Would you go to WDW without your kids?

[davidsprincess]

DD is 4 and Disneymad. Knowing this DH and I just couldn't. If she were a teen and didn't care....then I would totally go without her.

 

[taitai]

There is not a chance I would go to Disney without my kids. Never happen. We go on at least one no-kids vacation a year and NEVER would that be to Disney.

Already planning our trip for 2010....biking and hiking in Norway. Can't wait.

 

[aidansmommy]

We've gone alone(for the hubs birthday), and LOVED it!
Like some of the other people, if we didn't take DS yearly we wouldn't do it, but I love spending time with just the two of us. Disney is our favorite place to go, why wouldn't we go together?

 

[sk!mom]

No, I would not got to WDW without my children. For me, it's a family vacation place.

I have gone on many vacations without my children. If we ever went to WDW without them, however, I'd lie and say we went to Vegas, again.

Seriously, I could have never enjoyed WDW without kids. There are just too many happy kids running around having a great time with their parents at WDW. I would have missed my kids terribly and it would have ruined the trip.

On the other hand, Vegas, Seattle, San Antonio, New Orleans, London, and Paris were all great without kids along.

ETA...Actually we have gone twice without DS but that's only because he's "over WDW" and opted out.

 

[kacaju]

Yes, last year dh had a business trip to Disney. I went with him and both Grandma's stayed home with the kids.

 

[ebtbmom]

I bet you will have a great time. I haven't been with just DH, but we used to go on an anniversary cruise every year alone and it was great (temporary break now because DH is in nursing school)! The only reason our last trip was a cruise and not Disney was because he wanted cruise, I wanted Disney, we put both in a hat and let DS draw one for us. It was cruise But we had fun.

I've always found that DS likes getting a break from us, he stays with my mom the week, is totally spoiled, and gets to lay around and relax for a week. We bring back lots of stuff, he just really likes it, maybe a little too much.

I hope me and DH's next big trip together will be to Disney, you'll have to let us know how it went!

 

[ebtbmom]

I don't really see what one has to do with the other. Vacations are not just for families. We take our kids on vacations, and sometimes dh and I take a vacation alone together.

Not only is it very important for parents to get away alone together, but it's HEALTHY for the relationship.

Taking a vacation alone as a couple has absolutely nothing to do with trying to justify taking the kids out of school

I don't feel like I have to "justify" taking my kid out of school for a week for anything. He is my kid, I am responsible for his development and well being, and I will do with him what I wish.

Why are you going to let "the man" tell you what to do with your kid?

Oops, sorry, quoted wrong message, but you know what I mean

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I don't really see what one has to do with the other. Vacations are not just for families. We take our kids on vacations, and sometimes dh and I take a vacation alone together.

Not only is it very important for parents to get away alone together, but it's HEALTHY for the relationship.
Taking a vacation alone as a couple has absolutely nothing to do with trying to justify taking the kids out of school

I hate when people say this. I am not disputing that if you want to take a vacation alone or not. That is your choice. I just cannot stand when people say how important it is for a relationship. It is not important in every realtionship. I know plenty of people who used to take alone time together etc. and they are now divorced. I also know people who didn't and are divorced. It is not one size fits all. It all depends on your relationship.

OP- If you are going to enjoy it then go. If you are going to spend the week in a funk because you miss the kids at every turn then maybe you are not ready to go away alone yet or maybe you need a different location. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[JUJU814]

I hate when people say this. I am not disputing that if you want to take a vacation alone or not. That is your choice. I just cannot stand when people say how important it is for a relationship. It is not important in every realtionship. I know plenty of people who used to take alone time together etc. and they are now divorced. I also know people who didn't and are divorced. It is not one size fits all. It all depends on your relationship.

OP- If you are going to enjoy it then go. If you are going to spend the week in a funk because you miss the kids at every turn then maybe you are not ready to go away alone yet or maybe you need a different location. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Ok..fair enough. It's very important in MY relationship.

However, I too know people that did do it and are divorced, and didn't and are divorced. But I know far more divorced people who never took time to be alone together and nurture their relationship, so in my opinion and observations, my conclusion is that it is much healthier for a relationship to get away alone together sometimes.

 

[JUJU814]

I don't feel like I have to "justify" taking my kid out of school for a week for anything. He is my kid, I am responsible for his development and well being, and I will do with him what I wish.

Why are you going to let "the man" tell you what to do with your kid?

Oops, sorry, quoted wrong message, but you know what I mean

Oh you're preaching to the church choir here! I totally agree...I don't have to "justify" taking my kids out for anything and I'll also do what I darn well please. I was referencing another post where someone was trying to compare/contrast taking a vacation alone as a couple with those who try to justify keeping their kids out of school for a vacation. Apples and oranges.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Ok..fair enough. It's very important in MY relationship.

However, I too know people that did do it and are divorced, and didn't and are divorced. But I know far more divorced people who never took time to be alone together and nurture their relationship, so in my opinion and observations, my conclusion is that it is much healthier for a relationship to get away alone together sometimes.

Okay- I agree, you do still have to take time to nurture your relationship- whether it is vacations or time spent doing stuff that you both enjoy.

 

[savannahcat]

I hate when people say this. I am not disputing that if you want to take a vacation alone or not. That is your choice. I just cannot stand when people say how important it is for a relationship. It is not important in every realtionship. I know plenty of people who used to take alone time together etc. and they are now divorced. I also know people who didn't and are divorced. It is not one size fits all. It all depends on your relationship.

OP- If you are going to enjoy it then go. If you are going to spend the week in a funk because you miss the kids at every turn then maybe you are not ready to go away alone yet or maybe you need a different location. Good luck with whatever you decide.

I know I will be fine without the kids - I was just concerned with how the kids would feel without Disney! Turns out that they don't seem to mind. Maybe they are "suffering" from burnout - DD6 has been to WDW 12 times and DD3 7 times. Perhaps a break will make their next trip even more magical.

 

[starsweeper]

We went to WDW alone before we had kids, but I wouldn't go without the kids now. I would rather do something that we normally couldn't do with kids, and I'd feel guilty seeing other families with their children.

 

[vettechick99]

I would go. I went 25 times before her, and I hope to be able to go without her sometime. Traveling with a toddler (or any child) makes the vacation much more difficult...and sometimes it's fun to just be selfish!

Having said that, I wouldn't go for a week. Maybe a long weekend.

 

[jodifla]

Okay- I agree, you do still have to take time to nurture your relationship- whether it is vacations or time spent doing stuff that you both enjoy.

And I think you are right...not every couple needs actual "away" time. But it's also my sense that a lot of women particularly don't understand just how much their mate would appreciate the opportunity to be alone -- truly alone -- with their spouse.

Our son spent the night at his Grandma's last night. He's only been away from us a few nights in his life (where we are at home and he isn't here). It was weird, but very liberating. DH and I could sit and talk with our martinis without being interrupted. I could really focus on what he was telling me.

We've never been on an actual "vacation" without our son. We do spend our anniversary weekend away almost every year, at least one or two nights, if we can arrange a sitter. If we can't do overnight, then we do the WHOLE day, leaving around 11 and not returning home till about 11.

But our 25th anniversary is coming up in a few years, and I can see us taking a vacation without him then. He is easy to travel with, but for us, there's nothing like being on our own, just the two of us.

 

[lecach]

DH and I travel a lot - with and without DS. My Mom and I went to WDW for my 40th birthday in March and didnt take DS. My DH and I are planning a cruise in April for our anniversary without DS. And maybe a short trip to Vegas without him. We enjoy trips with DS - but without him is a different experience and very enjoyable too.

 

[mumto3girls]

I would love to go away with just DH, but I don't think I would choose WDW. We went a number of times before we had kids and I loved it, but often times I was thinking about how much fun it would be to come back when we had kids to share the magic with. I really think I would miss them and seeing other families together enjoying each other would bother me.

Having said that though, we have talked about going to Vero Beach for a long weekend and maybe tacking on a day at Disney at the beginning or the end. We would want to do those things we used to enjoy before kids that we haven't done with them--we loved the Comedy Club (not even sure its there now) at DTD (then Pleasure Island), but never felt like it was something appropriate for the ages our kids were--its been 10 years since we were there without a child aged 2 or younger. There are a lot of rides we haven't done yet because we didn't want to ride it enough to spend the extra time a swap takes or whatever so I can certainly understand the appeal of such a trip.

In any event, my youngest is now 3 and very much a mommy's girl and I think we are still a year or so away from even a long weekend anywhere and that's okay.

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

I couldn't do it. I would spend the entire time thinking about how much they would enjoy what we are doing. Maybe I'd feel differently if we were able to get down there often, but that isn't the case. My kids LOVE Disney, as much as I do, and I know they wouldn't be OK with the idea of being left behind...even for such fun, alternative plans.

However, once they are all adults (at least all college age), I'm certain we will plan a trip without them. At that point, I hope I wouldn't feel guilty and could enjoy myself. I hear it is such a totally different experience. But for now, I will only plan for a family trip.

 

[ILuvMulan]

What a wonderful SIL ... you should take her up on it. We are planning our 20th Anniversary trip for 2011. We toyed with the idea of Hawaii (we are DVC members) but have finally decided that we can not be that far away from the kids so we are planning a trip to WDW. We are really looking forward to spending as much time as we want in the world showcase at EPCOT without hearing the repeated pleas to go back to SOARIN' and Test Track Our biggest concern is finding someone to keep the kids. You are very blessed.

 

[savannahcat]

What a wonderful SIL ... you should take her up on it. We are planning our 20th Anniversary trip for 2011. We toyed with the idea of Hawaii (we are DVC members) but have finally decided that we can not be that far away from the kids so we are planning a trip to WDW. We are really looking forward to spending as much time as we want in the world showcase at EPCOT without hearing the repeated pleas to go back to SOARIN' and Test Track Our biggest concern is finding someone to keep the kids. You are very blessed.

And I am VERY grateful! My SIL is not only willing to take the girls for the week, but is actually excited about it! What more could I ask for? This was the best Christmas present EVER!