How much say do you give kids on holidays?

[wideeyes]

Hi, I am just wondering as I a holiday booked for next feb 2 weeks at the AKL which i thought my DD would love, we just got the new WDW planing DVD and have just watched it togther. Once DD saw the All Star resorts she decided that is where she wants to stay! which is a lot cheaper than AKL.

However it is my dream holiday too, and I have my heart set on the AKL. Family have said "well you go for the kids, so choose the hotel that they would like" However I am also going to wdw for me.

Would you choose the hotel based on what your kids want or what you want?

 

[natalielongstaff]

tough one i think as im paying i would choose the hotel i wanted your dd will have a magical time wherever she is staying

 

[mandymouse]

tough one i think as im paying i would choose the hotel i wanted your dd will have a magical time wherever she is staying

I agree, though I would probably book a couple of nights at the other Resort as well, then you're both catered for

 

[Kevin Stringer]

Sorry, but I would book the hotel I wanted.

It may seem a bit harsh, but I pay for the holiday, I get one per year (normally!) and I would not let my children decide where I was going to stay.
Let's face it, they'll have a fantastic time wherever they stay.

My children are always involved in the planning and enjoy it very much, but the final decision is mine. Or to be more accurate, Tam's. Every dog knows his place in the pecking order!

Kev

 

[jns]

tough one i think as im paying i would choose the hotel i wanted

me too

if she wants tp help with the planning let her help with the dinning plans

 

[higgy66]

How old is your daughter?

If it were me I would start planting hints about the neagatives of staying at the All Stars and the positives of AKL.

e.g. Hey look - if we stop at the AKL we can do this........

Somebody on the Dis board said that when they stopped at All Stars they didn't like...........what do you think?

If they feel they're "helping" in the decision (which you've already made ) it works wonders rather than a dictation of what's happening.

You may have to make a few things up but hey - at the end of the day they think they made the decision and alls well that ends well.

My two DD are only young 4 & 3 but I'm constantly having to "help" them change their minds about stuff. I mean who wants to wear shorts and sandels in this weather

 

[Nubbedy]

I have to say I would go for my choice, especially for a dream holiday. If you go back to WDW another time, you could involve her in choosing, but for now I would definitely go for AKL.

Sara.

 

[brightspark]

When dh and I were thinking of buying DVC I wondered whether children would prefer to go to a resort like allstars which are very bright and 'disney-fied'. Our DVC guide's comment was really helpful - he said that his kids get disney all day, but the hotel is the place for time out, and for everyone to relax after a hard day's disney-ing! Having thought about this, I think that this is a really good way to look at it.

However it wouldn't hurt to have a couple of days at the end of your holiday at an allstar resort - but do it at the end not the beginning!

By the way we just stayed at AKL and it is beautiful and if your dd loves animals she's going to have an awesome time.

 

[KayleeUK]

My two DD are only young 4 & 3 but I'm constantly having to "help" them change their minds about stuff. I mean who wants to wear shorts and sandels in this weather

LOL

I can see us splitting our stay one year with the All Star Movies - for Joseph of course

 

[wideeyes]

I am with the mind that it is my holiday too and I will be doing plenty of stuff I don't really want to do in the parks like queueing up forever just to ride a flying elephant! and it seems like all my planing at the moment is just geared at keeping my DD and Sister entertained. so the hotel is the only thing that I have chosen for ME.

It just I get comments like "you go to Disney for the Kids and its about keeping them happy" which seems to imply that I am selfish.

Its really hard to plan for this holiday as I have a 5 year old who wants "Disney" i.e characters, Magic Kingdom, parades, does not like scary stuff, does not eat burgers or fizzy drinks and my 18 year old sister who want just wants roller coasters, water parks and shopping Malls,"does not do parades or fire work shows" and only eats burgers on holiday.
I was not planing on going to Bush Gardens however my sister said that it is her favourte park so now we are going, as know I will feel guilty for dragging her around Magic Kingdoms Fantasyland when its not her thing, and then I feel guilty for taking DD to a park where she can not go on most the rides.

I think booking two nights at the end of the holiday seems a good idea.

 

[wideeyes]

My two DD are only young 4 & 3 but I'm constantly having to "help" them change their minds about stuff. I mean who wants to wear shorts and sandels in this weather

I have this with my DD now, who is 5, I got her some lovely summer clothes last year from Monsoon and every day she tries to wear them, even if its snowing. They are aged 4-6 so I said she can take them to WDW with her.

 

[alisonbestford]

I agree with Mandy
I'd book the majority of the holiday at AKL but spend a couple of nights at AllStars

 

[jns]

Let your 18 year old DS do somethings on her own and enjoy disney time with you DD
We done this with my DS last year

 

[carolfoy]

I'd go for a week in each and save some money! my colleague spent years taking her kids to WDW, on the cruises, stayed at AKL, the poly and everything.
She won a week at Butlins and decided to combine it with a stay at the inlaws shortly after returning from WDW, when they visited granny the kids were asked about their recent holiday, the gabbled on for hours excitedly about stuff Colleen was thinking 'I don't remember that' and of course they were so excited by Butlins!
Kids have no concept of money and if they go abroad frequently a 5 star hotel is the same as a 2 star - as long as they've a pool they're happy (and believe me I've families who spend upwards of 15-20k every time they go)

 

[wideeyes]

Kids have no concept of money and if they go abroad frequently a 5 star hotel is the same as a 2 star - as long as they've a pool they're happy (and believe me I've families who spend upwards of 15-20k every time they go)

I completely agee with that, and I don't expect my DD to understand the cost of what the different hotels, she is not thinking "oh that hotel looks more expensive so it must be better". She is attracted to the bright colours and big icons of the all star resorts and they look fun to her which makes it the best hotel choice for her. I have researched the All stars and they seem fine and I am sure we would have a great time there, I think my sister would love it to, It just me who wants to stay at AKL.

 

[carolfoy]

so book your week last then you've the best to look forward to! I loved the ASMo (much more than POP!) and didn't like the AKL (I only looked around, didn't stay there though) so keep your best til last.
My son usually has equal say in what we do on our holidays, but its not unusual for us to have 3 or 4 a year. For instance when we go to spain he can have his day on the beach if I can have my day wandering around cathedrals and in Canada he'll get his white water rafting and quad biking if I can get my hot spring spa and bear watch

 

[wideeyes]

I think it is a good idea to book one week at All Star Movies, best of both worlds.

We are planing a trip to Canada for next summer as DBF has been before and loved it though I am completely stuck on what to book with a 6 y/o. I don't want her white water rafting and quad biking at 6! The only thing I can think of is that she would love whale watching which I guess is season dependant.
DBF is keen on the trip though.

 

[carolfoy]

go june or september for best of whales and least of prices - they really do skyrocket in august! we saw whole pods and baby orcas too in June one year.

 

[TinkTatoo]

When we went at Christmas I gave the kids the choice of the hotel for the first 5 nights. They picked the AKL and while we had a good time but I wouldn't rush to stay there again. In your case I'd sell your DD on the plus points of the AKL which include a great pool and slide and at her age some great poolside games with the life guards which were the highlight of AKL for my two (8 & 9)

If you really don't fancy staying at the All Stars then don't tell your DD you will take her to see the resort and you can have something to eat there or buy her something from the shop and that if she really likes it you might consider staying there on another Disney holiday. If you don't mind moving hotels then, as others have suggested, stay at the All Stars at the beginning and then move to the AKL. You don't have to do 7 nights at each - you could have 5 nights at AS and a longer stay at AKL if that's your favorite

As for feeling guilty about making your sister do the stuff your DD wants - don't. This is everyone's holiday. If you think your Sis will be bored in MK let her go round on her own and arrange to meet her later in the day and if you and DD want to see the parades and fireworks go for it.