wishuponastarforever
<font color=deeppink>I just love coming here and v
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2004
- Messages
- 1,136
DH and I took our first "empty nest trip" earlier this month.
Our first night we stayed at Pop Century. We arrived about 2:30pm. Check in was quick and our room was ready. We stayed in the 50's building. The room was clean and comfortable. We unloaded our bags and went straight to Epcot. The weather was chilly and raining. This didn't dampen our spirits as there were no crowds. We experienced Mission to Mars without a wait. Then on to Test Track. It was fun to drive outside into the rain. We went to WS to eat at the Rose and Crown. Great beer but the fish and chips were a disappointment. Next time we'll order the fruit and cheese platter. That looked great.
We checked out the next morning about 6:30am. We wanted to get to the MK for EE. We took our chances and checked into the Wilderness Lodge about 7:00am. They were great. We were able to leave our bags. We were given a phone number to call later to activate our room key. We requested Room 5032 per the recommendation from a post from KCDISDAD. The request was granted. The room is a woods view. There is a gap between two trees that gives a perfect view of Cinderella's Castle. We slept at the opposite end of the bed in order to see the castle all night long. It was so beautiful changing colors. What an amazing tip and we thank KCDISDAD for this information.
Wilderness Cabins have been our resort of choice over the years. It is so relaxing and private. We loved having the children in a bedroom where they could laugh and bond after each day in the park. We had a door to close and had our own privacy. It worked so well for us over the years. When the children were younger, we would return in the heat of the day so they could swim and take a nap in order to reinforce their energy for the evening. As we all got older, we found we would return mid-day for our grown children to swim or rent the water sprites. We would take that nap in order to have the energy for the evening.
This trip was our first "empty nest". We had a wonderful time. The children were missed, but there was alot of freedom to do exactly as we pleased. This was very empowering. I missed seeing things through the eyes of my children. At the same time, it was incredible to experience each attraction with only our own reactions. We were more aware of each detail. It was wonderful. There was a very poignant moment while waiting in line for Peter Pan. I felt the past visits with our children creep into our present visit. I could feel them there with us. I began to feel sad. In a split second, I also felt our future -I pictured being there again one day with Grandchildren. An experience we will be thrilled to have.
Then and there I decided to enjoy this time in between without children. There's a plus to no strollers, diapers and in later years, crowds as school dictated when we could visit. This is a new stage and I noticed many others enjoying this time in their lives.
We were able to ride RNRC and TOT four times. Three times for Mission to Space and all three Mountains. We stayed up late and opened the parks on EE. We met two great people from the disboards who shared the Illlumination Cruise with us. We could eat on the run or sit and savor a quiet meal, unrushed. We sat in the hot tub forever and explored the Wilderness Lodge at our leisure. We LOVED the Lodge and left planning a trip for October.
We know family and friends who question why we would visit WDW now that our children are grown. I'm sorry they don't know.
I'm grateful so many of us realize the magic of WDW is there for us all.
Our first night we stayed at Pop Century. We arrived about 2:30pm. Check in was quick and our room was ready. We stayed in the 50's building. The room was clean and comfortable. We unloaded our bags and went straight to Epcot. The weather was chilly and raining. This didn't dampen our spirits as there were no crowds. We experienced Mission to Mars without a wait. Then on to Test Track. It was fun to drive outside into the rain. We went to WS to eat at the Rose and Crown. Great beer but the fish and chips were a disappointment. Next time we'll order the fruit and cheese platter. That looked great.
We checked out the next morning about 6:30am. We wanted to get to the MK for EE. We took our chances and checked into the Wilderness Lodge about 7:00am. They were great. We were able to leave our bags. We were given a phone number to call later to activate our room key. We requested Room 5032 per the recommendation from a post from KCDISDAD. The request was granted. The room is a woods view. There is a gap between two trees that gives a perfect view of Cinderella's Castle. We slept at the opposite end of the bed in order to see the castle all night long. It was so beautiful changing colors. What an amazing tip and we thank KCDISDAD for this information.
Wilderness Cabins have been our resort of choice over the years. It is so relaxing and private. We loved having the children in a bedroom where they could laugh and bond after each day in the park. We had a door to close and had our own privacy. It worked so well for us over the years. When the children were younger, we would return in the heat of the day so they could swim and take a nap in order to reinforce their energy for the evening. As we all got older, we found we would return mid-day for our grown children to swim or rent the water sprites. We would take that nap in order to have the energy for the evening.
This trip was our first "empty nest". We had a wonderful time. The children were missed, but there was alot of freedom to do exactly as we pleased. This was very empowering. I missed seeing things through the eyes of my children. At the same time, it was incredible to experience each attraction with only our own reactions. We were more aware of each detail. It was wonderful. There was a very poignant moment while waiting in line for Peter Pan. I felt the past visits with our children creep into our present visit. I could feel them there with us. I began to feel sad. In a split second, I also felt our future -I pictured being there again one day with Grandchildren. An experience we will be thrilled to have.
Then and there I decided to enjoy this time in between without children. There's a plus to no strollers, diapers and in later years, crowds as school dictated when we could visit. This is a new stage and I noticed many others enjoying this time in their lives.
We were able to ride RNRC and TOT four times. Three times for Mission to Space and all three Mountains. We stayed up late and opened the parks on EE. We met two great people from the disboards who shared the Illlumination Cruise with us. We could eat on the run or sit and savor a quiet meal, unrushed. We sat in the hot tub forever and explored the Wilderness Lodge at our leisure. We LOVED the Lodge and left planning a trip for October.
We know family and friends who question why we would visit WDW now that our children are grown. I'm sorry they don't know.
I'm grateful so many of us realize the magic of WDW is there for us all.
Sounds like you had a great time. We went the first time in 2000, without our kids. We went with three other couples and what a blast we had. However, we still had other people there and we all tried to do something that others wanted. So I am really looking forward to our trip in May, just DH and myself. Just to do what we want..... Thanks for your post.. 
). The boys regretted not going with us, so I'd say we'll have company for the next few years. 
I am going to enjoy every visit to WDW that I have with them, but we are also looking forward to our "empty-nest" visits.
!!
