Taking kids with a big age gap

[kkevcamsmom]

I am so happy I found this site!

My problem is that we have a 15 yr old, 6 yr old and 4 yr old. We are planning on a trip in 2007 and are worried the 15 yr old will be too bored with the 'kiddie' stuff and the younger ones will be bored with waiting for sister to ride the big rides. We don't want to split up to much and are willing to do it but I was wondering if others have gone with kids who are so far apart in age and still been able to keep everyone reasonably happy?

Also I read about the 'baby swap' that they allow at rides, has anyone used this and did it work out ok?

Thanks a ton for all you help!

Lori

 

[ptmmg]

Lori
We have the same problem in our family dd16, ds14, dd4,ds2 I haven't really figured out how we will do this yet. We go the end of August so I will let you know what worked for us. Hoping others that have done it will respond!

 

[mom2of2]

been there....still doing it.
My kids are 7 years apart. Our first trip they were 5 and 12. We hit AK and MGM before we went to MK. We did a lot of parent swaps and also did things we all enjoyed (shows, family rides etc) Me and my oldest stayed for EMH as well so we got to do all the big rides at night just the 2 of us.
Mix it up, 1 ride for the older and then 1 thing for the younger.

 

[Hannathy]

We went with a 5 and almost 13 and found we only had to split a few times because most rides are for any age. We split up in MGM 5yr and me went on Star tours a couple of times while DH and DD went over to RNC, and in AK they went on primeival whirl and I took the little one to play in the boneyard. I think one AM they went to SM and we went to Dumbo first but most of the time we were together. Sometimes it is nice to split up for an hour and with a 15 yr old they could even go around the park themselves for an hour or two if they need a break from too much little kid time.

 

[Jesussavedme]

Mine are 13, 10 and 2 and the funny thing is, the older ones who really do deep down love the kiddy rides still, use our 2 year old as their reason for going on the ride! So I know they like it, but will act like they don't for appearance sake.

The challenge is finding something to do with the 2 year old while they go on the rollercoasters. Luckily at Splash Mountain, they have the little playground.

 

[isla bonita]

Mine are 16, 10, 5. What we do is thre is a mixture of dofferent rides in the same area and we split up and meet back. There are plenty to do together also. It tirned out fine.

 

[conleyk]

My kids are 18, 16 and 8 (the bonus child)

The first family trip to WDW was in 2000 when they were 13, 10 and 3. We did some splitting up but really found that we could easily accomodate everyone with just a little bit of planning. Since that trip I have taken DD for her 16th, 17th and 18th bdays to Night of Joy and we are FINALLY doing another family trip in early September. the bonus child can't wait!!!

The most suprising thing on the trip in 2000 was how into the characters and "kiddy" stuff the 13 and 10 year old were. I figured the 3 yo would be into it but the other two were too.

Have fun!!

Kim

 

[It's A Happy Day]

I am so happy I found this site!

My problem is that we have a 15 yr old, 6 yr old and 4 yr old. We are planning on a trip in 2007 and are worried the 15 yr old will be too bored with the 'kiddie' stuff and the younger ones will be bored with waiting for sister to ride the big rides. We don't want to split up to much and are willing to do it but I was wondering if others have gone with kids who are so far apart in age and still been able to keep everyone reasonably happy?

Also I read about the 'baby swap' that they allow at rides, has anyone used this and did it work out ok?

Thanks a ton for all you help!

Lori

Ok, My 2 are 12 months apart so I don't have this issue but I was thinking about the ages and I think that the 4 & 6 yr old will have enough in common and be on the same page for the most part to not worry about them. The older child will definitely want to do some "grown up" stuff but the younger ones may surprise you too - my 4yo son went on his 1st roller coaster while in Disney in October, yet he would do Splash Mountain - no big deal, his choice. Another option could be to bring close age relative or girlfriend with you all. Rooming options wouldn't really change so it would be transportation, food, & tickets into parks. I know it is an expensive option but maybe something to consider if it would be someone your dd could buddy up with and do some things by themselves. I know at 15 I didn't want to spend my whole vacation with my parents...oh the horror! For the most part I'm sure the family will want to stick together and maybe if it will be just you and the kids you could get some mom & daughter/dad & daughter time in while the other parent takes the 2 younger ones to something geared toward them. Good luck & have a great time.

 

[Evil Queen]

My kids are 13 years apart (23 and 10). Each and every year we plan, do to so much of a day as a family (easier for me to ride some rides that 10 yr. old won't), then have a time we split up so the older boys (DS23 best friend goes with us too) can have their own time.

You know the only time they leave us is MGM. I think having the younger one, makes it easier for them to go on the kiddie rides, without feeling emabarrassed.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

My kids are only 4 years apart, but that did present an issue when DS was too small to go on some things that DD wanted. I got around that by having each one choose their top 3 or 5 attractions in each park, then writing out itineraries that made sure we got to those priority attractions. I wrote out the itineraries on index cards for each day, drawing little pictures on DS's as he was not reading yet.

We did MK over two days (one for each "side" of the park) and had two separate daily itineraries - that way they saw that they would eventually see everything, even if not all on the same day. An added bonus was that the kids did not fight or whine over what we were doing next - it was already in front of them, with no opportunity for debate. Once we got through the priorities listed on the card for the day, the rest of the day was open to revisiting or going somewhere else. We usually finished our cards by 2 pm and had afternoons for less structured time - and very relaxed time because no one was stressed about missing something they wanted to do.

 

[6mouskateers]

I have to ditto everyone on the observation that the older kids really do want to go on the kiddie rides. We are lucky in that we have "bookenders" DS #1 age 17 and DS #2 almost 14, DD 8 and DS 7. We cut the big ones loose together thanks to the magic of cell phones and 2 way radios. They come find us even before they get hungry/run out of money to "help us" take the smaller ones on the kiddies rides. HHMMMM. The only one they try avoid at all costs is Small World but "The Evil Queen" (that would be yours truley) makes sure that ride is quality family time

Spliting for a little while isn't really that bad, especially if you turn it into a special DD/mother or DS/father or whatever hour or so. AS much as they don't want to admit it even as teenagers they do like some one on one time with mom and dad. I love going on rides with the big ones. I get all the scoop while waiting in line, who is dating whom, and other assorted tidbits of info. They have my undivided attention, especially if the line is long. We talk about where they want to eat etc etc. It is actually time well spent since we rarely get time to talk anymore. I find that I actually enjoy "visiting" with my own kids and that they have a lot to say. Somehow on vacation they tell me things they would never talk about at home.

When DH or I do this, the other will usually take the smaller ones on something they want to do or for a snack or potty or whatever. Then they also get some time with us.

I think you'll find a way to make it work out. Good luck and have a great time!

 

[Kendra17]

Hi. Our kids are dd 14, ds 9, and dd 3 at next trip. We went two years ago when the baby was a bit over 1. We had a great time. I'd actually let the 14 and 9 year old go off separately this time since they have a cell phone and we'd schedule meeting times. .. if we HAVE to. But, we had a great time last trip and the age difference didn't matter too much. We did a baby swap when we had to, or I stayed off a ride or two that I'd been on before and wanted my family to enjoy.

Since we might go on a few more little-kid-type stuff this time, I can see splitting up for a bit and meeting up a bit later. Last trip my husband and I were just exhausted and we waited for the older kids to go on Kali River Rapids. That seemed fine and gave us a little rest, too.

I wouldn't want to split up for hours at a time, and I can't see really splitting up too often because we all enjoy almost everything at the parks. An hour or so, here or there, would be okay with us.

 

[mjmcca]

On my last trip I took a freinds younger sister to MGM with us on day. She is 16 my DD is 4. I let the teenager go on RNR and we waited for her. We FPed the ride. We waited in the seats near Rosies.

 

[powellrj]

my kids are 23, 15 and 10. The 23 year old doesn't travel with us anymore, but when he did, we always split up and met at lunch. I would take the older kids and go on all the big rides with them and DH would take the younger ones. We would met at lunch and switch or stay together until dinner. Usually I would stay back in the room at night with the younger kids and DH would take the older ones back out at night. Its hard when they are teens because mine never wanted to "waste time" on the baby rides and it was too much to expect the younger ones to hang around with the older ones.

 

[penguin087]

Our age difference wasn't as big as yours but my last trip was myself and 11 yo son and my best friend and her 10 yo son and 5 yo daughter. I though we would split up a lot, me with the boys and her with her daughter. It didn't work out that way. Everything went very smoothly and we rarely split. It gave my niece the chance to ride a few rides she wouldn't have gone on otherwise it gave the boys a excuse to go on some things that they were way "too cool" for without the little sister along.

 

[kkevcamsmom]

Thanks a ton for all the responses. It really eased my mind. My 15 yr old was watching the Vacation planning dvd and asked if she could take the boys on Dumbo...lol I guess the WDW brings out the kid in all of us

Well now that I have taken care of that worry, on to more planning

Thanks again!

Lori