Bring One Child But Not The Other?

[Disneyfan754321]

Changed post * because I did not want to violate covid policy*

Much live❤

 

[SandyinMonterey]

Yes, I'm moderately worried about getting Covid even if the trip was just my husband and me. If we do end up going and the Covid cases are the same as now or worse, we'll do double surgical masks anytime we're indoors for sure. As a small business owner that opened my business last July in the middle of the pandemic, it would be difficult to close my doors for 2 weeks to quarantine. It wouldn't shut me down because we do have a little bit of savings left, but the situation would be stressful.

Do you have experience with renting out a reservation? I've only rented points through DVC Rental Store before and have never tried renting out on my own. Do you know if it's as simple as changing the names on the reservation?

We have put up our DVC points for rent via David's Vacation Rentals twice. In 2020 and again for 2021. Our points got picked up quickly, one within a week the other about 2 weeks. David's is very easy to work with and the process is simple. I've had only good experiences with them and would use in the future.

 

[Rory607]

Just curious, did these feelings of resentment happen to your children or yourself? I definitely would want to prevent any type of jealously between the siblings.

Not the poster who originally said it, but I was the youngest in my family (my siblings were quite a bit older) and I remember looking at picture albums as a kid and always looking for myself. I would be figuring out what year the trip was in relation to when I was born . I remember questioning my mom about why I wasn’t in pictures of certain trips.

Maybe I was just a very self centered child, but I’ve always been conscious of that and taken all of our kids everywhere, unless it’s an adults-only trip. But COVID changes everything and I wouldn’t hesitate to leave the youngest or any kids at home right now. One day when we are past this, lots of things our kids question will involve an explanation of how COVID affected our lives.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

I haven't read all the replies, but if it were me I'd just go on a couple's trip. Aside from covid, it's going to be a stressful time crowd-wise. My husband and I had our first couple's getaway in June since the birth of our daughter, and it was great. For me at least. He had tremendous dad guilt, and I felt guilty for not feeling guilty.

 

[tinkerjo]

I personally couldn’t leave my young ones at home especially since the 4 yo is so excited. She is more likely to understand if it was cancelled all together more so than why it’s ok for mom and dad to go but not her. Also, I have 4 kids (3 grown and one 14)and don’t think for a minute that they don’t compare what trips they did/didn’t go on, which parent went to the most ball games/track meeets/gymnastic competitions etc. ( we went to all of them as long as we weren’t working but they still seem to think there was a difference) I would cancel and go after this madness calms down and everyone can enjoy.

 

[bakerworld]

Sounds like a good reason for a adults only vacation

 

[MamaMermaid]

I'd never leave a kid at home - that's my personal preference, though. I'd cancel.

 

[Karin1984]

Just curious, did these feelings of resentment happen to your children or yourself? I definitely would want to prevent any type of jealously between the siblings.

I am jealous by nature, it is my least desirable quality. I'm working on it It didn't get as bad as I described, but because I recognize it in myself, I think I read more articles/stories about jealousy than average. And it can be little things that can mess up a relationship later.

I do remember my mother taking my brother to a place where I wanted to go to as well. I was a bit older than your kids, so not fully comparable. At first I was jealous because I also wanted to go. Later after the event, I became jealous because it caused some inside jokes between my mother and my brother. Jokes I didn't fully understand, as I wasn't there. (PS, I have a perfectly fine relationship with my brother ;-) )
Nowadays it is more complicated with these kind of trips, because we take pictures everywhere. If you would frame a picture of your trip, your other child would constantly see it and be reminded of it.

I think it's too easy to say 'they won't remember'. And they won't probably remember the exact event or what was going on, but I do believe feelings can linger. Without a child fully comprehending why it feels a certain way, it can recognize that exclusion is not a happy feeling. If you would ever have to explain why the other was left at home, a child is not capable to see 'yes, it makes sense to leave me at home because I couldn't keep my mask on. This trip wasn't safe for me'. And that can be tricky for adults as well when there are emotions in the way.

Of course, these are extremes. Maybe your child will not care and be more than happy to have a stay over at the grandparents while you are at WDW. Only, you do not know what will happen ten, twenty, thirty years from now.

What you also could have done was take your younger daughter on a mother-daughter trip when she is four and leave your other daughter at home. To give both quality time with you (which I also think is important), but as you never know what can happen, that can be a complicated thing to promise (maybe not directly to your daughter, but a promise you have with yourself).

 

[dez1978]

my vote is adult trip. But with where I work and the number of cases here, I feel like Disney is prob less risk than coming to work every day

 

[WaltsMartini]

We had this same scenario - minus COVID - in 2019 when our son was four and daughter was two. We took our four year old and left our two year old with the grandparents. Two year olds are difficult in planes and waiting for anything, and our son was very into Disney.

Because I know (as much as you can know anything with life’s uncertainties!) that there are many more trips in our future, I did and do not feel bad. There may be a day when our son is in college and my daughter and I go on a Disney trip - who knows.

An unexpected bonus is that our son is now “teaching” our daughter about Disney for when we go back next year, which is pretty darn cute.

I will say, because we left our daughter with the grandparents, she was spoiled silly and loved it, and the only hurt feelings were mine when we went to pick her up and she seemed totally neutral at seeing us

 

[anitatina]

I haven't read all the replies, but if it were me I'd just go on a couple's trip. Aside from covid, it's going to be a stressful time crowd-wise. My husband and I had our first couple's getaway in June since the birth of our daughter, and it was great. For me at least. He had tremendous dad guilt, and I felt guilty for not feeling guilty.

My husband and I are totally the same way. I wouldn't feel very guilty for leaving both kids at home no matter where we go. We've taken a couple's trip every year since the first child was born. My husband, on the hand other, doesn't want to go to WDW without them because he knows it's somewhere the kids would really enjoy themselves.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Cancel. As our entire family is now dealing with Covid even though the adults were vaccinated, we wore masks indoors and limited how many times we ate indoor, we still got it.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

Cancel. As our entire family is now dealing with Covid even though the adults were vaccinated, we wore masks indoors and limited how many times we ate indoor, we still got it.

I'm so sorry, I hope everyone is doing ok!
We also came home sick, but not from Covid. Probably RSV.

I don't judge anyone for going, I just got back a little over a week ago, but I've seen some posters recently who have this belief that if they do everything right then they won't get sick at Disney. We did eat indoors, but also were very serious about masking everywhere inside unless we were eating, and also outside in stagnant crowds like at RD. We sanitized and washed hands obsessively. I canceled Oga's and watched HEA from Fantasyland. The truth is anywhere in wdw is a risk right now.

 

[westie55]

I personally couldn't travel anywhere without my kids, especially not to Disney knowing that it is the mecca of vacation spots for children. Seeing everyone else's kids would make me miss them terribly.

 

[StuckInKS]

My husband, on the hand other, doesn't want to go to WDW without them because he knows it's somewhere the kids would really enjoy themselves.

This is how we are. We left our 14-yr old home for the first time in March only because she requested not to go, but younger ones who are excited to go, no way. We did have a trip planned for end of September and pushed it to November due to the current situation even though my kids are older and are great about wearing masks. We went to DL in July and my kids still come home with something (not COVID) even though we masked the entire time, so going to FL anytime soon is a no-go for us. I know it is more difficult for you guys because you used points, but you should have an easy time renting them. Good luck in whatever you decide!

 

[julie-o]

I had a similar situation in Feb 2021, but our kids were 9 and 1 at the time. I took the 9 yo, leaving hubby and baby behind and felt zero guilt. Someday I’ll take the baby without his big brother. It was one of my favorite trips to WDW and I’m so glad we went. Just my experience.

 

[anitatina]

Cancel. As our entire family is now dealing with Covid even though the adults were vaccinated, we wore masks indoors and limited how many times we ate indoor, we still got it.

Thanks for sharing your experience, and I hope everyone is on their way to recovery! Out of curiosity, what kind of masks did you and your family wear? We might be "stuck" with going if I can't rent out our reservation. If we have to go so we don't let our DVC points go to waste, I was planning on doubling up on surgical masks and not eating indoors at all. Not sure if it'll be any safer or not...

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Thanks for sharing your experience, and I hope everyone is on their way to recovery! Out of curiosity, what kind of masks did you and your family wear? We might be "stuck" with going if I can't rent out our reservation. If we have to go so we don't let our DVC points go to waste, I was planning on doubling up on surgical masks and not eating indoors at all. Not sure if it'll be any safer or not...

We used surgical. I don’t know if it is safe for kids to double up masks though. And I will say this - I wish we had let our points go to waste rather than lose all this time at work, daycare, and kids activities.

 

[anitatina]

We used surgical. I don’t know if it is safe for kids to double up masks though. And I will say this - I wish we had let our points go to waste rather than lose all this time at work, daycare, and kids activities.

The kids definitely won't be coming along. Thanks for the advice, I agree losing points is much easier to deal with than having to close my business for a week or longer.

 

[Lori Duck]

After talking to my husband, we're thinking of cancelling the trip and trying to rent out our reservation. If things were "normal" at WDW, I think we'd be more inclined to take a couple's trip. But with no Fastpass and the fact we're not comfortable eating indoors right now, I don't think the trip would be the same. Half the fun for me is eating at the table service restaurants.

How was your trip in June? Did you feel a lot was missing from the typical WDW experience?

Hi!
It was my second time back after reopening (was there in Feb with DD&DS, fully masked indoors and outdoors). In June, they lifted the outdoor mask mandate and it made everything easier and more comfy! Only did MK and Epcot on June trip, lines weren't as bad as expected, seemed to move quickly without the "back&forth of Fastpass and Standby lines", times on app were usually exaggerated. Never waited long for any transportation. Weather cooperated. People seemed happy mask up for transport because they knew they could take them right off outside afterwards! I missed the parades a little but cavalcades and rare sightings of characters kept me happy. Truly missed the fireworks!!!
I hope you enjoy your trip whenever you do go. I'm sure you could rent it out if needed tho.