Explaining Expectations - 7YO

[Tahlzy]

Hi All!

My name is Tahlia, mum of a 13yo, Madi, 7yo, Sebastian and 10m Chloe - we are travelling from Perth, Australia in 4 weeks santa:) We have a massive plan booked and having previously done Disneyland and California Adventure in March 2013, (Along with Vegas, New York, Fresno and San Fran) and Hong Kong Disneyland, Along with Universal Studios Singapore in March 2014 (Just with Seb), he is having a hard time understanding the size of Disney World and Universal Studios. Our trip this time consists of flying Perth to Hong Kong, to LA, driving to Vegas, 3 nights, flying to Orlando 12 nights, 2 Nights in Washington DC, 6 nights including Christmas in New York, then flying back home with an overnight in Hong Kong, with a surprise Disneyland trip to finish the holiday as the kids Christmas present - ooft! I'm tired just thinking about it - We are the full on traveller and go go go when on vacation so my hubby's planning is amazing.

I have been asking the kids what their wish list is for this trip. So far, Mr7 has come up with Michael Jackson One in Vegas, Central Park in NY along with going up the Statue of Liberty (It was closed last time we came) and doing Space Mountain and Tower of Terror in the same day. I have tried to explain to him how big the parks are, and even tho we can park hop, I don't want him to think he can just walk from park to park like you can at other parks. I am looking for the best way to print a map showing all the parks and locations and our hotel etc. He just grins at me and says "ok mum!" But I know he has his "Perfect Day" in his head and he is the type of kid that would get upset if his "plan" didnt go ahead.

So what would you do to show him the size? I was thinking of printing off a map for each park, and the whole parks and writing each day on it so he can circle the things he wants to do and that way he is more in control of it? My 13yo is more go with the flow and will do pretty much anything - shes happy to be the rider swap etc so I can experience more with hubby which is awesome!

Do you have any links to some awesome maps I can print? Also looking for universal ones as I believe it is massive compared to Singapore. Any other suggestions you have that I can help him plan?

Thanks!

 

[bsblady01]

wow that is a long vacation. pack your winter gear for the new York part of your vacation. are you guys staying on site in Disney world. they have some maps on the Disney website that you can print. have each child pick their must do rides for each park.

 

[chris31997]

WOW, I'm tired thinking of all that traveling you will be doing

Okay for Mr 7, I would print off the map and scale it up. I'm sure there are places that tell you how many acres the Park covers and then you can put it in terms he already knows.

For example: Magic Kingdom is as big as Perth or put it in terms of number of schools that Disney covers

I would say build a "Lego" version of it or draw it out to scale but that would be huge

Good luck in getting Mr 7 in wrapping his head around the size of the park and the time it takes to get around the parks. I know plenty of adults who still can't do that

 

[MrsHull]

I would just tell my 7 yo planner that it isn't possible to do Space and ToT in one day. Then offer an alternative, like Space and BTMR in the same day or ToT and Star Tours. Better to definitively set the expectation now than wait and have a disappointment.

 

[Happyjen27]

Use google maps to show him the transportation plan if you did, indeed do this. The travel time from resort to MK, walking time from gate to SM, walking time out, travel time to DHS, walking time to ToT. If he still wants to do this, I would then make a list of the rides and attractions he might be able to do if he breaks these 2 rides into 2 separate days rather than embark on this adventure. In the end, if he still wants to do it, and he can recruit everyone else in the family to want to join him on his quest, I would do it.

 

[Baklava]

I'd talk about the time wasted in transit- in general the advice I see here is to plan 90 minutes to change parks. Tell him it will cost 2 hours of park time for travel plus a long standby line (maybe another hour? Someone else can predict that better) to do both in one day. If he's still not dissuaded... you have 12 days. If it's that big a deal I'd probably try to make it work. It could be the memory he keeps forever- not just doing it, but mom and dad indulging him in his weird little dream. Kids are kinda goofy sometimes. There's no predicting what will matter most.

 

[Candycane83]

If you are unable to convince him this is difficult to do... (and if you are onsite and have park hoppers), you could do one ride in the morning then take an afternoon break and go to the other park and have FP+ for the other ride.

 

[dwbrewster]

If you need any help with your DC portion of the trip, I'm a local and work there so I can give plenty of advice, PM me if you'd like.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I would print out a map of the area and take him through an example of how the transportation works. Show him that Magic Kingdom is way up here, and includes these rides. Then show him that Animal Kingdom is way over here, and includes these rides. If we want to go from Magic Kingdom to Animal Kingdom, we have to get on a bus, travel to AK, go through the gates, then walk to a ride. It will take about as much time as it takes to watch Toy Story (or another movie he's familiar with). If he's a visual learner, he might understand better by actually seeing the distance on a map. Then walk him through a few examples so he can get an idea of how it will work.

Also, regarding the Statue of Liberty - If you want to go up to the crown, be sure to book your tickets in advance. The crown access books up weeks to months in advance. If you don't have a reservation ahead of time, you may not be able to get up there. You can also get tickets to access the pedestal which puts you on the platform just under the statue. Those tickets also book up in advance, but the crown tickets go first. If you don't get either ticket, you'll only have access to the park area around the statue, but you won't be able to get onto the state itself.

 

[Tahlzy]

Thanks all!
He has maps now and I think gets it We have scheduled a couple of days with our park hopper so I am hoping it WILL happen for him Hubby just booked the statue tour last night - ughhh not looking forward to the stairs lol