At a loss...almost empty nesters....

[mom3sonstt]

We are trying to make our vacation plans for next year, and for the first time in 20 years I don't know what to plan. It's always been a given that we go to WDW. When the boys were little we would go every other year, and on the in-between years we went to Opryland (when it was still a theme park), and Dollywood. We bought into DVC and as we added on more and more points WDW became an annual trip instead of every other year.

Then Sean graduated High School so we went with just two kids for the first time in many, many years. The next year we went while he was on summer break, but we brought along a friend. We had discovered how much easier it is to have an even number, so the last 3 trips have been with 4 boys instead of just our 3.

Next year Sean will graduate from college, and Mark (the youngest) will graduate from High School. Ryne (the middle) graduated HS this year, but is special needs and will go back again next year for more services. Hopefully after graduating, Sean will find a job . He is studying to become an Elementary teacher. We have gone in August the last couple years because it is before school starts, and after summer sports ends. If he would get a teaching job right away he probably wouldn't be able to go with us if we went at that time again because he would have to get a classroom ready.

So I don't know if we just plan a trip without Sean in the equation? If he doesn't have a teaching job he will need to be looking for one. I am sure he can get hours as a sub if he doesn't find something full time - but full time is the goal.

And then there is Mark. Right now I think he is going to the local Jr College, and I have the dates that those classes start, so we can work around him. IF he goes to that school. I still don't know what Ryne will do after next year.

DH has also mentioned taking grandkids. That kind of scares me. His Virginia grandkids are 14 & 12 now, but are very babied. We went out to visit them last summer and went to Busch Gardens (with their parents too) and it was awful. If I knew they would act like that at WDW there is no way I would agree to take them. But if we take them without their parents, there is the possibility that they would act better. Their dad (my stepson) is Navy and is gone a lot so they play on his guilt. Their mom is very much a sweetheart - and a bit of a doormat. When the kids were babies they lived in apartments. In order to keep the babies from crying and screaming (and having neighbors bang on walls or leave notes on their doors) they would give in and give them whatever they wanted that would shut them up. The kids were quick to learn that . When they finally moved into a house I thought they could finally wait the kids out - but old habits die hard and basically the kids get what they want. They are spoiled. When DH goes out to visit and takes them to the mall things are different - they know that if they throw a fit he will just take them back home......usually. I don't know if I want to go to Florida with them on the chance that they will behave - because if they don't that is a real waste of a vacation.

Then there are the other grandkids. My younger step-son's. They live near us, are around us more often. But he has re-married and has step-daughters the same age as his boys. If we took the boys and not the girls we would never hear the end of it. (The girls don't see their father or his family)

I don't know what to plan for next year. I don't know if we should just take the last two of ours at home or what. We do do parent-only trips during the year - so summer has always been the "family" trip.

 

[peabody58]

Ok, since you're from central IL like ourselves (also empty nesters), plan on trips with fellow DVCers on a more frequent basis.

We are currently optimization our points for 2 trips a year.

 

[La2kw]

My two are both in college now, and after going almost every year to WDW (even even more frequently to Disneyland, DW and I are vacationing without them. It's great to reconnect with each other after raising our kids. Neither kid is interested in going with us anymore anyway, so we just use what we would spend on them for an extra trip for us.

Good luck to your son, DW and I are both teachers.

 

[mom3sonstt]

from central IL like ourselves

Where in Central IL are you from. We are near Peoria....about 40 miles west of it

 

[Simba's Mom]

We are trying to make our vacation plans for next year, and for the first time in 20 years I don't know what to plan. It's always been a given that we go to WDW. When the boys were little we would go every other year, and on the in-between years we went to Opryland (when it was still a theme park), and Dollywood. We bought into DVC and as we added on more and more points WDW became an annual trip instead of every other year.

Then Sean graduated High School so we went with just two kids for the first time in many, many years. The next year we went while he was on summer break, but we brought along a friend. We had discovered how much easier it is to have an even number, so the last 3 trips have been with 4 boys instead of just our 3.

Next year Sean will graduate from college, and Mark (the youngest) will graduate from High School. Ryne (the middle) graduated HS this year, but is special needs and will go back again next year for more services. Hopefully after graduating, Sean will find a job . He is studying to become an Elementary teacher. We have gone in August the last couple years because it is before school starts, and after summer sports ends. If he would get a teaching job right away he probably wouldn't be able to go with us if we went at that time again because he would have to get a classroom ready.

So I don't know if we just plan a trip without Sean in the equation? If he doesn't have a teaching job he will need to be looking for one. I am sure he can get hours as a sub if he doesn't find something full time - but full time is the goal.

And then there is Mark. Right now I think he is going to the local Jr College, and I have the dates that those classes start, so we can work around him. IF he goes to that school. I still don't know what Ryne will do after next year.

DH has also mentioned taking grandkids. That kind of scares me. His Virginia grandkids are 14 & 12 now, but are very babied. We went out to visit them last summer and went to Busch Gardens (with their parents too) and it was awful. If I knew they would act like that at WDW there is no way I would agree to take them. But if we take them without their parents, there is the possibility that they would act better. Their dad (my stepson) is Navy and is gone a lot so they play on his guilt. Their mom is very much a sweetheart - and a bit of a doormat. When the kids were babies they lived in apartments. In order to keep the babies from crying and screaming (and having neighbors bang on walls or leave notes on their doors) they would give in and give them whatever they wanted that would shut them up. The kids were quick to learn that . When they finally moved into a house I thought they could finally wait the kids out - but old habits die hard and basically the kids get what they want. They are spoiled. When DH goes out to visit and takes them to the mall things are different - they know that if they throw a fit he will just take them back home......usually. I don't know if I want to go to Florida with them on the chance that they will behave - because if they don't that is a real waste of a vacation.

Then there are the other grandkids. My younger step-son's. They live near us, are around us more often. But he has re-married and has step-daughters the same age as his boys. If we took the boys and not the girls we would never hear the end of it. (The girls don't see their father or his family)

I don't know what to plan for next year. I don't know if we should just take the last two of ours at home or what. We do do parent-only trips during the year - so summer has always been the "family" trip.

Does Sean want to go to WDW with you? DS#1 asked to go to WDW for his college graduation (and he got his first job contract faxed to him there), but that was after many years of Mom and Dad going without him. Neither of our sons had any desire to go with us from about ages 16-21. DS #2 wanted to go to the Boardwalk while he was in college and DS #1 went for his wedding anniversary a couple years ago. As painful as it may be as a Mom, there may come a time when the kids (Hey, they're always "the kids", even if adults) don't want to go with you, but this too shall pass.

 

[mom3sonstt]

I dont know if Sean wants to go "with" us. I e-mailed him & Mark for suggestions for next year. Sean's was to send him and some friends. I have offered to send him - and to let him have X-amount of points for a room, but he has never been able to find anyone who can afford to purchase tickets, food or transportation. I have no problem paying the way when I invite a kid to join us on our vacation (especially when bringing an extra kid breaks up the fights of having 3 kids argue), however, I'm not in the business of providing all expenses paid trips to random kids. This year I sent Ryne & Sean down a couple days early and put them up at the Boardwalk for a couple nights before the rest of us got there.

I am totally ok with not taking him (after a big blow up with him this spring I almost didn't take him this year - except that would have meant Ryne couldn't go down early). He has been "asserting his independence" recently. Which to him means he is 20 and can do what he wants.......but somebody else has to foot the bill because he is still in school So I really have no problem not taking him. I actually think I will prefer it. But I don't know where that leaves me. It's looking like we will be back in August again if we want to take any of the kids.

Tonight DH said we might be better off telling the older two, to save their money and let them take their own kids and set them up with a room. That would save them on accomodations - and they can deal with their own kids

 

[gharrer]

Last year DH and I stayed at Old Key West. We took a canoe down and went canoeing in some of the nearby lakes and did several day trips. At night we ate either at one of the hotels or at downtown disney and we only went into the parks once. It was very different but we had a blast. It was our first Disney trip without the kids. Nancy

 

[dianeschlicht]

I like your DH's idea for the older kids. I'd probably just book a 2 bedroom at a time when you think they might be able to attend, and then make a blanket invite. I'm guessing you'll get plenty to fill the 2 bedroom.

 

[mom3sonstt]

I like your DH's idea for the older kids. I'd probably just book a 2 bedroom at a time when you think they might be able to attend, and then make a blanket invite. I'm guessing you'll get plenty to fill the 2 bedroom.

I'm sure they'd both "want" the rooms if we made them available. But Steve is Navy and we can't pick a random date and assume he will be able to go. And David is divorced, and sometimes the ex-wife works with him and sometimes she doesn't . Don't get me wrong, I like her (better than the current wife, actually ) but she has a new guy in her life now, and her family does a lot of stuff together, and David isn't always on top of things. He will wait until the last minute and ask her if he can have the boys....and she's already made other plans. Also, with 4 kids - I don't know if they could save up enough for all the expenses without planning quite a bit ahead.

I don't know....we just tried to buy 50 more points (thought we bought them, but they aren't showing up - our guide is checking to see what the problem is - he said there was a limited inventory for our use year, and that maybe the points had been offered to someone on a waitlist.....he's supposed to be getting back with me hopefully today) But the 50 would put us up to 510. Of course, we have already borrowed all by 50 from 2010 (August use year). If we get the 50 (plus 50 from 2009) we will have 150 "current" points. So no matter how many we get - we use them up. So "giving" away our points means "we" won't be using them. And we like using them

 

[peabody58]

Where in Central IL are you from. We are near Peoria....about 40 miles west of it

Clinton, 25 miles south of Bloomington; or 2 hrs closer to WDW via road trip than your location.

Enjoy the empty nest and a new style of vacationing.

 

[jade1]

Were about there as well, but ours love WDW more than ever and esp BCV/BWV to hit EPCOT for dinner/drinks/Illuminations/drinks ect-its so fun.

Of course little ones will be around the corner hopefully-got BLT just waiting for Fantasy Land Expansion for them-then just stroller home and up the elevator.