Moms: How on earth do you RELAX on a Disney Vacation?

[devotedchristian]

Because as we know, traveling with Young Kids *can* be work (the packing, the checklist, dealing with tantrums/meltdowns). What works for you?

*Where* do you relax? *How* Do you Relax?

For example, if you want to lay out by the pool in a lounge chair and close your eyes, who is watching your kids while they swim? Do you and your DH/SO take turns keeping eyes on them?

We are heading out 4th of July weekend for our first Disney Trip with DS (Our Only child...Age 4 at the end of July) and I am having LOTS of pre talks with DH that he will be ON, 90% of the time while we are there.

He is leaving in the morning for a weekend trip for Miami with his brothers and good friends. Not a problem for me at all...he deserves it since he is a WAHD AND take care of DS during the day until I get home in the evening.

2 weeks later, we are going to Disney...so this will be his 2nd trip in less than a month...but since he will get to relax in Miami, the deal is *I* will get to relax in Disney.

We are only doing 1 park, but we have a 2 full days at the resort to relax.

I just wanted to know how do you Relax or do you NOT get a chance to relax?

Or do you just *plan* to come home from a Disney Vacation tired?

I just don't want to come home from vacation *tired*.

 

[DISNEYFOS]

I'd say DH and I take turns for the most part if we are at the pool. Can't say that I've spend a lot of time lounging though, but he's pretty good about swimming with her and giving me time to myself.

At the beach club its nice to just sit in the sand bottom pool and relax while DD entertains herself with a shovel and bucket.

For me, I don't think Disney could ever be a Relaxing vacation say compared to a Carribean beach resort for a week pre-kids...but it certainly gives them an awful lot to look at and keeps them entertained so you don't have to 24x7.

I think its the atmosphere that really relaxes me..escape from the real world type of thing.

 

[JamesMom]

one word - babysitting!! LOL

We plan to do a LOT of relaxing on our family vacation with a 2& 5 year old. Heres the plan:

Mornings - Family goes to a park or water park from early opening till lunch.

Afternoons - Parent swap. Mom takes kids back to hotel for swim/nap while Dad has free time. Next day - switch, Dad takes kids and Mom hits the spa!

Evenings - half of our evenings are adult only nights. Hiring KidsNiteOut to watch our kids while Mom & Dad enjoy dinner, adult beverages and Evening Magic Hours at the parks. The other family nights are at Downtown Disney, Campfire program or just chill. Don't plan to hit the parks with the kids at night. We plan to maintain the same kids schedule while on vacation which means bed at 7:30p and rise at 6:30a.

We do this sort of thing at home too. For the summer movies - too many we want to see to afford babysitting, so I see the movie on Saturday while Dad watches kids and we switch on Sunday. Just makes sense to us AND we have scheduled time to relax.

Helps that our trip is 11 nights long so we can take a day or two 'off schedule' and not feel jipped in some way.

Hope that helps.

 

[bfrosty]

Sorry if I seem like a crab b*tt....but I'd like to share. =))

First, I don't go to Disney to spend time away from my kids, it's because of my kids I want to spend time with them at Disney.

I think both DH and DW need to take turns doing stuff with kids to make it enjoyable. Neither one of us wants to be alone w/o a kiddo, so I take my DS and the DW takes my DD and we do whatever. We also spend a lot of time together as a family, since we both work and have crazy schedules.

Disney is a time for us to be together, not alone. You have 8hrs a night to be alone in bed, asleep =)) each day.

Sorry, but I love my kids and I take them to Disney to enjoy it with them, my DW and all the other guests at the park. I see it as one big party and have fun, life is short.

Have a great 4th of July vacation, wonder if they do more, bigger fireworks on the 4th???

Enjoy the little ones now, they grow up fast.
bfrosty

 

[asktriplets]

I'd say DH and I take turns for the most part if we are at the pool. Can't say that I've spend a lot of time lounging though, but he's pretty good about swimming with her and giving me time to myself.

At the beach club its nice to just sit in the sand bottom pool and relax while DD entertains herself with a shovel and bucket.

For me, I don't think Disney could ever be a Relaxing vacation say compared to a Carribean beach resort for a week pre-kids...but it certainly gives them an awful lot to look at and keeps them entertained so you don't have to 24x7.

I think its the atmosphere that really relaxes me..escape from the real world type of thing.

ditto!

it is relaxing in the sense that you are away from the day-to-day stressors. dh and i are always pretty 50/50 on childcare when we're together, so that right there minimizes the "work" compared to my normal routine. as the pp mentioned, it is easy to entertain kids there, even if the actual physical care isn't much easier.

i think it's great that you and dh are discussing expectations beforehand. i imagine that that will make for a smoother trip.

as for actual "relaxing"...i've told dh i'm ready for a "break" and gotten a huge margarita in the mexican pavilion. i spent a nice mellow hour or 2 trailing along with the rest of my family and watching/enjoying the kids' experiences while dh handled all of the logistical stuff.

along with the pp, dh tends to spend more time playing with the kids in the pool, while i just sort of float around and pitch in when needed, which is a lovely break, especially since it just sortof happens that way and everyone is happy with the arrangement.

we generally go to sleep not long after the kids when we're all in the same room, so dh and i get a TON of sleep...no staying up late to do dishes, laundry (that gets done while 1 of us takes the kids to the pool), pay bills, search online for random info, etc. like we do at home. all of this sleep is WONDERFULLY relaxing, even with the craziness of the days there.

also, i generally find the "childcare" part of being at WDW enjoyable and invigorating (not the meltdowns, potty breaks, and dealing with ocassional whining and bickering, of course, but the REST of it) ...EVERYONE is generally happy most of the time while at WDW, so it is the BEST time to be with the kids. childcare is also easier there because we're a lot more laid back on vacation as far as indulging the kids (not behavior-wise, but with food, treats, activities, timing).

i find that when i've told dh i want a "break" and he takes the kids somewhere by himself, i end up missing them, and wondering what great experiences i'm missing.

THIS is the hardest thing about "relaxing" as mom, i think, no matter WHERE i am. i want to a "break", but i can never really "let go". kwim?

 

[abolanwoski]

We take a grand parent on all vacations now! It is an awesome opportunity for DD to spend quality time with them since we live so far from home (military ) and also, we get little breaks (a nap while they go to the pool, etc) or a nice dinner after DD is asleep. It's also a great chance to take my parents places they would never go without my initiative. My Dad will go to WDW for the first time in his 75 years in Sep! He went on his first cruise last year. We're thinking MX in the spring. So it's a win-win. I could never go on vaca without DD, but everyone needs to nurture their marriage and recharge themselves.

 

[mom2aredhead]

First, I don't go to Disney to spend time away from my kids, it's because of my kids I want to spend time with them at Disney.
Sorry, but I love my kids and I take them to Disney to enjoy it with them, my DW and all the other guests at the park. I see it as one big party and have fun, life is short.
Enjoy the little ones now, they grow up fast.
bfrosty

I totally agree. If I wanted to have a couples vacay w/my hubby for a few days, trust me it would not be in WDW - Aruba maybe, or even elsewhere in FL (Keys, Miami) but for us, Disney is family time.

i find that when i've told dh i want a "break" and he takes the kids somewhere by himself, i end up missing them, and wondering what great experiences i'm missing.

Me too. I only have 1 little one, and my hubby surprised me with a pedicure appointment at CSR on our last trip. Nice as it was to get away and be pampered, I almost felt guilty...like I should have done that at home before we left so I wasn't wasting family vacation time. Meanwhile, they had gone to the pool and were having a great time together swimming and going down the slide. When I got back, I sat and watched them for a little while before they realized I was there, and I really loved seeing them enjoying their time together.
So now I'm thinking, maybe there was an ulterior motive in sending me for the pedi?

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

For me, being away from the day to day grind of work and home is enough of a vacation for me. We rarely split up (I think only in the case of someone being ill and that is rare). On some trips, but not all, me and DH will take one evening where we might go to V&A's and the kids were with a sitter or at the kids clubs. We drop the kids off, eat and pick the kids right back up-that's the extent of our alone time. Me and DH share the responsibilites while away, we don't make a conscious effort, it just happens that way naturally and neither one of us really minds-its one job we just can't get away from.

 

[devotedchristian]

If I wanted to have a couples vacay w/my hubby for a few days, but for us, Disney is family time.

I get what you are saying. But this isn't about couples' time, I am asking how do you relax WHILE your kids are nearby playing?

We will not split up during our Disney vacation. But since this will be the only vacation we take for the rest of the year, I'm wondering how to relax with young kids in tow.

PP has given me some ideas though

 

[jenrein]

Sorry if I seem like a crab b*tt....but I'd like to share. =))

First, I don't go to Disney to spend time away from my kids, it's because of my kids I want to spend time with them at Disney.

I think both DH and DW need to take turns doing stuff with kids to make it enjoyable. Neither one of us wants to be alone w/o a kiddo, so I take my DS and the DW takes my DD and we do whatever. We also spend a lot of time together as a family, since we both work and have crazy schedules.

Disney is a time for us to be together, not alone. You have 8hrs a night to be alone in bed, asleep =)) each day.

Sorry, but I love my kids and I take them to Disney to enjoy it with them, my DW and all the other guests at the park. I see it as one big party and have fun, life is short.

Have a great 4th of July vacation, wonder if they do more, bigger fireworks on the 4th???

Enjoy the little ones now, they grow up fast.
bfrosty

I agree...I thought thats what Disney was for Having said that- by the 3rd day with gma and gpa and my sister, husband and 3 kids all wanting to do everything....we hit a bottom. We left Animal Kingdom- skipped our dinner reservations, went back to the hotel, ordered a pizza and enjoyed a couple beers poolside. The kids swam with gma and gpa and we were all able to recoup.

 

[esab4]

I would say that you can squeeze out a few mini-breaks with the kids nearby. For example, I don't play with my kids every minute that they are in the pool. Every now and then I tell them I'm going to take a break and then I sit on the edge of the pool. Yes, I'm still watching them every minute, but it's relaxing in that I'm not having a ball hit me in the face every two seconds or protecting my bathing suit top from being pulled down by a kid who is clinging to me.

If your room has a balcony you can put the kids to bed and sit out there and read for a while, or leave the bathroom door cracked and take a nice long bath.

Walking around the resort is even relaxing because there's room for the kids to run. You're not having to constantly tell them "Don't touch that" or "be careful."

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I get what you are saying. But this isn't about couples' time, I am asking how do you relax WHILE your kids are nearby playing?

We will not split up during our Disney vacation. But since this will be the only vacation we take for the rest of the year, I'm wondering how to relax with young kids in tow.

PP has given me some ideas though

Well to be honest- You don't!!! I mean as in you don't sit in a chair sipping a frosty drink reading the lastest Danielle Steele while your child wanders around amusing himself. Although I have seen that done and the child almost fell in the big pool. I do understand that sometimes you need an hour or maybe even a half hour to recharge during the day. With us, the kids are usually so tired that they all nap. Luckily for me DH loves to take an afternoon nap so he stays with the kids and I usually go down to the pool or stroll the lobby or read a book. I will be honest in that my dh is amazing with the kids and I never have to ask for some time to myself. He knows how much I do and appreciates it. I will be honest though- when we are all at the pool or wherever I don't want to lounge around. I want to have fun with my little dumplings!!! We also don't split up. I would miss them so much!!! One trip dh took two of the kids to a park and I stayed in the room with our youngest because we were both so sick. I missed them so much but I was so sick I could barely get out of bed so I had no choice. If you want to lounge and relax then maybe you could plan a weekend with just your dh.

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

Sorry if I seem like a crab b*tt....but I'd like to share. =))

First, I don't go to Disney to spend time away from my kids, it's because of my kids I want to spend time with them at Disney.

I think both DH and DW need to take turns doing stuff with kids to make it enjoyable. Neither one of us wants to be alone w/o a kiddo, so I take my DS and the DW takes my DD and we do whatever. We also spend a lot of time together as a family, since we both work and have crazy schedules.

Disney is a time for us to be together, not alone. You have 8hrs a night to be alone in bed, asleep =)) each day.

Sorry, but I love my kids and I take them to Disney to enjoy it with them, my DW and all the other guests at the park. I see it as one big party and have fun, life is short.

Have a great 4th of July vacation, wonder if they do more, bigger fireworks on the 4th???

Enjoy the little ones now, they grow up fast.
bfrosty

I am with you. We have friends who go with us sometimes, and they have offered us babysitting services and we decline the offer - it is family time. Yes they do grow up so fast - we are on our second set of kids. We have 2 grown sons (31 and 27 yr old) and our girls are 7 ,6 and 3 . I wish I could have some moments back already....

 

[DISNEYFOS]

Not sure where you are staying, but one activity I always look forward to is getting a cup of coffee at the Boardwalk bakery..DD is happily hanging out in her stroller..and we walk from the boardwalk thru the international gateway at Epcot all the way to other entrance to hop on the monorail to the Magic Kingdom. Yes the buses are faster to MK but Its such a nice walk and DD enjoys the scenery. We try to walk everywhere.

DD also loves the minature character sets they sell i.e. Snow White,the Prince and the 7 dwarfs..or Peter Pan.....the cost can add up..but a set of those and she acts out scenes for at least the time it takes to leisurely sip a beer in Epcot for DH or a glass of wine, nice martini for me. Or if your not into that..sit back and people watch.

Not sure if those were the ideas you were looking for...

 

[emma'smom]

The nice thing about a Disney trip is that the kids are asleep as soon as there heads hit the pillows! This means that I have time to read my own books (something I don't do at home) after they are asleep. Also, I tend to be a very early riser on vacations...so I steal some time in the morning going to fill those drink mugs while DH wakes the kids up.

I guess that is what I do...steal a few minutes here and there. I'll stop and sit in the breezeway at BC on the way back (just for five minutes or so) or sit in the lobby of WL and look up while DH checks us into a restaurant. We sat in the lobby at the Poly last time while dd's made towel animals with CM's. We had our eyes on them, but we were not "in charge" of amusing them for those few moments.

It is definitely not the same kind of "relaxing" as we did before kids, but we have a "no TV, no newspapers" rule on vacation. I check my cell phone only in the evening for messages. It is relaxing just escaping reality and spending time with my kids without feeling guilty that I have 1/2 my mind on work!

 

[ksumn1]

My DH is a night owl, so last trip he tokk DD 7 to the pool for a late swim. Myself and DD 3 would take a nice hot shower, watch a little TV, review the days photos on the camera, cuddle for a little while and hit the sack. I love to read, so after she dropped off I would sit on the balcony (AKL) with the door open, have a snack and read for a little while. Very relaxing for me. DD 8 and DH got some quality time together, as did DD 3 and I, and I also got a little down time in the bargain.

Also, at the parks DH has horrible motion sickness. So any type of roller coaster is adefinate No No for him. So we will split up for an hour or so. At EPCOT, he took DD 3 to Turtle Talk with Crush and the Living SEas while I took DD 7 to ride Soaring and Test Track.

My advice is to take little moments when and where you can. It's not the beach or Aruba or anywhere like that, but even a 5 minute break can help. Let DH take the kids to the potty, or linger in the gift shop for a minute while you people watch. Have a great trip.

 

[JamesMom]

I just want to needlessly defend my split up position. I'm a stay-at-home mom who's idea of vacation is not watching the kids 24/7. My husband and I arrange a date night with out of town relatives maybe 2-3 times a year and this is our first night away from home/vacation in FIVE years. Disney is a very romantic place for me & my husband (we got married there for crying out loud) and appreciate it as adults and not just as parents. We anticipate plenty of family adventures, but appreciate couple & alone time as well - on vacation as well as at home. That's just us and I offered it as a suggestion to the original poster - not as the standard of the 'proper' Disney vacation.

*off soapbox* *hugs*

 

[belle&beast]

I guess I don't relax in WDW because I am so excited to be there! DH and I both are like little kids again while we are there and we enjoy every minute. We would love to go sometime without them because it is where we honeymooned, but I would miss the kids too much- they are so into Disney right now that I could never tell them we were going without them!

 

[disneymom3]

The main way I relax on a WDW vacation is we stay offsite. Get a two bedroom condo, put the kids to bed, DH and I have a little fancy drink, talk, watch TV etc.

I have used the sitters services and love that too. They are darn expensive though!

As far as by the pool, DH and I do take shifts on any vacation we go on for swimming/beach time. I play with the kids and keep an eye out while he lays in the sun or whatever and then he takes over while I sit and relax and read my book. As for him being ON 90% of the time, I don't think DH or I would be happy to be dictated to that way.

 

[FoundMyPrince]

The two times we've taken our children to Disney, DH and I came home feeling like we needed a vacation. We had a fabulous time - we were just worn out! Between the heat, being on the go, keeping track of kiddos in the mass crowds, trying to stay on some kind of plan for the day, etc., juggling everyone's personalities, it can be exhausting! All that said, we are going next spring and look forward to every minute of the trip! My DH and I try to take a mini vacation throughout the year (grandparents are able to care for the children) and that's our down time together.

In 2006 we took the kiddos grandparents with us (my parents and MIL). It was fun for them to see WDW through the kids' eyes. Our fam is going next spring with my parents. I have already asked my parents to keep our kiddos the night of our anniversary (I'd love to have a dinner out with hubby).