single mom with four year old

[lissiesmum]

Just wondering if anyone else has traveled with a preschooler alone and how it went. My dream famly vacation was demolished when my DH left and now it's just the two of us. I still want to go, but just wondering if it will be too much to handle for just one person??? If you have traveled like this, could you share the highlights (and pitfalls) of your trip?

 

[Elmo888]

Hi - Try posting on the family board...

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=23

 

[ave&audsmom]

I have a friend who has taken her almost 4-year old daughter at at least 3 or 4 times over the last two years. She is married, but her husband travels a lot, so the two of them just take off to Disney every so often.

 

[tinabheart]

i'm single mom, although my DS is now 14. I only wish I would have taken him during his preschool years...but ex - DH was very anti-Disney. I wouldn't have hestiated at all to take him.

WDW is such a family friendly place. I'm sure you will have a blast together!

 

[clutter]

I've been a single mom since day 1. I first brought my dd to Disney when she was 3, with family. The first time I took her by myself was a few months short of 4. What a blast!!!!!!!!!!

We have been annual passholders 3 or 4 times over the years (dd is now almost 11). Back in the day, we could find inexpensive flights from DC, and inexpensive rooms with the passholder rate. It worked well for a pre-schooler, because at the time, she seemed to have a limit of 4 days of so away from home.

So my point is that a single parent in Disney with a pre-schooler is totally doable. If I had to pick the age that I'd travel with my daughter if it was the only trip in years, if ever, we'd do, I'd have waited until 5 or 6. They're able to enjoy a little more, but they're still young enough to become immersed in the magic.

Hope this helps.

 

[Shell0616]

My sons father left when I was 7 months pregnant. I have been a single mom ever since (my son is now 13) We took our first trip to Disney when my son was 2 and we have gone every year since. ( except 07) We have also gone to Europe with a stop at Disneyland Paris. I have never had any trouble and I would recommend Disney as a great first trip to take. It's very easy and there are many cast memeber to help if you have any questions. I am pretty big worry wart and I have never been scared or worried.

If you have any specific questions I would be happy to help.

Have a great time!

Shellie

 

[Dizneydaz]

I too have been a single mom from the start (DD8). I haven't taken a trip alone with DD but I have enjoyed the few times when it has been just she and I at one of the parks. The first time was in 2004 when she was almost 5. The rest of our group went to Tampa for 2 days and DD and I spent a wonderful day, by ourselves, at Epcot. It was just great! We took our time, stopped at all the countries, and it was the first time she got all the country stamps. She was very happy. We dined alone at Teppan in Japan and were seated with a very nice family.

Last trip, Sept. 2007, she and I spent the day, alone, at Blizzard Beach. My DM and DS went exploring other parts of Florida. Again, we had a wonderful time, just Mommy and Daughter. We stayed the whole day. Got there at opening and were one of the last guests to leave.

All of our trips have been made with my DM and on some of our trips my DSis's have gone along. Also a few with adult DNiece. Now, don't get me wrong, I enjoy our trips with my DM. But sometimes, it's nice to have some one-on-one time alone with DD. They grow up so fast! Also, the more people who go, the longer everything takes to do-even making the decision as to where to eat. It's nice to make all the decisions, some time.

So, go, and have a great time! Take lots of pictures so you can show them to her to remind her of your special trip. My DD was 2 3/4 her first trip and she doesn't remember it but she does enjoy looking at the pictures and the videos. Also, my DD and I are AP at DL in Calif. and we go quite often. The times it's just the 2 of us are special-I wouldn't miss them for the world!

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

I'm a single mom as well and have been taking my DD (now 8) to Disney World ever since she was 3 months old. Disney World is really set up to 'help' you out and the CMs are wonderful with helping you when you need assistance. More often than not they've gone out of the way when they notice I'm a single parent. My only mistake was staying off property the first 2 times we went--too exhausting! So from then on we stay on-property. And I've found we've been able to do more with just the two of us. It's amazing how much you focus on your child when it's just the two of you.

Just make sure you take some time out for yourself and book an evening for your DS to stay at one of the Kid's Clubs (My DD loves Simba's Cubhouse and the Neverland Club) so you have time to do some things you want to do.

You and you DS will have a WONDERFUL time! You CAN do it!

Feel free to PM me with questions.

 

[NeverlandPixie]

Another single mom here

I've taken my DS (now 6) when he was 2, 3, 5, and 6. All trips were magical with no muss and no fuss!

Like everyone else has said, the Disney CM's are very helpful and most will bend over backwards to help you out. WDW is a great place to try out a first single-parent vacation! It also seemed that when we went to character meals, the characters and CMs were much more attentive (but maybe that was just me).

I'm not sure where you're staying, but if you're on property, Magical Express must have been made for single parents! I can't say enough about it.

 

[RivaLJ]

Another member of the single mothers club here!
I started taking my DS to Disney for the past 3 years starting when he was 4.
I stayed in the monorail hotels (CR and Poly) which made everything convenient. I made sure to use a stroller, so I knew where he was at all times and thus lessened some worry.
In other words, don't worry, you will have a great time, and will make many memories for the two of you.
PM if you have any questions.

 

[kmjmom]

I'm not a single Mom, but my DD and I have enjoyed many Mother/Daughter trips to Disney with just the two of us. It's a great experience! I think you would have a ball!!

 

[jrsmom]

I think you can do it! Remember to take breaks and go easy so that you little one won't make you crazy! You might want to think about renting/bringing a stroller. I am also in Manchester!

 

[AmyAllan&Eve]

Last week, I read this thread here on the disboards. It made me laugh and cry--it's about a princess trip for a mom and her four year old daughter. It's the most beautiful trip report I have read in a long time.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1667773

My DH is rather a stick-in-the-mud anyway (he feels Disney is only for kids), and after reading this trip report, I would prefer to have a mother daughter trip with just me and Eve.

Two years ago, my sister went with me (which was wonderful). But if she cannot go again, I would not hesitate to take a mother daughter trip this summer with just the two of us. I think it might be the best trip of all.

 

[DizMom11]

I am a single mom who has taken her 3 kids to WDW 7 times since 2001. The first trip was when they were 4, 7, 10. We stayed for 2 weeks at the ASMu on a very tight budget of 60.00 spending money a day, including food. The entire trip with airfare cost less then 2,000.00. It was the best time of our lives. It will be a completly managable and magical trip for you and your princess - VERY empowering! GO FOR IT!

 

[mom22boys]

Just wanted to cheer you on and say go for it!

I did WDW w/o DH when our kids were almost 2 and 4 1/2. To make a long story short I was visiting a friend in Tampa and somehow I just ended up at Disney; go figure I am not sure how it happened. Anyway, I rented a double stroller to keep them "contained" a little bit and found it quite easy to keep an eye on both. We were there at the beginning of February, so it wasn't an extremely busy time. I am sure that helped. My advice would be to attempt to travel during a non-busy time. Best of luck to you.

 

[lissiesmum]

Thank you all for your responses. First, because you have all empowered me to embrace my beautiful daughter and give her the dream vacation that I envisioned for my family (even though it's just the two of us). I traveled with her to visit my best friend in Michigan right after my husband left and she did really well on the plane rides and adjusted to sleeping in another bed. I think if we stick to afternoon breaks at the resort, and me following her lead, we will have a fantastic time. We will be at Disney together, for the first time, just the two of us and just picturing it brings tears to my eyes. I am going to go, and think of nothing except sharing the best times together. (Now I just have to figure out which resort!).
The second thing I wanted to thank you for is the kind words some of you fellow single moms shared. It's been a rough four months since my ex husband left unexpectedly and I've been picking up the pieces ever since. I used to live on the disboards planning our first family trip and then I stopped visiting when he left. Now I am eagerly planning a trip for next summer and I truly believe it will be even better without him! Thanks again, and take care

 

[mtemm]

good luck! I'll bet you will have a wonderful time.

I'm so sorry about your h leaving. mine left last summer...I'm still shocked. but I'm starting to plan a trip without him along. we went as a family in oct 06 and had a great time, and the kids have been begging to go back. I'm trying to make that a reality for next october if possible...but I'll have 3 with me (ages then will be 6, 4, 4). its a little, well, daunting, but we will be making great memories for our kids...and for us!

 

[MousekaMaddi]

go and enjoy!! I have been alone with DD5 8 trips, its fabulous!! Its better than when dh comes with us because I get to make ALL the rules and decisions
seriously....its great, I prefer it be just DD and myself

 

[IMDORY]

I went with DS(6) last summer-just the two of us. We had a BLAST! WDW is the BEST place to go!

1. Magical Express- No rental cars/hauling car seats, no hauling of luggage all over the place-it is delivered right to your room-no waiting with a little one at the luggage carousel at the airport...
2. On the way home-let bell services get your luggage for you and use the airline check in at your hotel for the return trip-again-no hauling of luggage!
3. Disney Transportation for the enitre trip-boats, busses, monorails-no rental car fuss or getting lost, finding gas stations etc.

We stayed at WL. If you can afford it, try to stay at a deluxe-b/c it is just makes everything a bit easier IMHO-but staying anywhere on property gets you the above necessities (I can't remember about bell services at the Values though-it's been a long time since I stayed at one)

Have fun!

 

[lissiesmum]

IMDORY, I got really excited reading your post. Just want to make sure I understood you...When you arrive at the Orlando Airport and if you take the Magical Express, you don't have to go to the carousel to pick up your luggage? You just get off the plane with your little one and carry ons and board the bus? I think I'm in heaven! That was one of my biggest worries was how to lug all the luggage around with my DD and the carry ons!