My husband and I are taking our 3 kids to Disney World for the first time in a few months. I am completely stressed out because we have two boys, 7 1/2 yrs. and 9 1/2 yrs. and our daughter is 1 1/2 yrs. old. How do I balance the huge age gap? We are gearing the trip towards the boys but my daughter and I can't stand around the park all day doing nothing while the boys all go do big kid stuff. I don't want the boys to be bored doing the low key, family oriented things. Any advice or specific things we should do?
the baby can go on plenty of rides...ANYTHING without a high restriction she can ride, like haunted mansion, dumbo, pirates, small world, peter pan ect...
ADDED: my DD has been going to WDW since she was 5 weeks old...
Can you divide up? You take your daughter for awhile just the two of you and your husband takes your sons for awhile. He could take them on the more action type attractions. Also, are you staying close enough to the park that you can take her back to where you are staying for a nap? That's what I would do. Some of the rides (like It's a Small World After All) are good for all ages.
Disney has rider swap. You can actually go through the line and your husband can ride first with one boy, hand over your daughter and you ride with the other one on the next turn. There are rides you can do with everyone: Dumbo, small world, eco boat ride at epcot, donald boat ride in epcot Mexico, safari ride at animal kingdom.
Disney really isn't all about rides... there are shows, shopping, dining experiences... etc. Make sure to make your character dining experience reservations prior to going and pre-purchase your photo cd. Saves you about $50.
Also, we do separate one day daddy/daughter day and momma/daughter day.
Have fun!!!
My wife and I took all 8 of our kids to Disneyland and Disney World. We had a wonderful time.
My parents took my brother and I to Disney land when I was 7 and my brother was 5. I could tell time and had a watch. My parents kept us with them for the morning until it was time for lunch. After we ate they told us what time and where to meet them for dinner. Then we were off on our own, but we had to stay together. We met my parents at the assigned time for dinner. After we ate they turned us loose and told us where to meet for dinner. They gave us books of tickets (yes, "A" tickets through "E" tickets) and off we went. We met in time for the fireworks and then we went home.
When my wife and I took our kids to Disneyland and Disney World, we did the same thing. We kept the youngest two with us and let the kids go in pairs and trios to go where ever they wanted. They met us for dinner and just before the fireworks began. We watched the fireworks and then we went home. We gave each of the kids $10 for between lunch and dinner and again between dinner and fireworks.
They had a blast and didn't mind staying with us in the morning. They got to go where ever they wanted in the afternoon and evening. They felt they were in charge of their vacation. My wife and I had enough control to feel safe.
Good luck to you and yours.
What you could do is have you or your husband take your sons to go do their rides then the other take your daughter and/or switch off then do some family activities that dont include rides :) hope yall have a good and safe trip :)
Well when we did Disney the first time we took my daughter 7 yrs old with us and left my 14 month old home with grandma. Next time we went we took daughter 9yrs old and son 3yrs old and left next son 18mos old home with grandma. But that was me I hated schlepping a baby and all that entails through something that cost a fortune to do.
I would in your case plan on taking the whole family in the morning. Do as much as you can. The magic kingdom has many rides you can take the baby on. Family shows that should keep the little ones attention. But after a lunch I would take at least the baby back to the hotel for a nap. Then off again in the evening. We took ours back for a nap for younger and other parent took daughter to the pool. The boys won't get board. And there is a section in the back of magic kingdom for younger kids. Our favorite thing to do when kids started to get tired or fussy was to get on the Disney train and just circle the park it goes in a continuous loop. My boys were 3 1/2. & 5 the first time we took them both. They loved the train as much as anything else we did. Last time we went they were 11, 15, 17 boys and daughter 23 they all loved the train as much that time lol
Walk all together to each ride/attractions and then you and your husband just take turns doing the rides with your boys. Eat together. Hang out together. Whoever is waiting with your baby daughter just waits till the rest of you get off the ride. Take turns. It'll be easy. We went there when our youngest was a baby and our son was 6. I brought a stroller for her and we had a great time.
Have hubby take the boys half the day to ride all the wild rides, unless that's your favorite. Then switch off after naptime. Let hubby take toddler and you take boys. Then meet up for dinner and do a show if little one can do that. She may be too tired that late in the day.
You don't say if you are taking your own stroller or renting one. You will definitely want one. There are stroller parking places all over the place and no one messes with them.
The train at the front of WDW is a pain with a stroller. You have to go through a turnstyle and have the stroller folded up. Otherwise, Disney with a stroller is a breeze.
You may want to separate every so often. The rides focus should be on the boys, but there are things that your girl can do too, like the carousel and some rides in Micky's Toon town.
There are things you can all go on. There are shows, activities,. It is not an amusement park. I think you need to see how your daughter does. 18 months is a tough age. Sitting all day in a stroller is not something they like. Take them out, they scream going back in. Get the book The UnOfficial Guide to Disney. Read it. That will give you some idea of how to proceed. Are you staying on or off property. How long are you going for. Will you go back to,hotel,for baby to nap. Try to have a plan, it helps tremendously. If you are going during the summer lines will be looooooog!
Just be prepared.
We just went this fall with our 10 and 9 year old boys, 5 year old daughter, and 10 month old boy. We did most things together. We did do the ride swap for a few things. A few times we would split and do a show or something with the younger two and the other would go with the bigger boys. There are so many things geared to the whole family that we didn't really have much difficulty. The little guy took naps mostly in our arms while we waited in line, or in a show, but sometimes in a stroller too.
Take advantage of the rider swap/ Your boys and hubby can ride (get a swap pass from one of the rides cast members) and then you can watch the baby. when they are done you can go on with both your boys again and hubby can watch the baby. Find a place nearby that is kid friendly for the baby to be entertained. The park is mixed pretty well with things so you and baby will be entertained while they are riding. Set the expectation with your boys that it is a family vacation and not all about them. They will have plenty of opportunity to do the things they want to do and you (and baby) will be sacrificing time away from them. So there will be times when they will need to do things to include the rest of the family that might not be something they are very excited to do. Their positive attitudes will be rewarded with more opportunities to do the things they want to.
A lot of the rides are completely family friendly. This is really not something to stress over. For the rides that are not family friendly get a fast pass so your daughter's wait time is minimal. My youngest was 2 the first time we went as a family and this was not an issue at all.
That is tricky w/ a 1 1/2 yr old. If u are going just for a few nights, could she stay w/ a relative? We went this past summer and I felt so bad for the parents w/ the screaming toddlers. It can get super hot and humid there...and crowded. Sometimes it's best to hang out at the hotel pool w/ the little ones. Pack bathing suits for sure ! When my kids were ages 7 plus, I did not walk around w/ my husband and other child for part of the day. One of my kids just wanted to go to the pool... and skip the parks.
I can see that the boys will love it--and they are at GREAT ages to go.
Maybe you can call Disney and talk to one of the staff members. There are many guide books too.
Also, depends on the temperament of your 1 1/2 yr old. Bring her back to the room to nap. Bring water and snacks for the times you are walking around and she is in the stroller. Take her in the pool when it is hot. If you are staying at one of the Disney properties, I would stay at the hotel for part of the day.
