Single Parent Support Thread

[taramoz]

Can't wait to hear all about it!!! Where are you staying?

At the Beach Club Villas, we booked with the 30% discount they are offering right now. I think it will be a good relaxing getaway for us, that pool area looks awesome!

 

[zianha]

Yay! I didn't know this thread existed but I'm glad I found it!!! I'm a single mom to a DS 8 and DS 12 (who's about to be 13 next week!!) and I'll spare you the sorted details but I've been taking my kids to WDW solo since my oldest was 5 months old! We'll be there again May 29th to June 5th and we are all so excited! My sister and her husband are taking their 3 kids at the same time too and I'm excited about that because her 8yr old twins haven't been since they were 2 and her 6yr old has never been before!

I'm so glad single parent Disney fans like all of us are still finding ways to get out kids to WDW!!

 

[DanielleandBrady]

At the Beach Club Villas, we booked with the 30% discount they are offering right now. I think it will be a good relaxing getaway for us, that pool area looks awesome!

That is awesome!!! Have the best time!!! DS first trip onsite was at the BC..the pool is great..beaches and cream is awesome!! I loved being by the boardwalk and walking to Epcot..it was a lot of fun!!! Enjoy it!!

 

[DanielleandBrady]

Yay! I didn't know this thread existed but I'm glad I found it!!! I'm a single mom to a DS 8 and DS 12 (who's about to be 13 next week!!) and I'll spare you the sorted details but I've been taking my kids to WDW solo since my oldest was 5 months old! We'll be there again May 29th to June 5th and we are all so excited! My sister and her husband are taking their 3 kids at the same time too and I'm excited about that because her 8yr old twins haven't been since they were 2 and her 6yr old has never been before!

I'm so glad single parent Disney fans like all of us are still finding ways to get out kids to WDW!!

Have a fabulous time!!

I was so happy to find this thread too!! Makes you feel a little less lonely when you see how many amazing, strong single parents there are out there!!

 

[taramoz]

Yay! I didn't know this thread existed but I'm glad I found it!!! I'm a single mom to a DS 8 and DS 12 (who's about to be 13 next week!!) and I'll spare you the sorted details but I've been taking my kids to WDW solo since my oldest was 5 months old! We'll be there again May 29th to June 5th and we are all so excited! My sister and her husband are taking their 3 kids at the same time too and I'm excited about that because her 8yr old twins haven't been since they were 2 and her 6yr old has never been before!

I'm so glad single parent Disney fans like all of us are still finding ways to get out kids to WDW!!

Welcome, I am new to this thread too but glad to have found it! Your next trip is coming so soon, you must be excited, and it will be so great for you to see your sisters kids taking it all in for the first (mostly) time!!!!

 

[hornzb]

Hey everyone- I don't get on here much, and when I do, it's usually reading the budget board or packing ideas for a WDW trip. I'm more of a 'reader' than a poster. ha ha

I've been a single mom for five years now. My children are DD16, DS13, DS11 and DD9. We are going to WDW in two weeks!! I'm so excited. We went two years ago and stayed off property. This time we are staying at Port Orleans Riverside. I grew up in S. Florida, so going to Disney was a regular occurrence. However, now being an adult and living in Georgia, I don't get that luxury too often. I love sharing it with my kids. It's a challenge traveling with four kids, but I do love the time with them.

Nice to see everyone!

Pam

 

[taramoz]

Hey everyone- I don't get on here much, and when I do, it's usually reading the budget board or packing ideas for a WDW trip. I'm more of a 'reader' than a poster. ha ha

I've been a single mom for five years now. My children are DD16, DS13, DS11 and DD9. We are going to WDW in two weeks!! I'm so excited. We went two years ago and stayed off property. This time we are staying at Port Orleans Riverside. I grew up in S. Florida, so going to Disney was a regular occurrence. However, now being an adult and living in Georgia, I don't get that luxury too often. I love sharing it with my kids. It's a challenge traveling with four kids, but I do love the time with them.

Nice to see everyone!

Pam

Have fun on your trip! How nice that you only have 2 weeks to go!!

 

[BuckeyeDad]

Hello All!! I'm just now finding this... Too busy reading about budget travel! LOL Anyhow, I'm a single mom to 3 kiddos! DS11, DD9 and DS3. I've taken my kids to Disney alone once. I have to say it was the best, most relaxed trip I've taken there! Funny, we worked on the kids time and there were no adults to deal with. I have taken them several times in the past with other adults (once with their father, and a few times with some of my family). We packed up and went over Thanksgiving in 09. My youngest was 1 at the time!! It was definitely an adventure, but I maintain it was the best trip there. I'm taking my parents in July and quite possibly my niece7 and nephew4... Could be interesting.

Nice to meet you all!!



(would add a ticker, but I don't know how....we have 61 Days til OKW)

Cool, my daughters dd7 and dd8 will be there with me single dad in 65 days..first single parent trip, and staying at AKL. I'm a little nervous but all you single parents have eased my mind. The big thing for me is bathrooms..any advice on a single dad taking 2 girls to the restroom? Im not sure im comfortable sending them in on their own?

 

[DanielleandBrady]

Cool, my daughters dd7 and dd8 will be there with me single dad in 65 days..first single parent trip, and staying at AKL. I'm a little nervous but all you single parents have eased my mind. The big thing for me is bathrooms..any advice on a single dad taking 2 girls to the restroom? Im not sure im comfortable sending them in on their own?

Have a wonderful trip!!! How exciting!!!

I went through the same thing with my son...he is 6 and being a single mom I was a little worried. At times I brought him in with me and other times he did go by himself, with me stalking the outside of the bathroom lol..

Here is my two cents for what it's worth..I think it's easier to bring a boy in a ladies' restroom then a girl into a male bathroom..so if you are not comfortable with allowing them to go on their own..try and find the family bathrooms in the park. Most of the time I brought DS in with me and had him stand facing the stall so I could see his shoes if he was done and I wasn't. But the family bathrooms are great so if you can find those, use those!

Have a fabulous trip!! Enjoy spending the time with them! It was my first trip alone with my son this past April and it was amazing!!

 

[tigger51276]

Cool, my daughters dd7 and dd8 will be there with me single dad in 65 days..first single parent trip, and staying at AKL. I'm a little nervous but all you single parents have eased my mind. The big thing for me is bathrooms..any advice on a single dad taking 2 girls to the restroom? Im not sure im comfortable sending them in on their own?

Honestly at 7 and 8 they should be just fine going to the bathroom on their own. I know I would not be comfortable with a 7 or 8 year old boy in a ladies room and I think bringing a girl into a men's room is far worse at that age.

For what it's worth, I also try to get a table near bathrooms and my DD7 has been going to the bathroom whether it's Disney or a restaurant at home since she was 5. She isn't a flighty kid and knows to go to the bathroom, wash her hands and come right out. Most bathrooms have one way in and one way out so that helps. Or if you are that uncomfortable sending your kids to the bathroom use the companion bathrooms and go in with your kids. Just remember you are lucky you have 2 DD's so just always send them in together. If (and that is a big if) someone was going to mess with a child at Disney, they are not going to go for girls in pairs, but rather a single child, this is true of any place.

 

[divabydisney]

Hello All!

I'm new here and happen to stumble across this thread. Like you I am a single mom to 2 boys 12 and 5. We are going on a land/see trip this October. A 4 day DCL cruise to Bahamas and then doing the 4 days in the parks. Not sure if we'll do MNSSHP or not. Any tips you can give me?

This is not my first vacation alone with them but the first time I've been to disney since I was a kid. I'm extremely nervous. I want it to be THE best vacation and not sure if we'll be able to return. We are staying on resort at BLT and just don't know if I'm overdoing it already...

I'd appreciate any advice or things that worked for you.

 

[hereyago]

Hello All!

I'm new here and happen to stumble across this thread. Like you I am a single mom to 2 boys 12 and 5. We are going on a land/see trip this October. A 4 day DCL cruise to Bahamas and then doing the 4 days in the parks. Not sure if we'll do MNSSHP or not. Any tips you can give me?

This is not my first vacation alone with them but the first time I've been to disney since I was a kid. I'm extremely nervous. I want it to be THE best vacation and not sure if we'll be able to return. We are staying on resort at BLT and just don't know if I'm overdoing it already...

I'd appreciate any advice or things that worked for you.

Don't be nervous. Disney-WDW and DCL make it really easy for families. I started taking DD12 to WDW when she was 5 on my own.

I have only stayed at the value resorts, so can't help you there. But you've got this!!!!!!!!!!!! Just relax and enjoy yourself with your sons.

I say if you can MNSSHP, do it. DD and I did it for the first time last year-we usually go late November last year was an exception.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[taramoz]

Hello All!

I'm new here and happen to stumble across this thread. Like you I am a single mom to 2 boys 12 and 5. We are going on a land/see trip this October. A 4 day DCL cruise to Bahamas and then doing the 4 days in the parks. Not sure if we'll do MNSSHP or not. Any tips you can give me?

This is not my first vacation alone with them but the first time I've been to disney since I was a kid. I'm extremely nervous. I want it to be THE best vacation and not sure if we'll be able to return. We are staying on resort at BLT and just don't know if I'm overdoing it already...

I'd appreciate any advice or things that worked for you.

Sounds like an awesome trip! You couldn't have picked a better place to take them, you will all have a great time. BLT is a great resort choice too, enjoy!

 

[YO's Mom]

Cool, my daughters dd7 and dd8 will be there with me single dad in 65 days..first single parent trip, and staying at AKL. I'm a little nervous but all you single parents have eased my mind. The big thing for me is bathrooms..any advice on a single dad taking 2 girls to the restroom? Im not sure im comfortable sending them in on their own?

Always send them together. Sometimes I allow my girls (5 and 8) to go to the bathroom at our favorite restaurant alone so that they can practice "bathroom buddy" skills - never leave the bathroom without your buddy, know where your buddy is at all times (as in telling her, "I'm going to wash my hands now" or "I'm standing outside your door waiting on you"), don't talk to strangers in the bathroom.

Honestly, I'd be more worried if you were a single mom with 2 young boys. Mens rooms seem to be more dangerous than the ladies room. Maybe because there are fewer female child molesters, and maybe because you know the ladies room is full of moms who are always watching for signs of danger. I think at 7 and 8 they will be fine alone - and by alone, I mean together!

 

[DisneyMama629]

I've decided last second that I'm taking my son for his 2nd birthday. We will be there June 23-28 if anyone is going to be there with a little one around then, we'd love to meet up!

 

[Cierese]

Cool, my daughters dd7 and dd8 will be there with me single dad in 65 days..first single parent trip, and staying at AKL. I'm a little nervous but all you single parents have eased my mind. The big thing for me is bathrooms..any advice on a single dad taking 2 girls to the restroom? Im not sure im comfortable sending them in on their own?

Fun!! I don't think sending into the bathroom alone will be a problem. Send them in together, this will make you feel a lot better as they will look out for each other. You just stand right outside of the door and watch for them or since you are a guy and I'm sure only need a few secs to go just use it the same time they do. Like someone else said, there are family restrooms available. I remember one family restroom in particular in HS. It's near the Tower of Terror. I can't remember any others, but if i do I will let you know! By the way, I had the BEST time ever when I took my kids (they were 7 and 9) to Disney alone even if I did have to sit by the entrance/exit of some of the rides because I also had a one yr old with me.

 

[Cierese]

HI!! i just got back from my first trip with DS solo..we have done a ton of vacas but we have gone with my parents, my sisters' family, all of us..etc. This was the first trip it was just DS and I (besides daytrips)..it was FABULOUS!!! We went during spring break and of course everyone told me I was insane because of the crowds..we did rope drop every morning..went back to the GF at noon and went back to the parks around 5 or 6. It was awesome. We got to do whatever we wanted, didn't have to wait for anyone, ate when and where we wanted to, it was amazing. I am so glad that I had that experience with my son, especially since he's 6. I am looking forward to more of it in the future, but it was just such a magical trip. At the pool he would make friends, sometimes the other moms would be in the pool too and we would start talking, other times I would sit on the edge and watch my son play..it was great.

Have a fabulous time!! You deserve it!!!

It's so weird how much more I enjoy the single parent vacations than with other adults tagging along. I always seem to have more fun. I think its because I don't have to worry about any other adults being whiny and cranky and fussing about everything THEY want to do. I always work on my kids time and go by what they want to do and when they are hungry, etc. So much easier!!!

 

[DanielleandBrady]

It's so weird how much more I enjoy the single parent vacations than with other adults tagging along. I always seem to have more fun. I think its because I don't have to worry about any other adults being whiny and cranky and fussing about everything THEY want to do. I always work on my kids time and go by what they want to do and when they are hungry, etc. So much easier!!!

You are so right!!!

 

[karatemom2]

Hi I am single mom to a daughter 10 and son 4. This is my daughter's second trip to Disney and son's first trip. I have been a single mom most of my mom life. Some days it is hard being alone and other days it is easier to be in charge but in the end it is just how it is. My ex (dd father) is coming on this trip with his girlfriend who I really like so it should be a really fun adventure.

 

[BuckeyeDad]

Honestly at 7 and 8 they should be just fine going to the bathroom on their own. I know I would not be comfortable with a 7 or 8 year old boy in a ladies room and I think bringing a girl into a men's room is far worse at that age.

For what it's worth, I also try to get a table near bathrooms and my DD7 has been going to the bathroom whether it's Disney or a restaurant at home since she was 5. She isn't a flighty kid and knows to go to the bathroom, wash her hands and come right out. Most bathrooms have one way in and one way out so that helps. Or if you are that uncomfortable sending your kids to the bathroom use the companion bathrooms and go in with your kids. Just remember you are lucky you have 2 DD's so just always send them in together. If (and that is a big if) someone was going to mess with a child at Disney, they are not going to go for girls in pairs, but rather a single child, this is true of any place.

I know, all you moms are right And I have sent them to the restroom at restaurants and other places, I guess Disney just freaks me out because of the pure mass of people walking around. Knowing all you cool moms will also be there helps me feel more comfortable. They are pretty responsible girls, Im just an over-protective Dad.