not taking the kids:kids give you trouble?

[Wickedmom75]

This is too funny!! Dh and I just asked the kids how dissapointed they would be if we went to Disney World again without them ( we went by ourselves in sept of 2003 to celebrate an early 10th anniversary). They said "can we stay with Nana?" no whining at all until my DD10 said " Hey isnt EE going to be open?" We said probably and then they all started yelling Uh Uh you can't ride that without us!!! When we went for our anniversary we had a great time and it was nice not having to miss out on rides or wait for baby swap etc... but we also missed them too.

 

[vanyel]

Go for it! Everyone needs some "adult" time and WDW is a great place for it. Yes, it's wonderful to have the kids with you but going to wdw without them is another trip entirely.

Go and have a great time!

 

[jennyl772003]

My son is a little disappointed that he is not going with us on our next trip. It's not too bad for 2 reasons though.

1. He is going to Grandma's house. That is a vacation in itself.

2. We ARE taking him to WDW for 10 days in Aug.

Me and DH started second guessing our decision, be decided that we deserved an adults only trip. I mean, come on DS came with us on our honeymoon! We are really looking forward to taking the KTTK tour, checking out Jellyrolls and going to AC.

We did book the Hoop de Doo for DS for our Aug trip though. Our little way to make it up to him...

 

[carone0318]

We went to Disney in Feb 05 without our kids for our 10 yr anniversary. We went from a Wed to a Sun and the kids stayed home with the grandparents. We called everyday and it was great. At first the kids weren't too thrilled about the idea of us going and them staying but here is my biggest tip:

Do an adults only trip when you already have a family trip planned in the future. We kept telling them that yeah we are going Feb, you guys will be going with us in June. It eventually worked!

 

[FionaLovesShrek]

DH and I will be going sans DD 12/06. After our last trip it was an easy decision. The two of us, while enjoying WDW with DD, did not get to enjoy WDW the way we wanted because DD said no to certain rides, whined when we wanted to stroll, threw fits when we wanted to try something she didn't. We decided we wanted to explore WDW as a couple and make memories discovering new things together. We have not told DD we are going, just because we know she will make us miserable for not including her. We are however, planning a 2007 trip with DD and she is getting excited for that trip. It is being geared for DD all the way, staying at ASMo, splitting between Universal...DD is VERY excited, she's never been but has toured their website. So now, to get through the next several months without telling DD we're going to her favorite place without her.

 

[mjh8955]

My husband had a conference at Anaheim a few years ago and I had the opportunity to go along and stay with him at the Disneyland Hotel, a beautiful place and literally a few steps away from Downtown Disney. Our kids at the time were 7 and 10, we had just had a WDW trip that year so I didn't feel they were underprivileged. I made them both very happy by hiring my DD's 2nd grade teacher to stay with them for a week. She was the most popular teacher in school; single, blonde, pretty, very cool. My kids were the envy of the entire school and couldn't have cared less that Mom was hanging out every day with Mickey and they weren't. I made sure they had dinners out at their favorite places and went to the movies, etc. For me, the trip was blissful. Today they don't even remember that we went to Disneyland without them, but they do remember the fun they had when beloved Miss Johnson stayed with them!

 

[bratus913]

My mom, sister and I are going in May for a 'girls trip'. This is not the first time we have gone to the World on a girls trip. My dd's (currently 5 and 7) are usually pretty good about it. I let them make a wish list of a couple of things to bring back for them. I think they like the daddy/daughter time without mom always spoiling things - the way we moms do

It probably also helps that they know a family trip is in the works for next year.

I say go for it. If I could get my DH to go just the 2 of us, I sure would!!

 

[vicceja]

Hi!

My husband and I discusseD the possibility of going on a Kids Free trip to Disney World and we both agreed that we could never take a trip there without the kids - just wouldn't be the same. We are a Disney Team!

 

[gris gris]

My in-laws went for their 25th anniversary last year. We didn't give them much grief because they had just taken the entire family in 03. However they did miss DD's birthday But, it was their 25th.

This year when we go we invited them to come with us but they're passing.

I'm not sure we could go without our DD. We went on our honeymoon and it was awesome to go as an adult. However if DH & I wanted to go somewhere to get away, I think we'd pick somewhere where we wouldn't necessarily bring our kids anyhow.

 

[Matt]

First and foremost, I love my time at Walt Disney World with my children. 90% of my enjoyment comes from watching them. It does not pain me to hear them point something out to me or have to take them on a ride 38 times. I enjoy being with them. As long as the child gets a Disney trip, I wouldn't think it is a bad idea to go by yourself. I happen to know a couple who went to Disney for a week and they left their 7 year old at home. Well, it wouldn't be a big deal if the child had EVER BEEN TO DISNEY before. That is the worst thing I have ever heard of. lol

We have APs and we're spending 4 weeks at Disney throughout the year. We're going in February, June, October, and December. However, we've decided to add a weekend for Mommy and Daddy only in August. I doubt we tell them where we are going though. haha I don't think I could do it for more than a long weekend though. While it would be nice to have a quiet meal, a tour, etc.. I prefer being there with my girls. Now, once they become teenagers, I'll be glad to leave them. haha

 

[minkydog]

We took our first adults-only WDW trip last January--planned purposefully so the kids would be in school. I am a firm believer in parents staying connected apart from the kids. We don't get very many opportunities to get away by ourselves and i don't feel one bit guilty when we do. Even at Disney World.

We told the kids where we were going and they were a little disappointed, but they understood. They also know that the next trip is theirs (Thanksgiving 2005). We don't lie and we don't make excuses for needing time away. Our care providers are usually family and they make sure the kids have a blast while we're gone. My marriage is important enough to put the kids aside for one week a year.

Cathy--mom to John (19), Eleni (12), & Christian (10)

 

[bamagirl@hrt]

I'm actually going next week without my kids OR my husband!! And I can't wait! Don't get me wrong, I love my family dearly. And I love being at WDW with my family. However, I haven't had any time away from all of them in over 4 years. I'm going to a conference at Coronado Springs next week with three other ladies. Of course, we're working in some park time. One of the ladies, a great friend of mine, is as much as Disney nut as I am, so we'll have a blast!

My kids are actually being fantastic about this trip. They are 7 & 4, but don't seem at all jealous that I'm leaving them behind. We are planning a big family trip to WDW in October, so they talk about that a lot. Their only requests: DS4 asked that I not meet the Incredibles without him. They're his favs right now & we've not met them yet. DD7, asked that I not eat a Mickey ice cream bar, because that's her fav WDW treat. Totally do-able!

DH & I are considering a trip to WDW for our 15th anniversary in 2007. I had been concerned how the kids would handle us going w/out them. Now, I see they'd be just fine.

So, go and have a great time!

 

[marcbelt]

Different strokes for different folks. Unlike Minkydog above, I couldn't go to Disney without my kids. Guilt would kill me. I know my wife would feel the same.

 

[Blythep]

We have been to DisneyWorld without our kids twice. When we brought them for the first time (2001) they whined and complained the whole time and we had to drag them on almost every ride (two sons 10, 13). We told them that we were going back without them. So my hubby and I planned a trip the following summer just the two of us and had a blast, so much so that when Disney offered the free dining last fall we planned another trip without them for our 18th anniversary.

Unfortunately we are bringing them back in March of this year. But hey, they are 5 years older - right!!?? Acutally we are only bringing one back - the oldest is going with his high school band and parents aren't cool enough to hang around with him.

We will have a great time.

 

[nluvwithmickey]

Just got back 2 days ago from a week long stay with hubby alone.....It was alot of fun running around doing all the fun rides that my 2 DD's do not want to do and eating at places we would not normally eat with the kids. I was surprised at how many couples alone without kids are at WDW, so it did not feel too weird.

DD's did not give me too much grief when I left but we missed each other ALOT. I started feeling it after 4 days, I just couldn'T wait to come back to WDW with my girls....

But an adult vacation is still something great, go for it. Take advantage of this time to do all the things you wouldn't be able to do with your children...I personnally needed to get that out of my system.

 

[janice1234]

we go as a family every year to disney. this past november my husband and i had an opportunity to go to disney for 5 days without the kids. my daughter11 was horrified at the thought of us at disney without her. my 15 year old son on the other hand was happy.the kids stayedwith the inlaws who spoil them rotten. it was a very different experience being there without the kids. we really had a great time, but i do not think i could go back to disney without them, now,a tropical island get away.....

 

[kakiegirl]

I see nothing wrong with going to Disney without your children but it is something I could never do. I hope to always share Disney with my DD, I hope she grows up loving it like I do and one day we will be doing Disney with her family when she is grown. I do like couple time with my DH but I would feel to guilty to enjoy Disney without her.

 

[dixiedizfan]

I can't imagine a Disney trip without my kids either, and they're teens. I would constantly be going ... "Andy would love this" or "Kimmie should see that." They love Disney as much as we do, and it wouldn't be fair to not let them go there with us; they would be heartbroken. Any other trip maybe ... because spouses do need special time together ... just not Disney! It won't be that long til they're grown and gone, so gotta enjoy those Disney trips together while we can.

 

[ssdeverell]

We took DS8 last March, and he really did not enjoy it much (shocking, I know), so DH took me back in September to make up for DS's not so magical behavior. DS said he wanted to go again when he found out, but by then he had told everyone in the family how it was not so great. We just told him no, and there was a small bang of guilt. We were constantly talking about how he would like this and that while we were there, though. It was just wonderful, but after we returned, I told him we would take him in March this year. At first he said yes, but then he said he really just does not want to go back, so . . . DH and are going back in Sept alone.

I don't know which is harder - children who do not like it or going without the children who do.

I hope you have a great time and tell the kids when they have a 20th anniversary, they can go with you! They should be proud their parents made it that long together.

 

[momrek06]

DH & I went last year for the first time w/o the kids. It was "kinda" hard at first for me as I kept saying Mike would LOVE this or Chris would LOVE that...I had to realize they are not here, they are at college and it is just me and DH!! We did have a blast and we did everything possible we could from all the parks and all the rides and all the restaurants. We got so busy we eventually forgot about the kids not being with us. We called them on our cell's from different parts of the Parks....ToT, RRC, MissionSpace, Splash Mtn, etc etc!!! I will say both my DS's are in college and I don't think I could ever have gone to WDW if they were any younger than college WITHOUT them. They LOVE WDW!! And I just don't think I could honestly go without them until they were over 18!! I will say DH & I are now headed to WDW for a 7 day land and sea on the Wonder all alone. AND I even bought Birnbaum's book "DISNEY WITHOUT THE KIDS"!!!