Leaving the Kids?

[cfknight]

We have been to WDW several times, but never without the kids. I have a family planned trip for october, (10 days at POFQ ) but I really want to take a quick 4 day trip with just me and DW here in may.(POR) I just feel soooo bad,or guilty for not taking the kids.I don't know if I will be able to enjoy myself knowing the boys aren't with us. What do you guys think? Should I cancel the trip with DW, or should I go and leave the kids behind? Has anyone gone through the same experience?

 

[Bev J]

Don't feel guilty at all! Parents deserve to have an occasional trip. We have done Disney several times without our kids and we have had a wonderful time.Sure we missed the kids but we did what we wanted to do in the parks, had romantic meals and acted like the big kids we can be sometimes!

We have done plenty of trips with the kids and they have grown to understand sometimes it is their turn and sometimes just Mom and Dad. We are headed down to WDW in December for a couples only trip- our 13 yr old is looking forward to spending the week as his big sisters apt.

Have a great guilt free trip- of course bring something cool back for the kids!

Bev

 

[Dr. M]

My dh and I went for a short trip without our 4 children. We had the best time ever! We enjoyed the parks and loved downtown disney--especially the comedy club and explorer's club (I think that's what it's called). We rode our favourite rides and didn't have grumpy, sleepy, hyper or whiney princess to deal with. Don't get me wrong, I love vacation time with my 4 children. But sometimes it's good to get away just the two of us. Don't feel guilty! Enjoy your time together in the happiest place on earth!

 

[DizneyNutz]

Don't feel guilty for a second! The DH and I have been three times w/kids, and three w/o! Our children were older when we began going to WDW, so we got to enjoy some time alone, even when we took the DD and friend. There is nothing like going with just your spouse though---nobody to please/accomodate but each other!

 

[teachingmykids]

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but what do you plan to do? This year our kids are old enough to wander on their own (plus they're taking friends), so DH & I can do as we please.
We haven't been to WDW alone since our honeymoon (27 years ago) and I don't really know how to act.
Any ideas?
~g.

 

[tipsytrtle]

go without the kids.....
it will be good fro all of you, and you will see WDW in a completely different way...

 

[kajcwman]

Enjoy your trip!!

Last year DW and I celebrated our 10th anniversary. Our original plan was for DCL, but then we added 3 days at the beginning of our trip to spend at WDW. Although we missed our kids, we didn't have any guilt leaving them with my folks. It was very nice only having to do what we wanted for a change.

 

[cfknight]

OK People, I took the plunge! I booked our plane tickets. Just Me and DW at POR mansion section. This is our first trip together alone in 13 years. Its funny but i'm kinda nervous...lol. Like our first date or something I can't wait

 

[Prissymouse]

Please don't take this the wrong way... You asked...

We could not go to Disney and not take our ds.
For us , Disney IS family. I know many parents do go without their children and all is well. That's great if it works for their family. It just isn't for us.

Have a wonderful time and enjoy each other!

 

[DizneyNutz]

Yah!!!!!! Good for you! Hope you and the DW have a WONDERFUL time!!!!

 

[tiger4me2]

Have a blast you will enjoy being away for awhile without the kids. Disney IS FUN for any age groups

 

[MrsBlovesDisney]

Yay!!! So glad you're going!!!!!!!!

We have DD13 and DS10....had first opportunity to go with DH last May. WE HAD THE BEST TIME!!!! I felt so guilty and nervous....but the kids were fine! And DH and I had some "alone time". Only negative.....we want to go back just the two of us again....which is a hard feat to accomplish!!!Heehee!!!

You will have a MAGICAL time!!!

 

[teacup317]

To the OP, go for it, no regrets and have a great time, don't let anyone rain on your parade!

 

[Sally]

I took a solo trip and stayed at AKL, which I would never stay with the girls. I missed them, but I enjoyed doing some of the things they would never do with me, and eating at places they would never. Enjoy the time for you and do a bit of shopping for the kids. Sometimes you have to have an adult Mickey adventure.

 

[Goofey Drool]

You are already planning a 10 day vacation with your family. You are just asking for 4 days alone with your husband. That is a good thing. My husband and I went to DW for a week before we had children. That was 10 years ago and we STILL talk about it! There are many things to do at DW for adults as well as kids.

You will have a great time! Enjoy! Don't feel guilty because by the sounds of your post, you spend a lot of time already as a family. It is important for parents to get away by themselves once in awhile. And so what if the place is Disney World!

 

[pepe of ohio]

Please don't take this the wrong way... You asked...

We could not go to Disney and not take our ds.
For us , Disney IS family. I know many parents do go without their children and all is well. That's great if it works for their family. It just isn't for us.

Have a wonderful time and enjoy each other!

We've been to WDW 40X and have always taken our children, take it from me, our children are grown and married now, and they grow so fast and leave. We still ask our children when we're planning a WDW trip that they are welcome to come along and if at all possible, they do still come. A few times they could not make it and wife and I have gone alone, its a completely different vacation, we're not as pushed then when the kids are there.

We always went in the earlier years for the kids, now, we still go but its for us. People have changed and so have the times, we late 50's and family back then was important now it seems everyone is going there separate ways. Ours grew up, went to college 180 miles away, OSU, and never returned to our small town. Those trips and memories of WDW are priceless to us.

 

[Prissymouse]

We've been to WDW 40X and have always taken our children, take it from me, our children are grown and married now, and they grow so fast and leave. We still ask our children when we're planning a WDW trip that they are welcome to come along and if at all possible, they do still come. A few times they could not make it and wife and I have gone alone, its a completely different vacation, we're not as pushed then when the kids are there.

We always went in the earlier years for the kids, now, we still go but its for us. People have changed and so have the times, we late 50's and family back then was important now it seems everyone is going there separate ways. Ours grew up, went to college 180 miles away, OSU, and never returned to our small town. Those trips and memories of WDW are priceless to us.

Happy to know we are not the only ones

 

[eliza61]

My kids have been to wdw plenty of times. Dh & I went last March for a long weekend and they never even batted an eye. They know they will get a chance to go again and they had a blast staying with grandma & pop-pop.

Go have a blast.

 

[sassyat30]

DH and I went this past January for an adults-only trip to POR and it was FABULOUS!!!

We loved it!!

I say go for it. I think you'll really enjoy it.

Of course, my DH and I usually do at least one trip alone per year without the kids, so we're used to leaving them.

YMMV.

 

[eliza61]

We always went in the earlier years for the kids, now, we still go but its for us. People have changed and so have the times, we late 50's and family back then was important now it seems everyone is going there separate ways. Ours grew up, went to college 180 miles away, OSU, and never returned to our small town. Those trips and memories of WDW are priceless to us.

Ahh Pepe, usually your my bud.
My family is the most important thing to me (including the " old guy" )
I don't think not bringing them with me is an indication of importance. Now that my teenagers are looking at colleges I'm as nostalgic as anyone, but my memories of wdw with just me and the hubby are just as priceless. None of my kids are even remotely considering going to school in NJ or the tristate area, which doesn't surprise me. I left NYC to go to school 600 miles away so I've encourage them to see the world. The kids have better passports than I do thanks to my mom who has been taking them to Europe and the Caribbean without us since they were 5.