One parent/two kids - can I do this?

[94bruin]

I am trying to squeeze in a visit sometime this summer. The days I have in mind, DH would be working. I've never been to DL with two kids (will be 7 & almost 3) on my own.

Do we skip all the rides with height requirements and just stick to rides that we that the three of us can do together? Is there any way to let her ride her favorite ride (BTRMM)? Not sure if I'd feel comfortable letting her go alone in the line? Not even sure if she'd want to go alone on the line, now that I'm typing this out.

Any advice?

 

[Karenann*]

You can do it! All my years I have been 1 parent 5 kids...it does get easier tho! So much to do and see and enjoy with them all together. Then if you older one is feeling ok with BMTTR on her own, wait in line with her and exit as she goes on the ride. Then wait for her at the exit. Have fun!!!

 

[Malcon10t]

I am a single mom to 4. It really wasn't that difficult. When the kids were young, we rode what the youngest could ride. As they got older and more comfortable with the park, they were allowed to ride on their own. You will not be allowed to wait in the line with the 3yo, unless the child is tall enough to ride. Everyone in line must be tall enough to ride. You might get her FPs so she goes through the FP line alone. Then wait at the exit. But I would probably say ride the rides the little one is big enough for and enjoy the slower pace. Explain ahead of time this is how it will be adn she should be fine.

 

[starshine514]

I would be hesitant because of the age differences. I wouldn't think twice about taking both of my girls alone, but are both above the 40" mark, so everybody can ride just about anything together. If you had another older child that could ride with the 7-yr-old, that would change things for me also.

If you do decide to go, you'll need to prep the 7-yr-old for not riding any of the 'big kid' rides. If s/he is ok with this, then I'm sure the three of you can have a great time.

 

[disneychrista]

You should be fine. I have been doing solo trips with my kids sense they where little. Since the older one is 7, he will be allowed to ride alone, allowing you to ride with the 3yo.

 

[Mama Who]

I am trying to squeeze in a visit sometime this summer. The days I have in mind, DH would be working. I've never been to DL with two kids (will be 7 & almost 3) on my own.

Do we skip all the rides with height requirements and just stick to rides that we that the three of us can do together? Is there any way to let her ride her favorite ride (BTRMM)? Not sure if I'd feel comfortable letting her go alone in the line? Not even sure if she'd want to go alone on the line, now that I'm typing this out.

Any advice?

You can't take someone under the height requirement into a height required line. I would not send a 7 year old alone personally, but Disney does allow it and you could always use fastpass.

Now, not to be Debbie Downer, but I don't think I'd take those particular ages without a second adult. They are far enough apart to have different needs and desires and not far enough apart for the oldest to be helpful. Any friends or family in the area? Could you find someone willing to come along and help out?

 

[94bruin]

I would be hesitant because of the age differences. I wouldn't think twice about taking both of my girls alone, but are both above the 40" mark, so everybody can ride just about anything together. If you had another older child that could ride with the 7-yr-old, that would change things for me also.

If you do decide to go, you'll need to prep the 7-yr-old for not riding any of the 'big kid' rides. If s/he is ok with this, then I'm sure the three of you can have a great time.

I talked with her today. She doesn't mind going to DL and missing out on some of her favorite rides. If neither of us are comfortable letting her go in line alone, I have no qualms about taking a slower visit, ie seeing more shows, looking for more character interaction. Something we don't necessarily do when we go with DH.

You can't take someone under the height requirement into a height required line. I would not send a 7 year old alone personally, but Disney does allow it and you could always use fastpass.

Now, not to be Debbie Downer, but I don't think I'd take those particular ages without a second adult. They are far enough apart to have different needs and desires and not far enough apart for the oldest to be helpful. Any friends or family in the area? Could you find someone willing to come along and help out?

Ideally we'd be staying with friends. They go almost every Sunday, so one day could potentially be with them. But there may be about a day and a half where we go at it alone.

Also, this would be our fourth trip since Dec. My girls have gotten pretty familiar with both parks.

Just trying to figure out if it'd be realistic to let her line up alone on one or two rides. BTRMM would be a good possibility since the FP line tends to be a short wait for us non-riders.

 

[Mugglemama]

It's great that your DD7 is mature enough to be reasonable about missing certain things if it comes down to it, just to be able to go at all.

Personally, I wouldn't send a 7 year old through a line alone unless I could see them through the entire line. At 7, my kids were all perfectly *capable* of going into lines alone (and more than familiar enough with the parks to probably be entirely willing to do it, too). Unfortunately, I'm just not willing to trust that the other people in line are going to be safe people for a young child to encounter alone and out of sight of their parent.

I saw a program (or maybe it was a website?) focusing on a particular group of pedophile men who frequent DL for the sole purpose of "admiring" the children there. It was disgusting....these men had written things about certain children using words like "delicious", etc. They had taken photos of the children, too...without the parents ever having ANY idea what was happening, I'm sure. Makes my stomach turn now just thinking about it. It seemed like it was a "club" of sorts, with new pedophiles joining into these "trips" all the time. And since these freaks offend girls who are 7-11 more than at any other age...yeah, I'd be unwilling to let my own 7 year old daughter go where I couldn't see her inside the parks, myself.

Are we absolutely *certain* that you wouldn't be allowed to walk through the line with her? I mean, if you explained the situation? I suggest calling the parks and actually asking. It's worth a try.

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

ITA with Mugglemama, including calling and asking. Heck, regardless of what you're told on the phone, I would try at the line itself just to see what happens.
I think if your friends can come one of the days, that makes a big difference. You can have your 1.5 days of Mama & the Gurls, all at the 3yo's pace and height restrictions, and then a day with your friends helping out so the 7yo can do the bigger stuff. I also think it helps that this isn't the 7yo first time, or even first time in recent memory. Definitely do those shows and other options you might normally skip to go on rides, rides, rides.

 

[Malcon10t]

ITA with Mugglemama, including calling and asking. Heck, regardless of what you're told on the phone, I would try at the line itself just to see what happens.

Having just done this 2 weeks ago, I can tell you, No, she will not be allowed through the line with the little one.

 

[heather_sue_98]

If my DD6 really wanted to go on BTMM, I'd get her a fast pass, and then wait until I saw what was obviously a family with children headed in with their passes, and then ask them if she could line up and ride with them. It's a little better than her being totally on her own.

Looking at this from the other side, I would also be totally fine with doing that with another parent's kid.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

I have done it many times with my 2 girls. They are 3 years apart. The thing that worked for us is that neither of them were into the more intense rides. We are all sort of lightweights and fine with going on the mild rides and then watching fireworks, looking in the stores, soaking up the ambiance. It just was never a situation were anyone felt left out! We have always had a great time with the 3 of us. You know your kids and know if they would be cool with this or not, right? Just go with your gut on it.

 

[DisDiva2]

you can do it! Mine are 6 and 9 so a little easier but we often go alone also and they understand they need to help mom! or we go home LOL

 

[Mugglemama]

Having just done this 2 weeks ago, I can tell you, No, she will not be allowed through the line with the little one.

Darn! That seems a little bit unreasonable. I mean...I'd think they'd take more issue with a small child being left unattended in line than a parent who was willing to supervise them all the way to boarding and then just wait at the exit - - simply because they had a smaller child with them (especially since people who meet the height requirement do just that alone all the time). Sheesh.

 

[Malcon10t]

Darn! That seems a little bit unreasonable. I mean...I'd think they'd take more issue with a small child being left unattended in line than a parent who was willing to supervise them all the way to boarding and then just wait at the exit - - simply because they had a smaller child with them (especially since people who meet the height requirement do just that alone all the time). Sheesh.

It violates DOSH. Can't blame the CM.

 

[Mugglemama]

It violates DOSH. Can't blame the CM.

I wouldn't blame the CM (I would naturally presume that the rule came down from much higher up than a CM...).

It just seems like kind of a nonsensical rule, that's all. (But maybe they've had so many situations where people have tried to sneak their kids onto a ride they were legitimately too small for?....Seemingly nonsensical rules usually stem from a small portion of people doing something stupid, forcing the powers-that-be to affect everyone in order to keep the stupid ones from causing a lawsuit-inviting event).

In any case, it appears as though the OP has things pretty well figured out (and thankfully is going with a kid who can deal with focusing on alternate rides if need be).

 

[kailuagirl]

You can do it!! Don't forgo your trip just because it'll be you with the kids. Just explain to the kids ahead of time, especially the oldest. You'll still be able to have an awesome time, and be able to ride alot of things! Hopefully your friends will be able to join you on the Sunday, but if not, that's okay, you'll still have a great time riding what you can as a family. I to, wouldn't send a child through a line where I couldn't see them the whole time, too scary, unfortunately in this day and age there are too many creeps out there just lurking around

Have fun!!

 

[Skitheboat]

You can do it! I took a 7 & 9 year old to WDW by myself last year & we did 7 parks in 5 days. I realize that trading the 3 year old for a 9 year old is easier, but WDW is much more exhausting & more of a zoo that DL.
If there's a will there's a way!

 

[mouseymommy]

My DH and I took our almost 2 year old daughter with us in the line for BTMRR, and nobody said anything! There wasn't a CM at the front of the line, so we just got in line. Also, I would be more than willing to make sure a child was ok in line if the parent asked us to look after her. Sounds like a great time though!

 

[94bruin]

My DH and I took our almost 2 year old daughter with us in the line for BTMRR, and nobody said anything! There wasn't a CM at the front of the line, so we just got in line. Also, I would be more than willing to make sure a child was ok in line if the parent asked us to look after her. Sounds like a great time though!

What did they say when you got to the front of the line? I'm assuming your 2yo did NOT go on the ride?