Anyone read the "Disney World" column that Dr. John Rosemond had in today's paper???

[DawnCt1]

Our first trip to WDW was when my oldest was 3 and the baby was, well a baby. We have made it through in excess of 25 trips, I stopped counting, at least annually adding two more boys alone the way. My opinion is, the writer to John Rosemond's column didn't know her girls as well as she thought she did.

 

[erikthewise]

I stopped reading Rosemond's column many years ago but it caught my eye this morning. Even still I couldn't force myself to read his column in detail. Extreme viewpoints and mean-spirited advice are his gimmick. I see him as "Judge Judy for parents" -- strictly for entertainment and not to be taken seriously.

 

[TXTink]

LOL its funny how different people read things differently! I read the article and I didn't read it like that! I thought he was saying that if you want to make it a once in a lifetime trip, don't take them that young because they won't remember it. Sure when you take them every couple of years its not a big deal, but I thought he was talking about people that take them once at such a young age and expect them to remember it for a lifetime!

About the behaving, I thought he had some good points too. He was talking about kids that have never been ANYPLACE like a local zoo or park and then you take them to Disney and expect them to know how to behave. Lets face it, we are not the people the article was targeted at. We are families that take our kids out in public at young ages so by the time they get to Disney they have been to stores, malls, petting zoos and they know whats expected of them when they are out in public.

I think the whole point of the article was don't take little kids that have never been out in the world on a trip to Disney without making little side trips first, and don't take kids on a ONE_TIME trip to disney at that young of an age. Wait until they are older, if you only plan on going once as a family!

I totally agree. If you are taking them on a "once in a lifetime" trip, wait until they are older. If that trip is taken when they are younger than 2, it is a trip for the parents memory, not the Childs.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

My dd was 3 when I took her and she remembers more than I do. I also don't understand those people who say they'd rather take their kids when they'll remember it. She might not in a few years, but I WILL!

 

[campingcorgi]

This reminds me of the time when we asked the pediatrician about sun screen because we were taking our 7 month old to Disney. He asked why--said it seemed like a waste--she wouldn't remember it. We informed him that she was going because we were going and it was against the law to leave her at home alone!!

She went again 4 months later and remembered the buses!! She saw a Disney bus and yelled Key, Key--the bus was her favorite ride and still is!!

 

[CLEO Z]

I totally agree that the column was a warning against parents' overly high expectations. My parents are taking the entire clan to WDW in July (all fifteen of us) to celebrate their 40th Wedding Anniversary. DS will be 14 mos and DD will be almost 4. DD can be kind of a scaredy cat. I am already trying to lower my expectations. I'm going with the idea that we will be spectators and if DD participates great, if not, so what. This trip is about Gma and Gpa. In the meantime I plan to take DD to crowded outdoor events and to her first couple of movies in a theater to prepare her.

BTW - I went to DL at age 8 and as a 34 year old I have very few memories of it. BUT what I do remember is sweet and fun. Like Dad feeding me at Denny's bc I was too sleepy to pick up a fork after a full day at DL.

 

[Dee & Greg]

That being said, I totally disagreed with Mr. Rosemond today. We go annually, just the two of us, and I see families with children of all ages having a blast. Sure, some kids are having a melt-down, but over-all, everybody looks to be having fun. Isn't what it's all about?
He took his children when they were 8 and 13. I'm sure that worked for them. Doesn't sound like he's ever been back. So this man is an "expert" on WDW and when to take your kids?
I usually agree with him on other issues, but not this time.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

My DD remembers her first trip when she was 2...she tells me about her first tea cup ride and even remembers it was a yellow cup...This guy just isnt a Disney fan and should be burned at the stake!!!

 

[Tara]

His Answer: Is this a joke? What were you thinking? The fact is, the older one "might" retain some vague memories of this psychedelic experience, but the 2 year old will forget it in one week. My recommendation: Dont' take a child to Dizzy World - that's what HE called it - until they are at least six years old.

Arrrrrrgh! That makes me so mad! It's like saying "don't put up a Christmas tree until your child is 6 because they won't remember it." Does my son remember our trip when he was 14 months old? No way? Will we always remember how excited and awestruck he was at things like meeting Pooh & Tigger or the fireworks or the animals on the safari at AK? You betcha!

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I detest John Rosemond.

I've got to agree here. He's like the Rush Limbaugh of childcare. All of his simplistic, black and white ideas don't work in the real world. Of course, he would say that all of our opinions are a result of the 60's and the crazy doctors who think that kids should be heard and deserve to have a voice in the world.