KidCot FunSpot - Is this rude or is it me?

[Principessa Alba]

I am 23 and took time to color and create a mask for my friend's birthday. The Cast Members all wrote 'Happy Birthday' in their language and a special message to him and I had a lot of fun decorating the mask. It was something memorable that he was so excited to get. I guess I had no idea that I was too old for it. Hmmm....

Get out the rocking chair honey! No more coloring for you!!!!

My DD likes to color too! In fact, that's one of my very, very favorite things at WDW, seeing teenagers act like kids again, not caring about looking cool, capturing a little magic and talking a vacation from having to worry about appearances. Let them be kids too!!!!

(of course sometimes they are just doing it to flirt with the foreign castmembers, but that's OK too!)

 

[nibby]

My sons (aged 13 and 14) love to collect the masks, along with the stamps and messages in each country. This time was particularly rewarding as they are both studying German and French at school and have visited Egypt on a number of occasions so also know a few words of Arabic. The CMs in each country took obvious pleasure from a couple of teenage boys making an attempt to converse with them in their own language. Kids grow up soon enough anyway, if teens want to colour then let them enjoy themselves too.

 

[cleo]

In fact, that's one of my very, very favorite things at WDW, seeing teenagers act like kids again, not caring about looking cool, capturing a little magic and talking a vacation from having to worry about appearances. Let them be kids too!!!!

AMEN! Mine wouldn't color to save his life (never did...strange, huh?) but some of my happiest Disney memories the past couple of years are watching my bigger-than-I-am teenager letting go of the 'cool' attitude and letting the magic take him. If that meant he sat down to color at a KidCot station, so be it. And that 4 year old next to him just got a positive example of keeping your heart young.

Lighten up, slow down and don't get bent about what everyone else is doing. It makes for a much happier vacation.

 

[noodleknitter]

While it is nice that your husband got so much from his visits to the kidcot area, how much sweeter would it have been for a small child?

The whole purpose of the kidcot stations was to entertain wee folk so the adults could get around the world without having to drag their little heinies. It is a shame that the adults want it all. I swear they'd take over the pirate's cruise given half a chance.

 

[lillygator]

While it is nice that your husband got so much from his visits to the kidcot area, how much sweeter would it have been for a small child?

The whole purpose of the kidcot stations was to entertain wee folk so the adults could get around the world without having to drag their little heinies. It is a shame that the adults want it all. I swear they'd take over the pirate's cruise given half a chance.

I am assuming you are talking to me since I posted the pics of my DH....look, we only go to the stops for our DD's ~ who are 3 and 1. I highly doubt we would sit and color if we didn't have children. However, that is not the point. It is available to everyone and we will wait our turn and then sit, color, get a stamp, converse with a CM who some parents and children don't even bother speaking to and in general have a GREAT time. Sorry you are so hung up on the fact that adults want it all.....

 

[Principessa Alba]

I am assuming you are talking to me since I posted the pics of my DH....look, we only go to the stops for our DD's ~ who are 3 and 1. I highly doubt we would sit and color if we don't have children.

Sorry I just got the funniest image of some guy un his 30's or 40's without kids at EPCOT just going around saying to his wife, "Wait a minute honey, I have to color at Italy now!"

Lillygator, I assumed you had kids!!

 

[shellybaxter]

While it is nice that your husband got so much from his visits to the kidcot area, how much sweeter would it have been for a small child?

The whole purpose of the kidcot stations was to entertain wee folk so the adults could get around the world without having to drag their little heinies. It is a shame that the adults want it all. I swear they'd take over the pirate's cruise given half a chance.

Actually the person it is nice for is the child. Can you imagine the great memories of her dad that sweet little girl will have. I can't believe anyone would want to take that kind of a memory away.

 

[noodleknitter]

Not hung up at all. I just think it is sad when the people who are supposed to be more mature feel it is all about them. 5 kids could have had a special time in that 20 minutes... but some are more important than others. Just more of the "all about me and mine" world that has emerged. Special memories with daddy can be made at home...it doesn't take coloring at WDW to make them. Or at least it shouldn't.

And, just in case in comes up, this didn't exist when my older kids were little, and my younger boys would rather explore the countries than color...so no sour grapes.

 

[outlander]

Actually the person it is nice for is the child. Can you imagine the great memories of her dad that sweet little girl will have. I can't believe anyone would want to take that kind of a memory away.

exactly. i wish more people would see the positive in these situations. we would all be a little better off for it.

 

[Rowlf]

The whole purpose of the kidcot stations was to entertain wee folk so the adults could get around the world without having to drag their little heinies.

Although I agree with the rest of your message, Kidcot is not babysitting. It's an activity for which you should stay nearby.

I really don't get this whole "adults can do whatever they want!" attitude I see here.

Let's face it, adults KNOW there's a person inside the Mickey suit. But my son thought that he really met Buzz Lightyear at DL a few months ago. That's the difference for me. And that's why I'd give up my space to let kids do things - because it is just more of an experience for them than it is for me. I love Disney, but it's not fair for me to take magic away from a little one.

Also, no one has mentioned that it is nearly impossible to get a preschooler to sit for an hour waiting for a parade. They simply won't do it. And how crazy is it that anyone will give up a significant portion of their day to see a parade? There's too much else to do. If we just all convened at the parade route right before the parade, it would work out fine. But then again, I also get angry when people reserve table spots at CS places before they get their food. People, if seating is tight, let people who are eating sit. They will be there for a short period of time. You taking up a space while you are not eating just makes the whole situation worse by slowing table turnover.

Okay. Getting off my soapbox now.

 

[wdwcoltsfan]

Not hung up at all. I just think it is sad when the people who are supposed to be more mature feel it is all about them. 5 kids could have had a special time in that 20 minutes... but some are more important than others. Just more of the "all about me and mine" world that has emerged. Special memories with daddy can be made at home...it doesn't take coloring at WDW to make them. Or at least it shouldn't.

And, just in case in comes up, this didn't exist when my older kids were little, and my younger boys would rather explore the countries than color...so no sour grapes.

This is one of the most depressing posts I have read. I went back to look at Lilygator's photos and I saw her dh sitting with his dd1. He wasn't taking up an extra chair. Unless, of course, people don't think dd1 deserved to be there because she couldn't color on her own. Those pictures made me smile. In a world where children live with parents who don't want to give them the time of day, those photos were wonderful. Of course, memories can be made at home, but not memories of WS. Honestly, do you think Walt would tell a father to get up because special memories with daddy could be made at home? Maybe parents should realize that disney is a wonderful, busy place and EVERYONE must wait their turn. I don't think one person is more important than another.

Lilygator-I hope you don't mind me referring to your pictures.

Rachel

 

[CheezDoodle]

I'm 12, and I love coloring at Kidcot stations. I don't think that it's just for little kids. Besides, I usually only stay at them long enough for CMs to do their thing to the mask. I color mine when I get home, I like my markers better.

 

[lillygator]

Not hung up at all. I just think it is sad when the people who are supposed to be more mature feel it is all about them. 5 kids could have had a special time in that 20 minutes... but some are more important than others. Just more of the "all about me and mine" world that has emerged. Special memories with daddy can be made at home...it doesn't take coloring at WDW to make them. Or at least it shouldn't.

And, just in case in comes up, this didn't exist when my older kids were little, and my younger boys would rather explore the countries than color...so no sour grapes.

I am crying for you...I certainly hope you were able to make special memories other places than just at home. How very sad if not. And as for the last part of your post - why would that even come up unless you are dwelling on the fact that it wasn't around when your kids were little?

Bottom line...WDW is our magical place. We go a lot, we love it there and will continue to go as long as it sticks around. We have done lots of magical things and met lots of wonderful people along the way. I've even managed to show extended family what it is all about.

You seem to personally feel that we feel it is all about us and are not mature - you are absolutely correct! It is all about us and at Disney we are always immature! It's the one place that truly makes me feel like a 10 year old! I can safely say that in all our trips and activities we have never done anything at the expense of another's family or children. If there were huge lines at the Kidcot's seriously we would bypass...it's not that huge of a deal. I for one, have never ever felt we were taking up someone's spot at the Kidcot stations...and never have the CM's made us feel that way either. In fact we've learned quite a few things over the years from them. I was truly shocked and really downtrodden that someone (well, obviously more than one person) feels that a free activity is taking away from you and yours. Many times the stations are empty! Some are in obscure places that you have to go and look for....

It's truly a shame that some people have no magic left in their heart. I would love for my great grandma to have a chance to sit and enjoy the mask making if she wanted to. It's a wonderful free activity...one that we will always take part in while they have it....look for us in October....this time I'll be taking up a seat as well now that my baby is a tad older she'll sit with me and color instead of her stroller and the eldest will sit with daddy - this will be their only memory making session this year....

 

[Principessa Alba]

Wow this thread is proof that any simple thing can get ugly and blown out of proportion!!! Now I have to worry that every space I take up at WDW is one that a child might want. C'mom guys! Why argue about this non-issue. I'm at WDW alot and I have never seen adults "taking over" the kidstops or playgrounds or characters or whatever! Why make an issue over something that is no big deal?

A dad coloring with his little one is just plain sweet! How could anyone think of it as otherwise!!!!

 

[CarolB]

This is one of the most depressing posts I have read. I went back to look at Lilygator's photos and I saw her dh sitting with his dd1. He wasn't taking up an extra chair. Unless, of course, people don't think dd1 deserved to be there because she couldn't color on her own. Those pictures made me smile. In a world where children live with parents who don't want to give them the time of day, those photos were wonderful. Of course, memories can be made at home, but not memories of WS. Honestly, do you think Walt would tell a father to get up because special memories with daddy could be made at home? Maybe parents should realize that disney is a wonderful, busy place and EVERYONE must wait their turn. I don't think one person is more important than another.

Lilygator-I hope you don't mind me referring to your pictures.

Rachel

Ditto!!!

 

[tracy51]

Oh my! I never would have thought that pictures of a father spending quality/memory making time with his daughter would be taken as evidence of bad behavior. If wonderful family memories shouldn't be made at WDW because they could be made at home, why does anyone come to WDW with their families? To stand in long lines with thousands of sweaty strangers?

From everything I've seen and heard, Walt created DL and presumable DW for families to enjoy together. I don't think he meant them only for families with children under a certain age. You walk through the turnstiles and everyone is a kid again. Some of my families magical memories are from witnessing magical moments others had - a little girl getting to wake Tinkerbell, a grown-man blushing when Minnie kissed his cheek. My daughter could have been the wake Tink, but knew that younger girl would enjoy it more. It's one of our fondest memories of our trip. Minnie could have been taking a picture with my DD instead of spending time with this grown-up, but it made us smile to see a man who probably is quite serious the rest of the year acting like a little boy. If all you can do is think about what you & yours are missing out on by someone else experiencing something then you are truly missing out on a great deal of the magic of Disney.

And for the record my daughter is 12 - not a "younger chid". We haven't hit the Kidcot stations yet because she hasn't been interested and would rather let someone younger who would enjoy it more do it. That's not to say she won't do it in the future and I might just plop down and join her. Chance to color with my teenager? Oh, yeah, priceless! And WDW might just be the only place where that oppurtunity would happen I mean she won't skip with me while we're shopping but she will skip with me in a nearly deserted Fantasyland. She won't sing silly songs with me in public at home, but will sing Its a Small World as soon as we pass under the castle. Some family memories are only possible in WDW.

 

[noodleknitter]

Well, it so nice to know that if my family of nine ets to the kidcot station a couple of minutes before you and your kids, that none of you will mind if we all sit down to color and chat for a half hour. Since it is our right, and all...

But there are two kinds of people, ones who would do that and ones that realize that there are other people in the world, too. And, that all little people are special, not just ours.

 

[cleo]

all little people are special, not just ours.

Take out the word 'little', and I agree with you 100%.

And yes, if your group of nine shows up before my group of 3, I'll gladly let you keep your seats.

 

[Principessa Alba]

Well, it so nice to know that if my family of nine ets to the kidcot station a couple of minutes before you and your kids, that none of you will mind if we all sit down to color and chat for a half hour. Since it is our right, and all...

But it is your right! If you are having fun there, there are plenty of things to do at EPCOT, and we can come back some other time!

 

[Rowlf]

On another thread, people are talking about how to get into the Magical Beginnings in Fantasyland without toddlers. Aaarrggh. Let kids enjoy the magic while they still can!!!