Am I wierd for not caring if I ride rides?

[sassyMNmom]

We leave for the first time at Disneyworld next Saturday. Honestly, I am thinking I want to stroll around and check stuff out and take in my surroundings. I'm sure we'll be at MK a lot since my boys are so young. I feel no pressure to try any rides and am ok with the possibility that we might not. I just want to have a very kid-friendly trip...this adventure is for our boys and the enjoyment we get out of seeing them thrilled.

Basically we have no adult 'must do's '. Rides could be cool, but if we don't ride any that's ok too. We have not much of an agenda, either. I figure there's plenty of time to visit Disney again in the future (with or without kids) and I don't want a lot of stress being afraid we're missing stuff.

Does this make sense?

 

[lchadwick]

I understand. My DH can ride with my 13YO and I'll hang with our 4YO and 2YO. I can ride with our younger ones, or if my DH is showing lack of skill with the camera, either my 13YO or he can rise with them. With the time we are going, I'll be happy just to see my kids' faces light up and them be happy to be there.

 

[wdwluver]

We have been going to DW since my oldest was 2. He's now 12. DH has never cared for any amusement park rides of any kind and Disney is no exception. He likes to go for the atmosphere and to see the DW (me) and the kids have a good time. I'm happy to oblige.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

DW is not a ride person either . So DD and I let her sleep in as we hit the parks at opening and get on all the big rides then when Dw gets up she meets us and we do all the shows and Parades.

This works great for all of us.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I just want to have a very kid-friendly trip...this adventure is for our boys and the enjoyment we get out of seeing them thrilled.

The rides in MK are very kid friendly. Even your youngest can go on many and they're designed so that kids and parents can ride together. (It's a Small World, Buzz Lightyear, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Dumbo, Pirates of the Caribbean, all rides your little one can do) There are plenty that are slow moving with lots to look at, not just the thrill of moving like the way we think of roller coasters.
Yes, there is so much to see and do there besides rides but don't give up on them completely since they really are fun for the whole family.
Our ds was 3 and I was preg w/ #2 on our 1st trip. We spent 3 days at MK and 1 day at AK.
Have a great time!

 

[jonestavern]

Everyone has a different idea of what a suitable trip for their family can be.
It is good that you are not stressing over 'must dos'. It seems you are considering your childrens' stamina, dispositions & expectations, as well as your own.
We did do rides when DS was young, using advice in the UG. We felt more at ease with a definate plan because we had a few 'must dos' as goals, but we were figuring on never going back ( ha ha, now we're DVCers!)
I would say, IMHO, that if you have identified a few 'musts', a loose schedule might be a benefit in consideration of the Christmas crowds at the parks.
As for us,we emphasized flexibility & DS' lack of stamina. We all enjoyed taking WDW boats to nowhere, strolling & pool time @ CBR. We were at rope drop each morning & each afternoon we went back to the room, had pool time, nap time & went off site for meals. We returned to the parks for evening. For our little family, it was perfect.

Jean

 

[MSSANDRA]

don't forget that a lot of the rides at WDW are not like most park rides. DH is not a ride person at all but really likes a lot of things at WDW. Many are ride though experiences and boat rides and the like. Also LOTs of shows. YOu are right to follow the kids lead and you will have a blast!!!!!!!!

 

[Princess~Fun]

We leave for the first time at Disneyworld next Saturday. Honestly, I am thinking I want to stroll around and check stuff out and take in my surroundings. I'm sure we'll be at MK a lot since my boys are so young. I feel no pressure to try any rides and am ok with the possibility that we might not. I just want to have a very kid-friendly trip...this adventure is for our boys and the enjoyment we get out of seeing them thrilled.

Basically we have no adult 'must do's '. Rides could be cool, but if we don't ride any that's ok too. We have not much of an agenda, either. I figure there's plenty of time to visit Disney again in the future (with or without kids) and I don't want a lot of stress being afraid we're missing stuff.

Does this make sense?

Hey that totally makes sense. I mean you just want to share the experience with your kids. It might be better not really having and reservations and your free to do whatever. You've probably made this trip so much more magical!

 

[Stitchfans]

I personally don't go on too many rides either. I enjoy walking around and taking in the sights more. Also enjoy character hunting.

 

[hollyb]

I don't do rides either. Unless the kids really want me to go on them. I love just seeing how much fun the kids are having. I am the "bag holder" and whatever else. DH loves rides and since the kids were born he doesnt go on the "good rides" until our friends went to Six Flags with us then he went wild he and his buddy took off for 3 hours. My friend and I had the kids. We really didn't mind. Now when we go to Disney in May I keep telling him to go ahead I'll be fine.

 

[makinorlando]

You have to do what works best for your family, but at MK especially some of the rides aren't so much "rides" as you would think but a moving story - rides like Peter Pan, Pooh and Snow White -

I am NOT a thrill ride kind of person, never have been, never will be, but I love to ride through Peter Pan, Haunted Mansion, POTC, and yes even It's a Small World.

As others have said there are so many things that aren't even rides - 3-D shows like Philharmagic, Muppets 3-D (at MGM). Great shows like Beauty & The Beast, Voyage of Little Mermaid.

Whatever you choose to do, I am sure you will have a great time!

 

[crazyhunter98]

we were ther in sept and we did do rides but we could be just as happy not doing them because there is so much stuff to do and check out we were there for our 10th anni and we had a ball we are going back this year and if we do not do the rides it will not matter we will enjoy wdw just as much

 

[MNdisneymom]

[ I just want to have a very kid-friendly trip...this adventure is for our boys and the enjoyment we get out of seeing them thrilled.

That's the exact philosophy I had when I went with my DS 3.5 in September...even though I *am* a thrill-ride sort of person. I thought that he would be into seeing the characters and stuff like that...I couldn't have been more off-base! Although he was too short to go on the "big" rides (he was fascinated by Everest in particular), DS had the best time on all the rides he was able to go on. Our last day there, we rode Barnstormer (groan) 5 times IN A ROW. I would have been bored silly, but his utter glee at getting off, running around the ride, getting in line, and riding all over again made it all worth it. Especially the last ride, when the CM asked him if he wanted to ride in the front

Also, I had never seen any of the night time shows at WDW...and the first night there we accidentally saw Illuminations (long story). Every night after that, we saw one of the night time things, like Fantasmic, Wishes, Spectro....I didn't expect to do that either, but was again thrilled by what a great time my little guy had.

So I guess my long answer is no, you're not nuts for not caring about the rides. It really is great fun to enjoy WDW with a child; letting go of adult expectations for my trip this fall made it more enjoyable than I ever could have imagined.

 

[jennifer293]

I always go with the intention of riding rides, but it usually works out that it is something I don't want to ride (i.e. Tower of Terror) and DH will ride that with DD6 (she LOVES IT). I will normally take DD2 on a stroll and get an ice cream or something while we are waiting on them.

Even when MIL AND FIL let us have our night alone without the kids DH and I don't go ride the rides we always end up at DTD and go shopping and DH HATES to shop..HAHAHA

 

[Pixiedust34]

I love the rides, but I can understand how much fun it is to walk around and soak up the atmosphere. One of my favorite things to do at WDW is wander around the World Showcase (no rides, except Mexico and Norway) and to look at everything around me. I could easily spend a whole day doing that!

 

[lizally]

In the past, we were all about the thrill rides! But, as I plan our upcoming trip with our toddlers, I find myself not caring about the thrill rides this time. I figure, I have ridden them alot in the past, and I can ride them again in the future. This trip is really about having fun with the girls, as a family. I asked my husband if there were any baby-swap rides he wanted to do, and he said, "If we can't do it as a family, then we won't do it." Plus, the baby-swap option doesn't sound like much fun for the parent who is stuck waiting with the whining toddlers!

So that means we will have to wait to try out Expedition Everest and Soarin', but that's okay...because we have never ridden the kid type rides, such as Dumbo, and we would never have stopped to watch a parade in past...but we can look forward to that kind of stuff this time. In fact, 4 of our 6 days will be at the Magic Kingdom, and we are skipping the Studios entirely.

(I am really hoping that my girls will be tall enough for the Barnstormer, though! Their first roller coaster...I can't wait!)

 

[monorailsilver]

I felt the same way after we made our first trip with a child.

I really only wanted to ride Space Mountain since I rode that every trip I ever went on (even DL). But needless to say we didn't do the baby swap & I was OK with that after all my dd had a great time (she was 15 months old). I got super pictures of her with many characters & she was even in The Disney Magazine Fall 2003 issue with Tigger.

When we went in 2005, my plan was to ride a few of the E rides since my parents were going to be with us but I had an unexpected surprise the month before we left & she is sleeping on me now.

So we just took our 2 kids on all the rides they were able to go on & see what they wanted to see & swam & had a great time.

So yes I miss the E ticket rides but I can go on them my next trip & if I don't, I can go on them the trip after that after all it's all about the kids now in my life.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I never imagined feeling this way, but for our next trip those are my thoughts exactly. I don't really care about not riding everything. I've riden before and we are going to see Christmas decorations, shows, etc. I will have 14 month old DD to worry about, and I don't think I'll miss the big rides too much.

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

Makes sense to me! We spent most of our last trip hanging around Fantasyland & Toontown (with a side trip to Aladdin's Magic Carpets, of course) and had a blast. It was such a relaxing and enjoyable trip. Nobody was pressured or rushed - we were all very well rested. Our kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves and we enjoyed experiencing the attractions with them (Dumbo 5 times in a row - yahoo!). Our only adult "must do" was a trip on Splash Mountain. This year, we want to hit Expedition Everest and Soarin', but that's about it on the adult must do list.

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

You have the right idea! There is so much to see and enjoy at Disney without the pressure of riding rides. My DS,12 always hits the park with a list a mile long of rides he wants to go on. It creates a lot of pressure throughout the day to get everything done. My DH and I actually went recently without the kids just to take in the scenery.

Keep an open mind about the day, and you will have a blast. Let your kids make your schedule. Make sure to take some time to check out Main Street USA at MK. Have fun on your trip!