Scared to go to Disney with just my husband and kids...Am I crazy?

[tdmollyb]

Every year for the past 5 years, I've gone to Disney with my whole family. This includes my parents and my siblings plus my own husband and children. We are very close and we have so much fun vacationing together. Some days we were all together, many days we broke up into smaller groups, but at the end of the day we always come together for dinner. This year the rest of my family wants to take a break from Disney, but I'm getting the itch (especially since free dining was just released). So I said to myself, I'll just go with my own family. Seems simple enough, right? Well when I was about to book, I started having serious reservations about whether I actually want to go "alone" with just my husband and kids. I'm afraid it won't be as fun and probably a lot more work since my parents won't be there to help with the kids. Am I crazy? Help me.

 

[Moushe]

I totally understand it being a lot more work when you don't other family around to help. My kids are 1 & 3 so they are A LOT of work. We take my parents on the majority of our vacations because they are such a big help. They get a free vacation and we get 2 extra sets of hands. That being said, we also cherish our trips when its just the 4 of us. Sure its a lot more work but there's something about it being just the 4 us. It makes it a special time and I know we will look back on these trips fondly when the kids are older.

Don't be scared to take on the challenge, I promise you wont regret it!

 

[tdmollyb]

You're probably right. My fears spring from a not great experience back when my oldest was 1. It was my first trip to Disney since I was a kid and my first time staying on property. The whole trip was very overwhelming. A lot of firsts, first vacation with a child was the hardest part. Halfway through our trip, my husband and I just looked at each other with dread in our eyes about starting another exhausting day when the phone rang. My parents were standing outside our door, they surprised us. They stayed for the second half of our trip and it was exponentially better from that point on. We vowed to never go without my parents again. But now, 7 years later, I am a much more experienced Disney vacationer and more experienced parent. Maybe I'm ready to tackle this thing on my own, plus my hubby of course.

Is there anyone else out there with kids, whose done Disney with and without extended family help. Can you give tips on how to approach this vacation differently. My kids are now 8 (almost 9) and 6.

 

[ajwolfe]

We always did Disney on our own when our kids were smaller. Then our last trip my sister and her family came with us. It was fun and we enjoyed our time together but it is definitely easier in our eyes to tour as a family of 4 and do what we want when we want instead of part of a larger group. This upcoming trip a friend of ours and her family is joining us - and while I'm sure we are going to have an excellent time and make lasting memories I'm also thankful that we arrive a day earlier and are staying a day later so we get a bit of family time in.
It's not that we don't want folks to come with us, but we also want to have some "family time" just to ourselves to cherish.

 

[DopeyDame]

We've done big family trips and just immediate family trips. They are both awesome in their own way. You'll LOVE the freedom to go where you guys want and not have to coordinate with everyone else. Especially now that the kids are older, being able to let them take the lead and make some decisions will be a great new experience.

 

[tdmollyb]

We've done big family trips and just immediate family trips. They are both awesome in their own way. You'll LOVE the freedom to go where you guys want and not have to coordinate with everyone else. Especially now that the kids are older, being able to let them take the lead and make some decisions will be a great new experience.

I never considered that. I always planned things that I think my kids will enjoy but maybe I should "Let it Go" *breaks into song*. Okay I'm back now. I'm starting to feel like I can do this.

 

[westie55]

I have always enjoyed going on vacations (especially Disney) with my extended family. Our trips sound much as you describe. Since I became a parent, it hasn't always worked out that we can all travel together. My husband and I have now gone twice with our son on our own. It worked out fine! The good thing about Disney is that if you plan to keep returning, every trip can be different and unique! If you don't have the help of your parents or in-laws, that may mean less alone time for your husband and yourself. You may have to tweak things based on the unique needs of your immediate family, but that's ok. I agree that you will probably like the flexibility of not having to fit everyone's needs in. It will still be fun, just in a different way. I'm pretty new to the parenthood thing so if I can survive it, you can too!

 

[Shellyb84]

I really enjoy taking yearly beach vacations with extended family, but as far as Disney goes, I actually prefer going just me, DH and DD. It's so much easier going at our own pace and not having to please everyone. The worst part is not getting to ride much together as DD doesn't like to ride much.

 

[CharleneR]

Our trip in August will be the first "big" trip we've taken anywhere just the four of us. I am looking forward to it, but my boys are now 11 and 8 1/2 so we don't really need any extra help. My grandparents or extended family never went on trips with us when I was growing up and we always had fun! In fact when we booked this trip we didn't even ask if anyone else wanted to come. I'm sure you will have a great time!

 

[Tara1988]

I think you'll be fine with those ages. We have gone 4 times since my oldest (5 now) was born, 3 with "extended" family and once with just us right before he turned 3. That was probably the best trip we've had so far because it was all about him. This fall will be our first trip with more than one kid. Our oldest will be almost 6, and we will have an almost 2 year old and a newborn (around 3 months) I am trying to convince anyone to come with us, but I think we will be able to handle it on our own if we have to. Just have to be flexible and know it won't be the perfect fantasy that I imagine.

 

[LuckyBelle81]

Every year for the past 5 years, I've gone to Disney with my whole family. This includes my parents and my siblings plus my own husband and children. We are very close and we have so much fun vacationing together. Some days we were all together, many days we broke up into smaller groups, but at the end of the day we always come together for dinner. This year the rest of my family wants to take a break from Disney, but I'm getting the itch (especially since free dining was just released). So I said to myself, I'll just go with my own family. Seems simple enough, right? Well when I was about to book, I started having serious reservations about whether I actually want to go "alone" with just my husband and kids. I'm afraid it won't be as fun and probably a lot more work since my parents won't be there to help with the kids. Am I crazy? Help me.

You're not crazy! We've taken trips with my inlaws and also just with our immediate family but I was kind of thinking along the same lines since I booked a trip today for Dec. Our last 2 trips (April 2013 and Nov 2015) have been with family and while there are definitely challenges involved (my FIL can be kinda crotchety at times and my MIL has mobility issues and has to have a walker or scooter and those pose their own sets of issues) there were advantages too. For instance, our older 2 can pretty much ride everything (there were a couple things that our oldest could ride that our middle couldn't yet but I think he'll be able to do everything this time) and it was nice to be able to ride with them while our 2yo stayed with the grandparents. They also took all of the kids one of the nights we were there so DH and I could have a date night and that was so nice. But this time it will just be us so we'll have to do rider swap and all that. But I'm looking forward to it (its DISNEY WORLD, right??) even with the challenges we will have. I'm looking forward to it just being us. Its been great to have memories at WDW with the grandparents but I want to have some of just us too.

 

[RMColosimo]

You're probably right. My fears spring from a not great experience back when my oldest was 1. It was my first trip to Disney since I was a kid and my first time staying on property. The whole trip was very overwhelming. A lot of firsts, first vacation with a child was the hardest part. Halfway through our trip, my husband and I just looked at each other with dread in our eyes about starting another exhausting day when the phone rang. My parents were standing outside our door, they surprised us. They stayed for the second half of our trip and it was exponentially better from that point on. We vowed to never go without my parents again. But now, 7 years later, I am a much more experienced Disney vacationer and more experienced parent. Maybe I'm ready to tackle this thing on my own, plus my hubby of course.

Is there anyone else out there with kids, whose done Disney with and without extended family help. Can you give tips on how to approach this vacation differently. My kids are now 8 (almost 9) and 6.

We have done Disney both with larger extended family, my sister and her family and my mother, and just my mother with us. This year it is just the wife, kids and I. But I am sure we will still have a blast, we have 3 kids 12, 9, and 7. So my two youngest are almost the same ages as your kids.

At those ages, your kids will know what they want to do, and with a little planning, you and your husband should be able to have an awesome time. It is easier to go with extended family, but there is something nice with just the 'core' family as well.

 

[pooh4evr]

our best trips are when its just the 5 of us. Nobody to slow us down, or sit around saying "what do you want to do". At 8 and 6 you should be fine, no strollers, no diapers, big enough for everything. Plan and go.

 

[kangamangus]

We have gone alone to Disney every time just hubby myself and all the kiddos ( half dozen). This year is the first year we are going down with my parents and my brother ( single no kids age 47). I'm expecting a lot more work at keeping everything planned and organized and actually feel nervous about going down with the extra adults! I do think it will help when we want to split up with 5 adults as opposed to two. My family is also very close ( my parents live next door!), I'm just hoping to go with the flow and be grateful that we all get to spend this time together. I think you guys should go for it!

 

[monorailsilver]

Do you take your kids out to dinner, movies, stores, parks with out another helper besides your spouse? If you answer yes then I wouldn't be worried. If you answered no then don't go with out your parents!

I am sure it is wonderful to have the extra set of hands but I was never that fortunate. My parents came once but just for a few days and went to the parks with us. Heck my dad pushed the stroller because he wanted something to lean on. And then my sister came the last time we went but again we all did the parks together.

Your pace may be a little different too. My parents were about 70/71 and both had/have heart issues so we paced our walk with them, plus they weren't in a rush. They really didn't care what rides/parks we went to and just followed our lead.

I do think you will have a great time. You only have 2 kids so one per parent to keep an eye on/hold hands with.

It's the unknown that is scary.

 

[writermommy6]

I think you'll have a blast. Of course last year was the first time we have taken anyone with us on vacation in a long time. We took my parents and my single brother. It was a disaster. This year we're taking just my mom because I'm having mobility issues and hubby wants a back up. Of course we have a big crew. Our four kids plus one we call our adopted daughter which is the oldest's BFF and goes everywhere with us.
Embrace the one on one time and let the kids help you plan.

 

[powellrj]

With the ages of your kids, you will be fine!

 

[jerseygal]

You'll have a GREAT TIME! You will be able to do what you want as a family, not always trying to accommodate everyone likes and dislikes, "the extended family". ENJOY and make some new memories. And then there will be that time in your life, when you will enjoy traveling, just the two of you, doing whatever makes you both happy.

 

[Kimberly9701]

You can do it!!! Don't worry!

 

[hallen4]

You're probably right. My fears spring from a not great experience back when my oldest was 1. It was my first trip to Disney since I was a kid and my first time staying on property. The whole trip was very overwhelming. A lot of firsts, first vacation with a child was the hardest part. Halfway through our trip, my husband and I just looked at each other with dread in our eyes about starting another exhausting day when the phone rang. My parents were standing outside our door, they surprised us. They stayed for the second half of our trip and it was exponentially better from that point on. We vowed to never go without my parents again. But now, 7 years later, I am a much more experienced Disney vacationer and more experienced parent. Maybe I'm ready to tackle this thing on my own, plus my hubby of course.

Is there anyone else out there with kids, whose done Disney with and without extended family help. Can you give tips on how to approach this vacation differently. My kids are now 8 (almost 9) and 6.

I actually have the exact opposite situation. I have always gone with just the 4 of us, and we are now thinking of including my brother and his family and my parents (thankfully when Star Wars Land opens so I have a few years). I must say, the thought of coordinating all of those people and planning all of that out (because my DH and me would be the ones planning it) has me a little worried. So try not to stress too much, I'm sure your vacation will be wonderful and you will have great new but different memories (and I am going to try taking my own advice for my trip ).