Disney for Empty Nesters?

[poeticdiabetic]

Ok, my DW is a big Disney lover. I like WDW too, but it's because it was my dream as a kid to grow up and take my family there one day. Well, we've been- many times over.

So I have two boys and they are getting older really fast. In 2 years, my eldest will be in college and my other son will be joining 2 years after that. My wife was saying that she would like to continue to go to Disney even when they eventually leave the house and start their own independent lives. And that is to my horror because I don't think I would have a good time.

See, the first time they went to WDW, my eldest was 7 and my youngest was 6. They grew up going to Disney. All of my memories of Disney is with them- watching their wonder, excitement and amazement as they watched shows, rode rides and interacted with the characters.

So how can you enjoy WDW without children- especially when your experience has always centered around your children? I mean, do you go walking around, talking about how you remember your kid's reaction when your kids first did this or that? Do you go around trying to interact with other people's kids because you are missing your own? Or is it just a good thing to go and bring a God-daughter or a friend's child and take them?

In other words, how do you enjoy WDW as an empty-nester?

 

[CutlerP]

Following this thread, DH and I are going as empty-nesters in September. We're really looking forward to being on our own schedule (well, except for FP+'s and ADR's) and being able to change plans on a whim. This trip is for "us"!!

 

[lilkitty819]

Try going during the Food & Wine Fest. when the kids no longer want to go!!
My Hubby and I have a great time going in Oct. without little ones. The weather is better, less humidity and lower temp. No kids are needed to enjoy Disney!!!!

 

[Tpiejg]

My DH and I are going for our second trip as empty nesters in a few weeks. We love it. I look at it as making memories as a couple. after thirty years of marriage its like reliving the beginning of our marriage. We had wonderful times with our kids, but going with just your spouse is wonderful as well. you go to all the restaurants that you want, you go at your own pace, and spend time talking to each other again. If I ever feel a little down I just start planning on the day I get to take my grandchildren!

 

[goofy4tink]

My first ever, and supposedly only trip, to WDW was in '99 when my dd was 5. She turned 6 on that trip. It was an incredibly wonderful thing. My mom went with us which added to the magic. Went again with friends 18 months later. My mom died in '03 and dd and I went back to WDW about 2 months after to recharge. We bought DVC sound that same time as well. I now have more than 30 stays under my belt.....and for the past 5 years, most have been adults only. My dh likes WDW, but doesn't want to be there for more than 4 days. So, I go with other adults. Heading down in late Aug to meet a friend and spend 6 days. Again in Nov to run the 5k with friends.
Do I miss doing WDW with my dd? Yup. But at the ripe old age of 20, almost 21 now, it's not the same. It's time for her to go with her friends, on her dime. I do find myself walking around, remembering things that happened at various spots as I pass by them......the time my dd completely melted down at DHS by RnRC! Or the spot where my mother almost passed out while waiting for the fireworks show on our first night....she was recovering from breast cancer surgery and overestimated her staying power! Or the time my did first met Mickey.....so many memories.
But......it's fun to go as an adult. I treasure my solo adult trips! Go and make some new memories!

 

[Bev J]

We have been to WDW with our children and also many times without them. Sometimes we go with other couples.
We have a great time, it just a different kind of fun without kids. Lots of adults are visiting WDW without children and there are plenty of adult geared activities you can do and also plenty of kid geared things that will keep you feeling young!

Bev

 

[hearts8701]

My husband and I have gone many times since our girls are grown ( 37 &31 years old ) we enjoy not having to wait in line for autographs pool time shopping late dinners we stay at more adult theme hotels we go where the kids never really liked the cirque du soleil show and tours

 

[amandals2007]

I am an only child and I am 25. i have my own independent life but i still go to disney with my parents every year but its different now that i am an adult. its not all about what i want to do, but what we want to do. we do the drinks around the world challenge, golfing, and many other adult things and i dont feel like i am there with parents and they dont feel like they are there with kids since i pay for all my things on my own. my dad has said time and time again if i do not go with them they are still going. they have friends without kids that go as well. you can enjoy disney without kids FOR SURE!!!! i enjoy the kiddy rides as an adult. its just a different perspective. just go and give it a try i know you will love it!!

 

[crazymomof4]

DH and I r looking fwd to empty nest trips but now it seems that May never happen!
You see, we had two glorious trips in 1987 and 1988 BC (before children) 4 babies came between 1989 and 2000 . We took our firstborn at age 6mos. and in trips that followed we glowed in all the things you described parents experience taking their young children and seeing wdw thru their eyes. But..... Deep in the recesses of our hearts we've always remembered fondly those two "adult" trips! We dream of sleeping in at a resort .... Our kids r rope droppers ... Our fault, we raised them that way! We want to make ADRs w/o having to worry about pleasing the palates of the less adventurous kids. We wants to be able to sit leisurely on a wdw bench and talk and people watch. We wish to skip some attractions without getting the long face saying "but we CAN'T skip that!" We want to linger in gift shops and stroll slowly thru woodsy or landscaped area, just taking in the beauty. We would love to skip the 1am EMH and relax in the resort hot tub instead.
But..... At this point it may be that to get that adult only trip, we sneak out of the house under cover of darkness, leaving a note. 3 of our kids r die hard wdw fans. If we even mention a trip without them they gasp and act as if that wd be grounds for child abuse charges! So off we go in sept with ds22 ds17 and dd14.
I envy your empty nester trip! Enjoy it!

Btw... I realize our kids r old enough that we can separate from them and do the adult things, but on a "family trip" we do like to stay together as a family....with the occasional exception.

 

[rykaydad]

For some unexplained reason our kids "outgrew" Disney and preferred cruises for our family vacations. Now that the youngest is going off to college, we'll be taking our "Empty Nester" trip this Sept/Oct for the EPCOT F&W Festival. We're looking forward to it!

 

[PSUGuy]

We thoroughly enjoyed yearly trips to WDW with our 3 kids and often their boy/girl friends from 1999 to 2009. Since then it's been the 2 of us as the youngest of our grandkids are too young to appreciate Disney. We switched from early March when my university and our daughter's schools were off for Spring Break to Oct for Food&Wine and we couldn't be happier. We abandoned our 'Commando' touring style which we used to milk every minute of WDW when we took the kids, now we savor our time more. We look forward to the day when we all go again, probably in 5 years when our youngest grandchild will be 7 but Disney has lost none of its appeal.

Bill From PA

 

[crazymomof4]

For some unexplained reason our kids "outgrew" Disney and preferred cruises for our family vacations. Now that the youngest is going off to college, we'll be taking our "Empty Nester" trip this Sept/Oct for the EPCOT F&W Festival. We're looking forward to it!

Ahh the F&W festival! If we ever do get the adult trip... That's when we will going. Have a great time!

 

[DavidG1966]

My wife and I did Disney as empty nesters for the first time earlier this year. After seeing all the over tired babies crying and cranky kids arguing with their parents because they each wanted to do something different next we wondered aloud as we were enjoying ourselves doing what we wanted to do 'How did we EVER do this with kids????'. We enjoyed our solo trip so much we purchased into the Disney Vacation Club at the Grand Floridian!

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

We're experiencing the best of both worlds! DHand I have visited WDW alone several times and have had a wonderful time. However, we have also found that our adult "kids" also love to come along with their parents just like old times! Taking both couples-only and family trips expands your options.

 

[sgfgrover15]

You really should give it a try. We have been going for several years now after the kids left home. We don't always do exclusive Disney. We might start in Clearwater, Daytona or St. Augustine for a few days. Then make our way to Disney and spend time in DTD usually just do a park that trip. It is so nice not to have the run run run mentality. We see what we can at our pace. We do standby for a ride here and there that we want. We make very few dinner reservations. We just really enjoy it now. It was so darn stressful with kids to make sure they had the right treats, got on all the rides, saw all the characters. I would not trade the memories with them but making our own now.

 

[tsme]

I have to be honest I'd love to go to Disney just me & DH. Of course our DD would kill us if we left her, she's 11. Our oldest is 22, he out grew Disney at 16 & didn't want to go, so we left him behind. Now he is saying he'd like to go with us. I say go, enjoy yourselves doing all the things you wanted to do when your children were young but couldn't. Like drinking around the world.

 

[minnie mum]

1. So how can you enjoy WDW without children- especially when your experience has always centered around your children?
2. I mean, do you go walking around, talking about how you remember your kid's reaction when your kids first did this or that?
3. Do you go around trying to interact with other people's kids because you are missing your own?
4. Or is it just a good thing to go and bring a God-daughter or a friend's child and take them?

In other words, how do you enjoy WDW as an empty-nester?

1. Life as an empty nester is different. Not better or worse. Different. Time for you to re-center your life around you and your spouse. Same thing with trips to WDW. Think of it as a week long date with your wife. A chance to do things that just the 2 of you like to do. Slow down a bit. Hold hands without the kids making faces and saying "ewwwwwwww". Try to remember what your life was like before you had the kids.


2. Sure, you could do that. But why not make some NEW memories instead of just remembering the past? Would you only concentrate on memories of your kids when you watched a movie or went out for a meal, or would you live in the moment with the person you are with?

3. Pardon me, but ewwwwwwwww. That's just creepy, and liable to get you into some unpleasant face time with protective parents or disney security.

4. Taking a grandchild to WDW is like a great third act to a play. First act: young singles/couples. Second act: Parents with kids. Third act: multigenerational trips. And the wonderful thing about that third act: at the end you get to give them back to their parents. Taking other people's kids as a substitute for your own?? No.

We had many, many years of wonderful trips to Disney Parks with our kids. And we did wonder, before our first empty nest trip, whether we would enjoy it as much without them. Well, 15 years and many trips later I can honestly say that I am guilty of actually enjoying them as much if not more!

 

[Disney Frenhines]

It's fabulous for couples, there may be a danger that you'll never want to go with kids again (lol)

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Our kids (17 and 14) get so mad when DW and I talk in front of them about the empty-nester trips we will be making someday.

We did an annivreary trip without the kids a few years ago and it was marvelous and relaxing.

 

[agavegirl1]

My empty-nester trips are my favorites. I'm the one who prefers to run from attraction to attraction and without strollers, meltdowns, slow walking kids along, it's great. Long, leisurely, romantic dinners and commando park touring is my combo of choice.

All you can do is go and see if it's for you or not. You don't need to borrow other kids to enjoy WDW. You may very well have fond memories triggered but that isn't necessarily a sad thing. And yes, do try going for F&W.