Traveling Alone with Child?

[poohs_hunny]

I am entertaining the idea of taking my 9-year-old godson to WDW this summer by myself. Originally, his mom (my cousin) and I were talking about all going together, but things have happened recenly that may very well prevent her from coming. My question is, am I completely crazy for considering this? I have been to WDW many times, so I am confident in knowing my way around. My godson has been once before when he was 5. I'd love to bring him before he turns 10 and becomes an "adult" in Disney's eyes. My godson has always been very high-energy, but has settled down in the past couple of years and he does listen well to me. So tell me, what are some problems that you have encountered when travelling alone with a child, more specifically a child of the opposite sex? I am somewhat concerned about the bathroom situation. I am not necessarily concerned about his going into the men's room alone (he does this regularly at restaurants, etc. here), but where he should wait for me after he's done, since I'm sure thanks to the lovely lines in the ladies' room that he will have to do so quite often? I feel that he is too old to come into the ladies' room with me. I'd love to hear any experiences about traveling to WDW alone with children!

 

[frtchr]

I don't have any experience travelling alone with a child. As far as the bathroom situation, though, maybe he could wait in line with you until you're close and then he could go use the bathroom on his own. That might cut down the time he's apart and having to wait for you.

I hope you get to go! Have a fun trip!

 

[pajules]

I'm in the same boat as you, (single parent) so I'm curious to hear some responses. It's kinda hard to do a "child swap" when there's no one else to swap with.

As far as bathrooms go, if I'm ever uncomfortable about a situation, like it's extremely crowded or there are multiple entrances/exits I always take him into the lady's room with me. I figure it's not like "people are stripping down in front of the sinks" or at least i hope not, so he should be fine. Most women are very understanding with situations like this and fortunately, he's way past the "looking under the other stall" stage

 

[myprincessgirlisa]

Ive been thinking about going with DD for a long weekend

we had a recent trip where ALOT of people went & it was hard to enjoy it with her ...so i wanted a redo trip with just me & her since DH is "disneyed" out right now

I think it would be SO FUN to focus 100% on a little one!!

 

[Darcy03231]

I'm taking my 4 y.o. niece in October. We're going to have a blast. She's a great little traveler and is really easy to have.

 

[redwingfan3991]

I think you will be fine. I have travelled before with just my son
and myself, and will be going again.
I make him go into the restroom with me, and he knows
to not leave the stall until I tell him to come out.
I try to get the stall next to him if at all possible.

 

[Joie]

I'm also going by myself with not jut one but for boys....two 12 years olds and two 9 olds. Two of which are my nephews and the other two are their friends. Call me crazy... we leave sat mar 22 and will be there for the whole week. I think i will be ok... the 12 year olds can make sure the 9 year old are safe in the bathroom. One thing i made sure of was to have all the boys ALL have cell phones and that my cell number and all the boys' number is in all the phone that way if one strays away we'll be able to call the missing. I was kinda nervous about just me going but both my nephews and I have gonna to Disney many times 2 times this year already so next week shouldn't be a problem

 

[karliebug]

Make sure you take a note with you from his parents giving you permission to take him. Both parents should sign it and it should be notarized. You probably won't need it, but it is best to have it. Also make sure you have a note from parents giving you permission to get medical care for him in case of emergency and a copy of his parent's insurance card. As far as the bathroom situation, just be careful about exits and entrances. WDW has several bathrooms where you go in one door and out the other. I think that stationing yourself at the exit to wait for him would be your best bet.

 

[stopher1]

I took both of my boys on separate father/son weekends to WDW a couple of years ago when they were 10 & 6 respectively. Granted it's not quite the same situation since we're all guys and you are a mixed combo - but - I traveled alone with my boy. It was AWESOME. (They both still talk about their special "weekend with dad"). We were able to talk, be silly, and have fun all at the same time. I let them know that they were "in charge" of what we did in each park. They both had such fun, and felt very special indeed. Granted the bathroom issue didn't come up for us, but how does his mother handle it now, say if they go to the mall, library or other "public" type place? Ask her and then together formulate a plan.

I bet you'll have a great time! Have fun.

 

[sndfan]

My ds is 9 also and still goes into the ladies room with me...after he's done, if I'm not, he'll stick his foot under my stall so I can see it and then we go wash hands together. I have no problems with this, and in Disney, I think everyone understands!

One of his best friends has a dad who is a police officer...the first time I was taking his son on an outing, he double checked with me and made sure that I promised to take him into the ladies room with me...guess he's seen too much in his line of work...

Now he knows I'm as over-protective as he is!

 

[KELSTER]

I'm a single mom and have been taking my dd10 to WDW since she was 3. Can't help you with the bathroom situation, but agree with taking him into the ladies room.

You'll have a great time! My dd and I have so much fun every year. We're booked for POFQ 9/18-9/22/08 for this year.

 

[snugglepeas]

I have never gone solo with just kids but I did just get back from a trip with my sister(30) my DD(21months) and our friends son(6) we were not at all comfortable with him going into the mens room alone so we tried to find family bathrooms as ofter as possible, and would just turn around so that he would have a little privacy if that was not possible then he would go into the lady's room with us, we would have him go into the first open stall, personally I feel his safety is much more important to us than anyone feeling a little weird about him being in the lady's room.