Tickets are expensive, no doubt about it. We love our
DVC annual pass prices though, and budget so we can use them for at least two trips or more.
Our passes ran out last October, so in May DH and I used SWA credits we had and went down to our first stay in AKV savanna studio with no kids for a week (our only child at home is our DD 17, boys are 20 and 22 not at home). We are trying to adjust to empty nest as well. We had no passes, but we got a rental car, bought a few groceries for breakfasts and lunches for the week, and stayed on a budget for dinner every night. It was such a relaxing and enjoyable trip - I was a little bummed I couldn't just pop into a park for a quick fix, but AK is my favourite park, so being able to watch the animals from my balcony every day made it less painful. We were at the pool every morning at 8:30 reading, swimming and soaking up the sun, had lunch in our studio, then would read on the balcony, go explore other resorts, wander DTD, whatever. We saw a couple of movies, had another fun visit to Jellyrolls one night, and basically had a relaxing week for about $800.00.
So don't get worried about not having your kids in future trips - we have been taking ours since my daughter was 4 and joined DVC when she was 6, so we too have had many enjoyabe DVC trips with the whole family. I look forward to some less expensive and less busy trips with DH (we can stay longer with our points when the kids aren't with us and do non-park trips), and someday I'll be able to enjoy watching my grandchildren's first visits to WDW!
We do have an expensive trip coming up soon though, we are going for a week starting New Year's Day with DD and her BFF and joining my DSIS and her DH and four kids, so we are getting a one bdrm at OKW for us, and will be getting our APs (have our 25th anniversary trip next October to use them again for). Plus our dues have to be paid as soon as we get home, so trying to save my pennies and having a very low budget Christmas this year!