How did you handle your 1st kid free trip?

[Kitts21]

Hey all, my DW and I are planning a short 2 1/2 day trip to WDW as a couple only. We are AP holders and DVC members. We have taken about 10-12 trips since our first trip in Dec 2005. We have always done WDW with our two kids. DS is now 19 and hasn't gone with us on our last two trips. But we have never taken a trip without our DD,who is 12. My wife is an accountant and has been having a very tough "busy" season. Along with the weather we have been having here in western NY. We thought it would be a good idea to get away for a couple days just the two of us. Now during our 19yrs of marriage we have never taken a trip just the two of us, leaving our kids with anyone else. We would take DD, but she plays in two soccer leagues along with a lacrosse league. She also has school, which we normally wouldn't mind pulling her for, but we already did that back in Nov. for our annual trip. So we decided to go as a couple only. Now we are starting to have second thoughts. What if we miss her to much? How can we do the normal things that we usually do with her there? We both know that we can do different things and take our time doing most stuff we rush through. But we are starting to regret or feel guilty about going. How have you other DIS'ers who have kids handle your first trip without them? Did you enjoy it? Thanks.

 

[com_op_2000]

DW and I started doing dates at WDW before we were married, so I have a different take on this.
IMHO, You need to start thinking of this as a trial run at empty nest time. It is coming up on you anyway.
Start by NOT doing the same things you always do. Plan something each day that you have never done before, new experiences just for the two of you can be refreshing. Start testing yourselves for your future visits and what you like and do not like.
Being DVC members, like us, you will be coming back, can slow down and enjoy a more leisurely pace. Find in your travels a new reason to enjoy each other's company.
Start getting ready to enjoy all the kiddie things all over again cause hopefully GKs are in your future.

 

[jezebel73]

I did my first adults only WDW trip last fall for Food and Wine. It was 2 nights, so much like yours, and I think a great way to test the waters. I went with a girlfriend and we did a couple of rides, but mostly explored and people watched and took our time just enjoying the weather, food, and time WITHOUT kids. We also splurged on Victoria & Alberts, which would never happen with a 9 year old (even with her adventurous appetite)!

I will say that my daughter felt a little sad about not being invited, but the trip was short and that definitely encouraged me to focus on things I didn't do all the years there with her as a little kid. I also tried to downplay the rides when recapping the trip for her - I think that was the worst part for her - and made sure to bring home a Mickey rice krispie treat and a plush to soften the blow. It helped that we immediately started planning the next family trip, and that should help for you as well, since your daughter was there in November with you.

My recommendation? Embrace it, love it, enjoy a whole new version of the magic!!

 

[jimandami]

DH and I just returned from our 4th 7 night adults only trip and it was fabulous. We ate and drank and laid at the pool and just relaxed. Our kiddos are used to it and they get to go a lot so it's not a big deal to them at all. I always tell them they really wouldn't enjoy our adults trips...we literally rode 5 rides total in the 7 days.

 

[amytech]

Dh and I did this last May for the first time ever. We have never gone to Disney without our 4 kids or even taken a vacation more than a couple of days by ourselves. Ds was a CP last year and that was our reason to go to see him. He was working most of the time but we had some meals with him too...

We went for 6 days and it was wonderful! For us, it was good to have a brief trial run of the future when all of the kids leave home. Our youngest is 12 and the rest are older. We are talking of doing it again this October for Food and Wine Festival
We spent time lying around the pool, doing Downtown Disney, eating in restaurants we wouldn't normally eat in with the kids, took a boat ride, bikes, etc. It was great! We only went into the parks 2 days and loved taking it easy and really exploring.
I say go for it!

 

[Kitts21]

So we have decided to go ahead and book our room for our upcoming "non-kid" trip. I say it like that because lets be honest, we all turn into kids when we visit the world. Anyways back on task. The DW and I originally booked a king room at CRB for our two nights. We have stayed here before and we liked the resort. Plus it would be nice and romantic to walk around the grounds in the evening. I do think this is one of the best themed resorts. But....then we saw the current promotion for Swan and Dolphin, this is our favorite area(boardwalk & Epcot) on property. So we booked a room here also. Now the dilemma is where to stay? We liked CBR, but love Boardwalk area. We love to be able to walk to Epcot and DHS. We love the boardwalk at night. It will be just the two of us so maybe we might be able to wonder into dueling pianos one of the nights. Now on the other hand if we stay at CBR we would be saving around $100 a night, and we are only a short drive away from Boardwalk(we will a car). The grounds here are very romantic, and the S&D would not give us the same "Disney" feeling as CBR would. Oh the trials and tribulations of booking a Disney trip. If only all of life could be this difficult. What do you all think? should we go the more logical, cost effective rout and stay at CBR......Or should we take the plunge and stay at the Dolphin where we will be in our favorite resort area?

 

[jezebel73]

I haven't stayed there (yet), but the Boardwalk area looks like an adult paradise. My vote is for anything in that section and you can stumble home, if that's your thing, too.
If you're going to go kid-free, I say do it all the way and stray as far from your 'with kids norm' as you can.

 

[Disneyaddictz]

We handled ours like kids!! For 6 nights We litterly spent just the time to sleep and change on our rooms. We were gone for 8m breakfasts and back after fireworks! We had spa days tours and private firework charters! It's amazing the whole other world of disney there is when you go kidless! Rode rides over and over just to find hidden mickeys it was so amazing! We are planning our 2nd kidless trip in October for 7 days and family trip in March. The kids were a little bummed but since we go every year they quickly got over it, plus they love time with grandparents and all the cool gifts they get!