Mom & Son Taking First Vacation Together. Need Advice.

Good for you I did it with 2 kids althought they were older. Stay at a safe hotel keep in touch with people back home and enjoy it. Keep doors locked if fear anything report it also if afraid to walk to room for any reason ask desk for excort

It is super safe and easy - you are not and will not be targets. I have a friend who was also in the military and she has these fears with her daughter - so, I think it would be helpful to fill your mind and thoughts with good thoughts, so there is not room for bad ones. Good job taking baby steps. Have a wonderful time!

I think thats a great idea. and yes i would recommend staying on the resort. to me when i was there i felt safe sense it was all gated. plus you dont have to drive anywhere, they have the buses for you. and you didnt have to carry around your purse because your room key is also your passes and your credit card all in one. so i didnt feel like i had to carry around everything in the world.
Good luck and have fun

I'm so sorry for your loss, and I commend your determination to keep moving forward despite the pain. And I totally understand your anxiety. I hope we mamas can help alleviate that!

It's good that you'll be staying in the park; very convenient for safe, reliable transportation and rest breaks. We took my son when he was 4. My suggestion would be to consider getting a park hopper pass for greatest flexibility. Then, plan to go to a park early in the AM (upon opening is good if you are both up early, especially if it's going to get hot later -- You didn't say what time of year you are going. We went over July 4th weekend). Go directly to the farthest end of the park and work your way toward the entrance. That way when he has had enough, it will be faster and easier on you and him to get back out. We stayed in the parks until lunch and returned to the room to rest and swim in the afternoon. Then, depending on moods, weather and interests, we went back out in the evening, often to another park since we had only a few days and wanted to see as much as possible. You won't be able to do everything in one visit. Map out his "must see's" and your own "must see's" and go strictly at his pace. The best advice I can give is don't overdo it. That way it's more likely to remain 'the happiest place on Earth' for you both!

Also, I'd suggest that you bring a stroller or better yet, rent a cart at the park entrances so that you can push him around and he won't tire out as quickly. You'll also be able to keep track of him more easily; if he tends to wander, you might even consider some kind of tether device. With only one set of eyeballs to watch out, it might make things a little easier when you are in line ordering/paying or doing something else that needs your attention.

Good luck, have fun. Peace and strength to you and your boy!

I am sorry that you lost your husband. But as you said, life goes on with your son. I am sorry, I do not understand you being scared all the time. You are obviously a strong person- MY God you were in the Navy! and you survived the death of your husband. Please have faith in yourself and try to have fun every day with your son. I wrestle with my son all the time- he is 5.

Disney is an excellent choice to get back into the world of travel. It is so geered for children. Definately take your own stroller. You will need it at the airport and the parks. The rented strollers at Disney have NO STORAGE space. Good that you are staying at ANimal Kingdom- that is a very deluxe hotel. The Disney bus will pick you up at the airport and take you to the resort. You won't even have to handle your luggage (whicjh is the hard part). You can take buses to all of the parks. On the plane, I would have new toys in a backpack for your son- I go to CVS and pick stuff up. Jetblue has TVs which is nice. Magic Kingdom will be the best park for your son. Make sure you go on Tom Sawyer Island- that is the best secret! It is an island that you explore together- fort, bridges, secret caves. It is great for your son to run around. Peter Pan ride is also popular. I would pick up the DIsney for kids book and read that. Downtown Disney has the restaurant called T- Rex. Every 22 minutes the dinosaurs come to life! Pretty cool! Also each park has a playground for kids to run around. Please remember a happy child is well rested and well fed. So if he still takes naps, try to work them in and try to get him to bed at a decent time. It is also critcial to make restaurant reservations. You do not want to be hungry and have no place to eat! THere are consession lines, but the lines can be long. Also try to bring a bag of snacks for your son. If you call for reservations and they are booked- go to that restaurant that day when it opens- they might let you in. That has worked for me.

The parks are very safe. You should not be concerned about that. and by having the stroller that helps watching your son- he is safe right in front of you. But if you have a camera or video, do not leave them in the stroller! Take them with you.

Also get a book for you son on airports and planes so he understands the whole process- security, taking the shoes off, where the luggage goes etc... Have him meet the pilot in the cockpit. THey might give him wings. Expain the whold process.

Good luck and have fun!!

I think you've made a great decision re: staying on site b/c you will be with fellow travelers and not with the general public.

Given that you're going to Disney I don't think you need to do anything special just the regular keeping your wits about you, being aware of people around you. I think you can have a great time there w/out much angst.

As you said, you're taking the first step in reclaiming your and your son's lives back after such a tragic time.... go have some fun and make some great memories for yourself!!

My kids absolutely LOVE Disney World, as far as that you won't have much work cause kids just go crazy over it :)

I always hate the travel, doesn't matter if you go car or plane, its one of the most frustrating things to do, travel with a child. Just be sure you always have snacks, water, etc. on hand and be very.watchful. major weirdos out there!

You chose the best hotel! We stayed at that hotel and it was fabulous! I bet you'll have a great time! The staff there is EXCELLENT and sooo helpful :)

I have been to both Disney World and Disneyland multiple times. I have traveled to Disneyland without my husband or other adult, just my kids. I have always felt 'safe' inside the parks and on their properties. The very few times I have seen park goers need a cast member, the cast members have appeared very quickly.

You are going to have a blast. You have chosen a wonderful hotel. The Disney cast members are personable and helpful. When you are there, rely on them for advice and let them know if you need anything. They tend to go out of there way to help. Their bus, boat and monorail systems are made to make your trip as seamless as possible. Use their bus system for getting to and from the hotel too. You will not have to worry about your checked in luggage. They take it straight to your room.

I would study the Disney website and know the general outlay of their property. I would make priority seating restaurant arrangments, at least once a day. These reservations will help you get seated so you don't have to wait with a cranky and tired three year old. If you go on the website under restaurants you will eventually find the disney dining number. They can help you with selections. Animal Kingdom resort has really good places to eat but you will still need a reservation. You can cancel most of the places with no problem.

I would get a small purse that hangs across your body and in it I would be all the things you can not live without (driver's licence, credit card, etc....)

When you travel on the plane I would fill a child's sized backpack with things for your son to do on the plane. My three year old carried his own and it cut down on what I needed to carry.

I would get to the airport early, make sure you get through security, wear easy to take off shoes and that you have followed the airline's policy on what you can carry on.

I would talk to your son about what to do if he gets lost. I agree with the poster below that you should write your cell number on his body.

And have fun, you have chosen a great place for a first vacation together. I think it is wonderful that you want his life to be as normal as possible.

Get yourself a fanny pack/backpack or something that you can keep that you will have all your most important items on you at all times. Additionally-you can get these lariats at disney that are just the size of your room card. Get one of these-you can even wear it in the pool. I have heard of people being robbed at WDW when they left their stuff unattended while swimming. You don't want to have to deal with this alone.

The rental strollers are wonderful there. Take an umbrella stroller to the airport of you will need it for in the airport. But in the world you should rent. You don't have to worry about getting on/off transportation with a stroller and a little one. When you leave the park you return the stroller-you have a ticket where you can just pick up another if you return or go to another park.

Be strategic about where you go to watch the nightime fireworks and such. Get a guidbook that will give you the best lowdown. (The Unnoficial Guide to Disney with Kids 2011 is the one you should have) It gets super crowded when these shows are over so you want to place yourself in the best position to exit.

I would take a Leapster for him to play on the plane and while waiting in lines. Since you will be the only one 'entertaining' him this will be a big help for you.

One thing that I always do in parks is I write my cell phone number on my kids upper arms. They know to ask a worker or another mommy to call it if they are lost. Not sure how you feel about it but you might want to consider those little harnesses with a leash. I never used them but can def see their value.

Have a great time!

Check out the latest addition of "Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World"! It has a TON of great tips. We used it last Jan. and our vacation went smooth. Disney is very kid/family friendly. Go and have a great time making memories with him!