How old would your kids have to be for you to take them solo?

[julie-o]

18 and 21 lol


Seperately, I'd take each of them now at 8&10. On their own they are amazingly well behaved children. Together they are like feral cats trapped in a box together. They are gonna need to be a little older before I'm willing to deal with them on my own someplace like Disney. Or the younger brother is going to have to step up and knock older brother on his butt a few times so he'll stop being such a jerk to him.

LOL at this. Can relate.

 

[julie-o]

I have a very big age gap, 10 and 2. Last year the 9 yo and I did a trip just us and it was one of my favorite trips anywhere ever. Not sure how old I’d want the younger to be before traveling with them alone. Probably at least 5, because he’s a wild child.

 

[dez1978]

LOL at this. Can relate.

I'm glad I'm not alone lol.

 

[DduzDis]

I have a 9yo DD and a 6yo DD. I took the 9 yo solo a couple of years ago as we tend to tour the parks very much the same. However, my 6 yo does not. She much more enjoys the shows and characters vs most of the bigger attractions. For that reason alone, I would not consider taking them without DW (who usually tours with the 6 yo if we are not doing the same things). I would definitely and do plan to take each separately on daddy/daughter trips on occasion. Fortunately, my vacation time is the limit for us so as long as DW wants to go, she has the time (and interest).

 

[kwdw]

1) IMO, at least one must be 7 so they can ride in a separate row. Several rides are only two across.
2) You need to have a restroom plan in mind and be confident in their ability to follow it. I keep hoping Disney will go to gender inclusive restroom styles, but they have not.
3) You need to be able to deal with when bathing or showering one of them or yourself.
4) You need confidence the taller one isn’t going to throw a fit because a ride they can go on but the shorter one can’t is skipped that trip.
5) If one is a wanderer in public, you need confidence you can keep that in check.

Beyond that, it depends on your kids!

 

[zillayen]

1) IMO, at least one must be 7 so they can ride in a separate row. Several rides are only two across.
2) You need to have a restroom plan in mind and be confident in their ability to follow it. I keep hoping Disney will go to gender inclusive restroom styles, but they have not.

For (1), a kid under 7 can ride in a separate row unless they’ve changed this rule recently. I have twins and have taken them solo to both DLR and WDW when they were under 7. The only rides we ever had issues with not being able to do were Silly Swings and the Jellyfish ride at DLR because my son would have had to ride in a completely different vehicle. He was always allowed to ride in a different row in front of or behind my daughter and I as long as it was the same ride vehicle. Otherwise single parents would be shut out of Disney for a long time!!

For (2), it’s really really common for boys to go with mom into the womens restroom until they’re 7 or 8 (or even longer for some people). But I think if they can ride a ride alone, they can go to the bathroom on their own.

 

[Disturbia]

I would say 44 inches (around 5-6 years old so they can ride FOP) and fully potty trained unless you are ok with skipping FOP. The older child can help with a small backpack and drink mugs (carry bottles with a cap vs mugs-kids doze off towards the end of the night) as you get the stroller on/off the bus (crossbody purses help when you’re trying to juggle things alone). Your 5 year old may still need a stroller at this age.

Any younger than 7, both kids might still want to ride in a stroller. You can check Joovy caboose ultralight weight limits (45 lbs per seat?). When our teen was little we had a Mcclaren volo and weight limit was 55 lbs. once she was 7 it kind of dragged and was really hard to push, but was nice to have when she got tired of walking. Maybe renting the hard plastic Disney strollers might be better.

Also, it’s a pain getting everyone’s coats jackets diaper bag carry on, carriers (we have colugo) liquids, medication, laptop and gate check stroller through security and pack it back up while keep the kids in line and putting on your shoes. Pack something like activene pain cream + aspercreme with lidocaine (better than biofreeze) and a mini massage gun for muscle/foot pain (Bob and Brad Q2 gun; we have the C2).

Don’t let your guard down even though it’s Disney. There are family restrooms in some places (thinking of the one near Satuli and the Pinocchio village haus.). If I’m alone with the younger kids, I take them into the disability bathroom (if there is no family restroom) where I can maneuver the stroller next to me.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0716HTHDW/ref=ppx_yo_mob_b_inactive_ship_o0_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1