Oh the guilt!

[ashleymrush]

He disliked many of the rides and my poor mother rode Small World 999 times with him.

My mom has offered coming along to help multiple times. She's as WDW obsessed as I am (if not more). In fact she is probably scanning this thread multiple times hoping that more people suggest that she goes along.

With that said, my DH and I haven't had a vacation without in-laws since our honeymoon 6 years ago and both feel like it is about time to have our own vacation.

 

[triana00]

We couldn't go on a family vacation and leave a part of the family behind. We are taking our 3 year old on her first trip, and our 4 month old son is coming along.

 

[ashleymrush]

I have a question: If we were to decide last minute to bring DS along, is there anything we would need to do to inform Disney? Would we be ok to just show up with him in Orlando and add him then? He wouldn't be on our DDP so I know that's not something that's a big deal but do they give magic bands to 1 year olds (he won't quite be 2 yet)? I also don't think adding him to the room would change the price so is this something I need to worry about?

 

[Feckless]

My thought is that if the 2 year old doesn't know what he's missing, and if he won't be pining for you with grandma, I would go with DS5 alone, absolutely. It's HIS birthday trip. There will be other trips to make memories. Don't feel guilty, and don't take away anything from this special trip because you feel guilty. ITA that leaving an 8 year old behind would be an absolute NO GO in future, and your then 5 year old would probably have more fun with big brother along anyway, so leaving him behind would be no advantage.

 

[SweetMissy]

Our little one is 2 and he would absolutely love disneyworld right now!! He has been twice already (4 months old and 18 months old), but now he's just over 2 he knows the characters and even knows the term "disneyworld" lol, we'll most likely be headed there again in the spring. Our first born was 2 when we took him and although we did have fun, it was hectic because he wasn't getting his daily 2-3 hour daily nap, so that was lovely, lol. But now after 3 kids, we're used to the craziness. There's no way I would leave a child behind no matter what the age...but only you know your kid. Have fun either way!

 

[themommy]

My mom has offered coming along to help multiple times. She's as WDW obsessed as I am (if not more). In fact she is probably scanning this thread multiple times hoping that more people suggest that she goes along.

Of course I am scanning this thread! I would love to go with ya'll but, I can always go in August without ya'll too. Here is what I am hoping...That you go guilt free and have a great time! The kids will be just fine either way. Helping babysit in the most magical place on earth or spoiling the little one at my house all by himself for a week or being happy that ya'll got your first family vacation together? Yeah, I got this either way! Just be happy and stop feeling guilty!!

With that said, my DH and I haven't had a vacation without in-laws since our honeymoon 6 years ago and both feel like it is about time to have our own vacation.

Just to fill everyone in...it was not me on any vacations they had with the in-laws. Didn't want all of you thinking that I was trying to nose my way in all of the time.

 

[themommy]

Geez, I didn't know how to split that quote up correctly. Stuck a reply right in the middle. Oops!

 

[cbrown1007]

I would not leave your 2 year old. We are actually going in a month for my daughter's 5th birthday as well. And we are taking our 17 month old. No way would I leave him home. He is going to love it. He may hold me back from certain rides, but that is ok. I am going into this trip with an open mind, realizing I may miss out. But our daughter won't. Daddy can ride with her. I think if you leave your 2 year old, once you see all the little ones there, you are going to have even more guilt!

We are also lucky as in we have 2 other families coming with us. One family has 3 kids, all older then ours. The other is a younger married couple and one is actually my 17 month old's daycare teacher.

 

[ajwolfe]

I cannot imagine leaving a child behind on a family vacation to Disney. My oldest son went the first time when he was 2 1/2 and our youngest son went for the first time at 18 months. They are easier to manage in the parks at that age than at 5 or 6 when they want to do everything, but have more limited patience for the lines, etc.
I have to agree with the poster that asked if you would take the younger child by themselves. That would be the only possible way I could attempt to justify it to myself.
I think scheduling sometime for each parent to hang with just the 5 yr old would be a nice compromise if you feel it's needed.

 

[DisneyGal24]

We took DD just before she turned five and left DS(almost 2) with Mamaw and Papaw. It was a short trip, just 5 nights. I missed DS but we drove 9 hours to get there and DS could barely handle 30 minutes in the car. He enjoyed spending time with the grandparents and we enjoyed spending time with DD. We went back 1 1/2 years later as a family and had a blast! OP do what is right for you!

 

[Matravelfamily]

We had a similar situation in that we took our daughter to disneyworld for her 5 th birthday. Our youngest daughter was 23 months at the time. We took both kids and had a blast! It is probably one of our favorite memories of all time. Our girls are now 15 and 12 and we get to disney about every 2-3 years.
It was absolutely no problem traveling with both kids. We worked it all out. It just takes patience and compromise.
However that is my family and my story. You have to do what feels right for you and your family. Whatever you decide, I hope you have a wonderful trip.

 

[tina.tina]

I had something typed up and just couldn't send it because I don't know you or your situation and my situation may not apply to yours.

Here's my 2 cents boiled down to its simplest level: It is so important for parents to nurture the sibling bond for children throughout their lives.

Your 5 year old would probably get more tired than your 2 year old because he would be doing a lot more walking.

 

[khertz]

I don't think you should feel guilty if you decide to stick with your original plan.

That being said, a 2 year old can have a wonderful time in Disney! My son is an only for now, but he went just after his first birthday, and has been again for both his 2nd and 3rd birthday week and had a blast each time. If you did decide to take your little one, maybe one of you could bring him back for a nap in the middle of the day each day while the other stays with your older for a little one on one time with each parent? That way the 5 year old is not missing out on quality "him" time with mom and dad. Of course, he won't have that alone time with both of you at the same time, but it could be a good compromise.

 

[henry72]

I couldn't do it. It isn't a family vacation if you leave one kid behind. Plus I can't imagine telling your old DS when he is 8 that he doesn't get to go to Disney World when the younger turns 5. We took DS at 19 months and then later when he as 4 (and his sister 20 months) and had a blast both times. There were no melt downs and we had a great time both trips. I would take them both on both birthday trips.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

A 2 year old does remember things. They will probably remember going to Grandma's for a week, and as they get bigger they will put 2 + 2 together and realize you took their older sibling to Disney and left them home. Especially when the older sibling will probably tell them.

I really don't think it's fair that you will give your older child a solo "all about them" trip, but not the younger one. A 2 year old can enjoy Disney just as much as a 5 year old.

 

[Pamnkevin]

I would have to take both. We went when my two were 18months and 4. Some of my fondest memories of the trip were of my youngest. She had so much fun even with the limited amount of things she did. Of course now she doesn't remember, but my memories are priceless we also had grandparents with us do we had extra hands.

 

[Elleshoodat]

To each their own, but to me a family vacation is a family vacation. DS' first trip was at 18 months, and he thoroughly enjoyed himself (and so did DH and I).

I can't fathom taking one child and leaving the other home. YMMV.

 

[danceintherain]

I wouldn't be able to leave a kid behind, but at 3 1/2 DS has already been twice. I've never found traveling with little kids to be the huge hardship that a lot of people make it out to be. (maybe my tune will change once I have more than one and a more difficult child) Yeah....it's different, but not impossible.

That said, my kid would LOVE spending a week at Grandma's house too. Honestly, he would be completely in heaven going WITH Grandma to Disney World. He often says that he wants to "ride the train to Disney World" and that "Gaga come too."

Theoretically, you should be able to add the 2 year old at arrival, as long as he won't put you past occupancy rates.

We plan on going fairly frequently, and every trip is different already. I think that at some point, we make take our kid(s) individually, but I imagine it will be more of a Mommy/Son or Daddy/Daughter type thing.
If we ever leave the kids and Grandma's, it will be so DH and I can go alone.
Ultimately, we're much more prone to inviting an extra adult along. Last April, we paid for part of my sister's trip.
My Mom has already practically invited herself on our next trip, even though she's a teacher, and thus has to work during the times when we like to go.

 

[twinsouvenirs]

If you DO decide to take your 2 yr old, I just want to assure you it is totally doable (I hope). We took our twins at 1 yr, and are taking them again at 1.5 yrs.... and we'll be taking them next Jan at 2.5 years with their new 6 mo old baby sibling.

That said, we ARE leaving them both behind to take a memorial day weekend vacation together.

Our situation is different with them at the same age.

I really don't think you can make the wrong decision here: if you take him, you will have a blast. You can incorporate something special like a gift from the younger one to the older one to make it really feel 'all about him'... like one of the inroom celebrations or balloon bouquets to be delivered to the room as a surprise... http://disneyworld.disneyfloralandgifts.com/

If you don't take him, he'll have a blast with grandma and they'll do lots of special stuff together that you can ask your mom to log & take pics of. So in the future, he'll have a special week and special photo album from his week with grandma. Give her some $ so she can take him to local venues like the zoo, the aquarium, children's museum, swimming... etc.

 

[sunkissed4]

Do whatever makes you feel comfortable, but I personally couldn't go on vacation without both of my boys. My DS is 2 and has been going since he was an infant and there is a lot for toddlers to enjoy. I swear my 4 year old has more meltdowns at Disney than my 2 year old.