Taking 3 small kids by myself...crazy?

[Mrs K]

DH and I have done the drive from southern MA with the kids many times. It's a 20+ hour drive. We do MA to the NC/SC border--@ 14 hrs day 1 and he rest day 2. I don't mind the ride, but I wouldn't do it myself with little kids. I think it's just safer with a second adult.

 

[maxiesmom]

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.

That is what would worry me. I could just see waking up with a migraine headache the second day, and not being able to drive anywhere. Or one of the kids becoming ill, and then having to drive and try and comfort a sick child.

I like the idea of having your mother in law come along. That just seems like a very long road trip to make with 3 kids and no adult back-up. We drive from home to Gatlinburg fairly often, and the trip is about 12 hours. There is no way I would attempt that as the only adult with 3 kids.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

Purchase some paper lunch sacks and a road map. Put a small snack and a game or treat in every lunch sack (or let the kids do it for themselves). Then, when you arrive at certain locations (perhaps whenever you cross into a new state or a big city), the children ask for the bag labeled with that locale. Anything would do, even a page of Mad Libs or something inexpensive like that. It's just exciting to have treat waiting along the way. The kids could even make bags for you, with their artwork or sweet notes in them.

Next time we rode trip instead of fly, I am doing it!

 

[autismgoesdisney]

Purchase some paper lunch sacks and a road map. Put a small snack and a game or treat in every lunch sack (or let the kids do it for themselves). Then, when you arrive at certain locations (perhaps whenever you cross into a new state or a big city), the children ask for the bag labeled with that locale. Anything would do, even a page of Mad Libs or something inexpensive like that. It's just exciting to have treat waiting along the way. The kids could even make bags for you, with their artwork or sweet notes in them.

Next time we rode trip instead of fly, I am doing it!

That is a great idea!!! It would be even better if I could find something related to each state!!!

My hubby is balking on the money idea and I do see his point. We need a new laptop and I keep saying no but then I willingly wod spend the money on Disney lol!!! We will see. Right now it's staying an option.

 

[DrMomof3]

I flew with 3 kids ages 6, 4, 2 by myself a few years ago and my DH later met us in Disney. We left home at 10am and arrived at our hotel at 8pm. Not quite the same but I get it.
I planned lots of little surprises for their travel bags that they could open at various intervals during the trip. They did great! It was a little stressful but worked out fine. At least in the car they are contained. I had to worry about someone running off at the airport.
I would plan frequent stops (every 2-3 hours) for everyone to get out and stretch their legs and for you to refresh.
If you decide to do it, I'm sure you'll manage just fine!

Amanda

 

[disnut8]

While I think you know best if you can handle your kids in a car for 14 hours, I would shorten that day's drive up some. I see you are coming from New Jersey so you will probably be taking I95 which can get some traffic delays. Especially if you are going through a large city during rush hour. I would check out this site - www.i95exitguide.com - to see where a good place to stop would be. It will also be helpful to know good places to stop for meals.

My mother-in-law and brother-in-law stopped just across the state line in South Carolina on their way down from Maryland. The next day, they were at the resort around 4:30 or so and I know they didn't leave very early in the morning.

My other suggestion is to leave your place Thursday after dinner and drive a few hours that night (or whenever you can leave). Then drive all the way through to Disney World on Friday.

 

[Heather1979]

I'd do it, but I would cut that driving day down a bit. Not having an adult in the car to keep you ... grounded -- I don't think I could last 14 hours driving. I'd cut it back to 8-9. But I think it would be fun to pick a themed hotel, enjoy the amenities, DD, pool, etc.

 

[vinotinto]

Personally, I would postpone the trip because I see vacation time as a time to relax from work and the general life. Even with two parents there are times when a WDW vacation is a little bit chaotic and stressful. I find the biggest challenge for you is that 14-hour drive by yourself. We drive 7 hours, sharing driving equally, with about 3-4 short stops along the way to use bathroom and stretch legs (my kids are 7 and 4 so similar to your kids' ages) and it is still a pain. The main highways (I-95 and I-75) have a lot of traffic - this is not a relaxing drive down.

At WDW itself, given the age of the kids, the oldest will want to (and be able to) go on rides that the youngest will likely not be able to/not want to. My 7-year old loves RnRC and Space Mountain. Your oldest child would have to go by him/herself since you could not leave your 4-year old alone. I don't know how fun it would be to have the younger one wait for the big one to return from a fun ride. We often have to split up as my oldest is not too interested in the "little kid" rides that my 4-year old was interested and could do.

p.s. - I travel w/ my two kids all the time without my husband by plane. I've also taken them to the beach and pool in travel destinations by myself. But, there's a big difference in plane travel, where you can literally pay attention to your kids the entire time and the drive down where you will not be able to pay attention to them. There's also a big difference in an unstructured activity such as playing at the beach and the structure of WDW where there are lines, rules and height requirements.

 

[disnut8]

Personally, I would postpone the trip because I see vacation time as a time to relax from work and the general life. Even with two parents there are times when a WDW vacation is a little bit chaotic and stressful. I find the biggest challenge for you is that 14-hour drive by yourself. We drive 7 hours, sharing driving equally, with about 3-4 short stops along the way to use bathroom and stretch legs (my kids are 7 and 4 so similar to your kids' ages) and it is still a pain. The main highways (I-95 and I-75) have a lot of traffic - this is not a relaxing drive down.

At WDW itself, given the age of the kids, the oldest will want to (and be able to) go on rides that the youngest will likely not be able to/not want to. My 7-year old loves RnRC and Space Mountain. Your oldest child would have to go by him/herself since you could not leave your 4-year old alone. I don't know how fun it would be to have the younger one wait for the big one to return from a fun ride. We often have to split up as my oldest is not too interested in the "little kid" rides that my 4-year old was interested and could do.

p.s. - I travel w/ my two kids all the time without my husband by plane. I've also taken them to the beach and pool in travel destinations by myself. But, there's a big difference in plane travel, where you can literally pay attention to your kids the entire time and the drive down where you will not be able to pay attention to them. There's also a big difference in an unstructured activity such as playing at the beach and the structure of WDW where there are lines, rules and height requirements.

The OP is just doing the drive and the very first shortened day by herself. Her husband will be flying down on Saturday (the second day) to join her. So once she's there and that first shortened day is over, she will have another adult with her.

 

[mhl1414]

I use to take my kids on all kinds of trips by myself. Until a few years ago, when after only just arriving at Magic Kingdom (1st day)I started feeling ill. I had to drag the kids out of the park and back to the room. Not an easy task when they just arrived. I had a really bad stomach flu or maybe food poisoning (had just eaten at Crystal Palace). I couldnt move out of the bathroom and couldnt even go get my kids drinks or food. I was really scared. Luckily I started feeling better the next day but that was a really scary night. Being so far away and having no one to call for help with the kids when I was unable to care from them was hard. I won't be doing any more alone trips. You just never know when you might need help.

 

[tinker&belle]

If it were me I would use the extra money to fly the whole family down together instead of driving.

 

[Mom2six]

I use to take my kids on all kinds of trips by myself. Until a few years ago, when after only just arriving at Magic Kingdom (1st day)I started feeling ill. I had to drag the kids out of the park and back to the room. Not an easy task when they just arrived. I had a really bad stomach flu or maybe food poisoning (had just eaten at Crystal Palace). I couldnt move out of the bathroom and couldnt even go get my kids drinks or food. I was really scared. Luckily I started feeling better the next day but that was a really scary night. Being so far away and having no one to call for help with the kids when I was unable to care from them was hard. I won't be doing any more alone trips. You just never know when you might need help.

This is a really good point. You never know when it will happen either. Two weeks ago I was really ill and home alone with the young kids. It came on so suddenly and was a bit scary. I've always just been able to pluck through it and take care of them as needed, but this time I wasn't sure I would be able to do it. That would be so terrifying away from home like that. I'm glad you were better the next day.

 

[disnut8]

On the getting sick posters - OP - do you get sick very often? And as a stay at home mom, what do you do then?

Not quite sure people bring up getting sick. It's like wishing the very worst to someone.

 

[Deb & Bill]

On the getting sick posters - OP - do you get sick very often? And as a stay at home mom, what do you do then?

Not quite sure people bring up getting sick. It's like wishing the very worst to someone.

I think someone in our party has gotten sick every time we've gone to WDW. Either ear infections from swimming or some other problem. I know I had what I thought might be food poisoning the night after we arrived once and I was up all night visiting the bathroom. I felt sorry for the people in the room below us and next to us with the volcanic toilets.

It's just something to be concerned about with the long drive. It might not even be illness, but car trouble. I had a flat tire on my way from Houston to Montgomery AL with all our stuff since we were moving. I had four cats with me in the car and my husband had to go on ahead to start his job a few days before the movers emptied the house. When I finally got to AL that night, very late, I was ready to go back to Houston. I didn't have any kids with me, just the four cats, but one got out of the car and was under the car on the side of I-10 in Louisiana while I was trying to figure out what to do. This was before cell phones and road side service via cell phone, too.

You weigh the risks.

 

[maxiesmom]

On the getting sick posters - OP - do you get sick very often? And as a stay at home mom, what do you do then?

Not quite sure people bring up getting sick. It's like wishing the very worst to someone.

My sister ended up in the hospital during our last trip to WDW. I was the only other adult along, and I'm not sure what she would have done had I not been there. Apparently they have to call social services to come take the children when that happens.

It is not wishing someone the worst to make sure they are prepared just in case something goes wrong. And becoming ill while you were the only adult in charge of a few kids, when you are not able to quickly have another trusted adult help you, would be pretty scary.

 

[Mom2six]

On the getting sick posters - OP - do you get sick very often? And as a stay at home mom, what do you do then?

Not quite sure people bring up getting sick. It's like wishing the very worst to someone.

I don't think weighing the pros and cons of an action is like wishing the worst on someone at all! One poster brought up the reason she stopped taking trips alone with her young children. I had never thought of that - and making plans for what you would do in certain, basically normal/common enough situations is part of being a parent and planning a responsible trip. If you only look at the positives when forming a plan, you sure are going to be in a load of trouble if something negative happens.

 

[vinotinto]

The OP is just doing the drive and the very first shortened day by herself. Her husband will be flying down on Saturday (the second day) to join her. So once she's there and that first shortened day is over, she will have another adult with her.

Perhaps the OP can clarify because it would certainly affect responses if she's doing 1 day by herself or a week by herself, but I read and re-read her post and it sounded like her husband could not take time off in August. Her trip is 8/25 (Saturday) to 9/3 (Labor Day Monday). It sounded like her husband would join them the last Saturday (9/1) and they would all drive home together on (Labor Day) Monday. That way, he would not miss any work, especially in August. That would mean she's driving down by herself from NJ on I-95 and then spending a week w/ her 3 kids in Disney before her husband joins.

If he's joining them on Saturday 8/25, the solution is for all 5 to fly down and back together. It would be easy peasy.

 

[campbell95]

OP, I think you should go for it! If you had 3 under age 5, then I would hesitate, but your older 2 should be pretty self sufficient in entertaining themselves. I agree in making your first day of driving a little shorter and taking frequent breaks!

I'm a SAHM, too, so the drive and hotel situation is pretty much "just another day" kind of thing for me. At least you will all appreciate the change of scenery

Have a great trip!!

Edit, driving 14 hours and staying in a hotel isn't something I do all the time. But handling the kids on my own *is*. Just wanted to clarify that. lol!

 

[autismgoesdisney]

OP, I think you should go for it! If you had 3 under age 5, then I would hesitate, but your older 2 should be pretty self sufficient in entertaining themselves. I agree in making your first day of driving a little shorter and taking frequent breaks!

I'm a SAHM, too, so the drive and hotel situation is pretty much "just another day" kind of thing for me. At least you will all appreciate the change of scenery

Have a great trip!!

Edit, driving 14 hours and staying in a hotel isn't something I do all the time. But handling the kids on my own *is*. Just wanted to clarify that. lol!

WOW! I took a few days away from the boards and look at all these responses.

I booked my husband's flight today and am waiting to hear back from my travel agent to confirm the extra day.

It turns out that we will be leaving at 4:00 am on August 22. We will drive to Jacksonville (WISH ME LUCK! LOL) and spend the 23rd at my sister in laws recouperating Im sure. We will leave very early on the 24th to head to CBR. We are staying at CBR for the day, and then hubby is meeting us early on the 25th via magical express. Together we will check into POR and begin the next 10 days.

I asked my mother in law to join me in on the drive to help with the kids, and get a free ride to visit her daughter and grandkids. We'll see if she agrees (she makes the drive ALL the time so its not like she doesn't like it).

Thanks for all the advice. Getting sick would be awful. Exta vitamin C for sure the week before!

 

[cluvsdisney]

If it were me I would use the extra money to fly the whole family down together instead of driving.

I would do this or wait for DH and all drive down together.