (something we may not do if she were older). I just don't see us really splitting up for any significant amount of time. We'll see though, you never know how things will play out. With a two year old, I guess I'll try to be prepared for anything. I know every family is different and I'm sure you'll have fun no matter what you do. I just thought I'd share since I've thought a lot about this.

We also decided that since my DD was free for the trip we were not so worried that she have as good of a time as our DS, LOL. Generally she is a very easy-going toddler who goes with the flow. She is one of those funny kids who will actually fall asleep and nap right on the beach for an hour or two when we go. We did a one day trip to a little park named Dutch Wonderland and she did great there. She got really fussy for about 15 minutes in the afternoon before falling asleep in her stroller, but was great the rest of the day.
She loves music and loves to dance, so I think there will be plenty for her to enjoy even though the focus will be on our older son.

 

[♥Ariel♥]

I am 14, we go every spring break. It is always me my mom my dad, my brother who is 5, and my cousin who is 11. Mark ( by bro) goes on buzz light year and stuff and me and my cuzz go with him, but then as the days go on we go on rides together and my parents take him to the closest kiddie ride. Then My mom will go with me and my cuz, while my dad wathces my bro, then they swithc off. Its very affective. But becuase i am the best big sister i go on as many rides with my bro!

 

[Rylee]

Our kids are 7, 10, 17, 23, & 27... 20 years apart!!!

We really don't split-up very often... the older kids (girls) enjoy watching the reactions and expressions of the younger ones.

We "work" areas of the parks, and ride whatever we can together. For the few rides the younger ones can't go on, DH will go with one group and I go with the other but we stay in the general area... then we switch.

Example - I do Buzz or the Race Cars with the youngest while they ride Space Mountain, or RnRC & ToT while others watch Beauty & the Beast, etc., then we switch.

Hint - for long lines... swipe all 4 cards for FP, have DH take oldest child, then switch... using the other 2 FP. Oldest child gets to go twice!

We never did the child swap because we didn't feel it was fair to have children wait in line for something they couldn't/wouldn't ride, although, if the child is a young baby, that would be fine.

This year will be easy... DS7 just hit 48.5" !

 

[Chelley00]

We have 2 "sets" of kids, 15 & 12, and 6 and 3. We did all the rides together that we could, then DH would take the older ones on the bigger rides, while I took the little ones to shows or on a character hunt or on smaller rides near the big ride area. Then we'd meet up later, switch so I could ride and he could take the little kids for something. We'd make sure we watched parades and fireworks together.

 

[4winks]

We did rider swap and took the youngest to something she could do while we waited - or had a snack.