Help With Mixed Ages At Disney!!

[dtripli]

We are headed to disney in September. Our children are 9, 11, 14 and now we are adding our new baby to the mix. He'll be 6 1/2 months at our trip and I am so anxious about doing disney with him. It has been soo long since we needed a stroller at the parks. I guess I am just looking for some words of encouragement and good stories. I don't want to feel isolated or left out of all the fun with my older gang. Also how do you do the resort pools with an infant. I would really like to be able and spend down time with my husband and other children as well. We'll be staying at GF for the week (first time for that) I hope this works out......

 

[saratogadreamin09]

congrats on the new baby!!!!

I'm sure the trip will go fine. The older kids will most likely help you out with the baby and if you and your husband want to ride all teh thrill rides then you could just do a child swap with the babby.



j

 

[imthatgirl]

well youll certainly find having the stroller usefull.
i dont like using the baby swap, i feel like we spend way to much time in one area. so instead my husband and i decide ahead of time who will do what ride. ive never done test track, so i get that one. soarin bores me, so he can have that. the only ride we both want to do is rockin roller coaster so we will either do baby swap or he will ride it first thing and then grab me a FP at the same time.
honestly i end up off of most things, but i like to wander alone too. i dont feel left out at all, i love walking around and enjoying the things that they would just run by.
as for the pool we bring floats from home. my youngest son is now 2 1/2, but in the past ive gotten him those float suits ,then we had thes float car he would sit(so he would have both of them on) in and i would just swim around with him. plus most of the resorts have wading pools.
have fun!!

 

[3mickeymom]

My two older boys were 8 and 12 when my youngest son was born. Disney is the best vacation for our family because it is possible to make everyone, no matter how old ,happy. We made or first visit when the youngest was 1. The older ones liked having the excuse of a baby brother to relive some of the rides that make disney so fun-like Peter Pan and Winnie the Pooh. I found spots for the little guy to nap quietly while the big boys headed off for some fun with their dad while i enjoyed relaxing and people watching. You will find that your new addituion will have a bit of a different childhood. Mine had many naps in the car and did not always have a set bedtime. BUT, he brought lots of love and fun and he always had someone to entertain him. My youngest is more easy going as well. i think it is because he got dragged around to so may sporting events and school functions. He is now 11 and disney is still the best vacation for us, with our mixed ages. Have a wonderful trip. Everything will be great. Just relax and enjoy their childhoods!

 

[dtripli]

My two older boys were 8 and 12 when my youngest son was born. Disney is the best vacation for our family because it is possible to make everyone, no matter how old ,happy. We made or first visit when the youngest was 1. The older ones liked having the excuse of a baby brother to relive some of the rides that make disney so fun-like Peter Pan and Winnie the Pooh. I found spots for the little guy to nap quietly while the big boys headed off for some fun with their dad while i enjoyed relaxing and people watching. You will find that your new addituion will have a bit of a different childhood. Mine had many naps in the car and did not always have a set bedtime. BUT, he brought lots of love and fun and he always had someone to entertain him. My youngest is more easy going as well. i think it is because he got dragged around to so may sporting events and school functions. He is now 11 and disney is still the best vacation for us, with our mixed ages. Have a wonderful trip. Everything will be great. Just relax and enjoy their childhoods!

Thank you - I really needed to hear from someone who was in the same situation at one point or another. Maybe this will even help make this vacation a bit more relaxed than others....

 

[Tammysue5]

WHile we did not have a new baby...we did have an age gap last year and again this year. DS19, DS17, DD9 and DD6. We are doing the same thing this year as last (because it worked well w/us) We are going on a family vacation and so we are going to be a family while we are there. Each gets to pick choices for rides and Meals.... no one can complain about the others' choices. They are 2 rides DD6 will not do (RnRC d/t height and TOT d/t ) They boys let her 'sit this out'... but we had a great time! DS posed w/all the Princesses last year and Lilo/Stitch... and we have the best pics of this. DDs LOVED those 'poses' as much as the characters. They would just wait to see how big brother would pose w/each character. He "flexed his muscles w/Stitch and gave the thumbs up w/Lilo. Posed as Alladin w/Jasmine... The kids were great and truly I think had a better time than if we had just went our separate ways. The boys were great when the girls 'braved" a ride... They would give them hi-fives.


The baby for you can be the 'break ' you all can take together to relax.... Have great time.

 

[blessedby3]

Our kids are close to the same as yours- DD18, DS13, DD9 and the baby DD9 mos. We went to Disney this past Jan. and they were 17,12,9 and 3 1/2 mos. It was great and we had no problems. It is very easy with a baby- or it always has been for us. My DH gets queasy on most big thrill rides so it works out good for us. I take the other 3 kids and we ride the big rides and DH sits with the baby. We were able to take the baby on lots of rides and of course the shows with no problems. She actually enjoyed the shows even at 3 mos. She took lots in and we so enjoyed having her there for her first visit. Everyone gets to pick rides in our family and the others either ride along or wait outside if it is not one of their favorites. We still get tons done even with an infant. Dont worry- you will have a great time and that stroller will come in handy for hauling everything you dont want to carry. We loved the baby stations- be sure to check them out. They are a great place to come in from the crowds and have a bit of quiet. They also are stocked with all the supplies you would need in case you forget something on a certain day. We visited in Jan. so we really didnt use the resort pools. I would imagine that everyone can get in the pools since you are going in Sept. Our DD(9mos) just loves being in the pool (we have one at our house) so I would let yours enjoy the GF pool with the rest of the family. Have fun- wish I were going with you!!!