Am I just being mean....

[mama4]

...or practical We are leaving for Orlando Sunday (joining dh for a conference), staying offsite, and the kids (ds16, ds5, ds3 and dd11mths) and I will go to Disney three of the 6 days we'll be there (3 day play passes). I planned on doing MK first, then Epcot or AK (for ds16 to choose) then MGM on Friday for ds5 (SWW). Well, ds16 wants AK because of EE- he usually doesn't care (he likes MGM but doesn't care about the other parks that much) so I thought he'd say Epcot since he kind of likes Mission Space. Didn't realize he did some research and discovered EE. Now, don't get me wrong, I want to ride it too and I love AK- but I remember it being very hot (and we usually go to WDW in the spring and fall-never in the summer) and there wasn't a heck of a lot for the little ones to do. They liked the animals and FOTLK but Dinosaur & ITTBAB are out (too scary). What else is there? I can see us getting there, Grandma will be there too so I can ride EE w/ ds16 a couple of times, then we'd be hot and miserable and want to leave by noon- a whole wasted park day. Also, we're going back in January 2008 w/ seasonal passes so we can go to AK all we want. I don't think I can get him super excited about Epcot (we haven't ridden Soarin' yet but he's a coaster junkie) but I think it would be best and more comfortable for everyone. I still can't help feeling like I'm cheating him out of the one thing he wants to do though. Whaddya think- will we be miserable at AK?

 

[DVCLiz]

Could you buy him a one day ticket and let him do AK by himself? I see you have 6 days and only 3 days of park admission. You and the younger children could do whatever you were planning to do, and he could have a fun day at AK. A 16 year old boy is plenty old enough to go on his own for a day.

 

[DawnM]

I haven't looked at WDW ticket prices in a while. The years we go we get APs and go several times, but I thought that the 3 day and 5 day were very similar in price. Could you upgrade for just a little more and allow some "low impact" days where you don't go the whole day? If it is only a matter of a small amount of $$ I would be inclined to do that.

Another idea: Could you offer him some sort of compensation for not getting to do what he wants? My kids will often take a "bribe" of some sort if offered choices. Of course, we don't look at them as bribes, just ways to make sure everyone is happy and we don't allow one child to get what they want over the needs/wants of another.

Hope you can find a solution.

Dawn

 

[Minnie824]

To me, theres more for smaller kids at AK then MGM. Could you see if you could make it a park hopper and do both for a half day?

 

[Hannathy]

I agree to the park hopper or getting him an extra day and letting him go to the park alone. At 16 he probably won't want 3 no activity days either so it would work out. If you have hoppers you could spend the morning in AK and then afternoon and evening in EPCOT. I also think there is more at AK for little ones than at EPCOT.

 

[dsnymomof4]

I think you'll be fine at AK. My kids love AK way more than Epcot. Sure, it will be hot, but it will be hot everywhere! Get there at park opening and do as much as you can before it gets too crowded. EE is really great - it will be worth it for DS! Take breaks in the air-conditioned shows and restaurant for lunch. When you're really hot, get cooled off on Kali. The kids will love the shows - Lion King, Nemo and Flights of Wonder are all great. Camp Minnie-Mickey is also great for little kids - you'll find a lot of characters there for pictures/autographs. True, it's not an all-day park, but there is plenty to do for a good part of the day. Then maybe you can go for a swim and have a nice dinner somewhere.

 

[earthfaries]

I think he should be able to choose since you told him he could. There are things for little ones to do there, the shows are great and a great way to get out of the heat also. The bone play yard, safari, train, bugs life, petting zoo,kiddie rides in Dinoland. It is not our favorite park, but in this situation, he would probably be very bored at Epcot and upset if he can't pick the park like he was supposed to.
Yes, you could tell him to wait until next year, but he probably would be very upset with that option but if you do it he will just have to deal with it, he will get to go there next year.

 

[mama4]

Thanks everyone for your replies!!

Could you buy him a one day ticket and let him do AK by himself? I see you have 6 days and only 3 days of park admission. You and the younger children could do whatever you were planning to do, and he could have a fun day at AK. A 16 year old boy is plenty old enough to go on his own for a day.

Good idea but he wants me to ride with him. Before we knew Grandma was coming along I told him I wouldn't be able to ride EE with him (because of the younger kids-DH won't be there) and he said "Oh- nevermind then"- (I was quite surprised and happy he wanted me there so badly) so I don't think he'd be up for going alone.

I haven't looked at WDW ticket prices in a while. The years we go we get APs and go several times, but I thought that the 3 day and 5 day were very similar in price. Could you upgrade for just a little more and allow some "low impact" days where you don't go the whole day? If it is only a matter of a small amount of $$ I would be inclined to do that.

Another idea: Could you offer him some sort of compensation for not getting to do what he wants? My kids will often take a "bribe" of some sort if offered choices. Of course, we don't look at them as bribes, just ways to make sure everyone is happy and we don't allow one child to get what they want over the needs/wants of another.

Well. the cost of our tickets will be about $128 (FL res 3 day play) so it would be a lot more to get 5 day passes for us. We'll hang out by the pool at our offsite hotel a couple of days so we'll still have fun- all those kids w/ no dh I think we'll be tired so we'll need the rest. I like your bribery idea I could let him pick a restaurant for dinner one night maybe?
Minnie824 and Hannathy- good idea- I'll check on the park hopper prices- maybe just for ds16 and me and the little ones could stay at the hotel w/ Grandma while we visited AK. I can't skip MGM because ds5 LOVES Star Wars and we probably won't visit again in the summer for a while so this may be his only chance to go while he loves it so much. We could probably do a half day there though because the only thing they truly loved there was the stunt shows and I think it'll be too hot for those. We could make that the day we go back to AK if we do a PH. Now, in my experience, there is way more at Epcot for little ones than AK- but I've only been to AK once. They loved the FOTLK- but the safari ride -once was fun but they aren't dying to do it again, they also were so-so about the dinosaur dig-site and the Dinoland area- I thoought it was fun but they sat there while I went on a couple of rides w/ oldest ds because all they could do was Triceratops spin. Also, they like animals but see them often at Busch Gardens and I think it will be too hot to walk around checking out animals. Am I forgetting something about AK that's great for kids? 'cause like I said- I've only been once I do remember characters but they are also so-so about characters (I know- kinda strange ) Mostly, they love rides and shows (except 3D) and the street performers and as for Epcot- I think they'll love Soarin'.

 

[mama4]

I think you'll be fine at AK. My kids love AK way more than Epcot. Sure, it will be hot, but it will be hot everywhere! Get there at park opening and do as much as you can before it gets too crowded. EE is really great - it will be worth it for DS! Take breaks in the air-conditioned shows and restaurant for lunch. When you're really hot, get cooled off on Kali. The kids will love the shows - Lion King, Nemo and Flights of Wonder are all great. Camp Minnie-Mickey is also great for little kids - you'll find a lot of characters there for pictures/autographs. True, it's not an all-day park, but there is plenty to do for a good part of the day. Then maybe you can go for a swim and have a nice dinner somewhere.

Ooooh I forgot about Kali. Can the little ones go on that? I know the baby can't ( she'll be 11 mths) but what about the 3 and 5 yo? We haven't been on this yet either

 

[Princess Roo]

I would definitely not go back on what I said to DS16. *Maybe* the "bribe" idea, but I wouldn't just change the rules over this, especially since you get to go back 6 months later. I agree that AK is hot and crowded, compared to the other parks, but it definitely helps if you get there first thing in the morning. They have the new Nemo show now, too, for the little ones. They may also enjoy going over to the petting zoo area.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that you'll have fun either way, and you'll get to go back soon, so I wouldn't do anything to endanger DS' trust of you (that sounds stronger than I mean it to, but I can't think of another way to say it) or to make him feel that the preferences of the younger ones are more important.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Mean mommies don't take their kid to WDW .

I however think I would try to get him to AK. Why.. Well he is 16 and getting to the age where there might not be a lot of family vacations left for him. Lots of years for the little ones. A lot of the things at WDW will be about the little ones, and in truth in a family with smaller sibblings, things have to be about them a LOT.

I would look to upgrade the tickets to hopper or add days or go ahead and get the AP's now.

AND... We love AK. I enjoy our day there a lot more than MGM. The new nemo show will be a big hit with the little ones. CAmp minnie-mickey is good. There is the Pocohotus show that they will love, the flying dino ride, the train out to the petting zoo, the safri, walking through the animal exibits, Flights of Wonder, the prarde just to name a few. Good luck deciding.

 

[mama4]

I would definitely not go back on what I said to DS16. *Maybe* the "bribe" idea, but I wouldn't just change the rules over this, especially since you get to go back 6 months later. I agree that AK is hot and crowded, compared to the other parks, but it definitely helps if you get there first thing in the morning. They have the new Nemo show now, too, for the little ones. They may also enjoy going over to the petting zoo area.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that you'll have fun either way, and you'll get to go back soon, so I wouldn't do anything to endanger DS' trust of you (that sounds stronger than I mean it to, but I can't think of another way to say it) or to make him feel that the preferences of the younger ones are more important.

Yes- I know what you mean. I always worry he thinks I'm putting the little ones ahead of him. He's such a good big brother too and loves seeing his siblings have fun. My first thought when I thought about cancelling AK really was the heat and having a way for the little ones to get out of it. Dinoland isn't very shaded from what I remember. Now I forgot about the Nemo show- this will be great to get the kids outta the heat!

Mean mommies don't take their kid to WDW .

I however think I would try to get him to AK. Why.. Well he is 16 and getting to the age where there might not be a lot of family vacations left for him. Lots of years for the little ones. A lot of the things at WDW will be about the little ones, and in truth in a family with smaller sibblings, things have to be about them a LOT.

I would look to upgrade the tickets to hopper or add days or go ahead and get the AP's now.

AND... We love AK. I enjoy our day there a lot more than MGM. The new nemo show will be a big hit with the little ones. CAmp minnie-mickey is good. There is the Pocohotus show that they will love, the flying dino ride, the train out to the petting zoo, the safri, walking through the animal exibits, Flights of Wonder, the prarde just to name a few. Good luck deciding.

Thanks! Great ideas!!! Pocohontas ...train to the petting zoo ... awesome ideas guys. Now I think we can do this. I just couldn't remember a lot about it -well, because we went there one time and it was only for a little while. This is just what I needed though. Now I'm not feeling like we'll be wasting a day. Grandma can take the little ones to one of those awesome shows while ds16 and I ride EE. You guys rock!

 

[mama4]

Well he is 16 and getting to the age where there might not be a lot of family vacations left for him.

I understand what ya mean but as long as I can drag him along he will always be there on our family vacations. I'm lucky that we live in a city with a great university that he wants to attend so he will probably live close by- in fact, I've already told him he can live at home as long as he's in school and/or contributing. He is a popular kid with his friends but he likes hanging out with us too so I think we might be able to talk him into many more trips with us. I even wanted to take him on our anniversary cruise next fall but it won't work out because of school. I just can't bear the thought of him not coming along on our family vacations though.

 

[nowellsl]

Why don't you go ahead and buy seasonal passes - they'll still be good in Jan. 08 and you can park hop. You can even get them with a discount through AAA.

 

[mama4]

Why don't you go ahead and buy seasonal passes - they'll still be good in Jan. 08 and you can park hop. You can even get them with a discount through AAA.

Well- 'cause we have BG (ds16 fave park) passes this year and don't anticipate using the WDW passes a lot until next year so we thought it makes more sense to wait until Jan to buy them. I know we'll use them for many day trips next year but we can't do both this year-just not enough time. The only reason we're even going to WDW this summer is becaue of this conference. Dhs company is paying for the room even.

I live north of the mouse too- in Gainesville. Where are you?