Something Really Sad Happened

[nickspace]

My wife and I went to the mall and went inside the Disney store and realized that all our kids are now too old for everything they were selling. We miss the wide eye wonder the kids used to have looking at all the toys and stuffed animals. It was a very sad moment.

We are DVC owners and are going on our first trip as a couple in May and are wondering if we are going to have the same feeling when we walk through the Magic kingdom without them.

[Micca]

Nick the Disney store has been a wasteland for a long time. The cool thing is that when you go to WDW, much of the merch will be just right ...for YOU!:earsboy:

[Sorceress_Minnie]

I think that feeling will definitely be there walking through MK, but I do not suspect it will be long lived. Enjoy your trip!

[lsutigger2]

Smile that you have a Disney store near you. the one in our mall closed some time back and they didn't even tell me :confused3

although, i have to admit they quit selling most of the stuff I would have been interested in, so now I just save up until we get to WDW.

[pnyltwk]

When I bought in to DVC I did it for me and my wife. Sure the kids have gotten to come with us for the past few years. But I know that soon enough we will be going by oursleves and I look forward to that. There will be a period of time before the grand kids start showing up that the wife and I will be able to vacation more often because we will require a smaller unit that will be less points. Is it wrong to think like that.

[SamSam]

Our kids have been grown and on thier own for many years now and we love going to WDW by ourselves. We look forward to bringing grandkids, but for now we are really enjoying our adult time at our happy place.

[robertdangelo]

There are a couple good books... "Walt Disney World For Couples" and "Walt Disney World Without Kids". You may find them at your local Library.

Bob

[pickles]

probably. I took a hubby and me only trip about 2 yrs ago and I admit, it was a bummer in some ways without the kids. I was happy in some ways without the kids, but their joy and living in the moment I missed

I will be a total mess in a couple years when many others things will be of more interest to them than hanging with old mom at Disney :sad1:

Disney trips by yourself(after the kids) just means you are getting old...er , nothing worse than being reminded of that with the empty nest syndrome

[nunzia]

..and then the grandkids come :goodvibes

[dianeschlicht]

We LOVE going as a couple. It almost makes it difficult to go with family and friends once you get used to going as a couple. We find we spend less and less time at the MK and more and more time at Epcot and Animal Kingdom.

[Crystal_27]

Smile that you have a Disney store near you. the one in our mall closed some time back and they didn't even tell me :confused3



I know -- ours is closing on February 20th. :sad1:

To the OP, enjoy your adults only trip. I'm sure that, although the kiddos won't be around, you guys are going to have a great time and probably do things that you've never done before since it will be just you. :goodvibes

[bobbiwoz]

There are things about the MK that make me happy, no matter who I'm with. Wishes, listening to the Barbershop quartet, trying to get there early to hear the Welcome song (they still do that, don't they?), and seeing the characters are just some. I'm not sure our DGC would have been able to sit thought the Hall of Presidents show, so DH and I were sure to do that in December!

Here's hoping you'll enjoy the different experience of an adults only visit!

Bobbi:goodvibes

[dburg30]

My wife and I went to the mall and went inside the Disney store and realized that all our kids are now too old for everything they were selling. We miss the wide eye wonder the kids used to have looking at all the toys and stuffed animals. It was a very sad moment.

We are DVC owners and are going on our first trip as a couple in May and are wondering if we are going to have the same feeling when we walk through the Magic kingdom without them.


I'm sure you'll have some pangs of sadness, but as a PP said, it wont last long. The place is too darn happy to let you stay sad too long ;)

[LSchrow]

most of what the TDS's sell now is overpriced dollar store items....add to that the very unhappy employees, and they're just not worth a visit anymore, imho (it's sad that most know little, if anything, about WDW or DVC)sad1:

but going to wdw with 25yo DD, DH, and/or my parents, DB and family, etc is wonderful!! every day is an adventure, with so much more to see and do without little ones getting tired, no worry about nap times, diaper changes, strollers, daily tears, etc......just enjoying one another's company, doing different tours, drinking around EPCOT, staying out late, not hurrying to make rope drops....as much as we enjoyed WDW when the kidlets were little, i think we actually get to savor so much more of it now that they are grown:cloud9:

[jade1]

Was at TDS at Mall of America a couple weeks ago and it also had nothing to look at if you were a teen or older. But we never did equate TDS to WDW actually-we like getting keepsakes from the real thing. Our kids are young adults and still love it as much as ever.

[Judique]

My wife and I went to the mall and went inside the Disney store and realized that all our kids are now too old for everything they were selling. We miss the wide eye wonder the kids used to have looking at all the toys and stuffed animals. It was a very sad moment.

We are DVC owners and are going on our first trip as a couple in May and are wondering if we are going to have the same feeling when we walk through the Magic kingdom without them.

It depends. I often think of when the kids were young at MK and how things have changed. I was just there in January and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's just a new experience! I have all the photos of when the kids were young and all the memories. Now, I don't have to go on Dumbo unless I want to. I can ride Buzz until my trigger finger gives out. And if I feel like shopping - I shop. There are many positives to travelling without kids or with older kids. Plus the sofa bed in my DVC villa stays made.

[Checkers]

Our DD loves WDW as much as we do and now that she has given us 3DGC, it is just great. We are slowly converting our DSIL to being obsessed like we are! My DH & I love going as a couple, too, and as dianeschlicht said, we just don't spend as much time in the MK. I'm sure once you experience it as a couple, you will appreciate the difference of a more laid-back vacation.

[Starr W.]

I went solo in October and after I did tea at the GF(not something DH and 2 DS would be interested in) I headed to MK.

When I got in, it was the same feeling I've always gotten when looking down Main St. at the castle.

I actually enjoyed my solo trip, stoping and looking at stuff. My kids were a bit older when we first started going. And to be honest, having boys there was nothing really in the Disney store that interested them. Way too much Princess stuff.

[Disneypirate85]

It all starts over when the DGC come! I have gotten 3 in the last 2.5 years and 1 of them, Lexi, LOVES our paintings done by Larry Dotson and she is 4 months old! OH YA we are very excited:banana: about her! Shawnpirate:

[dburg30]

Was at TDS at Mall of America a couple weeks ago and it also had nothing to look at if you were a teen or older. But we never did equate TDS to WDW actually-we like getting keepsakes from the real thing. Our kids are young adults and still love it as much as ever.

Yep, before our first trip back in Dec 07, I went to the local Disney Store. About 15 seconds into the store I realized I had just wasted an hour each way. My wife and I were just going to get a couple of shirts, but as you said unless you are a little girl that likes princesses or hannah montana (at that point) there really wasnt a darn thing there for you.

[Cee]

Here's the thing, at least for our family, the kids grew out of it and then BACK INTO IT. :thumbsup2

We just had a fantastic family vacation with all the kids who are now 24, 26 and 28. Periodically, my DS(26) will email me and say, "Hey Mom, I'm ready to go back to Disney whenever you are." And then I get to planning.....:goodvibes

[JasonDVC]

I guess I'm on the other end of the spectrum...We have our first child who is only 10 months old and we are going on our first trip with her in April. I still have those years of seeing WDW thorugh her eyes ahead of me. :thumbsup2

[Disneypubgal]

When I bought in to DVC I did it for me and my wife. Sure the kids have gotten to come with us for the past few years. But I know that soon enough we will be going by oursleves and I look forward to that. There will be a period of time before the grand kids start showing up that the wife and I will be able to vacation more often because we will require a smaller unit that will be less points. Is it wrong to think like that.


NO WAY!! Bought my DVC while I was single and enjoyed then and after I married my husband... Daughter came along ... she is now 4... love going with her but missing visits with just me and the hubby... couples vacations are very different from family ones! Although both are enjoyable in there own way. HAVE A GREAT TIME!

[nickspace]

Here's the thing, at least for our family, the kids grew out of it and then BACK INTO IT. :thumbsup2

We just had a fantastic family vacation with all the kids who are now 24, 26 and 28. Periodically, my DS(26) will email me and say, "Hey Mom, I'm ready to go back to Disney whenever you are." And then I get to planning.....:goodvibes

Thats encouraging. Thanks!!!

[skylynx]

DH and I have two sets of Disney experiences...the ones where we take the kids (now teenagers) and the ones where we go on our own. We also have gone on Disney cruises with and without the kids, and again, they are two separately wonderful experiences.

When we take the kids to WDW, we leverage DS 14 to be the fast pass "runner". At Epcot, we spend time in Innoventions. We go on Test Track over and over and over. We pin trade at DTD. We ride Space Mountain at MK during the parade. We watch Wishes from wherever we are at the time. We luxuriate in a one bedroom or even a Treehouse!

When we go without the kids, we get a studio, spend time in Epcot watching the fountain show, ride Test Track once, take a slow walk around World Showcase, drink a beer or two in Germany and the UK. At MK we let our inner children loose and ride everything. We watch the parades. We queue up in advance for a good spot to watch Wishes.

I feel the same way about the Disney Store...now my kids get similar thrills from Disney Quest and the stores at DTD that sell cool, off-beat Tshirts. They didn't have pin trading when they were little, so they do it now. Disney stuff transcends age...when Dumbo and Princess stuff start to lose their appeal, something else like Kingdom Hearts will take its place.

We love our trips with the kids, doing family stuff, and enjoying the teenagers shedding their teen coolness to dig in Dinoland. We also love our 7 day adult cruises, dressing up, drinking wine on our verandah.

Plus, as several people have commented, if there are grandkids, it starts all over again. And isn't that wonderful?

[Grumpygrandpa]

It all starts over when the DGC come! I have gotten 3 in the last 2.5 years and 1 of them, Lexi, LOVES our paintings done by Larry Dotson and she is 4 months old! OH YA we are very excited:banana: about her! Shawnpirate:

I think it is even better as a grandparent. You know how precious each Disney vacation moment is and you tend not stress about the unimportant things.

Of course you know why grandkids and grandparents have such close relationships.....They share a common enemy. JK:lmao:

[disneyaggies]

It was really strange booking a Christmas trip and when they asked how many kids.....I said none! All 6 adults. But honestly I think it is going to be the best trip ever!

[LindaBabe]

Too Bad. the Disney store USED to be where I got my between trip disney fix, and I aways bought tons there including clothes. Now, It's not worth the bother of going in. WDW on the other hand was made for kids like ME and my spouse :) YOU may miss your kids, but the world will be wonderful anyway, just different.

[nickspace]

Too Bad. the Disney store USED to be where I got my between trip disney fix, and I aways bought tons there including clothes. Now, It's not worth the bother of going in. WDW on the other hand was made for kids like ME and my spouse :) YOU may miss your kids, but the world will be wonderful anyway, just different.

Your right! The Disney Store just doesn't do it for me either. I wonder why it lost its magic?

[jelliott04]

We are DVC owners and are going on our first trip as a couple in May and are wondering if we are going to have the same feeling when we walk through the Magic kingdom without them.

Our kids are 4 and 9 and we went a couple years ago for a few days kid-free. It was two sided for us. There was definitely something missing...some sparkle that the kids bring that we just could not conjure by ourselves. BUT it was nice being there without kids too. No cranky kids (not counting DH), no cutting someone else's food while mine gets cold...no extra trips to the bathroom when we didn't have to go etc. Plus we were able to ride the rides together which we hadn't done since the now 4 year old was born. :)

Definitely something missing without the kids though.

Jen

[nickspace]

Our kids are 4 and 9 and we went a couple years ago for a few days kid-free. It was two sided for us. There was definitely something missing...some sparkle that the kids bring that we just could not conjure by ourselves. BUT it was nice being there without kids too. No cranky kids (not counting DH), no cutting someone else's food while mine gets cold...no extra trips to the bathroom when we didn't have to go etc. Plus we were able to ride the rides together which we hadn't done since the now 4 year old was born. :)

Definitely something missing without the kids though.

Jen

It will be nice to ride the rides with my wife again!

[nunzia]

Your right! The Disney Store just doesn't do it for me either. I wonder why it lost its magic?

Interesting on this...at the Expo we went to a presentation by the Disney Store president (and for some reason they booked him in the HUGE venue and stuck the Imagineers in a tiny venue..I think they learned a thing or two about the fans...I digress) and he explained the whole big 'change' for the stores as 'make it the best hour of a child's day'. OK. So basically he told us that they were gearing the stores to age 0-12 (you could actually hear the groans). They are essentially giving up on anything adult for the stores, but of course told us of all the great stuff online (and they do have some pretty cool stuff online). IMO this is really a huge mistake. If they had GOOD stuff, better quality and creativity in the stores then maybe they could compete with Walmart, but when you can get identical stuff there for cheaper, it's a losing battle. He explained that they just couldn't be all things to all people in such small stores and I see that, but I think the focus maybe should have been on the unique and trendy, not on the same stuff you can get at the Dollar Store or Walmart. :confused3
We all left very disappointed (and a little shocked at the $90.00 costumes in the fashion show that were, yes, a cut above Walmart and very pretty, but not worth the extra $60 compared to the Walmart style)

[pickles]

For as many stores Disney has at WDW , they certainly can have a store bettered geared for adults. They certainly could have the cheap stuff store and the quality stuff store etc..

They try and have some of these things, but they stick the same garbage in all of them, so it becomes "same stuff , different name store"

I get very frustrated trying to find sweatshirts without hoods and of a decent quality. Not all of us live in FL, some of us live with the cold and like to wear sweatshirts and dont need a hood when wearing one inside! The sweatshirts they have any more seem so flimsy and not worth the $35 price tag.

[sdemore]

We just returned from our first trip alone without kids. It was wonderful. Of course when you first get there you will have some sentimental memories at MK but that gets replaced with the wonderful feeling of being alone and doing exactly what you feel like-long leisurely dinners, have that extra glass of wine. You don't have to stake out places way in advance so the kids can see because you won't mind not having an ideal view, or even better you can skip things like the parades altogether like we did with the exception of Spectromagic and we were content with last minutes spots to see this. Then you can do things like Jungle Cruise and RARR in the dark with little or no wait! Take some glow stick items for any unhappy campers you see and be grateful that you don't need to take yours back to a hotel and stay some extra hours or leave early and go back to relax if that's what you feel like doing. Remember, we may be getting older but I can still be a princess: and DH still wants to be a pirate: !

[babster462]

Our kids are older with our youngest now 15 and way too cool to vacation with his parents. We make 3 trips per year- 2 with just my husband and me and 1 with the whole family. Although our trip with the whole family is a lot of fun, it is also totally exhausting trying to keep up with them. When we go alone it is just such a wonderful relaxing trip. We get to sleep in, go to what park we want to see, eat where and when we want and if we want to come back to the resort and just lay by the pool, we can. We love our trips without the kids but we also look forward to the 1 trip per year where we go as a family too!! The bottom line is your love for Disney will prevail no matter what.

[jelliott04]

Interesting on this...at the Expo we went to a presentation by the Disney Store president (and for some reason they booked him in the HUGE venue and stuck the Imagineers in a tiny venue..I think they learned a thing or two about the fans...I digress) and he explained

What is the Expo?????

Jen

[btrim]

My DH and I are empty nesters and we are DVC owners. We love going by ourselves. The wonder when you walk into the MK or any of the parks is still there. Then we we take our kids and grandkids, we relax and help out with the little ones. It is just the best way to vacation. If you are like the two of us, the wonder will always be there just in a different way.

[Paticake]

We loved bringing our kids,We loved going by ourselves, we loved going with adult kids, we were there in July 2010 with our kids and the first trip for our 2 grandsons. We love all trips!!!!! We are going in May with grandson#2 (he's 16 months) and his mom and dad, also DVC members and again the week after Thanksgiving same cast again. Our DD, DSIL are both teachers so we go with them in July. Next trip with them 2011 with grandson # 1 who is 2 1/2 and granddaughter who is 6 days old. You'll love every trip for different reasons. Even before the grandchildren were born I would always go into the Disney store just to get my fix.

[nunzia]

What is the Expo?????

Jen

This was the D23 Expo last September in Anaheim..no news yet on if there will be one this year but it was amazing..not be missed..D23 is the first official Disney sanctioned fan club. The Expo was a huge convention they put on. They held nothing back..it was a terriffic experience (and not just because Johnny Depp was there in full Pirate regalia)

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Nick
Just think of all the things you and your wife can do together. Think of all the adult things you can do. You may not have the same spark/excitement as you did with the kids but it will be a different kind of feeling.

[tinkerfan1]

Not only that but, as DVC Members, chances are you will some day have grandchildren with whom you can share your Disney experience! I know, I know, don't make them grow up that much that soon! But really, it seems like not too long ago our oldest was a kid and now she has 4 (almost 5) of her own!! We still have two teenage boys at home, too, so we plan on enjoying DVC for a long time to come with children and grandchildren. Nope, we will not let it lose any of the magic!

[DonnaL]

We bought DVC when our kids were 21, 19, and 12. They are now 29, 27, and 20. We do enjoy when one or all of them are with us and we also have an 8 year old grandson now.......who just loves WDW and has since he's 18 months old!! However, that said, we also very much enjoy our trips when it's just the two of us.....we usually visit at least twice a year ......once with one, some or all of the kids and once just the two of us. We find our pace is a little different when it's the two of us........much more leisurely.......if we don't do or see something this trip....we can always do it next time is the attitude we've taken over the past few years. We seem to make it a point to do out of the way and relaxing things........we definitely don't do the park commando thing anymore and we love our "alone" trips.

[LittleWonders]

Thanks for the post, you just made my wife cry thinking about that day. Best of luck to you and your wife on your first solo trip. Enjoy the memories of past trips and make a few new ones.

[Husurdady]

My wife and I went to the mall and went inside the Disney store and realized that all our kids are now too old for everything they were selling. We miss the wide eye wonder the kids used to have looking at all the toys and stuffed animals. It was a very sad moment.

We are DVC owners and are going on our first trip as a couple in May and are wondering if we are going to have the same feeling when we walk through the Magic kingdom without them.

Just wait the grand kids will be here in no time. :lmao::rotfl2: :laughing:, my nick name is husurdady.........I'am about to change it to husurGRANDdady. TIME is a "Fast-Mover"

[majortom1981]

MY fiances parents friends are dvc'ers and while they enjoy disney with their grandkids they like going with adults only better. Yo ucan do things like hang out at the world show case. Hanging out at the bars in the resorts adn things like that that yo ucant do with kids in tow.

I think once you start doing some adult only things you wont miss the kids.

[lah3hh]

When we joined DVC our DD was 11 years old...now she will be turning 23. She still goes with us whenever she can and loves it still but...we love going by ourselves as well. It is a different kind of experience but truly wonderful.

The nice thing about WDW, if you miss the wide eyed wonderment children your children had there...just look around and enjoy. There are so many beautiful opportunities to see children thoroughly enjoying themselves. I get like a kid and join right in with them...brings back all of the warm fuzzy feelings I have attached to Disney.

Plus imagine all of the 'other' good feellings you will be able to enjoy going childless....no standing in lines for the characters (unless YOU want to), no afternoon nap requirement (unless YOU want to!) and no total melt downs and temper tantrums due from exhaustion (unless YOU have one!)...I think you get my point.

Enjoy the experience...Disney is good for all of us!!!! :hug:

[nickspace]

When we joined DVC our DD was 11 years old...now she will be turning 23. She still goes with us whenever she can and loves it still but...we love going by ourselves as well. It is a different kind of experience but truly wonderful.

The nice thing about WDW, if you miss the wide eyed wonderment children your children had there...just look around and enjoy. There are so many beautiful opportunities to see children thoroughly enjoying themselves. I get like a kid and join right in with them...brings back all of the warm fuzzy feelings I have attached to Disney.

Plus imagine all of the 'other' good feellings you will be able to enjoy going childless....no standing in lines for the characters (unless YOU want to), no afternoon nap requirement (unless YOU want to!) and no total melt downs and temper tantrums due from exhaustion (unless YOU have one!)...I think you get my point.

Enjoy the experience...Disney is good for all of us!!!! :hug:

Its going to be interesting to have more freedom and time for ourselves. It will be both good and bad.

I remember our first trip with our youngest sending my wife and older kids to Blizzard Beach while I stayed back in the room with our baby as he slept all day. He was so tired from the previous days in the park that he just needed rest. Then there was the experience of not needing to mess with a stroller anymore. That was a good feeling. Now we get to go as a couple.

Odds are we will spend lots of time looking for something to buy and bring home to the kids. The true joy of life is giving for sure.

[tink_lover]

We took our first trip with no kids to WDW last September. The last time it had been just the 2 of us there was 22 years ago. We had a blast! We were able to walk leisurely and enjoy the sights/sounds. We took one of the back stage tours, ate where we wanted to eat when we wanted to eat, rode the train around a couple of times, drank around the world and that's just a small sampling of everything. While I did miss the kids - it was magical to be with dh enjoying the World also!

[nickspace]

The trip just became a little sweeter as our wait list for BLT came through.
:woohoo: