Would you let your kids go to wdw 1st time with someone else?

[Andrea73]

I would. My parents never took me to Disney, my aunt and grandma did. My aunt was a Disney fanatic who died last year. I would have let her take my kids in a second if she was able to. (She was very ill her last few years, even after a kidney transplant)

I always expected that she would either take them or be there for their 1st trip. It has added a bit of sadness to this trip that she is not here.

I guess if someone is really into Disney, they would mind. But I would not have had a problem with it.

I would ask if you can take them. It sounds like a great idea.

 

[richmo]

Sure! As long as you're confident in your ability to handle them and you run it by the parents and they're OK with it, I don't see why not...after all, you're family.

 

[LisaInNc]

I would let my DD go.

It's about her and magic for her and not about me. Sure I would want that magical moment it to be with me but that is selfish. I want to give my DD every opportunity in her life.

Sometimes letting her go is hard!

Lisa

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I went to WDW for the first time with the uncle. In fact, I have never gone with my parents.

But I would not have wanted my children going for the first time without me.

 

[mmtska]

If I wasn't a huge Disney fan I wouldn't mind. But seeing as I am, and I will eventually take my children there..... I would ask the parents before mentioning it to your niece. If Disney isn't a big deal to them then -meh. Take her!

 

[Coach81]

One of our close family friends is letting us take her 7 yo son with us for his first time trip.. She said she could not think of anyone better to trust her son to than us..

We are going to show him the time of his life!!!

 

[eastcarolinafan]

It's a hard question because, having been, we know how big an event it really is. Now, had I not gone with my child the first time, I might have considered it simply because I would have failed to realize the significance.

But not now. Not after knowing how simpy ENORMOUS an event it really is. I would not let my daughter go without us for the first time. I do think it's wonderful of you to offer; however, I also think it's pretty selfish of you to want the kids but not the parents. Harsh, but true.

Perhaps if you offered to foot the bill for mom and dad too -- or just one of them -- but not without them entirely. Not cool IMO.

 

[mjkacmom]

But not now. Not after knowing how simpy ENORMOUS an event it really is. I would not let my daughter go without us for the first time. I do think it's wonderful of you to offer; however, I also think it's pretty selfish of you to want the kids but not the parents. Harsh, but true.

Perhaps if you offered to foot the bill for mom and dad too -- or just one of them -- but not without them entirely. Not cool IMO.

I hardly think the OP is selfish for offering to pay to take someone else's children! Yes, my kids have been to WDW, and we took them, but if someone had asked to take them first, and I couldn't go, I would've let them. Maybe it's because I went so often as a child, but even though they had a great time, I would've missed out and let them go with my sister. I wouldn't expect her to spend $1000+ more to take DH and I.

 

[mousireid]

The first time I took my SD and then another time my niece. My SD would never have gone (even though her Mom always said she wanted to take her, unfortunately that happened for a lot of thing and for different reasons she never did) and my niece (13) was the very same, my nephews are going for the first time when they come to visit and they are 19 and 21 now. Their parents (whom I love dearly) just had zero interest in travelling too far, or ever getting on a plane and so were more than happy for me to take them (although still decidedly nervous). Sometimes life gets in the way and for all kinds of reasons and best intentions, people may not be able to take thier kids. At the end of the day, if they are okay with it and have no plans to go in the next few years then by all means, let the good times roll.
I know I would have been upset if I could not have taken my children, but we made it happen and are so glad we are able to go again and again. In saying that, if I had not been able to go I would have sacrificed my own feelings in order for them to have the time of their lives 9yes I would have been SO sad, kinda bittersweet to see those pictures and know I wasn't there, but again, to see their joy would also make my day).

 

[twogirlsandthatsit]

When I read the title of this thread my instant thought was "Heck No!" However, after reading your OP I think the answer would be yes. The reason for my change of heart is that I went to DW for the first time without my parents. They could not afford to take our family there but did allow me to go along with my Aunt & Uncle and thier kids when I was 12 or so. (I went as their "babysitter" -- really didn't do much but it was soo worth it.) I think they had my parents give them some money for my food but the rest they paid for. I would NEVER have been able to go if that was not the case.

I am in a different situation as a parent and CAN afford to take my kids, so I wouldn't want them to go with anyone else. Plus, Disney is something that I LOVE and have dreamt of taking my girls there since I found out my first child was a girl!!

I say, talk to them and see what they say. I hope they are open to it and your nieces love the trip -- you will be their favorite aunt forever!

 

[Smithkids]

I think it is wonderful for you to offer! If I were the parents and I really felt that there was no way I could ever afford it- then my answer would be yes.

However, I will agree with some posters that maybe if you offer to pay for the girls, then their parents could afford to come along...this way the parents could experience the magic with them...

Either way, I feel it is very nice of you to offer...

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Well...since you are asking on the DIS, then I'm guessing most of the folks here who are parents either HAVE taken their kids or are thinking about it and probably planning it.

Generally speaking however, you'd have to ask the parents themselves how they feel.

Not everyone is obsessed with WDW. Some parents may actually feel opposed to taking their kids to WDW at all. There are parents who don't want their daughters to fantasize about being a princess who needs to be saved by a prince. There are parents who worry about the safety of thrill rides.

On the other hand, there are PLENTY of parents who feel like WDW is something they are supposed to do with their kids, but they dread the idea of taking them. Maybe they hate travel, maybe they can't travel due to work or health conditions.

The best thing to do is ask the parents.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

I would. Here's why:

If the parents cannot take thier kids or won't take thier kids and you as a loving relative that they trust with thier kids welfare (assuming here) I think it would almost be selfish to not let the kids go. My parents didn't have any money when we were little and couldn't afford to ever take us to Disney or alot of other places, they also had to work 2 full time jobs and were busy raising us 3 kids. But my god parents were older and well off and traveled alot, also g-mother didn't work and g-father worked out of town usually at fun places like the beach, Savannah, Atlanta, etc. If mom and dad would have said no you can't b/c I want to take you to X first then I would have never got to see all the things that I did. I now understand that they were making a sacrifice of seeing my delight in going to those places and am grateful they could put aside thier own need for personal feelings of satisfaction and humbly accept the gracious gifts my g-parents were willing to give me and let me experience traveling even if they were not there.

 

[eastcarolinafan]

I hardly think the OP is selfish for offering to pay to take someone else's children! Yes, my kids have been to WDW, and we took them, but if someone had asked to take them first, and I couldn't go, I would've let them. Maybe it's because I went so often as a child, but even though they had a great time, I would've missed out and let them go with my sister. I wouldn't expect her to spend $1000+ more to take DH and I.

Perhaps you misunderstood. I didn't say it was selfish to offer to pay, I simply said it sounded selfish to want to take the children (for their First Time) when the parents could not go. It's a unique experience, watching your kid walk down Main Street for the first time; and she wanted that particular experience for herself. I don't know, it sounds indulgent to me.

Maybe I'm wrong, but that's how I feel.

And perhaps I am wrong about offering to pay for one of the parents. In fact, I will admit I am. But as one poster already pointed out, you asked this question on a Dis board. Clearly, DW means way more to us than most. You might understand how significant an event a first trip is to us.

I stand by my answer. No.

 

[LilMommyBug]

Like someone else said, if it was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity & I would never be able to afford to take them - yes. If not, NO. I love Disney World way too much to not be there for their first time.

 

[mjkacmom]

Perhaps you misunderstood. I didn't say it was selfish to offer to pay, I simply said it sounded selfish to want to take the children (for their First Time) when the parents could not go. It's a unique experience, watching your kid walk down Main Street for the first time; and she wanted that particular experience for herself. I don't know, it sounds indulgent to me.

Maybe I'm wrong, but that's how I feel.

And perhaps I am wrong about offering to pay for one of the parents. In fact, I will admit I am. But as one poster already pointed out, you asked this question on a Dis board. Clearly, DW means way more to us than most. You might understand how significant an event a first trip is to us.

I stand by my answer. No.

Please remember than many, if not most, people IRL don't really care if and when their children go to WDW. Now, of course there are going to be WDW extremists on these boards who would rather their children never go to WDW ever, than without them. That I can "sort of" get. But to call someone selfish for considering taking children on vacation, when there is a chance they'd never get to WDW otherwise, is pretty extreme. The parents might be thrilled!

 

[disneydiva1313]

I take my nephews to Disney World every year...they were 7 and 10 years old when we first started (now, they are 14 and 17). I am so glad my sister and brother-in-law allow them to travel with me. Their parents do not go, or even care about taking the boys to Disney World. So...it's just their favorite aunt (their only aunt, actually) spending time with the nephews at my favorite place on earth. It's our special time together that we look forward to every year!

 

[DeniseinNS]

No, I wouldn't. A first trip to Disney is too important and special to me and my kids, I would not miss it. I would be kind of offended that someone else wanted to take them on a trip that special for their first time.

 

[PirateMel]

It is a dream of mine to visit wdw with my two nieces.

Their parents have been unable to take them to wdw themselves (financial reasons) and I would like to take them for a trip of about 5 or so. It would be their 1st time to the world and by the time the trip is here they will be 9 and 7 years old.

My brother & sil want to take them someday but I fear that it will never happen & the older of my nieces is very precocious so I'm afraid the magic will be gone for her before too long...the age of not-believing and all that.

I'm planning to pose the question to my brother & sil in June and I hope they will agree to let me visit w/ their little ones in wdw. I should also mention that I've spent time alone w/ my nieces but they have never come to visit me in FL.

I know that there are lots of parents on this board, so if it was you, would you let your children go to wdw with someone else for the 1st time??

Also, if you would, what is the best way to pose the question to the parents?

I took my cousins kids to Disney

My first trip was as an Adult, on my honeymoon in 1988. As a child my parents could not afford to take us, but my cousins went all the time.
We were very close as kids. I was very envious but they always brough me and my sister back gifts.

Life changes and Financial situations change. My Uncle passed away early and left a family and business to struggle financially.

Fast forward to today, I have no kids and am Financially secure. I take my Mom every year in Oct. Her twin, my cousins Mom, we took in 2007.

So my cousin has not been able to take her kids, who are absolutely wonderful. So I offered.
First I took her daughter for a long weekend, she was 15.

After that I toook the twin boys, 12 I was not sure they would go with me but they all agreed. And somewhere in the future would be Mom & Dad's turn.

You never know, just ask.
Worse they can say is no, but you could be pleasantly suprised. I was and it was two of the most memorable trips for me.

 

[eastcarolinafan]

No, I wouldn't. A first trip to Disney is too important and special to me and my kids, I would not miss it. I would be kind of offended that someone else wanted to take them on a trip that special for their first time.

Thank you. It's an extreme stance, perhaps; but it's not unlike your kid's first Christmas, or their first steps. You want to be there. It's not the same if your child takes her first steps at your sister's house -- when you are not there -- or wakes up to her first Christmas without you at your brother's home. It's no different.


I mean, how would you feel if your daughter went to your brother's house in a baby carrier and walked through your front door two days later, without you being there? I would be upset I missed that. And what's more, deep down, I would be resentful.