How Did You Explain What Disney Is?

[imktdqt810]

My DS is 7 and is well aware that every night since Jan 1st I have been trying to enter in the sweepstakes. When he looks over my shoulder and see the "congrats you are entered" he thinks we won. I keep telling him we prolly won't win but will go to Disney "some day". Then came the question...well what is it? I asked him what did he think it was and I just got a shoulder shrug of "I don't know, but I know you want to win and go". So far he has not asked again. We JUST booked for Sept and I read here once about telling your kids in advance and having them watch you tube videos of the rides so they know what to expect etc. I think we will tell him about it 4 weeks prior to leaving..something more of a timeframe he can deal with rather then "yes honey...we're going in 6 months" LOL. So...I just wondering....what do you start when your kids have asked..."what IS Dinsey?". Thanks!!!!

 

[Luvin*Livvy]

My DS is 7 and is well aware that every night since Jan 1st I have been trying to enter in the sweepstakes. When he looks over my shoulder and see the "congrats you are entered" he thinks we won. I keep telling him we prolly won't win but will go to Disney "some day". Then came the question...well what is it? I asked him what did he think it was and I just got a shoulder shrug of "I don't know, but I know you want to win and go". So far he has not asked again. We JUST booked for Sept and I read here once about telling your kids in advance and having them watch you tube videos of the rides so they know what to expect etc. I think we will tell him about it 4 weeks prior to leaving..something more of a timeframe he can deal with rather then "yes honey...we're going in 6 months" LOL. So...I just wondering....what do you start when your kids have asked..."what IS Dinsey?". Thanks!!!!

'It's the most wonderful, magical place on earth!"
My kids have been a few times each and I am terrible with keeping secrets...so they both know exactly what it is....they've watched youtube videos, seen pictures, checked out the disney site with me all prior to going. My youngest was 9mths last she went, and she's 3 now...she's watched our home videos and plenty of youtube videos...as well as my older daughter telling her all about it!
We also do a count down chain.....we make those construction paper chains about 2 mths prior to leaving and my kids each rip a link off every night before bed..they take turns and LOVE watching the chain get smaller. I have each link labeled "60 more days" and count it down to "1 more day" on the last link! We are at 15 more days right now!
When you do decide to explain or show him....I highly recommend this link for a youtube video. It brings tears to my eyes every time I watch it....and even though I don't know who these people are....it's amazing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQHfvKIqr1s
GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN!!

 

[ah1126]

Sorry I don't have much advice for you. My DD is almost 2, so I have just been telling her that we are going to Mickey Mouse's house.

Has he ever been to an amusement park? You could explain how it is like that and so much more!

 

[imktdqt810]

Not really to an amusement park. Once a year to the county fair...but it's small with just a few kiddie rides for him. Here lately when we go to that all the rides are for the teens/adults.

 

[EKW]

My boys were Disneyfied from toddlerhood, even though I chose to wait until they were about 4 for their first trips.

The Disney Sing Alongs were very popular when my older son was little. We had them all, but he loved the Disneyland and Beach ones the best. There's a little boy in the Disneyland one who looks just like my son did at age 2. For awhile, he was convinced that he was the little boy in the video.

For our first trip, that was about all I did other than expose him to the movies that the rides are themed around.

For later trips, I made sure my kids watched the Disney trip video, the Samantha Brown and Seasons of Disney travel shows, some youtube videos, and that they had guide books. My older son was about 10 when he discovered the "Engineering" guides. Both boys like the Disney for Kids line.

Building background knowledge is so much a part of what I do every day that I can't fathom taking children on a "cold" trip to Disney. I want my kids to understand and enjoy what they're experiencing. I have to say, we've had four outstanding trips.

 

[dizneechic]

It's a tough one to explain because you'll either "get it" and love it or it will just be another fun vacation spot for you. Me, my oldest ds and dd are Disney freaks, my dh goes along for the ride because he enjoys seeing us in our happy place, and my middle ds would rather swim and lounge at the resorts (whose child is this?!)

We explained it before their 1st trips as a video game. They were familiar with the environments (no matter the game) and how everything in it related to the games and characters and they are totally immersed in the adventure. So sure when explaining we mentioned Disney has rides, theming, great resorts, etc, but when you look around there is so much attention to the small stuff you would never think about that it truly makes the parks magical. It's like going into your own game for a week and being totally surrounded by the environment and everywhere you look there is a new adventure and something to explore.

 

[Camshell]

Our house is like a mini-Magic Kingdom (has been for years) since our son was born, so our kids haven't ever asked what Disney was.

However, if you want to immerse him and your family in Disney, you might want to have Disney music (parks, backgrounds, parades, etc.) playing at home. We normally listen to the various Disney radio internet programs, etc. at home when making dinner, hanging out, etc. We also watch tons of cool Disney clips on You Tube, and my kids have seen tonnes of Disney movies, videos, etc. (you can get from the library if you don't want to buy).

We also involve our kids in the trip planning so they can learn what is going on and how things work. We have Wii and my son just got the Disney Universe game and he also had epic Mickey last year. All these things really set the stage for knowing what you are looking at and seeing in the parks.

Not sure if you can explain what Disney is. I think you can try and show the various moving parts ahead of time, then go there and then let your son experience the magic.

 

[AshleeH]

We did the "Most magical place on earth" line when describing it. We watched the YouTube videos, they knew from the commercials that are on all the time, they knew the characters would be there. They had also been to a couple of amusement parks and my oldest loved roller coasters, so he knew we would ride some and that's all he was looking forward to.

It's really good (and easier) to keep some of it a mystery. You don't want to burn them out on talking about it and there really is no way to describe it for them to completely get what the entire experience will be. The amazement on their faces is so fantastic!

 

[shopgirl78]

We went when my children were turing 4 & 2 (and I was pregnant with #3). The entire car ride from AL to Orlando was spend, "I want to go back to grandma's house..." despite my little (princess freak) girl knowing we were going to go visit Ariel and Cinderella's castle. As soon as we got there, "oh, you wanted to go back to grandma's house?" Nope. I agree I'd go with the most magical place on earth--its an accurate description.

We are book in December 2011 for March 2012 and didn't tell the kids to Valentine's Day. My 4 yr olds remembers; my 2 year old DS not so much....she had the biggest reaction. We put a whole bunch of Disney ballons in a big box with a note (actually several) that she could read, "we are going to Disney World for Spring break." She clapped and was excited but nothing over the top. They are really excited to go and DD has been talking about it the most...but no some much I want to pull my hair out.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

It's fun to try and explain but it's Disney! You can't explain it, you have to experience it. I think even more so for a child.

Kids have no expectations to fill because just the idea of going to meet their favorite characters is enough to get them excited to go.

 

[Vowelmommy]

If you request the free vacation planning DVD and let him watch it, he will get it!

 

[imktdqt810]

Thank you to all who replied. DS knows that Disney makes movies (he's a big fan of those) and he saw the commericals but nothing has sunk in. I don't think he has a single clue that there are rides. I was going to show him the you tubes of some rides he might be hesitant about (like pirates of the caribbean). He loved that movie but might not like it being dark.. I'm ready to tell him about the magic...but that won't be fair to him that it will be another 6 months until we leave. So I'll wait and keep the magic to me for now!!