After the Kids are Grown Up

[Jhuff8181]

We are a Disney Family of 10 (now 26). We have been going to WDW once or twice a year since 1999. The kids have grown up and started their own families and now my wife and I are trying to adjust our Disney trips without kids. I have to admit to being the sappy one here. I miss the interaction with our kids on vacation and am having a hard time adjusting to the thought of spending time at the parks without little ones. We will of course be going (at times) when our kids go and will enjoy being there with our grandchildren but it really isn't the same.

Here are my questions. Am I the only one struggling with this? If not how did you deal with missing your kids at the parks? and How did your trips change?

Thanks for sharing.

 

[jacksonsmom]

No, you are not the only one. We just got back from Disney last week. I know this was probably one of our last trips as a family. My son will be 17 next week and between all his activities it is harder and harder for him to take off, then he will be going off to college soon...well, I can see the writing on the wall.

But DH and I will be taking a couple's only trip this November/December. It is a part WDW and part 4 night on the Dream. It will be different and I know I will miss my son not being with us, but we are trying to focus on things to enjoy as a couple. Stop and enjoy little things Disney as to offer, not see how many times we can ride ToT.

We are trying a couple different restaurants that never appealed to my son.
So although it is different and I might wish for the days when I had a preschooler in the parks....I know we will still have a wonderful time and enjoy the parks with my husband

 

[NJ Goofy]

We haven't gotten to that point yet, our DS's are 19 & 22 and still come with us on most trips. However, I do miss the trips when they were not "adults" and you could get more into the "Disney" feel.

My DW and I have taken a couple trips without them and as the pp said we take a different attitude and do different things that don't appeal to the boys like more fine dining, just walking through the countries in EPCOT, taking relaxation breaks, etc. It's not always what are we doing next. You'll need to change your prospective but the trips are still fun, you're on VACATION in Disney World !!!!!!!!

 

[Micca]

Our DDs basically "grew-up" going to WDW ever couple of years. They've always been invited to join us on our subsequent trips, but that usually works out better for one DD than the other (works in public school system, not avail. during many of our preferred travel times.) On our last trip we took everyone including our DGDs on their very first WDW visit, and look forward to taking them again. However, DW and I still plan trips on our own, like our F&W long weekend we have planned.

We'd prefer to always have our whole group together at WDW, but that's not practical, and DW & I are really bigger Disney fans than our kids are/were. We do send them a number of photos while we're there, and "The Mouse" appreciates all the loot they make from selling us a big haul we buy for everyone back home.
It's not the same as having them there, but it's good in a different way.

 

[johnsgrl]

I loved being with my kids at Disney, but when their lives changed and they were unable to come with us, we stopped going for a little while. When we finally made the choice to go back without them, I went believing I would be somewhat morose and consumed by the memories of being there with my kids. Boy was I WRONG! DH and I had the best time, just the two of us. We did what we wanted, when we wanted. We people watched, we bought souvenirs for US, we rode the rides we wanted, we made ADR's for every meal, we took our time browsing all the stores and yes, we did think about all of the fun our kids were missing, but we also tremendously enjoyed watching young families and their little ones and adding some extra magic for them with a small gift of a small stuffed mickey or glow-sticks or fast-passes (when they had paper ones). Now we occasionally get the opportunity to get to go with at least one of our kids and their family/S.O's and we do enjoy it but we look forward to our "just for us" trips as well. We will be taking our first grandchild with oldest DD and family in the fall and really do look forward to it, but the trip is about DGS and seeing our favorite place through his eyes.

 

[Meriweather]

We love going without the kids. They are both grown.....34 and 37.
We still go to one coast or the other 3 or more times a year. Every couple of years we take them along.
Different without kids, but in a good way

 

[jerseygal]

We still feel FORTUNATE in that we try to take one week family vaca a year even though our youngest is away in college and our eldest son lives out of state. Oldest because of work commitments usually only comes now for half the week, but we try to make the VERY BEST of the time we have together and feel grateful for that! Since the youngest started college, DH and I have been either adding another 5 day trip either beginning of December to get in the Holiday spirit or for F&W. We very much relaxing at the resort, swimming, walking, going to restaurants that would not appeal to our sons, doing the parks at a more relaxed, non hurried style. SO LOOKING FORWARD to enjoying WDW when our sons have children! Give yourself time to adjust and experience a new dynamic as a couple! ENJOY your future trips!

 

[loves to dive]

My son grew up going every other year with me since he was about 2 1/2, he is now 35 and still goes with me at least every other year (I go twice a year). When he can't go, I go solo and find I enjoy my solo trips just as much as my trips with him. Neither is better, just different.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Our first trip without our son is this winter.

I feel torn. I like the fact that we will be just the two of us. But I also know that I will miss him while we are there.

It is also our longest trip. We've always stayed Sunday to Saturday. This trip is Sunday to Wednesday.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

It takes a while to get use to, but now I go alone, yes alone very often and do enjoy it.

 

[lustergirl]

I started taking my two sons when they were teenagers. They are grown now and not disney crazy like me, so sad I know. My older son is a father now to my wonderful grandson, Jaxson. I can't wait to break Jax into Disney. Next year we are taking him. It will be different as I have never travelled there with a toddler.

I do love my solo trips though and taking one in November.