Need touring help with big age difference in kids!

[HollyMD]

We are going to Disney in June from 6th-12th after a 3 day cruise. Will get to WDW around noon on the 6th I am assuming and leaving early the 12th. So, lots of time on paper. This is my problem- it will be myself, DH, DD 12 and son 9 mos(will actually turn 10 mos while we are there). We haven't been to Disney since 2008 when DD was 4, so it will be like a new trip for her, and my DH has never been. My DH, DD, and I are all big thrill ride people, and my DD wants to ride everything! And of course, I want to do lots of things for DS, too, even though he won't remember any of it. With DS, we feel like we need to take a midday break every day, as I'm not sure he will sleep in stroller(plus, I think Dh needs the break just as much ), but at the same time, almost afraid to stay out too late with him(was really wanting to see the nighttime entertainments). On top of that, it will take us double the time to ride the bigger rides, even with FP+, due to rider swap. Agh! I just feel like I can't fit it all in! And I am realistic, and know we can't do EVERYTHING, I just want to fit in what I can that will please everyone. Does anyone, especially those with experience with so many different "wants", have any suggestions/tips/ideas for us? TIA!!

 

[gtpoohbear]

My kids are 7 years apart, so not as much of a gap, but still enough that they want to do very different things. My best advice is don't be afraid to spilt up. There will be plenty of rides you can do together, but also take turns going with DD for a couple of hours to do the thrill rides. And don't forget to make use of RS, with that she can ride twice, once with each of you.

 

[tsme]

My children are 10 yrs apart. The first time we took our DD she was 2 & our DS was 12. (DS had been at age 9) We split up for some things, like SM, my DH went ride with our DS while me & DD were doing something else. She loved watching the birds eat food off the ground. And we do other things all together, like PP. We took breaks, sitting eating ice cream in the shade & at lunch our DD slept on me. Make a plan with your DH & it'll all work out. Have fun.

 

[HollyMD]

Thank you both for your input! I'm not even sure I thought of splitting up! That's something we may have to do for some of it.

 

[mom_2_4_boys]

There is a big difference in age with my boys, too. Although now they are 16, 15, 4 and 3 - the first time we went together, my youngest was less than a year old.

I'm happy to share some strategies we have learned over multiply visits (we're going back in June again).

- We split up several times. My husband doesn't ride the big rides and so he won't do anything with heights. I get fast passes for him and my youngest at the same time the bigger boys, our 4 year old and I are riding something else. He and I switch off when there is a ride he really likes, but the little guy can't go on. This gives some one-on-one time with the kids and parents.

- We used to do rider switch, but honestly - it was a lot of waiting around so we don't anymore.

- My husband and I tuck the younger ones in for the evening and take turns going back to the park later with the older boys. This way, it gives each of us a chance to relax every other night and the teens seem full of energy all the time!

- We also do mid-day breaks. All of our fast passes are done by 2:30ish and we return to the resort for the little kids to take a nap and the older ones usually go for a swim to return later in the day for a parade and perhaps fireworks if the little ones are up for it.

I hope this helps!

 

[glvsav37]

I don't see it being a big deal at all.
Rider swap...it really won't be double, if anything you save a bunch of time with it, b/c on those attractions you don't have a FP for, the 'swap' person goes through the FP line, not back through the standby.

Take note of the play areas in most parks....right under the RR tracks by splash mountain in MK and behind Mission Space in Epcot. These are little playgrounds where the little guy can run around a bit while you wait for the others to ride something. Plus, the one in Epcot is indoors, so free AC!!

Also note all the baby stations, you can have the baby go there and relax out of the sun and chaos, may have a better time napping there. And don't disregard the overall baby exhaustion level that a theme park brings, often my kids would be wound up 1 minute and passed out cold in the stroller the next.

Likewise, all the baby stations have supplies you can buy, so don't fret if you forgot ointment or diapers.

Some rides have single rider lines, so if DD and DH are ok with ridding things separately, they can shave a lot of standby time there.

I know it may be an expense, but the fireworks dessert parties give you the freedom to NOT have to spend an hour+ staking out a spot on main street. Likewise, the Pirates and Pals Fireworks cruise is fun b/c you get some character interaction, see the fireworks and are away from the crowds.

You didn't mention what resort you are staying at, but some resorts based on their location make the mid-day breaks easier.

Are you considering a water park? Blizzard beach has a great baby splash area that the little guy can spend the day in. Everyone can take turns hitting rides and the baby will just splash away. Plus the lazy river and outer rims of the wave pool are great spots for kids.

Are you planing any character dining? Its a great way for the baby to get that 'mickey time' without having to spend time on line when inside the parks.

Keep an eye on the resort daytime activities. While the baby (and DH) are napping, the 12 year old can be by the pool where they have activity CMs playing all sorts of games. There are also other kids-only activities she could do like the pirate's adventures in some of the resorts to keep here occupied while everyone else is resting.

enjoy!

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

My kids are close in age but have very different interests (characters versus rides). If you're at a ride near something your little on would like, split up and since DH hasn't been let him pick or do rider swap if you both want to ride it. I would also suggest getting rider swap tickets for everything that your DD wants to do in the AM when headliner lines are shorter. Since you can use them anytime, one of you can take the baby back to the hotel if you need to and the other can use the rider swap tickets with your DD instead of having to wait in long afternoon lines. Then maybe DD will be happy to do little things with DS in the late morning or evening if she knows she'll get her chance for more thrills. And you don't take up all DS's awake time doing thrill rides twice in a row.

 

[SillySallySews]

Our kids range from 4-14. We love using rider swap! Our older kids especially love it because they know they'll get to ride the big rides twice. It doesn't really feel like it takes twice as long to ride, and if you don't have a FP+ for something the second parent actually gets through faster because they'll go through the FP+ line. The little ones love grabbing a snack, people watching, or walking around in a shop with AC (important in June) while waiting, and I feel like it gives them some down time. Sometimes they get to meet characters the older ones aren't interested in while we wait, like Buzz while we're waiting for SM, the White Rabbit over by the Teacups, Woody by Splash, etc. We take afternoon breaks as well, and really try to maximize the shorter wait times at RD and right after. Our youngest daughter was 7 months the first time we took her and it was honestly the easiest and one of our most enjoyable trips. She was just happy to sit in the stroller or carrier and take it all in. Our trips are always much shorter than yours (usually four days or less) and we never leave feeling like we didn't get to do enough. Just have a plan and enjoy your trip!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

one thing to keep in mind if you decide to go back to room for naps is the time for transportation back to resort. nothing is worse than having little one fall asleep on ride back to resort then waking up as you go to room and not go back to sleep. since you have a little time before your trip, I would try some 15 minute car rides at naptime to see if you can move sleeping baby to bed as that will give some idea of going back will work for you. been there and had worst fail of any trip with this. also remember you have time between getting and having to use rider swap passes. you could have one set ride bigger ride and save swap pass until little one is asleep and then go back use pass while first parent waits with sleeper. we have done this.

 

[HollyMD]

All of your suggestions have been great, thank you! They are all really getting me to thinking about things we can do to make sure we please everybody(this mom included , since sometimes the rest forget its my vacation, too haha). I keep forgetting we can use the RS later if need be, that may help a ton. And I forgot about the baby stations! Those may come in handy for naptime, if DH can muster through hahahaha. I really appreciate all the help and ideas so far!

 

[Thing 1]

My boys are 15 years apart. This trip will not be an issue at all. Make it about your older child. The baby will just be happy to tag along and take in all the sights and sounds and smells. Rider Swap will be great because your older child can ride twice...score! I really would not try to do anything extra for the baby, but just have him tag along on anything her can ride. We like breaks and still take them. Even older kids can benefit from a break but if you want to have some special time with your older child, take turns taking the baby back for a nap and the other parent gets some alone time in the park with the older child. We did not really do much of that until little guy was about 4 or 5. That trip I did some late nights with the older while DH stayed at the resort with a sleeping little one. I also did an EMH morning at MK with just the little one. We would often before that age, split for a ride or two and join back up. It really has never been an issue.

 

[Ambehnke]

Rider swap. My husband or I would take the little and ride Winnie or the carousel while the other was with my son on SDMT, etc. Just bring phones so you can text and meet up when you're both finished!

 

[lynzi2004]

Honestly, having a Little one with you will give your Older DD more opportunity to ride rides. With rider swap she could ride twice instead of just once. Also, although there are some nice coasters, all the rides are interesting!!! It has been years since I was there but I found PP to be just as interesting as Splash. So you may find that although DD is wanting thrills she will also really enjoy the other rides. I would set 3 FP for the family early and then break up the fast passes in the afternoon for 2 riders. For instance, get a FP for 7 Dwarfs, PP and Buzz or Pooh. Do those by noonish. Then go to a kiosk (or phone)and search for 1 rider at BTMRR, 1 at Splash, and 1 at Space. Look for times at like 5 till 7 or so. Then when you come back go to each and ask for a rider swap. She would get to ride once by herself on all the rides and then again (either that day or another day) with a parent on the rider swap. Plus she would get 2 rides off the initial FP at 7Dwarfs! We used a method similar to this and had to give away Space Rider swaps bc we ran out of time to use them! Good luck!! Also don't forget short lines either first thing in the morning or late at night. Most times they will still give you a rider swap, even with a posted 5 minute wait. Just remember that all fast passes don't have to be for the same ride and she can use a parents band to get on a ride.

 

[Ametista]

My kids are 9 years apart and we have always split up. I do coasters with my son and then I take my daughter and play in the splash/spray areas and do younger kid rides. I like having the one-on-one time with each of them. There will always be a few things you can do with both, like Pirates and IASW.

 

[wdw4rfam]

Mine are 19,14,7. We've gone every year since my oldest was 5, so we've always had huge gaps and always had various ages. We for the most part stick together, and then break apart for some. Luckily DH does not like the big rides, so we ride together most of the day, then he will take the other kids to buzz lightyear, and my daughter and I will do space mountain, then we meet back up and move on. We never did mid day breaks, we tried it and it just ate up too much time. We do now that they are older and we have no strollers, etc.