Celebrating Anniversary & Empty Nest (Is it really as much fun without the kids?)

[WDWFanForLife]

After taking the kids for the past 12 years, my DH and I are finally taking our first trip as a couple. Our youngest is leaving for college this summer and my DH thought it would be the perfect year to take a "trip for two" to celebrate both our anniversary and an empty nest. We are extremely excited about the trip!

However, I have recently been thinking a lot about how different the trip would be without the kids. Would we have as much fun? Would I spend most of the trip thinking how I wish the kids were there? Because a lot of my enjoyment has come by watching how much fun the kids were having.

Anyone else experience this?

 

[com_op_2000]

DW and I have been on empty nest trips for the past @15 years. We enjoy the parks/resorts for ourselves. Make sure you start to do things that you could never do nor wanted to do without the kids. Do something around the resorts or even offsite that you have thought about but never done. Find new activities for yourselves, step out and test your new freedom.
Then start looking forward to redoing all the things you did with your kids when the grandkids start arriving. This is the point we are at with our DGS(3).

 

[EvilQueenT]

I take about half my trips without kids, mine are grown and my granddaughter just turned 11. Sometimes it's with one of my sisters, other times just my husband and I, sometimes it's all adult couples. When I go with my husband we approach the trip more like a honeymoon. With my sister(s) it can be a bit more like a bachelorette party (or as my sisters describes it's like being a kid riding rides but still being allowed to drink and stay out late if we want). We have a great time no matter the mix and the trips feel different than when you go with the kids. We take time to enjoy the lounges, don't have to ride anything we don't want to, love to eat at signature venues, and don't worry about who wants to be picked up in line, no strollers or backpacks to carry around, no overtired kids to carry back to the resort. While I adore the memories I have of going with my kids and I love going with my granddaughter (in fact we leave for disney in 2 days for her spring break) I really love the adult trips. My next one is in late September with my 2 sisters and my stepmom...and yes...we can go in September when the parks are less crowded and the kids are in school

 

[Bete]

We have done many trips as hubby and myself and we always enjoy ourselves. We have taken every Disney tour offered, for example. We really like doing the Luncheon with an Imagineer at the Brown Derby in Hollywood Studios. You can do this luncheon at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, too. We have done it a few times. We spend a lot more time in Epcot when we are not with kids. The Food and Wine Festival and the Flower and Garden Festival are both great times to enjoy Epcot as adults. You can do special dinners for the F & W. There are even educational programs offered for both festivals. Take in an expensive dinner at Victoria and Albert's. You can really give Boardwalk a hard look.

 

[WDWFanForLife]

We take time to enjoy the lounges, don't have to ride anything we don't want to, love to eat at signature venues

Thanks for the suggestion! We are looking forward to exploring the different restaurants and lounges. Any particular lounge you would recommend? We have scheduled ourselves for four signature dining experiences: Flying Fish, Jiko, Artist Point and California Grill.

We really like doing the Luncheon with an Imagineer at the Brown Derby in Hollywood Studios.

What a great suggestion! Thanks!

You can really give Boardwalk a hard look.

Yes, that is one of the resorts we chose. Thinking about trying Jelly Rolls. Anyone ever been? Worth it? We also love walking to EPCOT, which is our favorite resort.

 

[NuJoy]

My husband and I enjoy going to Disney alone. It is a beautiful thing to be with someone you are completely in sync with regarding what you like to do, where you like to stay, what you like to eat, how you like to tour, when you like to take a break. Two can zip around so much easier and faster. I don't have to play the mama role. I can just be me.

 

[debmich]

I am in the process of planning what I think will be our last trip as a family without grandchildren. Our youngest is in college, the oldest is probably soon to be married, and DD is married and talking children. I have wondered what it will be like when we can no longer go together and it might possibly be just me and the DH. Thanks for your comments. It has made me feel better.

 

[bringmethathorizon]

dw and i go by our selves at least once every 2 years.some times every year.we will be going on our 2nd disney cruise the end of may.
you have to get away from your kids to remind yourself you still like them.

 

[Bete]

Some other thoughts would be to have a spa treatment together. If you like to golf that's another option. Afternoon Tea at the Grand floridian can be fun. Do dinner at Victoria's and Alberts. Take in some of the entertainment at Downtown Disney.

 

[Anesthesia Fine]

We're trying a couple of signature restaurants and a lot of the indoor stuff I can't get my kids interested in (Hall of Presidents, One Man's Dream) and without a sulky, sleepy teenager to drag out of bed, we might get to MK early enough to see the opening show for the first time EVER.

 

[twinkles]

This is our first without kids or grandkids. Honestly, I'm extremely excited. No planning, rushing, meltdowns and all the other drama.

We are gonna go all day and night and hAve a blast. Our dinner reservations are late then after that a stroll then a stop at jelly Rolls, ESPN or wherever we stumble into.

Have fun and enjoy each other!

 

[luvdisdogs]

My husband and I are unable to have kids so I can't compare it to that. That being said my husband and I have a wonderful time with it just being that 2 of us. We eat at great restaurants, we are not in a hurry to get to certain rides or character meet and greets. We do enjoy meeting characters but aren't worried if we don't get to meet all of them because we know we will be back another time. We are both kids at heart and Disney brings that out more in both of us. Just enjoy being with each other and not rushing everywhere.

 

[loves to dive]

I usually go with my son, who is in his 30s so as far as if it's as fun with adults most definitely. We actually enjoy it more now that he is an adult than we did when he was a child. My DH has not been since he was a teenager on a band trip and refuses to go so I can't say what it's like with a spouse. I've been solo a couple of times and can say that I enjoy it.

 

[phinz]

Too many parents live vicariously through their children instead of actually living. Go. Enjoy it. Do things that you wouldn't do before because the kids were taking up most of your time. Be adults instead of guardians of children. It's a completely different world, and it will be brand new. That's an exciting adventure.

 

[Sir William]

I've been with my kids when they were young and when they were adults, and by myself. Of the three experiences, I much prefer by myself as the fewer people in the decision making process means I can do more of what I want and less of what the entire family agrees to. Selfish, I know, but it's much less stressful for me. As one example, I'm able to go to restaurants they aren't interested in.

On the other hand, I've not been there with just DW, and she disapproves of me going solo. She is of the strong opinion that WDW is for families and has repeatedly said she'd rather wait to go next time until we have grandchildren along.

There are times when I'm solo that I think the family would enjoy being there as well, but I don't let it bother me. We all have our own lives and can't be together 24/7.

 

[Boopuff]

My hubby and I are going as empty-nesters for the first time. We're going with two other couples for a very relaxing, slow paced WDW trip!

 

[WDWFanForLife]

Thank you all for your thoughts and suggestions. I'm feeling more excited about the trip!

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Yes, it really is that much fun without the kids. My wife and I have been going by ourselves for 10+ years now and it is great. We average about 2 to 3 trips a year. We go at a much slower pace. We hit what few rides we want to go on and than have a nice relaxing meal in the evening. We spend a lot more time around our resorts. We bought in to the DVC in 2008 because of how much these trips are. We still love our family trips too. We just came back from our first trip of Grandma & Grandpa and Grandson 7 a couple of weeks ago and had a magical time. It was one of the best trips we ever been on.