Adjusting to new stage in life...

[Fargoman2]

Last summer our family of five celebrated our 10th annual trip to WDW. It was quite the trip, which even included my daughter getting proposed to in front of the castle. Yes--another magical trip.

But I also found the experience to be bitter sweet. The family dynamic as we know/knew it, is changing. My little girls are grown up (21 and 18) and my son (12) will be there soon. Where did the time go since our first trip when the kids were 11, 8 and 2?! I miss those days!! (Not the exhausting work, but the relative "innocence" and profound magic of those days.)

We'll still be going back--we are DVCers after all. And we still have a great time of course. But oh how I miss those early days. Any of you made/making that transition have any advice on how to handle this new chapter of life?

Thanks for letting me share my random thoughts. These are the kind of memories stirred up when you are trying to endure the cold days of January.
In short, we miss WDW and those early days! How about you?

 

[Planogirl]

I miss the little boy that used to get so excited when he saw the characters and would have to work up his courage to try new attractions as he got older. I now have a rather blase teen who will be off to college soon.

Enjoy while you can!

 

[NikitaZee]

I am not there yet, but I think ahead to when I will be. Many times, particularly on our Disney trips, I force myself to slow down, and stop, and take in the moment - and it allows me to savor these times more, and make my memories more vivid.

 

[SeaShelley]

Embrace it. Recognize that this transition is all part of life. Don’t dwell on what “isn’t”, but celebrate what “is” and what is “yet to be”. Be thankful for all the memories. Start new traditions.

 

[Miniefan]

I miss the little boy that used to get so excited when he saw the characters and would have to work up his courage to try new attractions as he got older. I now have a rather blase teen who will be off to college soon.

Enjoy while you can!

ME TOO!

I have a teenager who is unimpressed by everything!! He used to love WDW and everything about it, now he tells me Universal is way better, and I can't believe you still like that baby place, he actually makes fun of me for loving everything Disney. My daughter still supports WDW and loves it but its just not the same anymore.

I used to love watching the wonderment and delight in their eyes and faces every time we would even talk of going back to Disney. I know they still enjoy vacations, and Disney even though my son would say he didn't. But, its just not the same.

Op, I understand mourning the loss of "disney innocence" but keep in mind there are still good times to be had. It may never be the same, but one day you'll get to take your granchildren there and watch the wonder in their eyes.

Kim

 

[ang]

I understand how you feel! The saying we have "Our Children was rise in Disney" lol Our little girl is in college and our son is 13. Yikes! the time flew by. I just look at this way, I can't wait to share the magic with their children. There's nothing like to see Disney through there eyes.

 

[loveysbydesign]

You have all brought tears to my eyes. My kids are 11, 8 and 3 and I was so afraid on our trip this past Nov. that my 11 y.o. ds would be bored and unhappy as we had to take things extra slow due to my inlaws being with us and my mil was in a wheelchair. I was so WRONG! I don't know who had thee most fun....my 11 y.o.ds or my 3 y.o. ds...it was pretty much a tie.

As I look back over the pictures from the trip, the smiles on everyone's faces fills me with joy. I am so happy to have shared special times with the ones I love at WDW. My only regret is that we didn't start going on vacations to WDW sooner, we never thought we could afford it! Thanks to the disboards we have learned how to be able to go to WDW and still have fun without spending a ton of money!

 

[ang]

ME TOO!

I have a teenager who is unimpressed by everything!! He used to love WDW and everything about it, now he tells me Universal is way better, and I can't believe you still like that baby place, he actually makes fun of me for loving everything Disney. My daughter still supports WDW and loves it but its just not the same anymore.

I used to love watching the wonderment and delight in their eyes and faces every time we would even talk of going back to Disney. I know they still enjoy vacations, and Disney even though my son would say he didn't. But, its just not the same.

Op, I understand mourning the loss of "disney innocence" but keep in mind there are still good times to be had. It may never be the same, but one day you'll get to take your granchildren there and watch the wonder in their eyes.

Kim

This is how it is in our house too!My DD loves disney ( Actually she went on her first trip without us) and my DS say its boring now.

 

[Pakey]

Ahh, but your grandchildren will feel it. We are taking our grandson for his 2nd trip; he's 6 now.

We actually enjoy the vacations at WDW more now. We have 3 grown children and we take them together or one at a time but the best WDW vacations are now the ones that are just my husband and I. Those great adult only dinners, golfing, spa treatments, cocktail hour on the villa balcony.... There's a lot of magic left to be found; just in a different way.

 

[minniecarousel]

My sons are grown married men who have wives who also love Disney (older son proposed in WDW!). We now take trips just the two of us, and with the two couples individually. Yes, the dynamics change, but it's not all bad. We look forward to taking family vacations to Disney with Grandchildren (hopefully!)