Animal Kingdom Help Please

[jodim]

Ugh! This! Sorry, but this a big red flag for me.

You will have a much better vacation if you embrace a little more empathy.

ASK them what they want to do. Make a trade of some kind. I don't know them; maybe they want to swim in the afternoon, maybe they want to choose dining, maybe they just want a little spending $.

Listening to their opinions, and acting on their opinions, is THE most powerful way to earn their cooperation.

We aren't your kids. Our opinions are kind of useless. Forgive me, but it sounds like you are asking us to help you gaslight your kids. What we like doesn't matter. What should matter, most of all - is THEIR opinions. They will enjoy the things they want to do. It is just that simple.

If it matters, I'm reading a history of our founding fathers right now.

I don't see how me expecting my children (and the whiners are my bio kids, not our foster kids- this is their first trip) to be grateful to be on such a vacation is me not having empathy? I have taken what they want into consideration on the trip, including a $500 dinner, but I do expect them to realize this trip is about everyone and they can't always have what they want. I refuse to raise spoil brats and to me letting them have what they want all the time and not expecting them to be grateful for the things they have and are able to do, is me helping make a productive adult out of them one day.

I'm not asking help to gaslight my children, I'm asking help to see if there's something there I don't know about that they might enjoy... which thankfully it seems there are quite a few things I didn't know about that my kids would enjoy, especially the wilderness explorers.

 

[jodim]

Flights of Wonder. Your teenage kids will turn up their noses at it but it's not "just a bird show". And it doesn't last very long and it's something that is scheduled so they could go off on their own for a bit and meet up with you before the show.

Quite frankly, with the attitude of the kids and your determination of having the entire group together in one park for the day (or two days), you might need to send the 15 year old and the 13 year old off on their own or with one of the adults for a bit. It's not a big deal. Have you ever been to Rafiki's Planet Watch? The two teenagers might like a snake demonstration and seeing static displays on creepy crawlies. Leave them doing that and take the others to the Affection Station.

I think you are dealing with two typical teenagers but I also think you've been through it before and are just trying to handle it for Animal Kingdom so the others can enjoy. My suggestion is to ask the two teenagers what they would rather be doing and then have THEM tell you exactly how they would do that and then YOU make the decision.

No, we've never been to the Rafiki's Planet Watch.. I think they would enjoy that, thanks.

And I'm going to let the older kiddos have their cell phones and run around in pairs, but want them in the same park. At 13 & 12, their not old enough to be in a different park IMO.

 

[Melwhit16]

Glad I am not the only one who thinks AK is lacking. We all like Everest and Safari. I like Lion king show but the rest of the crew could take it or leave it. My 9yo thought the petting zoo was boring but we have a nice zoo that we go to once a year.

 

[brewhome]

Hi! How about sending them on a photo scavenger hunt? You could give them a list of things to find and take pics of, and they could meet back up with you later... maybe even win a little prize or get a special snack. I did a quick web search and found a bunch of different ones... here's a link to one of them. https://brermatt.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/disneys-animal-kingdom-photo-safari-scavenger-hunt/

 

[goofyintoronto]

Glad I am not the only one who thinks AK is lacking. We all like Everest and Safari. I like Lion king show but the rest of the crew could take it or leave it. My 9yo thought the petting zoo was boring but we have a nice zoo that we go to once a year.

Im with you on this. This is a half day park for us too. I do EE with my DS because he likes it (the part that goes backwards REALLY makes me nauseous!)....we do Kali sometimes, DS isnt a fan of getting drenched...we also do the Safari ride and Dinosaur...we watch a show (only because i want to, he doesnt care for it). And thats pretty much it. Primevil Whirl is too jerky for me, and he doesnt care for it either. We're done in a few hours. Just not a fan. Also, the heat in that park is unbearable for me. Its the only park that totally wipes me out.

I do agree that AK is lacking. They need more rides or attractions.

OP, I feel for you regarding teens. At that age, my son was a huge pain!! Such a brat. He's 16 now and a tiny bit better.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I don't see how me expecting my children (and the whiners are my bio kids, not our foster kids- this is their first trip) to be grateful to be on such a vacation is me not having empathy? I have taken what they want into consideration on the trip, including a $500 dinner, but I do expect them to realize this trip is about everyone and they can't always have what they want. I refuse to raise spoil brats and to me letting them have what they want all the time and not expecting them to be grateful for the things they have and are able to do, is me helping make a productive adult out of them one day.

I'm not asking help to gaslight my children, I'm asking help to see if there's something there I don't know about that they might enjoy... which thankfully it seems there are quite a few things I didn't know about that my kids would enjoy, especially the wilderness explorers.

You said, "they should be grateful to be there even if they don't care for it." That's a rather ugly phrasing.

Feelings can't be wrong. If I don't like mint, then I don't like mint. If someone forces it into my body, I'm not going to suddenly change my mind.

It doesn't matter if 1,000 people on the internet like mint.

It doesn't matter if I'm 12, 13, 2 or 102.

***
"They should be grateful to be there even if they don't care for it" is a very ugly sentence. That's where you lost me.

Spoiled brat? Whiner? My goodness.

You'd probably all be happier if you didn't force everyone to spend the day together.

 

[disnut8]

No, we've never been to the Rafiki's Planet Watch.. I think they would enjoy that, thanks.

And I'm going to let the older kiddos have their cell phones and run around in pairs, but want them in the same park. At 13 & 12, their not old enough to be in a different park IMO.

Also at Planet Watch, there are vet procedures in the mornings. You can ask at Guest Relations when you enter what is scheduled that day. The procedures usually start around 11 so that should be enough time to get back there and what we usually will do is a Safari FastPass for after our visit out to Rafiki's. So your teenagers can split off from you at Rafiki's, then you all go back for the Safari and ride together, then do the Gorilla trail and the teenagers can break off from you on that stroll and then you all meet back up after that and go on with your day.

 

[jodim]

You said, "they should be grateful to be there even if they don't care for it." That's a rather ugly phrasing.

Feelings can't be wrong. If I don't like mint, then I don't like mint. If someone forces it into my body, I'm not going to suddenly change my mind.

It doesn't matter if 1,000 people on the internet like mint.

It doesn't matter if I'm 12, 13, 2 or 102.

***
"They should be grateful to be there even if they don't care for it" is a very ugly sentence. That's where you lost me.

Spoiled brat? Whiner? My goodness.

You'd probably all be happier if you didn't force everyone to spend the day together.

Thanks chiming in. My opinion is still the same regarding my 12 and 13yo spending the day at the same park the rest of their family is at for 1 day out of our 12day vacation.

 

[jodim]

Also at Planet Watch, there are vet procedures in the mornings. You can ask at Guest Relations when you enter what is scheduled that day. The procedures usually start around 11 so that should be enough time to get back there and what we usually will do is a Safari FastPass for after our visit out to Rafiki's. So your teenagers can split off from you at Rafiki's, then you all go back for the Safari and ride together, then do the Gorilla trail and the teenagers can break off from you on that stroll and then you all meet back up after that and go on with your day.

My daughter is wanting to be a vet when she gets older, so this is perfect! Thank you for the info!!

 

[jodim]

Hi! How about sending them on a photo scavenger hunt? You could give them a list of things to find and take pics of, and they could meet back up with you later... maybe even win a little prize or get a special snack. I did a quick web search and found a bunch of different ones... here's a link to one of them. https://brermatt.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/disneys-animal-kingdom-photo-safari-scavenger-hunt/

That's a fantastic idea!!! Thank you so much!

 

[goofy4tink]

I think you're spot on as far as your kids 'attitudes' go. Sorry, but kids don't get to do everything they want...compromise is key.
So...if the 13 and 12 y/o's have a cellphone, I would allow them some leeway. Let them go off, on their own, for an hour. Decide on a place to meet. If they miss the meet time, oh well, gotta hang with everyone else.
My dd was allowed to go off with her friend when she was there for her 13th birthday!
AK can be less exciting than the other parks. You really need a plan. I would have everyone do the Safari and Festival of The Lion King together. The little ones aren't going to enjoy Dinosaur...it's nasty loud! Same with EE and Primival Thrill! Tough to be a Bug is fun but little ones could be scared.
Finding Nemo is a family favorite. Others disagree.
I would ask the teens to choose a few things they would like to do, possibly on their own.

 

[mullysisters]

You said, "they should be grateful to be there even if they don't care for it." That's a rather ugly phrasing.

Feelings can't be wrong. If I don't like mint, then I don't like mint. If someone forces it into my body, I'm not going to suddenly change my mind.

It doesn't matter if 1,000 people on the internet like mint.

It doesn't matter if I'm 12, 13, 2 or 102.

***
"They should be grateful to be there even if they don't care for it" is a very ugly sentence. That's where you lost me.

Spoiled brat? Whiner? My goodness.

You'd probably all be happier if you didn't force everyone to spend the day together.

Exposing kids to new experiences is a good thing. There's nothing wrong with expecting younger members of the family on an all expenses paid vacation to compromise and allow other people to also enjoy their trip. It's our responsibility to model, even to older kiddos, gratitude for things they didn't know they might like. Teaching self discipline is a gift.

 

[jodim]

I think you're spot on as far as your kids 'attitudes' go. Sorry, but kids don't get to do everything they want...compromise is key.
So...if the 13 and 12 y/o's have a cellphone, I would allow them some leeway. Let them go off, on their own, for an hour. Decide on a place to meet. If they miss the meet time, oh well, gotta hang with everyone else.
My dd was allowed to go off with her friend when she was there for her 13th birthday!
AK can be less exciting than the other parks. You really need a plan. I would have everyone do the Safari and Festival of The Lion King together. The little ones aren't going to enjoy Dinosaur...it's nasty loud! Same with EE and Primival Thrill! Tough to be a Bug is fun but little ones could be scared.
Finding Nemo is a family favorite. Others disagree.
I would ask the teens to choose a few things they would like to do, possibly on their own.

Thank you!!
I actually planned on letting them go over for an hour or two at a time and meet back up with us at certain times... as long as the 2 of them stay together (which they're great about doing).

 

[jodim]

Exposing kids to new experiences is a good thing. There's nothing wrong with expecting younger members of the family on an all expenses paid vacation to compromise and allow other people to also enjoy their trip. It's our responsibility to model, even to older kiddos, gratitude for things they didn't know they might like. Teaching self discipline is a gift.

Exactly! Thank you!!

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

In order:
1. FoLK
2. Flights of Wonder
3. Nemo
4. EE
5. Safari (but do this 1st in am after TH)
6. Tusker House breakfast (ppo ADR)

 

[eyehartdisney]

You said, "they should be grateful to be there even if they don't care for it." That's a rather ugly phrasing.

Feelings can't be wrong. If I don't like mint, then I don't like mint. If someone forces it into my body, I'm not going to suddenly change my mind.

It doesn't matter if 1,000 people on the internet like mint.

It doesn't matter if I'm 12, 13, 2 or 102.

***
"They should be grateful to be there even if they don't care for it" is a very ugly sentence. That's where you lost me.

Spoiled brat? Whiner? My goodness.

You'd probably all be happier if you didn't force everyone to spend the day together.

Wow, way to abuse a poster on the forums. Beyond the fact you're giving an opinion that is neither asked for- nor warranted, it is extremely illogical to think that everybody in a group that size is going to like everything that happens on a vacation. It's just not going to happen.

To OP: I made a scavenger hunt a few years ago that used QR codes for a teen we'd taken to Animal kingdom for her birthday. There was a very close up picture of something in the park, and when you scanned the QR, a simple riddle popped up- "This place may kill a man, but at least you'll see a lot while there..." etc (killimanjaro safari) Basically, I took our touring plan and turned it into a scavenger hunt. The kid thought the technology was neat, and it wasn't hard at all. Maybe took about an hour of my time to do. They have free QR hosting sites.

 

[BlackCat]

I could have sworn there was a parade when we were there in September '15...but in my defense it was stupid hot so there may have been brain damage!

The street performers are really entertaining, there is a music group just past Yak & Yeti on the way to Kali and there is usually a big group dancing in the 'street'. My son is 9 but loves that park and we typically go 2 or 3 times during our trip. You may very well be surprised that they enjoy it. I may be a bad judge though since we are fans. Also the animal trek may have animals but the detail is far from any 'zoo' they have probably ever seen.

 

[jessg]

Im sorry but this is a family vacation and just like im sure you guys will be doing stuff they like they have to deal with doing stuff other people like also, remind them that this vacation is for everybody not just for them remind them it isnt something done even on a weekly or monthly basis it wont kill them to put a smile on and act happy for the sake of the littles.

 

[jessg]

Also I agree your kids should feel grateful for going there are soooo many people in this world heck in this country alone that for some reason or another just never get to experience WDW and yet they are fortunate enough to be able to do so, so yea I think you are completely in the right to think they should be a tad more thankful that they get to go and stop whining. Wont hurt them to do something that they may not love for a day.

 

[WDWRook]

Pokemon Go? My DS10 can't wait to find Pokemon on our next trip. I heard that AK has lots of rares. We went to AK in May and I think it closed at 5 or 6pm. We didn't do EE or Primevil Whirl or Boneyard and we didn't have time for the train/Rafiki- and we had a really tough time getting thru it in a day. The trails took longer than we had planned and wilderness explorers is great but also takes time. Our wait times were really low too due to a good touring plan and FP+. We walked on Safari twice and snagged 2 fastpasses for kali when the wait was 90 minutes that afternoon. I agree with PP about Finding Nemo show - little ones will like it but the older ones probably won't. Be a good time for them to do EE - it's also in the same area. I would definitely have a plan for that day.