10-year-old who HATES Disney - HELP!!!!

[TheLastPrincess]

My husband and I, along with our parents, have booked a Land & Sea vacation for September. My in-laws are taking their granddaughter, who is 10 - my niece. She does not know she's going yet - we want to surprise her. However, we were MORTIFIED to learn that she hates all things Disney!!!

This includes, but is not limited to, Hannah Montana, High School Musical, and pretty much every Disney cartoon ever made.

Although she did say Crush from "Finding Nemo" is OK. As are the Jonas Brothers but she "just likes their songs." She couldn't even remember Tinker Bell's name. And she has no idea who Belle or Aurora are.

And the other day my mother-in-law asked her what she would do if she won a trip to Disney World, and do you know what my niece said?

"I'd give it to someone else."

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know what we're going to do. How do we surprise someone who hates Disney with a trip to Disney World? We figure she has no comprehension of what Disney World is, and therefore assumes it is a "baby place." She thinks I'm crazy when I talk about how much I love it.

Should we just not tell her where we're going the day we leave?!

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[glitterkittyy]

What?!? You mean to tell me that a relative of yours didn't learn FROM BIRTH that WDW is the shi-nizzle?!? What's up with that!?! lol

I think I might give her some maps, the planning DVD and a starter lanyard in a box and ask her to go through the maps and DVD and see what she thinks looks like something she'd like. Maybe if she's involved in some of the planning, she'll get into it. And I've found pin trading is something kids that age love. I'll be she comes home a WDW fanatic!

 

[matt&jakesmom]

I think you may want to tell her. Maybe the planning will help add some excitment.

My DS is 11 and is more excited for this trip than any other in the past. I found it a bit odd because I thought as he would get older he would get "sick" of going to WDW and it is the exact opposite.

There is so much to do for all ages. I hope it all works out and that she doesn't "ruin" the vacation. Good luck!

 

[crazy_cremello]

That really sucks! I'd never have thought a 10 year old would of said that.
I love love love pin trading, she might get into that, its worth a try.
Hope she changes her mind! Good luck with that!

 

[d96j97]

I find that impossible to find that she hates Disney....although kids are different these days. I have 2 sons...1 is 10 and 1 is 12. They literally BEG to plan the next trip each time we are still on Disney property. They absolutely LOVE Disney.

I honestly wouldn't worry too much about it if she has never been there. Once you hit Disney property...she'll be instantly hooked! Here's hoping to a magical vacation for all of you. I'm gonna throw a little pixie dust your way.

 

[czycropper]

She may change her mind once she's in the parks! I just can't imagine a 10 yr. old not liking the parks.

 

[Todd&Copper]

I know it is hard to believe, but there are kids out there who are not into Disney. My cousins were pretty indifferent around that age. They just wanted to go to the Jersey Shore. They took one trip to Disney as kids (with me & my family), they were about 10 and 12 or 11 and 13, and they only went to Disney one day (of course, there were only 2 parks back then, but they were not interested in EPCOT at all and chose the "baby place" over the "nerd place" b/c at least MK had Space Mountain). I am sure she'll find stuff to do when she is there but maybe Disney just isn't her bag, you know?

 

[FairyDust2008]

She is 10, she goes where you all go for vacation. I can't imagine anyone NOT liking Disney! Disney ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here is my suggestion.......................don't worry about her supposedly not liking Disney, you go and I bet she'll change her tune AFTER the vacation is over We just returned from our 1st WDW family trip with our children, ages 10 and 12 and my dd was the 10 yr. old and she LOVED LOVED LOVED and both kids and me & hubby are looking forward to our 2009 WDW return vacation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is soooooooooooo much to do @ Disney for people of ALL ages and where else can you go and be an adult but feel like a kid It is just an awesome vacation destination How can you not know of the princesses? Just curious.......... I think your niece DEFINITELY needs to go so she can experience what she has been missing. My bet is she'll eat her words and will have the time of her life. The fun is waiting.................. Seriously though, I wouldn't work at trying to convince her. Go and she'll see what all the HOOPLA is about DISNEY and want to return again How can you not???

 

[disneysuncat]

There is plenty to do at Disney that doesn't involve Princesses or Hannah Montana. I can only imagine that it's like you said, that she has no comprehension of what it's really like, or only imagines it like the television commercials, with Princesses and Cinderella's coach, etc.

Would she be excited by roller coasters, thrill rides, the pools at her resort? Fireworks? I'd try the planning DVD's, maybe one of those kid's guides to Disney for her to look through. Honestly I think it's like others said, and the minute she walks in, she'll be hit by the Disney magic and love it.

 

[FairyDust2008]

My dd LOVED the My Disney Princess Tea Party @ the Grand Floridian and she just turned 10 last month. We were nervous thinking there would be alot of little girls but that wasn't the case at all. There were little and older. The age goes up to 11 anyhow. Me and dd had the time of our life doing the tea. It was a special memory we will both cherish forever. Your niece could see just who this Sleeping Beauty is. Also, the Cinderella's Royal Table for breakfast @ the MK is AWESOME! She would meet all the princesses. We did it and it was GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!! You are never too old for the princesses or Disney. A CM I had spoken to when I made reservations for the My Disney Princess Tea had made reservations for her college daughters and her to do as mother/daughters. That is what is great about Disney. There is NO age limit on the things offered there really. There is something for everyone to enjoy if you just bring out your inner kid I was enchanted meeting Cinderella, etc. Just the magic you feel when you are @ Disney is just UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[shyjade]

When my DD was 8 I took her to Disney after not being there since she was 3. She was excited to go, but really had a preconceived notion that it would be very much for young kids (even though I included her in the planning process). Once we arrived and she saw everything has to offer, she was the first to admit how mistaken she was and now she's a Disney addict like her mom! Hopefully she'll realize Disney isn't just for little kids once she gets there. Good luck!

 

[lbklyn]

I really think once she goes on rides like Haunted Mansion and Splash Mountain and all the other great ones she will change her tune. I do not think you have to like the disney characters and movies and all things Disney to appreciate how great the parks are. Yes, it inhances it, but I believe she will love these rides and the whole feel of the parks once she is there. I would not push it by telling her how great it is and all, let her find out for herself. I would say to her "Come, if you like it great, if not you never have to go back", I will bet she will be going back. Also, if your going to castaway cay on the disney ship she will most likely love that also. The beaches are beautiful, alot to do for all different ages and a great barbecue! I think everything will be fine. Have a great trip!

 

[brenda1966]

Hates Disney! I say leave her home and take me. LOL.

Good ideas above. Yes, I'd tell her in advance. I don't think surprising someone with a trip to a place they are reluctant to go is a good idea. Giving her maps so she can read about the non-Princess attractions would also be a good idea. There's a lot to do there that I'm sure she has no idea about.

Tell her about Mission space, the orange side, and the tower of terror and rock n roller coaster.

And try not to be offended if it's just not her cup of tea. I wouldn't spoil my great time by trying to keep a hard-to-please pre-teen happy.

 

[WDSearcher]

I definitely wouldn't surprise her. Get her involved in planning. Have her take a look at all the things that are possible (SeaRays on the water, mini-golf and all that stuff as well as the parks) and find out what interests her. Let her plan a day -- even if that day means going to the Kennedy Space Center or SeaWorld. There's no law requiring every kid to love Disney. But she may really just hate the IDEA of Disney -- she may hate the hype. Once she gets there, it may change her mind. But I think you'll definitely want to plan some non-Disney stuff ... SeaWorld, Universal, outlet mall shopping, Medieval Times ... sometihng that she likes. And don't force it on her once you're there. Resist the temptation to keep asking her if she's having fun. Just enjoy yourself and bring her along for the ride.

 

[jillybeanjo]

It sounds like she may be like my DD - not really into the Disney channel and Disney movies. BUT she loves WDW for the thrill rides, the great hotels and pools, fun dining experiences, etc.

I agree with the PPs who suggest involving her in the planning and letting her watch the DVD and look over maps. She may not have the right idea about what WDW has to offer, and once she sees what is involved, the excitement will kick in.

 

[aspen37]

My BFF and I took two of her grandchildern to WDW last DEC.
WE were in the MAGIC KINGDOM for about 1 1/2 hours when to my shock and dismay I herd this...(this can from a 10 year old girl) I HATE THIS PLACE!!!!! YOU PEOPLE MADE ME COME HERE!!!!! I NEVER WANTED TO COME HERE!!!!!!!
I WANT TO LEAVE!!!!!! This was in front of big thunder mountain. She was screaming at us. I looked at my BFF and said sorry we ( her grandson 12 years old and I) were going on big thunder mountain. I guess she did not stop yelling for a while. This happend about four more times on the trip. She made us late for dinner alot. I started telling them that dinner was a half hour before it was, so we would be on time. I never thought a child would hate WDW! I am taking my BFF's grandson back to WDW this year. I told her grandaugter that she had to change her attitude before I took her on a trip again. She was mad but I told her it is what it is and that she did this too her self.

 

[Rylee]

My husband and I, along with our parents, have booked a Land & Sea vacation for September. My in-laws are taking their granddaughter, who is 10 - my niece. She does not know she's going yet - we want to surprise her. However, we were MORTIFIED to learn that she hates all things Disney!!!

This includes, but is not limited to, Hannah Montana, High School Musical, and pretty much every Disney cartoon ever made.

Although she did say Crush from "Finding Nemo" is OK. As are the Jonas Brothers but she "just likes their songs." She couldn't even remember Tinker Bell's name. And she has no idea who Belle or Aurora are.

And the other day my mother-in-law asked her what she would do if she won a trip to Disney World, and do you know what my niece said?

"I'd give it to someone else."

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know what we're going to do. How do we surprise someone who hates Disney with a trip to Disney World? We figure she has no comprehension of what Disney World is, and therefore assumes it is a "baby place." She thinks I'm crazy when I talk about how much I love it.

Should we just not tell her where we're going the day we leave?!

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Has she ever been to Disney World? Does she like rides at other theme parks?

My DS will be 10 in July, he loves Disney World (we've been lots of times) but he doesn't watch the Disney channel, doesn't play with any Disney related toys, (he never even wants any of their souvenirs) and only watches Disney movies on family night, when one of the other kids chooses a Disney movie... but he wouldn't miss a trip to Disney.

She may be at an age where Disney characters and movies aren't considered cool but I bet you can get her excited by involving her in the planning, having her watch the DVD and talking about all the fun attractions she'll experience.

 

[asmit4]

I hate to say it, but as a child I went with family several times starting at a young age- I was 7 I think the first time and I didn't really like it. SURE, I didn't mind going, I enjoyed some things but I kept asking where the truly BIG rides were. By that time I was a huge thrillrider and wanted coasters that were 200 feet tall going 60mph. Space mountain was a joke to me...I cried when I got off b/c my mom had told me ALL about space and how great a thrill ride it was. I was so upset..it was our first ride at DW, and I asked her, "is there anything better than this?" ....

After my first visit, I knew what to expect and happily enjoyed the 'baby park/nerdy park'..., but I truly longed for a weekend at a REAL park- Cedar Point.

NOW? I'll take a trip to DW over a trip to Cedar Point! It wasn't until I got older that I realized how amazing DW truly is. I want to go every year if I can!

As for getting her excited- videos!! Show her the videos! Now they have 'adult type things' like ToT and RNRC among others. Not everything is geared toward little ones. Plus AK is cool! Didn't have AK when I was a kid. I bet she doesn't even KNOW about AK!

If she sees all the stuff there is, I bet she will perk up. She probably just isn't imagining it the way it really is! I think I would have liked DW a lot more NOW as a child than years past b/c the parks have really grown and have accumulated more thrill rides and less focus on just Fantasyland/castle/princess stuff.

 

[Sugardimples]

Maybe she would get more interested if she watched the planning video.

 

[AJKMOM]

Since her parents aren't going on the trip, too, I would tell her what you have planned and then if she doesn't want to go, it can be her call. Sorry, but a "Miss No Fun" can suck the enjoyment right out of the trip (see post from aspen37). Unless you go a lot and it doesn't matter, you should consider leaving her at home.

When my 2 kids were in middle school, I arranged for them to stay with my sister, and they were a lot happier. They have since gone about half the time we do, but are old enough to stay home.