Leaving the "Grown Up Kids" Home for the first time

[KinderTchr]

I am very much looking forward to our trip in Dec. It will be DH, DS14, DD11 and myself.

I am a little concerned because this will be the first time that my oldest two daughters - 22 and 27 have not gone with me. 27 year old is married and actually had her honeymoon in WDW in March. 22 yr old is a manager of a major retail store and there is no way she can get off the week after Christmas and we can't go any other time.

I have taken older daughters many times over the years, and they have both been without me when they went with grandparents, school trip etc. but I am feeling quilty that they are not being included in this trip.

Anyone had a similar experience?

I am trying to think of something affordable but really special to give to them for Christmas so they don't feel completely left out. I know nothing compares with a trip to Disney but any ideas. I was thinking maybe season tickets to the local Broadway tours as all three of them love those. This years season includes Lion King, Mama Mia and one other show.

Any other ideas?
Kaye

 

[NJBILL]

I am very much looking forward to our trip in Dec. It will be DH, DS14, DD11 and myself.

I am a little concerned because this will be the first time that my oldest two daughters - 22 and 27 have not gone with me. 27 year old is married and actually had her honeymoon in WDW in March. 22 yr old is a manager of a major retail store and there is no way she can get off the week after Christmas and we can't go any other time.

I have taken older daughters many times over the years, and they have both been without me when they went with grandparents, school trip etc. but I am feeling quilty that they are not being included in this trip.

Anyone had a similar experience?

I am trying to think of something affordable but really special to give to them for Christmas so they don't feel completely left out. I know nothing compares with a trip to Disney but any ideas. I was thinking maybe season tickets to the local Broadway tours as all three of them love those. This years season includes Lion King, Mama Mia and one other show.

Any other ideas?
Kaye

My oldest son 19, was not included this year. I explained to him that between paying for college and $$ toward his car insurance, that it was not feasible going forward,but he could come if he paid his own way.. I felt bad and still do, but choices have to made sometimes. He seemed to understand and did not seem to care all that much,as he is developing a life of his own.

 

[sistertrip]

I had the reverse situation. A few years ago my sister and I (we were 17 and 20) went without our parents for the first time. We had a blast, and I'm pretty sure my parents enjoyed having the house to themselves. (It was a summer that I was home from college, and my sister was still living at home.)

 

[WantToGoNow]

I haven't faced that situation yet but will in the near future. My dd22 is going with us in November but this very well could be her last trip for a while as a family. She will be finishing school and starting a career. I also have a 5 and a 2 year old so I know we will continue our trips atleast every other year for several years. I have thought about how strange it will feel when she's not there. Her friend is coming along again this year so they will be spending quite a bit of time off by themselves.

 

[DebbieinWA]

This year we are in a similar situation. I think we've finally got it figured out. We have four children - youngest just graduated from high school last week, so now all four will be working and in college. We started out planning to have our two youngest fly down with us and have the older two join us (in different colleges, so finals weeks are different) - but after much soul-searching, we've decided that DH and I will go down on our originally scheduled date, but all four kids will fly down together a few days later. That way, they all get to experience the same magic, etc. I figure this is our last trip with all four. It's been difficult to convince them all to come (two want to, two don't), but I've planned a few surprises, and hopefully they will all come home from this vacation with a lot of good memories.

 

[VAN]

My kids are now 20 and 21. We went to WDW almost every year since they were little.

My son now thinks WDW is "uncool" so isn't all that interested in going and also does more cool things like skiiing in CO! My DD LOVES WDW and would like to go every time if possible. College/work schedules get in the way. This is what we have done the last few years:

When DS started college, DD was a senior in HS. My DH and I drove down a week early and then DD flew down with a friend then drove back with us.

Next year, my DH and I drove down and DS flew down for his break and then DD for her college break (overlapping on the weekend). My DH doesn't want to go this early again as it was still too "cold."

This year, my DD and I went the first week in January and DH and I went for our usual 2 weeks but by ourselves.

Next year, we are going to Las Vegas for kids college break and then DH and I will take two weeks in late April to go to WDW. They should both be done with college in time to fly down for the second week of our stay.

Even though they can't come for the entire 2 weeks, just flying them down for a portion of the trip is special.

 

[silverspark7]

I'm 20, and will be going with DM (42) DD (42) and DSister (15) in July. I love WDW and would always join in on the family trips if I'm welcome.

This trip is probably going to be somewhat bittersweet, because it might be my last "family" vacation to disney...I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts!!

 

[Disney Spaz]

Mine are a little younger but this Nov will be our first trip w/o 16 yar old DS. We have gone multiple times in the past few years and at our last trip in Oct DS informed us that we ruin his vactions by wanting family time and that from that point on count him out of WDW trips. At first I was devestated as we just had a new baby and it will be her first trip to the world but DS has stood strong about not wanting to get stuck in lines waiting for princesses. But now I realize that if I forced DS to go he would ruin it for the others and that if I let myself be sad while in WDW about his absence that I am ruining things for those who want to be there. Isn't it hard when kids grow up.
I do agree with your idea about the special Christmas gift since it is around the holidays and the Broadway tickets sound perfect since they include Lion King it is bringing in a little of that Disnet magic.

 

[heatherfeather24]

I think your kids will understand. My sister (27) and I (30) love to be included on family trips when feasible, but certainly never expect it. IMO, once you're out of college, your life and, thus, your vacations are your own.

As much as I enjoy travelling and being with my parents, I know that both them and I (with DH) enjoy our alone time. We're planning a big family trip (my parents, me, DH and our kids, DS and BIL (and any kids they might have)) to occur sometime in the next 5-8 years, but the rest of our Disney trips will probably be with our solo family units.

Edited to answer your question: I think the Broadway tour tickets are a fantastic idea. Or, if they're theme park lovers in general (not just Disney), maybe an AP to your closest theme park?

 

[Lives4Disney]

Mine are a little younger but this Nov will be our first trip w/o 16 yar old DS. We have gone multiple times in the past few years and at our last trip in Oct DS informed us that we ruin his vactions by wanting family time and that from that point on count him out of WDW trips. At first I was devestated as we just had a new baby and it will be her first trip to the world but DS has stood strong about not wanting to get stuck in lines waiting for princesses. But now I realize that if I forced DS to go he would ruin it for the others and that if I let myself be sad while in WDW about his absence that I am ruining things for those who want to be there. Isn't it hard when kids grow up.
I do agree with your idea about the special Christmas gift since it is around the holidays and the Broadway tickets sound perfect since they include Lion King it is bringing in a little of that Disnet magic.

I don't have any sage words for the OP, I just wanted to read the responses because we are a family of 5 and kind of going thru the same thing. We started going to WDW several times a year, 15 years ago when my son was just a baby. This trip my son (almost 16) wants to stay with his friend's family instead of coming to WDW with us. Honestly at first I was secretly thrilled because in the past he has kind of been a downer and we have two little girls that still get into the characters and the whole Disney experience. Now, as our trip approaches (July 3) I am getting a bit reluctant and having second thoughts about how it will be without his added humor, his kindness of standing in RNR and ToT lines with his little sister over and over again - despite having to get out a couple times because she chickened out of had to go to the bathroom, LOL, his being my DH's buddy, his funny way of looking at things......I am kind of feeling melancholy about his "moving on" and away from our family. They do grow up so fast.

Lives4Disney

 

[MelanieC]

My kids are DD14 & DS8 right now. I have already told DD14 that we she is grown with kids we can all go down together as a family. So far she seems to like that idea. I can't imagine going without them but I know someday the time will come. I can feel your pain even though I'm not in that boat right now.