Are we bad Disney Parents?

[mybgirl]

My DW and I are planning our trip to WDW, our daughter will not even be 2 when we go and we are planning to leave her with Grandma while we go. So, what does everyone think about this, we want to have a nice romantic time alone but is it wrong? Just wondering others thoughts, not that we will change our plans though.

TAKE HER WHEN SHE IS FIVE OR SIX


BUT YOU BETTER TAKE HER


HAVE A NICE TIME GOD BLESS

MARY

 

[*Fantasia*]

Do you think you're bad parents??

I know I can't go to Disney without my children. I will not enjoy it. It just won't be the same. It won't be fun without them. So, no way no how I would leave my children behind cause there is no way no how I will go without them.

We took our children on our first trip when they were 4 and 18 months. Our 4 doesn't remember much, but we do! We remember them enjoying the rides/shows. We got some great pictures of them with their Dad, who has passed away. So, I am just so glad that we went together.

 

[Vanryan]

You and your husband are keeping your marriage strong, so important for kids. More importantly, think of what a nice thing you are doing for your parents. The grandparent/grandchild is so important too. What a nice gift to give them.

 

[my3princes]

We honeymooned in Disney in 1992. We had a nice trip, but to be honest we enjoy all of our trips with kids much more. It is such a different and magical experience watching Disney through the eyes of a young child. We have been with 2 1/2, 6 mth old; 4 and 2, 5; and 3, 7, 5; and 9 mths, 5 and 7; 8, 6 and 1 and our next trip will be with 9, 7 and 2 yr old. The older kids have always remembered parts of the trips (maybe not under a year). Our youngest is now 2 and he loves to look at the autograph books and photo albums. He frequently talks about "Mickey's House" and I go to "Mickey's house". Taking children under 3 is actually not too expensive. There is no cost for park admission and buffets and character meals are free for them. There is no additional cost for the hotel. We have really enjoyed the experience of Disney with younger kids. The truth is that now the older boys aren't as amazed by the characters and could skip them all together. They want the rides (they are thrill ride junkies). If you choose to go without your child you will have a good time, but don't take too long to bring them with you as you will be missing out on some amazing memories for you and them.

 

[Vivianne]

My DW and I are planning our trip to WDW, our daughter will not even be 2 when we go and we are planning to leave her with Grandma while we go. So, what does everyone think about this, we want to have a nice romantic time alone but is it wrong? Just wondering others thoughts, not that we will change our plans though.

Nope! Enjoy your trip. Let Grandma bond with the wee one.

 

[sk!mom]

Don't feel guilty- A happy marriage is a gift to your children. A vacation without the kids is a great way to relax and reconnect. Kids take a lot out of you.

I've been married for 25 years and while DH and I would never go to WDW without our kids we have been to Europe, Las Vegas, and many other places without them. We wouldn't do WDW only because DD and I are the ones who love it. Go and have a great, guilt free time.

 

[ndmommy]

Go and have a wonderful time! I definately plan to go to WDW without my kids someday. I just need to figure out how to plan my trip without them figuring out where I am going. I'm afraid I would be so excited that I would spill the beans.

 

[taximomfor4]

Yeah, you both will probably burn in hell...just kidding!
I didn't take DS to DL til he was 5-perfect age, and
he remembers it (23yrs old now), If we had a 2 yr old,
we would do just as you are. She wouldn't remember it,
like the other posters have said, and you two do deserve
a vacation together, be it WDW, Mexico, or wherever.
Have a great time!

This Perfect Age thing backfired on us. We waited, and took DD (solo trip) when she was 8. It was just waaaaaaaay too exciting for her. We went to the parks a couple hours at a time only, and it was pretty miserable most of the time. She is definitely the type of kid who needed exposure over years. Should have started taking her at 2 or so, so she would not necessarily remember but WOULD have some sort of familiarity about the parks. She has always been hyper-vigilant, rather slow to adapt due to being TOO astute! This time, we are doing a big family trip with me, dh, that dd (now 11), dd6, ds5, and dd2. We hope to expose the kids, see shows, etc. Anything above and beyond will be EXTRA!! I might send DH and oldest dd back to parks in the evenings to do thrill rides. Then I am going on a solo trip 1 WEEK after we get home! Wish DH could have come, but I'll take a solo one!

That said, I don't think it is at all wrong to take couples-time and leave your 2yo behind. Solidarity in the parents' romantic relationship is one of the greatest gifts a couple can give their children.

 

[MAGICX2]

I know first hand that it is important to have some together time without your children. And if WDW is where you want to spend it all the better. However, I disagree with the lot who say that 2 is to young. We took DS when he was 2.5 for six days and we had a blast! Yes we had our meltdowns here and there but overall, good time. He talked about that trip up until the day we left for our next WDW trip with him then 3.5 and DD 1. This trip was even better than the first! Now, I know that DD won't remeber trip and can't even talk about it, but we all have special memories from the trip that we as parents will cherish forever. And the pics we got are incredible! I say go for you and then take kids second time around!

 

[Brooknwdw]

I say go for it..however I will tell you a little story...

when I was 14 (in 1987) my mom, dad, me, & brother all went to DW..left my 2 1/2 YO sister with family. Mom thought she was too young to go & enjoy it.
Well...probably true but that child has NEVER forgotten it! She is now 20 and until she got to go herself (for the 1st time last May), she has NEVER let Mom & dad live it down! She thinks she was traumatized by it!

But seriously, ya'll have a great time!!

 

[minmate]

I say enjoy your trip together. But you better take her back when she gets older!!

Plus... if you go by yourselves, you'll be that much more comfortable with your surroundings when you go back WITH her! There's SO much you can do at WDW w/o kids... enjoy those things this time! I'd love that, but my kids are getting too old they'd be hurt if we didn't take them!

 

[WheresGoofy]

I agree with alone time is important with your spouse. Just be prepared for a possible guilt trip if your child is anything like I was... My post is related to the age and a memory of my own of being left behind.

My parents took my 2 older sisters and I was left behind with my grandparents while the rest of my family went to WDW for the day when I was around 2 years old. I have always had that part of me that wished I had been included on that visit, but I was not, instead I ate some food that was being specially made for the dogs...yuck it was bad! The only ride I got to go on was my tricycle. I joke around with my parents even now about being left out of that visit.

As far as the age topic, our dd celebrated her first birthday during a WDW & western DCL cruise last year and got to experience DL last month. It is so much fun to watch her on rides. She did not like Francis' Ladybug Boogie at DCA, but the rest of the rides she rode made her smile and sometimes laugh. I look forward to watching her to see how she reacts to each of her many visits to the parks.

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

Wow, I didn't think I would get this many replies, and most people agree. Yeah, we will miss her while we're gone but we'll buy her a bunch of stuff, and her first Disney T-shirt. Does Disney have a shirt that says: "My Bad Parents went to Walt Disney World, left me at home, and all I got was this lousy, overpriced T-shirt!"?
If we had other older kids that we were bringing we would leave her though, then it would be a family trip, but this time is just for my DW and I. Disney is kind of Special for us, we kind of have a romantic WDW story. I'm gonna post a thread titled: Our Disney Love Story. After I do it I'll put a link here.

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=774856

 

[Snoopygirl]

That is a beautiful story......congratulations!!

 

[minkydog]

Personally, i'd rather have my toenails pulled out than take a child under 3 to WDW(no need for flames, this is my strong opinion). Too much drama, not to mention all the paraphenalia. We just had a couples trip to WDW in February, leaving our 11yo and 9yo behind. DD11 was not thrilled, but she understood that this was just a get-away for mom & dad, after a terrible year of illness and crisis. We promised her that the next trip will be a family trip. shhh! don't tell the kids--we're going back at Thanksgiving.

 

[harleyquinn]

I think the main thing is that you do take the little one at some point. Whether you feel comfortable taking her early or waiting, just take her!

I have to thank you though! I was actually dreading having kids, (only!)b/c I thought that meant that I couldn't go "home." i never even thought of leaving them with their grandparents! Silly me.

Anyway, I never got to go as a child. My first trip was in 2003, and I talked DH into going back for our Honeymoon last year I'm an addict!

Maybe I'll strike it rich, buy into DVC, and be able to go twice a year! One with the little ones, and once with just DH and I.


BTW LOOOVE your story. Thanks for sharing!!

 

[nataliesdaddy]

My DW and I are planning our trip to WDW, our daughter will not even be 2 when we go and we are planning to leave her with Grandma while we go. So, what does everyone think about this, we want to have a nice romantic time alone but is it wrong? Just wondering others thoughts, not that we will change our plans though.

of course it is not wrong

 

[WheresGoofy]

I had read your Disney Love Story earlier today. That was a very nice story. What a magical place for your relationship to begin. I didn't get anything from WDW when I was left behind. (I will bring that up with my mom...after 30 + years... )

They have really cute "My first WDW" shirts and onesies and stuff there. In 2003 when my dw and I went, she was pregnant and that is a dangerous place to be during that stage...or anytime, but we came home with baby clothes that would work for either a boy or a girl. When we brought our dd home, she was wearing a cute Winnie the Pooh outfit from WDW.

Have fun and relive that magic!

 

[TupperMom7]

I wouldn't say that you are "bad parents" although your attitude is much different from mine. We went to WDW for part of our honeymoon, so of course we didn't have children. Once we had children, I could not wait until the day when we could bring them there to see it all.
Although 2 years old is kind of young, I would have given anything to see the look on my little ones faces when they were that age at WDW. We didn't get that opportunity when they were that age, but I would have brought my child with me.
JMHO