5 year old only wants to go to resort pool!

[GoingSince1990]

When you do manage to pry him away from the pool and get to Epcot, make sure to hit the jumping water thing near Imagination. My kids absolutely loved it at that age.

 

[DduzDis]

When they pay for the trip they get to have more input. Until then we make choices as a family and mom and dad reserve veto power on all decisions. We tend to go for a week at a time on most regular trips with Weds off from parks completely for a rest day. Our girls know that day is reserved for a pool day unless weather disappoints. We've also transitioned to more parks in the AM and pool in afternoons before heading back in for dinner reservations and fireworks if we make it. And we have gotten to the point where splitting up and going separate directions for a part of the day so competing interests can be met simultaneously is not out of the question. DW and DD6 may go off and do something while DD9 and me go do something else. Fortunately my girls love Soarin', Remy's, Figment and even hitting some of the food booths with us in EP. DHS has become just about a half day for us though.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Back when the price of a 4 day vs 7 day ticket was about $30, we just always had as many park days on our ticket as we had there.

And then, we always started the day with a late wake up, a nice breakfast, a long pool trip, then a late lunch and showers. We never went to the parks before 2pm, and often it was 4pm. And we went every evening and enjoyed at that point b/c then, my "trouble kid" still didn't ride everything, but he was willing to engage somewhat with the parks, so dad and the older girls could ride and mom and the baby could ride what he wanted and then we'd do a few joint rides to close out the evening.

This type of trip is cost-prohibitive for a lot of folks now (including me, if I had to do it again), but it made vacationing at Disney very nice back in the day...

 

[nancipants]

You've never met my kid. She would have gladly spent the entire trip at the pool, eating at the pool bar.

Sounds like she's ready for Disney Cruise Line.

 

[sponica]

Sounds like she's ready for Disney Cruise Line.

Oh she is. But her younger sister still needs a year and potty training before she's kids club eligible.
I don't get asked when are we going to Disney World, I get told "I want to go on a disney cruise because they have pools"

 

[Betty Rohrer]

To be clear, kids get plenty of time to do what they want. Like the OP posted, they are in the pool in the afternoons. It is not like the children are being denied all pool time. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with setting time limits on things and then going and doing something else. Why go to WDW if you are just going to be in the pools the whole time? Go to a waterpark, or even just have a resort stay and not bother buying park tickets. ONE child should not dictate to the whole family for the whole trip. He gets his swimming time in, and then they can go do something else. I am all for letting kids have their fun, my kids spent plenty of time in the pool, but that is not what this situation is. And a 5 year old is old enough to learn that the world does not revolve around him and he can spend some time doing what other family members are wanting to do also. You are basically saying that this one 5 year old child should make the decision for the whole family on what to do the whole trip. That is unreasonable. And a parent is NOT a grandparent.

setting limits as you said would not work with 2 of my grandkids at that age. they would have made the day rough for everyone even if had meant they did not get what they wanted. you can not make a child enjoy what you are doing as a family if they dont want to enjoy it. not the parent but have been on that trip as part of group. it was not a fun couple of days and yes he won the war with his parents even loosing the battle for a couple of days. everyone was at each other for 2 days as he lost the battle. he is a lot better as a 10 year old but at 5 that was not true

 

[dieumeye]

Can’t remember where I read it (maybe Len Testa’s guidebook) but they did a survey of WDW guests and there’s a certain kids age range that lists their favorite attraction as “the pool.” So it’s pretty common for that age to be more into the pool than the parks.

 

[Anna131517]

Easy. Don’t go to the pool until you’re done with the parks for the day. World Showcase in Epcot is always difficult for young children. I still remember my parents death marching me and my brother around it!

 

[Lilsia]

setting limits as you said would not work with 2 of my grandkids at that age. they would have made the day rough for everyone even if had meant they did not get what they wanted. you can not make a child enjoy what you are doing as a family if they dont want to enjoy it. not the parent but have been on that trip as part of group. it was not a fun couple of days and yes he won the war with his parents even loosing the battle for a couple of days. everyone was at each other for 2 days as he lost the battle. he is a lot better as a 10 year old but at 5 that was not true

And that is a great example of setting boundaries right from the start. Mama don't play those games. If you are going to act that way, then you will stay in the room with daddy, or at home with grandma. I also didn't say that they needed to enjoy it, just that they need to understand that they can not act that way because the world does not revolve around them. Kids know when their parents will give in and that is why you can't back down, not even once, otherwise they just progress with their bad behavior.

 

[Jen81NYC]

And that is a great example of setting boundaries right from the start. Mama don't play those games. If you are going to act that way, then you will stay in the room with daddy, or at home with grandma. I also didn't say that they needed to enjoy it, just that they need to understand that they can not act that way because the world does not revolve around them. Kids know when their parents will give in and that is why you can't back down, not even once, otherwise they just progress with their bad behavior.

But there’s no bad behavior here—a 5yo not being great about transitioning out of a fun pool on vacation is not bad behavior! A lot of kids, especially at that age, would be like this! Whats the point to being a hardarse during a family vacation like this? Ostensibly the trip is also for him to enjoy! IMO, I think it’s easier to work around the situation by doing pool time after the park part is done rather than digging into regular power struggles with a kid on a family trip to an amusement park

 

[Lilsia]

But there’s no bad behavior here—a 5yo not being great about transitioning out of a fun pool on vacation is not bad behavior! A lot of kids, especially at that age, would be like this! Whats the point to being a ******* during a family vacation like this? Ostensibly the trip is also for him to enjoy! IMO, I think it’s easier to work around the situation by doing pool time after the park part is done rather than digging into regular power struggles with a kid on a family trip to an amusement park

I was replying to Betty about her situation. I clearly stated to the OP that I would set a time limit. If the child starts throwing a tantrum after being told that it is time to get out of the pool, then YES, there should be consequences. You don't stop parenting just because you are on vacation. And parenting is not being a jerk. It is insane that some of you think that a 5 year old should completely dictate to the parents on what to do. There are other members of the family that want to do what they enjoy also. Being a child does not mean that the world revolves around you completely. He is getting his fun time in, and he is old enough to understand that he is part of the family and will sometimes have do things that are not his favorite thing. This mentality of yours is why kids are growing up thinking that they can do whatever they want. You are going so far to the extreme acting as if the child is being abused and not able to have any fun at all and that clearly is not the case. And to be clear, this is NOT a power struggle, this is parenting.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

But there’s no bad behavior here—a 5yo not being great about transitioning out of a fun pool on vacation is not bad behavior! A lot of kids, especially at that age, would be like this! Whats the point to being a ******* during a family vacation like this? Ostensibly the trip is also for him to enjoy! IMO, I think it’s easier to work around the situation by doing pool time after the park part is done rather than digging into regular power struggles with a kid on a family trip to an amusement park

you are right it became a power struggle and everyone lost. you can force them to do what you want but you can not make them have fun and if affects everyone on the trip. because of a step situation could not leave dad with child because then older brother would have to stay at room also. by second day no one was having any fun and that is not what a family vacation is about. you would not see this in him now as a young teen

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I was replying to Betty about her situation. I clearly stated to the OP that I would set a time limit. If the child starts throwing a tantrum after being told that it is time to get out of the pool, then YES, there should be consequences. You don't stop parenting just because you are on vacation. And parenting is not being a jerk. It is insane that some of you think that a 5 year old should completely dictate to the parents on what to do. There are other members of the family that want to do what they enjoy also. Being a child does not mean that the world revolves around you completely. He is getting his fun time in, and he is old enough to understand that he is part of the family and will sometimes have do things that are not his favorite thing. This mentality of yours is why kids are growing up thinking that they can do whatever they want. You are going so far to the extreme acting as if the child is being abused and not able to have any fun at all and that clearly is not the case. And to be clear, this is NOT a power struggle, this is parenting.

in our situation to have dad stay with him at room would have also forced his older brother to stay also by court order. birth mother had in older child's court order that his dad, other birth parent, had to be with him if he went on vacations with our family. all it would take for cops to be called was to have older child tell birth mom he was in MK without dad and yes he had to call mom each night. he has turned out pretty well with his parenting as a young teen, nothing like the young child. it is called growing up as a child. he did not throw a temper tantrum just made it an unhappy day for everyone in the group. as he was smallest and did not make the height for a number of rides. yes he was short as a 5 year old. he ended up getting what he wanted ,not going to pool, but ended up causing everyone deciding to go back to resort as no one was enjoying the park dragging him around. so it ended up being a loose loose for everyone. he had no stroller as his parents made that choice and most times he didnt care and walked like the big guys as he wanted most days

 

[Jen81NYC]

I was replying to Betty about her situation. I clearly stated to the OP that I would set a time limit. If the child starts throwing a tantrum after being told that it is time to get out of the pool, then YES, there should be consequences. You don't stop parenting just because you are on vacation. And parenting is not being a jerk. It is insane that some of you think that a 5 year old should completely dictate to the parents on what to do. There are other members of the family that want to do what they enjoy also. Being a child does not mean that the world revolves around you completely. He is getting his fun time in, and he is old enough to understand that he is part of the family and will sometimes have do things that are not his favorite thing. This mentality of yours is why kids are growing up thinking that they can do whatever they want. You are going so far to the extreme acting as if the child is being abused and not able to have any fun at all and that clearly is not the case. And to be clear, this is NOT a power struggle, this is parenting.

I never suggested one should stop parenting on vacation, but there’s also no reason not to attempt workarounds while on an expensive family trip that’s meant to be enjoyable for everyone Not every kid, especially that young, fully graps what “swim for only 30 minutes” mean (for example) and some kids are just innately less adaptable to transitions despite a parent’s best intentions! I wish parenting was always as easy as setting a strict guideline for an activity and then taking it away the moment a kid doesn’t listen easily! Seems preferable to try to minimize the transitions if feasible. I’m sure the kid has already been told the pool time is intended to be for a short time when they’ve gone to the pool mid-day.

 

[Jen81NYC]

[Deleted bc posted by accident!]

 

[Lilsia]

I never suggested one should stop parenting on vacation, but there’s also no reason not to attempt workarounds while on an expensive family trip that’s meant to be enjoyable for everyone Not every kid, especially that young, fully graps what “swim for only 30 minutes” mean (for example) and some kids are just innately less adaptable to transitions despite a parent’s best intentions! I wish parenting was always as easy as setting a strict guideline for an activity and then taking it away the moment a kid doesn’t listen easily! Seems preferable to try to minimize the transitions if feasible. I’m sure the kid has already been told the pool time is intended to be for a short time when they’ve gone to the pool mid-day.

Well you don't have to agree with me. The OP asked about it and that is what we would do. And "instantly punishing" is not what I said. I said that if they throw a fit and not listen, then there should be consequences. What do you do? Do you just let your kids yell, scream, and throw a fit because they don't want to get out of the pool when you say? What "work around" exactly are you talking about, just giving in to the child? LOL By 5, kids are more then capable of understanding time limits, how do they handle school? I think you give kids too little credit. The OP clearly wanted a way to get their kid out of the pool so that they could go to the park. If she just wanted to let the kid swim all day, she wouldn't have asked how to handle it.

 

[UnderneathAMagicMoon]

I work with kids and eagerly await their reports after a Disney trip - I find that a common description for the kindergarten set, when describing the entire trip, is “It was SO COOL!!! I rode on an airplane and swam in a big pool that had a slide!” Not much else compares to a plane and a pool at that age, apparently.

My personal tip as a parent of a wild toddler - always save the “let it all out and relax” activities for last in the daily schedule. Kids are used to the idea that they need to “keep it together” for various parts of the day - school, soccer practice, homework, etc. But then when they reach whatever point is a signal to them that they get to be “done for the day” and just chill out / rest - they really want to be done after that. They don’t want to switch back “on” (and I think that while the parks are a ton of fun, managing that level of hyper stimulation without melting down is in some sense “work” for a young child.) I say let the relax and unwind time come last and maybe be a longer event, but after everything else you want to do is done. Small kids are almost always much fresher in the mornings anyways and kinda burned out by the afternoon.

 

[tinkerjo]

I have a very large age gap between kids (32,29,22,15) so it couldn’t be all about the little kids (or the big kids for that matter) it is a family vacation so everyone has to give and take. Taking kids on vacations and excursions often helps make vacations less stressful and overwhelming. I understand not every family can take big WDW trips often but even local stuff, occasionally staying in a hotel with a pool helps greatly. We usually saved pool time for non park days (we love having a day or 2 to just spend at the pool and resort giving our feet a break) or when we could have an hour or 2 before we needed to leave. My kids HATED Epcot when they were younger too so I can understand. Even a 5 year old can help plan and be involved in decision making (parent lead of course) having a good solid plan going in that everyone understands is important and limits meltdowns especially if you can remind them that this is what we agreed on and you will get to come back and enjoy it again tomorrow (or whenever) everyone has different parenting styles and you want everyone to have fun, but you can’t spend all that money to sit at the pool your entire vacation.

 

[levismom]

Pools have always been a favorite with our entire family, regardless of age.

 

[disneyseniors]

DS is 5.5 and I really want to take him and DS2 before he stops believing in magic.

We went last September to Poly and I couldn’t get him to jump out of the pool in the afternoons without LOTS of negotiations. Then I’d get him to Epcot and he’d be bored and ask to go back to the pool.

Does this pool obsession ever wear off at a certain age? How do you all deal with the “pool is cooler than the parks” conundrum? It was so easy when he was younger and just did whatever us grownups wanted to do lol

LOL, I had to laugh at this title! We took our kids the first time at ages 5 and 7 and they only wanted to go back to the hotel and swim. We went to the MK and they loved it, but by afternoon they only wanted to swim.
Eventually they do outgrow this pool only obsession. Our next visit was when they were 9 and 11 and they both loved the parks more than the pool, so there is hope