How to do wdw with 4 kids, advice please?!

[audeodream]

I asked this question over on the theme parks board but I thought this board may have more strategies. No, I'm really not crazy, or a glutton for punishment but I'm the only one that can afford to take them right now and I couldn't get any of my other family members to take advantage of the 4/3 deal, so it's just me. Before my mother passed away it was our plan to take them all to back WDW (we took them in Sept. 2001 for their "first trips") so this trip is in honor of her...what she would have done.

I will be traveling to WDW in June and I'm taking my son (9) and three nieces (9,10,11). The two nine-year-olds have been known to "freak out" on different rides (unfortunately it is never the same ride for both of them). I'm sure I will have some flat-out refusals to ride various things during our stay. I'm hoping to get some advice on how to handle this? I can't let the 10 & 11 year-olds stand in line by themselves, If one of the 9 year olds want to ride a ride with the 10 & 11 what if they "freak out" during the ride (my 9 year old niece did this unexpectedly at Big Thunder Mountain at Disneyland, fortunately she was in front of me and I could semi-soothe her for the remainder of the ride)? Any strategies/advice would be welcome.

 

[3BoysRDisneyFreaks]

You can all wait in line together and then take which ever child doesn't want to ride out the 'chicken out' door.

Have fun and no you aren't crazy. Have a good time!

 

[Perditamarie]

You can all go through the line together and when it is time to board, tell the CM you need the chicken exit, and you can leave w/the 9 yos. The 10 & 11 yo are old enough to ride by themselves. Perhaps knowing there is a chicken exit will help the 9 yos w/any anxiety...and maybe inspire them to try the ride!

I think this is a great way to honor your mother!

 

[prince.john]

I've found that peer presure does wonders for a child's bravery level.
There were rides that I couldn't get my daughter to go on, but when she saw
her cousin (1 year younger than herself) go on the ride, she suddenly got up the nerve to try it. You may be pleasntly surprised. Having 4 kids, all close to the same age, and some more willing to ride, it may actually be a help in getting the wallflowers over the hump. Maybe you could enlist the help of the older ones to squelch the younger ones fears.

 

[DisneyTigers]

I think it's TOTALLY okay to let the 10 and 11 year olds ride alone. I went to WDW with a class trip when I was 10 and we wandered around w/o adult supervision all day in the parks.

Sounds like you will have a great time! Have fun!!

 

[audeodream]

Thanks, your "calm" on the boards is making me feel much more optimistic!

 

[mjkacmom]

I'd let 10 and 11 year olds stand together in line! I'd also let them hang somewhere if they didn't want to go on a ride. We're not talking about really young kids here.