Hi Timothy,
Thank you for trusting our advice with your heartfelt concern. I proudly have my “one and only” son who is now 12, and we’ve been to the
Walt Disney World Resort many times as a tight-knit family of three. I’m honored to share my experience and guidance with you for an incredible vacation together.
Please know that a Disney vacation is for diverse families of all sizes and in all seasons of life – you're as welcome as can be, and you do not need to bring a fourth person to feel complete. If this is your first time taking this special trip, I highly recommend you take this opportunity and then perhaps in the future your son can bring a friend for a different experience. With each passing year I realize that time is accelerating, and these vacations taken together while my son is growing up are absolutely precious. Like the Three Caballeros, you will be
“birds of a feather, happy amigos – no matter where he goes, the one, two, and three goes – we're always together...” As a family of three, you can stay in most any
Disney Resorts Collection hotel room! Whether you are more comfortable in two beds or having a separate day bed for your son, there are many options without concern of space or sleeping configurations. My top picks for you are Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts. Most have the option for a day bed, excellent transportation, amazing pools, and themes that may appeal to your son’s imagination and sense of adventure.
Let’s talk attractions! When you are in the queue, you’ll indicate a party of three (my son likes to take responsibility for proudly displaying three fingers up in advance) to the Cast Member. You may be seated together, or if there are just two seats per row you may have one Disney-loving stranger with you (or not). Regardless, you will all appear together in most attraction photos. You will sit together more than you are separated on attractions in all four theme parks, whether it’s in one vehicle (The Haunted Mansion), one row of three (Test Track), or a small attraction vehicle to yourself (Space Mountain). I’m out of room to share every attraction but please know that no one will feel left out, and you’ll be together throughout the day for moments of bravery, laughter, and ALL the fun.
I’ve found our dynamic of three people helps us balance our park days. My husband will sit out Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and get a jump on a mobile order lunch at Connections Eatery while I save the galaxy in a wild space ride with our son. My boys love The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, so I’ll take a refreshment break and meet them just after. I also never mind a quick rest if they do something else, and I use that time to secure our next Genie+ selection. We are efficient and able to balance our time with focused attention on our son, leaving us all feeling like our magic tanks have been refilled (and not drained) by the end of the day.
I hope this eases your mind and gives you so much to look forward to on this special trip. Your family is complete and practically perfect in every way, and you will never regret these core memories made together at the Most Magical Place on Earth. Treasure these moments!
Please write me or
my pal Mandy directly if you’d like more tips for maximizing the fun with an amazing one and only child on this vacation of a lifetime.
YOU are the magic,
Amy