Going without the kids

[bubba73]

My DW's first trip was just us, no kids. It was a wonderful way for me to play tour guide without worrying about the kids being how young they were at the time. We had a blast and we are both looking forward to going again without the kids. It will be a few years before we can do it again but I think when we do, we will add a Disney Cruise to the trip. If you can, DO IT!!!!

 

[welovewdw]

Anyway, I'm getting pretty excited just thinking about it! He's being offered two trips now -- one at the end of November, just after Thanksgiving, and one next May. I wonder if I can save enough money to do both??? And find some poor sap, er I mean kind soul who will take the kids twice in one year like that?

Grandma & Grandpa! LOL My parents kept the kids while we went - while they were ready to hand them back by the time we returned, they all had fun, too.

The other thing we did w/o the kids was Pleasure Island - we had a blast at the Adventurer's Club! I hadn't read the boards so we kind of lucked out on our choice - it is definitely worth going. (I sound like all we did was drink! LOL) It was very fun - and we'd never take the kids to a bar late at night like that - not even a Disney one. (We'd pay for it the next day. LOL) I want to hit the
Comedy Club this time around - I've read great reviews on it.

 

[welovewdw]

For my job, I go away for a week every year for a conference (this year it was New Orleans). In two years, it will be Orlando. I plan on taking the kids and husband and making it a family vacation. The work part of the trip ends on a Thursday, so I plan on extending my time in Orlando for a vacation. In the end, the trip winds up costing less because the hotel room is paid for the first half of the "vacation" as well as my part of the airfare since it is for work.

Ever think of that? Or would you rather have a "childless" vacation? Nothing wrong with that either!!

I LOVE taking the kids - but it's harder when they hit middle school & high school to take them out of school for a week. Plus we had business there, too - and we had to seriously work some days - we couldn't take them because no one under 16 was allowed at the show. We really did miss them - Disney is our favorite place in the world! We still had fun - and we all went over spring break and we all go in July, too.

 

[Marseeya]

Inluv: I don't object to making it a family vacation, but unless things change drastically for my kids next year, they can't afford to miss any school.

SqueakyMouse: That does sound like a nice anniversary trip. I'd love to do something like that for ours!

Bubba: I hadn't even thought of a cruise! They can be pretty short, can't they? That would be a nice thing to add on to the end if he could take a couple extra days off!

WeloveWDW: I wish my parents could keep them both! My mom's not well and couldn't handle it. The kids are old enough to take care of themselves, but she just wouldn't be able to handle having them there & worrying about it. I've got months & months to think up an alternative though! Maybe my sister could keep my DD & my DS could just spend his nights at my parents' house.

 

[bubba73]

Marseeya,

The cruise don't have to be a short one. Disney is doing 7 day cruises if that is what you want to do. They do offer the 3 or 4 day cruises as well. Or you can get a package deal where you do 3 or 4 days on land then 3 or 4 days on sea. That way you get to do both and both of them are Disney. Is there a better way??

 

[SylviaL]

Go for it! It's important for your relationship with DH. DH and I just got back from a quick trip (Sat-Mon) to WDW and Universal without the kids. We had so much fun. It was great not to worry about diapers(DS2), potty breaks (DS4), and eating fast! The boys were in our thoughts the whole time (DS4 would love this ride or DS2 would get a kick out of this). We brought back a whole duffle bag of gifts for them.

If you do go without the kids--try the Segway tour at Epcot. DH and I did it and it was a blast!

You might consider going for just part of the trip. Good luck.

 

[kimisabella]

I'm so glad I found this thread. I was telling my dh that I would like to go to WDW in december to celebrate our 7th anniversary without the kids. He didn't object, so I'm taking that as a yes. Anyway, we've NEVER gone anywhere without our 2 girls, and, being that they are WDW lovers, I already feel guilty. After reading this thread, I know understand that it isn't a mean or terrible thing to leave them home while we go away for an extended weekend. Last time we were in WDW, I kept saying, "I wish we could go there, I wish we could do that, ect." Now, without having the kids, we could do a lot of things that I wanted to do/see. My parents are encouraging us to go and will have no problem watching the kids, it's just my own guilty feelings were getting in the way. I'm so glad there are others out there that understand and have experienced the same things.

 

[Jennabeth]

DH and I took the kids to Disney in Jan (first time for everyone) and then had a chance to go back in May, kidless. We took it and went last weekend for our 7th anniversary. We took a short trip (2 full days in the parks) and enjoyed every minute of it. What someone else said is so true, you miss your kids when you see other children enjoying themselves, but when you see a child throwing a tantrum you are glad your kids are not there.

We did Blizzard Beach the first day and Magic Kingdom the second. It was so nice taking our own pace and doing all of things we couldn't do with the girls (5 & 2.5). We did not tell them where we were going when we left, but they found out once we got home. They were a little sad, but comforted by the gifts. Of course telling them we were all going to go again didn't hurt either.

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

I'm still holding out for the day that we make time to go without the kids. I know I won't feel guilty at all.

 

[WDWFAN9]

Mom of four here! I have gone to WDW without the kids, and with different combinations of kids. It has always worked out great; each experience a little different. Disney with kids is truly magical, but DH and I have had some really wonderful times with just the two of us. There are a lot of things kids don't appreciate (fine dining!! shopping!! people watching!!). I'd always get a twinge when I'd see families, but I knew that sooner or later the kids would be with us. And now we just had our first grandbaby and I can't wait to introduce him to Mickey!!

 

[bigbabyblues]

I haven't done it, but we were planning to in August, until DH became unemployed. My kids are 4 and almost 2 though, not really old enough to understand where we went.

I do think it's important to have some time without the kids, and if you have the chance, do it! As long as it's not a once in a lifetime trip, I wouldn't do that without the kids, but you already posted that you're taking them, so go ahead and enjoy it!

 

[NandP]

Did it once last year... doing it again this year...

We found the trip we took last year to Universal was a great "REASEARCH EXPERIENCE" we were able to see what ....can do with our kids who are 2 and 7 for this years trip and plan accordingly. We didn't know how long to spend in USO on a primarily WDW trip, so now we know.... 2 days should do it at USO/IOA...

We have 2 trips booked this year a 14 day with both kids, and a 6 day with just my DW and I .... We know we will not be able to do EVERYTHING with a 2yo along... so I feel we will be less stressed and can ad things to our to do list for the Adults only trip.