How Come the Happiest Place in the World is Usually Not Happy

[Bill3]

Commando Disney is not a good option with small children. Those who avoid it tend to have a better time. HOWEVER, I remember the first couple of times we visited WDW are kids were 5 & 6 and we didn't realize there was another way. It was get to the parks early and stay late, usually closing. What I think is people who stress out an go bananas over little stuff at home will be even go more bonkers at WDW.I also think its a very small minority of the people. If you look at the thousands that visit WDW daily only a few really seem to be at odds with their kids.
We recently got back from a week at WDW, and the group included my 2 yr. old grandaughter. No commando, regular naps, lots of pool/play time, very laid back. No problems.

 

[BrianTime]

Thank you for this thread! It has caused me to look inward and have a new appreciation for what our trips are all about.

My wife and I went to WDW on our honeymoon. I remember making the joke to her that Disney was the child abuse capitol of the world

I saw more children being yelled at, pushed, pulled and forced into strollers and buckled than I ever thought possible.

Fast forward 7 years and three children later....I am one of the guilty. How is it my 2 year old does not understand that he NEEDS to go on POTC?!?! Doesn't he understand that we have ducks at home??? Didn't they hear me on the phone making all of those PS reservations???

Honestly - the feedback in this thread has really helped me to gain a new outlook on our vacation.

Thank you all.

 

[sandygirl]

I really like this thread.

BrianTime - I enjoyed your post. Hope your next vacation is Magical!

MzEeyore - I hope you got to do some of the things you, personally, wanted to do on your trip. How wonderful it would be for your daughter to experience and share in your pleasure. My daughter is pretty much the center of my world and nothing makes me happier than to see her beaming face. And she is truly an appreciative child who sincerely expresses thanks for even the smallest gift or kindness. I think that it is important for her to experience the gift of giving pleasure, as well as receiving. When she waits patiently while her daddy listens to Off-Kilter play in Epcot she knows that makes him happy. She also knows that we will stop and watch the Moving Statues in France for as long as she wants to and we will stand in the long line for Dumbo just for her.

My DD just read this back to me and said we always have fun TOGETHER

 

[MzEeyore]

I didn't mean to imply that we didn't do the things that I wanted to do because we do those things too. My daughter and I are so much alike that she enjoys the things that I want to do too. I just meant that we usually do the things that she wants to do first and then we move on to the things that I want to do. That method seems to work best for us. Of course there is not a lot at Disney that both of us don't want to do so it makes it easy to have a good time since both of us love it all.

 

[Dznefreek]

You pay all this money to make your kid happy and they don't understand what you try to do for them

Happiness cannot be bought. You are assuming every kid wants to go to WDW. Guess what, they don't!

 

[goofyernmost]

Although I agree with that statement that not all kids want to go there is another part of that story.

Children are taught. They are not born understanding or all knowing. If they don't want to go to WDW it is, in all probability because they cannot imagine the concept.

It is like foods that kid won't eat even before they have tried it. They do not always know what is good for them and it is the JOB of the parent to help them experience the world. I will repeat that the anger and frustration comes from unrealistic expectations, that they will be just a thrilled about specific things that their parents are. They might not enjoy any part of WDW but they will never know until they go and I think it is highly unlikely that they won't find anything fun.

 

[sandygirl]

You and your daughter sound an awful lot like me and mine. Isn't it great to have someone to share girl things with? I want her to stay my little traveling companion forever. I especially cherish those "just before bed" heart to heart chats, too. Trust me they grow too fast. You are so smart to take the time to share her world now! God bless you.

 

[MzEeyore]

Hi Sandy,
I honestly can't remember life before her. She is my world. We have such a great time together no matter what we do but something about Disney just brings us closer together. She shares the same passion for Disney (some would say obesession lol) as I do and I am so looking forward to our trip in a couple of days. Its just me and her again and I can't wait.

 

[Janell Ebert]

My family calls them Kodak moments when we see someone melting down. Adults are as bad as kids. Yes I have lost it with my family. To much time together. I am use to them being at work or school not with me every waking hour, when I walk further than I ever do in a normal day, spend more money for food than usual etc. etc. My children are teenagers now. But we took them out to eat at restaurants when they were young at least once a month. If you acted up one adult got to eat the other toured the outside of the eating place and then we switched places. Its boring for little people to wait for both adults to eat. But they learn that dessert is a nice thing to have after a meal if you behave. We often did walks after ordering meals so we weren't in eating places to long. We also learned to order food before we left home. Our favorite pizza place took 30 minutes to make your order. Had people ask waitress why we got our food so quickly. They'd laugh and say we ordered before we came.