When the kids are no longer children...do you keep going to WDW??

[Knuckleball]

We've been to WDW at least once a year for the past decade, often going with relatives who have children just a bit younger than our son. But our son (now in college) and his cousins (now in their late teens) all have developed a "been there, done that" attitude about WDW. So, when we excitedly bring up a potential trip to WDW, the "kids" roll their eyes and tell us they'd rather go somewhere else. On the other hand, my wife and I enjoy going as much as ever! Admittedly, however, even our focus has shifted somewhat from the parks and just being at an on-site resort is now as much a part of the vacation experience as anything else..there just is just something about being at WDW, walking around the resort grounds, etc. We still like going to the parks but I think we could just spend a week at a resort and that would be fine with us...but the "kids" aren't interested!

So, are we the only parents in the world who want to keep going to WDW even after the "kids" get older and lose interest? Maybe there is a support group we could join?!! (LOL)

 

[Nomad70]

Heck yeah! Our kids are 2 teens and one 6 year old and the older two could take it or leave it. BUT, we as parents will always go. In fact we are heading out tomorrow for 9 days at the world without the kids in celebration of our anniversary.

 

[dis_guy]

Both of our DDs are in university now and we have only had one trip to WDW without them. For that one, my sister whisked them away to DL with her so they really didn't miss out at all. Our kids still love Disney so we still go as a family on a regular basis, but I certainly don't see anything wrong with "ma and pa" heading there on their own.

 

[goofy4tink]

I first went to WDW when I was 50, taking my 5, soon to be 6, y/o dd. We had a ball....that was back in '99. Since then, I have made about 25-30 trips to WDW...some with my dd, some without. She is now almost 19, and gets very annoyed when I say I"m going to WDW, solo!!!
Even my two older kids now 'get it'. They used to tell me that Disney was a cult, that I had been drawn in, hook, line and sinker. Well, the 35 y/o dd now loves it there, after I took her down for her first trip when she was 31. And ds??? He moved to Tampa, got a job, and found a wife...about 7 years ago. He had nothing good to say about WDW...always moaned and groaned if he had to drive over to see me. Well....they just got resident APs!!! Looks like he has come to the 'dark side' of the cult!!!
None of my kids roll their eyes at me...other than to let me know that they are peeved that I am not taking them. And that happens a lot...I head down in Dec, every year, solo!!!!

 

[Mousemommy1]

We've been to WDW at least once a year for the past decade, often going with relatives who have children just a bit younger than our son. But our son (now in college) and his cousins (now in their late teens) all have developed a "been there, done that" attitude about WDW. So, when we excitedly bring up a potential trip to WDW, the "kids" roll their eyes and tell us they'd rather go somewhere else. On the other hand, my wife and I enjoy going as much as ever! Admittedly, however, even our focus has shifted somewhat from the parks and just being at an on-site resort is now as much a part of the vacation experience as anything else..there just is just something about being at WDW, walking around the resort grounds, etc. We still like going to the parks but I think we could just spend a week at a resort and that would be fine with us...but the "kids" aren't interested!

So, are we the only parents in the world who want to keep going to WDW even after the "kids" get older and lose interest? Maybe there is a support group we could join?!! (LOL)

Our girls are young, so we have plenty more years of Disney with them ahead, but I am sure we will go when they get older. We went many times before they were born, so I can't imagine that will change! We go for us, not neccessarily them. Thank goodness they love it as much as we do!!!

 

[lurkernj]

Ahhh, yes. We are going in two weeks with our two teen boys(hence the title of my PTR below). They aren't very enthusiastic about it, not that they don't like it, but they would rather go somewhere else. I think this will be our last trip with them. I plan to continue to go with or without them(or DH for that matter) in the future.

If you and your wife enjoy it, go without the kids. I fully intend to continue to go either by myself, with DH or with girlfriends.

 

[minniebeth]

Without. A. Doubt.

 

[cwt580]

Wife and I visit as much by ourselves as we did/do with our 21dd and 25 ds. DD still likes to go but as she finishes up college this yr she knows her vacation time will be very limited for the next couple yrs.

This is why we are doin our next trip as maybe our last. Our DS is a no go to WDW anymore(too kiddie for him)......We enjoy it there alot but wanna go to other places also. Budgeting for WDW on our income takes us 5 yrs to save for our style of wdw vacation. So mom and dad havent taken alot of big vacations between our wdw trips.

We would return again if pricing wasnt so over the top anymore. BUT if we ever are blessed with grandkids then i expect that the whole process will reappear.....

 

[GraceMonica]

I'm one of 5 kids, ages ranging from 17-23.

I think my parents are realizing that some of the other kids in the family are getting to the point that they don't want to go every year.

ME on the other hand...I want to go as much as possible...which is why my parents and I are going to be going for my birthday! No other siblings! (This is going to be such a treat!)

I guess I caught the Disney bug...

 

[GovieMom]

Our two are 23 and 21, and they still love going to WDW with us (naturally, since we pay!). lol Though it's getting harder and harder to find a decent time to go with them both, due to their college/work schedules. Because of that, next month DH and I are going for the first time ever just he and I (still having guilt feelings over that). I know I'll miss the kids terribly, but am looking forward to touring the parks at a slower, smell-the-roses type pace. Hopefully next year all four of us can return again, crossing fingers.

 

[KonaKaiTom]

I don't have kids, but am fortunate to be close with my nieces -- we went to POR in January and are going to GF in October - I've also been there 4 times just adults -- when I'm with my nieces I get to be a goofy big kid, when I'm there with adults -- I get to be a goofy big kid!

Tom

 

[JohnO]

Our two kids are 20 and 14. They love WDW and I fully expect that when they have their own families, they'll be taking their own kids.

DW and I have no intent to stop traveling to WDW, however, we do plan to focus on traveling abroad when the nest is empty.

As a side note, all four of us have found that we like the DCL even more than WDW.

 

[jcanary]

We have always enjoyed going "kidless" We have owned the DVC since 1993 and we spent our 15th, 20th and 25th anniversary there without the kids. there was maybe 2 years where our kids were not interested but guess what, they love it now. they are 31 and 25. My youngest even asked as a college graduation present to be sent to Disney before she started in the outside world. We maybe do the parks one day, two tops. the rest is relaxing by the pool, checking out the other resorts, etc. So much to do without doing the parks. We are headed there in 28 days for the food and wine and guess what, one of my daughters has decided she wanted to get away and is meeting us so "we don't get lonely". I am waiting to go on a solo trip but no one will let me go by myself. You are transported into a world all your own. LOVE IT.

 

[denise5374]

My kids are 19 and 16 and we are heading back next year.

We don't do Disney every year(usually) but every other so on the off years we do something different, usually a cruise. The only reason we are going next year and not 2014 is that we got a bounceback free dining offer. so in 2014 we are either spending a week in Jamaica or heading on a cruise.

I expect then when my kids have kids that they will continue to go. Even my 16 year old DS loves it although much less outwardly then DD19. When we were watching wishes this time at the end (as I was crying lol) he walks over to me and gives me a hug and said "i love you mom", that's the Disney magic!

 

[DisneyInDel]

First time we went, our DDs were 13, 11 and 7.
Over the years we have continued to have WDW (and DL once) as our "go to" vacation spot...

18 years later, we are taking those same DDs..as well as their husbands and our grandchildren...

The magic has never left for any of us after all those years and all those trips..

Now we get to see the next generation and those smiles and excitement of Disney all over again in 63 days!

It's still our "go to"...always will be..

 

[LivieTARDIS]

I'm 19 and I always love going to Disney [I'm actually tring to talk my mom into booking a cruise in winter] We will never be too old for Disney [I have to book mostly character meals at WDW for my mom who is 51]

 

[Karabee]

"Adult kid" here (late 20's) My parents have been taking us to Disney since we were little and it's always been something we all enjoyed. When I finished Grad School my mom said I could pick somewhere special to go - I love traveling, but I picked Disney World. I think she knew it was coming That of course, meant they went twice that year because they started going on their own every year once we were in college! They focused more on the golfing and spa side of things once they didn't have to pay for us any longer.
After my Mom passed, my sister and I decided we wanted to go back - even though it was our family place. Well, wouldn't you know my Dad decided he would tag along because he missed it. We were still his excuse to go to Disney World - no matter how old we are!
So while I'm not the "parents" I can vouch that they still went with or without us

 

[Pakey]

As an adult, I've been going to WDW for 35 years. I went before I had children all the way through to having adult children. I've now had 2 vacations there with grandchildren.

The experiences certainly change through the course of time but there's still magic to be found. We now have 2 additional grandchildren who are infants and I can't wait to take them for their first visits!!!

 

[ekmom]

We have 2 kids, DD26 and DS22. DS and I are the Disney fanatics, DH goes along with it and DD is lukewarm. Last time we went was in 2011 and DD didn't join us. We're planning a trip for March 2013 and I think DD will come for at least part of the time since the focus of the trip is using some money my mother left us when she passed away in February and it's kind of important to me that the whole family be there for at least part of the time. But when I started the planning, she did ask if I wouldn't consider going elsewhere.

 

[minnie mum]

As an adult, I've been going to WDW for 35 years. I went before I had children all the way through to having adult children.

We must be from the same generation. Since our DDs flew the nest DH and I have had many more trips to WDW, just the 2 of us. And we still love the experience.

The girls always enjoyed their trips with us, and now go with their respective DHs. I think the reason they never went thru that 'BTDT' phase was because we didn't ONLY vacation at WDW. There were always trips to other destinations in between visits to The World. And that's how everyone in our extended family continues to vacation- mixing Disney vacations with vacations in other parts of the world. Keeps things from getting boring.

This year we're doing a twofer: a 'once in a lifetime' tour of Japan, culminating with a few days at Tokyo Disney!