https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 07:01:32 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offsite-disney-world-thread#post-2882422 Sun, 28 Apr 2019 22:14:54 +0000 MommySLP 2882422@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kpc324: thank you! This is our first time so there is so much to learn! We’re on the west coast so I think I’ll have to be up at 4am! I will need to book all FastPass one day at a time, right? My husbands only request is flight of passage...I told him that may not happen but fingers crossed we can get it. We’re planning end of jan/beginning of Feb so hopefully that’s a lower crowd time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offsite-disney-world-thread#post-2882414 Sun, 28 Apr 2019 21:13:12 +0000 kpc324 2882414@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MommySLP: I was kind of a nut and woke up at 5am on our FP booking days, I’m not sure if that made a difference. Also, on the day of things change fast so refreshing the app (a lot) really helped avoid crazy lines. People staying on-site only get 3 fast passes too, and once you use those three you can start booking more through the app, so there is really not a ton of advantage to the 60 day window, I wouldn’t worry too much.</p> <p>We went through Costco for our car, I forget which company we ended up with, but I think it was about $250 for the week. No cost for parking at the Marriott, it was $25 to park at the parks, but with the cost savings on the hotel it wasn’t a big deal. We avoided Magic Hour days, and on our Magic Kingdom day we booked an 8:15 Be Our Guest reservation so we were inside the park ready to go on rides before the crowds got there...it really was a good hour or so before the crowds really started filling in. Getting to the Magic Kingdom had multiple steps, but going super early took the stress of crowds out. Definitely rope drop for all of the parks, and get to the parking lot 30-45 minutes before the park opens.</p> <p> The hotel is awesome, we really loved our rest days, I honestly think we could have done 7 days at the hotel without even going to the parks and our girls would have been just as thrilled!! It was also a nice serene break from the park craziness. We didn’t do much outside of the hotel aside from the parks, so no greats tips there. Don’t hesitate to ask anything else, we had a great trip and hope to do it again soon!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offsite-disney-world-thread#post-2882386 Sun, 28 Apr 2019 16:15:54 +0000 MommySLP 2882386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kpc324: what perfect timing this is! We are just looking to book my in laws timeshare and Marriott Grande Vista is top of our list. I was trying not to be bummed about not having the 60 day booking window so I’m so glad to hear your experience! We plan on renting a car. Who did you go through? Does it cost to park at the Marriott? Any other tips about getting to the parks? Did you try to schedule opposite from the Magic mornings? Anything near the Marriott that was great and we should look into? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offsite-disney-world-thread#post-2882382 Sun, 28 Apr 2019 15:31:54 +0000 kpc324 2882382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just wanted to report back on our spring break offsite trip. We stayed at Marriott Grande Vista in a 2br and it was great! If anyone is debating on-site vs off here is our experience-</p> <p>The drive to the parks wasn’t bad at all. We did rope drop for our park days which may have helped. Rental cars were also crazy cheap!!</p> <p>I was nervous about the whole 30 vs 60 day fast pass booking, but at 30 days I was happy with what we got (my kiddos are young though, so they had no expectations). We also were able to get both Avatar rides the day of by refreshing the app, and I saw some other “hard to get rides” (7 Dwarves, Enchanted Tales) come up day of, so I’m honestly not sure what the advantage of 60 day booking is. </p> <p>Next time I’d spend $60 on magic bands for the four of us.</p> <p>Food wise, we saved so much by staying offsite. We booked a few special meals (Be Our Guest, Sana’a, Chef Mickey, Tusker House) 180 days out, did a mix of packed sandwiches and Quick Service for lunches. I didn’t cook much at all, and really enjoyed simple patio breakfasts in our jammies on our rest days vs getting dressed and hauling everyone to a restaurant each morning.</p> <p>I can’t really compare the “Disney bubble” since we don’t have an on-site stay to compare, but I didn’t feel like we were missing out on anything. That said, if a 1br monorail resort with a fireworks view was in our budget, I’m sure we’d love it!! </p> <p>Price wise, I’m not sure we could ever justify staying onsite. An offsite 2br Marriott/Hilton/Sheraton seems to be comparable in price to the Pop Century/All Star motels. For a weeklong trip we really love having all the perks of a large condo resort. Plus the pools and activities at the Marriott were awesome (when you ask my 5 year old her favorite part of Disney, she will tell you the pool 🤪). All of those features seem to start at at least $400-$500 a night on-site, even when renting points. We actually may look into AirBnB next time, 2brs are like $100/night!</p> <p>Not sure if this will help anyone...but if you are debating on vs off, we had a blast offsite and would do it again in a heartbeat!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-would-you-leave-your-kids-for/page/2#post-2879611 Sat, 06 Apr 2019 19:16:58 +0000 MrsADS 2879611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin same - my husband and I have been away for a night or two separately, but we've never been away together since my 3.5yo was born. My mom watches them when she comes to visit during the day or for a date night, but even that is extremely overwhelming for her. She can't handle them, there's no way she could handle them overnight or for a weekend. So as far as I can tell, we'll never be able to go away together. </p> <p>It sucks so much and honestly I get very depressed about it sometimes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-would-you-leave-your-kids-for/page/2#post-2879580 Sat, 06 Apr 2019 13:27:51 +0000 erinbaderin 2879580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The only time we’ve been away from B was when I was in the hospital for 2 nights having W, and even then my husband picked him up every afternoon, did dinner and bedtime, and then came back to the hospital while my parents stayed with B. Other than that I’ve been away for 2 nights on a work trip and my husband left for a week, but we’ve never both been away. We were talking about doing a long weekend in Vegas in the fall to celebrate our 40th birthdays, but I think we’ve decided to save the money for a family trip to Disney in the winter. </p> <p>My parents are older and I feel like they have a limited tolerance for full time care - when we all go to their house they can handle about two hours before they hand the kids back to us, so I’d be worried about leaving them fully in charge. If I was going to do it it would have to be during the week so they’d be at school/daycare for most of the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-would-you-leave-your-kids-for/page/2#post-2879573 Sat, 06 Apr 2019 10:14:17 +0000 meganmp 2879573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'll tell you, my husband and I went on a 2+ week vacation to Italy last summer and left my then 5 year old twins with his parents. It was the best vacation ever for everyone involved! I didn't feel they were too young at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-would-you-leave-your-kids-for/page/2#post-2879524 Fri, 05 Apr 2019 17:12:03 +0000 Mrsbells 2879524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PawPrints: the longest we both left our child was one night. We havr taken loner work trips individually but never both of us gone more than a night. Our kids are 6, 2 and an infant and I'm not comfortable going on vacation without them. Maybe when they are much older but at this stage they seem too young for that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-would-you-leave-your-kids-for/page/2#post-2879419 Thu, 04 Apr 2019 19:21:36 +0000 Reese 2879419@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it’s hard because most people don’t have such an awesome grandparent/child care situation. </p> <p>I think if YOU guys won’t be overly missing your kids by the third week/feel like it’s too long then you should 100% go for it! Kids stay with grandparents for entire summers in some situations /or visit for long periods of time with family... and it’s all good</p> <p>Enjoy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-would-you-leave-your-kids-for#post-2879418 Thu, 04 Apr 2019 19:16:42 +0000 Purpledaisy 2879418@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m just jealous of your grandparent situation! I can’t imagine someone watching my kids for 2-3 weeks😂 I haven’t been away from my 2.5 year old in over a year... and my family wonders why he’s so clingy to me!</p> <p>I think I could do a week... but I think if you have really good support and the kids are used to being watched by others that two weeks would be totally fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-would-you-leave-your-kids-for#post-2879416 Thu, 04 Apr 2019 19:00:35 +0000 PawPrints 2879416@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-would-you-leave-your-kids-for#post-2879411 Thu, 04 Apr 2019 18:10:51 +0000 Foodnerd81 2879411@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PawPrints: my parents definitely wouldn’t- they are a five hour drive and my four siblings all live closer to them than us. But DH’s mom doesn’t live near any of her kids now and two of them are here in the greater Boston area, we have two kids and his brother is having his first this year... so who wouldn’t want to retire in MA with our freeezing winters and all??? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-would-you-leave-your-kids-for#post-2879410 Thu, 04 Apr 2019 18:07:02 +0000 PawPrints 2879410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: We're seriously so lucky - both sets of grandparents moved cross-country to live near us after we had kids. I joke they're the most magnetic children in the world. My mom pick up DD every single week from daycare on Tuesdays and takes her to gymnastics class and IHOP, and my in-laws do weekends all the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-would-you-leave-your-kids-for#post-2879409 Thu, 04 Apr 2019 18:04:03 +0000 Foodnerd81 2879409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PawPrints: this post honestly got me thinking we should convince my mother in law to retire near us! I think she would stick to our schedule and such if she was local and that would really be awesome. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-would-you-leave-your-kids-for#post-2879405 Thu, 04 Apr 2019 17:32:04 +0000 PawPrints 2879405@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for the input. I think the replies have helped steer me to a 2-week trip proposal. I think this will be great for everyone.</p> <p>On the grandparents topic - I know we are super lucky, but my in-laws are amazing about keeping our kids' schedule and routines in place. They indulge in some TV and sweets but they take them to and from daycare every day and keep the same bedtime so the transition is as easy as it can be. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-would-you-leave-your-kids-for#post-2879386 Thu, 04 Apr 2019 13:33:40 +0000 Petitduck 2879386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have only done one night, but in a few mo the we will do two I think. I’d probably do 5 days and nights, but my kids are a bit younger than the op’s. It sounds pretty cool though. I’d only do two weeks max, but that’s because I dislike trips longer than that anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-would-you-leave-your-kids-for#post-2879379 Thu, 04 Apr 2019 13:01:57 +0000 Alba4 2879379@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We’ve been away no longer than 2 nights. Perhaps we would consider a longer vacation sans kids, but at this point, we can’t really trust either set of grandparents for that long. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-would-you-leave-your-kids-for#post-2879297 Wed, 03 Apr 2019 19:41:00 +0000 DesertDreams88 2879297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A week max under the age of 10. I could only imagine doing more if my kids were teenagers and it was a very special occasion/unique opportunity.</p> <p> My parents only left me for 3 weeklong vacations ages 0-18 and I clearly remember all of the trips and didn't like them. </p> <p>I also would just really miss my kids by the end of a week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-would-you-leave-your-kids-for#post-2879230 Wed, 03 Apr 2019 13:33:12 +0000 IRunForFun 2879230@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When DD was 9 months old I spent 6 days away, but she was with DH. My ILs have taken her to their house a few times for 4 nights at a time, starting right after she turned 2, but they live just over an hour away. </p> <p>I think by age 2.5 and up I'd do a full week to 10 days if she/they were staying with the ILs, because they're really good with her. And with my parents as backup. Mayyyybe 2 weeks but that would be a stretch. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-would-you-leave-your-kids-for#post-2879222 Wed, 03 Apr 2019 12:58:39 +0000 psw27 2879222@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmm... I think my concern would be less my kids and more the grandparents. Kids are exhausting and they are getting older! Or they let my kids get away with murder and then I have to undo a lot of bad habits like TV with dinner or all day long, ice cream every night, the zoo and amusement parks nonstop! </p> <p>So my feelings - I would love to leave them for maybe 10 days. But the reality, is that 5-6 days is probably the best outer limit at this point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-would-you-leave-your-kids-for#post-2879217 Wed, 03 Apr 2019 12:38:26 +0000 KT326 2879217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PawPrints: My kids spend a week (Saturday-Saturday) with my Mom roughly every 3 months (except when DS2 was under 1). Sometimes DH and I will take a long weekend during that time but usually we are working. It is still nice to reconnect with each other since we don't have a regular baby sitter for date nights. </p> <p>I would be totally fine leaving them for 2 weeks to go on an amazing vacation! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-would-you-leave-your-kids-for#post-2879215 Wed, 03 Apr 2019 12:29:18 +0000 JJ2626 2879215@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would totally leave LO with my in-laws for 2 weeks if they were up to it! We are planning to do a week away this fall when she is 18 months and I can’t wait. They live across the country so we don’t get to take weekends away but otherwise I totally would do that too. When LO is older I plan to send her to sleep away camp for 8 weeks (DH and I both did this as kids) so I’m all for time away! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-would-you-leave-your-kids-for#post-2879183 Wed, 03 Apr 2019 10:01:59 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 2879183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <br /><p><i>This comment has been deleted by the original poster.</i></p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-would-you-leave-your-kids-for#post-2879161 Wed, 03 Apr 2019 08:40:14 +0000 graceandjoy 2879161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it just depends on your comfort level! It seems there will be no other issues. </p> <p>For me, I had only been away from my oldest for 2 nights and that was when I gave birth to her sister :silly: We are hoping to go away may for 1-2 nights eventually, but at this point I can't even imagine anything more than that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-would-you-leave-your-kids-for#post-2879158 Wed, 03 Apr 2019 08:38:34 +0000 Anagram 2879158@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think when they get older, I would be okay with a 2-3 week trip (like when our youngest is 6 or 7), if they were really comfortable with the people we were staying with. We don't live near either of our families, so it would be a pretty big disruption for a grandparent to come to our house for 2-3 weeks, or for the kids to go to their house for a long time. If we had grandparents in town and the kids saw them more frequently, I'd feel different.</p> <p>The other thing is, My SIL and her husband left their kiddos for a big trip (a month) to their home country for a couple of friends' weddings and left their kids, and their kids were like.....cold to them, especially the youngest one when they got back. Like the youngest one would cry when SIL tried to take her from her mother (the grandma) and the kids cried that night, asking where is grandma and saying "I don't want you, I want grandma". It's like they became detached from their parents, and it took a couple of weeks for everything to return to normal. So maybe I would wait till my kids understood the idea of going away on a trip, but coming back, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-would-you-leave-your-kids-for#post-2879152 Wed, 03 Apr 2019 08:05:49 +0000 skinnycow 2879152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The longest we've been away together was three nights but I would feel comfortable with a week (and maybe more).</p> <p>I had a ten day work trip when DD was one - that was really difficult but she was with DH the whole time. I think that trip was so hard because of her age, though. I don't think it would be as hard now that she's three. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-would-you-leave-your-kids-for#post-2879151 Wed, 03 Apr 2019 07:59:03 +0000 Shantuck 2879151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We celebrate our 10 year anniversary in August and just booked a 10 day, kid-free trip (7 day Mediterranean cruise and a few extra days in Barcelona and Rome). The kids will be 7 and 2 and we've never been gone for more than 4 days (and that was only twice in 6.5 years). I'm really excited to get away but I do feel guilt because we're replacing our annual summer family vacation with the trip for 2. I even woke up in the middle of the night about a week after booking it freaking out about leaving them for so long. Our parents are in good physical shape and both kids will have camp to go to each day if the grandparents want but we decided it was easiest to have each set of grandparents take 5 days to spread out the load. My in-laws are from out of town and offered to stay on a couple extra days as we adjust from jet-lag, etc. I do have anxiety about leaving for 10 days so I'm not expecting that I'd do well with taking more time than that. I'm really looking forward to my kids being old enough to take some of these amazing trips with us... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-would-you-leave-your-kids-for#post-2879137 Wed, 03 Apr 2019 06:18:40 +0000 cake2017 2879137@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PawPrints: I’ve left DS for five days and it went well. He was with my parents and one of my sisters. I have another baby on the way and we are planning to get away in the fall. She will be 3 months and DS will be 2.5. I’m thinking that will be another 5 days. I think the longest I can do is about a week! I think if you and DH are comfortable and have everything organized longer would work for your family. We always have a great time going away without the LO. It’s refreshing and so important to us and our marriage. I do cry on the way to the airport but I’m fine once we get to our destination! Enjoy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-would-you-leave-your-kids-for#post-2879136 Wed, 03 Apr 2019 06:00:50 +0000 catgirl 2879136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is four, DH and I have only left her for 2 nights with my mom (DH has been gone for up to 3ish weeks but I was home). If we had appropriate childcare lined up I would definitely leave her for a week. </p> <p>I think if you are comfortable with 2.5-3 weeks and the grandparents are comfortable watching them that long, that it sounds great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-would-you-leave-your-kids-for#post-2879135 Wed, 03 Apr 2019 05:11:30 +0000 Becky 2879135@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It sounds like your kids really like being with their grandparents. I think my girls would be thrilled to spend two weeks with their grandparents. We usually go away for 2-3 nights in the fall and this year I don’t think we even FaceTimed with our kids because they were having too much fun with grandma and grandpa. I think if you’re comfortable going for 2.5-3 weeks, you should do it. The routine and bad habits thing is a good point, but if the grandparents are on the same page as you it could be super fun for the kids. </p>