How old is too old for a Disney vacation?

[Simba's Mom]

Our sons went through some years when they were "too cool" to go to WDW. So what did we do? DH and I went without them-they really didn't want to go anywhere with Mom and Dad, and they were old enough to leave home (16-20 or so). Then last year DS #1 graduated from college, and what did he want? A week at OKW in Mom and Dad's new condo-and lots of golf there with Dad (I think DH paid him to request that!) Just this evening, I asked my younger DS, a college student, if he might be willing to go with me next year (I've come to realize that once they're out of school, you hardly see them), and he jumped at the opportunity. A vacation just with Mom?! I never thought I'd see the day! So yes, they may go through a stage when they think they're too old for Disney-but somehow they grow out of it!

 

[Dopey Sharon]

To those who have older kids who go....do you still pay for them? At what age do you make them pay for their air fare and park passes?

 

[minster22]

The first trip to WDW with DS was when he was 8 years old and since then there have been several trips. Our last trip that he joined us was 2 years ago and he was 23. I thought he may not want to be with us the whole time and allowed him to choose what ever he wanted and hoped he would at least join us for dinner each evening. Surprise, surprise, he spend all of each day of vacation with us and I loved every minute of it! It was probably the most time spent together since he has lived on his own!! I missed him like crazy after the trip. He had a blast and is very much looking forward to our trip coming up in October. It will be his first time staying at the Boardwalk so lots of new stuff for him to experience!!His ex-girlfriend begged him to come along!!!

 

[dsmith]

I've already decided that if my kids (now 13 & 11) decide they are sick of Disney, that's fine they can stay home, "I'm going to Walt Disney World!" We have a great time now but there's some things, like World Showcase at EPCOT, that they won't do with me. If me and my bride end up going alone I know we'll have plenty of fun and relaxation without them.

Don't worry about the 50 years thing... When we bought in I explained to the kids - "This way we can bring our GRANDCHILDREN to Disney too!" They seemed to like that idea!

 

[rocketriter]

THE KIDS
If you get enough points to take accomodations large enough for the kids to bring an occasional friend, they'll never outgrow Disney. Even in college, they'll consider it a great escape after exams. Later they'll honeymoon at DVC, and eventually bring their own kids.

THE PARENTS
I plan to motor around on a scooter when I can no longer walk the distance. After that, the kids can push me around. Heck, I'm thinking of leaving word in my will that they won't get a penny unless they take my coffin to WDW a couple of times.

 

[kathleena]

ErinInCT - I can sooooo relate to the golf fan - listen to this -

My DH is not the Disney fan - I am - and we originally bought thinking that he might go once in while and I could easily stay by myself onsite.

Well, check out the next two trips below and guess who loves going now!!! He and his buddy golf - offsite during the high season and Disney courses during the low - my girlfriend and I hit the parks! And then we have dinner or play mini golf or whatever with the boys. And every once in while we actually get them into a park - like this trip we are all signed up to do the Segway tour and will spend the day at Epcot. My DH loves his "Disney" vacations and talks about them all the time to friends.

And then I go with DD and her two kids other trips. Works out great! Oh, did I mention he manages a golf course in season here in Maine. huh. That could have something to do with it.....

 

[Sister Scoop Disney]

i worried about the same thing at first, but dh and i love going so much, we still went for it. we figure that we'll "raise our kids disney"(none yet) and if they don't like it, or don't like, we'll just have to go without them sometimes! we can't imagine not going back! my dh went for the first time ever in 2001, and we've been back 3 times since...he's hooked
and i think our kids will be hooked too!

 

[disny4ever]

I do not believe ( or hope ) that there is ever an age that I do not want to go on a Disney vacation. It's my chance to be an even bigger kid then I usually am. Too old to vacation at WDW....NEVER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[senecabeach]

Old is the age of your heart..not your body.
My husband and I have visited WDW each year since 71, sometimes twice a year. We only stayed on park property.
The regret was not buying OKW...when it was new and the price was "right" @ about $8,000. + free tickets to the parks back then.
So...our hurried lives and both of us working, making decent $$, made us ignore the "timeshare" and pay for the hotel rooms.
How FOOLISH !!
Charlie passed away. So...there I was in Jan, 2003, retired and planning a Disney trip....for myself. I found the current prices @ WDW, especially the PV, which we loved, outrageously expensive!! ( Remember we paid $ 42.00/per night back in 71). Yea...I know I'm starting to sound like my mother!
I went to WDW, used my Marriott points and ff miles and stayed on hotel row.
There's nothing like staying "on property"!
So....I went to the DVC, took the tour and purchased 200 pts. @ the BC., which I will be using this May.
My plan is to use it, bring the cousins & kids, and, when I'm 97 (in 40 yrs), I'll worry about renewing it !!
Cheers,
Carol

 

[Boo]

I'm with Rocket Riter. Hubby and I have joked that we plan on doing disney with matching granny and grandpa motor scooters when we're old!

But our kiddos are still 4 and 1 and we've got years and years of family trips with little ones still ahead.

Of course the beauty of DVC is that you don't HAVE to use your points there. We've made some really wonderful trades to other places including Kauai, Hawaii. Places, I KNOW we wouldn't have been able to afford lodging at otherwise. If your "teens" get into that I don't want to go to Disney- go someplace else! So far, we've found that Disney points have a lot of pull in getting the destinations you want elsewhere. We're doing WDW in May, but I think the Big Island is calling me, DD too!! Just the other day she said, 'Mama- I miss Hawaii. I need to go back there.'
Couldn't have said it better myself!

 

[LUVMICKEY]

We have a 33 yr. old son and a 30 yr. old daughter with families of their own that still love going to Disney with us and on their own. They also love the DVC and are planning on also getting it. We also enjoy going alone, just hubby and I. Your never too old to enjoy a Magical vacation.

Michele

 

[Judique]

My kids got a little funny about it at ages 16 and 17 but then they would change their minds and want to go last minute, wrecking my plans for a 'quiet' trip! Now they want to use my points for their own getaways. Sheesh and they don't even want to take me..................

I am planning my retirement around my DVC points - 6-8 weeks in winter at Hilton Head and Vero and WDW!

 

[Minnie Mare]

I am just now testing out the "I don't want to go" waters. I planned a trip alone with my soon to be 15 year old DD and 12 year old DS. MY DD informed me that she does not want to go and would rather stay home. I begged her to come but she did not budge an inch. DH cannot get time off so he will be home and I have my parents coming to stay with my DD as well, as DH works nights. I was heartbroken but I felt it best to allow her to stay home rather than have her come with an "attitude". I shall see how this all pans out. I do believe that this is just a phase and she will miss the "Magic", but right now she's just "too cool".

 

[RLevy29]

am planning my retirement around my DVC points - 6-8 weeks in winter at Hilton Head and Vero and WDW!

This is exactly what we are planning to do! I am a teacher and I am looking forward to booking trips during the slower seasons. We love the HH resort and plan to spend a large part of January there.

 

[diskat]

We joined Dvc when the kids were grown. It was my thing as even DH just doesn't get it ...... oh well his problem. We have ds 25 and 27 who were to cool for disney. Last year we took a family trip and now they want my points to go on their own. Also have a DD 31 who likes to go but just not as often as I do.

 

[mamarobin24]

this past January, we went for 5 days for the Marathon. The DS, age 15 years, 4 months, was particularly unimpressed with the idea of going, with wanting to be with family, and expressed his opinions by waffling about the trip all the way up to 2 days before we left. He then announced he didn't want to go. I announced if he didn't go, he owed me $218 for his plane ticket. He decided to go.

He had a great time. He always enjoys going to Japan and China, and riding roller coasters. However, he has respectfully requested that we not take him out of school for the next two years, as it really interferes with high school. OK, I can honor that.

so, we're going during Thanksgiving week (need more points)
and then maybe Winter Break (need more points), or possibly Christmas week in 2005 (need more points)

. . .do you notice a pattern here?? LOL

 

[AZKathy]

We went to WDW for the first time in 1997. We did DL 1-2 times a year before that.

Our kids are 13, 9, and 6. The 13 year old DS has expressed disinterest in going to WDW again. The two other are still excited to go. <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/10/10_1_20.gif' border=0></a>

Now, we have added a special thing for DS this trip. His cousins are coming and we have granted them to separate from the boring parents with a cell <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/19/19_2_14.gif' border=0></a>and go on their own. DS know WDW and how to get around the parks and they can go on their merry way when we get to a park. We are also letting them go into DQ by themselves while we go to Epcot for the day on our trip. He is very excited to go, now.

I guess he just lost interest cuz he had to do everything we wanted to do and had to stick around us all the time on the past trips.

We will see how these teens do this Thanksgiving. <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/1/1_4_6.gif' border=0></a> There are rules set up with this separation and one time not following the rules, well, they have to partner back up with parents again!<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_9_9.gif' border=0></a>

 

[mikesmom]

We started going when DS was 7 years old and got a trip about every other year. bought into DVC when he was 16. I keep thinking he won't want to go along (he's now 21), but when I offer him an "out" he just looks at me like I'm crazy!

As they get older it's a different trip each time - different things become attractive. I think it also helps that we don't expect him to hang with us every second. We have a few family activities planned - usually a meal followed by fireworks, and they rest of the time we do our own thing. We've also let him bring a friend, and that makes it a lot more fun for him.

We also do at least one trip a year without DS, usually to the Food & Wine Fest.