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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:
Flibbitygibbit · 26/02/2021 22:31

I took mine on my own, you'll be fine. Lots of shops after the rides though!

abricotine · 26/02/2021 22:46

Again not a single parent but we are a large family and generally one of us has to stay with the youngest who rode very little at age 3. It was never ever a problem. Because they have to ride with a parent doesn't mean they have to ride adjacent to a parent on everything. 120cm/48 inches is a good height to ride nearly everything and lower in the Magic kingdom. The main thing is they are close in height and age so I really think you'll be fine.

Laffie · 26/02/2021 22:59

Have you been before?
DD was 6 the first time we went, she went on most rides with me, but there are some rides I wouldn't have wanted her sat next to a similar aged child, however there's plenty of rides you can all go on together and all of the shows and parades to watch.
It's very tiring and you might want to hire a double buggy on some of the days.
If you are staying in a WDW hotel and have the free dining plan, I would recommend upgrading to the dining plan that includes a table service meal, there's a great choice of restaurants many with characters including Cinderella's castle which can be reserved before you go, we love 1900 Park Fare at the Floridian and always get the boat over from outside Magic Kingdom.

underneaththeash · 26/02/2021 23:13

@WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants pre-COVID WDW had these areas labelled baby swap, so the idea was both parents and a child who was too small to ride, would queue and when you got to the end of the queue one of you could wait with the baby whilst the other rode and then you’d swap.
They also didn’t mind older children slightly under the ride height waiting whilst the parent rode with one child and then swapping with the other. They were supervised.

Kollin · 26/02/2021 23:19

Gosh, I wouldn't be leaving my kid alone in a holding bay at Disney World for anything, not at 6 or 7!

Hhusky · 26/02/2021 23:20

My friend took her three cousins there a few years ago. The youngest has autism and ADHD. They had an absolute ball. Definitely doable.

TableFlowerss · 26/02/2021 23:34

My brother took my 2 nieces who were 4 or 5 and 7/8 - he was fine so it’s doable

kittycorner · 27/02/2021 02:10

WDW is something millions of single parents go to! Put one child in front of you on rides that you need to go on them with. Have fun!!

Crazycakelady17 · 27/02/2021 02:25

I think it depends on your children’s personalities in regards to the rides maybe ones a thrill seeker and ones more reserved then it will be more difficult.
We first went when DD was 6 and she is tiny for her age but she was still tall enough for all roses bar two at Magoc kingdom she rode all the fast ones she could over the parks Everest, tower of terror, mine train etc I found the height restrictions generous in all Disney parks really compared to Universal where she could hardly go on anything very disappointing so wouldn’t recommend visiting there if you do to Florida with the ages your little ones will be.
Good luck and if you decide to go you will all love it I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but it really is magical and I had a huge age range in my kids and we all loved it so much we have been back many times since

user1471538283 · 27/02/2021 07:57

I did Eurodisney as a lone parent with my DS and it was amazing! I half thought we wouldn't be into it but we were! He went on all the rides, met all the characters, we saw all the parades. Had the best time! I would live to go again!

WDW is further to travel but oh my! It will be wonderful!

Coldwinterahead1 · 27/02/2021 07:59

My only concern would be what would happen if I was taken seriously ill, and who would look after the kids.

Coldwinterahead1 · 27/02/2021 08:04

I say that as a person who got very seriously ill once on holiday, no medical conditions, when I was a very fit 24 year old. I spent a week hooked up to drips etc, thankfully I didn't have children with me.

Blaggingit123 · 27/02/2021 08:07

They should be able to go on everything if they are average height - the highest height requirement at WDW is 122cm and that’s for a ride that goes upside down. Everything else max 115cm. My eldest was almost 6 when we went and went on all but 1 ride (she was 120cm at the time).

Actually, there are not that many rides that seat 2 - it will be just the roller coasters. There might be an age restriction to sit alone - have a look on the website. If it is 7, you’ll be best waiting til both kids are over 7 so they can sit together while you sit alone. Unless your 7yo is ultra brave and won’t mind sitting with someone else. Unless you hate roller coasters anyway - there’s loads more to enjoy and the best rides sit more than 2 in a row!

Aprilx · 27/02/2021 08:09

I don’t think you are mad. You should be aware that you could have some practical issues as some rides will only seat two and you wouldn’t be able to let a child sit alone or the two of them together. This won’t be everywhere though, there are lots of rides where an adult and two small children will all fit, plus of course there is non ride things to do.

Aprilx · 27/02/2021 08:10

@Blaggingit123

They should be able to go on everything if they are average height - the highest height requirement at WDW is 122cm and that’s for a ride that goes upside down. Everything else max 115cm. My eldest was almost 6 when we went and went on all but 1 ride (she was 120cm at the time).

Actually, there are not that many rides that seat 2 - it will be just the roller coasters. There might be an age restriction to sit alone - have a look on the website. If it is 7, you’ll be best waiting til both kids are over 7 so they can sit together while you sit alone. Unless your 7yo is ultra brave and won’t mind sitting with someone else. Unless you hate roller coasters anyway - there’s loads more to enjoy and the best rides sit more than 2 in a row!

Two seven year olds cannot sit together. A child must be accompanied by someone over the age of 14.
Original poster
Wdw2022 · 27/02/2021 08:12

This is all really reassuring. Luckily considering how they have a tendancy to be complete opposites they have a similar like in rides, youngest is about 3cm smaller than biggest. I got a bit carried away on a wdw planning site last night, the main potential two which could cause upset and are 2 seats would be splash mountain and slinky dog dash.

Whenever me and DC abroad my parents insist we book when they themselves aren't abroad as a stand by for an emergency situation.

OP posts:
Kotatsu · 27/02/2021 08:20

I've taken my kids all sorts of places like that - the only trouble we have is with height, hence waiting for legoland until the youngest was taller (only to have it cancelled by covid), as the idea that he'd be excluded from so many rides would have been heartbreaking for him.

I think I'd consider getting them each cheap mobiles on the trip, and teaching them how to use them, and making sure they do know what to do if you get separated etc. But gently! So you don't scare them!

You will be fine, but I think preparing and coming up with strategies for rides one will go on and not the other etc is definitely the way to go.

AlwaysUtterChaos · 27/02/2021 08:38

Have a look on a site called 'The Dibb' it's all things Florida and Disney related and you'll find some really good advice in their forums x

Tnuc · 27/02/2021 09:20

@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

What's the hotel, please?
WiseUpJanetWeiss · 27/02/2021 09:26

OP, as previously suggested, get yourself over to theDibb. People there will be able to give you detailed ride-by-ride advice and much more.

I’d do it, definitely.

Blaggingit123 · 27/02/2021 13:53

OP I think that age 14 is the restriction to enter the park alone, I’m fairly sure that 7 is the age that a child can ride alone but can’t find that officially.

You can definitely fit 3 to a row on splash mountain (I’m pretty sure we fit 4). The rides that you can’t are big thunder mountain, seven dwarves railroad, expedition Everest, possibly Epcot roller coasters as we didn’t visit there. Space mountain seats one in front of the other, 3 to a car so not ‘next to’ an adult at all and my 5yo still went on it. Most of the best rides (flight of passage, soarin’, tower of terror) seat in large rows so not an issue. Think same is true of Star Wars rides but that wasn’t open when we went.

Original poster
Wdw2022 · 27/02/2021 14:04

Their website says under 7, signs there apparantly say 8. She will be two weeks from 8 when we go.

Have joined the dibb, thank you.

I wouldn't leave one stood at the side though!

OP posts:
TableFlowerss · 27/02/2021 16:59

@Coldwinterahead1

I say that as a person who got very seriously ill once on holiday, no medical conditions, when I was a very fit 24 year old. I spent a week hooked up to drips etc, thankfully I didn't have children with me.
I understood what you’re saying, but you could worry about that scenario in any situation though? No single parent would ever go anywhere on that basis. At least it’s an English speaking country and surely if something happened, OP next if Kim would fly out and get the kids.
Coldwinterahead1 · 27/02/2021 17:33

@TableFlowerss I understand that, but as someone who is a lone parent and always has been, I couldn't take the risk. Probably due to my experience of being hooked up to drips abroad.

Original poster
Wdw2022 · 27/02/2021 17:48

We do definitely have a standby to hand whenever I go abroad with them, my parents ask I don't go if they are abroad/unable to get on a flight due to work so they are able to come rescue in worst case scenario

OP posts: