POSSIBLY traveling w/ a child for the 1st time

[lc1965]

I am considering traveling to WDW with a child for the 1st time, which is creating no end of anxiety for me. I would be very grateful for any advice or assurances you can give.

She is a lovely child, 6 years old, energetic, but well-behaved & intelligent. She's my boyfriend's daughter & I would basically be delighted to travel with them both to WDW for about 8 days.

Here's my concern: I don't have kids & have never been to WDW w/ children. (Have been about 12-15 times.) I love the grown-up stuff at WDW, stuff that kids aren't usually too interested in seeing. I like Fantasyland, etc., as well, but I'm not sure I want to spend the better part of my trip there. I'm not sure how I can ensure that she has fun & so do my boyfriend & I without anyone feeling put-upon or neglected.

Can you give me any single-adult-traveling-for-the-first-time-with-kids advice? THANKS!

 

[DVCisME]

I'm sure that the little girl will have fun doing some "grown-up" stuff to. It reallyisn't that different, youmare all there for the same reason to have fun. You might suprise yourself and enjoy seeing all the joy brought to her from the little things. My advice would just be to not over analyze it.

 

[adventure_woman]

My guess is that you will have SO MUCH FUN seeing everything through her eyes. Things that you never noticed, but she will that you will find so amazing. It will be different, and you have to expect it to be, but it will be different in a good way. Just have fun showing her what you love about it, and she in turn will show you a different perspective.

 

[puffkin]

Right after my DH and I got married, we took his then 7 year old niece for her first trip ever. We had a GREAT time. We planned some stuff especially for her, but we also did most of the stuff we normally do on an adults only trip. She had a great time. The only thing she wished we did more was have more time at the pool and/or water park. It seems like most kids are FISH!

We also took along my in-laws on that trip (their first time ever) and they gave us more problems than the 7 year old!!!! We will NEVER travel with our inlaws again, but we would take our niece again in a heartbeat!

 

[jack hannah bananah]

At 6 she will not want to spend the whole day in Fantasyland either. She will want to do most of the rides throughout all the parks.

One thing you may add that you probably don't do is the characters. Get her an autograph book. But we have a policy that we only get in line for autographs if the line is short.

We always do a couple character meals, but we prefer the nicer restaurants. As long as she is well behaved, you should be fine. They all have kids menus and special fun things like drinks and desserts to make it special for the kids (I could expand on this later if you want)

The countries in Epcot can be less fun for the kids, but we try to make them special too. You could make a scavenger hunt for to look for things in each country. This would probably really impress your boyfriend too.
They also have the kidcot stations that my kids love.

You will have a great time seeing the World in a whole new way.

 

[lc1965]

Thanks, everyone, for the reassurance.

Kids seem to love me, so I have actually had the experience of taking care of other kids - belonging to total strangers (long story!) at WDW. It CAN be a different kind of fun.

I would love to hear about those menu items, jack hannah bananah! I have always made a point of having the kids' meals myself because they are a better size & price for me, but I didn't know about any special drinks.

The character meals are something I love doing myself, so instead of one with Mickey & Minnie, I guess we'll just do one with the princesses. Her favorite is Belle (mine, too!)

Thanks, again, everyone.

 

[jack hannah bananah]

Thanks, everyone, for the reassurance.

Kids seem to love me, so I have actually had the experience of taking care of other kids - belonging to total strangers (long story!) at WDW. It CAN be a different kind of fun.

I would love to hear about those menu items, jack hannah bananah! I have always made a point of having the kids' meals myself because they are a better size & price for me, but I didn't know about any special drinks.

The character meals are something I love doing myself, so instead of one with Mickey & Minnie, I guess we'll just do one with the princesses. Her favorite is Belle (mine, too!)

Thanks, again, everyone.

The special drinks are not included on the meal plan, but they are fun fruity or soda drinks in special collector-type cups. In the past I have seen them with flashing ice cubes. This last time a flashing Tinkerbell or Captain Hook came attached to the end of the cup.

Some of the desserts my kids love:
Artist Point and Yachtsmen Steakhouse have white chocolate puzzles that the kids put together and then paint with food coloring - this has enabled my husband and I to have several nice meals together.

Rose and Crown and Spoodles have make your own ice cream sundaes. Vanilla ice cream, sprinkles, cherry, and chocolate syrup come on a plate for the kids to put together any way they like.

Whispering Canyons has Dirt Dessert. This is chocolate pudding with crumbled chocolate cookie on top with a gummy worm sticking out. Yes, my 6 yr. old daughter loves it.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

At 6 she will not want to spend the whole day in Fantasyland either. She will want to do most of the rides throughout all the parks....You will have a great time seeing the World in a whole new way.

Exactly! No worries. On out last trip my DS turned 6...highlights for him were SPace Mountain, Big Thunder Railroad, Test Track, Soarin, Mission SPace (mild side), Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, Buzz Lightyear, and more...Plan a good mix. She'll enjoy all of it -- or almost all of it...DS rode Everest, but it wasn't a favorite. Splash Mountain was closed, and he was very bummed about that...

You'll have a blast. Go to all 4 parks, and visit all the good stuff, just keep in mind to include some of the things specifically geared toward younger kids.

At 6, mid day breaks can be helpful, and even a stroller from time to time (even though she doesn't use one at home). The strollers feel more like a shopping cart that an older kid would still ride in vs a baby carriage type thing. (They don't look like shopping carts, I just mean that a child that no longer uses a stroller is usually willing to hop in a shopping cart when she's tired and doesn't feel like walking, if you know what I mean).


Have fun!!

 

[jack hannah bananah]

I agree with the stroller idea. I wouldn't bother with one for AK or HS, but maybe MK and especially Epcot. It will be the day more enjoyable for everyone.

 

[lc1965]

I agree that a stroller is important. After years of trying, I finally convinced my mother to get a wheelchair, which she doesn't need at home. The only problem there was that she never wanted to get out, even when she could. I got quite the workout that week!

My boyfriend doesn't want to go back to the hotel midday, but I told him he WOULD after the 1st exhaustion-induced screaming fit!

Those ice cubes sound like fun!

Thanks for all the good ideas & support.

 

[jack hannah bananah]

We don't always go back midday. Each child is different and each day is different. Sometimes just a little break is enough. When we go to MK, we usually break for lunch at Whispering Canyons. The relaxing boat ride there and back (plus the food) is just enough to get the kids going again.

At AK, plan on taking the train out to Rafiki Planet.

At HS take a boat over to the Boardwalk for a meal.

At Epcot, put her in the stroller with a book or little toy.

But plan on day 3 or 4 just taking it easy.
And be ready to leave the park if the little girl needs it - or one of you need it.