Do your kids help in the planning?

[Beth E. (NJ)]

Do your kids help out in the planning of your Disney vacations? If so how much? How old are they?

My kids are now 9 and 12. Our last trip was over a year ago. I'm the big planner -- dh just says "where are we going today?" The girls give me imput on their favorite dining choices -- like Boma for dinner and Kona Kafe for breakfast.

They don't have to tell me much else, I need to book a stay where we can go to all 4 parks so it's not a matter of missing anything they really want to do. They will say which attractions they really want to do. They like to look online at pictures for ideas. And when they were little I got them the Birnbaum for kids book which they loved at the time.

What about your families?

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

I have two DD's 6 and 7. Planning is the best part. I choose the dates and make the airline reservations. I have been so many times so i dont care what we do, what we see and where we eat. I let them choose. We sit down, go on the websites and check out the resorts, restaurants and the rides. We have alot of fun. We have been taking them every year so they know what they want to see. We start by choosing where we want to stay. Then we talk about where we want to eat, depending on if their is a certain character they want to see, we will choose which character meals. Its fun for them to see all the pictures and then we talk about past trips. We talk about WDW fron the time we start planning up until the time we leave. but it's fun for them. Planning when we visit each park and what rides we will go on is something that we dont necessarily have to have strictly planned out. I like to be flexible and try not to plan many TS meals.
We also make a Disney calendar and each day from the 2 month mark each child takes a turn taking off the Mickey head. Because they are young 6 months seems like forever, but I found that 2 months is just right for them. They help make a calendar. Sometimes they will draw a picture, cut out a picture or they will put a sticker under the days. I like to put some easy trivia for them. It really gets us in the spirit. I also play music from the parks on my computer.

 

[karliebug]

My girls, 17,12 and 8. Help with the planning too. I usually pick what park on what day based on early entry or late extra hours. They pick their favorite places to eat and activities and I , the commando mom, plan to fit it all in.

 

[jagafen]

My son (4) was helping with the planning just last night. We were looking at the maps in Birnbaum's together, and he would ask me what X letter or number stood for. I would describe the ride or attraction, and he would rate tell me if he wanted to go on it or not. Those that were out of his "height range" (e.g. space mountain, Rock N roller coaster, etc.) we identified before hand, and he knows he needs to be a little bit older before he can ride. I think as long as it's done in an age appropriate way, kids feel important if they have input. And you can remind them when you're there that they helped pick this ride, etc. I think it helps t remind them that mommy wants this ride, you picked that ride, now it's daddy's turn to pick a ride.