Would your WDW trips be different if you went without kids?

[palhockeymomof2]

Our "kids" are 19 & 22....now that they are older we have taken trips during food and wine.. and early december....which we never did since we didn't take them out of school and they both played ice hockey so from Sept to March every weekend they had games....we enjoy going different times of the year now.....sometimes they join us for the weekend sometimes not..depending on their college schedules......it does feel strange..but we have also enjoyed going to resturants just the 2 of us...which we never would have been able to afford paying for 4....

 

[kathy884]

I turn 50 this August. My mom and dad first took me and my brother to WDW the year that the park opened when I was 10. They love this place, but have never been alone yet. They always invite me and my brother to come, and at least one of us (very often both and some or all members of our family) always say yes. -- happened in my 20s, happened in my 30s and 40s, (inlcuded hubby and kids). Guess what -- I decided to go down in March with my son (DH is staying home) and (my mom, dad, and a cousin of mine will be joining us). It will be a blast, as we love doing Disney/Orlando together.

20 Trips with # 21 coming up
March 1971 – KOA closest to Disney (camping)
March 1972 – Jellystone Park (camping)
March 1974 – Outdoor Resorts of America (camping)
Dec. 1974 – Outdoor Resorts of American (camping)
March 1975 – Outdoor Resorts of America (camping)
Dec. 1975 – Fort Wilderness (camping)
Dec. 1976 – Fort Wilderness (camping)
Dec. 1977 -- Outdoor Resorts of America (camping)
Dec. 1986 – Marriott Royal Palms (condo by Marriott World Center)
May 1993 – Disney Contemporary (Garden Wing) (hotel)
Dec. 1994 – Polynesian Isles (condo)
May 1999 – Disney Contemporary (Main Building with high floor and Magic Kingdom view) (hotel)
Dec. 2001 – Cypress Pointe (condo)
March 2003 – Sheraton Vistana – Cascades section (condo)
March 2004 – Sheraton Vistana – Cascades section (condo)
Dec. 2004 -- Cypress Pointe (condo)
June 2006 –Tampa relative’s condo
June 2007 – Cypress Point Grandvillas (condo). Disney -- Port Orleans Riverside (hotel), and Sheraton Vistana – Fountains section (condo) – stayed three different places on this trip.
Dec. 2008 – Sheraton Vistana Resort (remodeled Fountains section) (condo)
Oct. 2009 – Hilton Garden Inn Seaworld (hotel)
(Will be going again March 2010 – staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Seaworld again)

 

[BlovesC]

I think perhaps if you've only ever gone to Disney WITH children, you may feel a bit different going there adults-only, and may find it a 'waste'. Vice versa, if you're used to going just as a couple and having a fabulous time, it's likely a haaaaard adjustment when you first bring your child.

DF and I always have an absolute blast at the parks, no matter how often we go. My brother and his wife, DVC members, took their first family trip with their daughter when she was six months old last October. They were miserable, she was miserable, and they spent their week in the happiest place on earth under a black cloud. Honestly, we see so many family breakdowns and tantrums when we're in the park, if/when DF and I have children I'm afraid we'll have to avoid the parks for a long time since we've been so spoiled.

 

[djp0630]

Don't be too sad about it, because you can still travel with him when he's an adult. My friend and her family (all in late 20s/early 30s), none married, take trips with their parents every year. My parents now travel with my brother, sister & I on our trips. My parents went to Key West twice with my sister, WDW twice with me & my family and twice with my brother & his family, Paris & London with DH & I (pre-kids), etc. Plus we took trips as a family in the summer while we were in college. The first trip my parents took without us though was WDW for their 25th anniversary. I was a freshman in college, and it was a little sad for me that I couldn't be there. But they had a great time!

I think going to WDW without kid would be more relaxing. Nobody to please but each other. Going to nice places to eat, sleeping in, not rushing to meet characters/Fantasyland, etc.

 

[smidgy]

for ideas and a glimpse into what it will be like, go over to the "disney for adults and solo travellers" board!
(you'll love it!)
ps. hubby and I (empty nesters, still go on almost everything in fantasyland!!!)

 

[justgeorgi]

Leaving March 22 for a trip without our 17 year old daughter.

We went for Valentine's Day 3 years ago also!

Disney is our FAVORITE vacation spot and sometimes you need to vacation without the children even if its just for a few days. For our Valentine's trip we went for 3 days and for this trip we are going for 6. It will be our first time leaving our daughter home alone (gasp) but we need a getaway.

We have traveled to Disney several times "just" adults and its been amazing!

 

[smidgy]

It will be our first time leaving our daughter home alone (gasp) but we need a getaway.
!

I feel for you! tell your neighbors she will be alone, and tell her that they know this. leave her frozen pizzas and tv dinners, etc. and only 1 friend over.
when our son was about the same age, we went away for a weekend. I called the parents of the girl he was dating and let THEM know. I had never met them, and even though our older son was there that weekend, I wanted THEM to be aware (in case she had a "sleepover" that weekend with a girlfriend) they were most appreciative.

 

[bellefan7757]

DH and I first discovered our love for WDW when we took our kids - in 1989. Neither of us had ever visited as children. Until they were grown, we always took our children, but we have now traveled there several times without them and have loved those trips too. As others have said, the pace is so much different and relaxing. With just two it is easy to navigate the parks, even when the crowd level is high. We've also taken a trip with our adult children and enjoyed that too. We have a young granddaughter now and hope to visit with her - and her parents, I suppose! - within the next couple of years. Trips to Disney World - they're all good! (At 16, your son may be glad to be left behind this time. Just a thought.)

 

[hopeandtink]

My DH surprised me with a adult only trip to Disney. I was shocked, happy, and felt very guilty about leaving my babies behind (well 12,10,9,and 5). They love Disney and have been asking when we are going back since our last trip in Sept. We have never been on vacation without them before.

This week I sat them all down and explained that mommy and daddy are going to Disney for a week and that Nana (my mom) would be staying with them. I was waiting for the crying and complaining but instead my DD5 said "can you stay longer? Having Nana here is just like having Christmas everyday!!

They are all thrilled to have some time with their grandmother and we can finally have that honeymoon we never had.

 

[Plannin'Shannon]

Our trips are different when we BRING kids...DH and I are always solo but when we bring our nieces we find that we do more character breakfasts, more CS dinners, more park time and less down time....

Same here. We're going with my two young cousins in March. That should be a very different experience than what we're used to! I'm looking forward to it.

 

[smidgy]

can we rent ourselves out as "grandparents"? we didn't discover WDW until our kids werepre teens. took them twice. now that they are grown, they think we are nutzzzzzzzzzz1
the youngest has a one year old. the oldest had a 4 year old, but only has every other weekend with him.
I would LOVE to take my 4 year old grandson to disney!!!
I would forgo(?) room views, DSAs, you name it, I would do it. to take that little guy I love so much to disneyl I would ride dumbo 100 times, it's a small world, 100 times.
any divorced moms....... you have SUCH an unused .... BUNCH of LOVE...from the "dad's side of the family." we love the little guy , too. so much...........

 

[donac]

Our sons are 19 and 24 and last AUg we went on a trip without them. We got to do what we wanted to do. Didn't have to dish out extra money for food for them. We got to eat at a few places that we knew that they would not like the Beirgarten. we are early risers so we didn't have to wait for anyone in the morning. It was a great trip. We are already looking forward to our next one without the kids. we are also planning our retirement trip whenever that is going to be.

We didn't feel bad for our sons. The olderone went to Spain last March to visit his girlfriend while she was studying there. The younger one didn't think about it since he was getting ready to go back to college. Little did he know back in Aug that we would spend winter break in Africa on a working vacation for Engineers Without Borders.

 

[miprender]

I suppose.....but I wouldn't want to....

Actually, we've never thought of it. For us, vacations involve the family. I know it's strange but, since the children were born, we have never gone on vacation without them. I think we'd spend most of the time worried about them.

Wow we must be related, because I know some people think I am strange for thinking this way.

But to the OP... I sometimes think too when my kids are all grown will they want to come with us and I get all sad. But I still have a few years since my oldest is only 6.

And think about it when you have grandchildren how better to spoil them than at Disney!!!

 

[lilmissbehaved]

My husband & i are actually thinking of taking a 3 day weekend trip in November.. we still have young children.. does that make us terrible parents? LOL

My son is 6 - he's been to disney 4 times. We also have a 20 month old who stayed with her grandparents during our last trip. My husband is VERY against taking our son out of school even for a couple of days. Our daughter freaks out when in the car, so I can't even imagine her right now on a plane. She is old enough where she would really know if we went and left her home... So now the plan is a 3 day no kids trip in November.. We are hoping for a bounce back offer, and we'll book a family vacation then for August. I feel slightly guilty, but the thought of staying out late, going to Jellyrolls and taking my time walking the world showcase doing the grown up stuff that i never get to do is exciting. I even spoke to my son about it aleady explaining that we needed Mommy & Daddy time and would go to Orlando to get him tickets for next year.. Not thrilled about it, but he'll live

 

[blanq]

Thanks, everyone, for your replies. I have enjoyed reading all of them. There was a part of me that thought that WDW might be a vacation destination of the past once our DS is grown, but I have changed my mind about that. I do think that DH and I will travel there alone, and that we will have a great time. I do like the thought of a more relaxing pace, more time at the resorts, some spa time and maybe even V&A for a special dinner.

 

[eliza61]

DH and I just have one child, and he is 16 and a Junior in high school. We have been to WDW as a family 10 times, and have had the luxury of traveling to many other destinations over the years. We have only taken one trip without him...a cruise when he was four. As our DS gets older I am beginning to think about travel without him. We truly love to travel with our son. Traveling without him is an exciting, but somewhat sad prospect for me. I have been thinking about how trips to WDW (and other places) might be different without our DS tagging along, and I am curious to hear about your experiences. Maybe your children are grown, or maybe you take some trips with kids and without. Regardless, I would love to hear about how your trips to WDW are different when it is just your spouse as opposed to with your spouse and kids. Is your resort choice, how you approach the parks, when/where you eat, etc. different? What makes travel to WDW with just your spouse special for you?

MAGICAL!!! We love going to WDW without the kids. Let me make a disclaimer, dh and I have always taken short trips without the kids since they were born. I firmly believe that being a mother does not mean I give up being a sweetie. My mother use to always tell me and my brothers that out of 365 days a year, they can survive without her for 4 days. LOL.

Disney is absolutely beautiful with you SO. We can hold hands, pick restaurants without worrying if the kids will find some thing they like, wander the shops without monitoring their ever move. Love, Love, love it.

 

[justgeorgi]

I feel for you! tell your neighbors she will be alone, and tell her that they know this. leave her frozen pizzas and tv dinners, etc. and only 1 friend over.
when our son was about the same age, we went away for a weekend. I called the parents of the girl he was dating and let THEM know. I had never met them, and even though our older son was there that weekend, I wanted THEM to be aware (in case she had a "sleepover" that weekend with a girlfriend) they were most appreciative.

I'm not too concerned. She is a busy girl with an internship at a professional theater for her senior year so she is at the theater 6-7 days a way from morning till night. Her boyfriend is also an intern and his family offered to let her stay at their house while we are away but we have dogs and cats and its easier to have her stay and feed the dogs. Plus she figures "I'm just heading home to let them out and eat dinner and go to sleep" and she won't be alone over the weekend because we will be home by Saturday evening. She cooks so I'll just stock up

 

[kristennn]

Yes my trip would be totally different - I wouldn't do character meals - or stand in line to meet the characters etc.
While i can think of things I would like to do at disney without children - and while I can picture it being nice to go on the rides I want to go on without being slowed down - if we were vacationing without children we would probably choose someplace different to go.

 

[Disney Yooper]

Our couple trips have been fabulous. There are only two people with preferences to coordinate and it is much less stressful on me. No emotional roller coasters to deal with (I have two girls). When the girls were younger, they were picky eaters so meal time was more difficult to plan. Our couple trips have been so wonderfully relaxing!

 

[RCharnay]

We love our adult trips. We took the kids for years and now that they are college-aged, they like to join us once a year. But DH and I try to get down for at least a few days alone and love our long walks around the resorts, taking tours, long dinners without worrying about wasting our park time. It may be a sad thought right now, but you'll come around and realize that every age with your kids offers great pleasures --just like every age of WDW offers new and exciting adventures. We think it's better now! As others have said--no more melt downs!