my 7 year old doesn't wanna go to Disney

[Mickeyherewecome123]

I'm super super bummed that my 7 year old son said he doesn't wanna go on our upcoming Disney trip. He said DIS is for babies. I was shocked, because we've gone 2 times and hes loved it each time.

Anyone go through this with their kiddos? And any advice on how to get him excited to go?

please help!
thanks
Fran

 

[Brer Shay]

Take him anyway!

We're telling our kids about our summer trip this Friday. My oldest and youngest are soooooo hoping that we get to go (talk about it almost daily). My middle, age 10, says she'd rather stay home with grandma. Well, we're all going and I have ZERO doubt that she will be thrilled while she's there. They're kids, they don't know everything about Disney or fully what they like and don't like. If he's your only one, just don't talk about it too much and he'll probably come around.

 

[walkdmc]

I bet his attitude will change once he gets there. Don't worry one bit about his thinking WDW is for babies, both my boys went through this phase. They love WDW but have to put up the "cool" front...it's a developmental thing and totally normal.

Take him and enjoy. I wouldn't spend time trying to get him excited about going, that rarely worked for us. Just go and you'll see how much fun he has.

And you have my sympathy, it stinks when you do all that planning and think it's not wanted. I made T-shirts, bought kids' WDW guide books, a bunch of Disney movies to explain the rides/themes, involved them in the dining reservations, etc. They just got increasingly annoyed so I got a reaction opposite of what I was expecting. By the time we got to WDW, I was a mess hoping everyone loved every second (so we could go back, LOL). Just relax. We had a great time. I casually mentioned maybe wanting to go there in June, after they get out of school and they were so excited. I almost felt bad I mentioned it without serious intentions of going in June :/

 

[Mickeyherewecome123]

I bet his attitude will change once he gets there. Don't worry one bit about his thinking WDW is for babies, both my boys went through this phase. They love WDW but have to put up the "cool" front...it's a developmental thing and totally normal.

Take him and enjoy. I wouldn't spend time trying to get him excited about going, that rarely worked for us. Just go and you'll see how much fun he has.

I have to thank you so much for saying this about the "cool front" because thats exactly what I was thinking it was with him.

I'm thinking the idea of just dont talk about it too much is a great idea.

Thanks

 

[jenbarnwell]

My 7 year old son LOVES to go! But I am having the same issue with my ten year old daughter, not that she thinks its for babies, but she doesnt want to miss school! She wants to stay home with her grandma too! In Sept/Oct, we went to disney for 10 days, and now we are going down for Star Wars Weekend, but I am not bringing her. Just my son and I are going! My husband, 10 year old, and 2 year old are staying home. When we go back in February though we will all be going, whether she likes it or not!

 

[tmarquez]

I know that's dissapointing...but I'd just drop it...he'll have fun when he gets there.

OR

You could tell him that he is 7...and IS a baby...then give him a big kiss in front of his friends.

 

[edk35]

Oh he will have a good time. 7 is such a young age to feel that way. Is he missing something at home? When was the last time he went? Are there new things you can show him online that are there now compared to when you were last there? Are you staying at a different resort that you have not stayed at? I can't imagine a little one like that ...not wanting to go. It breaks my heart that my 17 year old doesn't want to go again. He started feeling like this around 15/16 but he has still gone. HE took a friend in Jan. and that was fun for him. Although..he swears he is NOT going anymore.


Try and include him in the planning process..... that might be just the thing to get him excited about going.

 

[bartleby1]

I see from your signature that you have two 7 year old sons? Are both of them feeling the same way? If not, I'd ignore the negative ("It's for babies") attitude and concentrate on the positive with the son who wants to go. Play it up big with the positive one... show him things on the internet, watch videos with him of disney rides, shows, etc. The other one may just get a bit jealous which might pull him out of the "too cool for disney" act.

If both of them are feeling that way, I'd ignore it for now. They'll have fun once you get there!

 

[gillenkl]

My kids love disney but they also are interested in going other places. This year we're tacking a 4 day beach trip at the end of our disney trip. So far, they are more excited about the beach part of the trip I know they will still have a great time at disney, I mean, it IS disney right?

 

[An_Island_Girl]

My DD7 would rather spend a vacation in Mexico or Jamaica, than a Disney one. Her preferred vacation style is laid back, which is exactly what Disney is not.

She said that for our next Florida vacation, she'd like to spend half of the time at Universal (we've never been), and the other half at Disney. We value her opinion, and I think that is what we'll try next time. She is so excited to try the "big-kid" rides at Universal, as we feel all Disney rides are rather tame in comparison.

It seems that by age 7/8 they think are way to old for the type of rides that you just sit on and watch the scenes go by. (You're never too old!!! But they have such a strong desire to be a "big-kid".)

Good Luck!

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

My DH did the same thing 2 weeks before our trip in 2004 while we were dating...actually his words were "I don't see how this will be any fun." I nearly cancelled the trip...We went anyway and within an hour DH was on the phone with his mother telling her how cool this place was! They want to act cool at any age!

 

[delmar411]

Maybe someone at school said it was babies? My 7yr old is nearly bouncing off the walls in excitement.

And I agree with a PP, he's 7...that's still a baby! LOL

 

[EllenFrasier]

Maybe he is remembering what he did the last time he was there when he was younger and considers that too babyish. He's a little older now, so he will get to do things he didn't get to do last time. I would not feed on his negativity, just ignore his comments and go on with planning the trip. I'm sure he will get excited once he is there - who wouldn't?

 

[friend2Figment]

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.

 

[Mickeyherewecome123]

His twin brother is so excited to go!
And he went on every ride last time with the exeption of RNR because he was just an inch too short. So he knows there are "bigger kid" rides there.

I think someone at school may have said Disney is for babies. Because now that I think about it, he doesn't want to wear his Mickey, Donald, Goofy or toy Story t-shirts to school anymore. Peer pressure at this age already...this stinks!!

I agree, I know he will have a great time. Gonna just put it on the back burner right now since its still 6 months away. And after a while I'll let him go on youtube and search out some of the rides...he'll love that since he's been begging me to go on Youtube and I keep telling him no, hes too young.

 

[Mickeyherewecome123]

my dh did the same thing 2 weeks before our trip in 2004 while we were dating...actually his words were "i don't see how this will be any fun." i nearly cancelled the trip...we went anyway and within an hour dh was on the phone with his mother telling her how cool this place was! They want to act cool at any age!

lol...

 

[kimara]

We used to live and Vegas and went to Disneyland often. Then we moved into Northern Nevada and it became a 10 hour trip in the car each way. We still went about twice a year. When my oldest was 8 he decided he didn't want to go on a trip I was taking, so we left him home! DH had to stay for work so I just took my dear daughter and made babysitting arrangements for my son to be with his friends all day. He was happy with his choice...until we called him from Dland at night.

It was a great experience and he hasn't wanted to skip a family trip since then. I couldn't have done this if Disney trips were rare, but I am SO glad I did it. He is now addicted to Disney like the rest of the family.

 

[honeydiane1953]

I did NOT read all posts but here's my opinion. SOME people(hard to believe) do not enjoy DISNEY. I wouldn't take ANYONE who didn't want to go. My grandkids for example would rather just go to the pool anyway. The trip is tiring and believe me I LOVE IT so if I were to take someone who didn't want to go then it would make him/her/me miserable.

 

[disneyfreakk]

My DD7 would rather spend a vacation in Mexico or Jamaica, than a Disney one. Her preferred vacation style is laid back, which is exactly what Disney is not.

She said that for our next Florida vacation, she'd like to spend half of the time at Universal (we've never been), and the other half at Disney. We value her opinion, and I think that is what we'll try next time. She is so excited to try the "big-kid" rides at Universal, as we feel all Disney rides are rather tame in comparison.

It seems that by age 7/8 they think are way to old for the type of rides that you just sit on and watch the scenes go by. (You're never too old!!! But they have such a strong desire to be a "big-kid".)

Good Luck!

I think this is a good compromise. Have you guys ever gone to Universal?

 

[dimimi]

We always mix up our trips. We might do Disney one year and then do 3 years of something else. There is a lot to see besides Disney. I enjoy going to Disney, but our kids have enjoyed all of the trips. I think Disney is a different kind of trip and we always went with a different mindset. Our disney trips were busy....and some of our beach trips were relaxing...the cruises were different...Mexico different.

But, I have to say, wherever I felt the family vacation would be, we would have our 7 year old go! Our kids are older now, 17 and 13, but at 7, they went where we scheduled. At their ages now, we ask their opinions. (I hope this makes sense.)