The Single Parents Guide to Taking on Walt Disney World

Tips for Single Parents at Disney World

The most significant issue most single parents face when visiting Disney World is the cost. Things can add up quickly between airfare, food, tickets, and lodging.

That’s where budgeting comes into play. If you’ve read any of our vacation planning series, you know budgeting is our first and most important factor. You’ll want to start with a list of expenses and compare costs for travel arrangements, accommodations, and other factors. Then, at some point, you might need to examine whether staying off or on-site is more reasonable. You might even consider driving over flying.

Then there’s the cost of food. Eating out three times a day for seven days in a row can get expensive, no matter how many are in your group. You’ll also want to consider the cost of extra items like tips for housekeeping, souvenirs, or things you might want to add to your trip. (Example: Seasonal Parties, Dessert Parties, Fireworks Cruises)

If you’re already overwhelmed, I get it. But don’t worry. These things are manageable if you set a strict budget and stick to it. We’ll go over each one in more detail with some practical advice. In the meantime, you’ll want to find a dedicated place to write down your anticipated expenses. I recommend keeping a notebook or using our complimentary spreadsheet, which has everything in one place and is easy to locate. Then, as you plan, you can adjust your budget as needed.

As for your overall budget for a Disney trip, I wouldn’t set one immediately. Instead, I would start collecting the numbers before I did anything else. Then, base your entire budget on reasonable numbers.

If you start with, “I have $2000.00 to take my three children to Disney World for seven days next October, ” you might never get past the initial planning process. So figure out what the trip’s cost will be first, and then plan when and how you can meet that goal. You can sign up for our free budgeting course below to receive your first lesson.

How Will You Get There

This is a big one. Whether you drive or fly will depend on overall expense. Do you have airline miles benefits as a frequent flyer or from a credit card? Can these be applied to your trip?

For those looking at driving, how far is the distance? Will you have to add an extra day because the drive is so long? How often will you fill up with gas, and what’s the cost? Another thing to consider when driving is the wear and tear on your car. Does it need new tires, brakes, or maintenance before embarking on your trip?

Maybe you should rent a car? What do those costs look like in comparison to flying?

When flying, pack the kid’s carry-on backpack with necessities and a blanket or a light jacket in case it’s cold on the plane. Also, don’t forget to bring essentials like medicine in your carry-on bag.

Upon arrival at the airport, you’ll need to plan how to get to your resort. Make sure to arrange transportation or a car rental. Unfortunately, Disney no longer provides its Magical Express transportation service to and from the airport. However, a similar (extra cost) service is available called Mears Connect.

Other options include renting a car or having another form of transportation arranged. You’ll want to have a plan for every aspect of your vacation that involves traveling between destinations.

If you feel nervous or overwhelmed, list the steps on your mobile device. For instance, you might save your plans in the Notes app on your mobile device:

• Arrive at Airport (Time)
• Check Baggage
• Security Clearance
• Locate Gate
• Arrive at Destination
• Collect Luggage
• Meet Transportation
• Arrive at Hotel

While these things sound simple enough, a written reminder is nice to have if you don’t travel often. If you drive, you’ll likely want to have your car serviced, oil changed, and tires rotated and balanced beforehand. It’s also a good idea to plan what to do in an emergency. (Who would you call, are you an AAA member, etc.)

Remember to pack plenty of snacks, a cooler, and drinks for your trip. We have been stuck in standstill traffic several times during our travels. One time, we sat in traffic on the interstate for almost three hours. Thankfully, we had a cooler with snacks and drinks.

Should You Stay Off-Site or On-Site?

This is a tough one. If you have never visited, I always recommend staying on-site if it’s within your budget. The convenience of being in the Disney bubble is unparallel. You won’t have to worry about getting lost or taking the wrong exit. Staying on property truly sets your entire vacation up for success from the start. You’ll feel like you’ve left the real world behind for the entirety of your vacation.

However, in most instances, Disney Resorts are more expensive. Therefore, if you’re on a tight budget, you’ll probably want to consider one of the value resorts and make sure to look for special offers or discounted rates.

The other option is staying off-site. Staying off-property has its advantages and disadvantages. Not only are most off-site resorts cheaper, but you can usually find a hotel with a kitchenette. Now if you don’t care to cook during your vacation, we understand. But if you’re hoping to save money, you might prepare smaller meals in your room throughout the trip. See The Best Off-Site Hotels Near Disney World for some of our favorite options.

Another thing to consider when staying off-site is the cost of parking at Disney World. As a Walt Disney World Resort guest, you won’t have to pay to park at the resort or theme parks. This is a huge advantage. However, guests from an off-property resort will incur a daily parking fee at the theme parks. It is also likely that an off-property resort will charge resort and parking fees. So make sure to include those extra fees in your budget when comparing.

Arrival Tips

Upon arrival, I recommend unpacking and organizing your personal items. This will save you time and effort in the long run. I suggest laying out pajamas for the evenings when you’ll return from the parks late. Then, lay out clothes for the next day every night before bed. The last thing you want is a worn-out child having a meltdown at 7:00 a.m. because they can’t find the right pair of socks!

After unpacking, familiarize yourself with nearby dining options at your resort. If you ordered groceries in advance, have them delivered to your room. Several grocery services in the area offer this service. If you stay off-site and plan to cook, have the grocery store and nearby dining options mapped out and saved in your GPS before your trip. Prepare a grocery list in advance of the things you’ll need.

When we stay off-site, we usually check into the room, unpack, and head straight out for groceries. We’ll order pizza before heading into the grocery store and then pick it up on our way back to the resort. That way, we have a quick meal and things to prepare during the week. Since I initially wrote this article, I’ve created an entire list of arrival day tips to set yourself up for success.

Dining

While we’re on groceries, I wanted to give you a few tips for saving money on meals. As you probably already know, the price of food can add up if you’re not careful. One of my best tips is to order a kids’ meal at counter service locations. Often, the kids’ meals are sizeable and come with plenty of side items.

Make sure you are aware of your options for sides. Most kids’ meals at Disney come with two sides and a drink. The sides can be double fries if you like. Or there is usually a separate refrigerated area with additional options. A cast member will be glad to help you. Some families have also found that splitting an adult meal works just as well as ordering a kid’s meal. So, depending on your group size, you might try both to see what works best.

Unfortunately, when it comes to table service restaurants an adult cannot order a kids’ meal. However, ordering an entree is not usually a requirement. Here’s where I like to mix things up by ordering soup and a salad. Or I might try an appetizer and a dessert instead of an entree. Take all the time you need to peruse the menu and pick the option(s) that will work best for you as a single parent.

Safety

As a single parent, safety is often a significant concern when traveling. While anything can happen anywhere, I have always felt more confident about my family’s safety at Disney than at any other destination.

Since the theme parks are so large and crowded, it can be easy to get separated from one another. Talk with your children about what to do if they get lost. Make sure to point out cast members in uniforms in the parks so they can quickly identify who can help them.  

And remember, there is safety in numbers. So stick together and get your children on board before the trip. Make sure they know that taking this trip depends on their behavior.

Manuevering the Parks

As far as the Disney Parks go, you are in for an incredibly fun adventure. The parks are packed with attractions, entertainment offerings, characters, and treats! You’ll have a wonderful time.

However, you’ll want to have a plan for several situations. For instance, restroom breaks. How will you handle them? If you are a mom/son or dad/daughter, discuss how you will deal with them with your child before the trip.

I cannot stress enough the importance of ensuring children know these things beforehand. I’ve run into these types of situations so often when traveling with my son, nieces, and nephews. Children are often rebellious when doing something out of the norm. Often, those moments can lead to meltdowns that leaves everyone in a bad mood.

Another item is nap time. While this applies to most children, single parents need to consider nap time and bedtime habits even more. If your child falls asleep, as a single parent, will you be able to carry them or have a stroller on hand? When you leave to return to the room, you’ll have to fold the stroller up on the bus. Will it be easy for them to wake up so they can walk back to the room from the bus?

For those who stay late into the evening, you’ll want to consider whether your child will fall asleep on the bus back to the hotel or in the car on the way back to an off-property resort. And how will you handle it if you have to park or walk a reasonable distance from your hotel room? There won’t be anyone to drop you off outside the entrance while they park or help carry a child back to the room.

My solution as a single parent was always to keep my child awake and talk the best I could until we got back to the room. However, that didn’t always happen, and there was a time or two when it was a bit of an ordeal. But we always managed to work our way through it.

Rides

As a single parent, you might have some concerns about what rides will work for your family. I recommend researching rides before your trip and making a list of all the attractions that will work for your family. You’ll want to consider height restrictions and how ride vehicles are set up. Our list of rides with height requirements is a good place to start.

First Aid

While discussing the parks, I wanted to mention that it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the First Aid stations in each park. You’ll probably never need to visit one, but they do come in handy in the event of a medical need.

Need a bandaid? First Aid has them. Have a headache? Just walk in, and they’ll provide you with an individual over-the-counter options. Allergy issues? Benadryl is always on hand.

I visited the parks for years without ever setting foot in a First Aid Center. Then, one afternoon, my son needed Benadryl. We had it within a moment of walking in the door. Since then, I’ve been back several times for Tylenol and bandages.

Souvenirs

Back to the budget, you’ll want to have a plan for souvenirs. Your children are going to want things they see in the parks. That’s a given. Honestly, you will probably see things that you would like to purchase for yourself.

Thankfully, there are many options for saving money on souvenirs. For example, you can purchase glow sticks in advance at a Dollar Store. These come in handy after dark when all the light-up toys are out.

Pack them in your backpack, and break out your surprises when children ask for a light-up toy. They’ll likely be excited to have something “new” and quickly forget about that $20.00 glow necklace they’ll only use on vacation.

Another idea is to give your child a budget at the beginning of your trip. When my son was younger, his grandparents often gifted him a $50.00 or $100.00 gift card for our vacations. It was his money to spend however he chose. Of course, once it was gone, it was gone. But it eliminated a lot of unnecessary browsing and asking for things out of our budget. Disney gift cards can be purchased at most groceries or superstores.

These are just a few suggestions for handling souvenirs. Again, the main thing is thinking about these things in advance and knowing how to handle them. And if there isn’t room in the budget for souvenirs, that’s fine too.

Resort Breaks

This wouldn’t be a true Resorts Gal article if I didn’t remind you to take a break at your resort. Whether you’re staying at a Disney Resort or even off-site, your hotel should have something to offer in terms of recreation.

Sometimes, a full day at the pool mid-week is just what you need to feel like you are on vacation. Don’t be surprised if your children don’t want to leave the pool. It happens. You’ll be all the better for the time spent relaxing. The last thing you need is to wear yourself out in the parks and return home exhausted.

Most people who visit Disney World like to return. You can always come back in the future, and hey, you’ll be a pro at this single-parent take on Disney thing!