Have you ever....

[N&B'smom]

gone to Disney World WITHOUT your spouse??

We're going to Disney in 3 weeks and about a month or so ago, due to chronic back problems by husband decided he would not be able to go. The flight would be horrible, walking would be painful, he'd be miserable, etc. (this happened on our last trip 2 years ago and he was miserable the entire time, couldn't go on water slides or certain rides, stuff like that)

He told me to see if my mom would go with us instead because he just didn't feel like he could do it. SO, for the first time I'm going to Disney without my hubby. I feel kind of weird about it. I'm obviously sad that he can't be there with us but I'm also excited to be able to go with just my mom and kids, not sure if that would ever happen again.

Our kids have no idea because it's a surprise trip and we're not telling them until we wake them for the airport. I don't quite know how to do the surprise now because they'll certainly be thrilled to be going to Disney but certainly feel a bit disappointed their dad isn't going.

I'm just worried about how sad my hubby will be while we're away. Guess I'm just venting and wondering if anyone else has been in the same boat.

 

[ms.yt]

When I was pregnant with our son, my older son and I went by ourselves. Before my husband and I met my son and I had planned on going but hadn't made reservations or anything. When it came time to book the trip, my husband, who isn't that big on WDW anyway, suggested that we just go without him since we had already planned on going. It was a nice trip because it was our last time for just the two of us to go before the new arrival. The only drawback was that since I was pregnant, I couldn't ride the thrill rides so he skipped them for the most part. Some friends who lived in the area met us there one day and rode some rides with him, and he got brave enough on our last day to ride by himself (he was 8 at the time) when I would go through the line with him and use the chicken exit.

 

[JessicaR]

I've gone to Disney and many other places without my husband. I miss him terribly but always have a great time. Usually its a trip with my kids and parents, sometimes a girls only trip. The majority of the time we travel together though and that is the way I prefer it.

I know the feeling you have but if your Mom goes with you and the kids you will have a unique vacation experience and wonderful memories too.

Is there time for your husband to get medically evaluated before the trip and maybe some PT to feel good enough to go? Maybe some meds can help?

I always feel sad leaving my husband home alone too but he manages fine and isn't too sad w/o us!

No matter what the outcome I hope you have a terrific time!

 

[Briarmom]

Yep. I took the kids for 4 days and then on a 7 day cruise. It was awesome.

I just took the kids on a 3 week trip driving around Europe. It was the best trip ever.

I don't know how old your kids are, but it's really not that big of a deal.

 

[Kae]

I agre with the other poster I think it will be a very nice trip. I would go with my Mom & kids in a heartbeat, she really enjoys doing these type of things with the kids. she keeps saying she wants me, her, my kids & my nieces to go on a cruise together.

I sounds like your DH knows his limitations at this time & wants you & the kids to go on this trip.

Kae

 

[Nancy]

Yes, I've been there with my sister, and then last year with my Mom...both trips no kids too.

 

[N&B'smom]

My kids are 10 and 6. I don't think it's a big deal, it's not that I'm worried about the trip. I absolutely KNOW I will have a great time and am excited to spend it with my mom! I'm just feeling sad for him I guess. Basically I can't even talk about it because even though he is the one that made the choice not to go, he still wishes he could.

We'll be there 3 weeks from today. His back problems are going on about 3-4 years. He's got a Dr's appointment but that's not until 2 days before we leave. Even with PT he wouldn't be able to go, he's tried it and that made it worse.

I tried to convince him to get one of the scooters or even a wheelchair. He said no, that's not how he wants to spend his trip.

But he keeps making comments about me replacing him. Yet HE is the one that told me to ask my mom to go in his place!!! I guess I'm just feeling guilty about being excited and knowing it's going to be a blast!

 

[emer95]

No... but I'd never turn down a trip to Disney! Go and have a great time!

 

[rie'smom]

We go all the time w/out my husband. He doesn't like Disney, so we leave him at home.

 

[N&B'smom]

Thanks everyone. We are 19 days away and I am super excited!! (just can't show it around here)

 

[AKL_Megs]

Yes, last summer I decided last minute to go down and meet my parents at WDW. DH couldn't join since he had just started at a new department and couldn't take time off.

My DH wasn't sad... he was too busy working, but he DID tell me when I got home that he "could have came down on Friday night and left Sunday." So I think deep down, he was sad that he felt he missed out on my "mini vacation".

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We'll be there 3 weeks from today. His back problems are going on about 3-4 years. He's got a Dr's appointment but that's not until 2 days before we leave. Even with PT he wouldn't be able to go, he's tried it and that made it worse.

Wow that stinks. MY DH is trying to get his back issues under control right now.

If he is making you feel guilty about going, even though he suggested it, perhaps you can tell him to stop it.

Tell him he must be upbeat or you are going to have a crappy time. Return the guilt.

 

[Kitty 34]

I went without my DH when I went with our son's HS band in 2005. I've also been to Las Vegas without him when I went out there with my mom and my sisters in '07.

 

[5 for WDW]

Yup, I went without my husband and my kids.

Two of my friends and I went two years ago for three days at Christmas time. Had a great time and would do it again in a heartbeat. I adore my DH and he has a great time once we get to WDW but, he is not obsessed like I am.

I would take my kids without him as well if he could not make it. Especially in your circumstances. I would hate to upset the kids by cancelling.

I hope you have a great time and I hope he feels better soon!

 

[Pixiedust34]

So far, I've been to WDW twice w/o dh and our next trip is w/o dh, too.

My dh likes WDW, but isn't a WDW FREAK like me, so he's fine with going every-other-year. On the years he doesn't go with us, the kids and I will go to WDW on our own. This arrangement works well for our family. I get my Disney Fix more often than I would otherwise and he gets to go every 2 years which is what he likes to do.

 

[Rora]

I just went without my fiance last weekend. He was pretty sad. I went with a friend (it was one of those quick, pick-me up, trips that wasn't planned) for a night. DFiance kept saying "I wish I was there!". I felt horrible.

 

[december]

Yep! I love my dh, but he's a hard headed SOB! He traveled as a kid, even went to WDW, and hated it! I never went anywhere, and got tired of me and the kids not getting vacations. In 2006, I took the kids (9 and 6) and my mil went with us. I had never been anywhere, so was nervous about going alone. After I saw how easy it was, I took the kids again Thanksgiving week of 2007 (they were 10 and 8). I also went to DL, San Diego, and Vegas last year with dh's whole family (his mother's side anyway)-he still didn't go!

He has agreed to go next summer to help with the new baby. I talked him into it by booking a townhouse offsite at Windsor Hills, and we are doing the space center. He will play golf during the day while we are at WDW, meet us for dinner, then keep the baby while we go back. I want them to have some vacation memories with their daddy! But if he backs out, I'll go without him again, with 3 kids this time!

 

[N&B'smom]

Thanks!! You guys have made me feel a bit less guilty about it. LOL I know this trip will be a completely different dynamic and I'm actually looking forward to it. This is probably a once in a lifetime thing. My parents have both come with us to WDW as a big group in the past, but to go with JUST my mom who happens to be my best friend, I know it'll be GREAT!!!

I wasn't about to cancel the trip after looking forward to it since last year, after getting up at 6am to do ADR's online, etc, etc, etc... Plus we used DVC points that we would never get back if we cancelled. It would have been a complete waste!

So, off we go in 19 days!!!!

 

[hulagirl87]

Yes, I have been without DH. Several times actually DH is a Disney fan, but I'm a little obsessed. I have 2 friends that are as obsessed as I am, so we have gone a lot. Now though I'm pregnant so I'm done with Disney for a while. From here on out it will be trips with DH and baby to be!

 

[Linzybrooke]

Yep, since we have been married I have taken one trip with my sister and mom, one with my sister-in-law and one more with a friend for a wedding. DH couldn't get the time off work, so he didn't make the trips. While he loves Disney he was fine with me going without him.

Also, as a child we took a couple of trips without my dad, and honestly they were a blast! My dad likes Disney, but he hates the heat/humidity/crowds. When he would go with us we could always tell when he had "had enough" and so the trips without him were great. We loved to get home and give him the presents we bought him and tell him all about the trip, it was like reliving it as a story. Your kids will be fine!