Feel too guilty to go to WDW...

[pixiedustaholic]

...My husband and I have been trying to plan some sort of trip to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary. We have been pricing out cruises, stays in Destin, FL, Savannah, GA, etc. We don't want to spend a lot b/c it's just the two of us. Our family LOVES WDW but we decided to take a more economical family vacation to Pigeon Forge, TN this summer b/c we didn't want to drop a lot of $$ for Disney. We haven't been to WDW since June 2008 but we did a Disney cruise in June 2009. We decided that since our kids wont start back to school next year until after Labor Day, we will take a big WDW vacation at the end of August 2011.

Our kids are going to Myrtle Beach for a week with my parents this June so we wanted to take our anniversary trip then. Well...I ran across the $500 gift card offer when you stay at a moderate resort for 5 nights. This would cover our meals and is about what we were looking to spend. DH wants to go to WDW for "our" trip and so do I. The problem is that I feel too guilty to go without the kiddos since they love WDW sooo much. On the other hand, I fiind myself thinking how fabulous it would be to go and be free to do what we want, when we want...no standing in line for character autographs, Dumbo, etc.

Have any of you ever done WDW without your kids? Did you feel guilty? I'm torn on whether or not to try it. DD is 13 and DS is 9. Any advice?

 

[MM27]

If you are really going in summer 2011 with the kids, I would tell them that and tell them that just the two of you are going on this vacation. They are old enough that they should be able to understand.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Well, are they already expecting to go to Tenn? If so, I wouldn't take that away from them. If you haven't told them about it, then I say GO

 

[Gabes_mommy]

Go to WDW! You and your DH deserve to have a wonderful anniversary trip. I'm sure your kids will understand.

 

[dislaney]

You shouldn't feel guilty. Go and enjoy your anniversary!

 

[pixiedustaholic]

We will still be going to Pigeon Forge for our family vacation. We are taking our camper for 9 nights and getting season passes to Dollywood/Splash Country plus several other thing for less than we would spend on tickets only for the family for Disney. Plus we will go back to Dollywood in the fall and at Christmas time with the season passes. ( Pigeon Forge is only about a 3 hour drive.)

So, do you think we should tell them before we go or wait and let them know after we get back...if we decide to go? I just feel like there would be a lot of "why can't we go to Disney?" and putting a damper on their trip to the beach with Granny and Papa...but I don't want to lie to them for sure. DH says we don't even need to tell them where we go. I just know they would find out eventually anyway.

 

[fakereadhed]

They are old enough to understand parents going without them. It would be different if they had never been or you decided to change your family trip to exclude them. I would go and explain that you will be enjoying the adult side of WDW this time.

 

[kimmar067]

...GO, GO, GO and leave the kids HOME, HOME, HOME!!!

 

[RitaE]

My advice is to realize that in about ....... oh 9 years your children will be moving out of your house and onto their own independent lives where they will almost certainly do a whole bunch of stuff without feeling guilty because you might want to go along.

OTOH, hopefully you and your husband will still be married and living together and protecting and strengthening your relationship with him is every bit as important as your 13 year old's vacation wish list.

And yes tell them. I've always thought that I want my children to look at their parent's marriage and say "I want that someday."

 

[minniebeth]

I think that we as parents day in and day out put our children first in time, energy and money. Once in a while it's ok to put yourselves first. Just because the vacation might be at WDW, doesn't mean you should feel any more guilty about doing it.
Actually, once in a while when we do sacrifice the "wants" of our kids, we see that they become the better for it in ways unexpected.

I say do it and you won't regret it!

 

[honugirl]

My parents left me home from several WDW vacations. I got over it, your kids will to. Go and have fun!

 

[pixiedustaholic]

I think we are going to go for it! My next question is which moderate we should choose. We have only stayed in value resorts so we are not sure which mod to choose...

 

[minniebeth]

Well, the moderate resorts are great, and they are all different and have their pros and cons. It's really what appeals to you!
I would start out by looking on WDW's website at each of the resorts. Then go to allears.net they have awesome info. and photos about each resort. Read through each of the mod resorts threads on the resorts board here, there's lots of photos.
If one doesn't either scream "stay here" at you or tugs at your heart, then start by making a list of pros and cons. It's not easy, but I don't think you can't go wrong with whatever you choose.

I personally have not stayed at Carribean Beach or Port Orleans Riverside. I have been there though, and think both resorts' grounds look lovely.

We have stayed at Port Orleans French Quarter and Coronado Springs.

If I were to go alone with my DH, I would choose Coronado Springs, it has a really nice resort feeling, when we were there, there were no conventions, so it was quiet and beautiful! The resort is spread out, but with no kids in the picture, wouldn't be a problem. You would truly feel relaxed and "away".
We didn't love the Pepper Market, but that's ok, lots of other options at WDW.

We loved POFQ, it had a fun, busy, upbeat energy to it. The boat access to DTD is awesome, a great way to get there easily for meal, shopping or strolling. The pool is fun, I wouldn't say relaxing. The food court is good, the beignet's are heavenly! To walk along the grounds up the river to POR is really nice!

Glad to hear you are going to go for it and have fun!!! Hope you find a resort you love! Let us know what you choose!

 

[pigletgirl]

They're old enough to understand the truth. Tell them. If they're upset, TOO BAD! It isn't like they're never going again.

 

[palmtreegirl]

I wouldn't want to go without our kids.

Happy Anniversary! Our 15th is on 8/19.

 

[Shmily1]

First of all, GO!! Have a great time!! Tell them if you want to or don't and tell them it's a surprise. Either way, it's all for the two of you so enjoy!!!

Secondly, I would recommend POR. We've stayed at all the mods and this is definitely our favorite!! It is also the most romantic when you stay in the mansions near the river. Things to do there--boatride to DTD, carriage ride, take a walk on the path in the evening, go sit in the lounge, hang out at the pool, dine at Boatrights, rent a small boat and laugh your butt off! Actually, this is the most romantic resort of all--to us!

Have a wonderful time!!

 

[bettymae1121]

...My husband and I have been trying to plan some sort of trip to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary. We have been pricing out cruises, stays in Destin, FL, Savannah, GA, etc. We don't want to spend a lot b/c it's just the two of us. Our family LOVES WDW but we decided to take a more economical family vacation to Pigeon Forge, TN this summer b/c we didn't want to drop a lot of $$ for Disney. We haven't been to WDW since June 2008 but we did a Disney cruise in June 2009. We decided that since our kids wont start back to school next year until after Labor Day, we will take a big WDW vacation at the end of August 2011.

Our kids are going to Myrtle Beach for a week with my parents this June so we wanted to take our anniversary trip then. Well...I ran across the $500 gift card offer when you stay at a moderate resort for 5 nights. This would cover our meals and is about what we were looking to spend. DH wants to go to WDW for "our" trip and so do I. The problem is that I feel too guilty to go without the kiddos since they love WDW sooo much. On the other hand, I fiind myself thinking how fabulous it would be to go and be free to do what we want, when we want...no standing in line for character autographs, Dumbo, etc.

Have any of you ever done WDW without your kids? Did you feel guilty? I'm torn on whether or not to try it. DD is 13 and DS is 9. Any advice?

When I was about 10 my parents went to WDW without us kids.

I was not a happy camper.

I got over it.

I did, however, get my revenge by getting chicken pox while they were away, my mother had to come home to a sick child that didn't get to go to WDW. I got a ton of extra sympathy from her guilt on that one!

At any rate, while your kids won't jump for joy over it, I wouldn't wory too much about it. Go and have fun!

 

[wdwfan16]

...My husband and I have been trying to plan some sort of trip to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary. We have been pricing out cruises, stays in Destin, FL, Savannah, GA, etc. We don't want to spend a lot b/c it's just the two of us. Our family LOVES WDW but we decided to take a more economical family vacation to Pigeon Forge, TN this summer b/c we didn't want to drop a lot of $$ for Disney. We haven't been to WDW since June 2008 but we did a Disney cruise in June 2009. We decided that since our kids wont start back to school next year until after Labor Day, we will take a big WDW vacation at the end of August 2011.

Our kids are going to Myrtle Beach for a week with my parents this June so we wanted to take our anniversary trip then. Well...I ran across the $500 gift card offer when you stay at a moderate resort for 5 nights. This would cover our meals and is about what we were looking to spend. DH wants to go to WDW for "our" trip and so do I. The problem is that I feel too guilty to go without the kiddos since they love WDW sooo much. On the other hand, I fiind myself thinking how fabulous it would be to go and be free to do what we want, when we want...no standing in line for character autographs, Dumbo, etc.

Have any of you ever done WDW without your kids? Did you feel guilty? I'm torn on whether or not to try it. DD is 13 and DS is 9. Any advice?

Make sure you can use the GC for food. Sometimes they have restrictions on them.

 

[LuvOrlando]

It is also absolutely wonderful without kids. Since your kids are going next year too I don't see how this could be bad, unless of course your kids start to put down the trip with the grandparents because it's not as good as WDW.

I would go, but I wouldn't tell the kids where you were until after they get home this way there is no danger of them saying something that could hurt the grandparents feelings.

I'm thinking of my kids and there is no way one of them wouldn't accidentally say something unintentionally heartbreaking in front of the Grandparents... never mind the fact the kids might not enjoy their trip at all thinking about all the rides they were missing.

So I vote for go but keep it quiet.

 

[Piglets Mommy]

Go!!! Have fun!!!!

I'd maybe wait till you are back to tell the kids where you went.

As for resorts, I've never tried a Mod...only value and deluxe, but CSR looks the most romantic to me, from the pictures. Plus, you have queen beds there vs doubles at the others.

Have fun!!!