WDW without your spouse and toddler?

[TheLittleRoo]

We're booked for the free dining promo 8/26-9/2 currently. There would be 5 of us traveling, so we booked a room at POR with a trundle. Total with airfare would be around $3400 for the week (DH wants to add water parks to our base tickets).

So, we were talking about saving money, and now I'm considering just taking the older 2 kids (DS12 and DD5) either in May or our original free dining ressies in late August. Part of me doesn't think it would be as magical, and part of me thinks it would be easier/ more fun for the older two. It would only cost us around $1400, a savings of over $2000 which DH says we'd use for a cruise or something fun.

Has anyone ever split the family on a WDW trip, and did you have fun or feel like the Grinch for leaving your spouse home with a baby/toddler? Mind you, he's fully on board with this, but it doesn't seem.....right...leaving them behind, even if we do save money and move through the park faster and more age appropriately. DH is less enthusiastic about WDW too, he's not into theme parks, and would prefer to vacation on a beach than at Disney.

Anyone?

 

[I'mNoPrince]

I have done a few Solo trips while playing Paintball at WWoS and to DL as well.

But what we do now is just leave DW sleep at the room or hang at the Pool as she is not aa big ride rider. She meets us later to do the shows and parades and fireworks. This might be an option as you can get most of the bigger rides done in the AM emhs then have DH and the Toddler meet up with you.

I have taken DD to the beach for a few days but not sure if I could take her to WDW without DW.

 

[disneycountrygirl]

ya know, you could always compromise and do a Disney Cruise....he'd get his beaches in, the kids would get their Disney in. You could go one day early, save money by staying at an offsite hotel, and you and the 2 older kids go to WDW on your own while he stayed at the hotel with the baby, and wa-laa, you get the best of everything for everyone.

If not, I think it could be fun, but definately I agree with you in that I would feel very weird leaving a part of my family behind. It would drive me crazy to be having so much fun and not having my husband there to share it with me.

On another note, a friend of mine recently told me that the most fun they had when they went to Disneyland was when they left the baby back at the hotel with grandma and just went off with the older 2 kids.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I"ve done solo trips (girls weeks/weekends) and I've done trips with just me and the kids (DH stayed home-like yours, not quite the Disney freak), but I've never been in the position of splitting up the family before. I guess it all just comes down to your own comfort level (or mother's guilt).

I'm assuming your littlest is under 5? The good part is that kids that small will not remember that they were left home (years from now). The ease of movement through the parks is very attractive. If we were in a similar situation, given that DH will not be terribly upset to miss it and your toddler is not going to recall the missed opportunity, I would go for it!

 

[Darcy03231]

Every time I do WDW I do it without DH. He hates amusement parks, rides, crowds, lines, etc. He doesn't care that I take the kids and go. No sense in spending the money for him to go if he won't enjoy himself. If your youngest is under 3 he/she really won't remember much anyway. I would go with the oldest two and have a great time and use the savings toward a different type of family vacation that you know you'll all enjoy.

 

[Lizzybear]

Not quite the same but in 2005 me, my mum and sister went without my dad to WDW. He came in 2002 for one week of our two week trip and didn't enjoy it. He's glad he went to see what it's all about but it's just not his thing, he's into stuff like rock climbing and cycling so he just enjoys those sorts of holidays more which is fair enough and each to their own Well we had a better time in 2005 as we didn't feel as if my dad was there having a bad time, we found it much easier to get early starts as we all really wanted to be there and since we'd been before we had a better idea of what we wanted to do and what we could possibly miss. I guess you just have to weigh it up for yourself in the end.

 

[angeleigh]

For a second I thought I was reading my own post. Two years ago my dh planned a trip for my sister and I to go on with all of our kids. My sister and her two and me and my 3 dd's. My dh and my 11 month old stayed home. It was everyone's first trip to disney and we had a wonderful time.
My dh isn't a huge disney fan and he didn't want to go at all. Then last year when free dining came out he booked a trip for all of us including him and my ds. It was a great trip also. Now this year it is just my sister and I and all the kids again. This time my son is going too. I don't think that there is anything wrong with taking a vacation without dh. Especially if he is totally for it.
Angeleigh

 

[tictoc]

My dh dislikes Disney World as much as I like it and that is a lot! I go very often without him. He does not like to go and we have more fun without him. In fact, he has only been once out of the last 12 trips. To the other part of the question--the toddler--I have three kids 11, 12 and 5. When the older ones, both boys, were younger I took each of them on a trip by themself. That solo trip allowed them some time for just them. Last December I took my daughter (5) on a trip by herself. Thursday I leave on a trip with just the two older kids. Ii do not feel guilty leaving any of them behind. For one thing I take trips with all of them (as you surely will when the toddler gets older) and I think they need some time for just them. There is enough space between the older two and the younger one that it is difficult to find the happy medium. I think I feel less guilt trying (and never succeeding) to split my time and attention between them all three. Especially after the kids start school, they need some special time. I think it just bonds them to you better. Whatever you decide to do, it will be the right thing for your family. Do not let guilt make this decision for you. Just follow your heart!

 

[MarylandMom]

I am taking my DS5 for a "mommy and me" trip in late August. He begins Kindergarten in the Fall and were celebrating our last hurah befor school. (He's celebrating and I'm trying to cope- LOL!) I too will be leaving behind my DH as well as DS and DD, both 3yo. My husband likes Disney, but definately does not love it the way I do.

I am so looking forward to our trip and spending time alone with DS. I always find it a challenge to carve out enough alone time with each of the kids! DH and my parents, who will be helping out while he is working, will take the youngest ones on a couple special outings while we're gone. I still have tinges of guilt leaving the youngest ones behind, but I know that the trip would be MUCH more expensive and I will not be able to give the special attention I'm hoping to give DS5 if everyon attends. It is going to be such a luxury to cater to one child's interests on this trip instead of trying to balance the interests of DH and 3 kids! And, like you we have reservations for free dining which is a great deal and lots of fun! It sounds like your two oldest will likely have similar interests at the parks so your trip will be less stressful as well.

My guilt is greatly lessened by the fact that we have a family trip planned to DW in October. So, perhaps you could begin planning the family trip you mentioned to help ease your guilt. Whenever I start feeling guilty, I think about the family trip we're planning which will also be lots of fun, just different.

If I were you, I would go for it! It sounds like you'll have a great time with the oldest ones while your DH may enjoy some one on one time with your youngest. Sounds like a win-win situation! Try not to let the guilt bother you too much - I bet your youngest and DH will have lots of fun too!

 

[MarylandMom]

I am taking my DS5 for a "mommy and me" trip in late August. He begins Kindergarten in the Fall and were celebrating our last hurah before school. (He's celebrating and I'm trying to cope- LOL!) I too will be leaving behind my DH as well as DS and DD, both 3yo. My husband likes Disney, but definately does not love it the way I do.

I am so looking forward to our trip and spending time alone with DS. I always find it a challenge to carve out enough alone time with each of the kids! DH and my parents, who will be helping out while he is working, will take the youngest ones on a couple special outings while we're gone. I still have tinges of guilt leaving the youngest ones behind, but I know that the trip would be MUCH more expensive and I will not be able to give the special attention I'm hoping to give DS5 if everyon attends. It is going to be such a luxury to cater to one child's interests on this trip instead of trying to balance the interests of DH and 3 kids! And, like you we have reservations for free dining which is a great deal and lots of fun! It sounds like your two oldest will likely have similar interests at the parks so your trip will be less stressful as well.

My guilt is greatly lessened by the fact that we have a family trip planned to DW in October. So, perhaps you could begin planning the family trip you mentioned to help ease your guilt. Whenever I start feeling guilty, I think about the family trip we're planning which will also be lots of fun, just different.

If I were you, I would go for it! It sounds like you'll have a great time with the oldest ones while your DH may enjoy some one on one time with your youngest. Sounds like a win-win situation! Try not to let the guilt bother you too much - I bet your youngest and DH will have lots of fun too!

 

[F4disneyfan]

Well the spouse is coming but the 4 kids are staying at home including our newest that will only be 6 months old (due in June) and we can't wait.