2 year old says she doesn't want to go to WDW

[alliebug]

Ughh! I am in the midst of planning a trip to WDW in December. We were watching the Disney promotional video last night, the part for what to do with kids. DD, 2 years old, was watching with us. During the part with rides I asked her if she thought that looked like fun and would she like to go do that. She said no!!

So what do I do? Am I making too much out of this?? Do we still go or do I figure she knows what she is talking about and cancel the trip for now? She is our only child so we don't have any other kids to think about. I really don't want to cancel the trip, but if she isn't going to enjoy it... Help!!

 

[1sttimeWDW]

I would plan the trip, but not say much to dd about it until closer to trip time. She is only 2 and who knows what she saw & was thinking about the planning video. Could be one of the rides or characters just didn't look fun/nice to her. If she's anything like my 2 y.o., she could be saying NO, when she really means YES. He gets so used to saying no he forgets to sometimes say yes. She is giong to change sooo much before next December as far as her likes/dislikes that I'm sure it will all work out just fine. I would just follow her cues when the time comes & not push her to ride rides or love on the characters (if that seems to be an issue w/ her).

Plan your trip & have a blast.

Galen

 

[katiesmom2]

I agree with the PP. Keep planning but keep it low-key. She will grow and mature a lot in the next months.

This is common sense and I'm sure you already considered this, but when you get to the parks, start with the really mellow rides like Small World. Once she sees how much fun the rides are, she'll be more ready for the more intense rides.

We have a 3 yr old and a 1 yr old. They've often told us they don't like something, only to learn to love it!

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I wouldn't worry about it. GO!!!!

DD (2) has been twice. I ask her, Do you want to go back to WDW? She says no! But when she sees a WDW commercial she points to herself and yells , ME! Toddlers!

My friend asked her 2 kids, 2 years ago, 5 and 2 at the time if they want to go to WDW, they both said NO. They have never been. Just seen the video. I said, how could they know from the video. But she didn't go last year. When my DS found out what his friend said, he laid into him. DS said how could you not want to go to WDW and told him all the fun stuff he does there. Now my friends kids are excited about going. She replanned their trip for this June.

 

[disneymomof5]

My ds2 said no also. Tat was last Feb. Now that is all he talks about. Every night he tell my dh and I, "Let's talk about disney world." Don't worry about it once you get there and see the look on her face it will be so worth it.

 

[MichelleVW]

Since when do we listen to 2 year olds??

Seriously though....December is a LONNNG time away from now....I wouldn't bring it up at all and then just go. I'm sure she'll have fun.

 

[WantToGoNow]

I say plan your trip. My 2 y/o watches the planning video and doesn't have much enthusiasm. However, she looks through my Birnbaum book and gets so excited. She points to every picture and says "who/what's that". When she sees Mickey she literally squeals "Mickey Mouse". She was celebrating her first birthday last time we were there so I know she remembers nothing about it but her excited is built off of ours. She also loves sitting on her potty looking at the pictures of our last trip. She will be celebrating her 3rd birthday there in December - I can't wait.

It was funny this morning, she's heading to her potty and she had the unofficial guide tucked under her arm - I thought she was too young to need a book while she did her business. Since the unofficial guide has no pictures, I handed her the Birnbaum instead.

 

[Twingle]

Keep planning your trip! I have two year old twins, and "NO" is normally just the word of the day (or the week . . . . or the month. . . I hope that gets better soon. . . ) We went in December, and they really enjoyed it.

One thing that REALLY saved us is that whenever we talked about going, we always talked about BIG Mickey, BIG Goofy, BIG Donald, etc. My girls will sometimes watch the Disney cartoons, and I wanted them use to the idea that Mickey is the same size as Daddy, not the size of a "real" mouse.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[Big J]

We took our 2yr DD in June and she did not really like the rides. That being said she had the best time, as did we. Remember that WDW is much more than a few rides at MK, and this can not be conveyed through a video.

Plus, I have found the pat answer for most questions from my 2yr DD is no.

You will have a great time and make some of the best memories of your life. Have fun and don't worry.

just my thoughts

 

[Selket]

This is so funny - please don't listen to your 2 year old - LOL! Those videos of the rides can be scary - and they have no idea what a "ride" is like usually. So I wouldn't think twice about it.

I agree with others than you don't want to perhaps start out on something as popular with kids as Dumbo - but maybe the carousel is a good choice. I found my son was VERY afraid of any ride that went into a dark area - this included Pooh, Peter Pan, etc. He was 3.5 at the time - and tall enough and very enthusiastic to ride things like Goofy's Barnstormer, BTMRR and Splash Mountain. But Peter Pan? Forget about it! LOL!

We also had to work him up to the big rides. Even Small World can be scary to someone that little when they don't know what is going to happen. I think the rides that were exposed outdoors seemed far less scary to him. He freaked on Buzz Lightyear at first too but grew to like that one.

Just expect to tour WDW differently than you may have in the past!

 

[mytwotinks]

2 year olds have NO idea what they want! I've been there with a 2 yo and I can't imagine any 2 yo not falling in love with it!!!! GO!

 

[sajetto]

Definitely keep planning your trip. She is only 2 and may have just seen a ride that did not interest her and assumed all of disney would be like that. Just keep planning and forget about it.

 

[ckoncurat]

As a mother of five.. are you kidding???? Since when does a two year old plan a vacation? YOU plan the trip, then talk it up, tell her how great it will be, and she will love it. Frankly, at that age, you could plan a trip to the hardware store and convince her it is great fun. Your daughter will love a lot of things about disney, but she will also get tired/bored/cranky sometimes at disney, just like at home. You go because you love being together, taking the good with the bad.

P.S. In my experience, my toddlers loved disney playgrounds, fountains, and parades more than the rides, with the exception of Pooh and its a small world.
Especially the ELECTRIC Light Parade (or whatever they are calling it now).

 

[1of6]

Go, Go, Go!!!! My 2yo had a blast. She loved Minnie's house, every character, and many rides. She even loved Goofy's Barnstormer! Many shows and rides were too loud, we just covered her ears with our hands and she was fine. Every night since we got back she asks, "go Disney morning?" It is too cute.

 

[MamaLema]

I agree with pp. 2 year olds have NO idea what they want.

My guess is that you asked her if the wanted to go. She probably saw a clip of a ride, Mission Space or something at that time and maybe thought that's what you were talking about.

BTW, my 2 year old also says he doesn't want to go to Disney-Yeah, right!

 

[alliebug]

As a mother of five.. are you kidding???? Since when does a two year old plan a vacation?

Of course I wouldn't normally let my toddler decide on vacation destinations, but since this trip is pretty much for her I panicked at the thought that she wouldn't enjoy it. I started to envision a week of meltdowns and everyone being miserable, etc.

As a mother of one, I had no previous experience to refer to in this situation and none of my friends have taken children there that young. The fact that you can't just leave early without paying for an extra night doesn't make it as easy to just wait and see how it goes. So I turned to this message board to get some feedback from people who would have some insight.

Based on everyone's advice I am going to relax, continue to plan the trip and figure once she gets there she will love it.

 

[lauritagoddess]

I would continue to plan and hope for the best. Who knows how she'll react when she's actually there. That said, we were going to go with friends to Sesame Place in June (we've been the last two years) but my DS is insistent that we're not going this year that we can go next year. I have no idea why, but I figured it wasn't worth the possibility of having a horrible time because he didn't want to be there. Thankfully he's very excited about going to WDW even though he doesn't really know much more than he wants to "ride on the flying elephants" and meet Minnie.

 

[zenshome]

Most times with my DD7, she doesn't ever want to go on any ride . After much cajoling she will get on it and have the time of her life . The rest of the day it is... Daddy when can we go back to (Fill in the Blank). Still 9 months later it is.. When can we go back and ride that ride!!

DD7 will not under any cirumstances approach a boy(Will not talk to Mickey)character. Girls(hugs Minnie) are ok and the Princesses(Pictures and Autographs are a must) are (Aurora is cool)always the real deal!

I would plan away!!

 

[da-winnie-pooh]

You're bigger than she is, and you have the car keys. Go!!

My EIGHT year old said he didn't want to go. This was almost 2 years ago. I just asked him why, and he said he didn't think it would be as great as other vacations. He learned, and he loved it. I did bribe both of my kids to go on the Rock 'n' Roller coaster, and they loved it, too!

She'll have fun!

Anita

 

[lclark0621]

What about when she says "No" to having to go to the bathroom, even though she is doing the "pee pee dance"?

Or when she says "No" to eating her green beans?

Or when she says "No" to getting dressed?

Two year olds say "No" to just about everything! It is their nature.

Seriously, continue planning your trip. Your child will love it when she gets there. Dont try & push it to much on her. Sure you can talk it up. If she likes Cinderella, say "We are going to meet Cinderella", or if she likes Carousels, tell her all about the big beautiful one in the Magic Kingdom.

But dont push it. She is only 2. She has no real concept of a "vacation" in 10 months. Just casually mention it from time to time, in a completely postitve way. And dont ask. Make it exciting "We are going to MEET Mickey Mouse!"

That is what I did with my DS last year to prepare him for his trip (he was 21 months & this was his second). Now we are going in 2 weeks & he will be 31 months. I did the same thing & he is supper excited!

The reasons we talk about it like that, is to give him the idea this is going to be GREAT & not scary. Sometimes those characters can be a bit scary to little ones. So we talk about how wonderful Mickey is & how he wants to give DS ai big mouse hug. We make pictures for the characters from DS (this is a BIG hit!), we talk about how much fun the Buzz Lightyear ride is (his favorite!), etc.

If I listened everytime my DS said "No", oh boy would I be in big trouble.