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

[RustManFan]

You did say Land & Sea, right? Maybe you can first get her interested in the sea portion of the trip. Also maybe send her on one of the behind the scenes tours. My kids each did 2 of them....and only 1 overlapped. They really really enjoyed being able to see stuff that their mom wasn't seeing. And going to parts of WDW that their friends had never seen. Bragging rights, you know? Now THAT was cool for them!

 

[bytheblood]

Why are you so set on SURPRISING her, when you know going in that she's already NOT pre-disposed to being excited? You could do a whole bunch of lead-up, where she's having fun with the treasure hunt or whatever, and then she finds that her "prize" is a trip to Disney World ... something SHE DOES NOT WANT. It's like your husband making you follow clues on your anniversary, and you follow these clues all the way through the house, getting closer and closer to the "surprise," only to discover that the "big gift" is a new ironing center. What a letdown!

Instead of surprising her, why not just tell her that you're planning a vacation to WDW and you plan on taking her along and you'd appreciate her help in the planning. If she's playing the "I'm too cool for Disney World" card, pretending to be more mature or whatever, then play into that. Sit down and make a list of her favorite things, and then talk to her about how those things translate to Disney. Does she love animals? You've got DAK. Is she a beach person? You can rent Sea-Rays. Is ice cream her favorite food? Beachs & Cream. You get the idea. Tell her to write down everything she really really likes, and then tell her that you bet that you can find something at WDW to match every single one of her favorite things. And then do it.

Something like that -- where the planning is part of the process -- will help her feel more grown-up and allow her to change her mind if she wants, but to not have to admit that she's all of a sudden interested in Disney. She can still say, "Well ... I really hate all the Disney cartoons," but she can add on, "but this Animal Kingdom place sounds pretty cool" and not feel like she was snowed into something.

If you just HAVE to suprise her, save that for the actual trip. She's a beach kid? Great ... one day during the vacation, surprise her with a day at a water park, dinner at Beaches & Cream, and a surfing lesson. Call it "The Day We Wear Swimsuits All Day" or something equally silly, and make it special. But truly ... surprising someone with something they don't want will be a let-down for you both!

 

[brenda1966]

My question is this: Why would anyone HATE an amusement park?
My whole adage is simple: Go and make it fun, even if it's not your preference.

I totally agree. And I try to teach DD the same thing. We can have fun most anywhere doing most anything.

But there certainly are people out there who can throw a big drag and try to ruin everyone's time. I try to leave those people at home.

 

[jack hannah bananah]

I think you will save a lot of money on just OK food by skipping all character meals . Start your trip at Epcot - the least Disneyish park. Maybe by the end of your trip the pixie dust will begin working.

 

[ilovediznee2]

I agree with the others: Include her in the planning, and try to show her things that aren't "kiddie" things. Show her the roller coasters and the "cool kid" things. I think she'll change her mind. Being 10, she may not actually let you know... but I think she'll be okay.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

We had a big family trip to WDW in April '07 with both of my sisters, their Dh's and kids. One of the Dads hated being at Disney and being with his inlaws. Anyway...at the end of the week, my sister with unhappy hubby and 8 yo niece left a day early to go to the beach, which confirmed my suspicions that they were not happy campers. Anyway, after we got back, the 8 yo said in her most grown up voice...WDW is nice and all, but it is just too expensive! The kicker is that we used our DVC points for their room.

My other sister, bil, and nephews are going back in 2 weeks. I thought my niece would blow a gasket, and want to go too. No, not really.

I have to admit there is a strong "keep it real" gene in my family that makes Disney hard to enjoy. I am predisposed to this gene as well, but have learned to overcome it for Disney. For my family, a trip to Williamsburg (for instance) would not include a trip to Busch Gardens. Matter of fact, my family didn't even like Williamsburg (1970s) because it seemed too much like a put on.

 

[vleeth]

When I was about her age, Cabbage Patch Kids came out. My Nanny (Godmother) asked me if I wanted one. I said NO. (I'm not sure why, maybe I was having a bad day.) Well what if you get one for Christmas? I'm going to throw it in the garbage. I didn't mean it. She caught me at a bad time. Turns out she had already bought me one, so she gave it to my cousin and got something else for me. I never did get one. And I didn't even mean it.

Moral of the story is, don't believe everything kids tell you.

 

[ShellKing]

Somebody may have said this ( I haven't read all 5 pages) but is it possible that she thinks she will never get to go to WDW and therefore 'hates' it? At that age, that can be a way to cope. Like if some certain expensive brand was very popular, and a 10 yr old knew they would never own that brand, then it suddenly becomes lame/sucky/crappy/dumb/whatever to own that brand. It's just an idea. ??

 

[daisax]

Another enticement is shopping, if she's into that. Explain World Showcase to her, and how she can buy candy from all the different countries, or little knicknacks, or perfume, or jewelry, or whatever.

 

[Brian Noble]

When I was not much older, Disney was Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, and a lot of lame kiddy rides that I couldn't be bothered with.

I still had fun. It just wasn't as much fun as all the cool stuff I could be doing instead.

Luckily, as with many other shortcomings of youth, I grew out of it.

 

[aspen37]

Yes shopping all girls love shopping. The 10 year old I was with was only happy if she was shopping, swimming, or sleeping. Please don't suprise her she will most likely not be happy but will be mad. Good luck.

 

[jennytablina]

Plenty of opinons here but throwing my own two cents in as a young adult whos still a little young enough to recall what being a kid can really be like

When I was a kid, our family were all pretty much Disney fans. We'd always catch the latest film, me and my brother would usually catch the saturday morning cartoons and shows like Disneytime and Wonderful World of Disney. Plus me and my brother were kids that wanted to be kids, we didnt care about gorwing up or trying to be all cool and adult

I know many kids in school my age often played the "I'm too cool for Disney" card, specially once they started getting to double digits. When your 10 the social peer aspect gets stronger and girls start getting more into what their friends like and boys and stuff. Disney really hasnt helped this in recent years, more recent films and franchises by Disney generally aim overall at a younger group, rather than working on a overall family focus.

For some the "I dont like Disney" suggestion can be a cover. But in the OP's cause it sounds like the niece doesnt really like Disney at all. Some kids can be that way.

Honestly, for the sake of the trip and everyone going. DONT MAKE IT A SURPRISE. Surprises are wonderful things but they only work if you know the person being surprised will absoutely *love* the idea. Keeping it a secret builds up anticipation and she'll think its somewhere amazing she really wants to visit. Disney doesnt sound like it rates her list of all time fave places and it wont because of her associating it with those programs she abhores. The dissapointment of the surprise being a trip to a "kiddy park" will make her even more determined to hate the place before she even sets foot in and then you have to drag about a pre-teen for a few days whos constantly moody due to dashed hopes and being somewhere she didnt want to be in the first place. Which might make her a bit resentful of you for most of the trip which will effect the mood of the trip overall.

I suggest telling her but be prepared for a dissapointed or sulky reaction at first. Also; please be somewhat understanding; regardless of the age and the fact she has to tag along with family. This is her trip too. See if you can get her interested in any of what the parks have to offer. If not. Maybe comprimise on taking her to Seaworld or Universal on one of the days or something? As while a Disney Trip and Cruise sounds like heaven you to you, your niece will feel like shes trapped in twee babyland hell for however long you are there. Unless you work on some comprimise to keep her happy, your eather going to have a very depressed kid or an angry one who will point out at any stressful point that she did not want to come to this place.

The only way to really minimise that kind of explosive reaction happening on the trip is to give her an idea of what to expect. It wont completely solve the issue but at least she wont feel bamboozled into coming.

 

[tdramey]

I agree with the others. DO NOT surprise her. However, do not worry about her not having a great time. My kids do not like anything Disney. They only like dinosaurs. No interest in the characters or movies at all. NADA. But you know what? They LOVED WDW. She will have a blast especially if she likes riding rides.

 

[TheLastPrincess]

Update:

We all decided that tomorrow, Monday, we will tell her. We will show her the Planning DVD kids section where the 6 preteens run around WDW like they own the place. We figure this is our best bet.

Surprisingly, yesterday we were at my in-laws' house and we found a Disney Princess messenger bag that my niece owns.

Is she just pulling our legs?! Does she think she is being FUNNY?!?!?!!?

Oh well. I am 100% positive she will get down there and love it.

But I will post an update after tomorrow, of her reaction!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for all your help! It really did give us some solid direction where to go with this!

 

[Jasonbobdude]

I can't say that I don't agree with her that High School Musical and Hannah Montana are horrible - I completely understand! Disney Channel is horrible. Hopefully she will realize that the rest of Disney is awesome once she sees how much better the parks are than anything else ever made.

 

[RoseRoni2]

I can't even imagine not liking anything Disney. My dd9 just got back from the world with her dad and reminded me that I promised her I would take her back to the world when she was 10. Won't she be surprised when she finds out that we are going!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[asmit4]

Update:

We all decided that tomorrow, Monday, we will tell her. We will show her the Planning DVD kids section where the 6 preteens run around WDW like they own the place. We figure this is our best bet.

Surprisingly, yesterday we were at my in-laws' house and we found a Disney Princess messenger bag that my niece owns.

Is she just pulling our legs?! Does she think she is being FUNNY?!?!?!!?

Oh well. I am 100% positive she will get down there and love it.

But I will post an update after tomorrow, of her reaction!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for all your help! It really did give us some solid direction where to go with this!

Please keep us all posted! I can't wait to hear how it all goes! I hope she loves it!

 

[AJKMOM]

bump for update

 

[joshsmom]

It's 4:18pm here--no update yet?? After reading every post, I HAVE to know the end of the story!!!

 

[MickeyNicki]

My aunt and uncle took us, I was then 14 and sister was 10, we hated MK because it was too babyish for us but loved Epcot....back in 84 there wasnt as much as there is now like AK and HS and the thrill rides of Epcot.....we also took my 10 year old niece to WDW and she wasnt feeling it as much as the 3 year old but now she is almost 13 and is ready for another trip!

I think if you let her read the websites and watch the planning DVD she may get into it more