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

[MommyBryn]

I was happy to see this, because I've had the same thoughts! We've never been to Disney just our family...we always travel with at LEAST 10 other people (parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins...whoever) for the last 6 trips or so. Because we are, for the most part, usually all in the same place, it's not a ton of "help" with the kids, though we do get the chance to go on a few rides just my hubby and me. But I just really have a lot of fun with my family as a big group.

That said, I think that going just hubby, me and all the kids would be a lot of fun, too. I love the big group setting, but at the same time, it can get pretty stressful, as that's a lot of people to accommodate to and a lot of different ideas and decisions. I think a vacation for my family alone would be a lot more intimate, and we'd do a lot more kid stuff and go at a much slower pace. It would certainly be different, but I think it would be wonderful!

 

[quagmire0]

To us, our family trips to Disney are awesome for the simple fact that it is 'just us time'. Having two parents that work, we don't often get an extended time period together as a family unit. So, I find that we often have some good bonding moments. Is it stressful keep tabs on young kids in the parks? Yep. But you'll manage. And I think you'll quickly realize something that you've been missing without even knowing it.

 

[DisneyOma]

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.

Yes, you are crazy. Do you have regular help at home with the kids? How many kids do you have?

 

[michael's mom]

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.

I completely understand your worries. We have always traveled with my whole family (parents, siblings, niece and nephew) but last year DH and I decided to try a summer trip. My family refuses to go in summer but as a teacher I have the most flexibility at that time so we figured we'd give it a shot.

We had an AMAZING trip. It was so nice to not have to worry about anyone else. We moved at our kids pace, didn't stand around waiting for everyone to use the bathroom or buy a snack or browse in a shop. We couldn't wait to go back and are counting down the days until this summer trip. If the kids were tired we left, if they wanted to swim we changed plans.

If you are itching to go, give it a shot. You might be surprised and love it.

Sure, I'm looking forward to the day I can travel with my family again because those are special memories. But I also won't wait for them to be ready to have those experiences with my kids either. They grow so fast and I don't want to miss these opportunities while we are able to have them.

Have a great trip

 

[brooke789]

We're the complete opposite of this everytime we're going a vacation with family (inlaws plus possibly dH's brother, sister + family) we're gearing ourselves up thinking "this is not a vacation" b/c my experience is that it is literally twice as much work to go on a family vacation than with just your family.

 

[katie111]

You have 2 kids & 2 parents...doesn't seem that hard. I've taken my 3 kids alone several times since my youngest was 2 and always had a great time (DH doesn't really enjoy Disney). It could be stressful sometimes, but we had so many great times. My DH has gone twice with us and those trips were great as well. I just don't think you would need much help with the ages of your kids and you will create so many great memories. As long as you do things alone at home with your kids, Disney is really no different. If you do everything at home with your whole family, maybe start trying to do more activities with just your family to get some practice. Have a great trip!

 

[BigAlsGal]

Omg. The thought of traveling with extended family to Disney....

I love my "just my family" trips. Every now and then I invite my mother or niece and I want to tear my hair out!

 

[keepswimming76]

Most of our trips have involved extended family. I enjoy them because I get to spend time with my sister who lives far from me. She will plan the trip with me, which DH never seems interested in doing. And the kids get to spend time with their cousins and grandparents.

But when it's just your immediate family you can be more carefree in your planning and as you spend your time at the parks. With fewer people there are fewer opinions, lol! And it's much easier to get the dining and Fastpasses you want.

I will admit I do have some reservations as we approach our "immediate family" trip in 10 days. DD is 6 and DS is nine and we're staying in studios for 9 nights. I worry we will be getting on each other's nerves. But I did plan two nights for our kids to go to kids clubs so DH and I can have a little child-free time.

 

[BLAZEY]

I"m actually the opposite. We have taken many trips just the 3 of us but MIL wants to do a trip with Us, and BIL, SIL and our 2 nieces. BIL wants to wait until his youngest is at least 4 but we want to go before DD turns 10 and becomes a disney adult.

 

[tami82]

I know what you mean. We don't travel with family but have been times that is was worried of being bored, etc. especially if we have been somewhere more than once. The best advice Incan give is too not have high expectations. I found whenever I was anxious and not thrilled to go away (which is not normal for me most of the time) these have been some of the best vacations I have had. One time in particular me and hubby weren't getting along for a few days prior to leaving, and I really just wanted to turn around and go home the first few minutes we left our house. It actually turned out to be a great vacation. Lol

 

[bigbabyblues]

You will be fine. We have never taken anyone with us to Disney, and honestly, I wouldn't. You've been before, so you know what your family likes and doesn't like, etc.

 

[TraceyPoppins]

We are in the same boat as many here- we've only ever gone with just our two girls. First trip they were 3 and 6 and 7 trips later they are 13 and 16. We have made countless memories for our little family and we never gel better than when we're all in WDW. We have inside jokes and traditions (always ride Small World first). We joke that we could never do Disney with others as they would slow us down! Well, we're planning a trip next spring with the in-laws and my BIL and his wife and 22 yr old daughter. It's going to be VERY different but we will make the best of it and I'm sure it will be magical in a different way

 

[kreckl]

I don't even understand this. What are you worried about? I'm thinking there may be some special needs of some sort but Disney is great for families and I assume you take your children places?

 

[mjkacmom]

I don't even understand this. What are you worried about? I'm thinking there may be some special needs of some sort but Disney is great for families and I assume you take your children places?

Me too. Last time we were at WDW we had 5 kids, ranging in age from 4 - 11. Such easy ages!

 

[happymommy]

I'm also exactly the opposite as you! I've had my parents along twice (not the whole trip), and I MUCH prefer it without extended family!

I've been taking my kids alone (without anyone not even my husband) since they were 4 and 6, and with DH since they were 2 and 4 (we went other places before Disney but never with extended family). I find Disney to be the easiest place to take kids!

I flew alone with my kids since my DD was 3 months and DS was 2, and flew alone with DS when he was 6 months old from Hawaii to Missouri.

I think you'll find it's actually more fun to get to enjoy time with your kids without extended family. It's our time together!

You'll be totally fine. Most people go on vacation with just their immediate family! It's time together!

No way I'll ever travel with my in-laws again. Not that we don't get along, but that we have different styles of travel. Last time I did go with my DH and kids and his dad and his dad's wife on a trip was to Korea 2 years ago, but that was to visit my DH's family there (he was born there and we wanted our kids to meet all their relatives, so that was fun and my father in law of course could translate for us!). That was really the only trip we would go on with extended family.

 

[mco65]

Wow, that's actually very cool that you get to vacation with your (big) family. I often think that would be nice but we haven't done it... I am a bit scared to do that to be honest. Only once have we vacationed at Disney with anyone other than just US (5)... a good friend of mine and his family went along with another small family of 3.. it was a blast and I wish we could do that again but we just haven' been able to make it happen.. timing and all..

I suspect there will be times that are less fun without your bigger family but I also think there will be times when it is MORE fun with just your immediate family.. I say go for it.. see what you might be missing!!!

 

[Mousemommy1]

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.

OMG, you will be fine, especially at those ages. We have done extended family trips but most of our trips are alone and we prefer alone. Planning out things the way WE want to do them and not having to worry about everyone else is fantastic.

We have been taking our older girls alone annually since they were 3 and 5. They are now 12 and 9 and we also have a 16 month old son. We've done 2 trips already with the 3 kids and those were alone and just perfect. The last one was pretty complicated too because it involved a Disney cruise and two resort changes (last month). Cake.

 

[mizzoutiger76]

Great post!

We've always done extended family and it's been great. We go our separate ways when necessary, including my husband dining with my brother and his wife, while I dined with my sister and DSs (everyone wanted to try different restaurants). It has always been an excellent way for all of us to have fun. Grandparents ride the carousel with the youngest, while the rest of us ride Space Mountain, everyone is entertained.

But.....because I have the opportunity to attend a conference next year in Orlando, we may make an immediate family trip. I'm so excited! We'll be able to go at our own pace and be together as a family. I am a little nervous as youngest DS will be 3.

 

[happymommy]

I wouldn't worry about taking a 3 year old to Disney - I'm sure you go other places! Plus you'd have a 9 year old. That's nothing but fun!

I would love to go back to those days - so many neat things to see and do.

I never found having extended family helped, at least in our trips where my folks were along for a couple days. Never again, LOL! They can't keep up! Even if they could, I don't like to have to please others rather than do what we want.

 

[Nancyg56]

I am the extended part of extended family. When my dd and dsil went to Disney with our dgd, we joined them along with my ds and ddil. Or many times just me. It was awesome! But when dd and dsil wanted the three of them to vacation alone, DH snd I were thrilled. You see, we always had fun as a family, but they missed a very special experience of enjoying a trip just the three of them.

Please consider traveling as s nuclear family. You don't have to do this every trip, but it ud important gif sll of you to make memories together. You do not need to tour full speed ahead, in fact perhaps go slower than normal and relax together.

You will not regret it. I promise. And your parents will look forward to hearing all your stories!