Are we bad Disney Parents?

[ely3857]

Hello,

From the UK we would be far less likely to go without kids because of the longhaul factor making at a trip difficult to do very often, but I would have no reservations in going to DLP without any kids!

You and your wife enjoy your couple time, I am sure grandma will love having your daughter for a week to spoil rotten!



Ely3857 (England)

 

[kidd_freeper]

Last time we went we left the 2 and the 3 year old behind. They were not the least bit upset about it (mainly because they didn't know what theywere missing out on).

Enjoy your trip. You will be better parents after your batteries have been recharged.

 

[pdarrah]

Certainly not bad! But I would like to put in a word for taking small children. We are Disney Nuts and have been visiting WDW at least twice per year for a very long time (long before DS5 was born). DS has been to WDW at 6 weeks (that was for me! he was just along for the ride) 6 months, 1 year (Chef Mickey's for his b-day!) 1 1/2, and so on. I believe that next month will be his 11th visit (We did the Disney cruise last fall when he as 5 1/2 instead of WDW.)

Absolutely, he does not have memories of the earliest visits (although sometimes he surprises us by remembering things from when he was 3). However, DH and I have some FANTASTIC memories of those trips! DS has truly enjoyed each trip and each trip has been different. If the point is to have your child remember the trip for the rest of their life, then you certainly should wait. But there is another side to it in that it is loads of fun to play with your small child at WDW!

Just my two cents...

pdarrah

EDIT: oops! Forgot something! Last November DH & I did spend a long weekend alone without DS at WDW. Although we still had fun, we really missed having him there and kept seeing/doing things that we knew he would love. I doubt we will do another alone trip for quite a while.

 

[nluvwithmickey]

I think it's great that you have a loving grandma that will be with her while you guys are being.....a couple. That is very important, and you shouldn't feel guilty.

We have been to WDW once as a couple to celebrate our anniversary and the kids did not come along. I have to admit it felt a little strange at first, but we got used to it pretty quickly!

Enjoy all that you can and take mental notes of the things you would like to see with your child when you go back.... Have a nice sit down dinner,do the rides YOU want to do ( no child swapping ).

Go ahead, she won't notice you're gone...and you will come back relaxed from a great vacation.

 

[pmtaylor]

Wer are going on our first trip ever and I wish my DH and I had taken a trip to Disney before we had kids... DS11 and DD6 now so maybe one day we could still grab a trip alone. Have fun!!

 

[DVC Jen]

Bad parent? NO WAY! Good parent? YES

Good parents take time to nurture their relationship so it stays strong and happy.

Go for it and leave the guilt at home.

 

[Wondrmom]

Let me start off my saying that in no way are you a bad parent. It is completely healthy to want to have a vacation away.

However, for me personally a vacation would not be a vacation without my DD. I would not enjoy that time and would want her there to share that with her (regardless of age). My personal opinion regarding the age thing is who cares if you remember a trip We are taking our 16 month old to WDW in a few weeks. She is not going to remember the trip, but she will most certainly enjoy the moment and that is what is important (to us anyways).

 

[jlowejd5]

We're trying to convince our most bestest friends to do the same thing next March. Their DD will have just turned 3. They've got two great sets of grandparents who LOVE to spoil that kid. We're all getting older, and we realize this may be the last time we have a chance to take a grown-up trip to WDW. Well, at least the last time we can sneak off without causing trauma to the poor kid's brain...

But for what it's worth, I say go. You'll have lots of opportunities to come back with your whole family and build some new memories.

 

[Sheaboys]

Absolutely not a bad parent. Good for you both. Personally we would never go to Disney or anywhere for even just 1 night with the kids. It is not us. The boys have been to Disney quite a bit, ds#1 at age 6 months, 34 months, 37 months and to Disneyland at 5.5yrs. DS#2 has been at 11 months and 15 months and 3.5 yrs to Disneyland. DS#3 has only been to Disneyland at 16 months. WE are going to Disney World this year for our 10TH Anniversary with the kids...we just can't imagine it any other way. I love seeing Disney through their eyes it is the best feeling ever. BTW, they will be 7, 5 and 3 at the time of travel.

 

[Disney Cakers]

Go to Disney and have fun!!! You are not bad parents. My first time at Disney World - the only thing I remember was falling into a hole at the beach. It was tramatic!

 

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

No you are not bad parents! I'm even of the variety where I was at Disney 3 times before I was 5. Do I remember any of those trips? Not at all. Sure the pictures are cute, a lot of fun to look at, and I appreicate my parents sentiments for taking me greatly. But would it have made a difference had they not taken me? Not at all! And her grandma will have a great time probably as well getting to spend time with her grandaughter now too. Just go have a great time!!!!

 

[cravinthacastle]

If that makes you a bad parent... I must be AWFUL! I took my children last year, will take them this OCT..... but the NEXT trip will be just me and hubby! Maybe even just me and friends!

 

[kandeebunny]

My parents took me from age 6 months and on, me being cranky was never an issue they always told me I rarely cried, plus there are pictures of me fast asleep in a stroller next to a character (I could sleep anywhere.) I don't remember much, but starting at about 4 I have memories from the trips. Then again my parents tooke a parents only vacation every year until I was 10. It really is a personal choice, I know a lot of people can't afford 2 big vacations every year, and you may want to get in a Disney trip before your kids get to the age that they will really want to go.

 

[SammieG]

I think its important to have a few days to yourself with your husband or wife..
we went away when my son was two for an 8 day tour of New England.. and I have to say I hated being away without my son!!

However, in the eight days, my son didnt mention me or my husband once!! I was so upset!!!

its also important for grandparents to have that special time with their grand kids.
Sadly my mother died the night before my sons 4th Birthday. He has very special memories of his grandmother and they were very close.

Make the most of the grandparents.. sometimes they get taken from us suddenly, with little warning. My son no longer has a grandmother as DH's mother died before our son was born- and that makes me sad as my grandmothers lived until their late 80's - Neither of our mothers made it past 62...

Anyway.. sorry, I digress... the point is that we now have no one we can ask to have our son overnight...
What i would do for a romantic weekend away - just the two of us!

So no, you of course are not bad parents! You MUST go away alone together!

Although. (and this is really a separate issue!). I do feel that your kids will get something amazing out of WdW no matter what the age (they need to be sitting up in the push chair at least!)

My son went aged just 1 to WdW for the first time. He looks almost daily at the photographs from that trip.. and treasures those memories so much! He is now 5 and has spent over 24 weeks at WdW - and has literally hundreds of amazing memories, video and photographs from that time. NEVER has he missed out on doing a ride -

I think taking younger children gives you a chance to smell the roses a bit more.. and I certainly would feel cheated not to have taken my son at an early age.. we all have so many magical memories.

 

[cutienibbler]

Different strokes for different folks....
I dont think its bad, its just not what I would do.

I have taken my kids when they were both as young as 17months. One is now 4.5years and one is almost 2. Do they both remember the trips? I dont know, but I do. I have some great memories of those trips. I go to wdw because my kids love it. Someday Dh and I will go on a vacation alone to Vegas or something but not wdw. Not saying your vacation spot is a bad choice,, just not mine

 

[LibertyLover]

My gosh, not at all. Go and have a relaxing time and recharge your parenting batteries. There will be other visits with the kids for you to enjoy.

 

[CamColt]

I dont think you are a bad parent at all. Im leaving my "babies"(5 & 8) with Grandma while DH and I go to the World to celebrate our 10th anniversary. A few weeks later all 4 of us are going to DL and on a 7 day Disney Cruise, so I dont feel like Im depriving the kids at all. We have also left them at 2 & 5 while we went to WDW for a day and on a 3 night Disney Cruise. I even left them home with DH while I went to WDW for 4 days last Dec.

All couples, even parents need time alone together. Where they choose to spend it is their decision.

 

[simzac]

Add me to the list of those that think you should not take young kids to Disney World. They will not retain any memory of the trip when they are older, and you will not be able to enjoy yourselves due to constantly having to deal with the little ones. JMO

 

[Kristi1357]

You are definately not bad parents! DH & I went to WDW for marathon weekend and left our 19 mo. old son with his Grammy & Grampy. You need time as a couple, it's very important.

Our son has already been to WDW 3 times though! First time he was 6 mo., then 11 mos. & 18 mos. It was great having him along and we loved it! It was NOT a waste of money -heck, he doesn't need a park ticket yet and he stays free in our room. Big deal - he won't remember it - WE WILL! And he is going again next month - 4 times by age 2! The horror!

Hmm, maybe if little kids don't remember anything we should not: bring them to see Santa, take them to a petting zoo, visit relatives, go to a park, etc. Do people that won't bring kids to WDW before whatever age, also not bring them on other vacations? They won't remember it, after all?! Just MHO.

Have a great trip!

 

[Mickey Fliers]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking an adults only trip to WDW. We haven't done it yet, but we have taken our adults only vacations (The Bahama's and Italy). I say go during the Food and Wine Festival. That would be a blast. DH and I are getting one night alone on our next trip and I guess that will have to suffice.

However, the notion that you shouldn't bring young children to WDW b/c they won't remember anything just doesn't hold water for me. Maybe I should stop going, b/c I am 32 and I can't remember what I did last week.

Have fun.