Have my kids lost the "magic" or is it just a phase?

[David]

We were at the poly in december'00. It was our second trip in 3 years. My feeling was that we could have been at any amusement park. My kids, then 7,5,3 seemed more into the rides than the excitement of being at WDW. Do we like it more than our kids do? We are considering DVC but if its not special for our kids I don't want to be locked in. What do I have to look forward to in the years to come. I know there is so much more to do as our kids get older that we haven't even touched yet at WDW. I'm just in a state of confusion and could use some input from those who have been going longer. Thank you.

 

[wdwnut]

hi: my kids are 20 and 14. we've been going to wdw since 1987. the magic does come and go somewhat depending on their ages and hormonal mood swings as they mature. however, my oldest son gets married this august, and guess where they are spending their honeymoon? my future dil is a disney nut like me. they used all my 150 pt. add on for 5 nights in a 1br at bwv and we have an additional 5 nights booked at the gf-she's always wanted to stay there. they do come to appreciate the magic of wdw as they mature. right now our 14yo is kind of in between on the rides vs. magic. it does help to keep the magic alive if you bring newbies with you or people who have only stayed at value or moderate resorts. we're bringing a friend with us the first week of may who has only stayed at the as resorts; i think his folks are going to kill us after we spoil him with a 1br villa.

 

[MinnieMe2]

We started going to WDW when our four kids were just a bit older than yours and have averaged a trip every two years or so. Last summer, the boys were 21, 18, and 16 and our daughter was 14. We stayed at the Yacht Club thinking the kids would like to be near the Boardwalk. And we realized that the boys would probably not want to spend all their time with us old folks. For the most part, we would go to the park-of-the-day after breakfast together. Then we'd 'split up'. But since we usually had the same game plan, we'd all head somewhere for a fast pass. Then DH, DD, and I would go in one direction, the boys in another. We'd usually all turn in our fast passes at the same time and regroup a bit. Though the boys weren't with us ALL the time, they managed to keep bumping into us. Most of the time we had dinner together. And they did spend one evening roaming the Boardwalk.

There was a time when I wondered, like you, whether or not the kids would feel the same about any old amusement park as they did about Disney. We took them to a local park, and all they did was compare. The result? They came to their own realization that Disney is incomparable.
At this stage in our lives, the only vacation place all four kids will agree to is Disney. Because they have little jobs, a couple are in college, etc., it's not always possible for us to go anywhere together. So things are changing. The 'magic' is different now, but as of yesterday, we're DVC members. Our feeling is that we'll enjoy the World as long as we can as a family, and then we'll have something for our kids and their families to enjoy. In fact, our middle boy is graduating from h.s. this year and hopes to spend four days at VWL with a couple of friends. We prefer this idea to the famous 'Beach Week' since there's no underage drinking at Disney, they won't be driving, and they should be able to find plenty to keep themselves busy.

I don't know if your kids will be like mine, but for us Disney is definitely the way to go.

Counting the Hours Til We're Back in the World

Mother-of-Four (Five, If You Count My Husband)

 

[Nanajo1]

I was a little concerned that we would get Disney tired, we hope to go as a couple every year and take our family every other year. But my kids are now into golf, parasailing and exploring more of the orlando area ie Sea world, Kennedy center etc. Universal. So we plan to enjoy our OKW accommodations and explore outside the world if/when we ever get disney weary.

Nanajo DVC 8/98

Offsite 5/78
Contemp 11/85
BWV 3/99
OKW 11/99
BWV 3/01
OKW 11/01

 

[goofyforwdw]

We have 3 kids 14,16,and 19 We have been going to wdw for the last ten years as a family. they never seem to get boared of it . We start out going every other year and now go at least one a year if not more. When they get sick of to much togetherness the oldest will go into the parks by himself for the day. I make the younger two stay together for safty sake.Dh and I will go for lunch alone and catch up with them later We have the walkie talkie and phones if the need to reach us.DH and I went down in Feb for the first time with out them and the were so green, but they had school, sport and job comintments that we didn't. My oldest is also graduating this year and planning on going to wdw with a few friends they want to camp as FW. They also like to rent the golf cart when we stay at FW. They like to go to DQ or hang out at DTD or by the pool ,rent a bike .It does not always have to be the parks. We are going for Easter for a few days with just the younger two and my oldest is upset (well just a little he will have the house to himself for 10 days) but he has to work during vacation week to help pay for his TRUCK. So hang in there your kids will change the way they see the parks and start to see the magic soon.

1978 outside (honeymoon)
1989 FW, 91 FW, 93 outside
95 DL, 96 HH, 97 KW, 98 FW&VB
98-99 BC,3 day cruise & GF
99 HH, 2-00 FW& BWV,6-00 HH
9-00 7 day cruise,12-00 FW
2-01 BWV&VWL

 

[MN_DizNut]

My DD (only 8-1/2) is years and multiple trips away from being pixie dusted out! As, am I. Alas, my DW assures me she could live happily with out our frequent trips to WDW!!! I've assured her that is Papa ain't happy, ain't no one gonna be happy!!!

Jon

WDW '85 offsite
DL '85
DL '87
WDW '89 offsite
WL '97
WL '97 (again!)
WH '99
WL '99
AStSp '99 (YUCKY!!!)
DCL/Poly Jun/July '02

 

[Jeanne]

My dh and I toured dvc for the first time, the year it opened, and wished we were members for the next 10 yrs. Finally the year we decided we should start taking our children other places besides wdw, we finally became members. Every year that we think we should bank points and go elsewhere, disney does something special that we just can't miss. Whenever we tell the kids we are going to skip disney this year, the moans and groans begin, and they are 12 and 15, have been to disney every year at least once since my daughter was 5 months old, and my sons first visit was at 5 weeks old. guess they are still sparkling from the pixie dust. They both keep reminding us that we promised they could each bring a friend when they were 16 and 14, friends have been chosen, just waiting out the final year til they can come with.

 

[dianeschlicht]

WE started going to WDW when DD was 13 and DS was 7. They are now 31 and 25. DS still loves it and DD can take it or leave it. I think it depends on the individuals.

Disneydiane

 

[caverill]

but then I realized that leaving Minnesota to go to Florida in the middle of the winter wouldn't get old.

I think that you need to remember that there are many other things to do in Florida. US/IOA, Seaworld, the Cape, golf, etc. in case anyone every gets bored with WDW (althought that hasn't happened in our case).

DVC, to me, is a pre-paid vacation plan that ensures that I take time to relax on a frequent basis. BTW, it also ensures spending some quality time with my DW.

Clark Averill

DxL 95
DL 97
Off-Site 98-Courtyard/DD
DxL 00
Joined DVC - Sept 00
BWV - Feb 01

 

[Lisa P.]

This is kind of a funny question to ask a group of happy DVC owners! LOL!

I agree with Diane, it would vary with the person. We've been going to Orlando at least once a year for several years. My DH would be satified if we waited another 5 years or more before returning. DVC HHI is our family's favorite DVC resort.

Even so, our 12 yo DD has had her Disney fill too. She wants to spend more time on action-oriented vacations, where we bring along a friend and explore NEW places. She likes details and beauty but she wants to see more natural wonders. One of our twin 10 yo DS's has been asking to visit Dollywood and other regular amusement parks for the coasters and something different. The other 10 yo DS wants to visit the beach more as well as see volcanoes and canyons. He likes to hike and has regularly described WDW as "boring - we've seen it all before." (gasp)

So, yes, it can definitely happen that some children can take-or-leave WDW after a few visits. The more we've gone, the more time we've spent at the resort, especially at the pools and boat rentals. Ours have always enjoyed the trips when we were there but the last couple of times we went to Orlando, they had a LOT of other ideas beforehand and said later that they still wished we'd done certain other things. So now we are.

 

[DeeP]

My children are 17 & 19 and they have gone to WDW regularly since they were 1 & 3 and yes, they do complain that we always go to disney but yet they always want to go when I plan a trip! My DS really does not enjoy going to the parks much but he enjoys going to Downtown Disney, the pool, the restaurants, etc and my DD is my park companion and throughly enjoys our time at WDW. But to be perfectly honest I am the real disney nut of the family and I have always been so. I just love it and I bought my DVC membership because it was something that I wanted and boy have I used it and enjoyed it!! I think as my children get older and have their own children they will again see the magic that disney has to offer, but if they don't that is their loss. My DVC membership is something that I got for me and I have never regretted it. I have had many great trips to WDW with my children, friends and also solo trips and each trip has been wonderful and I have 40+ more years of trips to go!!! Next trip is in less than 4 months away with my children and then I am returning just 8 days later for a solo trip to attend the big grand finale pin trading week-end of the summer at WDW, and I just got back from WDW on 2/14/01!!! So I throughly enjoy and use my DVC membership with or without children!

 

[Dreamfinder2]

As a "once-local" AP holder, we found ourselves taking our kids to Disney just about weekly. Our daughter was about 5, son 8 or 9 in those days. We never got tired, just because there was always a little obscure attraction somewhere we hadn't checked out, or an eatery had changed its menu, or a hotel bore checking out. (And back in those days, when security wasn't as persnickity, we would swim in hotel pools. Shhh! -- don't tell anyone.)The kids are much older now; our 18 year old is about to graduate from HS and is entering the Marine Corps. He goes along just because he knows it pleases us, but it's definitely not his favorite thing anymore. He did go on a Bay Lake fishing excursion last fall, and loved that. Daughter, on the other hand, loves Disney -- indeed, theme parks in general -- as much as ever. She was always my park commando buddy. Wife does fine, in short spurts. I guess it's just a matter of knowing your family...you can't make something fun for them if that's not where they are in their likes/dislikes. Your kids may be in a phase ... but perhaps someday there'll be grandkids, and you can share the wonder all over again.

 

[zurgswife]

My 4 kids (3,7,8,9) Have been going regularly since 1998 actually the 3 year old just celebrated her fifth trip. Our kids are as crazy about WDW as we are. Each trip we have always found something new and exciting to keep the "magic" alive as well as some of the old standards.

We have also, learned that spending time in parks other then the MK has helped our kids. There are so many interesting things to learn during a visit to WDW. EPCOT world showcase is one of our favorites...my DH made a special epcot passport book for each of our kids that has more in it then just a place for the stamp. Country stickers, flag stickers, color pictures of the countries, a place for CM's to sign something special. The beg to spend time in the different countries to work on their special passports. It also helps to find a CM that is into all the information that we present in these special books. We ususally find 3 out of 9 countries where we get special attention.

If the magic begins to where thin we have already decided to trade out for one of the other timeshare sites available

<IMG src="http://members.home.net/dunlapsdisney/images/halloween/halloweenMK1_small.jpg" ></P>
CBR Dec '95, Sept '97
BWV Aug '98, Mar '99
ASM Nov '99
BWV Oct '00, Mar 01
Zurg, Barbie, Buzz, Buzz, Jessie & Tinkerbell

Visit http://badshoe.com

 

[Dennis the WDW Menace]

I have been going to WDW since it opened and when I got married, and brought the family we discovered one thing, as time goes on WDW has different things to offer. Thats the magic of Disney - They can relate to everyone of all ages, from young children to adults, and at the same place. We enjoyed the fast rides when we first were married and now enjoy looking at different sites all around the parks. The kids on their last trip could not stop talking about Rokin Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror. My older niece was like that when she was 14 and 15 and now enjoyed the fun we had at the WL at breakfast when the waiter made her stand up while he talked about her going to collage and getting a free trip to WDW. My brother-in-law loves Buzz and E-Ticket nights, and likes to go with us when we take trips to different resorts to see what they have. It has alot to offer everyone and in my almost 100 trips I can say that it always changes and has something new to see every trip. I have never been disappointed and we bought into DVC because it is the best place to stay in WDW, makes it afforadable for us to go as ofter as we do, and does feel like "Home". WDW is more than a place to be, it is a feeling that stays with you long after you have been back at home.