One parent, four kids

[star72232]

Kids will be 4, almost 7, 10 and 11. They have never been to WDW (I haven't been since 1999). DH will be starting a new job and won't have any vacation time, plus he has no interest in Disney. I'm thinking about staying on site so we can use the buses instead of renting a car. I'd rent a single stroller and take a carrier in case the youngest 2 both are tired. Am I crazy?

 

[roseaster]

Kids will be 4, almost 7, 10 and 11. They have never been to WDW (I haven't been since 1999). DH will be starting a new job and won't have any vacation time, plus he has no interest in Disney. I'm thinking about staying on site so we can use the buses instead of renting a car. I'd rent a single stroller and take a carrier in case the youngest 2 both are tired. Am I crazy?

LOL. No. I have 6 kids, and I have traveled alone with the oldest 5. #6 is only 7 months old.

Rent a single stroller for the 4 year old (of you don't have a stroller, if you do, bring your own) We stayed in a family suite at ASMu, the 2 bathrooms we great to have. AoA also has family suites, and some moderates will sleep 5, but it is cramped and you will only have 1 bathroom.

I wouldn't worry about the carrier. I wouldn't want to carry a 4 year old, and the 7 year old should be fine walking. We have always used the buses when we stayed on-site.

 

[ColonialMouse]

Do you trust the 10 and 11yo to go off by themselves? Disney is great at rides that allows kids, but there are still some that the 4 and 7yo won't be able to get on (space mountain likely for both, test track for the 4yo). I guess your options are to not let the older kids get on those rides, go through the line with them them and wait in the parent swap area, or just let them go on space mountain while you take the other two on e.g. astro orbiter.

Assuming you trust them to go by themselves and maybe take the 7yo with them, I'd personally want them to have a cell phone or get two GPRS radios so you can find each other more easily.

Bruce

 

[mjkacmom]

Do you trust the 10 and 11yo to go off by themselves? Disney is great at rides that allows kids, but there are still some that the 4 and 7yo won't be able to get on (space mountain likely for both, test track for the 4yo). I guess your options are to not let the older kids get on those rides, go through the line with them them and wait in the parent swap area, or just let them go on space mountain while you take the other two on e.g. astro orbiter.

Assuming you trust them to go by themselves and maybe take the 7yo with them, I'd personally want them to have a cell phone or get two GPRS radios so you can find each other more easily.

Bruce

Why couldn't a 7 year old go on space mountain? Dd15 went on it when she was 6, and probably in the 10th % for height.

 

[Calee]

I'd wait until the almost 7 year old is 7, as that will help a lot. Once he or she is 7, he can ride rides with the older two or sit with an older one. Under 7 you will have to sit with the 7 and 4 year old and there are a few rides were that could be an issue.

I would definitely not do a carrier. Kids are plenty old for walking and a stroller. My kids are 4, 6 and 8 and we rented a double in the park when needed and two of them could fit in it. It is bigger and less "babyish" than many strollers and it worked great. It also meant I didn't have to wrestle a stroller on and off the buses.

 

[kamik86]

Rides are going to be the big issue. You will always have to ride with the 4 year old and either claim the 7 year old is 7 or with them as well.

You probably won't be able to do anything the youngest isn't tall enough for and the kids might not be able to either (unless your ok with sending them through line alone) You won't even be able to wait with them through the line and just send them on the ride because any kid too short to ride isn't even allowed in the line.

 

[DisneyOma]

Do you trust the 10 and 11yo to go off by themselves? Disney is great at rides that allows kids, but there are still some that the 4 and 7yo won't be able to get on (space mountain likely for both, test track for the 4yo). I guess your options are to not let the older kids get on those rides, go through the line with them them and wait in the parent swap area, or just let them go on space mountain while you take the other two on e.g. astro orbiter.

Assuming you trust them to go by themselves and maybe take the 7yo with them, I'd personally want them to have a cell phone or get two GPRS radios so you can find each other more easily.

Bruce

I can't think of one attraction at WDW that has a 'parent swap' area. Kids too short to go on an attraction are not allowed in the queue either.

 

[crazylady]

Kids will be 4, almost 7, 10 and 11. They have never been to WDW (I haven't been since 1999). DH will be starting a new job and won't have any vacation time, plus he has no interest in Disney. I'm thinking about staying on site so we can use the buses instead of renting a car. I'd rent a single stroller and take a carrier in case the youngest 2 both are tired. Am I crazy?

It would be crazy to me, but 4 kids is your normal so you'll be fine. It's kind of nice to travel to Disney without dealing with another adult's opinion. I would not an long days and allow for breaks. I would also plan on breakfast in the room each day.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I would also wait til your 7 year old is 7...and I'd set expectations. I would get tickets that cover every park day. I wouldn't ever plan for rope drop. I would plan days that run 10am-6pmish. I might plan one day to see the night activities and start the day swimming and head over to the parks around 4pm for a fun late night (maybe 2). I would stay somewhere with a kitchen and resort amenities usable if you just need a break. If you want a shuttle, that would probably be DVC or one of the Disney Springs resort hotels. I would plan for a Garden Grocer delivery. I would always have breakfast in the room and I'd do dinner there, too. I would plan a sit down lunch or an air-conditioned one every day or hit the not popular CS (so you aren't waiting in lines to get food to eat with 4 kids solo).

As a single adult, you will get exhausted. I would also plan at least one night where you get in-room babysitting and do an activity just for you. Again, you'll need the break.

 

[BeHappyNeverSad]

If my husband couldn't come with us I think I would ask a close friend or family member to tag along just to have an extra set of hands at meals and make seating arrangements on rides easier to handle. Of course it would have to be someone your kids trust and would be willing to help with kids during the trip. Good luck!

 

[star72232]

LOL. No. I have 6 kids, and I have traveled alone with the oldest 5. #6 is only 7 months old.

Rent a single stroller for the 4 year old (of you don't have a stroller, if you do, bring your own) We stayed in a family suite at ASMu, the 2 bathrooms we great to have. AoA also has family suites, and some moderates will sleep 5, but it is cramped and you will only have 1 bathroom.

I wouldn't worry about the carrier. I wouldn't want to carry a 4 year old, and the 7 year old should be fine walking. We have always used the buses when we stayed on-site.

The carrier would only be an emergency back up. If we decide to stay late one or two evenings to see fireworks and my middle DS is pooped, it would be easier to put him or YDS up for the walk back to the buses and resort then trying to carry one of them.

Do you trust the 10 and 11yo to go off by themselves? Disney is great at rides that allows kids, but there are still some that the 4 and 7yo won't be able to get on (space mountain likely for both, test track for the 4yo). I guess your options are to not let the older kids get on those rides, go through the line with them them and wait in the parent swap area, or just let them go on space mountain while you take the other two on e.g. astro orbiter.

Assuming you trust them to go by themselves and maybe take the 7yo with them, I'd personally want them to have a cell phone or get two GPRS radios so you can find each other more easily.

Bruce

I'd be fine with the older 2 doing a ride by themselves. My MDS is probably not going to want to do any of the big rides without me, so I can let the older 2 ride together and do something with the younger ones. My older 2 love thrill rides, and getting to do them without me might be a draw for them. Since we are really only looking at a couple of rides a day, that shouldn't be an issue. YDS is tall, and 40" rides shouldn't be an issue (so only Space Mountain, Mission Space, RNR, Everest and Primeval Whirl - one or 2 a day max).

I'm still debating staying on site and using buses or staying off-site and getting a car. With 5 we are limited in which Disney resorts are options, but the winter deal out means that a room at CBR might actually end up cheaper than a condo (if we are off-site, we will go with a 2BR), parking and car rental. Decisions, decisions...

 

[brockash]

Kids will be 4, almost 7, 10 and 11. They have never been to WDW (I haven't been since 1999). DH will be starting a new job and won't have any vacation time, plus he has no interest in Disney. I'm thinking about staying on site so we can use the buses instead of renting a car. I'd rent a single stroller and take a carrier in case the youngest 2 both are tired. Am I crazy?

I'd probably rent a double, but otherwise, I think it sounds fine...a lot of work, but fun. They nice thing is, you have multiple kids going, so if the older 2 want to ride something that the younger ones can't/don't want, it won't be such an issue.

 

[wilkeliza]

As others have said wait until until the almost 7 year old is 7 or find another adult who can come along. The reason being the 7 year old won't be able to ride in a vehicle alone or with the older siblings since they aren't 14. This is enforced pretty standard across the board with the excepts being the definition of "separate car". Some CMs enforce it as same ride vehicle so from train joint to train joint others enforce it as same ride bench so on rides like 7DMT where only 2 can fit side by side your 7 year old or the 4 year old would be able to ride with out you.

Also if the 4 year old is shorter then the rides when you have to stay behind the 7 year old would have to as well.

 

[wilkeliza]

Why couldn't a 7 year old go on space mountain? Dd15 went on it when she was 6, and probably in the 10th % for height.

A 7 year old can buy an almost 7 won't be able to if the 4 year old is too short and mom has to stay behind because you have to have turned 7 to be in line with out someone over 14 with you.

 

[HopperFan]

Why couldn't a 7 year old go on space mountain? Dd15 went on it when she was 6, and probably in the 10th % for height.

If 4 year old is not riding (height or fear), then Mom is not riding; then ALMOST 7 year old can not ride because they are not with someone 14 and older. They must be 7 to ride on their own. To let them would mean they lie about their age, which is why folks are saying wait until they are actually 7.

There are height requirements, and age requirements to ride without an adult.

 

[katie111]

I've been multiple times with my 3 kids and we have had a great time. When my kids were about 3, 7 & 8, and I went alone I bought one of those strollers off of Craigslist that had the standing platform in the back. I paid about $50 dollars & it was worth every penny. Kids used it a lot however we are rope drop people so we do pretty long days in the park. I would definitely stay on-site, to me it was so much easier to take the buses than to try to navigate the Disney bubble in a car.
I've stayed off-site as well when my DH has come but when I am alone I definitely prefer on-site.

I try not to promise anything at night. That way if everyone is tired, we just skip going back into the parks and relax at the resort. I find mid-day breaks way too much of a hassle when I am alone. We usually just do rope drop till 5 or 6 and then head back. Or I'll make a dinner reservation in the parks around 5 and then see how everyone is feeling after that. If you go in the winter on a non vacation weeks the parks are not typically open that late anyways.

Like another poster mentioned, I love being the only adult as I get to make all the decisions. Kids and I like to go, go, go, and my DH doesn't, so it works out for us. Not sure of your 11 yo has a phone but it might come in handy. My kids went on R & R alone one time & I took my youngest to the bathroom & to get a snack. When I got back I waited at the exit for about 1/2 an hour. I was getting really nervous! Turned out that the ride had shut down because someone got sick on it. My kids didn't have phones so it was a little scary. Also lost my youngest one night in Epcot. He was in the stroller but climbed out when we stopped to let some people pass. He was so light at the time that I didn't even notice he was gone till a few minutes later. Luckily we backtracked & found him in just a couple minutes. It's just hard to keep and eye on everyone at once by yourself. But I would go alone again in a heartbeat!

 

[JenLT]

I think it sounds like a ton of fun! There is so much to do, watch, and ride at Disney that if your kids miss a couple of the rides, it shouldn't be that big of a deal. I'm sure they'd rather go and not be able to ride a few things than not go at all!
It's not at all crazy in my opinion. I'm sure you are completely used to taking care of them and going places with you as the only adult. I can't imagine it would be that much different. I've never done it because it didn't come up but I've traveled with all the kids alone.
Also I think staying on site would be easiest. Art of animation is great with kids and having 2 bathrooms works well. However when we stayed at Port Orleans with 5 plus an infant we were fine too. It just takes organization.
Have a great trip!

 

[hsmamato2]

I didn't know they asked kids if they were 7 in lines.....(?) is that new? I thought if they made the height requirement all was fine..... anyway I'd do it,OP and I'd stay onsite, bring your stroller for the youngest kiddo, and due to their ages I'll bet the two youngest can swap riding/walking at times just based on who feels like it.... a single stroller is plenty for kids that age IMHO. bring your own(easily foldable) to save money and have fun riding buses,your kids will love it.