I feel like crying, would you?

[DisneyWisher]

We are leaving in the morning for mid week 3 day trip. I feel like crying because it will be my last as a mother of an underage child. My DD will be 18 in 3 months. She'll always be my baby but it will feel different with her no longer being a minor. Bittersweet moment I guess. Thank goodness for my grandkids (DD17 doesn't have kids, DD27 does) lol. They are Disney lovers too!!

 

[Disneylandnewbie]

Crying at Disney is ok. Sometimes moments can be happy and sad at the same time. I hope your trip is magical.

 

[bitohoney]

My DD will be 18 in 2 weeks. We went twice last year because I think she will lose interest and won't want to go anymore but we have a trip planned for Christmas (since she will be in college) and I caught her watching Disney World stuff on youtube the other day! Maybe she will never lose interest and when she has kids I can take them!

 

[gifmar]

I too am a mother that experienced exactly what you are going through. Three years ago we had what we thought was our last trip to WDW with our 18 year old, our baby. Our other two children are 31 and 30 now, our baby is now 21. But.....a new tradition has been born. Our annual trips to WDW now include not only our children, but spouses/girlfriends and grandchildren. It is a fantastic vacation with all new memories being born. Just letting you know that even though they are "all grown up" and may skip going a year or two, the desire to vacation in Disney will never die. And..the best part of all....they will want to go with the whole family!!!!!!!!

 

[pepe of ohio]

Our children, 2....boy and a girl, grew up going to WDW alot of times....now that they are both graduated, married and have children...both took to WDW differently....boy enjoyed Disney as much as anyone but didn't have the fanaticism as the rest of us....daughter was different and had the passion, did the CP her senior year of college and then stayed in Florida and worked for the mouse for a year. All said, as they grew up and became adults, the trips became different...better in most cases....we still vacation together when schedules combine...but there are trips that they can't make it and it's just the wife and I and they are bittersweet but what can you do.

We just returned from trip 44 and our daughter, son in law and daughter (11 months) and us broke her (our granddaughter) in to her first visit....talk about a different feeling....seeing her mother's eyes when she took her first trip and now seeing her enjoy WDW thru her daughter's eyes on her first trip...it's what memories are made of...plus the video and pictures...first haircut, first set of Mickey ears.....yes, they all grow up...but good times can go on, just enjoy the time you have with them, because those years are short and fly by fast but don't have to end....sharing the magic thru life is a good thing...it has been for us and is still continuing....

 

[DisneyCher]

We took a "Disney diet" after our older girl graduated high school. In fact, that was our last family trip as a whole. After a 17 year break from the Mouse, I took my daughters on a girls only trip and we had a blast. I didn't realize how much I missed it until I went back, honestly. Now, with a new grandson, I am very much looking forward to seeing the World all over again through his eyes. His parents want to wait until he is at least 2 years old to take him, and believe me, it will be a LONG wait.

 

[goofy4tink]

My dd went to WDW for the first time at age 5. She has been so many times at this point that she could lead tours there!!!! But, she is 17.5. We are heading down for our last 'big family trip' before graduation next year. She turns 18 in Oct, and she and I are spending a few days at WDW in early Dec.
Then, she is planning a graduation trip to WDW with two of her best friends for right after graduation 2012. She loves Disney. And although I will miss seeing WDW 'through the eyes of a child', I guess I can always look forward to going there with an 'adult' friend now!!!

 

[egdanger1]

I am crying, but for a different reason. My son will be in "big school" next year. So this will be the last September trip that we will be able to take. Once you have gone September it is very very very difficult to go back dead summer or heaven forbid Spring Break. What am I going to do

 

[bluejasmine]

My DS will be 18 in Oct and we go in Sept so I know how you feel..I looked at him the other day and had to turn away, he hates it when I get emotional..LOL

Where did the years go? I miss my little boy!

 

[mtopaz]

we have been going every year since honeymoon and our 3 kids now 24,22,18 have grown up in Disney. Our 18 yr old is going with us this year and she can't wait ( STILL)...my 14 daughter now goes with her friends BUT..last year my 22 yr old DS asked me if me and him could go down in august ( this was after me/wife/daughter ) had gone in July. He was working. I was blown away by7 him asking. I couldn't wait. That first day there walking down Main St he says to me " You know what?, This never gets old!" Hes 22!!!! Blew my mind.

 

[mtopaz]

OOPS!!!!! I meant my 24 yr old DD goes with her friends!!

 

[AmyinNC]

egdanger1--take them out of school! However, let me state this, I will never take mine out during the second semester. Last year we went in Nov and I"ve gotta say, I probably won't do that again--too much with all the holidays as soon as we got back. But the first few weeks of back to school are just review. My girls didn't miss a thing. I still had all their homework before we went (what the teachers could scrounge together) and off we went. I should state that my girls go to a charter school but the first year they were in public schools. That week of "vacation" is SO essential for family bonding. I'll never think twice about pulling them out.

But I do feel for DisneyWisher. Our oldest will be 18 in June and won't be able to come with us on our next trip. It is heart-breaking! But......the alternative is that we all stay at home. So I"m gonna go and make the best of it!
I'm going to miss her SO much! She and I are so much alike when it comes to Disney--we are adventurous and up for anything. Are we exhausted? Absolutely! But there's always still so much to do. The others have went back to the room and we just keep going. Life is short, enjoy every second you can! You can sleep when you're dead!
All my girls have the same Disney obsession that I have. Thank goodness! It makes it easier. So I have no doubt that there will be Disney trips for many, many years to come!

Amy in NC

 

[maggiew]

I'm right there with you. I called to check pricing for a Disney room with free dining (even though we are going to Universal). The CM asked how many adults and children and I said, "Two adults, two children". Then she asked me birthdates and I gave them. She said, "I'm sorry to tell you ma'am, but your daughter is considered an adult now." I said, "She will always be my baby."

Maggie

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I too am a mother that experienced exactly what you are going through. Three years ago we had what we thought was our last trip to WDW with our 18 year old, our baby. Our other two children are 31 and 30 now, our baby is now 21. But.....a new tradition has been born. Our annual trips to WDW now include not only our children, but spouses/girlfriends and grandchildren. It is a fantastic vacation with all new memories being born. Just letting you know that even though they are "all grown up" and may skip going a year or two, the desire to vacation in Disney will never die. And..the best part of all....they will want to go with the whole family!!!!!!!!

Aww. I am looking forward to this myself now.

I have to say that I feel like crying too. We are booked to go at the end of May for my Dd's graduation trip. I feel like this will be the last trip for her for a while. Hopefully not though because she loves it as much as me.

 

[mom2cookies]

If the love is there they will always want to go back lol. My 20 yr old( next month) is my biggest disney-addict kid. She's the oldest.

 

[jemmouse]

I just read all these posts and my eyes got misty ...I was a Disney kid growing up with my parents. We had so many wonderful family memories there. Fast forward to now and in the past 8 years I have lost both my dad and my only sibling, my sister. But I have been going with my DS and DH for the past 6 years annually. And like the above poster said the first time my DS walked onto MainStreet I was a crying mess, just seeing DS with his face so happy was what my parents had to have seen on my face. It was a full circle moment.
I still stop at the same places every year and take pictures dating back to when I was kid. I always feel my dad and my sister, but being at Disney with my son I just know they are smiling down at us and are also enjoying him. I had always wanted my dad to go to Disney with my son but life threw different pitches. However the last time I did go I was pregnant and my dad saw a Winnie the Pooh comforter for a crib at Downtown Disney and he bought it for me. He used to laugh and say how his grandson was gonna be a Mickey nut like the rest of us.

I hope that as the years go by and my DS gets older, Disney will always a hold a special place in his heart. It truly is MAGICAL ...Disney will always hold a special place in my heart.

 

[egdanger1]

egdanger1--take them out of school! However, let me state this, I will never take mine out during the second semester. Last year we went in Nov and I"ve gotta say, I probably won't do that again--too much with all the holidays as soon as we got back. But the first few weeks of back to school are just review. My girls didn't miss a thing. I still had all their homework before we went (what the teachers could scrounge together) and off we went. I should state that my girls go to a charter school but the first year they were in public schools. That week of "vacation" is SO essential for family bonding. I'll never think twice about pulling them out.

But I do feel for DisneyWisher. Our oldest will be 18 in June and won't be able to come with us on our next trip. It is heart-breaking! But......the alternative is that we all stay at home. So I"m gonna go and make the best of it!
I'm going to miss her SO much! She and I are so much alike when it comes to Disney--we are adventurous and up for anything. Are we exhausted? Absolutely! But there's always still so much to do. The others have went back to the room and we just keep going. Life is short, enjoy every second you can! You can sleep when you're dead!
All my girls have the same Disney obsession that I have. Thank goodness! It makes it easier. So I have no doubt that there will be Disney trips for many, many years to come!

Amy in NC

I have never considered taking him out of school. But, when the time comes, I will remember your advice. I guess it depends on how he is doing and adjusting. We usually go early September and school here starts the 2nd or 3rd week of August. For now, I will enjoy this years September trip. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Mom&RN]

This thread is where my heart is!! My DS is 15 and I have been struggling lately with the fact that, oh my gosh!, he is growing up so fast. He's definately not a "kid" anymore (especially if you ask him!). We've been doing Disney together every year or two since he was 8. Now, in his teen years, Disney is the place where he is still a kid. Disney gives everyone permission to act like a kid, without being embarrassed or worrying about looking "cool" . We didn't think we would be able to afford a trip this year but thanks to some great military discounts were are going for a quick trip May 19-23. He doesn't know yet. I'm going to suprise him . Trying to figure out if I want to tell him a day or two before we leave (so he can do his own packing and have a little bit of anticipation time) or go for maximum suprise and just pick him up from school on the 19th and go straight to the airport.... Any suggestions??

 

[AmyinNC]

Mom&RN

Our oldest was 15 when we first went (the other girls were 10 and 8). We had never been on a vacation because of DH's job and $. We received a PIN for free dining and I made him take a vacation. At first, I was afraid our girls would all be too old to really enjoy it. HA!!! We drove from NC to FL (12 hours) and never ONCE heard the "are we there yet?" comment. We only have a Ford Taurus so it's not a big car either. The whole trip was just so magical. The girls give up Christmas presents every year for Disney. It's not even a question to which one they want.

It was the best thing we could have ever done for our family. Hands down. Maybe that's why my DH is making a point to go to Disney every year. We always eat dinner a a family and most days, the conversation always turns to Disney and what restaurants we liked, crazy things we did, where else would we like to stay. It's family communication that we just didn't have before.

Talking about "looking cool," the second and third year I made matching t-shirts. Who would have thought even the (then) 16 yr old girl would be excited over wearing matching shirts??? She even insisted we make them again last year! (well, not 'we' so much as ME) But they all love them. They even still wear them to school.

I've always wanted to surprise my girls, BUT...I just can't keep a secret that big! Plus, they like to hear (and discuss) every detail of our trip before we go. They like to look at pics of the resort, the menus of the restaurants, the details of the Halloween (or Christmas) party. When we we're doing what(what park and where we're eating on which day). And I just have to talk about it too! So good luck if you can keep it in! I admire you for that! I'd pick him up from school and go!

My girls keep seeing the commercial where they are surprising the kids with a trip to Disney and they ask why we haven't done the same thing. Well #1, those kids are younger so their concept of time isn't right, 6 months sounds like tomorrow to them! #2 they like to be part of the planning now so they can't plan AND be surprised! So then they realize they would rather know beforehand.

Amy in NC

 

[POOHsie]

I have gone to WDW since I was in my teens. I married and so did my other 4 sisters. They moved away and started raising their families. So did I. We went to WDW as often as we could. My sisters would sometimes take their families to WDW, but not with the other sisters. Then, when my DD turned 20, she decided to get married at WDW, at the Boardwalk Pavilion (just past ESPN). Every one of my sisters and their children, now grown, and our mom, went to the ceremony and stayed a few extra days. It was the first time since our teens that me and my sisters had a vacation together. I felt like a kid again! It was the thrill of a lifetime and I will never forget that time at WDW.