Has anyone not taken their kids?

[welovemickey]

DH and I have an opportunity to go to the Food and Wine Festival with some friends in October. We have never even considered going to DW without our children except for this time. Has anyone ever NOT taken their children and NOT felt guilty about it? We are not planning a family vacation there this year because of school and work schedules, so it's not like I can appease them with a trip after ours? I'm really torn as to whether we should go or not, anyone have any thoughts or feelings on this?

TIA!

 

[beansmom]

me! lol...didn't feel a bit guilty...it was a great time. Go and enjoy-as long as you aren't 'stealing' their only chance to go...have fun!

 

[Debbie]

DH and I went in January 2000. It was a fabulous time, since we had never done anything without the kids. It was a totally different vacation, and you know, the best way to love for your kids is to nurture for your relationship with one another.

 

[Camping Griswalds]

I agree with Debbie!!

Kids can not and will not be happy in the long run if their parents don't take care of their relationship.

That being said, DH and I had planned a trip just for ourselves when we had been with kids once already in that year. We were very excited, however pregnancy complications kept us home. I say GO FOR IT!!!!!!!

 

[Viki]

We haven't done it yet, but we have one planned for our 20th anniversary next year and although we'll miss them and they'll be besides themselves because we never don't take them with us, they are getting older (16 and 17 next week), and we thought our 20th anniversary was really a time we should spend together. We shall see.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

DH and I went by ourselves when DS was 2. We debated on doing a trip by ourselves this year for our 15th anniversary, but decided against it and went to Jamaica instead. Just because DS who is 7 now, said I can't believe you would go to WDW without me, even though he was there in January and will be there in September. I would still like to do an adults only trip sometime again. The one we took was awesome. I would say Go For It, if the kids don't care or don't lay a guilt trip on you.

 

[CamColt]

I agree with the others...GO!

DH and I went for 1 day night, then on a 3 night Disney Cruise 3 years ago and it was wonderful.

This past December I went alone for 4 days and again, it was a true vacation.

DH and I are going next weekend for 3 days to celebreate our anniversary.

While we enjoy going with our kids and we do quite often, an occasional adult only trip is great too.

 

[rkandmjsmommy]

Here's my opinion:

My dad took his girlfriend when I was little and my mom was appalled, so I grew up thinking it was wrong to leave kids home and go to disney BUT now since I am married and can finally think for myself, I say GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think it would be awesome for me and dh to go, would the kids be upset YES, but they have been 2, going on 3 times. If I were you I would go for it, have a GREAT time.

 

[ToTLaugher]

We have gone twice without the kids since having kids. It is a completely different experience! My DD8 is not crazy about the fact that we are going to go without her again but my DD11 is fine with it. It just depends on the child. You will see things that will make you think of them everywhere you go, but that gives you a chance to plan for a future trip with them.

We just explain to the kids that we are celebrating our anniversary and that they can come the next time. We would never go twice in a row without them.

Also, make sure they are staying with people they get excited about seeing so they can look forward to their vacation from you!

HTH

 

[ksjayhawkfan]

My DH and I are planning an adults only trip for next year and we cant wait lol. Go and have fun

 

[nhmomx2]

DH and I are planning our 15th Anniversary weekend for just the two of us. We ARE NOT telling our kids where we are going. Just telling them we are going to visit some friends (you know, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, etc.). We spent our honeymoon there and our 10th anniversary (which a panic attack ruined all my DH's plans). We are really looking forward to it

 

[Toby]

My last three trips with my husband have been to DW without my kids. Of course, my kids are 18 and 22, and they REFUSE to come with us. They will only go if they can go with their friends. I'll admit it - the first time alone, it felt so weird without them. Then we figured since we love Disney, we'll just have to go by ourselves. Now, everytime we go we really have a great time. We're no longer bound by their "sleep" schedules, as in, sleeping until noon!! We can just relax, get up when we want, go to restaurants we want to try, do the exhibits that the kids use to say were too "boring". You can really stop and enjoy the theming of each park - you won't be on the "commando" run! I say go for it, don't feel guilty because they may not want to go with you when they get older!!

 

[sarahj]

The two best trips I ever took to Disney were the first time we ever went as a family and the first time my DH and I went alone!

 

[disney 4 5]

DH & I went 3 years ago w/out our kids. They were on a trip with my Parents. It was great. We did all of the adult things that you don't usually do when the kids are along. Spent a whole afternoon at the Spa (that was great). Our gave us a little guilt but they quickly got over it. I say go and have a great time.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) When young, we frequently went without the kids.
2) We figured they shouldn't come, since we used their college money. (LOL)

3) Seriously, we did take adult-only trips to WDW.
4) We just didn't tell the kids (didn't have enough cheese for the whine)
5) Did we feel guilty?
6) Absolutely.
7) Not!
8) Adults need time away from the kids, whether
. . . a local weekend at a nearby hotel/motel
. . . a romantic getaway at a beach or ski slope
. . . a trip to WDW

 

[Carrie772]

My momma always said the secret to a good marriage is a good babysitter!

We went in March, Poly, stayed up all night !

 

[kbkids]

We've done it twice and didn't regret it a bit. We had a blast. It was actually my Christmas present last year. Our season passes expired on December 6th. Had just been in October for a week with the kids. I just couldn't resist the urge to take one more trip, so we got an awesome room at the Dolphin, toured the resorts looking at the Christmas decorations, did the Candlelight Processional (something my kids would never had sat still for), we had so much fun. Stayed out late, slept in - it was a great weekend!

 

[mickeymom55]

I agree 100% with Toby - you see the "World" from a new perspective. We tried the Segways, went on a Wishes cruise, the Keys to the Kingdom Tour, and ate at an actual sit down restaurant (not a week of fast food)! We saw all the performances at Epcot (which the kids deemed boring) and enjoyed each and every one of them. We even sat and people watched! It was a wonderful time and hope to do it again! Go and enjoy!!!

 

[GoN2WDW]

Just you and DH should go and have a GREAT time! We went alone when our daughter was 2 and had a completely different experience! You can do all of the things you know would bore the kids to death! Or....all of the fun stuff you love and not have to worry about taking care of everyone else!

GO AND ENJOY YOURSELVES!!!

 

[WDWguru]

Almost all our trips are without kids since we're childfree. We do take extended family and neices/nephews maybe once every other year, but we take two or three other trips a year just by ourselves. It's great!