Going without the kids?

[Missingthejob]

My wife and I are starting to plan our next WDW trip. The last time we went was May 2010 and took the kids. This time we'd really like to take a parents only trip.
I know others do this, or have done this...so how do you tell the kids? How long do you do for?
Have you ever had a bad reaction from your children? My kids are 10,7 and 5.
TIA

 

[kimmyann]

We have been to WDW one time and that was with the kids. We are planning on going in Feb 2013 by ourselves for our 20th anniversary (we're going to the Daytona 500 then to WDW). We have already told our kids the plan and they are fine with it, they even think it is a good idea, which mine are older than yours. Granted, we do all go to FL every summer for vacation. However, I would like to take them again before then. Just let them know beforehand, I wouldn't wait until the last minute to tell them.

 

[Missingthejob]

Oh no we wouldn't wait until the last minute of course. Once we have the trip set and booked we would tell them. Our kids have been many times and I guess we're just ready for a week or so there alone, lol.

 

[roscoepc1]

Well I can only tell you what's happening right now with my girls, ages 12 and 8. I'm planning a surprise trip for dh and I, May 1-6...

I thought I'd better forewarn the girls, but simply said I was taking Daddy to Florida as a surprise, since he works so hard for us. And that they'd be staying at Grandma and Grandpa's....

8 yr old dd said, incredulously, "What? You're NOT taking Daddy to Disney???"


And that was the end of it!! I said, Well, yes I am, but I didn't want to make you guys upset since you're not going!

And they both replied "That's ok, you're taking us in 2013!"

Simple as that!

I DID tell them how proud I was of them for not kicking up a fuss.....

 

[catra121]

My family has been going to Disney since I was literally a year old. I've been 20+ times. And every year, my parents go just the two of them to Disney for their anniversary in October (they even renewed their vows there in 2008). They always told us and we never had a problem with it. Of course...we went all the time so it's not like we ever felt like we were missing out on something because we knew we would go again. My parents always spoke to us like adults and it was their "special time" together. I'd just tell them and if you have been many times before and they seem concerned, let them know that you'll go back as a family again too...but this is a special trip for mom and dad. Good luck!

 

[Sunshine1987]

I know how you feel!

We are planning our 20th Anniversary to be at WDW in 2013 and I know our kids will be bummed. However, we are going as a family twice this year (in a month AND at Christmas) then next year in 2012 we are going to California and will visit Disneyland and CA Adventure newly remodled so they have their fair share of Disney too!

My DH and I have never been on a vacation without our kids so our 20th Anniversary will be our first. Originally I wanted to go to Hawaii but DH has been there twice and quite frankly I am a Disney nut so I am really looking forward to WDW. We are going to try to go during Epcot Food & Wine and stay at an Epcot resort (Yacht club or Boardwalk). I can't wait even though it is over two years away!!!

Anyway, I think the kids will be fine! I think it is very good for them to see that their parents love to have fun together!!!

 

[girlsn980103]

DH and I went for 5 days without our girls. The girls (11, 9, and 6) stayed home with Grandma. They knew about the trip several months ahead, gave us a list of things to do, and helped plan our trip. The day we left for the airport, the 6 year old cried a little bit, but she (on any given day) could cry is I left her to go to the store. The oldest has a cell phone, so we sent her pictures of things at WDW and had them guess where we were at different times during the trip. We talked to the nightly, and we all did fine!

We do to WDW at least every other year, so the girls knew that they were going in May of 2011. I would say to go and have a great time!

 

[imthatgirl]

We leave in 58 days for our kid free WDW vacation

We told the kids right before we booked it. they were fine. My kids are about the same age as yours. My 7yo son is the only one who has expressed concern over missing us. But as far as us being in WDW, that doesn't bother them. they have each been many times and will be back many times to come.

Have fun, and keep us posted as to how it goes

 

[ccgirl]

My DH and myself went during the F&W Festival in October last year for our 10th Anniversary. It was AWESOME! My DD is 8 and she was thrilled for us. We had to promise to take her with us next time (which we already did). My son was only 2 so didn't get the whole WDW concept. He was just pumped that his friend Nana (that's what he calls her...so cute) was staying at our house and they were going to have a party all week. We went for an entire week since it was our 10th Anniversary but we go away, just the two of us, every year for a long weekend during our Anniversary. Anyway, it was magical. We were able to take our time walking thru the countries and shops of Epcot, we sampled the alcoholic drinks at the countries, we at late at California Grill. All of those things we would not have done if we had children. We didn't spend a whole lot of time at MK but we still had a great time.

 

[momof3poohlovers]

My DH and I did this in Oct. of 2009. We were supposed to go as a family that Thanksgiving but the May before I found out I was pregnant and my OB wouldn't let me travel at almost 9 months pregnant from CA to FL. We knew we wouldn't be able to get away by ourselves for years once the baby came so DH and I decided to go for the F&W festival. Our kids who were 11, 14, and 17 at the time were at first like you can't go without us but then they were fine with it. We had the best time. I was about 7 months pregnant and we just took it easy. It was so nice to be able to just relax and not run from thrill ride to thrill ride. We just celebrated our 20 year anniversary in Dec. and I would love to go again in 5 years for our 25th by ourselves.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

We went for a long weekend when our kids were 5 and almost-2. We had just been in Sept, this was January, and we had a bounce-back trip scheduled for the following Sept. We didn't tell them where we were going but our oldest pretty much figured it out since he knows it's my favorite place to be! We brought them souvenirs and they were fine with it, knowing they were going back in a few months.

We're thinking of another adults-only trip. I'd love to go this year since we have APs, but not sure we can make it happen.

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

DH and I are DREAMING of an adult-only trip for our 10 year anniversary next summer. Problem is, we really can't afford to take the kids...and do our trip in the same year. I just hate cheating them out for a year when we get to go?!? Not sure if it will happen.

Also, how long does everyone go for? If it happened, I'm thinking 3 nights??

 

[imthatgirl]

DH and I are DREAMING of an adult-only trip for our 10 year anniversary next summer. Problem is, we really can't afford to take the kids...and do our trip in the same year. I just hate cheating them out for a year when we get to go?!? Not sure if it will happen.

Also, how long does everyone go for? If it happened, I'm thinking 3 nights??

We are going for 5 nights 6 full days. We leave Sunday morning at 3 am for a 6am flight. We will be home Friday night after midnight sometimes.
We won't be taking the kids this year, but I don't feel bad about that. they went with us this past May(2010) and most likely we will be going back in May 2012. I think my kids can go a year without Disney, lol. Although come to think of it I don't think I could
this trip is for our 10th anniversary also.

 

[roscoepc1]

DH and I are DREAMING of an adult-only trip for our 10 year anniversary next summer. Problem is, we really can't afford to take the kids...and do our trip in the same year. I just hate cheating them out for a year when we get to go?!? Not sure if it will happen.

Also, how long does everyone go for? If it happened, I'm thinking 3 nights??

5 days, 4 nights....

 

[purplepixiedust]

I would love to go on adults only trip to Disney. However, I cannot even imagine how sad they would be if my husband and I told them we were going to Disney without them..So I will not do this until they are either teens and do not wish to go or grown and out of the house. As much as I say I would love to go without them I have only been there with them and figure most of my fun is experiencing it with them... No doubt there is a good time to be had wandering around with your spouse without any obligations though

If you do decide to go, why tell them where you are going? Just go and have fun and leave it simply as you are going on a vacation..

 

[Hannathy]

I couldn't and wouldn't do it to my kids! They really are in the house and with you for such a short period of time (and it goes fast) That I would never go to Disney without them, especially since we don't get to Disney that often. maybe if I lived within a short driving distance but not as far away as we live. I will wait till they are out of the house, there will be a lot of time then for just DH and I.

 

[Missingthejob]

I would love to go on adults only trip to Disney. However, I cannot even imagine how sad they would be if my husband and I told them we were going to Disney without them..So I will not do this until they are either teens and do not wish to go or grown and out of the house. As much as I say I would love to go without them I have only been there with them and figure most of my fun is experiencing it with them... No doubt there is a good time to be had wandering around with your spouse without any obligations though

If you do decide to go, why tell them where you are going? Just go and have fun and leave it simply as you are going on a vacation..

We told them this past weekend, and really it wasn't a big deal at all. Honestly I would have been dissappointed in them if it was a big deal. I hope that we are raising kids that understand that they are not the center of the world.

I would never not tell them where we were going though. That just seems mean, or like I couldn't trust them to handle something like this.

We do love to take them of course, no matter where we go. Luckily we have the opportunity to do a lot with our kids, but if we didn't I suppose I would feel the same way about not wanting to go without them.