do you go for the kids or do the kids adjust to you?

[jann1033]

i think we are so used to going with/as adults( our kids are 20+) our next trip with a 2 yr old will be very different. i'm trying to figure out the best way to be selfish and do what we want but adapt it to her. so how much do you adjust your desires according to the kids? opinions please? (obviously she won't tour all day like uswithout gettting tired but that's what her parents are for )

 

[pezpam]

Follow her sleep/nap schedule, especially if she won't snooze in the stroller. There's nothing that will mess with your trip more than the results of you pushing a 2 year old past their comfort zone.

It sounds like this isn't your first or last trip, so maybe when you're with her, you can go with the flow - seeing things through a child's eyes again will be so Magical. If her parents are there, you can also schedule some time apart so you can do the things you just can't live without that a young child can't do.

 

[momto2]

While there is a lot of fun for adults. I think that when you take kids it is all about the kids. The magic for you will be seeing the magic for them

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

I definitely think a child's schedule needs to be followed and all that, but I can't tell you how many parents I see looking frazzled and cross while they cater to their kids' every need. I heard kids whining that they were bored and wanted to do something else while the parents wanted to check out an attraction...well, what if the parents' want to see something? That happened at the Living Seas incidentally. I think a family vacation should not mean "Everyone caters to the kids". Adults need time to do what they want as well. No wonder I see so many parents angry and fighting. Not a very fun vacation for them.

 

[HappyGramma]

I usually go with just adults. Like you my kids are grown with kids of their own. In Dec 04 I took my oldest dgd to WDW. She was 8 at the time. It was just her and I and I planned to let her set the pace because I usually go at a pretty good clip but not commando. I planned plenty of down time and figured that I would get to see a lot of the shows that as adults we often pass by. Well I have to tell you that by the end of the week I was just plain exhausted. DGD was tall enough to ride the big fast rides and her game plan for the trip was to do as many of them as many times as possible during our stay there. I have to be thankful that she really loved the pool at the WL and was very willing to take daily breaks from the parks for a little down time at the pool. I really did have a wonderful time with her and have many many magical moments from that trip to remember. I am taking her sister to WDW in Oct 06, so I am in training for another "Kid Commando" week.

 

[disnut8]

We're usually just the two of us since the only child we had is now grown, married, and with a stepdaughter. However, we've taken our now granddaughter twice. Once when she was five and this past year at the age of seven.

The first time, it was all about her. And boy, did we learn how to sit out rides! The four adults mixed and matched for everything. But each one of us had lots of good times with the little one doing other things while the other three rode. We didn't necessarily change things to suit the granddaughter but we knew we'd just have to compromise. It was worth it. Saw Disney World in a whole new smaller light.

Last year, the granddaughter would ride anything - even Twilight Zone. Totally different experience so it was geared mostly towards what everyone wanted.

I think the younger the child, the more you make the trip about them. Been to Disney World so many times and the first time with my granddaughter is the best trip ever. Because she had us slow down and look at things from her perspective. For a five year old, that is quite different. So enjoy!

 

[Brian Noble]

We follow bedtime schedules, take mid-day breaks, and I have a Rule that I never violate: if I'm in the park with my kids, I won't ride anything without at least one of them along. My theory is that all too soon, my kids will think it's horrendously uncool to ride with dorky old Dad, and until that day comes, I plan to enjoy every trip around Small World.

 

[lorli]

While there is a lot of fun for adults. I think that when you take kids it is all about the kids. The magic for you will be seeing the magic for them

How true this was for me. I went with my dh in '98 and had a wonderful time and did everything. When we took dd at age 3 we did for her, rides she could or would do, taking time out to enjoy the water areas, and letting her rest and relax when she needed it. It was truly amazing to watch her light up when seeing characters or riding rides, Main Street was awesome.

However, dh and I are most certainly Disney fanatics and we will be going long after dd grows up, goes to college, gets married and has a family of our own. We plan to have dd and her family join us at WDW at our DVC at that point. She is a fanatic now I'm sure that will continue.

 

[TMJR]

We have a 5 & 6 year old. We have taken them yearly since they were 3 & 4. We try to focus the trip on all of us...not just the kids. I completely agree with the above posters who sugget following the child's sleep/nap schedule. For us, that meant hitting the parks 1st thing, they coming back for a midday nap and returning for evenings...not such a bad plan either with or without children!

However, once in the parks we make sure that everyone is happy. Daddy gets to go on the thrill rides, Mommy gets to shop, etc. We go as a family...everyone doens't get their way all the time, and the entire trip doesn't revolve around the children. We should all have the opportunity to do what we enjoy...even if that means they have to wait and show some patience while someone else is doing something they enjoy.

I hope you can find a balance that works for all of you!

 

[challada]

One word to live by that makes everyone happy: BABYSWAP

Our kids have done both coasts Disney parks since they were little...and we have always been able to accommodate everyone's needs. With Babyswap, adults can still go on big, fast rides and little ones can go do something more to their liking.

When DD was 2 in WDW, she spent plenty of time in the stroller looking at sites and eating smuggled in snacks that she was happy as a clam!

 

[stampinshauna]

I think you go and make it magical for the kids, but do take a little time for yourself too. It is always nice to go with family or friends and you can take turns with the kids.

 

[disneymom3]

I definitely follow my kids as far as scheduling goes and don't make them go on anything they don't want to ride, but I also think it is not fair to the adults or good for the kids to not take into account the grown ups needs as well. If that means my kids have to go on the Safari ride when they don't want to because it happens to be my favorite, then they need to be considerate and go on it. If that means the boys have to wait inside Mousegears while I watch the Epcot fountain since they don't like the music, then so be it. However, I will not be pushing them to do another ride when all they want to do is chill out with a Mickey bar!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I agree with SurlyMermaid. I see lots of families ignoring the kids to "get their money worth" on the trip. Especially when you see the kids towards the end of the day, when lots of kids would normally be in bed and the kids are just dragging.

Sometimes Mom and Dad may need to yield to the kids. I'm from the "take a break" crowd. I hit the pool or take a nap after lunch. Then it's back to the parks around dinner time.

I have bribed my son to join his dad on a thrill ride since I can't ride them - motion-sickness is a problem for me.

 

[Nancyg56]

I think that it is nice to gear a trip to the little ones if you can. We did that with our DGD who was four this year, and it was well worth missing the attractions she could not enjoy. There were plenty of adults with us if some wanted to cut loose, so noone felt deprived. I can tell you that we sure did not "maximize" our park tickets, but we had so much fun experiencing the wonder through her eyes. It will be too soon that she will be past the age when she is totally enchanted, and we will be wishing that time back.

We did not change her schedule. I know that it is better to arrive at the parks at opening time, but DGD is not a morning girl, so my DD thought it best to let her sleep. She is always wide awake at night so we just stayed later.

I can tell you that we did see some families who behaved as though the only way to get their money's worth from the vacation was to drag their kids through the parks at breakneck speed. I'm not sure any of those people actually had a good time if the crying that we saw wa an example of their time in Disney.

I hope that your family has a magical vacation!

 

[Mister Incredible]

In all the trips we have taken with our kids the one important rule we follow, and offer as advice to other parents is to let your kids set the pace. There is nothing worse than watching a poor child melting down because they are tired, or just plain finished with what's going on, and listening to their parents yell at them. Takes all the fun out of the magic. Definitely plan time to do things alone, but when you are with the little one, let her set the pace! Have a great time

I just realized I posted under my DH's name...sorry honey! XO - BBD!

 

[MinnieGi]

It sounds like you have taken many WDW trips and you will be traveling with the parents of the 2yo so I think you will easily be able to find a happy medium between taking in the rides the child can do and attractions you would like to see. You certainly do not all have to stay together for all the touring of the parks. However if you have never been at the parks with a child you might be in for a special treat. It is magic to see a 2yo eyes light up at the WDW scenery. They stop and point to details you may have walked by hundreds of times and never noticed.

Definetly schedule lots of downtime. Our kids cannot go from ride to ride to ride. They need time to play in the park playground areas and require lots of swim time!!!!! Too much park time I think is over stimulation for real little ones and results in meltdowns.

Have a great time. It may be an entirely new and awesome experience with a child on board.

 

[mel]

Our DD's know our schedule and it seems to work. We go as soon as park opens, hustle everywhere and then take a break around lunch, go back to hotel and let them eat, rest and swim and the we go back and stay until the parks close. They know the routine and the only problems it seems we have is me walking too fast!

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

We have a 5 & 6 year old. We have taken them yearly since they were 3 & 4. We try to focus the trip on all of us...not just the kids. I completely agree with the above posters who sugget following the child's sleep/nap schedule. For us, that meant hitting the parks 1st thing, they coming back for a midday nap and returning for evenings...not such a bad plan either with or without children!

However, once in the parks we make sure that everyone is happy. Daddy gets to go on the thrill rides, Mommy gets to shop, etc. We go as a family...everyone doens't get their way all the time, and the entire trip doesn't revolve around the children. We should all have the opportunity to do what we enjoy...even if that means they have to wait and show some patience while someone else is doing something they enjoy.

I hope you can find a balance that works for all of you!

This sounds just perfect! Of course, schedules and downtime need to be followed, and there should be plenty of time for rest. A family vacation for me is never going to be all about kids. Everyone needs to be thoughtful of one another and if that means a kid looking at the aquarium in the Living seas because his dad wants to, so be it! It will teach a child that the world does not revolve around their every whim.

Of course, this does not include dragging small children on attractions they might be scared of, or ignoring naps to get your money's worth. Then NO ONE has fun! It's just when I hear people scorning my vacation choices, they say "WDW is for kids." Well, if you take the attitude that you are only making it fun for kids and only doing kid things, I can see why you'd think that. I happen to think WDW is for families, and there is something for everyone to enjoy, and by golly, you should enjoy it!