Would you leave kids at home and take only one kid?

[happymommy]

You are no longer married, so it is no longer all or none to begin with.

I've taken my kids without DH since they were 4 and 6, and had a blast!

As the kids got older and busier, now DD and I enjoy Disney much more than the others, so most trips it is just her and me. We enjoy it so much more just the two of us, although I loved and wouldn't trade other trips for the world when it was all 4. It's just that now she and I can go with the flow and get along so well.

I don't see an issue if the other kids don't mind. I know plenty of friends who do vacations with one of their kids, and my mom and I did many as well. She took my older sister to England and Ireland, then me to a a 2 1/2 week tour of Europe. It is nice to have one on one time with your parents.

 

[Suzanne74]

In your circumstances, with the older ones going on their own next year, I would absolutely take the 7yr old and have fun. I have a 7 and 15yr old. We are going in 2 months because 15yr old is going to be there playing softball with her high school team. We have always done Disney as a family but I am VERY excited to have just DD7 at the parks many days while 15DD is with her team. Why? It is tough to always please kids our ages apart and for years, your older ones (and mine) were the only ones at the same type of age without another sibling of an older/younger age to worry about. So now the teens will enjoy their time with friends and you will get some time to do all the fun stuff with your young one. No guilt at all.

I doubt I will see my 15yr old but for a handful a times. I am sure I will miss a few things with her and her with me when she is with her friends, but how many kids get a chance to do Disney with their friends? Not many. They will have a blast and so will you!

Go and enjoy.

 

[Suzanne74]

Nope. Wouldn't do it. Would prefer to have all of us or none of us there. But, your family your rules.

So you wouldn't let your teens go with their band or sports team for school either? It is all or none, right?

 

[JBO1707]

If everyone is understanding than there shouldn't be an issue! I just have a infant now, but in the future I wouldn't hesitate on doing it. Give you time to have one on one time!

 

[Nursemira]

I have five children. I took my three oldest last year by myself while my DH stayed home with our two toddlers. My DH isn't a Disney fan and was much happier at home. I now have a trip planned for one of the younger kids and I to go in May. I'll take the last Child on her own trip when she gets bigger. It works for us. Everyone has gotten a trip or one is planned and special time with mom. No one feels left out. I may even talk my DH into a family trip at some point. Haha

 

[jevs]

So you wouldn't let your teens go with their band or sports team for school either? It is all or none, right?

Of course I'd let the kids go on school related camps.

Did I misread the OP? I thought the trip was family related with nothing to do with school? In any case, perhaps read the last 5 words of my post. Right.

 

[scrapquitler]

I have a voucher for Delta that would cover flights for two. My exDH would buy the tickets for the parks but money is tight for him since he is in school working on a PHD. I would just need to come up with money for hotel and food. My youngest is 7 and I'm thinking of taking him to Disney and leaving the 16 and 14 year old with grandma. I feel so guilty but I can't afford for all of us to go. My teenagers will be going with the band and choir in 2018 so we put money away each month for this. The teenagers are OK with me just taking the seven year old this Summer since they will be going in a year. We have been to Disney 4 times already. Has anyone ever left a kid at home and taken only one kid to Disney? How did it go?

I'd be okay with it in this scenario. The teens know taht they are going next year and the younger sibling won't get to go then.

We took our 13 year old 4 times last year and left our college student at school every time. No guilt.

 

[cariann77]

In this situation, yes. If the older ones are getting another chance to go and they are alright with it, I wouldn't hesitate. We have guardianship of my teenage nephew and are taking a Disney Cruise without him this year. Do I feel a little guilty? Yes. We asked him if he wanted to go and his response was, "Well, when do you need to know by?". He went to Disney World with us and whined for the entire week so, we decided it was best just to take our girls and helped him pay for his spring break. You'll have some guilt and times you probably wished that they were there, but go and enjoy the one on one time! It will be a really special memory for both of you.

 

[PollyannaMom]

This is a tough one, because so far in my family, we haven't split up for vacations. (There are just the three of us, so we feel wrong leaving one person out.) But in your specific case, where the older two have their own trip planned, and don't mind the 7-year-old going with you, I think I would do it!

Having an only child, he gets a lot of individual attention, and I've always been grateful for that. I think if I had a bunch, it would be important to me to find just a little bit of special time for each of them.

 

[Suzanne74]

Of course I'd let the kids go on school related camps.

Did I misread the OP? I thought the trip was family related with nothing to do with school? In any case, perhaps read the last 5 words of my post. Right.

Listen, you said all or none. The OP said the other two are going on a school trip next year without the mom or 7yr old. As a parent of teens that have to do a lot of school and sport trips, they cost a lot. But if I asked them if they rather go with their school friends for their sport or activity or a family vacation, they would pick their school every time as they should. There are only a few years to make these school memories and I for one remember my high school Florida trip fondly. I am sure the OP would love to always be together as a family but since finances are tight, why deny the 7yr old the same vacation the teens are getting next year? Unless you can say you have kids these ages or have been in a situation similar with a divorce and finances, it is a little much to just say all or none.

 

[jevs]

I have a voucher for Delta that would cover flights for two. My exDH would buy the tickets for the parks but money is tight for him since he is in school working on a PHD. I would just need to come up with money for hotel and food. My youngest is 7 and I'm thinking of taking him to Disney and leaving the 16 and 14 year old with grandma. I feel so guilty but I can't afford for all of us to go. My teenagers will be going with the band and choir in 2018 so we put money away each month for this. The teenagers are OK with me just taking the seven year old this Summer since they will be going in a year. We have been to Disney 4 times already. Has anyone ever left a kid at home and taken only one kid to Disney? How did it go?

Nope. Wouldn't do it. Would prefer to have all of us or none of us there. But, your family your rules.

Listen, you said all or none. The OP said the other two are going on a school trip next year without the mom or 7yr old. As a parent of teens that have to do a lot of school and sport trips, they cost a lot. But if I asked them if they rather go with their school friends for their sport or activity or a family vacation, they would pick their school every time as they should. There are only a few years to make these school memories and I for one remember my high school Florida trip fondly. I am sure the OP would love to always be together as a family but since finances are tight, why deny the 7yr old the same vacation the teens are getting next year? Unless you can say you have kids these ages or have been in a situation similar with a divorce and finances, it is a little much to just say all or none.

FYI. Been a sole parent of a now (almost) 14 yr old, and twin 11 yr old for 8 years.

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

I would, and I did. Twice. In Dec I took my 11 y/o and her best friend for my DD's birthday, and in Jan I took my 8 y/o and 3 friends (and their mom's) for her birthday, too.

Of course my 5 year old is asked if I am taking her in May for her birthday, and I am not. My older DDs can go on rides by themselves or with friends, my 5 y/o can't. I'm very close friends with my 8 y/o DDs friends moms, and I don't know any moms in my 5 y/o DDs class. It's not the same type of "vacation." Also, both trips were overnight. We flew in from NJ in the morning and flew home late the next night. My 5 y/o isn't ready for that kind of trip.

We are going as a family in August and I will do something special with my 5 y/o -- just me and her while my H does something with the older girls -- but I won't take her alone until she's at least 7.

I'm really big on trying to keep things fair and even between my girls, especially since I know they keep track of who gets what, but I also know when to say "no."

 

[melanielll]

My kids are adults. This December, we took my youngest. She is in college and was on break. My oldest is a resident and could not get off. I am taking her in March. So - yes, I took one without the other. But - I am taking the other one separately. Which means two trips for me! Funny how that worked out.

When they were younger, I probably would have taken just one if for some reason that was the only way things could be worked out. We have a rule that no one should be denied something good or fun just because not everyone can do it. For example - my husband used to work on a project that required a decent amount of travel to the L.A. area. He went to Disneyland several times without us. We don't think that is bad for us. It is good for him.

 

[karalecia26]

I am actually doing it this year with my 3. In December I took my son for a birthday trip just the two of us. My girls were completely fine with it and were excited when I surprised them with a mom and girls trip this summer (silly AP!). My girls get a lot of attention and get to do a lot with their competitive dance and my DS (who is in the middle) has been a real trooper with going to all of their things. It was great being able to spend a week with DS and do things that his sisters don't want to do. I am now looking forward to doing complete opposite things with my DD's and spending the time with them. I know that a lot of people don't get the chance to do this with their kids and I am counting my blessings right now because who knows what will happen in the future.

 

[NorthernGrl]

This is my dream, and is in my plans over the next few years.
I have 4 kids. We have a princess crazy 5 year old who will play from rope drop to the kiss goodnight, a 7 year old boy who has no love of princesses, is fearful of certain rides and has medical issues affecting his stamina. There's also a 10 year old dare-devil who will ride all the thrill rides multiple times in a row, and a 12 year old with autism who ONLY rides Small World, the Carousel and the Tea Cups, and likes to go back to the hotel for a swim after the parade. DH likes Disney, but not to the extent that I do.
Taking all 4 is a constant negotiation and placating exercise. They all would tour in very different ways if given the opportunity to plan an entire trip on their own. I would love to see WDW through their eyes and just be able to follow their lead.

 

[brockash]

I have a voucher for Delta that would cover flights for two. My exDH would buy the tickets for the parks but money is tight for him since he is in school working on a PHD. I would just need to come up with money for hotel and food. My youngest is 7 and I'm thinking of taking him to Disney and leaving the 16 and 14 year old with grandma. I feel so guilty but I can't afford for all of us to go. My teenagers will be going with the band and choir in 2018 so we put money away each month for this. The teenagers are OK with me just taking the seven year old this Summer since they will be going in a year. We have been to Disney 4 times already. Has anyone ever left a kid at home and taken only one kid to Disney? How did it go?

I would normally say no, but since the older 2 are teenagers and are okay with not going, then I'd consider it. -Do they not really want to go or are they just okay with not going...seems silly, but for me it would make a difference. If given the choice, they'd prefer not to go for whatever reason (timing etc.), then I'd be much more comfortable with it as opposed to if given the choice they'd want to go, but they're not going to guilt you etc. for not taking them. Good luck. I think a trip for just you and the younger one sounds like lots of fun, as long as the older 2 really don't care about going.

 

[brockash]

Money is tight because I don't use credit card anymore and I'm going to Mexico in the Summer (already paid for). We have just a little under $4000 left in this year's vacation fund so I can afford Disney for 2 not 4. This money is for anything Summer related. The older two are going away to Summer Camp (already paid for). My older two will be going by themselves in 2018 and we are putting money away for this trip so our budget for vacation is smaller this year. We only go to Disney about every two years or so. Other years we do something else.

You said you only go to Disney every 2 years or so and your oldest is 16...will the oldest be going on the next trip with everyone? That would make a huge difference to me. The number one priority for me would to make sure I could save enough money to get everyone to go together one last time before the oldest is off doing their own thing...if this trip might interfere with that goal, then no I wouldn't consider it.

 

[halfpintpeggy]

OP, take your 7 year old & make wonderful memories! Your 2 older children get to do something special this summer by going away to camp. They ALSO get to do something special next year by going to WDW without you & their younger sibling.

 

[halfpintpeggy]

Of course I'd let the kids go on school related camps.

Did I misread the OP? I thought the trip was family related with nothing to do with school? In any case, perhaps read the last 5 words of my post. Right.

The 2 teens are going to WDW in 2018 without their Mom or younger sibling. They're also going to camp this summer without their younger sibling.

 

[BobbyDukes]

If they are ok with it then do it. They are older know and can make their own decisions.