Single Parents??

[MommyBuzz909]

Any single parents done the journey to WDW with the little one(s)? Any advice?

 

[juliana_sd]

We're doing it in May so I'll let you know! The best advice I've heard is go with your kid's flow. Take naps. And book an evening for the kid at a kids club so you can have alone time to ride "big" rides, shop, or just wander around

I'm bringing a stroller. We're doing breakfast in our room so DS can eat while I get ready (he's a sloooooow brekkie eater). Magical Express so we don't have to deal with the luggage. Nonstop flight with my BFF, the dvd player (hehe).

 

[CastleCreations]

I'm a single Mom of 2 little girls, and I take them alone all the time. Because there's two of them, if we are staying in the park for the whole day, I get the double stroller, so I don't have to worry about them running off. I guess the main thing I worry about is safety. It's not easy keeping your eye on them in a crowd for a whole day, and the stroller helps.
Also take advantage of the curbside luggage people. Drop your luggage off with them, and give them a couple of bucks to bring it to your room. It's so worth it!

 

[MommyBuzz909]

I'm a single Mom of 2 little girls, and I take them alone all the time. Because there's two of them, if we are staying in the park for the whole day, I get the double stroller, so I don't have to worry about them running off. I guess the main thing I worry about is safety. It's not easy keeping your eye on them in a crowd for a whole day, and the stroller helps.
Also take advantage of the curbside luggage people. Drop your luggage off with them, and give them a couple of bucks to bring it to your room. It's so worth it!

How old are they? Mine just turned 5 in January, but I'm wondering if maybe I should rent one, just because he might get tired of walking such large distances. He does great at DL, but I know MK and the other parks are 2-3 times bigger than DL!!

 

[Honeymooner04]

I'm not a single mom but I'm going to be taking my two year old by myself in May. I think it's going to be a lot of fun, I'm just planning on staying flexible and doing as much as she's capabe of. I say go for it!

 

[gower525]

I am a single mom ( well, almost - divorce is not final yet) and I am taking DS6 and DD3 by myself in June! I think that the thought of this trip has helped me get through this horrible time. I don't have any advice since I haven't done it yet, but I am confident that I can do it. We do everything else by ourselves, why couldn't we do this?

 

[MommyBuzz909]

I am a single mom ( well, almost - divorce is not final yet) and I am taking DS6 and DD3 by myself in June! I think that the thought of this trip has helped me get through this horrible time. I don't have any advice since I haven't done it yet, but I am confident that I can do it. We do everything else by ourselves, why couldn't we do this?

When you get back, give me your advice!!! I mean I've been doing this by myself since my son was born, but have never done a big multi-day vacation with him before by ourselves!!

 

[3mickeys&me]

Not a single Mom but have taken two trips to Disney with just the kids. It was a blast. We missed havind dh with us but it didn't stop us from having a great time.

 

[sueh]

I am glad that this was asked. I am a single mom of 2 girls (8 & 6) and I was really nervous about taking them to WDW by myself.
We will be going on our 1st trip in July but my ex and his mother are coming along as well. They wanted to be there for the girls first trip. Thank goodness we get along.
But I would like to be able to feel comfortable enough to take them there by myself. I would love to go around Christmas time.

 

[pjbeagle]

I'm glad to see this post. I'm a single dad with 2 kids. I'm making my second trip in August with jus the 3 of us. My DS will be 11 at the time and DD will turn 6 when we get back. Glad to see I'm not the only single parent there making the trip. We stayed at All-Star sports last year and POP this year. We ride the busses everywhere and manage to hit just about every park during our stay. The only tough part is when my DD can't ride the same rides as my DS, like Summit Plummet. I do feel safe letting him run around the water parks by himself, lazy river and crush and gusher. He puts up with meeting all the princess that DD wants to meet. Of course daddy doesn't mind seeing the princesses. Always on the look out for Belle !!!

I think going to Disney is a lot easier than going on vacation anywhere else. The beach is out of the question by myself right now. Too hard to watch one in the water and one on the beach. Disney has everything and keeps everybody entertained.

Any single parents going the first week in August?

 

[MommyBuzz909]

I'm going 7/19-26, but I think it would be nice if a couple of us could all meet up and watch a fireworks show or something.....

 

[tooh8ful]

I am a single mom of a 5 yr old girl. HOPEFULLY, within the next 2 months I will be traveling to Ethiopia to pick up my 9 month old daughter.
What has worked for me is that I take along a friend/family member on vacation.
The room etc. is going to cost me exactly the same, the only additional expense is the park tickets for the additional adult (I've been fortunate enough to book during free dining). The deal is, I pay for their way, everything except airfare, and they help me with my dd (both girls in Sept).
This has worked out really well so far. We'll see once there are 2 kids.

 

[MissMommy928]

I'm a single mom of a 5 year old too! We went just the two of us in December of 2005 and were going back in May after I graduate.

I love it just being me and her. Our only set schedule is our dining reservations. I wouldn't have it any other way! It's so much fun!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I have been a single parent for over 9 years... and I have dragged my poor DDs (see below!) all over the world, including WDW. WDW can be done so easily with one parent. The kids are constantly entertained and can be a great new adventure if you are recently divorced. ME and the buses are great if you are not used to driving in unfamiliar areas, although we rent a car so we can head to the atlantic ocean, the space center, or to a red sox game when they play in Tampa.

Enjoy your new adventure!

 

[CastleCreations]

How old are they? Mine just turned 5 in January, but I'm wondering if maybe I should rent one, just because he might get tired of walking such large distances. He does great at DL, but I know MK and the other parks are 2-3 times bigger than DL!!

My dd just turned 5 and my other dd is 6. We try to get the stroller if we're staying the whole day. One day, I had this bright idea, to make them walk around Epcot, needless to say, when we got to the other side near the countries, I paid some family for their rental stroller. LOL. It was either that or steal one...and yes, I'm not ashamed to say, I would have if I had to hear that whine "MOMMMYYY....my feeeet hurrrrtttt...."

 

[CastleCreations]

I'm a single mom of a 5 year old too! We went just the two of us in December of 2005 and were going back in May after I graduate.

I love it just being me and her. Our only set schedule is our dining reservations. I wouldn't have it any other way! It's so much fun!

I went to disney to celebrate my graduation too...Nursing school...blech! I needed a vacation after that!

 

[Lady V]

I am a single mom to an 8 and 7 year old. My mom (also known as my best friend and best grammy ever!) normally comes with us. (We both own DVC). Well, this summer it is just me and my two kids for 19 days!! We will be at three different resorts, should be interesting....but I am really excited too!

 

[MommyBuzz909]

19 WOW! NOW THAT is a vacation.....and here I thought my 8 days was all cool and stuff (

But that's okay! Let me know how it goes!! Have fun!

 

[Lady V]

19 WOW! NOW THAT is a vacation.....and here I thought my 8 days was all cool and stuff (

But that's okay! Let me know how it goes!! Have fun!

well, I wonder if it might be too much...but with DVC I just own a lot of points and figure well....why not? plus..I am in grad school and I know once I graduate I won't be abe to do trips like this anymore...also-we swim a lot!! We normally pool hop a lot (one of DVC things) and we sleep late, swim, go to dinner and then do EMH at night somewhere...wake up--repeat...it works well for us...we don't have too many morning wake up calls..this helps a lot..

 

[rhiansmom]

Single mom heading back in early April for our fifth trip to WDW and once to Disney Land Paris! Like another poster I have taken my daughter around the world and trips to WDW are the easiest of any!

Stay onsite, take Magical Express, if you want to rent a car do it from the rental place on disney property and have the van from that company pick up up at the hotel, take breaks and hang out at the pool, if it gets too stressed don't be afraid to have down time in the hotel and don't overbook yourself.

During our second trip I thought a few hours a day away from me would be wonderful so I planned a lot of the "extras" like the tea party, pirate cruise, cooking with goofy, etc but I found I was chasing down those reservations more than enjoying the parks.

Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it as CMs are awesome and willing to pitch in if needed. Have fun it is a magical experience!