Nervous..single aunt taking niece/nephew

[tinker_tubbies]

I had recently won a land/sea vacation through Disney's Little Mermaid DVD promotion. I still can't believe I won!!!

But now with a recent change in one of the adults I was taking not able to go, it leaves me with my nephew 8 and niece 4.

I'm a bit overwhelmed now with all the changes that are happening to the hours of planning of an itenerary and plans.

From the thoughts of being able to handle 2 children for 9 days to how to manage to ride certain rides. With my niece not meeting height requirements for certain rides. Do I not ride a ride and stay with the youngest while sending the nephew on it.

I'm just a bit overwhelmed. I know it can be done. But everything I had planned has now done a 360 and I'm more anxious than ever.

Any tips or suggestions with be a great relief and hopefully lessen my worries.

 

[kat3668]

Ya I'll go!!!
Voila no more stress!!

 

[DisneyNotes]

First of all, congratulations on your win.

Now, on to business. I would sit the children down and have a talk about one of you and two of them. I realize they're young, but I would present the problems and let them come up with ideas to help. If you include them, they will feel a part of the solution and will be more likely to understand if there is something they aren't able to ride or do. At the very least you can refer back to the conversation when a problem arises.

Maybe you could make a list of the rides that you can take them both on and let them take turns choosing the next ride from that list.

No one gets to do everything at Disney in one trip. There are simply too many options. Understanding that helps us all in our quest to do it all.

Don't let them get too tired or hungry on the trip. All bets are off if that happens.

 

[ChevyNat]

Very good advice... and it seems like the best thing that you can do. Unless you want to bring someone else with you!!! I'm sure that there's alot of us that would jump up ha! ha! Good luck and have fun. I'm sure everything will be fine.

 

[Kimmielee]

I had recently won a land/sea vacation through Disney's Little Mermaid DVD promotion. I still can't believe I won!!!

But now with a recent change in one of the adults I was taking not able to go, it leaves me with my nephew 8 and niece 4.

I'm a bit overwhelmed now with all the changes that are happening to the hours of planning of an itenerary and plans.

From the thoughts of being able to handle 2 children for 9 days to how to manage to ride certain rides. With my niece not meeting height requirements for certain rides. Do I not ride a ride and stay with the youngest while sending the nephew on it.

I'm just a bit overwhelmed. I know it can be done. But everything I had planned has now done a 360 and I'm more anxious than ever.

Any tips or suggestions with be a great relief and hopefully lessen my worries.

Here is my suggestion, for what's it worth... make the vacation about them... not about a commando itinerary. Let the 8 year old have his choice and wait for him with the 4 year old and the 8 year old can join you for the 4 year old's choices.

I've done WDW with my son when he was 4, 5 and 6. HE was the organizer (other than nudges from me regarding locations when we had ressies for character stuff). He's going to be 8 on our next trip so I'm hoping for the change to do the bigger rides and see a different side of the parks!

My guess is that each child will appreciate being "in charge" for that afternoon, morning, evening and taking turns choosing the direction you will head!

 

[dburg30]

Great suggestions. Especially about the dont wear them out part. Whew nothing worse then a grumpy, tired child..

Still sounds like lots of fun! I bet everything will work out, especially if you have the ground rules laid down before hand.

 

[yecats]

Congrats. Best advice - just decide now not to hit the parks commando. When in MK do all of the kiddie rides first thing in a.m. when park opens. Take a break at your resort in the afternoon (say 1 until 4 pm) and hit Epcot in the evenings as it is open late. Best of luck and have a wonderful time.