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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to only take DS1 To Florida ?

152 replies

spornersunited · 30/07/2016 18:41

DS1 is 14 and due to Building works, his school will be closed for an extra week at the end of the summer break.
I have found an amazing deal for 7 nights in Florida (less than £500 each) departing from our local airport.

DS isn't that bothered about doing all the parks he just wants to go to America,do some shopping,and visit universal studios !

AIBU to leave DS2 age 6 at home with DP ? - DP cannot take anymore annual leave and I really don't think that taking a six year old all that way for only 7 nights is a great idea plus the fact he'd be missing school and to be honest we cannot afford for more than two of us to go anyway

I will add that we have just come back from a 2 week family holiday abroad so its not like DS2 has missed out on a holiday and we are planning to do a California road trip the year after next so would do the Disney thing then.

If it was anywhere else I'd be fine with not taking DS2 but I'm not sure if its right to take one child to Disney and leave the other behind ?

OP posts:
RandomMess · 30/07/2016 19:36

I'd do it there is a big enough age gap that you will do things with the youngest when they are 14 when your eldest will have left home/be a fully fledged adult.

Bearbehind · 30/07/2016 19:36

different ages different interests

That is the majority of people's point though - Florida is just as, if not far more appealing to a 6 year old than a 14 year old.

Obliviated · 30/07/2016 19:37

I would. It will be nice for you and your teenager to have some time together, probably doesn't happen that often

LindyHemming · 30/07/2016 19:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Nanny0gg · 30/07/2016 19:39

Plenty of places you could take the older one that the younger one wouldn't care about.

YABU.

But you'll go ahead anyway...

Lilaclily · 30/07/2016 19:40

Why don't people read the thread, she's not going to Disneyland

I totally would op

It's fine to treat a 6 year old and a 14 year old differently, a holiday with a teenager that age would be totally different with a 6 year old as well

My mum took me to Paris formy16th birthday, no one of my other 2 siblings batted an eyelid

Amy214 · 30/07/2016 19:41

My auntie took my 9 year old brother to disneyland and she left me behind. I was 5 years old and it hasn't bothered me in the slightest! My brother can't remember much (can only remember the big things) and i don't remember them ever leaving Grin i can always take dd when she's older.

MammouthTask · 30/07/2016 19:43

I would only do that IF you were sure that dc2 would go away on something REAALY good where his Dbro wasn't going to.
And if that was going to happen in the close future (as he is only 6yo, a trip 3 or 2 years down the line isn';t going to cut it, esp if it's one where his Dbro wasn't going to go anyway because he has reached the 'I'm going on hols with my parents' age)

Original poster
spornersunited · 30/07/2016 19:43

Thanks for the suggestions re going somewhere else in the US - we would consider going anywhere stateside but unfortunately there isn't anything for within the same price range as Florida - it anyone happens to stumble across a fantastic deal for the 1st week in September please point me in the right direction Smile

OP posts:
molyholy · 30/07/2016 19:43

The 6 year old probably has no/little idea of what Florida means, it could just as well be Worthing.

What utter utter bollocks. If I took my dd to worthing a yr ago when she was 6 and said 'Tada, we're in disneyworld' she would have looked at me like I was a dick, then been very upset.

I'm assuming it's been a long time since you have been around 6yo children.

I don't think I could do it OP. If your main aim of the trip is spending time together, why don't you go to Worthing Grin

thisagain · 30/07/2016 19:43

Fine to do something that would interest a 14 year old but not ideal for a 6 year old. Possibly a city break. But not Disney. I have 2 big age gaps - 22, 14 and nearly 6. We went to Orlando in June with all of them, and when I think about how much my 5 year old enjoyed it, I couldn't imagine going there with one of my older children and leaving him behind. He would be so upset and I would have just kept thinking how much he was missing. So I'm afraid it's a definite no from me. I can't image any 5/6 year old isn't going to be massively upset by missing a Disney holiday.

Lilaclily · 30/07/2016 19:46

She says not planning on actually going to Disney world - just Florida

thisagain · 30/07/2016 19:46

Also, my son loved Universal more than Disney, with all the Dr suess, Harry Potter (for the wands) and Super Hero rides.

TheFairyCaravan · 30/07/2016 19:47

I don't know why you're asking you've already made up your mind to go.

I think you're being really, really mean. There's plenty of places you could go with the eldest for the same budget instead of Florida.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 30/07/2016 19:47

No way.

Ds2 isn't a baby who won't notice.

Either both or neither.

molyholy · 30/07/2016 19:50

OP said they will not be going Disney, but will be going Universal, which is just as exciting for 6yo. It's dead tight. Just go somewhere else.

Tallulahoola · 30/07/2016 19:51

Nothing at all wrong with the two of you going on holiday together. It's quite a big age gap so you will be doing holidays just with DS2 in the future.

But I wouldn't choose Florida and that kind of holiday because I think DS2 would be jealous. Think how he'll feel when you come back with pictures of DS1 in a pool, doing obvious holiday stuff. Go for a city break instead - New York, Chicago and San Francisco would all be brilliant at that age but if they're too expensive how about Barcelona, Seville, Rome, Paris? A 14-year-old would appreciate them but a 6-year-old would look at the photos of buildings and restaurants and conclude you'd had a pretty boring time Smile

ExtraHotLatteToGo · 30/07/2016 19:52

molyholy

Your comprehension skills are seriously lacking.

I didn't say the 6 year old would be fooled by being told Worthing was Dineyland FFS. I said telling the 6 year old that the OP was going to Florida would be as meaningful as saying she was going to Worthing (or Dublin, or Sheffield ie means NOTHING to a 6 year old).

FGS

Lilaclily · 30/07/2016 19:53

But op is also going to Disney with 6 year old in two years time anyway so they won't miss out

I still think it's a lovely idea

ExtraHotLatteToGo · 30/07/2016 19:56

And if the 6 year old does know Disney is in Florida, it's not difficult to say 'we aren't going there, we are going shopping, to museums etc'

The 14 year old has probably had activities, holidays, life somewhat curtailed by having such a young sibling. There's NOTHING wrong with doing something age appropriate for the older one.

The younger one will get lots of things 'just for him' when DS1 is at uni/working/whatever.

Treating your children fairly does not mean treating them the same and certainly not at the same time.

thisagain · 30/07/2016 20:00

I cannot believe any 6 year old does not connect a holiday in Disney/Orlando as being something really exciting. Enough children go to Disney for them to be familiar with the concept.

BifsWif · 30/07/2016 20:03

Not a chance.

Would anyone seriously take one child to Florida and not another? Shock

ShebaShimmyShake · 30/07/2016 20:03

Don't do it. It's favouritism, whether you realise it or not.

JudyCoolibar · 30/07/2016 20:09

I can see the sense in going away, but it really needs to be somewhere the 6 year old wouldn't conceivably be interested in. I'm afraid Florida doesn't qualify.

voddiekeepsmesane · 30/07/2016 20:10

Personally I think YABU. If DS2 was 2 or 3 maybe as he probably wouldn't remember or get anything out of a trip but 6?! He will remember this forever and will never forgive . I was 7 older sister went to Aussie (lived in NZ) at 10 older brother went for a trip to Aussie with the promise that I would go at 13. Nope circumstances changed and I never went, well not until I could afford to take myself there. I am still a little bitter 35 odd years later. If you can't do for both don't do at all IMO