Does going to Disney too much numb your kids?

[ryan840]

Let me start off by sayng that I'm NOT judging anyone, or trying to start a debate, I believe what's right for one person/family may be totally wrong for another and vice versa. That sad, it has come up in conversation between my husband and I that going to WDW every year may spoil it for our kids. That's not to say they won't have tons of fun, only that they may not appreciate the "magic" or its uniqueness (pretend it's a word if it's not) and limits their exposure to the rest of the country (or world). I know that several of you go many times a year, and I was just wondering how that works out for your family. I'd also like to hear from those of you who don't go so often. How often do you think is just right?

 

[sleepyone]

I don't know the answer to your question. We went last June and are returning this May to do the things we missed. We're looking into DVC and maybe going every two years after this one but, I've been wondering about burnout too. Maybe the first time will be the most magical for us; I hope we can still see it as magical this time. After all last time we were so excited about the soap; such a little thing. Maybe next time we'll see something else small we missed.???

 

[tiff211]

I don't think so because Disney changes all the time as your kids and their expectations. I went to WDW for the first time on my honeymoon in 1999, we went to MGM, Epcot and MK and Universal. We were able to do MK in 1/2 day because we bypassed all the "kiddie" areas.

The next time we went 2 years later, we took DD, 9 at the time, DD 10 months, and nephew who was 10. We went to MK, MGM and a water park. This time we focused on thrill rides.

We are going next month with DD's (13, 4, 2) and we will be looking at it from a whole other side for the little ones. In looking at all the attractions for their age group at MK, I had no idea there were so many rides/shows for them. I don't even remember seeing dumbo's ride or goofy's rollercoaster or the teacups, just to name a few.

As I told my 13 DD, WDW is a family trip. When you are younger, you are lucky because you just get to go by right of being a young member of the family. As you get older, it is no longer a right, it's a priviledge that must be earned. She must earn it by keeping her grades up and staying out of trouble. DH and I earn it by working hard all year to take care of the family. In a year, everyone is deserving of a WDW trip!!! Work hard so you can play hard is my motto!!!!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

IMO going often makes it even more magical to them since they fully embrace it as a very special and meaningful part of their lives.

 

[Mickeylover6]

I know exactly what you mean by this post. I have 4 kids. DS 13, DS 10, DS 8, and DD5. We have gone to Disney at least once a year since before they were born. They would have it no other way. Are they spoiled? YESSS!!!!! But do they find Disney any less magical after 13 visits?, Absolutely not! I find as they get older they just discover different things to do. The magic at Disney is what you make it, whether it's the excitement of the parks, the fishing excursions, fireworks cruise, golf, pools, etc. Disney is a different vacation every time we go. This year we are even snorkeling in the living seas! My kids know that they are very fortunate that we go to Disney so often, and I know that I'm very fortunate that I'm able to take them every year!

 

[DMAMom]

This is a very good question. Like you said it's different for each family but I will say that my godson has gone every year, sometimes 2 times a year since he was 1 year old. They own a time share in Kissimee. When they went last year (he was 12) he has ZERO Interest in going to Disney. They did SeaWorld and Universal and did Downtown Disney on day but other than that didn't go on Disney property at all. So for him then I would say Yes, he burnt out.

I am very excited to take my kids for their first trip and hope to go again - but I'm also hoping to go to other places like the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls. But since I grew up in Massachusetts and never went anywhere on vacation besides New Hampshire - those places will be new for me too.

 

[F1Julie]

I take DD4 2-3 times a year. My parents and friends think we go too much and probably do think DD is spoiled. We love going though and each trip gets better and better since there are always things we haven't experienced before and we know what to do and what's worth skipping for us. Through these boards and experience, I get better at planning and making the most of our time.

 

[tiff211]

Thanks to this board, I am definitely thinking Disney will be an annual thing. We usually go somewhere for a week and then somewhere for a long weekend. I see how many of you all plan your trips months in advance. I usually get the bright idea 2-3 months ahead. Now I am already preparing to start saving/planning for our trip next year. I will be posting a lot more questions!!!!

 

[rt2dz]

I went to WDW every year of my life practically (yes, I remember Disney before Epcot) until high school. I would have gone then too, but being a younger member of the family, my parents moved on to other family vacations. I loved it every year.

Last Sept. was the first time I'd been in years. I took dh for the first time, ds3.5(then) and ds7m (then). We're going back this May ds4 & ds15m. We have APs and am pg so this was the only time we could fit it in. I'd rather had waited a little longer, but ds4 keeps begging and we did have to leave 2 days early due to hurricane Jeane. Will do again Dec. 06 with the kids 5.5, 2.5, & 14m. I am excited and thrilled to be able to take my kids every year as I went. Especially now that it is so much bigger and has much more to offer.

As the kids get older, I'm sure we'll do universal, busch gardens, cypress gardens, & other attractions.

However, we do also take other vacations and did so as a kid. Disney isn't our only vacation. Well, due to the upcoming baby it is this year, but that's rare.

 

[lovethattink]

My post comes from a family who lives in Central Florida and goes to Disney very often. We even stay on site frequently. Does some of the magic fade over time? Yes and no. DS(11) has come to take Disney for granted. He loves Disney, but sees it as a norm. He prefers a Mickey bar to Dilly bar. He prefers Disney quest as an arcade over the one at the mall. He doesn't understand how blessed he is to have these things at his fingertips. Even his friends at school have AP's, although he does think it's great to bring a friend to WDW.

 

[JCTigger]

From my experiance when i was growing up we went to disney once a year sometimes twice a year my first trip to the world i was 6 months old and i never got burned out and i still dont im 23yrs old since i had 2 full time working parents this was really the only time we got to spend with them we did other things besides going to the parks all the time ( we mostly stayed in the FW cabins) we would hang out in FW go to Discovery Island (when it was still around) rent the mini boats etc... I know that when I have children we will deffinatly be going to Disney World yearly come heck or high water (my folks usually gave up a lot for us to take our vacations)

 

[Disneyonmymind]

I can see lots of angles. I LOVE WDW and I think my kids and I could enjoy it twice a year, every year. (Not sure about DH, but he's pretty flexible. As long as we include a fishing trip in our summer plans, too, he'd go along.) I'm sure our family experience would change as we became more familiar with everything.

However, there's no chance we can spend that much time and money in WDW so we will probably settle on every 2 years. For the kids, I would expect their experience to change because kids themselves change a lot over two years.

Jackie

 

[Aidensmom]

I personally have been to WDW at least 30 times, and it has not lost its magic for me! DH and I are both theme park enthusiasts, and living in Florida we have the opportunity to visit them often. Our 3-year old has already been to every park in Central Florida numerous times, as we get AP's to a different park each year. Yes, I am sure this has already become the normal weekend thing to do for him, but he thoroughly enjoys it every time. I am sure all of my family thinks he is completely spoiled because we do this (some of their children have only been to parks when we have taken them), but it is what we enjoy doing as a family. If my son ever tires of it, well then DH and I will just drop him off at Grandma's when we go to the parks!

 

[Tissa]

My first trip to DW was last year with DS6 & DS8. We had a great time and are going back for our second trip in June. I also worry about burnout and not seeing what else the country has to offer so I'm planning a two week trip to Yellowstone next year. I'm thinking Disney every other year. That is unless I win the lotto then it would be Disney and somewhere else every year.

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

Dh and I have talked about this too. So far my 4yo has been to DL 4 x and my 2yo has been 3. This is the first trip to WDW and first cruise for all of us. This trip (at least in this scope- 10 nights WDW, 4 night Disney cruise, 1 more night WDW, staying deluxe, etc) will definitely be a one time thing. However, we fully intend to keep DL as an annual trip at least till the kids are teens. We are fortunate enough to live withing a reasonable driving distance (6 hours) to DL, and that DL is smaller then WDW to allow us to fully experience our favorites in the parks in 3-4 days (less in off season). That makes it possible for us to do the trip on a long weekend and still visit other places (next year Hawaii) on our "vacation." We have so much funat Disney though that lately we have been talking more and more about getting an annual pass. In which case, we would probably go do 2-3 times year (still in addition to our big vacation), and do a couple of single days or "date nights" for dh and I other times we happened to be in LA (a couple times a year visiting IL's). I really worry about the kids taking Disney for granted or losing the magic if we do this. Right now they are so happy (and so well behaved) at Disney because it is such a treat and everything is so new and magical to them. I don't want to lose that. But I don't think once annually trips are to much (especially in the younger years), because each year the kids are so different and discover something new to love. For example after 4x this will be the first trip my dd can ride SM or TOT (HOPEFULLY, come on 1"!!!!) and she wants to soo badly. And for ds last time he loved the rides but really wasn't to attached to any of the characters, liked meeting them, but had no favorite. This year he is beyond excited to see Buzz and Peter Pan.

 

[ryan840]

Everyone makes such good points! I get so excited reading all the threads here about everyones experiances that I want to go every year so I can do it all! Then I think about all the other things we'd be missing since we can't afford more than one big vacation a year (and this years isn't even big, its for four days, with a kid who is totally free!) and I think about when they're older, how it will be fun still, but not as fun since they've "been there, done that" so many times before. I think for us every two to three years will be perfect, if I can hold myself back! I LOVE the planning part, almost as much as the trip part, so I know I'll be planning our next trip as soon as we get back, including the estimated ages of any future children!

 

[F1Julie]

Another reason DD4 and I go to WDW 2-3 times a year is because I don't know where else would be as good to take her for vacation. We went to Myrtle Beach last year, but it was not very fun or relaxing. I have to watch her in the water and on the beach like a hawk. We won't be taking any more beach vacations until she's older and a good swimmer. I'm not a camping kind of person, so that's out. A cabin by a lake isn't my idea of a fun vacation either. WDW is within driving distance (about 7 hours) and if I budget everything right, pretty reasonable cost wise. I can't think of a better destination for young children.

 

[ryan840]

Another reason DD4 and I go to WDW 2-3 times a year is because I don't know where else would be as good to take her for vacation. We went to Myrtle Beach last year, but it was not very fun or relaxing. I have to watch her in the water and on the beach like a hawk. We won't be taking any more beach vacations until she's older and a good swimmer. I'm not a camping kind of person, so that's out. A cabin by a lake isn't my idea of a fun vacation either. WDW is within driving distance (about 7 hours) and if I budget everything right, pretty reasonable cost wise. I can't think of a better destination for young children.

This is another reason I brought up this thread, it was what got my husband and I talking about it in the first place. I started another thread about it here http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=761884 if you'd like some other ideas. Before reading that, I couldn't figure any other place to go with toddlers besides WDW.

 

[~Zen*Knack*Kiss~]

I think it depends on the person. Some people don't see the magic after 1 trip ( ), some lose it after a few, some lose it when they visit every year. Myself, I could go everyday and never tire of it I'm sure. Df on the other hand, he would enjoy it but wouldn't see the magic. To him it would be like a bigger, cooler Six Flags with some cheesy kiddie stuff thrown in He's never been, but as long as he pays for me to go I'm happy
His niece is 7 now and doesn't see it as a big deal. Sure, it's fun, but so are other things (her attitude towards WDW).
Anyone else getting the feeling that my df and his family are just nuts, lol

 

[MinnieGi]

My DD at age 4 has been to WDW 6 times and it remains magical to her and I think it will stay that way. I went quite a few times while growing up and it is still a "magical" place to me! We also take other vacations like going to the beach and NJ shore and she has also seen the Rocky Mountains, NYC & DC. We plan to continue to take her and her baby brother yearly to Disney and also to explore great sites around the country.