Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Flip

Original poster

Would you do Florida on your own?

9 replies

MrsSnape · 19/04/2008 22:19

Would you or have you ever taken the kids to Florida on your own?

Thinking of going just me and the two kids but not sure I'm brave enough...

OP posts:

unknownrebelbang · 19/04/2008 22:20

DH would never let me.

He enjoys it more than the boys!

tootiredtothink · 19/04/2008 22:40

How old are your dc's?

I went without dh when my dd was 7 (left ds (1) behind with dh!!!), as i wanted to make sure she went when she was still young enough to 'believe'.

At the end of the week (couldn't have left ds for any longer) I was absolutely exhausted - but it was sooooo worth it.

Only thing i worried about is finding my way around but everyone is so helpful and buses are laid on to the parks so shouldn't have any problems as long as you are happy to ask for help.

raisinbran · 19/04/2008 22:49

Yes I did in Feb with ds 9 an 4. In fairness it was more of a Disney holiday. We did 3 night Disney cruise and remainder of the week in a disney hotel. That way I didn't have the hassle of driving and navigating at the same time.My 4 yr old was just tall enough for the bigger rides and so we could all go on together.

It was our first holiday following my seperation and it was really enjoyable.I did things I would have left to my husband such as Fuzzball and jetskiing with ds9 I felt I bonded with them a lot more.I'm an early bird so we weren't having to hang around waitng for H to wake up.I also hired a stroller for ds4. That way we could get round quickly.

The cruise had a kids clubs so you can get some time to your self and the hotel pools had life guards so you could read a book without worrying.

Its English speaking country,the dollar is better than than the euro v the pound.

You'll more likely regret not doing something than doing it.

By fluke we happend to be on the cruise the day a space shuttle launch was taking off fantastic to watch and my ex was quite jealous.

Original poster

MrsSnape · 19/04/2008 22:49

they will be 8 and 10. I'm used to going places on my own with them but America is a bit different to Flamingo Land lol and I'm just a bit worried that I will feel lonely when I see all the other families together etc

OP posts:

BustyMcGee · 19/04/2008 23:04

We've found Americans to be super family friendly and had more people chatting to us on 1 visit with child than on any other visit. I wouldn't be keen on driving there alone if I'd not done it before.

tootiredtothink · 20/04/2008 08:42

Go for it MrsSnape - I totally agree with raisinbran that you'll regret not doing it, especially while your dc's are young enough to enjoy the magic of it all.

I cried when i saw the castle for the first time!! Wonderful!

bossybritches · 22/04/2008 14:20

Yes go!! it will be hard work but freat fun. if you can afford it o for a resort hotel as they all have busses/trams to get you everywhere. That said we saw some great deals in bog standard hotels that were "Disney recomended" so had a deal with the parks to run a bus, they might work out cheaper. At least if you are knackered you can come back to the hotel & flop by the pool while the kids swim / veg out watching TV.

Yours are old enough to put up with all the walking too so should get more out of it.

AramintaAlice · 02/05/2008 17:06

I don't think Florida is a place for a woman alone with children.

I've visited several times with my 6 children and husband and have never felt threatened by anyone, ever. However, I still have the overall instinct that it's not a place to be alone.

I have friends who live in Colorado and the females don't like to drive any distance alone - this is in a fairly 'safe' state.

Florida is a wonderful place but what would you do if you were rammed from behind while driving for example. This type of crime is far more prevalent in the States.

I'm not speaking without experience as my husband is American.

MumtoPhoebeboo · 19/06/2008 16:33

Hi,

Not sure if you've already gone on your trip or not but came across this thread and wanted to reassure you about travelling on your own with children. I took my dd to Florida last August for two weeks, she was six at the time. I'm a single parent so fairly used to travelling with her alone (took her backpacking around Vietnam and Thailand when she was four) but Florida was amazing for both of us. Had absolutely no problems at all as a lone parent. Definitely don't need to worry about car-jacking or anything like that, the whole area is very safe (drove at night and at daytime). We did Disney, Universal, Islands of Adventure, Sea World, Busch Gardens...All very easy to get to, get around. We stayed in a hotel and tended to sleep in late and then get to the parks around midday and spend the whole day out, returning to the hotel around 10-11pm. We went in mid-August and found it fairly quiet as most of the US children had gone back to school. I met other parents by the pool, dd met other children and played happily with them when we weren't out at the parks. I think it might have been a bit lonely if we'd stayed in a villa, but the hotel was lovely, everyone friendly and helpful. We're going back again in 2010 when dd is tall enough for all the rides!

Hope this helps!

Flip