Do you go to WDW for yourself, or for your kids?

[lissiesmum]

I am planning a 2009 trip for myself and DD4 and have been looking at the different resorts for many many months (I have finally decided on Pop for 2 days then on to the Poly!). When I started planning, I originally thought this would be so much fun for my DD (who is now almost three). Truth be told, the only Disney movies I can get her to watch are Little Mermaid and Finding Nemo. She is not excited about Mickey Mouse or any of the princesses! She couldn't care less about Winnie the Pooh! Am I still going to WDW? You bet! This is when I realized that this trip is for me wanting to share my childhood dream of staying at the Poly with my DD, and I am crossing my fingers that my DD will learn to love Disney as much as I do.

Have any of you brought kids with no interest in all things Disney? Did they still have a good time? Any tips you could suggest to get her acclimated or excited? Thanks in advance

 

[goofy4tink]

First trip was in '99. My mom, my then 5 y/o dd, and I. My dd turned 6 on that trip. It was basically a trip for my mom and my dd. But, I fell in love with the place. Now, 16 trips later..it all depends on the trip. I have gone to WDW by myself often. It's a whole other type of experience. I've been with just my dd on many occasions. Then, last month, I took my 31 y/o dd for her first time ever. That trip was soley for her. My wishes took a back seat. We did everything that she wanted to, or that I felt she should do as a first timer. It was a really different experience for me...seeing it through the eyes of a first-timer after my having been so many times.

 

[kimis]

My dh and I go to WDW every year for ourselves. We have a great time. However, as our grandkids turn 4 we take them to DL for their birthdays. They aren't to excited before the trip but once we get there WOW their eyes light up. We took two of our grandkids at the beginning of Dec and they still talk about it everyday. It is magical! Enjoy

 

[disgram]

I really don't have any hints on how to get her excited about your trip, other than to show her the movies and maybe the DVD. Could you possibly talk with someone else who has been with a child her age in your area? I cannot walk down the street here without running into somebody who has been to WDW in the past year!!!

I guess that I really go for myself. I take the granddaughters and anyone else I can find just to make it "look" good!!! When the granddaughters are "too old to be seen with Gram", I guess I will have to admit I am just

CRAZY FOR THE MOUSE!!!!!

 

[brehan9403]

My teenage son and husband both weren't 100% thrilled about Disney until we got there. Now they want to go back every year

 

[Shmily1]

I carry three of them most times when I go. DH HATES any kind of rides, attractions, circus, fairs, parks, etc. Just not into it but goes because I love it. DS17 and DD16 have been with me over 50 times so I think I have almost burned them out on MK. (We have a holiday on Monday so we are going to Epcot for a day trip! ) We also have grown children and as our grandchildren turn 4, we take them for their birthday present. We took one almost two years ago and she still tells me "Nana, you took me to Dinney World. Thank you for taking me to Dinney World!". She's going to be really angry this year since her little sister turns 4 and this will be her trip. I may have to just take her in her sleep so we don't wake up the older one!!! DS17 says that when he has kids, he's going to hide them from me so I won't "make" them go too!!! DD loves to go, but she won't ask to go. She realizes that we will be going soon anyway!!!

So yeah, it's all about me and what I want. In January we went for my 40th b-day. I told them I wanted to wake up at DW, spend the whole day at MK, and go to bed at DW. All 24 hours of my b-day had to be at DW.... and it was

 

[LeahA]

We go for both!

Our kids like to go to Disneyworld, but I would go without them as well. (Which we haven't yet!)

I'm one of those people that truly believe it's one of the happiest places on earth!

 

[Magalex]

My DS is 7 now! My DH and I will still be going to WDW after he is long gone to college

 

[kat9661]

Two posters here mention taking their grandchildren for their 4th birthdays. We are planning to take our grandson next year when he will be just shy of 3 years old. It will be the first trip for all of us! Is that age too young?

 

[iloveeeyore]

I'm the BIGGEST Disney lover in my family. Fortunately, I've been able to use my outstanding skills of persuasion to convince DH and DKs to love it, too. DH says he loves it because it makes me happy, but I KNOW there's more to it than that. As for my kids...I'm afraid I may have created monsters.

 

[iloveeeyore]

Two posters here mention taking their grandchildren for their 4th birthdays. We are planning to take our grandson next year when he will be just shy of 3 years old. It will be the first trip for all of us! Is that age too young?

NOPE! Disney is perfect for kids of ALL ages. There will be things he will enjoy and things he just won't get. Go slow and do it as his pace, it will be magical! Build in lots of time to rest and have snacks available to avoid cranky meltdowns. BEWARE: characters CAN be scary to pre-schoolers, so don't expect he will automatically love Mickey or Goofy. Goofy scared the heck out of me the first time I saw him, and I was 5!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

both

 

[Kim1964]

DD#1 was 4 the first time we took her. About the only Disney movie she was into was Toy Story, so she was beyond thrilled with the Buzz Lightyear ride. She wasn't too excited prior to the trip because she had no idea what to expect. She LOVED every moment of the trip. It was her very first time at any kind of theme park, and she saw her first fireworks there, too.

As for who we go for, I guess we go for the kids and for me (DH isn't as into it as we are). I try very hard to put their wishes ahead of my own while we're there. The good news is that we frequently want the same things.

 

[I Run Long]

It is so about me. It's a good thing the kids like it too!

 

[YolantasKids]

We all love WDW. Just like we went to DL before we had kids, DH and I will continue to go when the kids are adults as well.

 

[KingOMiami]

DW & I do not have kids yet and we have made 7 trips and we have one planned for Memorial Day weekend since we got married 2 years ago.

We can only hope that when/if we have a baby that he/she will love Disney as much as we do. But if he/she doesn't, DW & I will still go!