Mom alone with 3 & 4 yr olds in Disney

[katie111]

We will be travelling to Disney the first week of Nevember for 6 days. My DH will already be in FL at a conference so he is going to meet us at Disney on Wednesday. I'm flying down with the kids on Monday. We're staying at one of the Value resorts (still trying to decide which one).

We took the kids to Disney about 6 months ago & have been numerous times before they were born but I'm just looking for any tips on flying alone with them & being at the hotel/parks with them. Some questions-

Can I go on all the rides with them? Are there any rides that require one grown up per child?

Any tips for not losing them? I'm nervous about not having one on one coverage for them.

How do you all sleep in one room? We usually always stay in some sort of suite with a separate bedroom when we travel. Do you all go to bed at the same time? My kids are usually asleep by 8 so this seems tough. Do you put your kids in the same bed? I'm afraid mine will fight all night.

I'm debating putting my 3 yr old in a crib. Can you get a crib & bedrails at the resort? Should I call ahead for that?

Any other general tips form Mom's or Dad's that have done Disney alone would be greatly appreciated! As you can see I'm excited but nervous too.

 

[deedeetoo]

I can't answer all your questions but want to comment on everyone sleeping in one room. We also always got suites when the kids were small. We didn't stay onsite at WDW until our third trip because we couldn't imagine everyone in one room. But it actually turned out easier than we expected. At the kids bedtime, we turn down the lights. We have always stayed deluxe which gives us a balcony so dh and I can sit out and talk and have some wine while kids are falling asleep. The kids usually are exhausted and fall asleep quickly. If they fight or fool around too much (our usual problem) we put them in two beds and then move one of them after they are asleep. Then we turn the tv on low or put on small lights for reading until we are ready to go to sleep.

Now we are DVC owners so we have two rooms again.

 

[cmariew]

I took my 18 month old and 3 yr old girls by myself in September. We had a great time. I put the girls in the same bed to go to sleep and just watched tv from the other bed until I was ready to fall asleep. Most nights I did keep them up a little later than their normal bedtime which is around 8. As far as rides, we were able to sit 3 across for all the kiddie rides. We didn't do any roller coasters though. The only time that was difficult was getting on and off the buses with the 2 girls and the stroller but we managed just fine. You will have a great time. Just be sure to get to the parks early so the lines will be very short.

 

[monorailsilver]

I can tell you as far as bed time, my kids fell asleep fairly easy.

We did come back mid-day (like we always did pre kids too) for a break & they'd take a long nap & then they were good to go for the night.

The first time I took my dd she was 15 months old & was still taking am naps but at Disney those stopped & she did good with the one nap (she was on the verge of fighting that am nap). She did great at night & was not one of the screaming stroller kids. As soon as we got back to the room she pretty much passed out & we watched TV.

In 2005, my dd was 4 & my ds was just under 2. My dd didn't nap but she did take naps while we were in Disney so she was able to be a happy camper & not a crying child at night for the fireworks. She pretty much fell asleep when we got back at night as did we.

My ds took long naps too (I was on the verge of stopping his nap anyways since he would stay up too late for me at home with a nap) while at Disney & he also fell asleep easily at night.

Neither one seemed over tired. They'd be asleep by 10-10:30 & up between 6-8 am with a 3-4 hour nap mid-day.

DH slept with my dd since that is what she wanted & my ds slept in the crib which meant I had a bed to ME!

They do have bed rails (so I have heard & read).

You should be fine going on all the rides with them with out your dh but don't quote me on that.

 

[tjmw2727]

Good for you, as you can see from my tag I love my trips with my dd's even when dh can't join us. I have been doing solo trips with them since they were 2 and 4 so hopefully I can answer some of your questions.

You can ride everything your kids are tall enough for together as three to a seat, we still fit and my kids are now 9 and 11. We even fit in the Barnstormer so if your little one is 36" and willing you are all set.

As far as not loosing them I would definately use a double stroller. Other than that if you are used to taking them to the supermarket, zoo, park etc its really not much different. In fact the only time we almost lost a kid was when I was with DH and we had a miscommunication - he thought she was with me and vise versa. Obviously that dosen't happen when your alone. My SIL used heart shaped pet tags for my neice and nephew. She put them on the shoelaces with her cellphone number. This way if they got lost the tag was obvious and a CM could call her cell.

We do all sleep in one room and it has been fine. They slept together in one bed and I in the other. Since we stay up later than at home they pretty much crash when they hit the pillow. Sometimes I would put the tv on softly for myself or grab a book once I put them to bed.

If you think 3yo will sleep comfortably in the PnP then that is a great option. All the WDW resorts provide them free of charge as well as bedrails. You don't have to call ahead just request them at check in. FWIW, my dd's don't mind sharing a bed on vacation - it is part of the fun, even now!

With the ages of your kids I would consider renting a fridge so you can have some milk, water and such handy rather than having to walk to the food court to get it. IIRC its $10.00 per day at the values but free at the moderates and deluxes. One of the drawbacks of being solo is that you can't just "run and get" such and such!

The only tricky part IMHO is the bus situation. If you are using a personal stroller you will want a lightweight stroller that folds. You will need to fold the stroller to board the bus, hold the stroller, backpack and the kids

What I did was use my own lighweight double umbrella stroller for around the resorts and the airport and budgeted for a rental at the parks. This way all I had to deal with on/off the bus was a small backpack and the kids. Its pricey to rent the stroller in the parks but when I was solo I felt it was worth the extra cost. You can rent for the length of stay and just get a new stroller at each park you visit.

Have a great trip and if you have other questions please feel free to ask.

TJ

 

[MiniGirl]

Hi. My girls are 7(just last month) and 4, but we have been going w/o DH for a couple of years now. We live a little over an hour away, and dh is a pilot and often not home, so we have many "girls only" trips to WDW. I was nervous and excited about our 1st trip, too. The main thing I have learned is that not having DH there is our way of saving money. By that I mean, other than staying at a Value resort trying to save a few dollars when I'm alone with the kids just isn't worth it. I rent a fridge because I'm addicted to Diet Coke and don't want to always drag the girls to the food court, vending machine, ice maker, etc. I rent a double stroller because juggling 2 kids, bags, and a stroller on and off the bus, train, tram, etc is too hard. I just accept the fact that I won't be able to carry as many snacks, drinks, etc into the park and will have to buy them there because I'm the only one to keep up with it and I also have to keep up with the tickets, cash, credit card, room keys, etc. I also don't have as much of that stuff when I check in again because I'm the one carrying all the luggage to the room and shepherding my girls as well. I sometimes order pizza to the room because we are tired and I don't want to have to drag them through the food court, etc.

As far as sleeping in the same room, it hasn't really been much of a problem. We are all pretty beat come bedtime (which is always later than it is at home), and have fallen asleep pretty easily. When it is just us, I just turn the tv down low and insist they lay quietly in bed. They share a bed and I get the other bed all to myself. (And yes, WDW has bedrails. Just ask for them when you make your ressie or check in. They will bring them to your room. One less thing for you to carry.) It is usually the same routine when dh is with us.

I also used to be a flight attendant bk (before kids), and I would have to say that even though I'd rent a stroller at WDW, I'd bring 1 to have at the airport. I would also try to check as much luggage as you can. (I'm sure some of you will disagree with me on this one.) Again, it is about having to keep up with as little as possible. Try to bring just 1 carry on bag with sweaters, gum, water, little surprises, meds, and important papers, etc. and maybe 1 change of clothes (or more for the little one depending on how the potty training is going). Check your stroller at the gate. When you get to MCO, you can take your time getting off the plane, take a potty break, look at the big planes, etc. Chances are, after all of that, you won't have to wait long for your luggage. Also, anything you won't need until after DH arrives, let him bring it with him -- again less for you to keep up with.

I also routinely ask my kids if they couldn't find me right here/right now, who would they ask for help. I make them point to a specific person and tell me why. I also make sure they have my cell #. The ID tag is great, but you can also put a piece of tape on the inside hem of their shirt or inside their shoe and write on it with a permanent marker, "Mom's cell # 123-4567." Tell them to show it to someone if they get lost.

I bet by now you can guess what i think the secret to a successful trip trip with just me and my girls is. Yep..... just enjoy being with them. Don't take on more than you have to, and you'll do great.

Have a great time. I love WDW as much as my girls do. DH doesn't understand the obsession, but he doesn't mind us going and he doesn't mind joining us occassionally.
Eva


I know this is long, but I just wanted to add that my dd came in while i was posting this and asked what I was doing. I told her and this is her advice.... Just relax and have fun. Oh, and don't ride Rock n RollerCoaster if you have skirts on.

 

[tjmw2727]

MinGirl - you brought up some great points!

OP - if you use ME you can check all your luggage at your home airport and ME will deliver it directly to your resort room for you. So if you can have one adult with you at your home airport to help get the luggage checked in you won't have to deal with it at all at MCO. Then you and the kids can proceed through security.

As far as the airport - ITA, a lightweight double stroller will be a lifesaver. You will have to empty and fold it to go through security so be ready for that. When you arrive at the gate ask the agent for a gate check tag, leave the stroller folded at the jetway and it will be waiting for you when you deplane.

As for carryons, remember that you can no longer take liquids or gels through the security check point. The exception is travel size containers, no more than 2oz in a quart size baggie. Once through you can purhase beverages from the airport vendors to take onboard. I would bring a couple sippie cups empty for the kids.

When you arrive at MCO, just grab the stroller from the jetway and head to the ME desk. You will board a ME motorcoach and head to the resort, check in and enjoy your vacation. Your bags will be delivered to your room even if you are out enjoying the parks/resort.

TJ

 

[gottalovethem]

Everyone's given you great advice and tips. I did it alone with 3 kids and hadn't been to Disney in years (since I was a kid). My little ones were 6 months, 3 and 4.

*Double stroller a must.
*Allow yourself to take a cab once in a while if everyone is DONE and you don't want to lug kids and stroller on the bus. We only did that once, the last big day and I wish we'd done it sooner!
*Don't do super late stuff one night and early a.m. the next.
*We all fit on lots of rides from Dumbo to POC and many, many others.
*Take your time, if you need to stop and sit for a snack, do it. It's worth it!
*Have fun!!


If you have time and are interested, here's my trip report http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1104505

 

[katie111]

Thank you so much for all of the tips, they are great! As it turns out DH is not going to be able to join us at all as his complany won't allow him to extend his trip. Ugh!!!!

But luckily I have a sister willing to join us so I won't actually be alone for any of the trip. Now if we can just get along for the week! That might be the bigger challenge!

Thanks again!!

 

[minniebeth]

I just did it with my DD4 by myself and my suggestion would be to definately call it a day while you are "ahead". When everyone is still having a good time and you have had just enough. I agree that rides are no problem and you will have fun. Take your time to enjoy the surroundings of the parks as well as the rides. The kids will find their own magic along the way.
I would say the biggest challenge would be the bathroom situation....you can always get people to help with buses, strollers, etc., but the bathroom situation is a little different. I tried to use the handicap stall whenever possible, but sometimes this isn't always accessible when you need it to be. So just be patient with that and go more often than you may think you need to to avoid an emergency.
Good luck and have a great time!!