Split Family Vacation??

[LekiaHall]

Our family has finally reached the point where "whole" family trips are out. My oldest DD is in college and her tuition has successfully hindered our ability to go to WDW this year. Next year, I'm determined to stick to the plan to go in late Sept/Oct.

The problem? My oldest will be away at school and my then 15 y/o DD is not so enthusiastic about going. My son is willing to go, but I'd have to offer some non-WDW fun (crocodile swamp tour) to sweeten the deal. My youngest is, of course, all about going.

Do I leave the 15 y/o at home (with supervision by my Mom)? While she doesn't want to go to WDW, I know she'll be a bit sad about not being included in the vacation.

Has anyone dealt with this before?

 

[DSNY4ever]

This was when "family" vacations died in our family. When my sister went to college, I was busy in high school and so my parents did a couple little things on their own (I think they went on a cruise with some friends).

Eventually we all went on a trip again when we were all grown up with our spouses and own families and that was nice, but once your kids hit college, it gets too tough. Usually on college breaks your kids will be working or taking on extra summer courses etc. (at least that is how it was in my college world). Things change...but someday hopefully you'll get to take your future grandkids to Disney!

 

[shoney]

Our family has finally reached the point where "whole" family trips are out. My oldest DD is in college and her tuition has successfully hindered our ability to go to WDW this year. Next year, I'm determined to stick to the plan to go in late Sept/Oct.

The problem? My oldest will be away at school and my then 15 y/o DD is not so enthusiastic about going. My son is willing to go, but I'd have to offer some non-WDW fun (crocodile swamp tour) to sweeten the deal. My youngest is, of course, all about going.

Do I leave the 15 y/o at home (with supervision by my Mom)? While she doesn't want to go to WDW, I know she'll be a bit sad about not being included in the vacation.

Has anyone dealt with this before?

If one family member truly did not want to go, I would allow them to stay home. However, you do state that she would be a bit sad and that DS needs to do other things non-Disney. In that case, I would consider going somewhere else that interests everyone.

 

[scrapquitler]

Our family has finally reached the point where "whole" family trips are out. My oldest DD is in college and her tuition has successfully hindered our ability to go to WDW this year. Next year, I'm determined to stick to the plan to go in late Sept/Oct.

The problem? My oldest will be away at school and my then 15 y/o DD is not so enthusiastic about going. My son is willing to go, but I'd have to offer some non-WDW fun (crocodile swamp tour) to sweeten the deal. My youngest is, of course, all about going.

Do I leave the 15 y/o at home (with supervision by my Mom)? While she doesn't want to go to WDW, I know she'll be a bit sad about not being included in the vacation.

Has anyone dealt with this before?

The last time we went, my High School DD decided not to go because she didn't want to miss school, and my son decided he didn't want to go, either, so DH and I went without them and left them home with my Mom.

I think that next year, when the DD is in college, we will vacation without her and then perhaps take another trip somewhere else with her that fits in her schedule.

If the kids choose not to go, then that's their choice.

 

[clanmcculloch]

You may not want to hear my take on this, but if this was my family I'd start looking at vacations other than WDW for a while. I would have no problem taking a vacation without kids who are in college (I'd try to do family stuff when they're home but I wouldn't NOT vacation because they're not) but with that many people in the family who don't want to go to WDW then it would probably be a good idea to brainstorm with everybody about what all of you can enjoy together. I love WDW as much as the next person (as much as the next person on the DIS, significantly more than the average person) but for my family this would mean it's time to look at other vacations. While they're still at home I want to have as many of them wanting to be part of our vacations as a family. The time together enjoying each other is much more important to me than the destination.

 

[mjkacmom]

You may not want to hear my take on this, but if this was my family I'd start looking at vacations other than WDW for a while. I would have no problem taking a vacation without kids who are in college (I'd try to do family stuff when they're home but I wouldn't NOT vacation because they're not) but with that many people in the family who don't want to go to WDW then it would probably be a good idea to brainstorm with everybody about what all of you can enjoy together. I love WDW as much as the next person (as much as the next person on the DIS, significantly more than the average person) but for my family this would mean it's time to look at other vacations. While they're still at home I want to have as many of them wanting to be part of our vacations as a family. The time together enjoying each other is much more important to me than the destination.

I agree! We just went on a cruise, and it's probably the last family vacation dd17 will take for a while, since she'll be in college next year, and have different school breaks (although she's planning on vacationing without us now, and not upset at all).

Pick a vacation all of your family wants to go on.

 

[luvmy2babies]

You may not want to hear my take on this, but if this was my family I'd start looking at vacations other than WDW for a while. I would have no problem taking a vacation without kids who are in college (I'd try to do family stuff when they're home but I wouldn't NOT vacation because they're not) but with that many people in the family who don't want to go to WDW then it would probably be a good idea to brainstorm with everybody about what all of you can enjoy together. I love WDW as much as the next person (as much as the next person on the DIS, significantly more than the average person) but for my family this would mean it's time to look at other vacations. While they're still at home I want to have as many of them wanting to be part of our vacations as a family. The time together enjoying each other is much more important to me than the destination.

I agree unless you are planning on another trip within the same year. I don't remember you mentioning where your dh is on this, but at the very least, depending on what your husband wants, I might do a short trip to WDW in the fall with the 4 year-old, but have the main vacation be somewhere else everyone wants to go.

 

[lizzi6692]

I disagree about picking a different location. I'm going to assume OP has taken the kids to WDW fairly frequently which means that the older kids probably got several trips when they were young. I think it's unfair to take the same away from the youngest child. I think the older kids are being a bit selfish to be honest. My younger sister and I had a similar situation when we were younger(although in our case it was our grandparents who no longer wanted to take big vacations with small children) and I know it hurt her when she heard about all the things I got to do and she didn't.

 

[mjkacmom]

I disagree about picking a different location. I'm going to assume OP has taken the kids to WDW fairly frequently which means that the older kids probably got several trips when they were young. I think it's unfair to take the same away from the youngest child. I think the older kids are being a bit selfish to be honest. My younger sister and I had a similar situation when we were younger(although in our case it was our grandparents who no longer wanted to take big vacations with small children) and I know it hurt her when she heard about all the things I got to do and she didn't.

The 4 year old went last year! Trying something new doesn't mean they never go back to WDW. Most people take different vacations (and that way, they don't get burnt out on them). They've been to WDW 3 times in the past 4 years!

 

[Imhere]

The last time we went, my High School DD decided not to go because she didn't want to miss school, and my son decided he didn't want to go, either, so DH and I went without them and left them home with my Mom.

I think that next year, when the DD is in college, we will vacation without her and then perhaps take another trip somewhere else with her that fits in her schedule.

If the kids choose not to go, then that's their choice.

We used to go during school too.

When my daughter hit 7th grade she decided she didn't like missing school.

She still wanted to go on the family vacation though, so we just switched to summer then.