Disneyland:different When You Become A Parent?

[PRINCESSplazola]

so i have noticed something on my last trip to disneyland...it was WAAAAY different from any other time i have been there! not that DL has changed at all...I CHANGED.
before i became a mommy, since i was a child, every time we went to DL it was allllll about riding POTC, IJ, SPLASH/SPACE MOUNTAIN, HM (and every other ride) AS MANY TIMES AS WE POSSIBLY COULD! those were the days... i would seriously be upset if i didnt ride matterhorn at least 4 times. it was just sooo much fun!

and now, as a mother, disneyland to me is all about making MY SON have a MAGICAL time. our last trip (oct 2nd) we really didnt ride much! we only got on most rides ONCE! and it wasnt b/c of long lines or anything, i just felt like i wanted to do things that my son would enjoy. ill admit, we usually never spend that much time in TOON TOWN, but on this trip we were there for hours and had a GREAT time!! not even on rides, just being with my son, and running around with him. seeing the smile and amazement on his face....that was true DISNEY MAGIC to me. and woody's round up...that was tooooo much fun.
i left DL sooo happy. before, i would've been depressed that i didnt get to ride everything 5080902480240824 times....but it really didnt bother me at all! i had the choice of riding everything over and over, but i really didnt want to....is that normal? i feel like suuuuuuch a mom

so my question is....when you became a parent (mom or dad) did your DL experience change? and how are things different for you now at DL?
i used to wonder how my mom could go to DL with us, not ride much, and she would still say she had a great time! i just couldnt understand it...but now i THINK i do

 

[kiwitravel]

We went in the mid eighties (pre kids) and whilst we had a great time it wasn't the absolute highlight of our trips. We travelled in 2004 with our kids at 12 and 7 years old and what a difference..... Absolute highlight of our trip and watching them fall in love with the place, the joy on their faces it was a blast. We went back in 2006 (14 and 9 years old) and it was even better, my youngest had built up his courage to go on everything. Now we are planning a trip in 2009 and my eldest 17 year old daughter is still just as keen as she was at 12, yes they have to grow up and she will be leaving home sometime soon so its important to enjoy them now. For me thats what DL is about and why Walt built the park in the first place.

 

[PRINCESSplazola]

We went in the mid eighties (pre kids) and whilst we had a great time it wasn't the absolute highlight of our trips. We travelled in 2004 with our kids at 12 and 7 years old and what a difference..... Absolute highlight of our trip and watching them fall in love with the place, the joy on their faces it was a blast. We went back in 2006 (14 and 9 years old) and it was even better, my youngest had built up his courage to go on everything. Now we are planning a trip in 2009 and my eldest 17 year old daughter is still just as keen as she was at 12, yes they have to grow up and she will be leaving home sometime soon so its important to enjoy them now. For me thats what DL is about and why Walt built the park in the first place.

thats so nice to hear that your children still love DL as they are growing up...thats what i wish for my son! and i totally agree with you....ive come to realize that this truly is what DL is all about. it brings families together and makes them so much closer for us it does for sure!

 

[bumbershoot]

I am a very different sort of parent, or perhaps a really good Libra, b/c I must have BOTH. E must have a good time, but I have to too, or I'm not totally happy. Might be happy for E, but not "happy".

I also think that some of that is simply b/c I spent so long alone (but too broke to have huge amounts of fun). Had some boyfriends here and there but from the way those turned out they were never really serious (and they never wanted to travel or do anything fun), met hubby the week before I turned 31, married at 33, had DS at 34, and now 5 birthdays after that, even though most of the time I'm happy simply b/c he's happy, at Disneyland/DCA it's NOT that way.

So I run off and play by myself while hubby, who is very much like what you describe, has fun just staring at Eamon having a grand old time and is content!

 

[PRINCESSplazola]

I am a very different sort of parent, or perhaps a really good Libra, b/c I must have BOTH. E must have a good time, but I have to too, or I'm not totally happy. Might be happy for E, but not "happy".

I also think that some of that is simply b/c I spent so long alone (but too broke to have huge amounts of fun). Had some boyfriends here and there but from the way those turned out they were never really serious (and they never wanted to travel or do anything fun), met hubby the week before I turned 31, married at 33, had DS at 34, and now 5 birthdays after that, even though most of the time I'm happy simply b/c he's happy, at Disneyland/DCA it's NOT that way.

So I run off and play by myself while hubby, who is very much like what you describe, has fun just staring at Eamon having a grand old time and is content!

aint nothin' wrong with that! i love that you're such a big kid at heart

 

[bonofreak]

aint nothin' wrong with that! i love that you're such a big kid at heart

To me it's kind of like Christmas; you know how you get so excited to watch the kids open their presents? We as parents (and grandparents!) get more joy from watching THEM experience that joy! It's true for me. Yes, I love all the rides myself and would not want to miss any, but to watch my grandkids experience the magic at Disneyland...I can't think of anything to top that!

By the way, my kids are both grown but we STILL go to Disneyland every time we go to California. (Okay, I am the biggest fanatic about it) but I am proud to say I have passed on my love of Disney to my kids and grandkids!

 

[mystic_path]

Your entire life changes when you have a child. Life is no longer about you, its about that child. But it has its advantages for sure. I just had a baby so I understand now. You get to share the excitement now with your child and see the excitement and new surprises through their eyes. You become twice as excited to see Disneyland for yourself and for your child.

I am kinda excited to see what is gonna happen on my next trip to DL. I went this past June but I was prego so I never got to ride my favorite rides. But now that I have had my son, and he will be 10 months old when we go, I have that option of riding, as long as someone in my party can watch him for a few seconds. I wont bog them down with him but its nice to be able to have the option. But I wonder too if I will have that "Do I really wanna ride it this trip thought like you did". I think im more anxious to look around to see what I can share with my little boy later on when he gets a bit older, and wonder what his favorite things will be.

 

[pixiewings71]

I never went to DL as a child. My first trip I was 21 and had a 5 year old. So I don't know if it changes but I do know that the solo trip (adults only no kids) we adults took last January was very different! We liked it a lot but in a completely different way then we do when we are with the kids.

 

[mousemom11]

I am a very different sort of parent, or perhaps a really good Libra, b/c I must have BOTH. E must have a good time, but I have to too, or I'm not totally happy. Might be happy for E, but not "happy".

I also think that some of that is simply b/c I spent so long alone (but too broke to have huge amounts of fun). Had some boyfriends here and there but from the way those turned out they were never really serious (and they never wanted to travel or do anything fun), met hubby the week before I turned 31, married at 33, had DS at 34, and now 5 birthdays after that, even though most of the time I'm happy simply b/c he's happy, at Disneyland/DCA it's NOT that way.

So I run off and play by myself while hubby, who is very much like what you describe, has fun just staring at Eamon having a grand old time and is content!

Yes, DLR has been that way for me too. We started taking the kids to DLR when our youngest was 18 months. Those first few trips involved most of our time spent at Fantasyland/Toontown and the little kids' stuff at DCA. While DH and I both enjoyed watching them discover the magic of DL, we also wanted some "Big Kids" time of our own. So, in the afternoon, while the girls were napping, we'd trade off time alone in the parks to do our own thing. Sweet.

We leave for DLR on Monday and the girls are now 9 and 7. Discussions now center around California Screaming, Maliboomer, Space, Splash, BTMRR, etc. Yee haw!!!!

 

[darph nader]

kiwitravel is right on the $$. My daughter can't wait to go again.(she's 31) While my son's are like "no big deal". (of course when comes to 'crunch' time,they ask "Can we go too??")