Dysfunctional Family in Disney World

[BarbaraMB]

Did you notice recently that dysfunctional family in Disney? Well that was us. I spent months planning, reading, listing, gathering information just to have it go right out the window. My DH hated the heat so much that he didn't last till noon. It made him cranky and miserable (psss...he's like that when it isn't hot). So we needed to follow him around for the morning missing most of the major attractions. My 7 DD had decided that she didn't want to do anything but go back to the room. She never outgrew disliking loud noises and everything is loud. She was the one with her fingers in her ears all the time. She was afraid to go on everything so we were the family trying to talk her into seeing SOMETHING. We did get her in to see some of the attractions in Fantasyland. The other siblings fought with each other because no one was on the same page. It helps to all have similar interests. By the time some of us went back in the afternoon to ride what we wanted the lines were too long, fastpasses were for during our dinner ressie or the fastpasses were gone.

 

[Fantasmic303]

Hmmm, BarbaraMB....


Looks like you're just the type of Disney Lover who needs to take a Family Vacation...as in, a Vacation FROM the Family!!





In seriousness though, I'm sorry your trip was hampered by cranky travelers. I do hope YOU got to enjoy some of it though!!



(Pssst - if it was my family, my mom would've sent crabby daddy back to the hotel with miserable DD...in fact, I think we did that on an occassion or two during my childhood!! )

Here's to hoping return visits are more magical!!

 

[Tinkbell]

((HUGS)) I'm sorry to hear you were disappointed in the trip. I'm sure your family was able to make some good memories too. It's just easy to focus on the bad ones. If you go to Disney again, you might want to split the family up. Some can swim with dad in the morining and the ones who like the rides can head off to the parks early with you. It's hard to stay on the same page when you have a lot of different personalities involved. It's not your fault.

 

[grinningghost]

Sorry the trip had a few bumps along the way. But the reality is, they usually do. WDW is really, really overwhelming, and when you factor in the heat, crowds and different tolerance levels it often adds up to a big, fat meltdown. I'm sure once some time has passed, you'll recall the good stuff and the bad stuff will eventually fade away a little. Hey, there's always next time...

 

[laurabelle]

I'm sorry you had a rough trip. I also have a dd, almost 7 who is very sensitive and doesn't like alot of rides, loud noises, ect. In the past, we've split up at times, like during Fantasmic when she freaked out before it even started. I didn't freak out, oh part of me wanted to, but I just took her back to the hotel for a little party, Doritos, soda for her, glass of wine for me. And she was really grateful that I didn't force her - now that would have been a nightmare! Hubby and dd#1 stayed and enjoyed the show. Going with the flow and understanding each other's differences goes a long way towards family harmony. Of course, everybody has to chip in, it's no fun if you're the only one trying to get along.
I hope your next vacation goes better.

 

[obnurse2003]

Someday you will look back on that and laugh!!!!

At first I thought you were talking about MY family, but we haven't been there yet!!!

Don't worry......you are not alone!!!!

 

[Pammy_from_WI]

Sorry you had a not so great WDW vacation! Maybe next time will be much better.

I second what obnurse2003 said though and while it's still fresh in your mind now you will look back and laugh at the trip in a few years.

I know this first hand because I too once had the WDW vacation from hedoublehockysticks. We drove straight from WI to Orlando in one car, 4 adults and a 5 year old. The air in the car broke, my daughter got the chickpox the day we arrived. My ex-BIL was/is the cheapest person on earth and he doesn't need to be. We had to buy his poor wife a ice cold drink because he wouldn't. He only wanted to eat out of WDW, mainly at McDs and the like. It was hotter then all heck, crowded beyond belief. My dd was so itchy and the heat was making it worse, so we ended up pushing her in a wheelchair. The hotel we stayed in looked nothing like the pics the TA showed us. The lobby was stunning, but then they directed you around the main building to the actual hotel rooms and they were pretty scary. We all ended up fighting like cats and dogs and the ride home was very longgggggg.

Now that years have passed I look at the videos and laugh my bottom off at what fools we were. Yes, a lot of this was captured on video. LOL

I'm sure there has to be one or two happy moments in the trip, just have to sometimes look for them.

Here's hoping your next trip is wonderful!!!
Pammy

 

[April76]

So sorry it didn't turn out better for you ---- too bad you couldn't send them back to the resort pool and enjoy the parks yourself (but Mom's tend to sacrifice and stick with making everyone else happy).

Sounds like our family vacation when my kids were younger (and it was the first and LAST time we vacationed in August)... I didn't know who I wanted to kill more.... the cranky, whiney children or the yelling Dh..... BUT we survived and now we go in Spring or Fall and have a terrific time.

Hopefully, one day you'll all be able to return and have a wonderful trip that will put this one far from your memory!!

 

[BarbaraMB]

My DH and I would not force her on anything. But unfortunately she did end up on the Haunted Mansion because it was so crowded that when she decided not to go on we were already in the stretch room. She stuck her fingers in her ears and closed her eyes and put her head in my lap. She did so some stuff but not much at all. We just didn't want her to miss out. It was more of a problem with her older brother and sisters because we wasted so much time standing around deciding what to do. My DH doesn't swim. Everyday we would go back to the room by noon. DH and frightened DD would stay there until the rest of us returned at 5pm for dinner. But when you try to go back later fast passes are for much later in the day and the lines are too long to wait on. We would get two attractions in and then have to go back. Big waste of time. It worked out at Universal staying on site. The rest of the family could get so much in with only a few hours to do it in. The heat made every one bicker. We did eat well.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Sorry that your trip didn't turn out the way you planned. I hope that next time things will be the opposite. Do you think maybe next time you can take the family during the Holiday? The holiday atmophere and the cooler weather might bring that Disney Holiday spirit to the whole family.

Hmmm...I pay lots of money to be in Disney... I don't think I can laugh about this when the years go by. What is there to laugh about when thing go wrong? And unfortunately it's too late to fix it but to make things better next time. I'd like to make a merry memories to remember.

 

[Muffy]

I'm sorry your trip was not exactly perfect. If it was your first visit to WDW, it is understandable that it could be daunting. Now that you know what to expect from your family, you need to formulate a plan for next time! Keep reading the tips on the DIS and you will be a pro in no time!

 

[natt]

Thanks for the giggle! We have been "THAT" family (and I was "that" planner) about five years back! We joined DVC last summer and are anxiously awaiting our first trip as members in three weeks! As our DD's mature and we know we will visit more frequently, I'm looking forward to a more laid-back time!

I'm sorry to hear of your stress! I hope you are in a situation where you will return someday (Pixie dust for your DH) and you will all be able to roll with it and just enjoy! Natt

 

[momoftwins]

We had taken our twins when they were a few months shy of 5 yrs old. My daughter cried because she was not big enough to go on all of the rides. My son would cry, "Can we go back to our room". That wouldn't have been so bad except we were always standing at the bus stop at the hotel!!! when he would say it! He was also deathly afraid of loud noises - still is to some extent. He did not want to go on any rides. So mommy and son just sat on the benches waiting for daddy and sister to get off the rides. I must say, however, it was fun just watching people.

We went to Disneyland this past April. They were 6 yrs old. Guess what, he went on every single ride - several times, we watched all of the firework shows they were having, and he cried, "Can we go back to the park"!

So, our trip when they were 4 was not so much fun. But, this past trip was a blast. Don't give up! Oh, by the way, a nice cold beer back at the resort was just enough for a grumpy hubby!

 

[Poohbear123]

Been there, this is why I started going by MYSELF!

 

[kilee]

Sounds like our first trip. We swore we'd never go back, EVER. Well, we have and we will. We love it now. We went at a bad time of year, totally unprepared. It was soooo hot, crowded (Easter time). I had not read a book or found a website like this. DH really hates crowds. Well, we left the parks each day after a few hours. Needless to say each trip since then has gotten better. Much, much better. However, we are taking 5 newbies with us in October, so we'll probably be that family again!!!!!!!!

 

[Maridw]

Sorry things didn't go so well. We've been in something similar a couple times.
My dd & I went with my parents, sister & her family in 95 and had one really bad day. Brother-in-Law caused a bit of a problem when DD & I & my dad went to the restroom at MGM. When dd & I came out no one was around. Come to find out all had gone into a store across the way as it was bitter cold out. Finally B-I-L shouted "Here we are". Still didn't have dad with us, so we had to find him, he had started up the street because no one was around. B-I-L said he was in the doorway the whole time. Untrue as Dad would not have walked up the street. Mom threatened to go back to the room if everyone couldn't get along. She later said she believed me about B-i-L not being where I could see him.

DD has always hated loud noises or some fast rides that throw her around. So BTMRR was not a ride she did for a long time. Finally she decided to try it again once she was older (now 16). She loves it now, but we let her decide when to try again. We got her to try Dinosaur on our last trip but she didn't like it, so we won't push her to do it again. Eventually she might try ToT again, but we won't force her. She knows what she does and doesn't like and is willing to wait for us (DH & I) to do it.

Kids know what they can handle and what they can't. If they are willing to try it once, fine, but don't force them. We had a couple times where DD got almost all the way through the line and then opted not to do it. FIrst time she was going to try TT, this happened. finally she tried it and now loves it. Same with BTMRR. Some rides take time to work up too.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Wow, that stinks, really. I want to cry for you! I think I may be in prison for murdering my DH if that had happened to me.

I don't agree with some people that you will one day look back on this and laugh. This happened to my sister and her husband 14 years ago! Her 3 yo was a complete nightmare. They look back on it now and STILL want to cry over all the money they spent only to be miserable. He is 17 now, and loves Disney, but when he was little, what a little pain he was.

I do hope that this was not a "once-in-a-lifetime" trip, and that you can go back again and have a much better trip!

 

[Dancind]

We have a daughter that has always been prone to sensory overload. She usually just tunes everything out and walks around in a complete daze, until she is completely overwhelmed and has a meltdown. She's a high maintenance kid. She's also an only, so we waited until she was 8 to go to WDW, and chose a very slow time of year (Sept.). It was a truly wonderful trip, she got brave and tried so many things. She's 12 now, and handles things MUCH better. So there's hope, if you're inclined to try again. Don't know what you can do about DH, though. Diana

 

[OhMari]

I sympathize with you on your 7 year old. I really don't know what I would of done. I probably would have left and went back also.

The first time we went to WDW and US was in 2000, each child got to pick a park. The youngest DD-10 picked the Magic Kingdom.

My DH and DD-18 where walking around snickering and complaining about the heat, and I let them have it with both barrels - my youngest was taking a bathroom break with other dd-16. I told them, she picked this park and she loves it here and so do I. There was plenty of air-conditioning and fans blowing and shade. It was 98 that day. I told them that she is having a blast and they better not blow it for her and to remember all the races she has been to watching her brothers and her dad and all the sporting events she has sat through her whole life watching them. This was her pick and they better wise up. Needless to say, the pixie dusting with both barrels helped and they started to see the Magic Kingdom thru her eyes.

 

[Camping Griswalds]

A couple of years ago I had planned "commando-style" Ee every morning, mandatory nap times which park on specific days...Any way one morning about five am my DH said, "Can we vote on this" Of course knowing how well i had planned on everything and how Disney is the happiest place on earth and my children were having the times of their lives I just knew that everyone would vote for my plans. W R O N G!!!!! It was a tie until my youngest (then four) changed his mind when the 8yo informed him he should vote with the boys. So I still plan EE and everything, but also plan off days where no one "plans" anything. Sometimes we sleep in and go to the pool,sometimes we just go into the park to see a parade or sometimes we just sit around and hang out.

P.S. I no longer consent to voting on anything, as long as those boys stick together, I will always loose, and there is no re-count or mail in ballotts in my family