First Ever Daddy and Daughter trip advice sought

[Donald Duck888]

I posted this a little while back in the Family forums but figured I might get some good tips here as well.

Ok here is my situation. I love going to Disney. My wife Hates going to Disney. Well actually says she would like it if it was once every 6 or 7 yrs. My soon to be 6yr old daughter of course loves going to Disney,we have been each of the last 3 years as a family, i really enjoy taking her and she wont be young forever.

My question is since my wife absolutly refuses to even talk about going to Disney for another 4 yrs or so should I consider going just my daughter and I?

In some ways I think it could be a great Daddy/Daughter thing but in other ways it may cause friction.

Also, I have gone on day trips and things like that solo with my daughter but never a full vacation. Some of the logistics are a bit nerve racking.

So while I know that only I can really know what will or will not ultimatly work for my family I am curious if others may have done this type of thing before and if so how it worked out and what were the good points, bad points and any suggestions you may have from your experience.

Thanks

 

[wasnotafan]

If it was in the budget I would do a solo trip with each of my kids.

 

[AirGoofy]

Ok here is my situation. I love going to Disney. My wife Hates going to Disney. Well actually says she would like it if it was once every 6 or 7 yrs. My soon to be 6yr old daughter of course loves going to Disney,we have been each of the last 3 years as a family, i really enjoy taking her and she wont be young forever.

My question is since my wife absolutly refuses to even talk about going to Disney for another 4 yrs or so should I consider going just my daughter and I?

In some ways I think it could be a great Daddy/Daughter thing but in other ways it may cause friction.

Also, I have gone on day trips and things like that solo with my daughter but never a full vacation. Some of the logistics are a bit nerve racking.

So while I know that only I can really know what will or will not ultimatly work for my family I am curious if others may have done this type of thing before and if so how it worked out and what were the good points, bad points and any suggestions you may have from your experience.

Thanks

I have two dds 10 & 8 and tried to take them to WDW without DW and she said no. But, I would absolutely do it.

When you say logistics are nerve racking, the only thing I can think of is bathrooms, which you either have to let your dd go by herself or go to family bathroom and turn your back. I really couldn't think of any others. Good luck.

 

[Donald Duck888]

the only thing I can think of is bathrooms

That is the one. I think i will most likely use the family bathroom as you suggest. I think that should work wel in the parks. I only hope they are available at the airport as well.

 

[AirGoofy]

That is the one. I think i will most likely use the family bathroom as you suggest. I think that should work wel in the parks. I only hope they are available at the airport as well.

Yes, I forgot about transportation. Mine are a coupke years older than yours, but I still start getting a nervous feeling after they are in the public bathroom for so long. But, they are probably better at handling it that I am willing to admit, and all the women in the bathroom probably aren't child abductors like I imagine they are. I still get worried now - very protective dad. But, I also have two of them, and I hope they would look out for each other.

Good luck with your decision. There have been some on here that have made solo trips with their daughters. Hopefully, they will stop by and give you some info.

 

[that's nice]

I would most definitely bring my daughter solo but there is no chance in he77 that my wife would ever let that happen. There is no way we could go to WDW without DW.

I think it is a great idea. Hopefully, you get the chance to do it!

That is the one. I think i will most likely use the family bathroom as you suggest. I think that should work wel in the parks. I only hope they are available at the airport as well.

My DD is 6 1/2 and I just started letting her go in the women's bathroom by herself. I took her to her first Yankees game this summer and she needed to use the bathroom. I sent her in while I waited outside. When she came out, I had her go into the men's room with me and put her in a spot where she I could see her but she couldn't see every other guy in the bathroom.

 

[Q-man]

While I'm planning doing this with my daughters, individually, IMO 6 is too young. She is too old to take into the men's room and, unless exceptional, too young to go solo in the women's room. 8-9 would be the earliest I 'd be comfortable doing this. YMMV.

 

[mm1971]

Ok here is my situation. I love going to Disney. My wife Hates going to Disney. Well actually says she would like it if it was once every 6 or 7 yrs. My soon to be 6yr old daughter of course loves going to Disney,we have been each of the last 3 years as a family, i really enjoy taking her and she wont be young forever.

My question is since my wife absolutly refuses to even talk about going to Disney for another 4 yrs or so should I consider going just my daughter and I?

In some ways I think it could be a great Daddy/Daughter thing but in other ways it may cause friction.

Also, I have gone on day trips and things like that solo with my daughter but never a full vacation. Some of the logistics are a bit nerve racking.

So while I know that only I can really know what will or will not ultimatly work for my family I am curious if others may have done this type of thing before and if so how it worked out and what were the good points, bad points and any suggestions you may have from your experience.

Thanks

I think I responded to your other post, but not sure.

If your wife is OK with spending the money, I would do it. I took my DD to Disney for her 9th birthday in in Oct 11 and it was just her and I. We had a wonderful time and it will always be a special memory for us both. We did the Halloween party, had the florists decorate the room and we did everything together and it was awesome.

Just an FYI - Family bathrooms are everywhere so no worries. That was my biggest concern initially.

 

[mm1971]

While I'm planning doing this with my daughters, individually, IMO 6 is too young. She is too old to take into the men's room and, unless exceptional, too young to go solo in the women's room. 8-9 would be the earliest I 'd be comfortable doing this. YMMV.

See my post. 6 is certainly not too young. They have tons of family bathrooms that you can take her into without a problem. I would say if that is your concern, you may want to reconsider.

 

[cj9200]

Even before I became a single dad, I often took DD to Disney. Bathrooms are the toughest part. There are lots of family restrooms around. By 6 she could go on her own to the ladies room in a pinch.

Lots of fond memories of those trips. A 6 YO is a great time to visit. Take lots of pictures and when your wife sees them, she might just change her mind about Disney.

 

[Dis_Dreamin]

I'd love to do the Daddy Daughter trip and a Father Son trip but the Wife wouldn't allow it...she wants to go too.

It was hard enough convincing her to do a short trip without the kids this spring for our anniversary. She's already feeling guilty about not taking them. I say do it, and don't worry about a thing. Plenty of family restrooms around all the parks, and IIRC most airports have the family style restrooms available as well.

 

[Donald Duck888]

See my post. 6 is certainly not too young. They have tons of family bathrooms that you can take her into without a problem.

Thanks for the info on this. This is "the" big thing both for when she needs to go or when I do.

I thought I had seen many of those "family bathrooms" on site but it is nice to hear that others have seen them as well.

IIRC most airports have the family style restrooms available as well.

Glad to hear this as well. I was not sure about the airports.

I'd love to do the Daddy Daughter trip and a Father Son trip but the Wife wouldn't allow it...she wants to go too.

I think I have the only wife in the world that does not like to go to disney.

My daughter is really excited about going now that I have told her we are going. Hopefully she will not miss mommy too much once we go as this is really the first time she will have been away from her mommy for more than a day or so. At first when i tried to convince my wife to come my daughter was trying to convince her as well. After a while even she gave up and now just says "ok mommy if you don't wanna go then me and daddy will go" It's kind of cute actually.

She is really growing up in the last year as far as coming into her own. Just yesterday my wife told me that she came up to her and told her she had to take her shopping for a Christmas present for daddy. My wife told her that she had something for her to give to me but she said "no, I want to pick someting out to give to daddy".

I really thik this trip will be fun. Thanks for listening to me ramble.

 

[Dis_Dreamin]

Thanks for the info on this. This is "the" big thing both for when she needs to go or when I do.

I thought I had seen many of those "family bathrooms" on site but it is nice to hear that others have seen them as well.



Glad to hear this as well. I was not sure about the airports.



I think I have the only wife in the world that does not like to go to disney.

My daughter is really excited about going now that I have told her we are going. Hopefully she will not miss mommy too much once we go as this is really the first time she will have been away from her mommy for more than a day or so. At first when i tried to convince my wife to come my daughter was trying to convince her as well. After a while even she gave up and now just says "ok mommy if you don't wanna go then me and daddy will go" It's kind of cute actually.

She is really growing up in the last year as far as coming into her own. Just yesterday my wife told me that she came up to her and told her she had to take her shopping for a Christmas present for daddy. My wife told her that she had something for her to give to me but she said "no, I want to pick someting out to give to daddy".

I really thik this trip will be fun. Thanks for listening to me ramble.

In the airports, all you have to do is look for the "companion restooms", they should be near the regular restrooms. To help alleviate concerns, you can also plan ahead, and look for them online at each airport's website.

 

[Dis_Dreamin]

Oh yeah, and have a great trip!

 

[mm1971]

Thanks for the info on this. This is "the" big thing both for when she needs to go or when I do.

I thought I had seen many of those "family bathrooms" on site but it is nice to hear that others have seen them as well.



Glad to hear this as well. I was not sure about the airports.



I think I have the only wife in the world that does not like to go to disney.

My daughter is really excited about going now that I have told her we are going. Hopefully she will not miss mommy too much once we go as this is really the first time she will have been away from her mommy for more than a day or so. At first when i tried to convince my wife to come my daughter was trying to convince her as well. After a while even she gave up and now just says "ok mommy if you don't wanna go then me and daddy will go" It's kind of cute actually.

She is really growing up in the last year as far as coming into her own. Just yesterday my wife told me that she came up to her and told her she had to take her shopping for a Christmas present for daddy. My wife told her that she had something for her to give to me but she said "no, I want to pick someting out to give to daddy".

I really thik this trip will be fun. Thanks for listening to me ramble.

Oh no. I have a wife that will go, but prefers not to as well. There are a few. That is why I went with DD alone for her birthday. If it is anything like our trip, DD won't even notice she is missing. My DD took the reins and never looked back. There was no thought of what was back at home until we were on the plane heading back. It was all planning and executing the strategy to do anything and everything she wanted while convincing dad she NEEDED to do it! Have a great time and let us know how it goes!

 

[Donald Duck888]

convincing dad she NEEDED to do it!

Tell me about it. It seems to start early with little girls. She is already "convincing" me that we NEED to stay in a little mermaid room at AOA when we go. Not that it usually takes her too much effort to convince daddy. I can't ever remember convincing my dad to do things that she has convinced me of with her "daddy pleaaase" and she is only going on 6..

Have a great time and let us know how it goes!

Thanks and will do.

 

[Texas Crude]

My input may be too late for the OP, but here goes nothing...

We've got a 4.5 year old, an almost 2 year old and a new born, but when I mentioned going to WDW as a family my wife said she had NO interest in taking a kid that still needed naps, which meant that we needed to wait about 3 more years.

I started planning a daddy-daughter trip for me and my 4.5 year old, and I honestly have never been so excited for a trip before in my life (this will be her first Disney trip). I'm more excited for this than I was for our trip to Hawaii, Belize, Europe... anything! I'm a strong believer in "Quality Time" with your kids, and can't think of a better place to spend some one on one time with your little girl.

My wife is completely supportive of this, and since it's just the two of us we're going to be able to do more of the ADRs / activities than we would usually be able to try. I'll let you know how it turns out, as we're going from April 21 to April 27th, but at this point in the process I couldn't recommend it enough.

As a general rule of thumb, you'll never regret any one on one time you spend with your daughter, and you'll never regret a trip to WDW. Combine the two and you're golden!