Taking 3 small kids by myself...crazy?

[autismgoesdisney]

We are leaving 8/24/12 to drive down to Disney for 10 days! I am so freaking excited. Anyway, I worked a ton of overtime and realized that we could go for a few days before our reservation, get a great deal on a room only, and stay somewhere that we haven't stayed before (either CBR pirate room OR CS). The problem is the husband can't take more time off of work in August

So here I am contemplating just driving down by myself with my 3 kids. I would leave and stop in Jacksonville, which is only 14 hours (only!), then hit Disney the next day. My husband would fly down and meet us on Saturday morning. Then we'd all drive home together. Am I crazy??? Has anyone stayed at a room only by themselves??? The kids would have a blast at the pool, we'd do downtown Disney or boardwalk, etc.

What does everyone think? Am I crazy? The kids are 8, 6 and 4

 

[goofyintoronto]

We are leaving 8/24/12 to drive down to Disney for 10 days! I am so freaking excited. Anyway, I worked a ton of overtime and realized that we could go for a few days before our reservation, get a great deal on a room only, and stay somewhere that we haven't stayed before (either CBR pirate room OR CS). The problem is the husband can't take more time off of work in August

So here I am contemplating just driving down by myself with my 3 kids. I would leave and stop in Jacksonville, which is only 14 hours (only!), then hit Disney the next day. My husband would fly down and meet us on Saturday morning. Then we'd all drive home together. Am I crazy??? Has anyone stayed at a room only by themselves??? The kids would have a blast at the pool, we'd do downtown Disney or boardwalk, etc.

What does everyone think? Am I crazy? The kids are 8, 6 and 4

you know, there are single parents out there with 2,3, even 4 kids, they do this by themselves all the time and they managed just fine. why would you be crazy? theyre your kids. how do you manage with your kids when hubby isnt around? im sure you do just fine. You will have a great time dont worry! When my son and I go to disney, its always just the two of us cause i am a single mom....and we always have a great time. i've never been worried or scared or even questioned my sanity. This will be a great time for you to bond with the kids alone. Have fun! BTW we're going to disney at the same time! woohoo! Aug.24-26 im at ASMovies, then we're switching over to CSR.

 

[autismgoesdisney]

you know, there are single parents out there with 2,3, even 4 kids, they do this by themselves all the time and they managed just fine. why would you be crazy? theyre your kids. how do you manage with your kids when hubby isnt around? im sure you do just fine. You will have a great time dont worry! When my son and I go to disney, its always just the two of us cause i am a single mom....and we always have a great time. i've never been worried or scared or even questioned my sanity. This will be a great time for you to bond with the kids alone. Have fun! BTW we're going to disney at the same time! woohoo! Aug.24-26 im at ASMovies, then we're switching over to CSR.

Maybe I should be more clear....driving in a car alone with a 8, 6 and 4 year old for 18 hours I'm a stay at home mom who is with the kids all day by myself for hours on end...LMAO! I got that part. My 4 year old may drive me over the edge...but then again, once we get there...all would be forgotten!

 

[PSULion]

My 4 year old may drive me over the edge...

This is exactly why we are not driving from MD this year. Even with DH in the car, I cannot take 16 hours of questions from my almost 4 yr old.

I still think I'd do it if it meant a few extra days of vacation though!! Good luck!

 

[autismgoesdisney]

This is exactly why we are not driving from MD this year. Even with DH in the car, I cannot take 16 hours of questions from my almost 4 yr old.

I still think I'd do it if it meant a few extra days of vacation though!! Good luck!

LOL! I'm so glad you get it! My 8 and 6 year old would be easy. Books, ds, food, tv, we're good to go. My 4 year old? She is quite needy....and needs that instant gratification....hmm maybe she can stay home and work with her daddy while I go with the older two LOL! Just kidding

The price of airfare is nuts though, and if I only had to buy my DH a one way ticket it would only be $131. That's not bad. He'd be there early in the morning too.....plus he works near the airport, so he can probably leave his car at work and find a friend to drive him to the airport.....or even take a taxi

 

[alex9179]

Maybe I should be more clear....driving in a car alone with a 8, 6 and 4 year old for 18 hours I'm a stay at home mom who is with the kids all day by myself for hours on end...LMAO! I got that part. My 4 year old may drive me over the edge...but then again, once we get there...all would be forgotten!

Every summer I drive 12-14 hrs one way to visit relatives with my three who are now 8, 7, and 4. I started doing it when they were 6, 5, and 2.

I think you'll be fine!

 

[lucyem]

My advice would be to cut the driving time in half. Do half one day and half the next. Make a reservation at a decent hotel with a pool. Take your time and find ways to make the trip itself more enjoyable for all of you.

Our drive is 24 hours. When I am alone I try and keep my driving time under 10 hours in a day. I just get so beat. The last time I drove alone with my boys (9&5) I made sure to have lots of surprise activities and snacks for them. Especially things I kept up front and could quickly grab. I also left the cooler within reach of my oldest who could dole out drinks as needed.

 

[kerriemiller]

I get that its the time in the car thats the hardest. When we go my DH drives and Im the entertainment commitee. Im sure your kids will be fine they are at an age were they can get things for themselves. Im sure your 8 year old will be willing to help.

As far as being at the hotel with them by yourself . . . Ive done it with a 2 and 4 year old. You'll be just fine.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Maybe I should be more clear....driving in a car alone with a 8, 6 and 4 year old for 18 hours I'm a stay at home mom who is with the kids all day by myself for hours on end...LMAO! I got that part. My 4 year old may drive me over the edge...but then again, once we get there...all would be forgotten!

OH! hahaha I never considered that to be honest. LOL! Sorry. I understand why you'd be concerned. But I think you should try it. Its a nice little adventure, and totally worth the fuss in the end.

 

[minnie mum]

OP I can definitely understand your hesitancy. Especially about the demands of your youngest. And I also understand why you might want to make your first day of driving the longest. But I honestly think you might want to make that first day a little bit shorter. Maybe stop somewhere in S. Carolina or Georgia? This would give you a little more freedom to stop somewhere (? state welcome centers) for a short break when necessary and to let the kids blow off a bit of excess energy. And you wouldn't be too exhausted by the end of the day. Pick a hotel for the night with a pool so the kids can tire themselves out. Then hit the road again early in the morning. Just a thought.

 

[sharadoc]

Hi. I've been following your trip planning. I think you have free dining, right? So your park tickets are paid for. You can't get more than 10 days on a ticket, so if you pick yours up early, you can't add days for the end of the trip, you'll have to get all new tickets. Or do you plan to do hotel only for those first days? So, there could be considerable extra expense by doing this, along with the cost of food.

How about just save the money for your down payment on next year's trip LOL. We drive every time and I can't imagine doing it myself, if you've never done it before you have NO idea how hard it can be with no one to relieve you. You have 3 kids and their safety to think about so, if you do it, then I agree with PPs who say split the drive in half rather than try to make it to Jacksonville.

I don't want to be a party pooper, but I think your excitement may be clouding your judgement. You want to get there as soon as possible!!! My suggestion is to keep your trip as is and have plenty of extra cash in your pocket for this trip, or next time.

 

[cjsm&d]

Maybe I should be more clear....driving in a car alone with a 8, 6 and 4 year old for 18 hours I'm a stay at home mom who is with the kids all day by myself for hours on end...LMAO! I got that part. My 4 year old may drive me over the edge...but then again, once we get there...all would be forgotten!

..until you have to drive home!

14 hours is a long hall, but you were gonna have to do it with the hubby a couple days later anyway... so I say GO for it! which is easy for me to say from afar.

But honestly, for 3 days extra at a WDW resort (CSR for me), I would do it.

 

[Diz Kids]

Have you made the drive, or any long one, before? If you are comfortable with it, then go with it. If it will stress you out so much that you are taking the full 3 days to recover than it might not be worth it. I traveled down without DH on our last trip with our three (7, 5 and 3 at the time), although it was a flight so it was a few hours, not a few days, and it worked out great. The older kids understood that I would need a little extra help from them and were willing to give it, especially since we were on our way to Disney!

And we are going to be there at the same time! 8/23-9/2 at POR. I can't wait!

 

[autismgoesdisney]

We did the drive last year (with hubby) so I do know how long it is l. I am going to see if my mother in law wants a free trip to visit her daughter and thus takes the trip with me . That would be great.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Save the money and the entire family leaves and comes home together. We have a 14 hour trip to WDW for every trip and we can't do it in one day, let alone one of us doing all the driving.

What happens if you get tired or sick along the way? You have three young children who wouldn't be able to drive or help you.

 

[deanie]

I know what you mean. My husband won't let me drive on trips, even when I begged him, because he knows keeping our three kids happy in the car was the hardest job.The kids are all older now so we don't have that issue. I always found that snacks and food were a great help! Best of luck with it - at least you are driving alone to WDW and not back. That gives you a bit of leverage, doesn't it?

 

[momof3ds]

My kids are 10, 8, and 6 and I drove them for 12 hours by myself last summer both ways to our summer trip.

12 hours is about my limit so I'd plan a stop somewhere.

 

[nonnasally]

We are leaving 8/24/12 to drive down to Disney for 10 days! I am so freaking excited. Anyway, I worked a ton of overtime and realized that we could go for a few days before our reservation, get a great deal on a room only, and stay somewhere that we haven't stayed before (either CBR pirate room OR CS). The problem is the husband can't take more time off of work in August

So here I am contemplating just driving down by myself with my 3 kids. I would leave and stop in Jacksonville, which is only 14 hours (only!), then hit Disney the next day. My husband would fly down and meet us on Saturday morning. Then we'd all drive home together. Am I crazy??? Has anyone stayed at a room only by themselves??? The kids would have a blast at the pool, we'd do downtown Disney or boardwalk, etc.

What does everyone think? Am I crazy? The kids are 8, 6 and 4

You sound like such a gutsy girl I am sure you would pull it off. Just a few suggestions from someone who has gone down by car from PA on three different occasions. The first time our kids were the ages of yours.
Leave Jersey around 4 in the morning with kids sleeping till around 9 and have a good breakfast.
From Philly area to Savannah, GA is exactly 12 hours. It will be late afternoon when you get there. Get a motel ( great AAA ones right along 95) and let the kids unwind, maybe swim and sleep early. Leave GA about 5 in morning and stop in Daytona for breakfast. Disney just a few hours from there and you have the whole day ahead of you.
Be safe whatever you decide.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Maybe I should be more clear....driving in a car alone with a 8, 6 and 4 year old for 18 hours I'm a stay at home mom who is with the kids all day by myself for hours on end...LMAO! I got that part. My 4 year old may drive me over the edge...but then again, once we get there...all would be forgotten!

How long is the drive? It would take me approximately 20 hours from Detroit to Orlando. I don't think I can do it. I have 3 kids, 15, 13, and 5. I'm just afraid if something happens along the way, I wouldn't know what to do, but of course to call AAA road service. But still I won't have another adult to "lean" on. I have taken the kids to Disney before by myself before the 3rd child was born, and it was fine. We flew, I didn't drive.

If Disney was only 10 hour drive, then yes, I can do it. I have driven to Chicago for about 5 hours and I was fine with it. 20 hours would be too much for me, even if we stay overnight someplace. To have 2 adults alternate the driving for 20 hours would be different.

 

[perryfan]

As long as the kids are behaved, I'm sure it would be fine.. And if they're excited they will most likely be well behaved