Taking only 1 child to Disney

[zurgswife]

Great idea...have fun...but that weekend will be packed....I also second the value Idea...

 

[paladin]

I think it sounds like a wonderful idea - and she should love the value resorts. A father/daughter trip would be a great bonding time for you (as a daughter myself, I think it is a fantastic idea). However, as has been mentioned, I believe that weekend is pretty busy. But if you plan and use FP, it should be fine.

 

[Catrin]

I just did this last month with my 10 yr old son.

When my DH pronounced to the world "I am DONE with Disney" - I said, "Good for you!" ....

I have decided to take each of my kids when they finish 4th grade. My 6 yr old did not feel bad, because he knows he will get his turn in a couple of years. Taking each kid one at a time is great, because you can make each trip catered for each kid. My son really wanted to stay at POR, so we did. He wanted to eat all day and all night, so we did. (I will be upside down all week with my other son!).

We had a great time - I made it special for just him. It was just as fun planning with him also.

Have FUN and enjoy!
Catrin

 

[bubba73]

We have 2 children as well. One is 11 and the other is 9. We just got back from a 7 day trip at the Pop Century with just our DS(11). It was a wonderful trip that was a lot of fun and we were able to do everything that was planned. We decided that DD(9) needed to stay back and go to Summer School instead of vacation and we primised her we would do a weekend getaway with her later this summer before school starts back up. She was ok with the decision as she has been to WDW several times already. She did want to see the new stuff but she was happy for us and our trip. It was also a very relaxing vacation for us as we only had the one child to keep up with. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[DisneyWisher]

My DH (now ex) took our daughter when she was 3. Back then she was tall enough to ride Space Mountain (when you would sit between someone's legs) and she loved going with just him. All of our daughters are Daredevil and have been riding the rides since they were tall enough. Youngest was riding ToT since she was 3. Though I think 6 is too small for MS and RnR. But I think its a great idea. I think Value is the way to go but I think she'd like ASMovies best or if you can get a good rate maybe AKL.

 

[dismom9761]

I say go for it!I am taking my DDs in Sept. and leaving the boys home w/ their dad.They go on a camping trip w/ their dad every year w/o us so my DD6 has asked for this.The whole family is going in Feb.They are ready for us to go so they can do guy stuff.

 

[WaltD4Me]

It's a little different, but I have two nieces. One is six and the other is ten. When I decided to go to WDW for my 40th birthday, I took my six year old niece who LOVES Disney and we had a fabulous time. We are extememly close, 2nd mom type thing, and I did offer to take my 10 year old niece too, but she had to decide between going to Disney with me and going to summer camp. She choose summer camp!

My niece and I had a WONDERFUL time! It was a little weird having only the one niece, but I think she really loved spending all the alone time with me and
being the center of attention for a change. I basically let her do, go and see whatever she wanted. She tends to be a little on the shy side, but she really
came out of her shell with no bossy older sister telling her what to do.

I think your DD and especially you, will really cherish the time you get to spend together and your 3 year old DS won't really know/understand that you went to Disney without him if you don't make a big thing out it. Just say you are going on a little trip.

 

[llij]

Have a wonderful trip with your DD!

 

[JVL1018]

Hi, I believe the OP is the dad that wants to take his 6 yo daughter. Mom will be home with the 3 yo, right? I say go for it. The 3 yo will be happy to have Mom all to himself. I bet Mom can plan some fun things for him.


Tink

Don't be so sure..I wanted to take my 5 year old DD this past winter for a quick weekend, just a Mommy and me trip, and she told me no way was she going to Disney without her brother and her Daddy, she was shocked that i would leave them home. LOL..and when DS got wind of it, he was VERY unhappy to say the least..and I thought he would love having Daddy all to himself, hanging out at the firehouse all the time(DH is a FF and DS is enamored of all things FF related). I had to do some quick backtracking and I felt horrible that he would think I didn't want him to come along.
I went to WDW without my kids once,(went with my Mom when the kids were 2 and 4)..and I told them I went to Florida, never said a word about WDW- they were young enough to trick that way.
So anyway, while I do think it is a good idea to go with the kids one on one, maybe the kids will not be fans of it,a nd if they're not, don;t do it!

I am still planning on one on one trips with my kids, but when they're old enough to get the you get to go this year, he gets to go next.
Right now all they'd focus on would be getting left behind..and with 2 kids who are obssessed with what's fair, LOL, it's a bad thing.

ETA I could not make a big deal out of it and just tell my 3 yr old that we were going on a little trip, but there is NO WAY my 5 year old would have been able to not talk about it to her brother. And he knows allll about WDW and he knows what he's missing, so that would never fly here, unfortunately.

 

[Terry S]

I have thought about it but determined that I just could not do that to the other sibling. We have decided that the next time we go to WDW we are going to split up. One day we are going to do a Mom/Daughter, Dad/Son day and then next day we are going to do a Mom/Son, Dad/Daughter day. This way we have a whole day of bonding with just parent and one child. We are going to let the kids choose which park, which ride and which resturants on those days.

 

[mylilnikita]

Hello,
Just like to offer my advice. I think that you should take DD and when DS is old enough, do the same for him. As far as you not being able to go on the adult rides, have you thought about having her go one night to Neverland club or another children's club? I am a single mom and a couple years ago, I took my DD5 at the time for 5 days to WDW. I thought she might like the Neverland club and she ended up wanting to 3 nights. So, I was able to do things with her in the daytime, then at 4:30, she went to the Neverland club-had dinner there, met kids, did activities and I went to MGM and rode TOT and just walked around the parks at night. We stayed at ASMO and loved it and will be going back in November a few days after thanksgiving and before our 2nd DCL Wonder cruise!!!

 

[MOmousefan]

This past May I took my two oldets daughters (22 and 20 YO) and left wife and 18YO son at home. We had a great time and while I wish it could have been the entire family, things were less hectic as less decisions and resulting arguments made for a pleasant trip. My girls are getting ready to leave home, so this was maybe a last family trip. I think 3 is too young from the standpoint they really arn't aware of what is going on.

 

[Kteacher]

I took my DS15 to WDW for a long weekend last December. We had an incredible time We had a great dinner at sunset at the California Grill, went to MVMCP , breakfast at Chef Mickey's. It was a perfect trip. I'm planning on taking my DD for Columbus day weekend in '06 . I wish I had thought of this before- my oldest will be 19 in December, and I'm not sure he'll want to do a " mommy and me " trip ( I can dream, though ) Life is short- enjoy being with your kids!

 

[Anc96]

I agree with most of the posters... it's a wonderful idea. You're little one probably won't know the difference anyway, and by the time he does it'll be his turn!
Your children are far enough in age where the youngest one will prevent the 6 year old from riding some rides too.

As for you not being able to ride the adult rides... don't be too sure of that. If she meets the height requirements and is willing... do it! My dd was 7 when we first went to Disney.. she rode everything! RnRR, ToT, TT.. you name it.
It was me that maybe shouldn't have been riding the adult rides...
my first time on ToT.. and my butt lifted off the seat on that first drop and I screamed like a baby lol. My daughter however was the only one in the picture (yes, we bought it) with her hands up and a huge smile on her face. When she asked "mommy again?" I was probably as white as any ghost in HM... but I went again... and again.
I seriously didn't think I could do RnRR again after the first time.. but there's no one else to ride with her since we go alone, and I didn't want to spoil her fun so I did what any good mother would do and kept my eyes closed and prayed for the end. Thank God it's a very short ride.
Now those were my first experiences. I'm living proof one can come to enjoy terror. I took my daughter to Disney on her 8th birthday. Since it was the end of Nov and begining of Dec the parks weren't crowed. The cms knew it was her birthday and boy did she get the treatment! Let me just say that after the 7th time (IN A ROW) on RnRR I started to open my eyes!! It was so pretty in there! After the 10th time, I gave my thanks to the kind CMs and promised that I wouldn't be seeing them again that visit. Then tried to find a nice private place to settle my stomach (or empty it).
She got the same treatment on TT, SM, and MS. I actually like Mission space from the first time so that wasn't bad at all. e it.. nothing stopped her and she loved it!

I agree with another poster saying that a value resort would be best. My dd
really liked to big icons everywhere when we stayed at the POP. Though she loved the pool theme at CS.. she was less impressed with the rest of it saying it wasn't as colourful and happy as POP. Last visit we were at AKL.. it was her fav by far.. but we were in WDW for over 2 weeks and enjoyed the resort too. If you'll be spending your days at the park go for the value resort.

As for bonding more... there's no better place than WDW! It's wonderful to go there with my daughter.. I'm sure you will both have a wonderful time!

 

[RoseRoni2]

I took my DD 5 on her first trip to WDW by myself, it was so magical. We cant wait to go back to the world. HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Lorelai]

Holy cow!!!! Was Bubba73 joking? Taking the son for seven days, and leaving the daughter behind for summer school. I was pretty sure that was just a goof on the readers when the OP said that their daughter was happy for them, but please tell me that was truly a joke. Please.

 

[Disneynutbsv]

What?!?!?!?!?
Have you considered divorce???
JUST KIDDING!!!!!!!!!

lol, no, I'll keep him. At least he doesn't mind me going and doing my thing down there