mom & 2 kids

[missmissy]

Hi all
I'm thinking about going to disney next feb with me & DD 4 & DD8. DH doesn't want to go this time.
For those of you that have done this is it hard doing it by yourself ? I'm going to stay at pop and use the bus system.
Is there a place where I can look up the rides to see which ones we all 3 can be seated together?
Thanks for your help.

 

[Ellester]

Bumping for you. I haven't done it alone, but I think it would be so much fun to have a "mommy & kids" trip! I don't know of anywhere to see where you can ride three abreast but I know that you should be able to on many of them. We did some last trip where two of our kids rode together with mom or dad right behind (dd's were 8 and 5). I think in some ways it would be easier being the only grown up. You are the sole one in charge so there is no discussing what to do now, you get to decide!

 

[TaraPA]

I'm excited to hear how your trip goes. In 2002 I took just our older DS (5 at the time) to WDW, the little guy (then 2) stayed home with dad. This fall I'm going alone with just the little guy (now 7). DH is not a Disney fan, and frankly, makes our family trips miserable with him along! So next fall I would love to take both boys (11 & 8 by then) by myself. My biggest concern is what if one is sick, then the other one is also missing out on fun since there's no other adult to take him to the parks. Also mine like different rides - I can't let one go on alone, or let one alone to wait. Not sure how this will pan out!

 

[eeyoregon]

Single mom here so I always do it alone, LOL!

You will be just fine and a great role model for your kids...Mom can do anything!!!

There are lot's of rides that you can all go on together: Dumbo, Aladdins Carpet, Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Peter Pan, Small World, maybe even Thunder Mountain in one seat depending on size of your kids, Buzz Lightyear and so on.

Do it and have a GREAT TIME!

 

[TaraPA]

Question about letting children ride alone....does Disney have an age requirement for children to ride alone? If I take both sons by myself, the older one will no doubt want to go on bigger rides that his little brother can't. I would be willing to go thru the line with him, but would then have to exit with the little guy before getting on the ride. Is this allowed? Will they even allow the little guy to get in line if he doesn't meet the height requirement, even though he's not riding? I know it depends on the maturity of the child, and when I plan to do this, older DS will be 11 1/2 & I would feel confident letting him ride alone, as long as I can wait in line with him, and be waiting for him at the exit. Anyone have experience with this?

 

[kfalsey]

I plan on going with (have 2 girls ages 4 and 6) with one of them each year as a special trip for mom and daughter, thought it would be nice. but okw is better can just take a bus to /from airport no car to rent. Which resort at disney is the best for this situation, I was thinking okw a quiet pool time.

 

[lpandorf]

I've been 4 times since October 2004 with just Mom and kids. First two trips were just me and DD, now 7. DS was just a baby and I left him home with Dad. In November 2006 I added DS a few months shy of 3 years to the trip. We stayed at WL. The kids and I just got back from a trip in June staying at CS. DS was 3.5 and potty trained this trip which made things much easier. Both times with the two kids things were fine. I was a little nervous the first time but figured if things got that bad I'd put DD in Cubs Den and take a nap with DS but no problems. We fly from Cincinnati. I get a direct flight, gate check the stroller so I have it in the airport to cart DS and carry on around and take the Magical Express. On the trip back I call and have someone come get us and the luggage, check my bags at the hotel and get my boarding passes at the hotel too. That way I have free hands and don't have to deal with the bags and kids at airport. I have not had a problem on the rides for the most part. Most of the stuff we like to go on all 3 can ride at the same time. My daughter loves the coasters so I just put her on by herself which she's fine with and wait at the end.

I actually love these Mom and kids trips. It's our special thing we do and I am already planning next year's trip.

 

[missmissy]

Thanks for your guys help. To be honest it is kinda of exciting to think of a trip without my husband because he is not a disney fan like myself. Sometimes it is like having a 3rd child to make happy on vacation. And a full week of eating where the kids and I want to eat. Buying the silly suvioner without him asking do you really need that. In my mind it's Disney, it a time to eat like the fat girl I am and buy magnets, princess hats, mickeyears and and the suvioner cups & popcorn tubs. The more I think about the more I like the idea.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I went by myself with my 2 girls last year. We stayed at Pop. Mine were 6 and 10 so that was a little easier than the younger ones but it was GREAT! DH is also not a Disney nut like we are. We went for free dining and ate at all the places we Princesess had been wanting to that he really wouldn't enjoy. We did Crystal Palace with Pooh and friends, the Princesses in Norway, Cinderella at Park Fare, Prime Time Cafe, Playhouse Disney Meal in MGM, the Luau at the Poly, and Liberty Tree Tavern. We loved them all but DH would have hated them all! I was much more relaxed since I didn't have to entertain him also and could just go at our pace.

It was nice to be able to make all the decisions myself, but sometimes it would have been nice to have an extra set of hands. Just realize you will need to take it easy and plan and easy pace. If you wear yourself out you can't just hand off to the other parent. Use a good stroller.

Most all the rides are easy for you to do with the 3 of you. The ones that won't seat 3 you should be able to sit with your younger one and let your older one be alone, or let the kids sit together and you behind them. I am thinking of things like Dumbo and Aladdin and the Pooh ride. As far as riding alone on the bigger rides I can't remember about those. They will let you go through the line but the "chicken exit" is not always right at the front of the ride, and there is not always an easy place that they will let you wait at the exit so you can see him get off and be waiting. It depends on how much "independence" you are willing to give her. Do you have any specific rides in mind?

Staying on site makes getting around as a single parent so easy that I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. My dh is usually rather overprotective of us since he knows I am a nervous Nellie and can't read a map to save my life but he knew that I would have no problems at Disney. He helped us check the luggage in here and kissed us good bye and then we got off the plane in Orlando and got on Magical Express it was totally stress free!

 

[eebadeeba]

Maybe use a kids club for the younger one for a night, and take the older one on the big rides.

 

[bobcat]

I've gone as a single Mom every year since '99 and WDW is one of the easiest places to vacation as a solo parent. My kids were 4 and 6 at the time and we were able to ride three in a car, or at least all in the same car, on many rides. At 9yo my dd decided she wanted to ride the big rides, while her little brother wasn't tall enough for some and brave enough for others. The ones he was tall enough we would go through the line ride with her and wait at the exit for her to get off. Those he wasn't tall enough for we would hit at EMH when the lines are shorter and she would go through the line herself and we would meet her at the exit. It's not a solution everyone would be comfortable with but she was a WDW pro by that point.

Staying on site makes a trip so easy since you can leave the driving up to Disney. With little ones table service restaurants make meal times easier. Juggling a tray and two kids while trying to find a seat can be a challenge, and I have the spilled food to prove it!

It's a great time to focus solely on the kids and have that one on one time.

 

[DisneyRockStarMommy]

go you!!
I did it with my kids while my husband had a conference (business) down there...
kids were 3 and 9...and what a help my daughter was with my Stich..I mean son

 

[mercydisney]

Thanks for your guys help. To be honest it is kinda of exciting to think of a trip without my husband because he is not a disney fan like myself. Sometimes it is like having a 3rd child to make happy on vacation. And a full week of eating where the kids and I want to eat. Buying the silly suvioner without him asking do you really need that. In my mind it's Disney, it's a time to eat like the fat girl I am and buy magnets, princess hats, mickeyears and and the suvioner cups & popcorn tubs. The more I think about the more I like the idea.

I think your DH and my DH might be related. That's why my girls and I go every yr since my younger DD was 2. Older DD was 7. We had such a great vacation we made it a tradition.

It's great that your staying on sight I think that made it easier. We would always take the bus. The rule was DD8 goes on 1st DD2 would go on 2nd and I would go on last. When we would get off the bus DD7 1st she would wait right in front of door DD2 would get out 2nd and me last. Definetly bring a stroller w/you because there are many people in POP, especially in the food court. The #1 rule I gave DD7 never wonder off.

My girls are now 7 and 11. We go to disney every Sept. I'm hoping when they're older and have their own family we will still be going in Sept.

PS: Since we have so much fun w/out him. DH now wants to come w/us in Sept. We don't allow it. Girls only Trip.

 

[coruth4]

I am also taking my two boys by myself this year in August. I am a divorced mom and last time I went took all three of my kids along with my parents.
I am really looking forward to some special time with just my two boys. I have to leave baby sister home with Dad because it's too hard for all three by myself. Especially since little sis has special needs and can't ride the majority of the things the boys like. It'll be some special bonding time with just the boys. And for better or worse; becasue of little sis's condition she doesn't understand that she is missing anything. Takes some of the guilt away - but not all of it!