Transitioning to Empty Nester Life at WDW

[PrestonatorSR]

My DW and I have been empty nesters for awhile now (since 2017), so we have had some time to adjust to daily life without our 3 kids, now aged 36, 33 and 27. But when it comes to the idea of going to WDW alone, we are about to embark on unchartered territory. You see, up until last summer, our 33 year old was a WDW cast member. So, our trips over the last decade have come with the comfort and joy of reuniting with our daughter on each of those trips. Now that she no longer works there, we are wondering what it will be like when we are all alone for the first time ever on our next WDW trip, tentatively set for August 2026. I'm not sure how I/we will react to that full new reality. While we are excited to go, I fear the sense of emptiness I will feel walking around with only the fading memories of being with our kids for all the Disney trips we took with them while they were growing up. This whole "letting go" business isn't super great fun. Oh, I know that in time my DW and I will get through the initial pain of those lost days and begin to treasure a new chapter of Disney experiences. In the meantime, if you have any good advice or strategies for moving into this new stage, we're all ears. Thanks all!

 

[tachyonbb]

We went through similar thoughts about 18 years ago. First empty nest trip to Disney. We focused on dinner reservations and tours that we thought they daughters would not like. We did the behind the trains and behind the seeds tour. Both highly recommended but the trains tour is not currently being offered. We are gardeners and found the seeds tour to be great. By the third day we had rediscovered our inner child and just enjoyed the experience. We now take our whole family to Disney including our two grandsons. Experiencing Disney through the eyes of your grandchildren is very rewarding.

 

[fla4fun]

My DW and I have been empty nesters for awhile now (since 2017), so we have had some time to adjust to daily life without our 3 kids, now aged 36, 33 and 27. But when it comes to the idea of going to WDW alone, we are about to embark on uncharted territory. You see, up until last summer, our 33 year old was a WDW cast member. So, our trips over the last decade have come with the comfort and joy of reuniting with our daughter on each of those trips. Now that she no longer works there, we are wondering what it will be like when we are all alone for the first time ever on our next WDW trip, tentatively set for August 2026. I'm not sure how I/we will react to that full new reality. While we are excited to go, I fear the sense of emptiness I will feel walking around with only the fading memories of being with our kids for all the Disney trips we took with them while they were growing up. This whole "letting go" business isn't super great fun. Oh, I know that in time my DW and I will get through the initial pain of those lost days and begin to treasure a new chapter of Disney experiences. In the meantime, if you have any good advice or strategies for moving into this new stage, we're all ears. Thanks all!

Focus on things you either haven’t done for a long time, or have never done because the kids weren’t interested. There won’t be as many memories tied to these activities. There is so much construction going on right now that the parks don’t feel the way they normally do, which will also work in your favor. Don’t try to recreate your past experiences. Find ways of creating new ones.

I had the same feelings only my situation was the reverse. I always went with my parents on family trips and when they passed away close together, I wasn’t sure how I would feel about going to the parks without them. There were a few times I wished I could share what was happening (which you can do by email or text during your trip) but in the end it was fine.

 

[jo-jo]

Our trips increased once we were empty nesters. Some things we done sounds nuts. Brought books and sat around the firepit at AKL and read for another hour. We can read anywhere, but we don't have an 8 ft firepit at home and then roam over to roast marshmallows.

We also found joy is other people kids. The toddlers dancing at a parade, starstruck seeing Mickey. Chasing a lizard up and down a tree, even though Mom and Dad spent $500 so you could go on Dumbo.

 

[The Mayor]

My DW and I started our trips alone back in 2005 and while at first it seemed strange, we soon came to enjoy the freedom of planning and doing what we wanted. We went almost every year up to 2022, except maybe a couple of years, and tried to do something new or different each time. One of the things we enjoyed was trying a different tour each trip. We also changed from not flying out early in the morning and rushing to a park when we landed and went to mid-morning flights and just relaxed at the resort pool the first day. That helped us feel refreshed the next day hitting one of the parks.

Our trips alone ended in 2022 when we went with our children, their spouses and our grandchildren (10 of us!!). Did the trip again in August 2025 and between both trips watching our grandchildren's faces light up, I'm not sure if we'll go alone again anytime soon!!!