Tips for Single / Solo Parents at Disney World

Family Travel, United States

Tips for Single / Solo Parents at Disney World

I’ve been wanting to write this post for a while… so here it is! I remember my very first time going with two kids to disney world without JB or my mom. Wes was a couple months old, and Tuck was two. I did meet up with my cousins but since they had different fast passes we only really met up for lunch. That was pretty much a snip show. The day after we went with JB and my mother in law, and that felt relaxing compared to the day before. I waited at least a year to do that again. Every time after that going solo has actually been pretty fun. It’s cheesy but I get so misty eyed over it. While I’d never turn down going with friends and family to Disney World, and we all know that is a TON of help. There’s an up side to going solo with your kids… I feel like it’s a special time of bonding for us. There’s something precious about wandering around Disney World just the three of us, hand in hand.

So here are some tips if you are going solo or thinking about it:

I always read the boys the riot act before we go. Just a little pep talk about how they need to have their listening ears on, stay close to me, and be on their best behavior.
When you get there, take a picture of where you parked. the row number and the character. The character is usually easy to remember. But the row is REALLY important.
Be flexible! Yes you need a “game plan” but you have to be okay WHEN something doesn’t go as planned. I generally go into every trip to Disney World with the idea of some things won’t go as planned, and some fast passes will have to be rescheduled or skipped. But like everything your attitude dictates a lot of how the day will go, so just enjoy you’re at Disney World.
Know how tall your youngest is, so you know which rides to book fast passes for. Shows/experiences like Enchanted Tales with Belle, Swiss Family tree house, Tiki room, Mickey’s Philharmagic, etc.. of course you can have as many kids as you want. But these are the ones you can have up to three in a row at Magic Kingdom:
1. Tomorrowland: Buzz Lightyear, Orbiter, tomorrowland transit authority
2. Fantasyland: It’s a small world, mad tea party, dumbo, carousel, Peter Pan, pooh bear
3. Frontierland: Big thunder mountain railroad, splash mountain,
4. Adventureland: Magic Carpets, Jungle Cruise, Pirates
Companion restrooms! I always skim over this list which will tell you where they are. That way you can all go to the bathroom at once, instead of several different stalls which gets stressful with my three year old.
You can now order most quick service food on your phone through the My Disney Experience App ! I’ve done this the last two times I went solo for lunch. It’ll let you know when it’s ready, and you don’t have to stand in line to order and then wait for the food. If you have your hands full, you can ask an attendant to take it to the table for you. I’d also recommend going just a bit before the normal meal rush.
don’t be afraid to ask for help. I think this is true in parenting, in general… but especially at disney world. The attendants at Disney are really kind and will help out if you ask. They can’t read your mind though!
If you need to chill out for a minute … do the playground inside dumbo or the one underneath the train station in frontier land. This is usually when I order food or change a fast pass. and my kids are always more than happy to play on a playground.
The last two times I haven’t taken a stroller. I didn’t miss it either. But I haven’t gone from morning until night either. We generally just go as long as I can last. We just take the train when we are too tired. And if needed, I’m totally up for renting one. Just haven’t really needed it yet.
Want a picture with your kids in front of the castle? Ask one of the memory makers to take one with your phone/camera. They are always happy to do it!
I carry just a backpack, so my hands and arms are free. I fill it with sunscreen, extra clothes, a couple snacks, I fill up this mist and sip with ice water, hand sanitizer, the boys raincoats, and an external battery pack. If you do run out of battery, there’s a charger (for a fee) inside where you meet mickey… and probably elsewhere around the park!
If you are staying at a disney resort, or the four seasons, you can buy things at the park and have it sent to your room. We’ve not done this but it would be great if you are there for a birthday, and they get to pick out something.
I usually am a sucker and let them get something small and under $10. But not until the end… before that when the end of the ride dumps you out in a gift shop, I let them tell me what they like.