Only child at WDW 8 days - suggestions?

[Terry's Angels]

Hello everyone,

This may be a strange question but I would love any advice/input people may have. I am excited about taking our dd (age 5) to WDW this May and we'll be there for 8 days and I'm sure we'll have a great time. We've taken family vacations before but often with relatives or another family with a young child. My question is this - my dd is currently in full day kindergarten and is involved in a variety of other activities with kids her age. While we're at WDW it will be a lot of concentrated family time. I'm wondering the experiences of other parents of active younger single children who are used to be around other kids. DH works a lot so it will be nice to have family time but I suspect that DD will want to spend time with other kids. Any ideas? TIA

 

[brytorlyn]

We have taken DD5 ( also when she was 4) to WDW alone ( she has 2 siblings but they are teenagers and not always able to take the time from school to come along).

She certainly didn't seem to miss her school friends much, considering she had 100% of her 2 parents attention focused on her most of the time. Also Disney is so busy and exciting she was enthralled with all it offers and the down time we had in the hotel room was a welcome rest, even for her.

There are a several opportunities for play time with other children at the park and at the hotel. My DD made little friends at the hotel playground and pool, Pooh's Playful Spot in the Magic Kingdom, the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground in MGM and The Boneyard at Animal Kingdom. These playgrounds gave her an chance to interact with other kids for a while but I really think the concentrated family time is great.

 

[brytorlyn]

oops...there are also various kids club/babysitting services at the hotel that might give her a chance to play and you and DH a night out.

 

[Tinkerbell2002]

I took DS last year when he was 4 by himself (before the baby was born) and he did fine without any other children. He did enjoy playing with the other kids in the play areas of the parks and in the hotel pool. He also started many conversations with children on the busses. He never got lonely for other children.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Your daughter will have many opportunities to interact with kids at the pool, on the beach. I don't think you should worry about this..........If she won't be happy with just her parents at WDW there is a bigger problem.

 

[lady_hlh]

We have taken our only DD who is 5 twice by herself and she had a great time. My DD is very outgoing so she would talk with other kids at the hotel pool and many of the park play areas that everyone already mentioned. The first time that we took my DD we met up with another family that we know for a few days of our trip because they also have an only DD. We thought that the girls would have fun together but they argued about what to do most of the time probably because they are both onlies who are used to being the boss.

 

[MomofKatie]

We have an only child, and she's been to WDW 4 times with just us- no other kids. She has been fine with the situation. As a PP said, if your DD is outgoing, there will be many opportunities for her to interact with other kids. Our DD made a new "best friend" at least twice a day, it seemed- standing in line, at the pool, on the playgrounds, etc. She LOVED going to the Kids' Club at the Beach Club resort- it was nice for us, too, since we got to have a romantic dinner at the Boardwalk. One evening, she made friends with 2 other little girls while we were in line for Fantasmic- we ended up sitting with the girls' family for the show- they were very nice.

 

[Samismom]

My dd is also quite social. Trust me we stay so busy at DIsney she has no time to miss friends. She does sometimes talkt ot other kids at the pool, on lines, etc, but overall we just are too busy for her to notice.

 

[Terry's Angels]

Thanks for the replies. My dd is pretty outgoing and I'm sure that she'll meet some new little friends. I am happy to hear what other parents of single children have experienced.

Neverenoughwdw - I'm not trying to be defensive but I reread my OP and I pretty sure that I didn't imply that DD wouldn't be happy spending time with us, at WDW or anywhere else. Thanks for your input anyway.

 

[dizzienoodle]

I went as an only child at 6 and again at 10 and it was awesome, I was so excited to have my parents full attention and drag them around all the parks. I am almost 25 now, and it is still one of my favorite vacations to date. My parents used to let me bring a friend along on other vacations, but Im assuming Disney was just too expensive to do that. I never missed my friends once. Your daughter will have a wonderful time!