Help planning ~ Travelling 1 adult, 2 toddlers

[SplashMtn40inches]

Hi, we're planning our trip and it became more and more apparent that my wife who gets motion sickness quite easily would be like dead weight on the trip. So, we're discussing me (Dad) taking our two kids (7 & 4) on the trip, leaving Mom at home to online shop for the week.

Anyone have any experience travelling in three's, with two of them being little ones? A concern of mine are the rides that seat two, knowing my 4yr old won't let anyone other than me sit with her mixed with my 7yr old not wanting to sit alone. Any advice or tips?

 

[smartlabelprint]

Bring mom to push the stroller.

 

[lalasmama]

With kids that young, assuming they aren't really (really) large kiddos, you'll be able to sit 3 to a bench most of the time, I'd bet. DH, DD, and I could fit the 3 of us together quite a bit, and DH and I are each over 200 lbs. Granted, it was squished, but doable.

Now, as far as wife's motion sickness... Bonine with breakfast and dinner. Seabands, placed correctly, from breakfast til bed. And don't forget to eat small meals and snacks frequently. I know, it seems counter-intuitive to eat to avoid the queasiness, but it actually works. I get so sick I can't watch a moving walkway without getting nauseated. With the above, I'm so much better!

 

[deliareh]

I've gone to the parks alone regularly with my now 3-year old twins and 7-year old for the past 3 years. My son is familiar with the rides, so he didn't mind sitting alone while I sat with the twins. Even so, most of the rides allowed us all to sit together, e.g. two on the seat and one on my lap on Dumbo.

The bigger concern would be the rides with height requirements if your daughter is shorter than 40". You can't leave her behind by herself while you ride with your son and I don't feel comfortable sending my son in a line alone, except for Goofy's Sky School at DCA where you can see the entire line. He waits in the Single Rider Line and usually gets through the line in less than 10 minutes.

I also had my kids watch every movie related to an attraction we were going on so they were familiar with the characters and the story, even The Nightmare Before Christmas, which is now one of their favorites! They seemed to enjoy the attractions more than our friends' kids who weren't as familiar.

Good luck!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Ginger (capsules and lozenges) can really help with motion sickness. I rarely have a problem at the parks (and I can get motion sickness at the movies -- bring back the steadicam!) as long as I carry these in my bag.
If your wife can join you on this trip, she can help if you are eligible for rider swap. If your 7 yo is tall enough for some rides that the younger one isn't, then your wife can stay with the little one while you ride with the older one. When you are done, she can ride (if it's something that works for her) with the older one again. Having 2 adults will also help with potty trips and FP.

 

[FryingPansWhoKnew]

The only ride I can think of where you would have a problem with your party is Toy Story Midway Mania. Other rides like Silly Symphony Swings, Jumpin' Jellyfish, Space Mountain, Gadget Go-Coaster, Goofy's Sky School all would have height requirements that I'm not sure if your 4 year old meets anyway. Everything else seems doable if you squeeze in. Buzz Lightyear has a bench seat to squeeze in but only two blasters. Not sure what they would let you do on that one.

 

[lorijohnhill]

I get motion sickness very easily (I can't even watch my daughter play Minecraft!) I take the max dose of Meclizine (I think it is generic Bonine) and am able to ride most of the rides without issue. I still avoid things like the Tea Cups... There is so much more to Disneyland than the rides. Unless she really doesn't WANT to go with you and your kids, I'd say she should come along and enjoy the rides that she can and enjoy the environment and everything else.

 

[Geemo]

Hi, we're planning our trip and it became more and more apparent that my wife who gets motion sickness quite easily would be like dead weight on the trip. So, we're discussing me (Dad) taking our two kids (7 & 4) on the trip, leaving Mom at home to online shop for the week.

Anyone have any experience travelling in three's, with two of them being little ones? A concern of mine are the rides that seat two, knowing my 4yr old won't let anyone other than me sit with her mixed with my 7yr old not wanting to sit alone. Any advice or tips?

If she really doesn't want to go that's one thing...
As others have said there are many things other than rides.
If I were her, I'd go and enjoy family time at Disneyland. While you go on rides, she can shop in the stores through out the parks.
For that matter she can shop online while in the parks. She can find a bench in the shade, hop online and shop away.

Good luck
Geemo

 

[cruisehopeful]

I used to ride with my 2 kids when they were young. No big deal. I would just go on the rides that had room for us 3 in a row and that was every ride that we wanted to go on.

I think your wife would enjoy going even if she didn't go on any rides. I get motion sickness on a few of the rides (space mountain, star tours and tea cups), but can ride everything else. She may be fine with most of the rides there.

 

[jpessa]

The only ride I can think of where you would have a problem with your party is Toy Story Midway Mania. Other rides like Silly Symphony Swings, Jumpin' Jellyfish, Space Mountain, Gadget Go-Coaster, Goofy's Sky School all would have height requirements that I'm not sure if your 4 year old meets anyway. Everything else seems doable if you squeeze in. Buzz Lightyear has a bench seat to squeeze in but only two blasters. Not sure what they would let you do on that one.

Recently went with a 5 & 6 year olds. Only problem was Gadgets Go Coaster, because it only sits 2 on a bench and the oldest wasn't 7 so she couldn't sit alone.

On TSMM and Buzz they let us sit together and I let the kids have the blasters. Everything else we were fine, you can squeeze in 3 to a seat (although didn't do Space). I echo biggest issue will be if 4yo isn't 40" yet. That would be limiting.

 

[Elima2015]

We went to DL with pre-school twins and a baby and they let us ride 3 to a seat on almost everything. Granted, the baby didn't care about the blasters on TSMM or Buzz, but it was totally doable to sit three across. Golden Zephyr required max 2 per seat, but they let the 4 year olds sit together and I sat right behind them. And Gadget's Go Coaster was also max 2 per seat, if they let the 7 year old sit in her own seat then you are fine, if not you might have to skip that one. Maybe they would let the two kids sit together and you behind them? I think the other limitation would be if your youngest is <40" then all of you are limited from any of those rides.

Totally my personal opinion, but if I were your wife, I would want to go join in on the family time. I'd wear seabands on my wrists, take bonine and do what I could. I'm pretty prone to motion sickness myself, but actually did fine on most everything the kids could ride. There are also the character meet n greets, meals, parades, downtown disney, hotel pool to enjoy. She could find a nice spot with a cup of coffee and online shop while you ride things she isn't interested in or keep the younger one if <40" while you and your 7 year old hit up some of the other rides. Of course, if you choose to take them alone, it is totally do-able and I think you will find plenty that you can do as a three-some or your older one will warm up after a while and be willing to sit alone.

 

[FryingPansWhoKnew]

Recently went with a 5 & 6 year olds. Only problem was Gadgets Go Coaster, because it only sits 2 on a bench and the oldest wasn't 7 so she couldn't sit alone.

On TSMM and Buzz they let us sit together and I let the kids have the blasters. Everything else we were fine, you can squeeze in 3 to a seat (although didn't do Space). I echo biggest issue will be if 4yo isn't 40" yet. That would be limiting.

I know Jumpin Jellyfish you can't do as I recently tried and they told me no. Silly Symphony tandem swings are 2- person only as well, but I did not specifically ask about this.

 

[SplashMtn40inches]

Thank you all. I think being able to fit three to a ride was my larger concern. We opted to move our dates so that my wife can do the Tinkerbell half marathon so as motion sick as she gets, she's coming!

First ride? TEA CUPS.

 

[Dr. G]

Glad your wife decided to come. There are many rides she will be able to do. And to echo what others have said, there is so much more to do at Disneyland in addition to the rides. With kids those ages, the character interactions will be great; would have been sad for her to miss those!

 

[Elima2015]

First ride? TEA CUPS.

LOL! I was planning to skip the tea cups, but went anyway and was super serious about nobody touching the center wheel that spins the cup. Ended up being a blast and we rode it several times in a row as there was no wait (and everyone kept their hands away from the spinner)! But, even that much motion definitely isn't for everyone. I thought the rides like Alice in Wonderland made me feel worse.

I'm glad she decided to come!

 

[smartlabelprint]

Yay!! Hope your kiddos love it! I think DW will have a great time. Even with few rides. DLR is awesome.

 

[Keels]

Thank you all. I think being able to fit three to a ride was my larger concern. We opted to move our dates so that my wife can do the Tinkerbell half marathon so as motion sick as she gets, she's coming!

First ride? TEA CUPS.

She will LOVE the Tinker Bell Half Marathon - it's one of my very favorite race weekends RunDisney does and the weather was just awesome this year.