I think I may be crazy...

[Anonomom]

I'm expecting my third child in exactly 4 weeks (yay!). This pregnancy was a surprise, and it ended up requiring us to scratch our plans for an October WDW trip and move it forward to this past May. We ended up having a fantastic time, and 2 months later my 2yo is still talking about it every day. She also asks me every day when we can go back.

The rational part of me knows darn well that we are planning to go back to WDW in 2014, when the new baby is the age youngest daughter is now. On this past trip, we all agreed how much more fun we had now that our youngest is old enough to understand what's going on and our oldest is big enough for a lot of the "big kid" rides (they're 5.5 and 2.5 now).

The irrational part of me keeps looking at these annual passes DD1 and I have (that won't expire until Nov. 15) and thinking maybe I should take all three kids (!) to WDW for a long weekend in early November. Tix would be free (at least, already paid for), so it'd just be a matter of transportation and hotel. We'd concentrate mainly on characters, since DH likely wouldn't be able to come (and thus I couldn't take DD1 on the big kid rides). Sounds easy and fun, right?

But then, a 3-month-old at Disney. With two other kids. And just me. Not worth it, right, no matter how many times DD asks?

 

[iamadisneynut]

I'd likely do it, but I'm crazy too!

 

[LuLuO]

I know it's not something I could do. I'm sure someone here has done it though. Maybe you could take her to Disney on Ice or something to get her (and your) Disney fix.

 

[tlh0726]

In 4 weeks your 2.5 yr old will have something else to be talking about everyday.
If another adult was going along I would say go for it. But just you and 3 young kids, nope.
Biggest fear I would have is what it you became ill and had to take care of them while not leaving the room or worse yet the bathroom.

Enjoy the new baby and plan another trip for when your DH can join you.

 

[Anonomom]

In 4 weeks your 2.5 yr old will have something else to be talking about everyday.
If another adult was going along I would say go for it. But just you and 3 young kids, nope.
Biggest fear I would have is what it you became ill and had to take care of them while not leaving the room or worse yet the bathroom.

Enjoy the new baby and plan another trip for when your DH can join you.

Thank you, o Voice of Reason (and I mean that non-sarcastically). Funny you should mention sickness -- I took the kids to WDW last year w/o DH, and we did indeed spend half the trip shut up in our hotel room because they both got stomach bugs. I was very, very grateful at the time that I didn't get sick. Somehow I'd blocked that particular memory out while I was fantasizing about going solo again.

 

[amylynne01]

I've thought about it too since we're TTC #3, but I think 3 young kids is one too many for just me at DW. I would totally bring my 2 girls, but add in a newborn? No way. If my mom or sister came with me, then I would.

 

[vcr]

I went with 3 when the baby was 9 days old for a long weekend. I was exhausted, but had a good time.

 

[crystaldawn]

I'd want to go too lol. But I wouldn't do it just me... Three kids alone is a lot of kids We have four so I can imagine how it would be. If I could get another adult to go I'd do it in a second.

 

[Allison]

I would not do it.

 

[The Hendies]

I'll be there in early November! I'll babysit! Well, just kidding, my career is working with kids birth to 3, so it wouldn't be much of a vacation if I volunteered to take a child (or 2) off your hands! Anyway, my point is, is it reasonable to take someone along with you?

 

[eebadeeba]

I would go if I had the opportunity to. I think it depends on how you are feeling after the birth and your parenting style. In my case the baby would be wrapped up or in a sling and nursing whenever and wherever they needed to. Would you be driving or relying on Disney transportation? The only problem I see is if you are trying to get on a bus with a sleeping child, infant, and stroller. Someone in line would probably be more than willing to help you (while at the same time thinking you are totally crazy.) Getting sick would be bad, but I also noticed that I never got sick while nursing, even if the rest of the family did. As soon as I stopped, I was sick along with everyone else.

 

[SnipsNSnails]

I would go if I had the opportunity to. I think it depends on how you are feeling after the birth and your parenting style. In my case the baby would be wrapped up or in a sling and nursing whenever and wherever they needed to. Would you be driving or relying on Disney transportation? The only problem I see is if you are trying to get on a bus with a sleeping child, infant, and stroller. Someone in line would probably be more than willing to help you (while at the same time thinking you are totally crazy.) Getting sick would be bad, but I also noticed that I never got sick while nursing, even if the rest of the family did. As soon as I stopped, I was sick along with everyone else.

That is so true! Less than two weeks after my youngest was born my other DS came down with the puking flu, then my DH caught it. I had just had a c-section so my mom drove back down to help because I still couldn't drive or lift anything heavier than the baby. Then she caught it too, but thankfully my DH was getting over it by then. But the baby and I were fine, thank goodness because I could not imagine having the puking flue less than 2 wks after a c-section!

Back on topic though: I wouldn't do it. If you had someone else who was willing to go too, a parent, sibling, or friend, then sure. Disney is a lot to take on with 3 young children by yourself.

 

[beccamarie]

I have three kids and I would do it! It would be nice if you could find a friend to go with you though. I would think the baby would sleep most of the day in the stroller. It might get tricky when the oldest one wants to go on the bigger rides. I think you can make it work though!

 

[Sydnie]

Only if you could get a friend or family member to help you. I will have my two alone a lot in Disney on our next trip since DH will be telecommuting from the hotel in the mornings (only way he can come for the whole trip!) and while two is just about doable alone for half days I think three kids all day everyday would just not be fun.

Actually I think you might not be able to do it anyway-kids under 7 must be accompanied by a parent on rides and there's no way you could all four of in in a row on a lot of the rides, so you'd be quite limited.

Convince someone to join you

 

[imthatgirl]

If it were me I would find a sitter for the 3mo and take the older two.

 

[Colleen27]

I'd do it but I'm probably crazy too. Going from 2 kids to 3 was MUCH easier than going from 1 to 2, and a 3mo would just be in the sling most of the time anyway. when my third was that young I was toting her all over creation in her sling because of the older kids' activities, and Michigan in the fall is not nearly as nice for that (weather-wise) as Florida!

If you do decide to go for it, make it a surprise for the older kids - that way if (God forbid) you have a difficult delivery or the baby has health problems or is just too fussy a baby to travel with the olders won't be disappointed over canceling.

 

[crisi]

I wouldn't. In part because three kids solo is a lot to handle. In part because I think setting the expectations for a two year old that Disney is an "easy all the time thing that you get when you want it (or shortly thereafter)" sets a bad precedent moving forward. I want my kids to understand Disney is a "big deal" and I want them to understand that they are lucky to get to go at all, much less as often as they do. And in part because I think we are in for another recession if our politicians don't grow up, and I wouldn't take on the transportation and lodging expenses right now.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

You would constantly have to say no to the older ones. I think it's cruel to take them and not let them be able to enjoy the rides/shows etc. because of the baby. In the end, they may actually come to resent your new little one. Not worth it to me.