If you have an attitude of fear of how they kids will handle being gone, the kids will pick up on that fear. If a mother has a lot on her plate, she may need a whole week to recharge. What if she is also taking care of sick parents/working full time/is chronically ill? Having said that, I’ve never done it…
Definitely tell the kids!! They WILL feel abandoned, even if they don’t remember why years later. They don’t need to be told far in advance, but do tell.
IMHO Disney movies are terrible. Either one or both parents are missing/dead/abusive and the young child/animal is forced to make it on their own. That’s the formula. But no one here is suggesting permanently abandoning children. They don’t compare.