Travelling with 6

[raland2002]

My wife and I are making our first adventure with our 6 children to WDW in May 2005. Our biggest worry and/or concern is how to handle going on the differnt attractions. They range in age, 15, 9, 7, 5, 2, 5 mos. We are guessing there is pratically nothing we will all be able to do as a family. Yet, the fear is what to do with the younger children while one of us get in line with the older ones. If that time frame is long it could get ugly and begin to ruin everyone's day. IS it possible for the entire family to go through the line and just not get on the attraction?

 

[waltdisny]

You can do a kid switch, which would include switching groups of kids, just ask the greeting CM for the procedure. I have four, so I've often worked it out so that my wife or I will wait for one attraction with an older kid while the other parent took the younger ones off to do a short-wait activity with the younger ones. We rely on our cell phones to keep each other updated as to what is happening.

In the MK there are many things you will be able to do as a group, except the thrill rides of course. Just be aware that you'll usually have to split your party up among multiple vehicles.

 

[Yellow Shoes]

The younger 2 are still nappers. I would highly recommend that one parent takes them back to the room for a real nap in a darkened room on a bed. (I saw far too many sweaty miserable kids trying to nap in strollers on my last trip. I felt really sorry for them because they were pushed to the point of exhaustion.)

During naptime, the other parent and the remaining 4 go crazy on all the stuff with height requirements.

Needless to say, the two of you alternate which takes nap duty and which stays with the older ones.

 

[GenerationX]

A couple of other ideas for you:

1. Get walkie-talkies. Your family may split up at different times, and walkie-talkies will make it that much easier to regroup.
2. Review park maps. If the 15 year old wants to go on Dinosaur, for example, you or your spouse could wait with the other kids at The Boneyard, which they will probably love (and which has only one entrance and exit area). There are many places within WDW where one portion of your family can experience one attraction while the other is on another one, very nearby.
3. Get The 2005 Unofficial Guide to WDW by Bob Sehlinger. I've read many of the competing guidebooks, and this is, hands down, the best. It will answer many other questions you may have.
4. Find attractions entertaining for all ages (the book mentioned above will help with this). I'll throw out a couple:
MK - Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Tomorrowland Transit Authority, Mickey's Philharmagic
Epcot - Living Seas, Innoventions, Spaceship Earth
Disney-MGM - Muppetvision 3D, Who Wants to be a Millionaire - Play It!
AK - Kilimanjaro Safaris, Festival of the Lion King, Flights of Wonder.

I'm sure there are others, but those are the first that come to mind. Some attractions will be too scary for the younger set, some too dull for the older kids.

Have fun! :wave:

 

[figmentmom]

As waltdsney has already said, do the switching-off option on rides with height requirements - everyone waits in line together, and then you take turns riding and staying with the little ones. Just make sure you tell the greeter when you enter the line - and again when you get up to the ride vehicles - that you will be switching off!

Your 15-year-old will probably want to go on all the thrill rides (and probably your 9-year-old, too!) Depending on how comfortable you are with this idea, and how mature your eldest two are, you might consider letting them go off for an hour or two on their own, as long as you have an agreed-upon-in-advance meeting time and place. Alternately, you could divide up for an afternoon and let one parent take the older kids and the other take the younger set on age-appropriate rides. I don't know how tall your five-year-old is, but he or she could fall into either group depending on height and maturity!

There are PLENTY of rides and shows that you will be able to experience as a group! Just remember that your little ones will tire LONG before your older ones, and plan accordingly.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Welcome to the boards :sohappy:
Don't view the holiday as a hinderance just because of the size of your party and the age of the kids - view it as a challenge !!
Planning is the important factor.
1) Buy a good guide book - The Unofficial Guide is the best in my opinion. In it are ideas and tips for switching kids.
2) Use the book - read the detailed accounts about each ride (age groups etc) let the family decide which rides / attractions they want and plan accordingly (don't plan too much each day because of switching)
3) Walkie Talkies - a great idea if you decide to split up and do attractions seperately.
4) Buy a folding double stroller for the younger two so that they can sleep while the others are still enjoying the parks - this way you or your wife won't miss out on the fun by returning to the hotel room.

 

[raland2002]

Not to be stupid, but what exactly do you mean by "switching". Are we all able to go through the line togehter?

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Not to be stupid, but what exactly do you mean by "switching". Are we all able to go through the line togehter?

OK - lets say out of your party of eight, you and the wife plus the eldest four kids want to ride RockNRoller Coaster. Thers's two ways to do it.
1) The wife remains outside on a convenient bench with the youngest two while you and the four kids line up and ride. Some time later you return and sit on the bench while the wife lines up and rides. Advantage - the kids get to ride twice. Disadvantage - wastes time.
Solution
2) Switching :sohappy: - Your entire party joins the line. When you get to the CM tell them that you're switching. One adult and the two youngest kids wait while the other party members ride. After the ride the kids are passed to those that have just ridden while the other party enjoys the ride. Advantage - Saves time as you only line up once. Disadvantage - can't think of any !!

 

[longfamily]

Child Swap is when your spouse enters the line alone or with children that are interested in the ride while you wait for his/her return. At that time, a cast member allows you to go through the fast pass line and you basically jump on the ride from there. In other words, it's as if you stood in line together but without the hassle of having to keep sleeping children in line or children that could not ride the attraction othewise. This works great for thrill rides that you both want to ride but some in your group may not reach the height requirement for.
As for the 15 and 9 year old, give them walkie talkies and let them go on thier own. Unless you need them for any child managing reason, Disney is one of the safest places on the planet and they are not likely to end up in a negative situation. Just have a meeting area and let them check in every couple of hours or so. It will keep them happy, teach them independence, and make them think that you trust them that much more. And all the while you can take solice in knowing that the imaginary leash is not really that long anyway

 

[Yellow Shoes]

The hidden advantage of ride swapping is that the kids get to ride twice.