my 7 year old doesn't wanna go to Disney

[lilrooster76]

Our 8 year old didn't want to go until I started to pay the bill!!! Then his story sure changed! ADD ME AD ME! was all i heard when he saw only 2 listed on the quote

 

[mb_uh]

Sounds like peer pressure. While I think it is good to allow children to voice their opinion and sometimes allow them to make decisions, your vacation is your choice. I am sure he will come around once he is there.

I think given then way society is going today that boudaries are very important and while we all have personal feeling about different things, we do not get our way all the time and that is one of the most valuable lessons kids need today.

 

[hopemax]

I'd take him, but plan the "anti-baby" swap the first day and from time to time. "So Expedition Everest, well, that has a height requirement, so it can't be "for babies" I guess you can ride that one. Kilimanjaro Safaris, no height requirement, so that must be for babies, I know you don't want to do things for babies, so we'll sit here while Dad takes any other kids on the ride. Pirates, Haunted Mansion, no height requirements, so you don't want to subject him to those baby rides either. But give him an "out," "but if you don't want to sit here, or you don't want to go shopping in the store with Mom while Dad rides, I suppose you could ride...but I know it won't be fun for you."

I think he'll come around sooner rather than later for most attractions. But if he doesn't want to get a photo with Mickey, or ride It's a Small World, I would let him "win" by not having to do so.

 

[puffkin]

That is why we never tell DS5 about our trips. Ever. I know one day he will get to the "i'm too cool for disney" stage. We go twice a year. We usually just tell him as we are heading out the door. Sometimes we don't even bother telling him and wait to see how long it takes him to figure it out (usually about 1/2 way to the airport).

I will say that while we plan lots of fun activities for him every trip we have never made our trips all about him. Now that he is older we are starting to add some non-disney things to our trips to help combat this exact thing. But, vacations are for mommy and daddy just as much as DS. Once he can foot the bill, then he can pick where he goes And, I would have NO problems leaving him at home if he ever got to the point of not wanting to go and it would make everyone elses trip miserable. I never vacationed as a kid (parents didn't have the money) and I survived

 

[blanq]

There are Disney people (kids and adults) and there are non-Disney people. I don't think it is an age-related issue, but a like/dislike issue. I have a 17 y.o. DS who just earlier this week told me he missed WDW. He also has said, as a teen, that you are never too old to outgrow the characters. He is Disney people.

 

[mommyoftwinfants]

I had the same problem last year but with a job change and moving we had to cancel, they were both heartbroken that we didn't go. I was confused because they both told me on several occasions they were Disney'd out and didn't want to go back

 

[beansmom]

i may be old-fashioned and sooo politically incorrect but...

when did we start ASKING our children for permission?? We all know he's going to enjoy it once he gets there. When I was a kid, we were told to get in the car. We never dreamed of telling our parents we didn't want to go.

Take him anyway...sometimes the few have to go along with the majority, whether it's their favorite option or not. If you leave him with Grandma, he won't like that either.

 

[pintamino]

A boy I babysat when I was in high school is around that age now, and at least when I saw him at Christmas he was telling me all about their trip to Epcot?

I was around 10 the last time I went to Disney before this year. My brother (16) and I had been begging to go back for several years before we actually went! I think kids do go through the "that's for babies" stage, but then (at least we did) outgrow it and realize how cool Disney can be for families

7 just seems so young to be saying "that's for babies". Would it help if you showed him some videos of rides and things he wasn't old enough to do last time?

 

[Mickey & Minnie Mom]

It could be kids in their class are telling them that. My DSIL and her DD always told my kids that Disney is for babies. They have never been to Disney and have stated they would never go as she said it was way too expensive. But she offered that we could take her DD with us, and we could pay her whole way.
I think some parents tell their kids that Disney is for babies just so they stop asking to go. It seems all the kids that have told my kids that have NEVER been to Disney.
I am so glade my kids love Disney and love going.

I agree. DD(8) heard this for the first time this year from classmates and yes, they were the kids who have never been. Several classmates have been and not one of them said it was for babies.

When she told me that, I just asked her "Do you think it is for babies?" and she looked at me like I was crazy.

Love the comment that at 7 you are still a baby!

 

[Elianor]

My daughter just turned 8 and was ambivalent about the trip we are planning for September...until I got her on the Disboards and Allears.net and started including her in the planning. She is getting to help schedule the days (which days for which parks), the dining reservations and picking her top rides (she's finally big enough to ride Thunder Mountain Railroad and she's psyched).

I wouldn't discount the advice others have given (I wouldn't give my kids a choice of going, and yes I'm sure it's just peer pressure and some kid teasing him because that's what kids do)...but think about letting him do some planning with you...it really made a difference in how my girl views Disney.

On top of all that, she's gotten excited about planning stuff for her little brother too!

 

[suzieQ36]

If your time & budget permit, maybe you could take him to Seaworld or the NASA Museum while you're in the area!

 

[MinnieForMe]

We, as a family, love Disney but our oldest son, 13, does not! He enjoys it when he's there but he's not thrilled or excited about going. He hates crowds and the heat. His idea of a vacation would be one based in history like DC, Williamsburg, Gettysburg or the like. So, last week, we found the Titanic Exhibit in Orlando and included an outing just for him. He loved it. And, since he was a good sport about letting his sister who is 5 enjoy the princesses, we are taking the family to Williamsburg this summer.

I agree with the above poster. Find something in the area that your son is excited about. My son adores SeaWorld and Kennedy Space Center as well as the Classic Car Show at Old Town.

It may be a "cool" thing or it may be Disney is just not for your son. Our son didn't start complaining until about 9-10 but even when he was little I can remember him saying "I miss home". I know many adults who think Disney is a fate worse than death.

 

[Mickeyherewecome123]

Thanks everyone. I agree something non-disney would be a good idea. He would love the NASA museum. I may just add that to our todo list.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I wouldn't worry about it, he's 7. I wouldn't talk about it too much or let it get to you. He doesn't really get an opinion at this age, and kids are fickle anyway.

 

[TreslovesWDW]

I am having the same thing going on here.I know they will have fun once they get there,that is what I keep telling myself. The 12 yr old said she doesn't want to miss school and my 10 yr old said she rather go on the carnival cruise her teacher went on.

 

[Cdn Gal]

Please don't take this the wrong way but... since when does a 7 year old decide on vacations? I would tell him too bad, you should be thankful that you are even going. Then go, and you and your family (including the 7 year old) will have a wonderful time!

 

[mommycrawford]

It's funny that you posted this...I asked my DD if she wanted to go to France, and she said....,"Why wouldn't I just go to Disney, where I could go to France AND Magic Kingdom?" (duhhh???!!! )

Seriously though. If it is really an issue (which you say is bravado,) I would go to Epcot first, avoid the Nemo ride, and let him do the simulated roller coaster in innoventions that you get to design, and all the other cool stuff...Test Track, Soarin, etc., and he will eventually forget about being grown, and just have fun!

If you can plan it so that he has some totally bored time before your trip, all the better! It is hard to think that they are growing up, but he could just be stresed at school, ar even having hormone changes and just talking that way.

You are the grown up, you are in charge, and if you will have fun, I am sure he will too!

 

[Eastern]

Just bring him. My 17yo cool son said the same thing, and once he got there, he was loving it! Maybe your son is just afraid he will have to interact with the big characters; they see pics of them hugging everyone and that is intimidating to a kid.

 

[brat]

Back in college a friend and I planned our trip, we wanted to include her baby brother who was 7. He said it was for babies we told him we were going and he said its different for girls.My friend had gone on a high school trip where they looked at the math and science of everything.So we came up with things he could learn on the trip.We titled his "workbook" a 3rd grade one so he thought he was doing a bigger kid one.I borrowed 3rd grade science and math books from my Mom(grade-school teacher) so it would be just a little harder for him to do everything without some help.He loved going and braged to his friends that he got the good book for 3rd graders.We made sure the pictures showed him doing big kid things.Oh, he ate kid foods but we took his pic with his big sisters plate in front of him.Only his real friends knew he ate kid foods.

It became their family joke.

I did not tell my kids before we arrived.So we drive cross country without them knowing.Which worked for us.

 

[ytown818]

Our family went through the same situation a few weeks ago, except I have 3 boys not wanting to go. After doing some research I found a cruise was going to be alot cheaper. My son said, "I dont want to go on vacation to stand in line, that is not fun" Seriously, Disney is not a vacation, you need a vacation after that vacation....LOL
Yes, you can drag him back and do the Disney vacation, but in my opinion....there is sooo many other places to see and experience and Im so excited to share the cruise experience with my husband and boys.

Thats just my 2cents Good Luck