What to do for single mom with kids 3 &5

[jenlovesdisney]

Hi there! I have been spending so much time in the Cruise forum that I have neglected to get any info on the parks! YIKES! Now I am desperate for info on what I can do!!

I will be traveling alone with my two kids 5 and 3.

Are we going to be able to ride any rides together?

Can my son ride by himself on anything? Of course if we go through the line can we just wait for him? Is this safe? Do you let your kids do this?

Is there a certain spot in each park that is better for families with small kids?

Thanks so much!

 

[Grumpy92]

You should be able to ride together on pretty much all the attractions. As for letting wait in line then ride by himself at 5 I would not allow my children to do this. If they were 12 or 13 yes. You will find that they probably will enjoy the MK and AKL the best. MGM does have the muppets and some great shows. Think about some fun restaurants to go to. Definitely one character meal (pick one with the children's fave character). They also might enjoy the Sci Fi

 

[AFMom]

Hi there! Most anything your 5 year old will want to do, your 3 year old can ride (unless your 5 year old is really brave!). As far as riding alone - I doubt much could happen to the 5 year old on the ride - but keep in mind, rides do occasionally have to stop in progress leaving the riders in the same spot - this is extremely disconcerting to a small child. Also - the ride exits can be confusing, and occasionally there is more than one place you would have to watch for him to exit! There is also usually a large throng of large adults trying to run out to get to the next ride as quick as possible!!! We still have to hold our kids' hands so they aren't bowled over by over-enthusiatic park guests! Have a great trip - hopefully it won't be much of an issue....

 

[tjmw2727]

I take my girls solo at least once a year and did take them at 3 and 5 it was GREAT. At that age we only rode what both could ride, just about everything! MK has a few height restrictions so you may have to skip BTMR, SpLMT (40" minimum) and Space Mountain (44" minimum) but there is NO Way my 5yo would have gone alone. There are so many great family rides and you can sit 3 to a seat you won't notice the very few you can't ride.

The same goes for the other three parks, I would suggest you hit the library and get some WDW guide books. I remember one that was for kids by kids that my girls loved. I would also hit the main page here at the dis for more theme park information as well as allearsnet.com for great tips. Allears has a great section on traveling with preschoolers as well as the tips dining including menus.

My other tip was to make some PS's for late lunch at a sit down restaurant. For us it was a necessary break and the prices and portions were better for kids. I don't know if they could have handled some of the longer sit down dinners. We did breakfast in the room and counter serve dinners or munch on the fly.

TJ

 

[Eeyore's Queen]

When we went in July 2003, my husband and mother went to rent a wheelchair/stroller and I took my 3 kids to Fantasyland. It had just opened so I was able to walk onto a few rides. The CM's kept saying that the oldest had to be 7 to ride alone. He was 6 then but after we were smushed onto Snow White's ride, (yes me with 3 kids 6,4, & 3) he got the idea to say 7 if he was asked. Like the other posters said, you should be able to ride almost everything as a family.

 

[Suzanne74]

Almost every ride, 3 can fit in one row - esp 2 young kids and an adult. Even the ones that can't have 2 or more rows anyway so 5 yr old can sit right behind you or in front of you.

As far as what to go on, don't know how tall 3 yr old is or how brave. My just turned 3 dd wanted to go on EVERYTHING but was 1/4 inch shy of 40" so she couldn't do Splash Mountain or Thunder Mountain. I would never let her do Space Mountain or Tower of Terror even if she was 40". I think they are too scary for that age. She did do Kali Rapids in Animal Kingdom which has a 38" requirement. She LOVED that.

Magic Kingdom (stay mostly to the back and right of the park)
-Fantasy Land must rides:
-carousel
-dumbo (you can all fit)
-winnie the pooh (can all fit or be in same 2 row honey pot)
-peter pan flight (you can all fit)
-snow white (can all fit but 3 yr old DD was SCARED - it is scary)
-small world will be closed
-Toontown
-barnstormer rollercoaster. That might be tough to fit 3 though
-the rest is a ton of fun, no rides per say but kids will love it
-Tomorrowland
-Speedway (have 5yr drive while you push pedal w/ 3yr on lap
-buzz lightyear - you can all fit in a row
-astro orbiter (3 of you should fit - not sure if 2 is max though)
-Lilo and Stictch may be open by then
**other stuff to try there is Goofy's Country Jamboree show, Jungle Cruise, Aladdin's carpet ride (like Dumbo), Country Bear Jamboree, Swiss Family Treehouse, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of Carribean, Bell's storytime, Spectromagic parade, Wishes fireworks at night.

Animal Kingdom (dd's 2nd fav park)
-Safari was great, dd loved that
-Kali Rapids if everyone is above 38" and likes to get wet!
-Lion King Show
-Tarzan Show
-Train ride
-Dinoland is a blast for kids - there is a playground area, rides, carnival games etc.. that is a don't miss.
-Pocahontas and her animal Friends (we didn't get to see this)

MGM
-Playhouse Disney
-Beauty and the Beast Show
-Muppet's 3-D
-Ariel - Little Mermaid Show (dd was a little frightened by this)
-Another playfround called Honey I shrunk the Kids Movie Set, my dd would have stayed there all day - both will love it!
-lots of character meet and greets!!!
-Fantasmic is loud and scary for some young kids. If you plan on doing this, do the Fantasmic package so you don't have to wait in line to get a seat.

Epcot
Living Seas
Honey I Shrunk the Kids 3-D
Imagination with Figment (can ride together) and the Imagination Station has lots of cool stuff
Mexico ride (dd loved this one - a lot like small world!)
Illuminations is LOUD and scared a lot of small kids. Be prepared.

I think overall for a 3 & 5 yr old, you would spend most of your time at MK, AK, MGM then Epcot. Remember to take breaks in the middle of the day, plan sit down meals since waiting in line then searching for a table IS a nightmare!

HTH

 

[jenlovesdisney]

Thanks so much for all the good info! You guys are awesome. I know there are lots of books and things to scour through, but the best way is to ask those who know! And can answer any questions you have ASAP. This really gives me a place to start!

 

[buzz2400]

I have brought my son to wdw every year since he was 5 and I am also a single mom. Buy and bring a double stroller with you otherwise you will end up renting one and they cost a lot to rent. Also even though they are 3 and 5 please tell them (a few times during the day) what to do if they become separated from you, i.e. show them what a cm looks like and say go to one of them. I have seen many children become separated from their parents. I have gone to many, many parks and each time I would tell my ds what to do if we got separated. Also there are some places in wdw that get so congested that even adults become separated. And 5 is too young to ride a ride by himself. Too many things can happen on the ride, i.e. break down or he drops something and he thinks he can retrieve it himself. Hope you have a good time.

 

[Terry S]

My husband is ill and although he does come to WDW with us, often he can't come to the park depending on how he feels on any given day. So, I have often had to take my two kids alone to the park. As others have said, quite a few of the rides can fit 3 accross. Most of the ones that can not are ones that your kids would probalby be to short to ride anyway. Kids need to be a minumum of 7 to ride alone in a ride so you could not send your son by himself. But, you should be fine anyway.

 

[tjmw2727]

Originally posted by jenlovesdisney
Thanks so much for all the good info! You guys are awesome. I know there are lots of books and things to scour through, but the best way is to ask those who know! And can answer any questions you have ASAP. This really gives me a place to start!

Oh I mentioned the guide books and I hope you didn't take it to mean I/we didn't want to answer questions. I just think its great to read through the guide books because they mention lots of things you (or at least I) would never even think to ask about. Our local library has quite a selection and I found them invaluable on our first trip.

ITA about the stroller suggestion, we used a pliko at that age so my 3yo rode and my 5yo just hitched on the back step. Although depending on your resort you may be better off renting to avoid the on/off bus struggle when alone with 2 kids. Another reason why I loved the pliko, it folds, stands folded and has a great carry handle.

Ask away but I still suggest the guide books LOL.

TJ

 

[jenlovesdisney]

TJ~ Oh, no offense taken. I actually went and got a guide for traveling with kids but there was so much info that I kind of skimmed and did not feel like I got a whole lot out of it. Also, our library is new so we do not have a lot of materials available. But I have ordered the Passporters guides from Amazon, and I will go to the main library as well. The main thing is I am LAZY and this works better for me since I am online all the time with school and stuff.

Thanks again for all the info. We live right by Six Flags over Texas and go all the time, and I have not let my son ride anything outside of the kids park alone, but this is a new and bigger experience so I though I would ask. Plus, he is not very brave so I don't think we will be going on anything that we can't all do together anyway!

I will be bringing my double stroller, in part because of the walking invloved in the parks, but also because I do not want to be trudging all my stuff, the kids stuff, and the kids through the airports. I think it will be way more convenient with a stroller.

Anyone know anything about flying with a carseat?? I guess I will then be lugging that through the airport as well!

 

[tjmw2727]

I hope your double stroller is an umbrella, if not are you staying on the monorail? I ask because I can't imagine folding the stroller, carrying the stuff and stroller onto the bus while keeping track/helping two young ones. Especially on a crowded route when you may even run into standing room only! Remember I have BTDT with my two.

A bit OT but as far as the carseat if your child is under 40lbs and your CSR has a sticker indicating it is FAA approved you can use it on the aircraft. At three years old its 50/50 as to if you want to use it. Toward the end of the third year my girls stopped using them on the airplane. It was to difficult to use the tray and they were much more likely to kick the seat in front of them due to the position of the legs in the CSR. I also knew at this point that they would stay seated and leave the seatbelt fastened.

There is a poster on the transportion board with great info re CSR's and aircraft travel. You may enjoy the family board as well.

Have fun planning
TJ

 

[Suzanne74]

Anyone know anything about flying with a carseat?? I guess I will then be lugging that through the airport as well!

We used our Britax Roundabout on the plane and it was lifesaver for us. Our dd was 3 and we debated whether we should or not. We were renting a car and I also wanted it for that - so we didn't have to worry about renting a car seat. Well, we are so thankful we did take it. Mot other kids on the flight were all over and I watched many parents yelling sit down, get back here etc... Our flight home was 90min delayed and we didn't get back until 11pm. Without the seat she would have never slept but she slept quietly in her seat the whole ride. I don't know how she did because the row in front of us was 2 parents, a lap child about 1 yrs old and a 3 yr old - neither with a carseat. They both climbed, looked over at us the whole time, cried, whine, ran up the aisle etc.. - ugh - it was the longest flight EVER with that!! Kids know they can't go anywhere in a car seat so I think in your case, it may be worth it to know the 3 yr old is strapped in. If you aren't renting a car or you will know for sure your 3 yr old will stay still then maybe not. Also - most airports will get you help to your gate if needed. We dragged our carseat by its tether - slid perfectly so we didn't have to carry it!

 

[Terry S]

jenlovesdisney... One big difference about Six Flags vs Disney is that you can see your child most of the time in the line while waiting to get on a ride at Six Flags. At WDW a lot of the lines are inside so you would not be able to see him the whole time in line.

 

[jenlovesdisney]

Oh, that's scary! I haven't yet let him go all the way by himself, I always go with him and then wait for him to come back, but I think someone said that these rides don't always let out in the same place whereas at SF they always do. We will just plan on sticking to the things we can do together! Thanks!

 

[erinch]

hi--

I may have answered your conern in another thread, but not sure....

When we wanted to be able to ride with my DS and DD wasn't quite tall enough, we enrolled her for a day at the Disneyworld kindercare, and she really loved it. Iwould never have done it if she would have seen it as a punishment, but if you'd be comfortable arranging some childcare for her for part of a day, you could take your 5 year old on some of the things she can't ride, depending on how tall each of them are...

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I think you will be fine--but some rides your 5yo will not get to do, b/c your 3 yo is probably less than 40 inches--Splash and Thunder Mountain.

Both would be able to do Goofy Barnstormer--but you can't fit in the same row And I think the age 7 rule applies to be able to split the party.

Good luck--it will be fun and magical regardless of the limitations!