Feeling guilty

[Kristinluvsdisney]

So i have a question for you Disney lovers. If you had the chance to do a solo trip to Disney without your kids, would you?

My wonderful mother in law has offered to take my 2 boys ages 2 and 4 in May while we do a solo trip for 5 nights. We were gonna do a trip to Vegas but decided that a Disney trip with the $500 gift card for CBR (our favorite) would be cheaper. Now my boys have been to Disney several times (May 08,May 09,Sept 09) and we are doing a family trip this september for the full week. But im feeling a little guilty that just me and my husband are planning a trip in May without them. Especially since i know my 4 year old just loves Disney. When his teacher asked him his address he said Disney World . Not to mention the fact that you have the family members and some friends who look at you like your nuts and you get the usual, why not do something else, or i wouldnt go there without my kids. Well we just LOVE Disney. lol I guess the people who are not Disney freaks like us just dont understand. Thankfully me and my husband feel the same about Disney. It just feels good to be there and going with the kids can some times be tough since they are little right now and doing our own solo trip would be nice, but i still feel that guilt. Would anyone else do a solo trip to Disney and leave there kids at home for just one time if they could? Thanks for any replies, positive or negative.

Kristin

 

[BBG-BLT]

Me and my partner (who both love WDW) went in Feb 09 along for a weekend and LOVED it. We have 4 kids and get the whole its hard to even talk to each other not to mention trying to go on rides and enjoy Epcot.

When you go alone and have time to enjoy the adult side of WDW it does make more enjoyable to see how the kids enjoy it on your next family trip. We liked it so much that we're trying to go down marathon weekend alone after our 10 day trip as a family over Thanksgiving.

Go - enjoy yourselves
They'll be fine and you'll love it!!!

 

[ChrisMouse]

If by "solo" you mean super romantic trip for two to the happiest place on earth?

WELL YES!

It's a whole different "world" without the kids

Now, keep in mind...I ADORE taking my kids. It's magic. However, it's also the place I had my honeymoon almost 15 years ago...and my SECOND honeymoon two years ago.

Take your trip. Remember, when your kids are grown and move out, you still need to know and love your best friend! A romantic trip to the world can do wonders for a marriage!

Go directly do Disney World. Do not pass GO!!!! (Just buy the kids a super special souvenir while you're gone!)

 

[Kristinluvsdisney]

Thanks guys! I knew i could come here for support.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

So i have a question for you Disney lovers. If you had the chance to do a solo trip to Disney without your kids, would you?

Kristin

This is all that I read, its all that I need to I dont need to see justification to do something you want to do. You are an adults contrary to popular beleif that means you make the decisions, if you want to go, go. I 100% would no regrets, no second thoughts (and DH and I do it every year).

 

[elgerber]

I've done it, and we had a blast!!!

 

[myweegirls]

In a word, YES! We would do it, have done it, and woohoo! We're doing it again this year. We go for a shorter length of time, usually, and we go in the summer, when my wonderful MIL (an elementary school teacher) has a more flexible schedule to come to town and take care of our DDs).

We have found that these trips are SO much fun. They give us couple time - a rare and beautiful thing! We also try to stay places that we're less likely to stay while the girls are young (they're 5 and 3 now). That's not to say other families wouldn't have a great time staying there with kids, but you know your kids - the parks they want, their tolerance for transportation waits, etc. For us, getting a chance to try out a resort we wouldn't have used with the girls in tow is a lot of fun. We also fancy up our ADRs a fair bit.

We call home about twice a day, and I admit we don't tell the girls *exactly* where we are. But we love our little escapes. Go, enjoy!


Liz

 

[iwrbnd]

We've never done it but I would love to! Have fun!

 

[TaraPA]

YES! And I have!!! Well, actually solo alone (no DH) or just with friends (again, no DH). They have been the best trips to WDW. You see a whole different side of Disney - and at your pace. It truly is just as magical on an adults-only trip as it is with the kids. We just got back 2 weeks ago from a family trip & within 2 days I had booked airfare to go alone with friends in October.

Also think of it as a great way for your kids to spend quality time with their grandparent. My kids often talk about "the time nanny & pop came to stay with them" and the things they did together while I was away. My kids don't get to see their grandparents all that much, so that time they spent together without me is priceless to both sides. I DO feel guilty before my trips without them, but I get over that as soon as I pass under those purple Magic Kingdom signs.

 

[wdw&sonny]

I see I am in the minority...but here goes anyway. I can't imagine doing it. Remember, you asked for our opinions. To me, my time with my kids is rapidly diminishing as they grow up. I would rather be home watching TV with them, then at WDW without. Maybe that will change. But right now, no way.

 

[Pembo]

When our kids were litte we did it and it was amazing. Just a few days away from our kids was quite the refresher. Our kids are 14 & 11 and I'm not so sure we would do it now.

 

[iwrbnd]

I see I am in the minority...but here goes anyway. I can't imagine doing it. Remember, you asked for our opinions. To me, my time with my kids is rapidly diminishing as they grow up. I would rather be home watching TV with them, then at WDW without. Maybe that will change. But right now, no way.

It will change somewhere around...ummm...age 13!

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

I see I am in the minority...but here goes anyway. I can't imagine doing it. Remember, you asked for our opinions. To me, my time with my kids is rapidly diminishing as they grow up. I would rather be home watching TV with them, then at WDW without. Maybe that will change. But right now, no way.

The children aren't going to be at home, they will be with thier grandparents. Do you not allow your children to visit thier grandparents so you can spend time with them?

 

[bellefromboston]

I would go. Parents need alone time, it's only going to strengthen your marriage. Have fun and don't feel guilty, your taking them in September!

 

[kehlyrsmom]

My husband and I are going to be there in May as well. It is our first trip to WDW with out the kids, except when we went there for our honeymoon 19 years ago. This is actually an anniversary celebration trip for us. Though we will be taking our kids ages 10 & 8 in Sept for our Bounce Back offer so they still get to go this year.

 

[Puccaw]

We are about to go for 10 nights at the World without our 13 year old daughters who are getting laptops instead. Dh and I have been together since we were 16 (we both turn 39 this April) and have NEVER had a vactaion together...not even a camping trip so we are going on our own this time.
We have been 3 times with the children and I am not willing to pull them out of middle school, we get a 2 week break next February so maybe we will go then again with the girls.

I understand the guilt but so often we, as adults forget how important our marriages are and it often gets put on the back burner...go, enjoy and have a ton of fun!!

 

[DaniB]

Personally I do not understand how you could feel guilty as you said your kids have gone before, and will go again.

You both deserve times to yourselves as well! I wish my parents would take our children for a few days.

 

[pepe of ohio]

I see I am in the minority...but here goes anyway. I can't imagine doing it. Remember, you asked for our opinions. To me, my time with my kids is rapidly diminishing as they grow up. I would rather be home watching TV with them, then at WDW without. Maybe that will change. But right now, no way.

We're empty nesters now and it sure was hard making the transition. Those few years with your children go so fast and they don't come back. Both of ours went off to college and never returned, we still go to Disney when we can together but those memory making childhood years are the best years of their lives. We could never think of taking a vacation, anywhere, without the children, it's what we had them for in the first place, to share and enjoy.

 

[selina4disney]

Going without kids is a WHOLE different trip. We go all the time without kids now since ours are grown, but the first trip alone we were amazed at how restful it was. No one whining they want to ride RnR for the 20th time. No one asking how long we have to stay in the World Showcase. No one asking when we can go back to the hotel to swim. You can take advantage of tours that don't allow little ones too which is wonderful if you want to know more about the workings of the parks.

Go and HAVE A GREAT TIME! You can take them on other trips!

 

[acwsmom]

I can't wait to do this! My DH and I are already planning on doing a trip alone on our 15 year wedding anniversary in a couple years. Right now, my kids are young enough that there are several rides they're either too scared or too short to ride. So we've always gone and just focused on the kiddie rides they love and spend a whole lot of time standing in line to greet characters. There are also a ton of TS restaurants we can't do because we know the kids won't appreciate or enjoy it. So for our 15 year anniversary trip, we already have a list of rides we're planning on doing, a list of restaurants we're planning on trying out, and we even have a list of all the rides we're going to AVOID!!! We can't wait!! We may feel a little bit of guilt driving away but I can promise you that will disappear when we get there!