How do you prepare your children for Disney?

[Disney_Sarah]

Hi all,

We will be going to Disney world in just over a years time with our just turned 3 year old.
This weekend we had a friends party where their were some 'character' visitors. Our little one did not enjoy it at all. It made me think about how I could prepare him for Disney next year.

What do you do to prepare children?

Also a bit concerned about him going on 'rides' (child friendly ones) as he wasn't keen on the little land train he went on either!

I thought about showing him clips of different disney bits, next spring taking him too a Local theme park. I worry that he is going to be terrified!

Xx

 

[Aliceacc]

Know that he may simply be afraid of characters, and that it may be something you can't change.

When my kids were young the Disney characters TERRIFIED them. One thing that worked well was letting the child push his empty stroller. That stroller creates a buffer between him and the perceived threat from the characters.

I think it's less a case of preparing him to adapt than adapting your own mindset. The idea is to give him a vacation he can enjoy, on whatever level that may happen to be. So, for example, you may find that you spend more time at the Kidcot stations at Epcot, and less on the actual rides. (this was my youngest in 2009-- avoiding the very same rides she had loved the year before!!!!)

But if that's what gives him joy, that's what you do.

It's hard to do. Your head is screaming "Are you crazy??? We're in Disney World!!! Get on to the rides!!!!" But my own opinion is that it's about what gives them joy, not about what I think SHOULD give them joy... know what I mean???

 

[mm1971]

Hi all,

We will be going to Disney world in just over a years time with our just turned 3 year old.
This weekend we had a friends party where their were some 'character' visitors. Our little one did not enjoy it at all. It made me think about how I could prepare him for Disney next year.

What do you do to prepare children?

Also a bit concerned about him going on 'rides' (child friendly ones) as he wasn't keen on the little land train he went on either!

I thought about showing him clips of different disney bits, next spring taking him too a Local theme park. I worry that he is going to be terrified!

Xx

DD was always scared of the characters until age 9. We still did the character breakfasts and allowed DS and those we were traveling with to do M&G. She would visit with the princesses and such, just not the full costumed characters. I'm not sure there is a way to "prepare" for them. I wouldn't force him. If he wants to visit OK, if not find something else he likes to do.

Does he do small carnival rides or carousels? We never had any issues going on family or child type rides. I would say to go ahead and watch them and see his reaction. My suggestion is to start with rides like IASW, Dumbo, People Mover and maybe Buzz Ranger spin. Those are very tame and fun for little ones. Ease him into it. Then let him decide on what else he would like. It may be that he will want to go on the same thing several times so be ready for that possibility.

One thing that helped my anxious DS to start riding more things was we went with friends. No one forced him, but when he realized the others were going and having fun, he started joining in and riding. It's always more fun and exciting to ride with friends, cousins, brother or sisters and it takes a lot of the fear away when other small children they trust are inviting them along.

 

[monorailsilver]

I didn't prepare my kids other then them watching you tube videos of rides.

Each one was different. My oldest loved all the characters but the face ones (Cinderella, etc...). She was 15 months old. My son (22 months) loved all the characters but only if we were holding him. My youngest was 2 1/2 and she loved them all because she watched her siblings.

Some rides they got scared on because they were dark but we tried to point to things for them to look at.

 

[Trina0981]

I haven't tried it myself, but I've heard a few people say to show them YouTube videos of other young children interacting with the characters. Good luck!

 

[Lupeix]

Kids that age change a lot in 6 months, so things will be different next year
That said, what worked for us was getting the free Disney planning DVD. It shows a lot of kids interacting with characters, and prepares them for how big they really are
There's a section called " little ones" that it is specially good for that. My son watched it over an over the month before, toddlers like repetition. His favorite character is pooh and I kept telling him he was going to meet the real one at a place called crystal palace. Character meals are better for testing how kids will react to characters, you do no want to force an interaction
When we got there he was looking forward to meeting the real pooh and even requested the Dumbo ride by name and he was 2 1/2. We rode it 5 times and we did very few rides. We also never made a firework, but DS had a blast. So go at their pace.
DS still watches the DVD on occasion and talks about the trip, and it has been a year!
I am getting it again for our trip next year

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

YouTube is your friend. There's a great video set to "When you wish upon a star" with all the characters playing with kids outside the Castle that my little guy loves (Same age)

 

[figment3258]

YouTube is great tons of videos for character and rides shows and fireworks.

 

[Disney_Sarah]

Can't thank you enough for your replies.
Lots of useful suggestions.

He has nearly 13 months before we go so hoping by doing these things will help prepare him. I can see us spending a lot of our time at water parks and he loves the water!

Xx