Disney alone with 4 young kids - help me figure this out?

[Anonymous]

I’ve never been to Disney World but we’re headed down next month with our 4 young children (all under age 8, including one baby). Unfortunately my spouse will be at a conference for part of the days. Is it possible for me to manage them on my own on rides? I’m assuming the two oldest (8 and 6) can sit together on most rides, and then would I be able to sit with the youngest two (including the baby)? Or if not would I just stand with the youngest two on the platform while the oldest two ride? I’m only interested in the kiddie type rides (no big roller coasters, etc). Is this possible? I thought about hiring someone but then that probably wouldn’t work bc they wouldn’t have Fast Passes to board with us? Thank you for any feedback!!

[Anonymous]

I would hire someone as it will be very hard. For the kid rides, there are some they can go on alone.

[Anonymous]

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/child-care-services/

Disney has help.

[Anonymous]

I’m a single mom with one kid, and even I brought the nanny to Disney.

Get help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/child-care-services/

Disney has help.

Thanks, this was helpful. I found discussion on that site and already learned that I was mistaken: the 6 and 8 year olds will not be able to ride together (both would need to be over 7). So I need to find a list of rides that allow 5 to ride together, or hire an extra adult.

Even just getting the stroller and baby into the park solo will be tough, so maybe the babysitter idea is best...

[Anonymous]

Op is nuts. Who told you this was a good idea?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/child-care-services/

Disney has help.

Thanks, this was helpful. I found discussion on that site and already learned that I was mistaken: the 6 and 8 year olds will not be able to ride together (both would need to be over 7). So I need to find a list of rides that allow 5 to ride together, or hire an extra adult.

Even just getting the stroller and baby into the park solo will be tough, so maybe the babysitter idea is best...

Having recently been to Disney there are not many rides that allow 5 to ride together that I can think of. If the baby is small and in a carrier you might get away with it on the ones that allow 4 together but what if not? If you are staying at a Disney resort I would suggest you do pool/hotel things while you are solo and save the parks and rides for when your spouse can go with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/child-care-services/

Disney has help.

Thanks, this was helpful. I found discussion on that site and already learned that I was mistaken: the 6 and 8 year olds will not be able to ride together (both would need to be over 7). So I need to find a list of rides that allow 5 to ride together, or hire an extra adult.

Even just getting the stroller and baby into the park solo will be tough, so maybe the babysitter idea is best...

Having recently been to Disney there are not many rides that allow 5 to ride together that I can think of. If the baby is small and in a carrier you might get away with it on the ones that allow 4 together but what if not? If you are staying at a Disney resort I would suggest you do pool/hotel things while you are solo and save the parks and rides for when your spouse can go with you.

This exactly. You cannot take four little children by yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op is nuts. Who told you this was a good idea?

Nobody! I was asking if it was *possible* but the consensus seems to be that it is not. So I appreciate the feedback and will look into a sitter. Even if we stay at the resort I can’t manage them all in the pool solo so would need a sitter for that also.

[Anonymous]

Please don’t do this. We just got back from Disneyland which I imagine is more manageable with 3 kids- 6, 4 and 1 and it was exhausting with both my husband and I. Everyone was in a stroller the whole time and personally our toddler just wasn’t ready for long days at a park. We had a good time but won’t be going again until the youngest is 4 and can hang better. Hopefully your kids are more easy going though!

[Anonymous]

Mom of 7 here who has traveled alone with them. Disney is not doable unfortunately. Hire someone or wait until your husband can go. You’d be miserable. Have a fun trip!

[Anonymous]

Stay home. This sounds like a recipe for disaster.

[Anonymous]

We had two adults and 3 kids and still lost one at the park. Like amber alert lost.

[Anonymous]

I cannot even take my two little kids to the grocery store alone. Ambitious thinking, my friend! Can you leave the baby at home with a relative or a sitter? Those Disney sitters are probably insanely expensive so may honestly be more cost effective to leave baby instead of paying premium for an all day hotel sitter. Either way enjoy your trip!

[Anonymous]

OP, have you already bought your tickets?
While I think a full day at Disney alone with 4 young kids is a bad idea, some posters are being overly melodramatic (can't take your kids to the grocery store? What in the world is wrong with you?)

Which hotel are you staying at? Did you make ADRs for meals?

I think if you are staying at the Contemporary, and already have your tickets purchased (so it would be lost money if you didn't go) it would be very possible to walk over to the Magic Kingdom for a few hours. Do things like "It's a small world" the winnie the pooh ride, monsters Inc laugh floor, Country Bear Jamboree, etc. But keep expectations low and be prepared to leave at the first signs of stress.

I would not bother trying to do this if you have to ride a bus from your hotel to a park.

--Mother of 4 who has brought her children to Disney many times, though never without my spouse.