Traveling with 9 year old and 7 month old alone!

[MeghanP]

Not sure if this has been discussed before, I tried to find a similar thread with no luck.

I’m planning a 3 night trip In early February with my 9 year old and 7 month old. I’ll be taking them by myself. For background, pre Covid my 9 year old and I go to WDW a few times a year and have an amazing time. She absolutely loves going on rides and these days with no character meet and greets and no night time shows I’m sure rides will be the highlight for her.

But how do I ride the rides with her while I have the 7 month old? I would love to find someone to tour the parks with us and ride with her or watch the baby while I hop on a ride with her. Does anyone know of a reliable way to find someone? I’m thinking Care.com? I guess I’m really looking for a babysitter that I’d be with. I’d love to find a current or former cast member but I’m not sure what’s the best way to find the people I’m looking for? Any suggestions?

 

[Pixie Dusted Snow]

Honestly I'd either wait until a family member or friend can go or I'd just go on the attractions that the 7 month old can go on which is a vast majority and skip the others.
Technically she could go on attractions by herself but I understand if you don't feel comfortable with that although you're willing to leave your 7 month old with a stranger so her riding alone may be a better idea.

 

[Marionnette]

Not sure if this has been discussed before, I tried to find a similar thread with no luck.

I’m planning a 3 night trip In early February with my 9 year old and 7 month old. I’ll be taking them by myself. For background, pre Covid my 9 year old and I go to WDW a few times a year and have an amazing time. She absolutely loves going on rides and these days with no character meet and greets and no night time shows I’m sure rides will be the highlight for her.

But how do I ride the rides with her while I have the 7 month old? I would love to find someone to tour the parks with us and ride with her or watch the baby while I hop on a ride with her. Does anyone know of a reliable way to find someone? I’m thinking Care.com? I guess I’m really looking for a babysitter that I’d be with. I’d love to find a current or former cast member but I’m not sure what’s the best way to find the people I’m looking for? Any suggestions?

I have to agree with @Pixie Dusted Snow. Now might not be the ideal time to do a full on WDW visit as a solo parent. Do you have a trusted teenage family member who would jump at the chance to go to WDW in exchange for light babysitting duties such as riding with your 9yo or staying in the park with her while you take baby back to the resort? It might be a little more expensive than a care.com sitter but at least you and your kids would know that person.

The last thing that I would want to do is leave my child in the care of a stranger, especially without the benefit of having interviewed and interacted with that person. Heck, even my dog sitter insisted on a few "get to know you" sessions before either of us was okay with leaving my pup in her care.

 

[mjkacmom]

This service has been around a long time and gets great reviews. https://fairygodmotherschildcareservices.com/

 

[kwdw]

I’d add someone over 14 yo to your trip. Or, warn the 7 yo there will be rides you can’t do......

 

[kwdw]

I’d add someone over 14 yo to your trip. Or, warn the 7 yo there will be rides you can’t do......

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I’d add someone over 14 yo to your trip. Or, warn the 7 yo there will be rides you can’t do......

older child is 9 years old not 7 in the post the baby is 7 months old

 

[mjkacmom]

I’d add someone over 14 yo to your trip. Or, warn the 7 yo there will be rides you can’t do......

Most over 14’s would be in school, and honestly unless she had a close relationship with the teen, most wouldn’t be comfortable traveling without a peer.

 

[MeghanP]

Yes 9 year old. I don’t know that I’d want her going on rides alone but would feel comfortable sending her with someone and waiting outside the ride. I’d leave the baby with someone we know who we brought along. It’s not ideal time for anything but I’m not sure when will be better. I can leave the baby home and do a very short trip. Just haven’t decided and weighed all the options yet and I wasn’t sure if there’s a legitimate service that already exists that fills this need. Thank you all!

 

[kwdw]

Yes 9 year old. I don’t know that I’d want her going on rides alone but would feel comfortable sending her with someone and waiting outside the ride. I’d leave the baby with someone we know who we brought along. It’s not ideal time for anything but I’m not sure when will be better. I can leave the baby home and do a very short trip. Just haven’t decided and weighed all the options yet and I wasn’t sure if there’s a legitimate service that already exists that fills this need. Thank you all!

I think either of these (1) bringing another person along known to either the 9yo or the infant or (2) leaving the infant home with a known caregiver and just taking the 9 yo - are both great solutions for you. A short trip with a 9 yo can be packed pretty full! Once the younger one hits 40 inches - you'll be good to tour as a threesome!

Note - I know someone who was a "regular" babysitter who was invited by a family (2 parents) to go to Disney with them (not quite a nanny, but someone that all the kids knew well). They had a big division of ages among their 4 kids - and the babysitter knew that her trip was being paid for based on pre-arranged expectations of her either watching the little ones or serving as an adult with the older ones. She had a blast and it worked out great - but there was lots of expectation setting before the trip.