Excited but Torn (A One-on-One Disney Adventure with My Son)

[SpykeYs]

Okay… total first-world dilemma here.

We’re a family of five with three kids (6 (DD), 8 (DS), and 13 (DD)). We’ve been lucky enough to do two full family trips, most recently in March 2025. I’ve also done two amazing dad-daughter trips with my oldest when she was 6 and 8.

I grew up in a Disney-loving family, and before kids I went 5–6 times. My wife enjoys Disney, but for her, once every 5–6 years is plenty. She is not ready to go back since we went in March of 2025.

Now I’m really tempted to book a week in early December just for me and my 8-year-old son, who’s a total Disney fan and loves rides, shows, and everything the parks offer. But… I’m torn. I feel guilty leaving my wife and two daughters behind.

My wife is actually encouraging me to go, but I still feel a bit bad for the girls. My 13-year-old has already had the chance to do two dad-daughter trips. My 6-year-old, while she loves Disney, isn’t into most rides as she’s still pretty anxious about loud noises and rides due to PTSD from a car accident when she was 3. The plan is to do a special one-on-one trip with her when she’s around 8 (maybe to Disney, or wherever she chooses… or maybe Mom will take her somewhere special).

Still, the guilt is there. I’m not going to lie, I’ve booked today a refundable resort-only reservation, but I’ve been holding off on booking flights because of the guilt.

Has anyone else felt this way? How did you handle it?

 

[Goofyernmost]

It sounds to me like you have already shown that in the past you have done one on one trips no one should feel shorted. They might be disappointed that they couldn't go on this trip, but since the only one that has a legit gripe is the youngest, but she should be able to know that you waited until your son was 8 and that you intend to do the same for her when she hits 8 years old. As for you wife, well you know her whereas I do not. I have found that sometimes wives say they are ok with things but it may not be the absolute truth. Just kidding if she understand that all the kids should have the opportunity to do the one on one trip I'm sure she is fine with it. Book it Dano! If your old enough to get that reference.

 

[DisneyHead123]

Assuming your guilt is centered mostly around leaving your oldest daughter at home, since you didn’t mention feeling guilty when you took just her.

If you haven’t already promoted this as a father son solo trip, why not just take her and say your younger son is finally old enough to join the “dad and kids only” trips? Frame it as him now meeting a minimum maturity requirement vs. everyone getting a one on one trip. (Unless he doesn’t want his sister going - but assuming they get along.)

 

[AndyS2992]

Meh, just do it and bring them all back something nice each lol

 

[SpykeYs]

I already did it twice with my oldest as at the time, my two youngest were too young.

I don't really feel guilty towards my oldest as she had that opportunity twice.

I just think it would be a really nice opportunity to create memories, like I did with my daughter but this time with my son.

As for my youngest, although she could come, it wouldn't be the same as she only rides a few select attractions.

Also, I come from a family of 5 as well and I remember like yesterday when my mother brought me to Disney without my brother and sister.

I guess i'm just curious if anyone else here did something similar?

As I said, wife is not interested in coming back for another 4-5 years.

 

[Fox&Hound]

I think you know the answer already. You seem excited for this trip, and it will be a special moment for you and your son. It is not like you did not do something similar with your oldest, and it sounds like you plan to do something similar with your youngest when the time is right.

I think this sounds beautiful.

 

[RememberWhen]

Do it. Those memories can’t make themselves, and the kids are only young once. I’m so grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to do one-on-one trips with my kids.

 

[Mr. Pusskers]

This should not even be an issue. You take the Little man and let him and you have the time of your life. Tell the oldest daughter that it's her little brothers time to do a trip with dad like you did with her and tell the second daughter that her turn will be next where ever she wants.

I really think it is important for a Father to bond with their kids specially in today's world. This is what your children will always remember. You took the time with them to take them and do something awesome with them. One day when your older and an empty nester, don't be surprised if your kids do the same thing with their children and maybe include Grandpa. This is what family is all about, Love.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Kids grow up faster than you want them to and the time flies by. Sons need father/ son time and a Disney trip alone with you will be a special time that he and you will look back on and treasure. Feel no guilt or have thoughts that this is something you shouldn't be doing. Your wife is giving her approval and that means a lot. The teen years come fast and not all kids want to do things with their parents at that age, so do it now when you can.
I have a wonderful connection and relationship with my DS and see that many fathers cannot say the same. Do the trip, do all that you can to bond and connect with your son. You have a short time to do so. Make the most of your time together one on one.

 

[DisneyHead123]

If you’re not feeling guilty about your oldest and your wife and youngest don’t really want to go, can you explain more about why you’re feeling guilty at all? If it’s leaving your wife alone with two kids you could always offer to pick up some slack and let her have downtime when you get home. I’m sure giving her a weekend “off” to do whatever she likes while you watch the kids would be very appreciated.

 

[KaliSplash]

GO!

 

[SpykeYs]

Thank you all so much for the kind and supportive words! I realized I hadn’t shared something important. I was recently diagnosed with Alport syndrome, a rare genetic kidney condition. I’m closely monitoring it, and while things seem stable for now and hopefully the next 10–15 years, life is always unpredictable. This has really made me reflect on how precious family time is and the importance of making memories with my loved ones.

With that in mind, I’m excited to share that I just booked flights and hotels for an amazing Disney trip with my son during the first week of December! It’ll be my first time experiencing Disney during that magical season, and I can’t wait.

Regarding my other kids: I’ve already had a heart-to-heart with my oldest, who’s had this one-on-one experience twice before, and now it’s my son’s turn. She is perfectly fine with that and understand. We also just went in March as I mentioned in my intro. I’ll also talk with my youngest about how next time, it’ll be her special trip with Dad. Meanwhile, while I’m away with my son, my youngest will have a special week at home with Mom, so everyone feels included.

I'm a bit torn for my youngest but I know her time will come.

Thanks again for all the encouragement, it truly means a lot!

 

[SpykeYs]

If you’re not feeling guilty about your oldest and your wife and youngest don’t really want to go, can you explain more about why you’re feeling guilty at all? If it’s leaving your wife alone with two kids you could always offer to pick up some slack and let her have downtime when you get home. I’m sure giving her a weekend “off” to do whatever she likes while you watch the kids would be very appreciated.

I don’t see it as leaving my wife with the other kids since it’s completely her choice not to go, and she’s actually looking forward to some downtime away from the boys, meaning me and my son, haha.

Where I feel the most guilt is towards my youngest. Ideally, if my wife were going, she’d come too. But we just took her recently, and while she enjoyed it, she’s not really into the rides. I truly believe Disney will be a way better experience for her in 3–4 years when she’s more interested and able to enjoy everything.

If I bring her now, my son wouldn’t get to do all the rides he loves. But if I don’t bring her, I feel a bit guilty, even though I’m confident she’ll have her own chance in 2–3 years to travel somewhere special with either me or Mom.

I've discussed again with my wife and she also think I should only go with my son to give him that opportunity of a lifetime. She will make sure to have an extra special week with the girls and do fun stuff while I'm away.

 

[Basil of Baker Street]

Best advice is to determine which one of your 3 kids is most likely to take care of you when you're older then focus/splurge on that one.

 

[Goofyernmost]

This should not even be an issue. You take the Little man and let him and you have the time of your life. Tell the oldest daughter that it's her little brothers time to do a trip with dad like you did with her and tell the second daughter that her turn will be next where ever she wants.

I really think it is important for a Father to bond with their kids specially in today's world. This is what your children will always remember. You took the time with them to take them and do something awesome with them. One day when your older and an empty nester, don't be surprised if your kids do the same thing with their children and maybe include Grandpa. This is what family is all about, Love.

That actually did happen for me. I have to confess that it wasn't exactly planned this way but it worked out. My wife was in graduate school in Boston. My youngest was home in Vermont with me because she was still in the last year of High School on mid-winter break. We had planned a trip with some friends that lived a few doors down and at the last minute her father had a minor heart attack and she didn't feel like it would be appropriate to go to WDW when her father was in the hospital. Makes sense, but then my wife decided that she couldn't go because she had a paper due and didn't have time. That left me and my youngest. My oldest was still attending Colorado College in Colorado Springs and had a boyfriend so she passed on the possibility of us joining up in Florida. I made the decision the my youngest and I would go by ourselves. It was a road trip and she drove some and I drove most of it.

Two things... She and I had a great time and even though it was just the two of us at home, the idea that we were on a vacation trip seemed to make her more open with her feelings and we bonded even more. My wife was not pleased that we went anyway after insisting that we go without her. I forget why! Anyway, jump ahead a few years and my youngest was married and had a step son and step daughter. They decided to go to WDW and asked me to go along. Score one!

About 6 years later she had a son and they went again (he was about 5), and once more asked me to go with them. That kind of closeness always pays off, one way or the other. Score Two! A few years later when her son was 10 they went again and once more invited me along. Score Three, but whose counting.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Thank you all so much for the kind and supportive words! I realized I hadn’t shared something important. I was recently diagnosed with Alport syndrome, a rare genetic kidney condition. I’m closely monitoring it, and while things seem stable for now and hopefully the next 10–15 years, life is always unpredictable. This has really made me reflect on how precious family time is and the importance of making memories with my loved ones.

With that in mind, I’m excited to share that I just booked flights and hotels for an amazing Disney trip with my son during the first week of December! It’ll be my first time experiencing Disney during that magical season, and I can’t wait.

Regarding my other kids: I’ve already had a heart-to-heart with my oldest, who’s had this one-on-one experience twice before, and now it’s my son’s turn. She is perfectly fine with that and understand. We also just went in March as I mentioned in my intro. I’ll also talk with my youngest about how next time, it’ll be her special trip with Dad. Meanwhile, while I’m away with my son, my youngest will have a special week at home with Mom, so everyone feels included.

I'm a bit torn for my youngest but I know her time will come.

Thanks again for all the encouragement, it truly means a lot!

The doing for one and not the other is something that happens often. You have three, I had two and it still was sometimes a hard decision to make. When they were young and had different conflicting school activities many times my wife went to one event and I went to the other. The next one we would switch who we were there with. As they got older, again there were always conflicts and the desire not to show favoritism gets even harder. When one gets my age the next stage comes up. We seem to have to put in writing what we want to happen to the things we leave behind, but it isn't all the easy. There is always one that you are closer to but you want to be fair. Cash is easy, it's split two ways equally or three ways or four, whatever that number is, but sometimes it isn't that simple especially for items, but cash as well. I keep thinking how much easier it would be if we only had one. That can get complex as well, but not as difficult.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Thank you all so much for the kind and supportive words! I realized I hadn’t shared something important. I was recently diagnosed with Alport syndrome, a rare genetic kidney condition. I’m closely monitoring it, and while things seem stable for now and hopefully the next 10–15 years, life is always unpredictable. This has really made me reflect on how precious family time is and the importance of making memories with my loved ones.

With that in mind, I’m excited to share that I just booked flights and hotels for an amazing Disney trip with my son during the first week of December! It’ll be my first time experiencing Disney during that magical season, and I can’t wait.

Well with a medical condition that may or may not otherwise worsen with time then its even more critical that this trip with your son goes off. Things can go from good to bad in no time. We've been to WDW several times during the Christmas season and it is fabulous. The atmosphere is joyous everywhere, the parks decorated to the extreme, and it really makes everyone IMHO treat all around them with courtesy.
We even start our Christmas shopping for family when we are there!! hope all goes well for you going forward.

 

[thomas998]

I've 2 kids and I've taken one to Disney probably 4 times as many times as the other, not because I wanted to punish one but because kids aren't clones of each other and they don't enjoy the same things. You took the oldest by herself once, now your taking the other. No harm no foul. Reality is a 8 year old and a 13 year old have a big enough age gap that they might not even enjoy the same things in the park which would make it more of a pain in the butt having to get one to do something they really didn't want to do .