Do you tell your kids?

[Sandysbuddy]

We are planning a trip in Sept and are not taking the kids. We took them the end of May and would love to go back and just enjoy being together. For those who have gone without your kids, do you tell them where you are going or keep it a secret? Ours are 3, 5, and 7. Not sure they will understand why we are going without them but don't want to lie to them either.

 

[MrsJD]

My DD is three and I am going without her in two weeks. We are going down for a wedding (on Disney Property) and I am leaving two days before her and DH so I can enjoy an adult day at Epcot. I'm not telling her where I am going just because it seems like it would be so mean!

The hard part will be having her on Disney Property without taking her to a park! We are going for a week in feb but I just don't think I can be there and not take her for just a little while!

 

[princess&her4princes]

We are planning a trip in Sept and are not taking the kids. We took them the end of May and would love to go back and just enjoy being together. For those who have gone without your kids, do you tell them where you are going or keep it a secret? Ours are 3, 5, and 7. Not sure they will understand why we are going without them but don't want to lie to them either.

I'm curious about this, too, I'm going on a all girls trip in September, too, and my DH and boys are staying home...Mommy's feeling VERY guilty!! Just not sure what to tell the kids.....

 

[Sandysbuddy]

I am feeling guilty too. I know they would love to go, but we can't wait to have some time to ourselves and do all of the things they are too young for. We could easily keep it from the younger two, but our 7 year old is very inquisitive. I don't want to upset him, but I also don't want to lie to him.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

DH and I went by ourselves for several days when the kids were about 5 and 6. I was going as part of a biz trip, but we had tons of free time to ourselves. I felt *really* guilty at first, and then had pangs of, "Oh, man, the kids would love this!" every time I saw something that I knew they'd get a kick out of.

As for what we told them, we said we were going to Florida but left out the part about WDW. Fortunately, they were too young to make the connection I guess, because they didn't ask. If you think they wouldn't make the connection, that would be my suggestion! That way you're being honest but not giving them TMI that might upset them.

 

[MOREMICKEYFORME]

I went for a short trip in May and didn't take the 6 yo. I didn't mention it to him at all. I think he was too busy playing with family to even notice I was gone...

 

[AlternateEgo]

I am going without the girls for our honeymoon.

I did tell them we were going to Disney. But I promised to take them next year.

 

[besto251]

I'm going to CSR for a conference in Sept. Because it's work related and the co is paying, I am teasing the heck out of my 15 yr old daughter. It doesn't help that her mother and I went down in Feb for the Superbowl and wound up doing a day at MK.

 

[MariDisney]

When DH and I went for our honeymoon, DD was 4. We told her it was open only for adults for that week. That made taking pictures interesting. We did tell her that they let local kids in for the parades.

 

[robandkelly13]

We just got back from a solo trip and we didn't tell DD. We're taking her back in 2 weeks, but we still didn't tell her. She didn't even ask where we were going or where we had been when she, Nana, and PopPop picked us up from the airport - she's 4, but I thought she'd at least be curious. I had planned on telling her we went to Florida and leaving it at that, but I don't know how that would fly with older kids. I guess it's whatever you feel most comfortable with. Good Luck!

 

[Sandysbuddy]

Thanks for the advice. I think we will stick with the going to Florida line and hope our oldest doesn't ask a lot of questions! My in-laws (who are watching them) might be a little unhappy if we leave them with upset children!

 

[sskem96]

The first 2 times DH and I went without the kids, we told them. The first time, I was going for a conference and DH wanted to tag along. We bought annual passes and promised we'd take the kids before our passes expired, so they were ok with it. We took the kids about 9 mos. later, and on the plane ride home, DH said, "Hey, we've still got a few weeks left on our annual passes. I wonder if Airtran is having a sale." So we got home and booked another trip for just the 2 of us 6 weeks later. After that, the kids forbid us from ever going without them again. Well, we're leaving Tuesday morning. We told the kids we're going to Chicago. We also told them that we're stopping by Doorway to Dreams to see our DVC guide, so any souvies we bring home are going to be explained as "gifts from Laurie". I even e-mailed Laurie to let her know about our evil plan, and she said to just let her know what we buy so she can back us up! Our kids are 9 and 12, so we have to plan this kind of stuff well to be able to keep the secret!

 

[DisneyKing82]

The first 2 times DH and I went without the kids, we told them. The first time, I was going for a conference and DH wanted to tag along. We bought annual passes and promised we'd take the kids before our passes expired, so they were ok with it. We took the kids about 9 mos. later, and on the plane ride home, DH said, "Hey, we've still got a few weeks left on our annual passes. I wonder if Airtran is having a sale." So we got home and booked another trip for just the 2 of us 6 weeks later. After that, the kids forbid us from ever going without them again. Well, we're leaving Tuesday morning. We told the kids we're going to Chicago. We also told them that we're stopping by Doorway to Dreams to see our DVC guide, so any souvies we bring home are going to be explained as "gifts from Laurie". I even e-mailed Laurie to let her know about our evil plan, and she said to just let her know what we buy so she can back us up! Our kids are 9 and 12, so we have to plan this kind of stuff well to be able to keep the secret!

LOL so 3/4 trips without the kids.. okay now that's just mean!!!

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

My kids were older (teenagers) the first time I went solo. I did tell them and it was no big deal. BUT, if my kids were the ages of yours...I don't think I would tell them. Especially if they have been and like going, or want to go. You don't have to lie...you can just say you are going to "Florida" and not go into details about where in Florida. Or you could even say "The East Coast". Telling them would just be torture to them. IMO~

 

[mariakc]

DH and I are doing 4 nights at Port Orleans Riverside and then taking a 4 night cruise on RCCL to the Bahamas to celebrate our Anniversary. We have not told our DD13 about the Disney portion of our trip and we're feeling really guilty. We only told her about the cruise portion, she really doesn't have an interest in doing that. We know we need to tell her before we leave, but we just don't know how. We're not sure how she'll take it. UUGGHH!!! We haven't had a vacation alone since our honeymoon four years ago and are really looking forward to this one.

 

[MOmousefan]

My kids are 22, 24, and 26. I have always taken at least one of them with me on recent trips, but I am going solo in Sept. My 24YO DD is pregnant and will present us with our first grandbaby in November or she and hubby would have gone. She acted put out that she could not go, but there is always next year. My wife detests WDW and hasn't gone since 1995.
I am looking forward to this trip by myself.

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

My kids are 22, 24, and 26. I have always taken at least one of them with me on recent trips, but I am going solo in Sept. My 24YO DD is pregnant and will present us with our first grandbaby in November or she and hubby would have gone. She acted put out that she could not go, but there is always next year. My wife detests WDW and hasn't gone since 1995.
I am looking forward to this trip by myself.

GREAT DAD...you will make a great grandpa! Our kids are 28, 28, 27, 26 and we LOVE it when they go with us. But now we have started taking the grandkids and that is an absolute BLAST. Congrats on the new grandbaby.

 

[LisaInNc]

I take at least one solo trip every year. When my DD was little I didn't tell her but she is 8 now so she knows. She is ok with it because she is looking forward to our December trip.

 

[Haunted_Mansion_Mom]

We are going in Sept too and are NOT telling our 3 kids. This is the first time we will be there without kids. I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand I am feeling really guilty about it but on the other hand, I'm looking forward to visiting Epcot without kids (world showcase), free dining at places my kids wouldn't enjoy and spending some quality time with DH.

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

DH and I love those same things. Other things we like to do are sit and watch Off Kilter sing at Epcot and take a boat ride from DTD to the resorts when the boats are too busy.