Parents and only child going to the world..

[Dee77]

For other parents of an only child, any advice or suggestions for traveling to the world just the 3 of you... At the beginning of our trip, we will overlap with my in-laws for 2 nights and afterwards, DH, DD (4) and I will be in the world on our own for 7 nights in ealy December. We will be staying at BLT and will probably do a lot of morning EMH which is new to us compared to our last 2 trips. I am considering getting a sitter one night but am conflicted since there is a part of me that feels like we would be short-changing DD or something. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated..

 

[KateMW]

If your DD is anything like my only child DD, she'll love having a sitter or going to one of the kid's clubs. My daughter LOVES to meet new people and other kids. She does kid's clubs, camps, etc. wherever she can on vacation. I would totally have a night to yourself with your DH.

My mother and one of my aunts are joining us for a couple of days during our stay, which will be fun for them and our DD. My husband will be in mtgs most of the week, so I wanted some help!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

My BFF put her neice (the only kid on her trip) in the Neverland Club at the Poly and she said that her neice was over the moon at the experience.

Why not look into a sitter one of the evenings? She'll get time to play with other kids vs. being with her parents all day! If you guys stay on the monorail for a dinner or whatever you plan to do, picking her up will not be an issue at all.

Are you planning to do any little special things while you are there (just for her)?

AM EMH will probably work best for you guys with your DD - that way you can get in a good afternoon break and be able to catch the rope drop ceremonies and festivities.

 

[mjkacmom]

Well, I haven't had an only child in years , but my kids love to play with other children. I'm sure your child is much better at not having any kids around (if I have only one child at home, he/she keeps asking when the others are coming home), but I think the kids clubs would be fun!

 

[xbatman]

If you're not sure about the clubs, could you have your night out when the inlaws are around.

DD4 (at the time), loved staying with her grandparents at Fort Wilderness one night during our last trip.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

I was an only child..er, I guess I still am! I would definitely do a Neverland Club or something of the sort. I hear they're a blast, and she'll get to hang out with other kids for the night. If I were you, I'd even make it out to be *her* special treat, rather than treating it like a babysitting service Just my thoughts

 

[DisneyFamily123]

I don't have any great tips... but would like to hear any about doing to Disney with 1 child.

But I do think our only child DS4 would have fun if his cousins/friends were there. But it's not in their budget or plans now.

I regret not trying the Polynesian's Neverland club and having a "date night out" because I've heard so many great things about it! We might do that our next trip... even though we will be at the Grand Floridian (has it's own club - Mouseketeer Club), the Poly's is rated much better (www.allears.net reviews). I'm sure DS would like making new friends there.

Really weird coincidence... in 2008, we were at Crystal Palace and ran into one of his pre-school friends there. In 2009, DS played with another child on the beach at the Poly... and through talking with his Dad, found out we were from the same town.

I'd like to hear about other places where kids can play together...

 

[Dee77]

Wow, thanks everyone for the advice and suggestions. I am interested in hearing more about the kids clubs, which resorts have them, how do they work and what are everyone's thoughts on each of them. I am asking only because I had been thinking of the kids nite out in-room babysitting service. The clubs sound FANTASTIC since DD can meet and play with other children.

Originally we were not going to overlap with my in-laws but we have re-thought our dates so we will have a couple of days to see them and have dinners together with them and my SIL and her children. I don't want to now make it seem like we wanted them to babysit all along.

DD is shy in nature but for some reason in Disney she is so out-going and easy to settle into new situations. We are thinking of having her go to BBB for hair, make up etc which is a new experience for her, we will go to the princess breakfast in epcot which is now her favorite. We will definitely do at least one more character meal, probably 2. We plan on lots of character greetings, rides (she will have so many this year that she has never done before because she will be 40 inches, finally) and will also carve out time to just run around in the park settings like Pooh's Playful spot. Are there any other things I am over-looking for a girl who is going to be 4 and an only child with her parents?

While I am asking for advice, any suggestions on where my DH and I should go to dinner for our night out on our own?

Thanks again everyone!

 

[bootleg89]

Don't forget to spend some time at your hotel pool. When we took DD5, I hadn't planned on this since i figured we could do that at home, but that's what she wanted. We came home early from the parks one day to go swimming. Then on our last day, she choose to skip the park. She wanted to go swimming and to DTD to the Lego store and that big toy store to play.

 

[DisneySJB]

We have an only child and have been going to Disney every year since her
4th birthday. I can't comment on the kids clubs, although I have always wanted to thy them. But, I will tell you that Disney is one of the most "only child friendly" places we have been. Most of the rides are built for 2-3 people, so for the most part, you can all 3 ride together.

Have a great time!!

 

[Scrubba2]

Personally, I think WDW is awesome for an only child. It is a vacation of just play time for the 3 of you. I've even brought my DS alone just the two of us.

One of the reasons, is that your child can feel in control of your vacation. Whatever they want to do will work!

We have both visited with just us, and we have had a WDW trip with friends. It was a lot of fun both ways, although it was easier with just us because we had fewer ideas of what was next on the agenda!

One of the "pros" of having an only child is that it is less expensive for us!! We can afford to do more/ go more!!

We have used both the Neverland kids club at the Poly, and the AKL one (blank on the name right now...Timbas..?) and we were staying at a mod. Our DS had a great time at each of them, and a date night was great for us. We are planning to use one of them again for our upcoming trip over spring break.

Good luck!

 

[ckrum]

We're getting ready for our 4th trip w/our only. DD9 has enjoyed all of the trips. The first trip, grandparents and cousins come too. It was fun, but we ended up going all different ways due to the kids' age/interest differences.

Disney w/1 child means that the entire trip is "just for them". We do character meals, BBB and always play at the playground areas. I do think by the 5th day that DD is beginning to miss playing w/other kids, but she does not want to do anything like the Neverland Club. She would just be too shy and probably wouldn't really play w/the other kids too much. It takes her a while to warm up to others.

Yes, it would be fun having a sibling or friend along, but that's not an option and honestly it's an amazingly fun trip either way.

Remember to take some toys for her to play w/in the room. One year, I forgot and DD really needed some "down time" playing so we had to go buy her a Disney princess playset

 

[Disneylvr]

We have gone on our 4 trips with our only child who is now 6 years old, soon to be 7. I guess it helps that DH and I are both kids at heart and love everything Disney. We spend quite a bit of our time in MK of course but DD also tolerates the other parks as long as we do more kid friendly attractions in between the more adult oriented ones. We also do an occasional character meal during our trip with our favorite being Chef Mickey's. DD loves swimming so 2-3 hours in the afternoon are reserved for time at our resort and of course swimming and possibly a nap. Although we have never done so, don't feel guilty if you want to plan an evening out with your DH. Excellent childcare can be arranged for you. The only reason we haven't done that is because our DD has special needs.

On our next trip we will have DD's cousin along and I know those two are really going to enjoy each other's company.

 

[Tricia's mom]

I'am an only child and I have an only child... I don't think I would have liked being left at a club/sitter while on a family vacation. It would be a better Idea to ask the MIL if you can have a night out.
As Far as Having a good time at Disney as an ONLY child..YES, I loved it. It was all I really knew, I had LOTS of Cousins but it was nice to spend the undivided time with Mom and Dad. It was just nice to see them be silly too.



Not to be a downer but my Dad passed away when I was 13 and those trips are someof the best memories I have.

 

[Dee77]

Thanks everyone! DH and I just went over all this great information and I believe we are likely going to use the Neverland Club when we go out on our own. Does anyone have any pictures of the room/facility? TIA

 

[KateMW]

Thanks everyone! DH and I just went over all this great information and I believe we are likely going to use the Neverland Club when we go out on our own. Does anyone have any pictures of the room/facility? TIA

Glad you picked something! Clubs like that have been a lifesaver for us with our only. We want to take her with us, but we don't want to not have any time for each other. Best of both worlds! There are not a ton of pictures out there, I think it's something to do with safety? Or maybe not ruining the surprise? I'm not really sure, but if you good Neverland Club, some should pop up.

We're headed down in two weeks, so I'll post a review afterwards if I remember.

 

[livie1205]

we have 3 kids BUT in april our 2 oldest will be going on spring break vacation with their other parents and my dh, dd4 and I are going to wdw (we are taking the boys to AKL CL for christmas this year).We are staying at the poly for our late honeymoon (we have no one to leave dd with) and we plan on using the neverland club,my ds12 went to it when he was little and LOVED it! I think the kids clubs are a great idea...they are very clean and watch the kids like hawks lol.

 

[PiperPizzaz]

We have an only and we just took him in Nov again. He is 4 also. We have such a blast with him. A lot of the rides we can all sit in the same seat together which is fun. We had planned on taking him to a kids club but, never did. I am sure he would love it but, we aren't much on leaving him even when we are home.

 

[ebtbmom]

DS 11 is an only, we have been to Disney with extended family and without, and definetly his favorite trips are when it is just the 3 of us.

So, not to get off topic, but does everyone with an only have an only by choice, or because you haven't had another yet? I have debated and changed my mind 100 times since I had him, but now that he's 11 and I'm almost 33, I've finally made the final decision to keep him an only.

We love to travel and provide him with lots of opportunities that we didn't have. It's a lot more affordable to do this with one. Plus, he has no interest in having a sibling at this time, I just hope he doesn't regret it when he's an adult.

 

[bumbershoot]

My son wouldn't be happy in a kid's club. He likes hanging out with us. We've offered him the possibility, and he'll ponder it for a few days, but ultimately just wants to be with us.

We're cool with that.

So, not to get off topic, but does everyone with an only have an only by choice, or because you haven't had another yet? I have debated and changed my mind 100 times since I had him, but now that he's 11 and I'm almost 33, I've finally made the final decision to keep him an only.

It's b/c we haven't yet had another. I have no interest in having an only, never have, and it's breaking my heart. Cracking me up, just a bit, at saying that age is partially your reason...I had DS at 34!

My half-brothers were 10 and 8 when they were surprised with a sister. Oh man do they love her! She's the bright and shining star of the family. (I love her too, but rarely see her, just to be clear on why I only mentioned how much her full brothers love her)