Single Parents??

[MommyBuzz909]

Any single parents (with their kids) planning a trip to WDW or have been before? Any advice??

 

[brymolmom]

What are the kid(s) ages? That has a lot to do with any advice to offer.

We tagged along with DH when he was at a conference in Orlando - so since he was working most of the time it left me with the two kids (3 and 4 at the time) alone.

We went to MK and I highly recommend a stroller if the kids are aged for it and especially if more than one child - it was huge to have them both sitting in front of me the whole time and not having to worry about holding hands or keeping one eye on each of them while working our way through the crowd.

Also - I usually bring a lot of 'stuff' to the parks - but I scaled down significantly because I didn't want to worry about 'where is the camera', etc. - so I brought a cheap single use camera and through it in my bag with some snacks, etc. - just the basics.

The most difficult part(s) were - rides where only 2 riders are allowed. Thankfully - since the kids were so young this only was really a problem on one - Goofy's Barnstormer. But the kids love that ride but my ds4 did NOT like riding alone and I thought dd3 was too little to go alone without my holding onto her - so we could only do this ride once.

Also lunch was a little difficult. We usually go to the table while dh gets the food (I know - a lot of debate on this but I'm guessing that people around us in line are happy that my very fidgety son is not bumping into them the whole time). So at lunchtime I was unsure how to handle it. It worked out fine though - just went to a couple places until I found a seat that was available right near the food line (at the little outdoor place right in between Winnie the Pooh and Snow White) - and I sat them there so I could see and talk to them the whole time I was in line. Snacks were huge here - since it took a little longer to find a place that worked out well - the kids were pretty hungry - but I was able to just give them a granola bar in the meantime.

The only other thing I worried about was getting the double stroller onto the tram to go to the car at the end of the day. I was sure the 3 year old would be asleep or at least VERY TIRED. So I eyed getting in line near a family with one kid and two parents....that way if I needed to ask that dad to help me lift the stroller up - I figured he would be willing to do it - people tend to be very helpful to people when they can envision themselves in the same situation and needing help. It turned out ok though - she was awake so I put her up there and then grabbed the stroller myself.

Just takes more planning IMO - but you can still have a great time!

 

[MommyBuzz909]

My DS is 5 )

 

[LAH LAH]

Just the two of you would be a real treat...

I have 2 children and will be going this June...since that would have left us one odd one out my mom is coming too.

I hope you have a wonderful wonderful time!

 

[candee0512]

My husband at the time never wanted to go to WDW, so I took my babysitter. She was a lifesaver! She could take the kids to the pool so that I could have some down time, help get them ready, etc. Also, it is going to get really old trying to use the restroom in the parks with him in there with you. I'm just sayin'.

Candee

 

[jerseypixie]

Hello,

I am a single parent and I took my DS 5 (at the time) last June 07 to WDW & SeaWorld. We had a great time he still talks about it and wants to go back very soon!! Some tips.

1) Stay on-site. We didn't have a car and used Disney Transportation and it was great. He was really good about waiting he enjoyed reading the bus signs and guessing if our bus would be next.

2) Do the Dining plan it helps with your budget and allows you to have lots of character meals and meal breaks which you will need.

3) Pack light-we did not use a stroller we walk a great deal at home so my DS is used to walking alot.

4) I had a basket made before we arrived that had cameras, misty fans and an autograph book w/pen. That saved me money on souvenirs and my son loved having his own camera.

5) Make ADR's and have a plan but be very flexible. One day we were going to return to Hollywood Studios and my DS walked by the pool and announced he would rather go swimming so we did I cancelled our ADR's on my cell phone and we hung out all night by the pool and had a counter service dinner instead.

6) Bathrooms...okay this is touchy but sometimes I would just hold it until we got back to the hotel or we would go into the stall toghether he would "go" first face forward while it was my turn and then we would wash our hands and leave. I do not feel comfortable having him go to the bathroom unattended nor do I feel comfortable having him waiting outside the stall for me either. Freud may have something to say about this but whatever. Next summer we are taking along dad because my DS doesn't like going into the "girls" bathroom anymore.

Most importantly have fun It's amazing how many little things will remind my DS of WDW and our trip. You can get caught up with all the hype here on the Dis about planning, ADR's, etc. So try not to over plan-have a plan but keep it flexible and fun.

 

[gower525]

I am taking DS6 and DD3 by myself this June! I am a little worried, but I think I can manage one way or another. We have had a horrible year with DH leaving and divorce, and this trip is the one thing we have really been looking forward to. I am mostly worried about counter service meals. DD will be in a stroller - so I couldn't figure how to manage that. I am thinking that I could take her out of the stroller, park it somewhere, and then she can just tag along beside me or hold DS6's hand while I carry the tray.

 

[tooh8ful]

Really, if it is just you and your 5 year old I think you will have a blast. Last year me, my DD4, my mom, and a friend (for big rides) went and my DD and I spent the vast majority of the time together alone. We had SO much fun. Even at 4 there was very little she couldn't ride so we did everything. She is an awesome kid so that helps (not biased here ) we were out of the door by 7 am and didn't get back to the room until the last light went off! She loved it.
THIS year, I will have DD (now 5) and her new baby sister who will be about 15 months old when we go (assuming I am finally able to bring her home ---LOOONG adoption but I digress. . . ) Anyway, Since the room will cost me exactly the same with our without another adult I have asked my best friend to go with us. I am paying her way and in return she is helping me with the baby so no one misses out on anything. I am also very lucky in that I booked bounceback so our food is free too.

 

[briarberry]

I am also a single mom with one daughter. We went to WDW for the first time when she was 7. We have been back two more times, once alone again and the last time with family members. We are both looking forward to going alone again this summer. We love our family but we have special things we both like to do at WDW together. We stay on site which is a great stress reliever for me. I like hopping on a bus and letting someone else drive. I always feel completely safe at WDW which is important to me. My daughter is 11 now and every time I ask her where we should go on vacation - it's Disney World! I am enjoying every minute of it - she is growing up so fast. Go and have a great time and remember to be flexible and don't try to do everything the first time.

 

[juliana_sd]

My 4.5 year old son and I are going in May... originally I didn't want to take him alone but I decided to go for it. We are SO EXCITED! We're just going to go with the flow... we have the P&PP and the Mother's Day Brunch booked, but other than that, I think we'll just do maybe one character meal and the rest counter service. I don't want to worry about ADR's. I got a nonstop flight out there, we'll use ME to the resort, and probably spend a lot of time riding Buzz Lightyear (his favorite at Disneyland!) and seeing what cool things we can find. We don't have to worry about planning around anyone or anything, and if I make sure that we both get enough rest then it will be a blast!

Only problem (for me) is that his dad is upset (jealous I assume) that I'm taking him.

 

[Jordans_Mommie]

I will be going in May for the first time with my DS3. I am really looking forward to this trip, this past year has been rough on us, but we made it! My baby is so much fun and has a great sense of adventure, so I look forward to taking on the world with him at our pace.

 

[eeyoregon]

I have two sons and we have been a total of 5 times togther.

We LOVE it!! Our trips to Disney World together have been our best memories and we will be returning in November.

We always stay on property because that is part of the magic for us. We LOVE the extra late magic hours as we are from the West coast so it goes well with our body clocks.

The water parks, especially Blizzard Beach, is our family favorite.

You will have a wonderful time together! Good for you!

 

[eeyoregon]

I will be going in May for the first time with my DS3. I am really looking forward to this trip, this past year has been rough on us, but we made it! My baby is so much fun and has a great sense of adventure, so I look forward to taking on the world with him at our pace.

How fun!!! Happy for you!! Are you staying on property? I can't believe my "babies" are already 12 and 15...where does the time go??

 

[MNdisneymom]

My DS is now 5, I took him alone when he was 3.5, and he just went back with my NSDXH. He is Disney obsessed! (And in fact, I caught him telling my mother this weekend that he wanted to go to Disney with her, so she could go on the rides with him... )

We did our trip on the cheap--stayed at the Pop Century and we loved it. (I did pay extra for the preferred room though.) We ate mostly food court meals, except for the Playhouse Disney breakfast at MGM. I gave him an envelope of money every day (which I held onto) and once that money was gone, he couldn't ask for anything else. I was really proud of him, because he wanted a POTC play set and saved up 2 days worth of his money so he could get it.

The biggest thing for me...was to be open to what he wanted to do, not to run around trying to ride every roller coaster 5 minutes after the park opened. He loved doing things like talking to CMs (he discovered pin trading!) and could have spent hours looking at the bats in the AK. Also, I found out how much he likes fireworks--Illuminations was a big hit.

Have a great trip...Traveling alone with my son was one of favorite disney trips of all time.

 

[LisaZoe]

I'm a single mom and took my DD to WDW when she was almost 3. I would definitely do it again without hesitation. We've gone with my sister to DLR and had a great time, too, but the trip with just the 2 of us was special. I actually think in some ways it was easier because I could more easily change plans based on my DD's moods and wishes. My sister is great about such things but I still felt guilty when we couldn't do some of the things with her that she wanted (she went on some rides alone). Being just the 2 of us, we could go on the same ride as many times as we wanted without worrying others were inconvenienced. We also ate mostly at the times when the mood struck and tried places we might not have with a larger group. My DD asks sometimes if we can do a trip like that again with just the 2 of us so I think she enjoyed having me to herself as much as I did. She's 6 now and I think the trip would be even easier because I wouldn't have to worry about naps as much - although the afternoon breaks were as much for me as for her... we're not used to the heat/humidity of FL in September!

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

I will be hopefully taking my DD who will be 4 when we go next year. I'm a single parent and im petrified lol esp travelling from the UK. Is Disney World single parent friendly?

Any tips appreciated

 

[jadedbeauty14304]

I am a single mom and have been taking my dd to WDW since she was 7. Our first trip was nice because I brought a niece and a friend and it was fun for all of us to experience it for the first time. Went again when she was 9, this time with my boyfriend, and it wasn't as good of a trip. When she turned 10, we went to WDW for her birthday and had a celebration and she loved wearing her Happy Birthday button, and all the wonderful birthday wishes that cast members gave her. I brought along her teenage cousin and that trip was rough on me. The teenager was just.. well.. being a teenager. FINALLY we have a trip for this August planned and it will be just her and me. We are looking forward to having special time together in our most favorite place. We each picked out special things to do that we have not done yet. I want the Spirit of Aloha Show at the Poly, and to eat at restaurants at the Contemporary and the GF. She wants to go to the waterparks, and to Disney Quest. So this trip is going to be super special.

I have found that anything we do, just me and her, turns out to be super special. Now that she is almost 11 and getting closer to the dreaded adolescence years, we need to have a nice alone time vacation.

 

[LisaZoe]

I will be hopefully taking my DD who will be 4 when we go next year. I'm a single parent and im petrified lol esp travelling from the UK. Is Disney World single parent friendly?

Any tips appreciated

In many ways, I think it is very single parent friendly. Since it's family oriented, things are designed well for kids and their parents. The biggest issue I remember having as a single parent isn't specific to WDW, unfortunately. When you're the only adult dining with a child who isn't old enough to go to the restroom alone can have unexpected consequences. I can't tell you how many times we've come back to our table after my daughter "had to go" only to find the table was cleared. At buffet style places, it's mostly just an inconvenience of having to get new plates. At other places, we've either had to wait for a replacement item or just call an early end to the meal. Disney CMs are much more apologetic than other restaurants we've had this happen at but the end isn't much different. I've tried leaving something in plain sight on the table, a toy or cup, but some waitstaff think it was forgotten and just take it to the front of the restaurant to leave with the host/hostess. I've considered making a bright neon green sign to leave on the table saying we'd be back but haven't actually tried it yet.

Oh, the other issue I remember is also potty break related. When we've gone to DLR with at least one other adult, if my DD needs to go, one person can hold the place in line. When it's just the 2 of us, we don't have that option so I try to anticipate the need and have her go (or try) before we get in line.

All in all, I don't think the issues are something a single parent hasn't encountered elsewhere. The benefits of a Disney vacation far outweigh any inconveniences of going as a single parent. IMO

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

In many ways, I think it is very single parent friendly. Since it's family oriented, things are designed well for kids and their parents. The biggest issue I remember having as a single parent isn't specific to WDW, unfortunately. When you're the only adult dining with a child who isn't old enough to go to the restroom alone can have unexpected consequences. I can't tell you how many times we've come back to our table after my daughter "had to go" only to find the table was cleared. At buffet style places, it's mostly just an inconvenience of having to get new plates. At other places, we've either had to wait for a replacement item or just call an early end to the meal. Disney CMs are much more apologetic than other restaurants we've had this happen at but the end isn't much different. I've tried leaving something in plain sight on the table, a toy or cup, but some waitstaff think it was forgotten and just take it to the front of the restaurant to leave with the host/hostess. I've considered making a bright neon green sign to leave on the table saying we'd be back but haven't actually tried it yet.

Oh, the other issue I remember is also potty break related. When we've gone to DLR with at least one other adult, if my DD needs to go, one person can hold the place in line. When it's just the 2 of us, we don't have that option so I try to anticipate the need and have her go (or try) before we get in line.

All in all, I don't think the issues are something a single parent hasn't encountered elsewhere. The benefits of a Disney vacation far outweigh any inconveniences of going as a single parent. IMO

I was actually thinking about that and the toilet issue. maybe leaving a coat over the chair or something could show that your still there or something.

 

[jadedbeauty14304]

My Dd feels the need to go to the bathroom no matter where we are! In restaurants, movie theaters, airplanes, or ME busses. It was really hard when she needed me to go with her, I would usually take my wallet out of my purse and leave my purse in the middle of the table. No one dares touch the table with a purse sitting on it in the middle of a crowded restaurant. It is just important to make sure you remember to take your wallet when you do this..lol