my DD will cry when we leave wdw, HELP!

[twinkletoesmom]

I know that my DD will be crying when we have to leave wdw I'm trying to think of something we can do to cheer her up. On our last trip to the outer banks in NC it caught mt DH off guard when she started to cry and he told her that we'd go back, well that was 3 years ago and we have no plans on going back anytime soon. I also know that if we get to go back to wdw it won't be for a very long time. I want to be prepared this time so my DH dosn't make any empty promises in a time of weakness. Anyone got any great ideas to cure the goodbye wdw blues? Thanks

 

[Happy4Disney]

That just happened to us last week. DD5 broke down as we were leaving Epcot. DD7 started crying nonstop at the airport. Although DH told them he had no idea when we could get back to WDW which probably made it worse. We popped into the Disney store at the airport for one last dose of magic and I let them pick out a few magnets and things to take home to our friends. While waiting for the plane we started looking at all of our pictures on our digital camera, we had some silly ones of DH wearing Minnie Mouse ears and the picture of me stumbling out of the Teacups all disoriented and dizzy made the kids laugh. We called Grandma (DH Mom) from the airport to tell her about the trip. Finally, I saved back some Disney "prizes" that I had picked up before the trip to keep them occupied on the plane: Disney books, stickers and word searches (my kids love those). It certainly helped although my kids still have shed a few tears once they were home because they miss it. We are working on photo albums, scrapbooks and a trip report to share with the rest of the family to prolong the feeling from the vacation. Good luck!

 

[ilovejack02]

SHe will be sad when you leave no matter what you do. From the looks of things it seems that everyone is sad when you leave Disney. I used to be a basket case as a child on the trip home from vacation and I still get very blue when we leave the beach each summer, I hate going back to real life.
Just discuss all the great memories you guys will have and maybe you two can do a scrapbook together when you get home.
PLUS hopefully you will get to go back one day!!!

 

[KimandBrian]

Hmmm...it sounds like she needs something "exciting" waiting for her when she gets home. Maybe you can give her a disposable camera and tell her you'll make a mini scrapbook from the trip? You could focus on that as a highlight for her return home? I'm sure the photographs would be extra special since she'd be the photographer.

 

[minkydog]

I was going to suggest you make a funny game out of it, like who can cry the loudest or make the craziest sad face. I think you need to acknowlege that your DD has strong feelings about leaving something she loves. My DS was that way. One way we dealt with it was by bringing it up early and talking through "When we have to leave, I'm going to say 'Goodbye Mickey' and then I will smile the hardest smile I can so no tears will leak out" Also DS knew that if you cry a lot you can't go back(this works for the park, WDW, walmart, etc ) The trick is to not let the flood start because once they get worked up there's no stopping it.

 

[debster812]

Poor little thing....I cry when I have to leave WDW, so I can't imagine her little heart.

I agree, maybe something tied to the end of the trip like the scrapbook another poster suggested?

 

[LISAVWL]

I cry too when we leave our WDW vacation. Poor thing, I know how she feels. The only thing that helps me feel better is working on my vacation scrapbook as soon as we get home. Looking at all the photos and remembering all the fun helps me to feel so much better. Maybe you could work on one together...if you're not a scrapbooker a photo album could work too!

 

[Stephres]

Mine cried hysterically when we got off the boat for our Disney Cruise. When we got to the car I started asking them what their favorite parts of the cruise were. They started talking about what was the best thing and they forgot all about being sad.

 

[LizzySwan1022]

I don't know how old your DD is, but I've found that those huge lollipops they have work wonders. Also, if you notice that she asks for a special souvenir a lot during the trip, and if it's in your budget and not to big for the plane, you could get it and tell her that thereis is a special surprise for her when you get home, but only if she is a big girl, and doesn't cry when you leave.

 

[liamsaunt]

We had to peel my nephew off the wall at the exit to the gate from MK because he did not want to leave. He was crying like crazy, and he cried all the way to the TTC on the monorail. He stopped crying and fell asleep about halfway to the airport.

It really bummed me out. DH and I were staying for a couple more days and we could not relax until I was able to talk to him on the phone later that night and hear that he was back to normal.

So, no advice, but some commiseration!

 

[skuttle]

Awww...I was worried about that with our DS last year, but luckily he didn't cry. We'll see how he does in January. He did cry after rides, parades, shows, etc because he didn't want them to end. However, I cry on my last bus ride from Magic Kingdom on every trip and I know we'll be returning in the next year or so. Any tips for a 28 year old woman??

 

[lovesdumbo]

So, no advice, but some commiseration!

Me too.....my poor DD(3 1/2) was sick for 2 days on our vacation and the entire time I was packing to leave she kept screaming "we are not going home today" "we are NOT going home today" "we are NOT going HOME today!!!". I was glad we were able to go to MK for 2 hours before the bus picked us up for our trip back to the airport. I wanted her last memories of the trip to be the Pooh ride, Buzz, and Teacups (she was feeling better) not being sick in the room with DH.

Good luck-maybe if DH promises to take her back you can make him follow through.

 

[blessedby3]

That reminds me of our experience with DD16 back in 1994. She was 4 and we had done the land part of our vacation and we were at sea on The Big Red Boat. I can vividly remember her sitting on the top bunk in our stateroom and she asked why we were packing and we told her we had to get off the boat in the morning. HUGE crocodile tears came flowing with lots of wails!! I didnt expect that and it took a while to calm her down. We talked about coming back again and the fun things we would do next time.

 

[twinkletoesmom]

Thanks guys, it was nice to hear from everyone. I think I will keep my camera out to look at at the airport and I did get her a cheap digital camera that does not show the photos so she will have that to look forward to when we get home. I may also buy a special keepsake to give to her and I may let her write a letter to cindy or minnie saying thanks. Again thanks for the ideas and support.

 

[Hannathy]

I guess I am a little older but I see this as a real problem with parents and kids today. trying to make everything better why? She will be sad so will you, you can't fix everything. Let her be sad, agree with her don't try to magically get rid of it. She just had a special treat why does she need something else. The good parts of life are never as good if you never have any low parts.