A 7 Year Old Boy

[Withacy]

Just a few days until my first Christmas Season visit. I've been looking forward to this for years!

I'm taking my 7 year-old godson. I took his sister for her 9th birthday. I took my nieces, one when she was 10, the other when she was 11.

I hope I'm ready for this. He's never been to an amusement park before. I've spent time with him & his family (his mom is my oldest friend - we've been best friends for nearly 30 years). She trusts me with him. And she's only a phone call away. But things keep coming up that I just never thought of. Like taking him into the women's bathroom with me (his mom explained that I needed to do this, and that he knows how to behave) - I don't have a problem with that, it's just that I hadn't even thought of it.

I guess the best I can do is play it by ear, and adjust to what he wants to do, and what scares him (I don't think much does), bores him, or interests him. I've got him signed up for the Pirate League, a Pirate Cruise, and archery lessons. And I know I need to work in breaks.

I hope I'm ready for this.

 

[laceemouse]

Relax! The two of you are going to have a blast

 

[Withacy]

90% of the time I'm incredibly excited and feeling lucky to share his first trip with him. And even a little guilty that I get to share this experience with him instead of his parents getting too.

And I actually don't mind him being a little chatterbox (his mother worries about that - but 8 days with a chatterbox isn't the same as 7 years - and she never spent quality time with my youngest niece!) - I kind of like his wild stories.

But then 10% of the time, I get caught up in the "what if's" and start to worry.

He's the youngest of 4 children (the oldest is 24, and expecting her first). Very little rattles his mother. Thank goodness.

 

[NaplesRI]

Our grandson is 7 and we brought him to Disney for the first time in March. His Mom and aunt and uncle were also there but I can tell you that you will have a great time.
We let him decide on some of the rides- he chose to go on Thunder mtn and loved it.
Do watch on overplanning and getting him overtired- we could see a difference when that happened. By day 3 it started to kick in and he needed a break.
You will have so much fun- dont worry- be happy!

 

[Withacy]

Do watch on overplanning and getting him overtired- we could see a difference when that happened. By day 3 it started to kick in and he needed a break.
You will have so much fun- dont worry- be happy!

OK, I'm not sure which one of us will get worn out! He always seems to have so much energy (but his mom told me that he'll be going strong, and then you'll sit down for a SECOND and he'll have fallen asleep - that quick!). Plus, because his parents often work the night shift, he tends to stay up late on the weekends - and I get up so early, usually (4-4:30 AM during the week; 6:00 on the weekend). He may be outlasting me!

His mother has given me all sorts of instructions that are funny to a person without children. Like make sure the bathroom is open for him when he wakes up, because he always has to pee as soon as he wakes up. Oh - and writing my cell phone number ON his body (stomach or back) - she's even sending the Sharpie!

 

[VAfamily1998]

Oh - and writing my cell phone number ON his body (stomach or back) - she's even sending the Sharpie!

We do this too!

We were at WDW last month with our children (one of them is a 7 year old boy). You are a FABULOUS godmother to do this for him!

My son (the 7 year old) really loved eating at Sci Fi. He also really enjoyed the Kim Possible adventure in Epcot, and Tom Sawyers Island in the Magic Kingdom (especially finding the paintbrush!)

I know the two of you will have a blast!

 

[J Le]

I didn't even visit MK until I went with my nephews (4 and 6-my godson). Wow! It was amazing. That you've been with the other children is wonderful. My nephews loved the playgrounds - especially the Bone Yard, Star Tours and Buzz.

At our zoo here the men's and women's bathrooms both have stalls for "Little Boys" and "Little Girls" - wonder if Disney has something like this? I don't remember seeing it.

 

[badblackpug]

A 7 year old boy will love everything in WDW. Some of the biggies on my 9 year old's list (we go every year , so these were true of him when he was 7)

MK:
POC
HM
BTMR
Space Mtn
Splash Mtn.
Buzz Lightyear
Speedway
Stitch
EPCOT:
Mission Space
Test Track
Soarin
Circle of Life
The gift store in Japan which is FULL of Bakugan!
HS:
ToT
RnR
Star Tours
Indiana Jones Show
The Stunt Car show (can't remember real name)
TSM
AK:
EE
Kali River Rapids
Dinosaur
Safari Ride
That Spinning Roller Coaster in Dinoland
We did water parks for the 1st time this year (BB) and he loved everything, including the summit plummit!

I know the bathroom thing can become a controversy on these boards, but what I used to do when the kids were too little to go alone, but too big to be in the stall with me is have them go while I stand outside the door, then I go while they stand outside the door. My specific instructions were that I had to see your shoes at all times.

 

[Withacy]

His sister - who turned 9 while we were there (and did BBB & CRT to celebrate) - loved the thrill rides! She'd never been to an amusement park before, but the first thing we rode was Space Mountain, and she was addicted! The ONLY thing that scared her was...the toilets. Something about those self-flushing toilets. I'd have to watch for her to start bouncing up & down, and then tell her we weren't going on anything else until she "went".

According to Mom, little brother doesn't have those issues. She said he's very well behaved. But she said he's very naive, and she doesn't want him going into the mensroom alone, or waiting outside while I go into the women's room (and he can wander off).

We're going to do the Sci Fi Drive In. And T-Rex. And Whispering Canyon (his sister told him about it, and he wants to ask for ketsup). And some character meals too. We're there for 8 days.

His mother doesn't think he'll be afraid of anything. I'm concerned about whether or not he'll understand the difference between real & imaginary in things like It's Tough to be A Bug or Dinosaur (more than the rollercoasters). But I'll play it by ear, I guess.

I think I'm more excited than he is. His mom says he has no concept or frame of reference for what it will be like. He just knows his big sister (who went last time) is really, really jealous.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Doing the Happy Dance! board. Have a great trip!

 

[Withacy]

...to die a sad and lonely death...



(the thread, not my trip...)