ATTN: Empty nesters, has disney lost its magic?

[999DoomBuggies]

Empty nesters and soon to be empty nesters,

Has disney lost its magic since the kids are now out of the house and gone. Has your strategy to approaching disney dramatically changed? Have you taken trips to wdw or dl without your children? If so, do you feel sad?

 

[jmulvaney]

We are soon-to-be empty nesters (DD in college, DS a senior next yr), and we are taking our first trip without them over Labor Day weekend. I cannot wait--as fun as the trips were with the kids, this will be completely different. I'm planning much less commando must-meet-this-character-and -ride-this-ride and a whole lot more cocktails!

 

[si-am]

I m not an empty nester, so I'm not sure why I clicked on this thread. . However, I can speak for the "other side": I am 39 and my bro is 31 and we still vacation with my mom at Disney every year. It's just a tradition that we don't want to let go of. My first trip was in 1975 and I've been every year since!

I think my mom enjoys it just as much as ever because now we can really relax and spend time at lounges if we want instead of trying to hit all the rides every minute of the day. Neither my brother nor I have kids, so it's an adult - only trip and we have a terrific time!

 

[SuperRob]

For what it's worth, it depends on your frame of reference. If most of your Disney memories and experiences are tied to your kids, than I could see where you'd be concerned about the lost magic.

My wife and I are empty nesters because we're not having kids ... ever. It's not something we want or have ever wanted. My only Disney parks experience has been with the woman I love, so I always see it through that lens. After 3 WDW, 1DLR, 1 DCL, and two upcoming trips, I still see the magic in lots of places.

Try taking a Disney trip without your kids, but focus on doing couples activities. Do a couple's massage at the spa, dinner at V&A's, a carriage ride around Fort Wilderness, rent a speedboat, do a fireworks cruise, have a dinner date at Downtown Disney. Take time for just the two of you, and I'd be surprised if you didn't find some of that Disney magic for just the two of you to enjoy.

 

[Hisgirl]

Put your walking shoes on and get ready to experience a new kind of experience!

Hubby and I went by ourselves last spring to celebrate our anniversary...then we took my parents in October. I went by myself in January, we took the entire family in February and then we just got home TODAY after spending the week at AKL just by ourselves.

We had a FANTASTIC TIME! It's a bit different. You eat more grown up food...you go to the rides you want, and go at your own speed. We love going to Disney and nothing has changed.

 

[Buzzsgramma]

DH retired 5 years ago....We still go to Disney every year...I relax, he golfs...we go to a nice dinner every evening...some shows....sometimes a park or two...
have some friends that drive in and we have lunch or dinner with them...
still go every year with DS and family for a few days..also

 

[NYDisneyKid]

Never built a nest here.

 

[LBIJim]

Not at all. If anything, Disney trips by just DW and myself are SUPERIOR than when we brought the kids. Don't get me wrong, we had great enjoyable visits with our daughters, but it's so much better and more relaxing by ourselves.

I've always hesitated to use the word "magical" when describing at Disney vacation, but traveling without kids comes pretty close.

Jim

 

[ZoZo]

I am single (51) and have gone on several WDW trips withe my girlfriends, none of whom have kids. An "adults only" WDW trip can be so fun!

Focus on the things that you may have missed out on in the past. Behind-the-scenes tours (one of my favorites is KTTK), spa services, sleeping late and staying up really late, trying restaurants and lounges that you might never have tried with kids, renting a Sea Raycer, tea at the Grand Floridian - all of the things that you might have been reluctant to do (or simply couldn't do with kids along) in the past. I bet you'll be surprised how fun it can be.

 

[bluezy]

We are soon-to-be empty nesters (DD in college, DS a senior next yr), and we are taking our first trip without them over Labor Day weekend. I cannot wait--as fun as the trips were with the kids, this will be completely different. I'm planning much less commando must-meet-this-character-and -ride-this-ride and a whole lot more cocktails!

^^^This!!!^^^

We've still got about 10 years to go until we're empty nesters (kids are currently 27, 25, 15, 14, & 9) but I cannot wait to go to Disney World without kids of any age. I love going there with the kids (last year all 5 of them plus the 27 yo's GF went with us and we had a great time) and I'm sure we'll still do trips with some or all of the kids for the rest of my life but we're definitely looking forward to traveling there as a couple rather than a family.

 

[Suelala]

It is just as much fun, but it is a totally different experience. If you enjoyed WDW with the kids, you will most likely still enjoy it. Lots of things to do for adults, and you can do things at your own pace.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Well I am not an empty nester but a later in life mama. I've gone on MANY trips pre-baby and they were all a blast. I'd even march in the parade in a character meal, lol. Go and enjoy.

 

[snorkelyn]

Although we are not empty nesters, DH and I just returned from a WDW trip without the kids! We stayed at BW and walked in and out of the World Showcase. It was a totally different trip for us!

I would recommend that you do something adult and different, such as the Keys to the Kingdom tour. DH and I LOVED it! One of our other highlights was eating dinner at California Grill, then staying for cocktails and fireworks.

We usually go to an all-inclusive beach resort when we can get away. But we found that we really enjoyed going to Disney alone too!

 

[ArwenMarie]

Not at all. If anything, Disney trips by just DW and myself are SUPERIOR than when we brought the kids. Don't get me wrong, we had great enjoyable visits with our daughters, but it's so much better and more relaxing by ourselves.

I've always hesitated to use the word "magical" when describing at Disney vacation, but traveling without kids comes pretty close.

Jim

Don't tell the kids, shhh. Kidding!

Very cute comment

 

[Meriweather]

We love it!!
Been going to Disney for 14 years without kids. They join us now and then, but we usually go just the 2 of us.
It is different in a great way!
We even purchased DVC after they were on their own

 

[kaybird]

We are kind of different, as WDW has been a part of our lives since our WDW honeymoon in 1975, before people "did" that. We have gone many times with and without kids, and even now we go by ourselves more often than not, but sometimes with any combination of kids, grandkids, adult friends, etc.

This is why I have so much trouble with the "magic is gone" threads. How very sad. We have a magical time each and every trip, and each and every trip we discover something different!!

 

[Disneylover03]

Well, this will be the first year we've gone to Disney without our son as we are soon to be empty nesters.
DS is graduating and joining the Navy, so we're off to Disney this late September for an adults only excursion.
We are truly looking forward to it, only having to worry about our agenda.
I'm sure we will be back to Disney with grandkids some day but for now we will take it all in and enjoy every second of it!

 

[Disgrammy]

Husband and I went in 2003 when our kids left the nest. We just returned in April for my retirement. I love it. As others have said, it is quite different. More relaxing and not as hurried. We have continued to go with our family and enjoy it just as much with the grandkids, but definitely different vacations.

 

[POLY1985]

Disney has been and always will be special to me. I enjoyed it with my parents, with my new husband on our honeymoon, as a mother of one, mother of two little ones, mother of teens and young twenties. Now it's back to my hubby and I and we took our first trip without the kids in October and really enjoyed ourselves. I'm going in June with my cousins and plan on more trips in the future. And then hopefully one day I will be able to take my grandchildren.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Not quite empty nest but trying to be! 20 year twin boys in college living at home. So expensive for college AND apartment! One may be moving out soon, the other needs to save more money. Anyway, we waited on purpose for our 25th anniversary (this June) to go to WDW for the first time so we could go alone. (We've taken them to DLR many times growing up) We also went to DLR last summer by ourselves for a week. We even got invited to meet Bob Gurr and eat at Club 33 because it was just the two of us. So, you never know what new adventures await!