With Kids or Without??

[Chelley00]

Sorry if this gets long!


We have a trip planned for Sept 16-Sept 22, for free dining with 2 rooms at Pop. The kids do not know about the trip yet. It began as a joke about leaving our 4 kids behind and just going alone. We've started an email pro/con list back and forth and are still undecided. We've asked friends and family, and are getting mixed reviews, so I thought I would ask here.

DH and I work opposite shifts, and he works every other weekend, so one of us is always home with the kids, but we never see each other, hence the reason for maybe going minus kids. We've only been on a rare weekend trip alone here and there since we got married, but never a big vacation alone. We were just at Disney last October for 9 days and realize how much we missed by having the kids with us. We were on their schedule, the trip revolved completely around them (as is should have) we ate at restaurants catering to them, we didn't get to enjoy Epcot at all, and we didn't get to ride any rides together. We also spent a lot of time apart, DH with our older 2 boys on rides, me at kiddie shows and tamer rides with the younger 2. Not to mention, we'd have to pull DS14 out of high school for a week. (DS11 is homeschooled)

However, we had a beautiful time with our family. I didn't get any family vacations when growing up, so it's important for me to take our family places, even if it is budget trips. (if we do go alone, we'll plan a shorter, cheaper trip someplace close to home with kids) Our oldest is 14, so who knows how many more times he'll want to go to Disney (hopefully forever!) This is the last time our youngest will be free. Our ADR's are already made for the 6 of us (but could be tweaked for 2). It's a little hard to convince grandparents to watch the kids while we're gone (although they'll do it) We asked the kids if they minded if we went on vacation alone, and the 11 year old said "as long as you don't go to Disney without us!" Financially, we can't afford a trip to WDW with the kids, and then a smaller trip somewhere for just DH & I, but if we leave the kids behind, the money we would save would allow us the trip to WDW, and a smaller trip (or even 2) someplace closer to home.


What would you do? Would you go alone, or take the kids with you?

 

[Mousema]

Go alone! With 4 kids and different shifts, you need together time. Just tell the kids you're going for a relaxing Mom and Dad time (no need to tell them WDW).

 

[mamaloya]

We have 6 kids, 5 still at home and one already married. I can't remember the last time dh and I took a trip alone, probably our 1st anniversary. Anyway, my kids would not be happy if we went to WDW w/o them. That doesn't mean I would not do it.

One thing we have done to make our trips more affordable and therefore more frequent, is to buy a camper. We have also tented at Fort Wilderness. Fort Wilderness is the campground at WDW. A site for a tent or popup camper is usually under $50 per night and a 20% AAA is often available. A site for a travel trailer is around $60. That is far cheaper than 2 hotel rooms. We could not do it otherwise. Only drawback is that campers at Fort Wilderness do not get the free dining promotion.

One option would be to go for a shorter trip with your dh and you at the Pop. Then you can rent or buy a popup or purchase a tent and air mattresses (I don't sleep on the ground even when we tent) and take a more budget vacation with the kids later. If they are upset that you went w/o them just tell them that you were scoping it out for their next trip. It would also help to have a trip already booked before you get back. When we were there last, there were kiosks offering discounts if you booked your next trip before you left.

I know people balk at camping, but FW has electric and water at each site. When we tented we had a fan in the tent with us. Also, the bathhouses are clean and have a/c and heat. Another plus is that you don't all have to share one or two bathrooms in a hotel room. There are 4 showers in each bathhouse (and on each side, boy and girl). We wake up later and the bathhouse is empty. We can all shower at the same time and brush teeth, etc w/o being crowded. You also park right at your sight so your car is right there if you want to drive. There is a boat that takes you straight from FW to MK as well.

In our popup and now our big camper, we have a kitchen so we can have breakfast while we are getting ready and/or eat other meals there as well. We actually did 2 trips last year.

OK, I have rambled on, but to make a long reply short, I would say go for a shorter trip, but come back with ressies for a trip with the kids (and lots of goodies) possibly at FW so you can stay longer. You could also check out FW while ya'll are there alone. They have a great dinner show, the hoop dee doo, but it is quite pricey for a big family.

Anyway, just my opinion and how we do things with our big family.

 

[lustergirl]

there should be an option for:

no husbands- go alone!! woohoo!!!

 

[cybrkitn]

Looks like you and your DH need some reconnection time. Since all of you went last October (we did too), why not make it an adult only trip. Even parents need some alone time together without the kids every once in a while.

ETA: When my brother and I were teenagers, our parents went to Alaska to visit my aunt, went on a cruise and went to the Caribbean. Not all at once of course, but over time. They needed the time alone and my brother and I were fine.

 

[DisneyLaura]

I understand the need for being alone as a couple but me personally could not leave my kids for a vacation with my husband at least not now. I miss them when they sleep over my moms for a night. I think if you feel you need to go without the kids then go or if you feel that you can't leave them then it's going to be a nice surprise for them too.

 

[stagemomx3]

I have no problem with an adult only husband wife reconnect trip, but I couldn't do it to DW. I'd feel to guilty going to Disney without the kids. If you and DH need a trip alone I'd take it somewhere else other than to DisneyWorld.

 

[pixie dust 112]

I just couldn't go without the kids! I'd miss them too much! Is it possible to lessen the length of your stay by 2 days. You'll save on 2 rooms ofr 2 nights. You could use that $$$$ for a weekend away for you and DH.

As long as my kids are at home, I just couldn't go to WDW without them. That being said, all my DDs know that the minute we drop off our youngest at college (She's only 11 now) we are going to the nearest airport to take a trip to WDW all by ourselves!

 

[wishesUT]

Go with the kids. You'll have plenty of years to take vacations with just your husband once your kids are gone, but only a few chances to make memories with your kids. I say take the kids and get a sitter for a night so you can have a date with your husband.

 

[MissMichelle]

Ok..I said go alone..I am the wrong one to ask, because WE did just that....But for the same reasons you want to. We needed a time to connect...the kids had been recently..and we would plan another trip in the future...my kids didn't even complain and were excited to hear all about what we did and where we ate...they helped me plan things and I told them I was also there to seek out more fun things to do with them for next time.

 

[cybrkitn]

I have no problem with an adult only husband wife reconnect trip, but I couldn't do it to DW. I'd feel to guilty going to Disney without the kids. If you and DH need a trip alone I'd take it somewhere else other than to DisneyWorld.

My DH had gone down to WDW for a few years without me, and yeah, I was jealous, lol. But he was down in Dis for a business conference and really didn't get a chance to take in all of WDW until our family vacation last year.

 

[kimis]

Take your kids and make lots of memories with them. Have a date night while you are there. Hire one of the disney day care people and go out. Or take a grandma with you to help with the kids. enjoy

 

[rewok]

Go alone with your husband! You look like you need the time to reconnect, especially with the different shifts, and you shouldn't wait to do that till your kids are in college, what a strange idea! Those kids need parents that love each other, and that can only be achieved by alone time. A strong couple makes a stronger family. And the kids might be a little annoyed that you're going to Disney alone at first, but they'll quickly forget (added to the fact that you're the boss, not them!)

 

[eliza61]

Ohh a close poll, I hope you weren't planning on getting help from us dissers!
Anyway, I vote for go alone. I've done both and let me tell you going with you cutie is unbelievable. I've never felt guilty about leaving the kids because they have been many, many times (some times going with the grandparents leaving mom & dad at home ) and I remind them that they are very, very blessed to go as many times as they do.
Go, have a great time.

 

[MinnieCandi]

Go without the kids. Spend special time with hubby, and come home and share with them how wonderful it was to spend time together as adults. Then as PP said, begin planning your next family disney vacation. In your planning you will be able to share the special memories you and your hubby had, and this will strengthen the bond of the whole family. Happy parents make happy families!

Enjoy!

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Wow! That's a tough question! I haven't voted yet because I see both sides. We're going to WDW in Sept, after my dh returns from a year overseas serving our country. We'll be taking our two sons with us (5 and 1) but of course, I'd love to leave them at home and have a "reconnection" trip just with my dh and me, a belated 10th-anniversary trip. However, our 5-yr-old would be devastated to be left behind and we do want to take a family vacation to also reconnect as a family and enjoy some time away. I guess I have to vote to take 'em with you. I'd try to take a weekend trip just the two of you. I notice in your signature that it's your first time to stay on-site and I think your kids would really love it, and with the dining plan, you may get to treat them to things you wouldn't otherwise - character meals (expensive when you have 4 'adults' and 2 kids!) and restaurants at the different countries at Epcot and the Early Magic Hours at the MK for your two little ones. I am all for an adults-only trip to WDW - I just would do it another time. I think this trip will be better than your last one because you're staying on site, have the dining plan and since it's your 2nd visit, you'll know more about what you guys really like to do and how to do it.

Hope you have a great trip, either way!

 

[MJMcBride]

I couldn't imagine going to Disney without the kids. The guilt would be too much.

 

[irish dancer]

I voted for an adult only trip. We went for a long weekend for our 10th anniversary and it was a totally different trip without the kids. We got to do the KTTK tour and enjoy our sit down meals at places we probably won't go to until the kids get older. Funny thing is the kids didn't seem to mind that we were going to WDW alone but then again we were going as a family 3mos later. I don't know that I could go for more than a long weekend though, I've had to be away for work for a week and that was tough.

 

[Colleen27]

With that kind of schedule, I vote for the kid-less trip! It sure sounds like you & your DH could use the time to reconnect, and your kids have been to WDW fairly recently. Since money is an issue, I'd probably go with the adults-only trip but for a shorter time, and then take a cool trip closer to home with the kids.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

Take the kids....you may be lacking couple time right now because you and dh work opposite shifts, but that means you are lacking family time as well, and the kids would appreciate it.