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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think WDW is doable as a single parent?

51 replies

Wdw2022 · 26/02/2021 21:44

Single parent of (what will be when we go) 6 and 7 year old DC. Booked for Oct 2022.

Everyone thinks I have lost the plot. AIBU?

OP posts:
Splashingincuddles · 26/02/2021 21:45

Can’t see an issue. I’d do it.

notanothertakeaway · 26/02/2021 21:51

Is WDW Disneyworld? I think that would be fine for a single parent

Which one? If it's Paris, I can suggest a brilliant cheap hotel

Inpersuitofhappiness · 26/02/2021 21:51

Can't see an issue, bloody love WDW. Go and have the best time!
I hope fireworks are back when you go.

And do mickeys not so scary. Do it, its worth the money x10! We did it in 2018, and it was fantastic!
Infact, depending on the date you go, if you come back early Nov you might even catch the first mickeys very merry party too!!

October is the perfect time to go, crowds are fairly good, and the weather is pretty mild.

Fifthtimelucky · 26/02/2021 21:52

Walt Disney World? I can't see why it shouldn't be.

I'm not a single parent but took my children to Florida on holiday by myself when they were 5 and 3. It was fine.

Morph2lcfc · 26/02/2021 21:54

I think it depends on the kids. Mine is 10 and asd and can be bloody hard work, I could take him somewhere like that on by own. We went to Disneyland Paris a couple of years ago and it was really hard going even with two of us

WisestIsShe · 26/02/2021 21:54

Not only doable but you will have a fantastic time.

Morph2lcfc · 26/02/2021 21:54

I couldn’t take him somewhere like that on my own that should have said

December11 · 26/02/2021 21:54

Go for it. I did Florida as a single parent when my daughter was 7.

idontlikealdi · 26/02/2021 21:55

I wouldn't even have thought of it as an issue -apart fro it being horrific anyway

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 26/02/2021 21:58

Potential issue on theme parks in general... Rides needing an adult per child accompanying them. Not sure if that will apply at WDW.

notanothertakeaway · 26/02/2021 21:58

Top tip, if you buy Disney outfits before you leave, it's a lot of fun for kids to dress up, and staff make a bit of a fuss of them

underneaththeash · 26/02/2021 22:02

What height are the kids at the moment and are they bothered about being left whilst you go in a ride with your other child?
There are a few 2 only rides and a lot where you have to be min height.
Otherwise, no I’ve taken all three of mine without DH twice. He’s not a fan and is just grumpy and spoils it.

Scarlettpixie · 26/02/2021 22:03

I did WDW Paris with my then 7 yo and it was fab! Why do people think you are mad? I have done all sorts as a lone parent from camping to all inclusive, to New York. Florida is next in 2022/23 (should have gone last year).

Munkeenut · 26/02/2021 22:06

It'll be the accompanying on rides that might be an issue if you have more than one child. You can't make one child stay behind while you take turns, so you'll just have to avoid all rides where they require an adult and can only sit in twos.

ThisMustBeMyDream · 26/02/2021 22:08

I haven't done WDW as a single parent, but have done theme parks. As PP said, some issues we found were finding rides my 2 children and me could ride together and that were suitable for both.
Also restaurants that were self service where you had to find a table first then collect food. Just nope!

OllyBJolly · 26/02/2021 22:12

I took mine at 6 and 4. Did a fly drive holiday - and at that time 10 days in Florida was cheaper than a 5 days at Disneyland Paris.

We went at Christmas so it wasn’t too hot. Cheap hotel that had a pool, close to a Shoneys, Ponderosa and Cracker Barrel (I think that’s what it was called). For some reason I could be at a Disney park in 5 minutes but always took me around half an hour to get back - not having a navigator was possibly the only drawback but this was before satnavs were standard in cars.

We had a great time. WDW is so child centred that being on your own with DCs is absolutely fine. Flew from Scotland and had to change at Amsterdam and Atlanta but DCs loved the airports and different planes.

emilyfrost · 26/02/2021 22:13

@notanothertakeaway

Is WDW Disneyworld? I think that would be fine for a single parent

Which one? If it's Paris, I can suggest a brilliant cheap hotel

There’s only one Disney World - Walt Disney World Florida.

All the others are Disneyland.

StopGuacAndRoll · 26/02/2021 22:14

@Scarlettpixie

I did WDW Paris with my then 7 yo and it was fab! Why do people think you are mad? I have done all sorts as a lone parent from camping to all inclusive, to New York. Florida is next in 2022/23 (should have gone last year).
You didn’t do ‘WDW’ at Paris. You did Disneyland at Paris. WDW is Walt Disney Work which accounts for all the parks in Florida. It is a World of Disney
emilyfrost · 26/02/2021 22:15

@Scarlettpixie

I did WDW Paris with my then 7 yo and it was fab! Why do people think you are mad? I have done all sorts as a lone parent from camping to all inclusive, to New York. Florida is next in 2022/23 (should have gone last year).
No, you didn’t. There is no Walt Disney World Paris Confused It’s Disneyland Paris. How do you not know where you went? Hmm
WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 26/02/2021 22:17

@Scarlettpixie

I did WDW Paris with my then 7 yo and it was fab! Why do people think you are mad? I have done all sorts as a lone parent from camping to all inclusive, to New York. Florida is next in 2022/23 (should have gone last year).
Because one child is vastly different than two, especially where rides are concerned.

@Wdw2022. I wouldn't take them
to WDW on my own as there will be so much you can't do. As they're both too small to wait alone, or want to ride alone or with a stranger (no choice if it's busy! Do you have a friend who'd like to go? Or a teenager you know? As a teenager I went in several trips in this way and with couples who wanted a trusted babysitter.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 26/02/2021 22:17

My only issue would be that the rides are usually 2 seater. So either 1 DC sits in front of you or they sit together and you behind (if allowed).

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 26/02/2021 22:20

@underneaththeash

What height are the kids at the moment and are they bothered about being left whilst you go in a ride with your other child? There are a few 2 only rides and a lot where you have to be min height. Otherwise, no I’ve taken all three of mine without DH twice. He’s not a fan and is just grumpy and spoils it.
It doesn't matter if they wouldn't be bothered!!

You can't leave 6/7 year olds unaccompanied while you queue & go on rides at theme parks!!!!

Original poster
Wdw2022 · 26/02/2021 22:21

We have done Paris but that was relatively easy as they were double buggy sized and we didn't encounter any rides where we couldn't sit as a three.

They are near enough the same height and 115ish already so will be tall enough for some of the faster ones so the 2 seat thing could be an issue and definitely one of the bigger concerns. I don't think we would be in a position where one could do a ride the other can't or wouldn't want to

OP posts:
Kollin · 26/02/2021 22:22

I would feel a bit apprehensive taking two young kids to DL Florida on my own, and I've taken 4 kids abroad as a single parent.
It is mental busy there, not like anything else in comparison really. Only takes a second to lose sight of one.
I've been to both DL Paris and DW Florida, both are exhausting but DW is a completely different beast.

ThisBear · 26/02/2021 22:29

There's some really good info out there on the Disney parks, including ride details and advice, on the official site and dedicated fan and travel sites. I've not been to Florida so not sure on the best ones for that park (anyone got a recommendation?). But you can get an idea of how many can be seated on each ride and that kind of thing.