Am I a bad person?

[kjjlouie]

My wife and I have a two-year old and a four-year old. We want to go to our first trip home in December of 2006. However, we are planning to go without the kids. Is this unheard of? We bought 200 points last year, but we were thinking of just using our time at the DLR until 2008 because we are closer to Anaheim. In 2008, we think that our kids will be perfect for their first trip to WDW. I am trying to label our 2006 trip to SSR as a recon trip to gather intel for our 2008 operation. Is this a good lie to tell all of our critics?

 

[Frankiesmom]

We just bought into DVC last month after a return home from a land/sea;our 4th trip to WDW-always taking the kids.Our 1st trip home as owners will be in May-by ourselves. It's an anniversary trip;I to felt alot of guilt in the beginning-but DH keeps saying parents need breaks too! I am really getting excited about exploring WDW as adults. If you don't vaca alot without your kids don't worry about what others have to say;you need a break from your kids to reconnect with your spouse-it's makes for better parents. Hope this helps. Our kids ags are 17,13,4,1 and our 4 yr.old has Aspergers an austistic disorder-so yes we really need this time for us. Angel

 

[dianeschlicht]

I say go for it! At 2 and 4, they will get MUCH more out of a WDW trip in a year or two, so take the couples only trip and enjoy that reconisance!

 

[shantay1008]

We've had two trips to WDW with very small children. The first time, the kids were 1, 3 and 5, and we were in the area for a wedding, so it made sense to bop over and spend a couple of days at WDW. (We live in Wis.) This last time they were 1, 3, 5 and 7. To be honest, while the five- and seven-year-olds were in heaven and had a blast, the 1-year-old had no idea where we were (we could have been at the mall for all she really cared), and the 3-year-old spent a lot of his time and energy dealing with not getting a nap, trying to keep up, etc.

Overall, we had a great time (especially since the grandparents came, too), but I can see where it would be wise to wait until later to bring them. Especially to a place where you know you'll be going often. Plus, your kids are already getting to spend time at Disneyland, so they're not exactly being neglected.

Also, I was terrible about going out alone with my husband...it wasn't until kid number 3 that I started to stop fretting like an idiot about leaving them and realized how important it was to have time alone. Last year, we had our first overnight trip away (for our anniversary, within driving distance), but I'm working up to getting in an airplane and flying away for a weekend. It sounds pathetic when I say (write) it out loud!!! So if someone like me can give you a blessing, you should really feel like it's an okay thing to do.

 

[problemchild718]

Go for it! We do an adult trip every year and have a great time! We do a tour or two and enjoy things very differently than when we go with kids.

 

[awatt]

Some adult time alone is good for the marriage, which is ultimately good for the kids.

I have a SIL who would never leave her kids, even for an evening, to spend time with her husband. Her husband, feeling neglected and overlooked for years, is probably not going to stay in such a marriage.

Granted that's a pretty extreme example, and a little oversimplified, but illustrates my point that it is good for a couple to spend some alone time together.

Some day your kids will leave the nest. Make sure when that happens you have not become relative strangers to one another. Taking a little time to ourselves each year is one way DH and I acco,plis this.

 

[minniemoms]

I say go for it. We left 6 children to go to WDW by ourselves for the first time... Now, they were older than yours. 18-5,but we still left all 6, and we loved it.So many people tried to make us feel guilty not taking our children. Well, we couldn't afford airfare for all of us, and pay for hotels and tickets and food too. Our 1st Disney cruise was without kids too. You need time alone for yourselves to keep a happy relationship. I am not one to leave my kids. A stay at home mom for many many years, but it is healthy for you, and it is good for your children as well. They appreciate you so much more when you return I wouldn't go for a long time, but WDW without anykids can be so much fun. We loved it. We do take our children to DL every year. Sometimes twice, since it is a 6 hour drive, but go to WDW, you will love it. Your children will be sad, but they do get over it. Trust me I speak from experience.

 

[bigsmooth]

When we bought into DVC, it was a solo trip w/o the kids. We bought into DVC to make it easier to take the kids, but I have great memories of the trip sans kids. It was a lot of fun to stay out late on the Boardwalk, hit the brewery or Jellyrolls sans the children, not have to do hand offs to ride Space Mountain or run off to Islands of Adventure (they are still a little young for the more mature rides). I also have great memories of going with the kids. I feel strongly you need a good balance of both kinds of vacation in your life.

 

[roadtripper]

Go, and have a great time! We went in Dec 04 without the kids (who were old enough to know where we were going and were not too happy about it!) One great thing about DVC is knowing that you'll go again. Our kids got over it, knowing they would be there in 2 months themselves. Great lesson to the kids that a marriage needs nurturing, too. Have a blast!

 

[Deesknee]

We took our kids (after prepping them by watching disneyland singalong) when they were 3 1/2 yrs. We took them again at the following ages:
4 1/2
6 1/2
8 1/2
9 1/2
11 1/2
13 and an eleven mnth old
14 and 22mnths
14 1/2 and 27mnths.
DH and I agree 3 1/2 was the best. 4 1/2 was the next best.
Do I think your wrong for going without the kids... no. What you want your kids to get out of the experience for their first visit should decide when you take them. We found the feeling of awe was best at 3 1/2 by 4 1/2 they were beginning to question why Tigger had sneakers on.(he laid down on his stomach to play with one of my kids while the others were behind him.)
By 6 1/2 all were able to ride all the rides. The teens still become children when in WDW. Perhaps just because they are now seeing it thru their baby sisters eyes.
Dh and I have never had an alone vacation. (Very difficult to find someone to watch triplets.) Although I would love one. DH is more hesitant, says we'll have time for that later. (or so we thought before the youngest came along...now alone time might be in the rest home lol
Either way enjoy your dvc. We have no regrets so far. Have fun

 

[shellybaxter]

I agree with everyone else that you shouldn't feel guilty about an adults only trip. They are lots of fun and everyone should take them from time to time. However, I disagree with several posters that your children enjoy a trip better if they are older. We took my niece to DL when she was 2.5 and WDW when she was 4.5 and those were both great trips. She remembers so much from both of those trips even now that she is six and a half. She was sooo much fun at 2.5. I wouldn't have missed that trip for the world. Those are still my favorite Disney pictures to look at because we had so much fun.

 

[gilld]

With the greatest respect, you asked for opinions so here's mine :-

No It doesn't make you a bad person but I do think the trip should be short. I couldn't have gone anywhere on holiday without them when my children were small but we're all different.

I think if you feel you need a break then go, but maybe just for a couple of days - longer than that is a very long time for little ones.

 

[shantay1008]

I agree with everyone else that you shouldn't feel guilty about an adults only trip. They are lots of fun and everyone should take them from time to time. However, I disagree with several posters that your children enjoy a trip better if they are older. We took my niece to DL when she was 2.5 and WDW when she was 4.5 and those were both great trips. She remembers so much from both of those trips even now that she is six and a half. She was sooo much fun at 2.5. I wouldn't have missed that trip for the world. Those are still my favorite Disney pictures to look at because we had so much fun.

You're right, I should clarify the point I was making. My older two had a wonderful time at WDW the last time we were there...they were 3 and 5 at the time. The problem we had this time was managing all the different ages. The oldest two are 5 and 7 now and could go on just about all of the rides, and they have lots of energy and don't need naps. Our 3-year-old is just in a different place physically. And mentally, really. He's much more cautious about rides than the older two ever were. And then the 18-month-old would fall asleep and we'd have to lug her around. It's really our own fault for having all these kids.

The OP said that they take their kids to DL, so they're already getting to have fun there. I think they really just want a practice trip to WDW and a chance to use their points and have a little time alone together. And now they've got me thinking about how nice that would be. Just a quick weekend; maybe the kids wouldn't even notice....

 

[kjjlouie]

The trip is only for three days. We'll be back in time for Christmas.

 

[sagwanamu]

The trip is only for three days. We'll be back in time for Christmas.

I say go for it. But personally, I wouldn't do. Last time when we had an adult only trip when my first boy was less than a year old, I kept calling home every other hours. No matter how much I tried to convince myself "be guilt free", I felt guilty. But it's just me.

I totally agree with others that a couple need a break from kids once in a while. So have a fun (I just wish I could do the same without feeling guilty).

 

[JGR]

Because you asked for opinions here I go....my husband and I visited WDW without our 16 month old daugher and stayed at BWV in a 1 BR last year.

We had just visited WDW that Oct. for a magical gathering and had quite a bit of help with her when we were with our entire family.
We had been to WDW in 2000 before we had children and we had so much fun. We have traveled all over the world and our trip to WDW BEFORE we had children is still the fondest of all of our travels.
The problem wasn't going out of town without our child...it was going to DISNEY without her. As you know there are kids EVERYWHERE and families having fun. It was excruciating to be there without our daughter. If we had gone anywhere else - the constant reminder of all of the other children would not have been as big of an issue. We have gone out of town a couple of times without her and we can stand to be apart ---it was just the Disney thing with no kids, it felt unnatural for us.
We actually sat on the balcony of BW in those big white rocking chairs and we looked beside us and there was one empty small white rocker. Sounds stupid but, I think that was the crowning blow to our mistake. We should have taken her. WDW has some good babysitting services and I wish we would have taken her and used them to go out to dinner a couple of times.
I agree every couple needs time alone - maybe we are different with the WDW thing, but, I just could not go back without my kids now. We have a new baby 7 weeks old and I can't wait to take them both together.
I do agree that 2.5 - 3.5 year age span is THE most magical time. My daughter now 28 months watches the Disney planning video almost everyday, she screams for it and especially loves the fireworks. My opinion is take them. Go stay at a nearby place for a couple of nights to be alone...but, my advice is take them.
It is harder with the kids but, what isn't hard that offers big rewards.

 

[Sammie]

My SIL and Brother's Pediatrician told them when my niece and nephew were born that the best thing they could do for thier kids is to take at least one adult only trip each year. That way if any emergency comes up and they had to be away from the kids, they were at least used to it.

Go and have a good time, the worst that can happen is they won't miss you.

 

[golfnut1264]

just make sure that you get a 1 bedroom so you have the jacuzzi to use for a little fireworks..wink..wink...

 

[shantay1008]

OP, you've really started something here. Now I keep thinking about spending our 11th anniversary in Oct. this year at WDW. Another poster mentioned that she felt miserable seeing other kids at Disney and that made her miss hers too much. But what if you didn't really go to the major kid places like Magic Kingdom? What if you (we) went to a spa, or had dinner at the California Grill during Wishes (that's the one at the CR, right?), stayed out as late as we wanted at Jellyrolls without having to worry about being woken up at the crack of dawn, and did all sorts of total non-kid things?

Also...I've wondered what some of the other DVC resorts are like, and this could be a good way to try out VWL or BWV without committing to our usual week-long stay in a two-bedroom.

Like I said before, it took three kids before I was happy to go out on a date, and four before I could even think about getting in an airplane to go on a trip without them. This might all just be big talk.

 

[Kae]

I say go! DH & I take 1 vacation w/o kids every year. And have done 2 WDW trips w/o kids since they been born. Do i miss em? sure mainly on the first night then the night before I come home, because I am excited to see them.

Kae