Tips for Single Parents About This Page:

[Shauna6368]

So I haven't really seen much on this topic and I would love all the feedback ya'll can give me. I am a truly single parent in every sense of the word. It's just my 8 year old daughter and I and we have a very happy, healthy, modest little life

This is our first trip anywhere out of our city (and we of course picked Disney lol) and I was just wondering if there are any other single parents out there that wanted to share their stories and any tips on making this all work. My daughter is a very "wise and mature" 8 year old so I'm not worried about losing track of her or having to lug her around. I'm not even worried about her melting down. Has anyone had any special moments, have any of you had any heart tugging moments when you see all the "typical" families and have your kids ever had any as well.

Also, I really really want to do the Richard Petty Driving Experience when we're there but wouldn't be able to take her along as she is not old enough to be there by herself. Have any of you ever taken any time for yourselves and hired a babysitting service. In some ways I feel really bad doing this but in other ways I think it would be good for both of us.

So yeah, not sure exactly what I'm looking for in writing this but I would love to hear some of your stories and tips on how your trips went, any tips, magical moments etc. What worked and what didn't? Of course I welcome responses as well from those of you who are married and took your kids solo but I would really love to hear from the truly single parents out there as well.

[dolphin041599]

We are very similar. Its just me and my daughter and we are very happy. In 2009, she was about your daughter's age. It was really such a great week for us. We laughed, had fun, and just in general relaxed. It was really the best thing I could have done for us. Each night on the bus, we talked about our day and then filled out the Passporter pages when we got back to the hotel.

I knew I did the right thing when we got on DME to go back to the airport and there were tears in both our eyes. We really weren't ready to face reality yet. It was sweet and heartbreaking at the same time.

[hockey mom 5]

Our first trip was when my son was 8. I knew I didn't have to worry about him keeping up, or melting down. And with just 2 of us, we could do whatever we felt like doing (I grew up in a large family; so many opinions...)
We stayed at All-Star Sports (an obvious choice for us at the time). Part way through the trip, we went to the food court to eat and he wanted to buy a little football in the gift shop, so we could play on the field that runs between the football buildings. It was something so simple, considering we were "at Disney," but we threw the ball around for about an hour, or so and had such a great time.
I think it's little things like that, that make such great memories.
Enjoy your trip!

[acidreignn]

When we moved back home to my parents, I knew my son and I needed our own vacation, we always vacationed with my parents. He was also 8 yrs old, as your daughter. I sat down with him and asked where he wanted to go. I gave him 3 options, WDW, WDL, or Universal. We even went online to research them together. He then decided WDW. That was 10 yrs ago, and we have been going ever since. He missed one year, my disneymoon. Our first year we stayed at All Star Movies, which is still our fav even tho we now own DVC. What I have taken from all these years was that we took our time no matter what. We made sure we enjoyed our trips. He also was smarter than his age, so there were no melt downs and I did not have to worry about becoming a lost parent.
Our own special moments to me were celebrating unbirthdays, sharing a turkey leg, swimming when it was freezing out, playing in the rain, and those lizards! We are always looking for them since our first trip. Even at the age of 18, he still loves Disney, maybe not as much as me, but I know deep down inside, he enjoys these trips we still go on.
There is something special about being a single parent, and I believe our kids appreciate us more, and having our own time together makes it even more special.

[twins4me]

I'm a single mom to dd and ds who turn 12 in April. We have been to WDW several times, usually traveling with my mom. In 2009, I did take the kids by myself to celebrate their 9th birthday. We had a blast! It was our longest trip to WDW, 9 nights and 8 days. We took our time, had some WDW firsts together, including riding Splash Mountain (for various reasons hadn't ridden it before..refurbs, fast passes gone, etc.). We bought our picture and the Splash Mountain frame to remember our special time together. We also went to the Art of Animation, which we had never done before. The kids enjoyed this so much that in 2010, they had to take my mom there to show her the ropes! We also did the Fantasmic Dining package at Hollywood and Vine. We had not seen Fantasmic or eaten at Hollywood and Vine. We had a great chef, "Julie," we'll never forget her. At the time, dd was diagnosed with an egg allergy and Julie went out of her way to make dd's dining extra special. Again, the kids loved this so very much that we booked this same package in 2010 so my mom could go along. At Fantasmic, while we were waiting, we took a self portrait of all of our faces together. It is one of my favorite photos, it makes me smile everytime I look at it.

WDW has always been our happy place (I know it is for others too....), but it has been our escape from food allergies, dyslexia, and the world of a parent with mental health issues. Dd and ds are also mature in many ways for their ages and I too did not worry about melt downs or them wandering off. They each have their own money when we go and they spend it on what they want. They are good savers and use every holiday to their advantage before we go, as well as saving allowance. I was most worried about doing rides with an odd number and how to tackle the bathroom issue with having a boy with no adult to go in or wait for him when he came out. We seemed to make everything work with no issues.

I have never heard my kids talk about other families or make comments about wishing they had a "normal" family. In many ways, going with my mom is their "normal" family as she has been a big part of raising them. When we went in 2009, they called her every night and told her about everything we had done that day and counted down the days until they would see her. (It was an extra special trip that year as we did meet my mom for 2 1/2 days as she traveled with my sister, brother-in-law, and my then turning 5 year old nephews and niece, including meeting them for a Grand Gathering! We returned home and they stayed for 4 more days.

You will make many special memories and remember your trip for a lifetime! Have a great time!

[PixieMichele]

I just wanted to say Kudos to all of you single parents, you get all the work but you also get to take all the credit for how wonderful your kids turn out!
My advice to anyone traveling with children, especially as a single parent, is to remember that no one knows your child as well as you do! Pick the experiences and the moments that are right for the two of you and that you'll cherish. Sometimes the little things mean more than the major events and you never know what moment your child is going to cherish..so make them all count!
My husband's mother was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis the year he was born, by the time he was in high school she was in a wheelchair and was fading fast. They took a trip to Disney World, just the two of them over spring break one year and the silly moments they had when he was pushing her in a wheelchair are still something he talks about.
Disney trivia is always fun and those little behind the scenes details are fun. My 10 year old step son is obsessed with Disney trivia and details (especially the one's i've learned from the various tours, etc that i've taken) that's his favorite stuff. Have a GREAT trip!

[NurseLesley]

Usually its just me & my girls going & I do love best that its such a close bonding experience...you all get to do exactly what you want to do...memories forever

[Pax]

Originally Posted by Shauna6368

Has anyone had any special moments, [...]

*ehem*

Despite not being a parent at all, it is time for me to trot out my usual advice to first-timers, here: on your first day going to the Magic Kingdom, do not take a bus directly there and do not ride the monorail there ... instead, TAKE THE FERRY.

Riding the ferry takes only a couple minutes longer than the monorail (though if you're staying on-site, it can take a bit more finagling to get to the TTC). However, those few minutes are worth it as you feel anticipation building even more, watching the Castle rise up over the water. Anticipation that is only sweetened by the feeling of "we're finally HERE, huzzah!" as you step off the ferry onto the landing in front of the Train Station.

My family got that advice from a tour guide back in '85, when my mother, grandmother, and I went to WDW (back when it and EPCOT were the only parks). Best birthday present ever, by the by.

And the advice worked, both on my mother and on my own fourteen-year-old self. Worked well enough, in fact, to leave a lasting memory that I am always very happy to share with others, when I hear they're going for the first time themselves.

Also, I really really want to do the Richard Petty Driving Experience when we're there but wouldn't be able to take her along as she is not old enough to be there by herself.

I believe Disney has a few daycare services that would work for a kid your DDs age. The Neverland Club, in AKL I think, is one of them.

[krisk11]

I'm a single mom and took my dd to WDW for the first time when she was 7. My friend had been there with her two dd's and told me how great it would be as a single parent as it's safe and it's easy to get around with the transportation that Disney provides. We had a great trip and have gone down a bunch of times since. Stay onsite if you can and ride the buses/monorail/boats to get around and you will have a wonderful trip. As far as the Richard Petty Experience goes I would ask you dd if she minds staying with a sitter while you go do it. If she would prefer not to you can always use it as an excuse to go back in a few years when she is old enough to go along and stay by herself and watch you or you could pick a tour that you could do together as they have a few that take younger kids.

[tinker_me_happy]

Totally different perspective from me... My grandmother lost her husband when her kids were 10, 16 and 18. My mom was the 18 year old. But she pretty much raised the kids alone even when he was alive anyway. One thing she decided when she became a grandmother was to spend one on one time with her grandkids because she was never able to do that with her own kids as she was too busy and had to work full time plus raise her kids. So when I we were 8 she took each of us on a trip to either NYC or Washington DC (our choice) on a Greyhound Bus, because she did not drive! When we were 12 we went with her across country! My cousin was 12 and it was her turn but gram was feeling "a little tired" and didn't want to do the trip alone, so at 17 I went with her.
My point is what I remember from those trips at 8 and 12 is having an absolutely magical time one on one with my second mother! It is a very precious time and I think the two of you will have a great time! From all the posts I've read, it sounds like you've done a lot of thinking and planning and it sounds like your daughter is very smart and saavy. As far as taking a little time alone for yourself, I would just talk to her and ask her if she wants to spend some time in one of the babysitting camps. I know at 8 I would not have wanted that and would have been uncomfortable doing it alone. If my sister were there I would have, but not by myself. It may feel like you've been planning this forever and you'll never get back, but time will fly and before you know it, she will be old enough to do the Richard Petty driving experience too!! Good Luck with your trip! Can't wait to hear all about it!

[Karbeau]

I took my 2 DD's by myself every year for about 5 years before I got remarried. We truly enjoyed every moment. As others have said, you know your child better than anyone. You know pretty much how she will react to certain situations. I did take both DD's to the Neverland Club at the Poly a few times throughout the years, and they both loved it. However, they were really glad to see me when I picked them up. If your daughter is a social child, she'll probably have a great time there. Talk to her about it before hand, and let her look online and see what it has to offer. If it's not something she is interested in, I bet she will let you know! I think if I asked them now what they thought of the Neverland Club, they would probably tell you they were mad at me for leaving them while I went off to have fun!

I remember the first time I took my girls by myself. I was nervous about how well I would do, but at the same time, I knew they would love every second. Our first full day, we went to Chef Mickey's for breakfast before heading to MK. We were the first family seated in the morning. Pluto saw us come in, took my oldest DD and danced with her for about 10 minutes, all around the restaurant. It took about 30 minutes for my tears to dry, as my girls got so much one on one attention from one special character who took the time to make the entire trip magical. It was all perfect from that moment on. Not once, in every trip we've taken, have either of my girls argued, melted down, or even bickered with each other. I'm not saying they are perfect angels...far from it...however when we arrive at WDW, it's as if a switch has flipped inside them and they are the best kids in the world.

Now that they are 24 and 14, I wish somehow I could find that switch in the real world!

Just have fun. Remember it all. Take lots of pictures. But the best part of all, when you lay down at night at your resort, talk about the best things you did that day. Giggle and whisper to each other in the dark before you fall asleep. Those are the things you'll remember. Don't worry about ruining appetites with a cookie before lunch (another appetite will follow soon after), don't worry about that extra 1/2 hour of staying up late to talk into the night (they will make it up), I guess just don't let the little things get in the way on a magical journey. One trip can mean an entire lifetime of memories.

[Poder's Mom]

I haven't posted in a long time but I think this is a perfect time to post. I'm a single mom and I took my kids for the first time when my DD was 6 and my DS was 3. It was wonderful and tiring all at the same time because we stayed off property and I spent most of the time driving and trying to get out of the parking lots. Yet we made great memories in the toon town section of MK.

On our second trip I decided to make some real memories, DD 13 and DS10, we stayed at AS Sports for 14 days. Best vacation EVER. Before I went this time I bought a passporter and stalked the forums for advice. The folks on here are amazing. I followed the advice I found here and planned what parks we visited, what time we went, took advantage of extra magic hours and booked all my ADR's in advance! Since we went during Christmas planning was a life saver. I also purchased the dinning plan and gave the kids $100 each spending money (for the entire trip not per day). I taught them well because they would only buy sell items. I added to the disney magic by giving them a gift I would hide somewhere in the room for them to find each day. I bought everything at the Disney store in my city, all of it was cheap, cause it was on sell. The gifts would be simple like a key chain, disney cup, small toy, t-shirt, just little things. That really made it special. My kids still talk about it and they are now DD 18 and DS 15.

I'm hoping that we can go again this summer to celebrate my daughters high school graduation but money is always tight these days so who knows.

I think Disney for you and your daughter will be magical because your together having fun and making memories. My advice, plan ahead, learn from the 'master' disney planners here and get a passporter. The book has great tips and details but most importantly it will keep you smiling and motivated.

[Mares75]

When DH was my DBF, we took his then 8 year old DS to WDW. We used Kids Nite Out one night while DH and I went to DTD for dinner (where he proposed). They were fantastic and DS had a blast with them. The sitter was First Aid and CPR certified. They had us fill out an information sheet with everything imaginable on it. He was actually excited to have her come to the hotel and loved every minute of their time together. I'd use them again in a heartbeat.

[Disney4us2]

I am a single mom by choice. I went into being a mom as a single. I started my DD at the age of 15 months with day trips to Disneyland and haven't looked back since. I traveled with her as an infant to New Jersey and as a toddler to Hawaii and to visit a friend in Nebraska... she is well traveled. We started going to WDW when she was 5 and had no problems. I never left her with a sitter at WDW as that was our special time together,

This next trip I plan on doing the Behind the seeds tour with her. It is more educational and we do homeschooling now.

I am also considering the afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian. My DD loves animals but is still too young age wise for those age restricted tours. or I would be doing those as well.

If your DD is still into princesses, you might consider the BBB., or a lunch or dinner with the princesses.

Have a great trip.

[PhilsEagles08]

I'm a single mom & have taken my 8 yr old 3 times alone. The 1st time was intimidating because I really didn't know my way around but now I can do it with my eyes closed. I never imagined I would be taking her for her 4th trip this year... the 1st yr was suppose to be a "once in a lifetime trip" but she continues to want to go & I think one day that will end.

She's done BBB each yr we've gone-the full castle package w/gown & all & last yr she started to feel a little bit embarrassed so we are going to skip on it this trip.

2 yrs ago we had met another single mom & her son while we were at the pool & have meet up with them since & are great friends.

Where are all the single dads at !?!?!! lol