Would you go to WDW without your kids?

[savannahcat]

My SIL has offered to keep our DDs for a week this summer so that DH and I can go on a parents only vacation. She has lots of activities planned - trips to the pool, the zoo, the science center, etc - all in a town that's new to them.

We hadn't planned on another family trip to WDW until January 2011. We want to wait until DD3 is 40" tall.

Have you gone or would you go to WDW without your kids? Were your kids upset?

 

[mjkacmom]

I have been away without my kids several times, and I think WDW is the ONLY place I wouldn't go.

 

[kohlby]

Looking at your sig line - I wouldn't worry about them being upset at all! They've been lots of times. They can understand that this time it's mommy and daddy only and they'll get to go again next time! Just play up all the new things that they get to do on their vacation while you're away at Disney! If they get jealous, tell them about the things you're not doing at Disney this time - like tell them that this trip isn't about seeing the character, that you're not going on Dumbo this time, etc. Tell about your plans of going out to dinner at a place where you have to wait for your food (that would be enough for my 6 year old not want to go!), or going to places that you have to be over 18 to get into, etc.

*I wouldn't plan a vacation without my 3 year old to anywhere at this point, but that's due to her personality. She's a total mommy's girl and still needs me very much. (I'd be fine leaving my 6 year old quite easily though!) If you think your 3 year old will do great with your SIL, then go for it!

 

[AlternateEgo]

My girls were disappointed, but were ok with a promised trip in the future.

We also brought them a lot of things back

I just have to share this... I was talking to my middle daughter on the phone after we had left Magic kingdom. I told her that I got to see Cinderella and she(Cindy) said she can't wait to see you(DD)... She says... Ok mom, can you give the phone to Cinderella, I need to talk to her.

 

[scjo68]

This is a tough one- I've thought about it, too.
I think I would love a trip with only DH (or even alone) but I'm afraid I would feel too guilty to enjoy it.

My kids are 12 and 5. My ds5 would be OK, I can sell him on anything at this point.
My dd12, though, absolutely loves WDW, and is sensitive enough to take it personally if we went without her.

We go every year, so she has not been deprived. And an adult- only trip would be spent doing things she couldn't do (I am dying to take some of those over-age-16 backstage tours) or things she admitedly wouldn't enjoy. And they would make out like bandits getting lots of expensive, guilt-induced souveniers!

But in the end, it remains only a dream, because if I feel that guilty, it's not something I should do. I remind myself that before too long, they will not want to go on vacation with us anymore, and I will wish for the days we traveled as a family. My empty nest days will be here sooner than I would like.

But for anyone who can pull it off, I say good for you! Have fun, parents deserve to enjoy themselves, too. I see nothing wrong with it- wish we could do it, too!

 

[mousebymarriage]

We went without the kids in 2005 and it was great!!!
We were a group of 8 adults ages 25-55 and we had an absolute blast, we even went to the MNSSHP. I have to admit it was a bit strange at first but, I got over that feeling fast and it was a wonderful trip.

 

[daisyduck123]

No....I could never go without them & I have a DS11 & DD15.

 

[robinbutterfly]

No way! I will never go to WDW without the kids!

 

[jodifla]

I have been away without my kids several times, and I think WDW is the ONLY place I wouldn't go.

Yes, I'd feel too guilty to go to WDW without DS. It's one of his favorite places.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Yep, my husband took me to WDW for my 40th birthday just him and I. But just 2 months earlier, we took the kids on their trip to WDW.

DH and I go away every year by ourselves just not to WDW. I didn't feel guilty about our parents only trip to WDW because the kids were just there,. I don't think I could go on a vacation( adultsonly) if I had to give up a family vacation to do so.

 

[JUJU814]

I'd do it in a skinny minute!

 

[samshane]

I don't know... if I had a chance to go without my kids I would probably head out to Hawaii or someplace they wouldn't have all that much fun at (but that I would LOVE to go to!).

 

[Hannathy]

nope wouldn't do it. Mine are 18 and 11 and I still wouldn't do it. won't do it until they are both away from home for good. I think Vacations are for family (as heard so many times on these boards as to justifying taking the kids out of school, hmmmm why is it different in this case) so we go as a family.

 

[cmatt]

same problem, I'am the one who feels gulity, think my two college children , may be fine, but wife DW and I have never not taken them on any vacation, because we only go on one big one every year, and we want them to see and enjoy as much as we can show them, starting way back when , from first air plane flight to mexico/grand caymans/ bahamas/ virgin islands, to 56 trips to wdw and two Dis cru "s like worls series game to all-star game and home room derby, ect ect , who knows maybe they won't have these opportunites? in there life, so same with me wanting to cut down on this years vacation costs, so really only wanting to take my DW to the grand floridian or a cruise for our 25 th wed ann but really strugleing about not taking them my DS is now 21 looking forward to downtown dis, and DD 20 KINDA THE SAME, its not that I don't want them to go and enjoy wdw its trying to reduce costs, just like our income has been reduced, this last year ? any way back and forth with it, I go

cmatt

 

[leighe]

DH and I have gone lots of places without our DDs including WDW. We think its important to get away and have time to ourselves. We take them to WDW every year so I've never felt guilty about it.

 

[Purplejewel]

I wouldn't feel guilty. It sounds like your kids will have a great time doing planned activities without you. My husband and I do a Disney Cruise every year, just the two of us, to celebrate. We need the time to reconnect and enjoy each other's company without having to concentrate all of our attention on our girls. You would be surprised how easy it is to forget why you fell in love with your spouse when raising kids takes precedent all the time. The girls are sad that we leave them behind, but we take our four daughters to Disneyworld every other year for one week and we are secretly planning the first Disney Cruise for our daughters in November, 2011. We always bring them back nice gifts from our cruise and they get to look at all the pictures we take. I would take advantage of this opportunity to spend quality alone time with your spouse.

 

[JUJU814]

nope wouldn't do it. Mine are 18 and 11 and I still wouldn't do it. won't do it until they are both away from home for good. I think Vacations are for family (as heard so many times on these boards as to justifying taking the kids out of school, hmmmm why is it different in this case) so we go as a family.

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

 

[savannahcat]

Thanks for all of the replies. Tonight we decided that we couldn't book anything unless we asked the kids first. I was actually shocked that both of them said they wouldn't mind at all! They are both super excited to spend time with their aunt and nephew. We did just spend ten days at WDW in October, so I think that helps. They both know we are going back as a family in a year.

I've never been away from them for five nights, but we went to San Antonio for three nights this spring and both of them were fine while we were away - didn't even want to talk to us on the phone.

While I did think about a cruise or the Carribbean (and even Disneyland), I'm not comfortable being that far away if I need to get back home (SIL lives in Richmond, VA - so less than a 2 hour flight to Orlando). Plus, I WDW! I can't wait to share it just with DH!

 

[savannahcat]

This is a tough one- I've thought about it, too.
I think I would love a trip with only DH (or even alone) but I'm afraid I would feel too guilty to enjoy it.

My kids are 12 and 5. My ds5 would be OK, I can sell him on anything at this point.
My dd12, though, absolutely loves WDW, and is sensitive enough to take it personally if we went without her.

We go every year, so she has not been deprived. And an adult- only trip would be spent doing things she couldn't do (I am dying to take some of those over-age-16 backstage tours) or things she admitedly wouldn't enjoy. And they would make out like bandits getting lots of expensive, guilt-induced souveniers!

But in the end, it remains only a dream, because if I feel that guilty, it's not something I should do. I remind myself that before too long, they will not want to go on vacation with us anymore, and I will wish for the days we traveled as a family. My empty nest days will be here sooner than I would like.

But for anyone who can pull it off, I say good for you! Have fun, parents deserve to enjoy themselves, too. I see nothing wrong with it- wish we could do it, too!

I am so excited to take one of these tours!!! This is something we could never do on a trip with the kids.

 

[Disnydad]

I've been to WDW without the kids (and wife) several times. They are in their late teens and don't care if I or the wife and I get down there on our own.