Disneyworld is not for kids....

[FLVacationGirl]

So I was talking with my sister this evening and mentioned that I would like to buy her one '1 week Disneyworld childrens pass' each year for her kids, instead of birthday and Christmas gifts, so that when she does go to Disneyworld one day, it will be more affordable for them. (3 kids, 3 years for them to accumulate one pass for each kid.)

She said, 'sigh... I don't know if I EVER want to go to Disneyworld. Maybe someday. Maybe when the kids are all over 10 and it will be a ONE time thing. Disneyworld is horrible for kids. Disneyworld is NOT for kids. I was talking with one of the patients at work and he said he wouldn't take kids under 10. There is ALOT of walking.'

I'm so glad that she takes her patient's word over her own sisters. I've done Disney with my girls at ages 1 and 4, and 2 and 5, and we are probably going to do it again while they are still 2 and 5. If someone else had a bad experience with their children, that trumps my positive experience.

I'm trying to understand that Disney isn't for everyone, but it's hard for me to believe with her because she has always collected Disney movies and is more into that stuff than I am. I did tell her that I understand and that some families enjoy traveling with their babies and toddlers and that everyone is different, but I still was left feeling that she is going to find people to mirror her existing thoughts on the situation.

So, I'm here to mirror with people who feel the same way I do and LOVE traveling to Disney. Hee hee.
Thanks for letting me vent a little.

Sometimes it sucks when you want to share Disney with your family and friends, but none of them have interest in going. Is anyone else in the same boat?

 

[tink1969]

We have a neighbor who can't understand why we take our kids to Disney every year. He also can't understand shy we buy season's passes to Wonderland and take our kids there every summer. We buy a season's pass to the Toronto Zoo too!
He goes on a 1 week golfing trip with his buddies every spring. Guess where? In Orlando at the Lake Buena Vista Golf club!!!! It blows my mind that he won't take his kids there. His idea of a vacation with the kids is to pay $4000 for a week at a cottage resort in northern Ontario where the kids are gone all day in various activities, he golfs, and leaves his wife with his mother!
Oh boy, what fun!
So yes, while I don't understand it, I can understand your sister's attitude. She's not the only one!

 

[abirdd]

For us, Disney is a great escape for both adults and kids alike. We look forward to our visits, as do the little guys - and I think it's one of the few places where kids can still be kids.

 

[alamode]

I'm a widowed dad of three kids, Brendan 9 and Jessica and Ciara (twins), who are now 6.

The four of us went to WDW for a week this May, and all of us absolutely loved it. It was the best week of our lives. Sure there was lots of walking, but who has more energy than kids, and where would kids be more excited to be than WDW?

WE loved it so much that with the last of my wife's life insurance I purchased a resale DVC contract. Now we'll be able to go every year from now on.

WDW is definitely for kids, and will make even the crotchetiest of adults into big kids.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I have had the good fortune of being able to travel all over the world. While I love a ton of places, Disney is the only place I go that I can totally forget all my work stress and extended family drama.

Funny....this year I'm not as excited to go as I have been in the past. What I am looking foward to is getting away and relaxing. Relax at Disney you say.....yes very easily. No cooking, cleaning, working, phone calls, errands....and the list goes on and on.

 

[Tinkermom76]

I am a single mom taking my 2 DD's 5 & 7 in Dec and I think they are the perfect age for Disney. They went when they were 3 & 5 and we have the best memories from that trip. Tell your sister if she loves Disney she will love it more when she's there. Maybe if it's in your budget you take her for a girls weekend and show her the magic.. she will be changed!

 

[Jen M]

In 9 days we will be going for our 3rd year in a row. My children are 2.5 and turn 5 while we are there. I don't see how it isn't for children. I remember going when I was 10 and we went again when my brothers were 4 and 5. I found it is so much more enjoyable when they are little. My children just light up when they are there.

My youngest son had just turned 7 months old when we first went and my neighbor said I was crazy going with a baby. I have to say that was the best time to go with him he sent the week in the snugly.

Also instead of renting a double stroller last year I bought two Combi strollers that fold up great and will hold up to 55 lbs.

 

[candielips]

Everyone is different and while we all LOVE WDW, there are many who would never even consider going.
We encountered the same thing kind of when we took our DD at 22months. So many people thought we were ridiculous and thought we should wait until she is at least 5.
What will they say when we visit next fall w/ our DD who will be 3 & our new and coming son who won't even be 1 year old yet!
But we don't care. We love it, our DD loved it, and that is all that matters to us.
Maybe your DS would prefer you just buy them a Disney movie or something to that affect?

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I have a coworker with 2 boys, 4 & 2. I sent them a copy of Peter Pan movie knowing my boys were so into pirates and crocodiles at that age (now 12 & 9).
She is totally unfamiliar with Disney anything and reacted like, "oh, ok, um thanks." about the movie.
Two weeks later she says her kids are utterly glued all day/night watching it over & over.
I remind her that there is a Peter Pan ride at WDW. Her SIL w/3 kids keeps telling her it's more magical when they're little and that when they're older they know it's not really Hook, Mickey, Tigger, etc. This part is sooo magical when they're little if you wait until they're 10-12 then yes, they can walk more, but so much magic is lost.
Also you have to contend with school schedules which leaves you going at peak times. Why not try it when it's not crowded and you're free to be totally flexible?

Even hearing it from both of us she says it's more work than it's worth.
Not much else I can do...
I even found airfare from ACY nonstop on Airtran for Sept for only $32 each way incl tax, Sat. to Sat. It was KILLING ME that she still wouldn't even think about it.

 

[stefanospops]

Even hearing it from both of us she says it's more work than it's worth.
Not much else I can do...

I think that statement hit the nail on the head. Everyone I have talked to who WILL NOT do Disney until their kids are (insert age here - usually over 5 or 6 if not older) have the primary concern about how much "work" it is. Last year I took my kids twice. In may they were 3 and 1 and about 4 months later when my 1 year old entered his terrible twos much too early for my liking. I admit that it was A LOT of work, but at the same time those moments when they would scream, "Mickey! Mickey!" and just had general glee made it worth it. A few people have changed their opinions somewhat about how old their kids need to be, but it is hard for people to overcome the work part of the vacation since they are used to a vacation being a place where they do nothing at all unless they want to. I accept that until my kids leave my house for good that I will never have that opportunity.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

So true. All vacations involve some degree of 'work' or effort: planning, saving, packing, getting there. It's not all magical. But those magic moments make up for it.

For my oldest ds's 1st trip he had just turned 3 and I was entering my 3rd trimester of pregnancy with ds #2. It wasn't easy nor relaxing but so precious to see dh teary-eyed watching ds in awe of Capn Hook and the look on his face seeing so many things.
Even if ds can't remember any of it, we'll never forget it.

 

[CrazyDisneyMommy1]

I think we all have friends or family that are like this. We have some friends that say they will never take their kids until they can appreciate it...??? So when they are that old, they have missed the times of when it is all real. My kids have been to both DL & WDW and I would not change it for the world. I took them when they were, 8 months, 2 & 4, 2 1/2 & 4 1/2, and many times since. They really think that is Mickey and Minnie when they are little. They are now 9 & 11 and of course get that they are people in a costume...but still want their pictures taken with them.
I think it comes down to, you are Disney or Not!! I am DISNEY!!!!!!!!!
I hope my kids continue wanting to go until they have their own kids and then carry our tradition on. It helps keep my DH and I kids too!!!!

 

[treehugnmama]

the idea of spending a week at an amusment park with no car and not even going to the beach....I thought my co-workers were nuts...not for me thats no holiday bla bla bla

I went for the first time as an adult in feb 2009 i booked sept 2009 bought into dvc and booked march2010

i visit and I was converted

 

[brighteyes]

Remember ---a child that is made to walk around a shopping mall for hours on end, will get impatient and not want to walk. A child at an amusement park -- especially one where minnie and mickey are -- are two totally different things.

A child will still get tired eventually, but thats where strollers come in handy.

My father went to Disney many times with my stepmom and half sisters. When I asked why he didn't offer to take my DS who was about 6 then, he said he said my DS would miss me. I seriously don't think my son would have noticed I was even gone if he had the chance to see Winnie the Pooh or Donald or Mickey!~~

 

[disney0210]

To the OP, can you be my sister?

 

[Janice B]

the idea of spending a week at an amusment park with no car and not even going to the beach....I thought my co-workers were nuts...not for me thats no holiday bla bla bla

I went for the first time as an adult in feb 2009 i booked sept 2009 bought into dvc and booked march2010

i visit and I was converted

I actually had the same idea about disney years ago. We finally decided to take our DS when he was 9. We had a great time and have been back 5 times since. My DH and I are going in december by our selves and our DS who will be 18 next years wants to go back to two weeks. How many 18 year old want to spend two weeks with there parents. To me that is disney magic right there.

 

[brighteyes]

I actually had the same idea about disney years ago. We finally decided to take our DS when he was 9. We had a great time and have been back 5 times since. My DH and I are going in december by our selves and our DS who will be 18 next years wants to go back to two weeks. How many 18 year old want to spend two weeks with there parents. To me that is disney magic right there.

I totally agree. I only hope my DS13 is not too cool to go back to WDW with his Mom!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I totally agree. I only hope my DS13 is not too cool to go back to WDW with his Mom!

Don't sweat it. My ds will be 13 in a few months. We leave on Sat. for WDW and there's no sign of letting up on the magic. He's not so into the characters in the parks but still loves them on the ship. We have a great shot of him with Mickey in front of the Christmas tree last TG.
We're making awesome memories that I wouldn't trade for anything.

 

[snickerboo]

My kids were just turned 6 and 3 the first trip. They loved it and were as good as gold. It was the best vacation ever and, even though we still love going to Disney, the first year when it was all completely magic to them, was the best. I didn't find it 'work'. We did have the stroller. It was a lot of walking but my 6-year-old was so enthralled she never once complained and she never used the stroller. I really think peopel overestimate the amount of work. In my experience, my kids have been so happy to be at Disney they've been better behaved than usual. The hardest part is the plane ride. And we conquered the sibling bickering our last trip with a condo with separate rooms for each of them.

Really, I hear all the time from people that they want to wait til their kids are old enough to remember it (like, 10) for the first trip and I tell them not to because the little ones might not remember it forever, but YOU will. No one I have told that to who has then decided to take their little ones has come back not having had a great time.

You know, I'm starting to think Disney should pay us or give us discounted tickets-----we're really WDW marketing agents! LOL

 

[5boyz]

My sister came to DW with us 2 years ago......her kids were 10 & 15. She thought they were too old for disney...lol!!! She was miserable the whole 12 days she was there...complained about everything....I told her a million times "DISNEY IS NOT WONDERLAND", before she came......