My son is 22, how do I make it feel like Christmas at WDW?

[JCSCBROWN]

Any ideas of how to make it feel extra special? My son says it just doesn't feel like Christmas when we are there, for the holiday. We will be there over the holiday, but not checking in until after the Very Merry Christmas Party has ended.

It is so sad that it bums him out. Please help! Any ideas are appreciate very much. I want to make it special for him, like it is for me.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

What does he consider "feeling like Christmas?"

Does he want a tree? You can bring a small tree for your room, or order one. To see Santa (I know he's an adult, adults like to get a glimpse too), you can do that. To have a private family meal? That could be arranged if you want to spend for private stuff. Can't help you if we don't know what he really wants. If he just would prefer that it be spent at home, or to see his friends or relatives, you won't be doing that, but he's an adult and probably realizes it.

Or is he just bummed out that he is going to miss the party. If that's it, go into the park, see the Christmas parade and the fireworks.

 

[jade1]

We went to church at CR (most people don't so not judging) then took the boat to WL for the Christmas Dinner (lunch is the dinner menu) at Whispering Canyon. WL is amazingly XMAS like. Then went to MK for the XMAS Parade. XMAS Day IN MK is wonderful in itself. Then the Castle lighting and Fireworks followed by snow on Main Street.

Never in our lives did one day SCREAM CHRISTMAS more.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Any ideas of how to make it feel extra special? My son says it just doesn't feel like Christmas when we are there, for the holiday. We will be there over the holiday, but not checking in until after the Very Merry Christmas Party has ended.

It is so sad that it bums him out. Please help! Any ideas are appreciate very much. I want to make it special for him, like it is for me.

At 22, I'd tell him to suck it up or leave him at home. It sounds like you guys have been there over Christmas before and he doesn't like it. Not everyone does, but at 22 I think he's old enough to decide to stay at home rather than travel on Christmas (as long as he's not a dependent adult or anything like that).

 

[JCSCBROWN]

We go there every two years and he just says that he has a hard time having that Christmas 'feeling'. Nothing to do with family and friends necessarily. He just wants to have that special Christmas feeling in his heart. He loves it there, no doubt he wants to be there, but it just doesn't FEEL like Christmas.

I have made a reservation on Christmas Eve at Liberty Tree Tavern, a surprise to him (we've never been before). And then we can go and watch the show at Cinderella's Castle and the parade. But I am looking for ideas of how to make it special for an adult 'kid' so that he will think of it as a great memory for years to come.

PS... we always take a little Christmas tree with us.

 

[JCSCBROWN]

He wants to be there, and he doesn't complain at all. I am just trying to do surprises this year to help him feel it in his heart, to make it extra special.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I still don't know how successful you are going to put a feeling in his heart if he says he just doesn't get that feeling from that particular place and never has. He's old enough to know whether he has a feeling or not.

Osborne Lights...that seriously screams Christmas.

Had a group one year that rented out the yacht at GF and rode it out to see the MK Christmas fireworks from the lagoon...that's serious $$ and you have to be the one party to book it for any particular night.

 

[disnut8]

He wants to be there, and he doesn't complain at all. I am just trying to do surprises this year to help him feel it in his heart, to make it extra special.

I'd ask him what is "Christmas" to him? The Osbourne Lights are there, the Candlelight Processional is there, the holiday storytellers are there, many decorations are there.

But what is Christmas to HIM? Not you, not to anyone else, but to him? I can tell you stories about my childhood and Christmas to me would be a chalkboard with "Meary Xmas" written on it. My father was not the best speller but we got the message.

Ask your son.

 

[Itinkso]

If your Liberty Tree ADR is for dinner, you won't be able to watch the parade afterwards because, historically, the parade runs twice in the afternoons during the Holiday weeks - usually at 12:00 and 3:30.

If he doesn't get the Christmas "feeling" from being in the parks on Christmas Day, there really isn't much more you can do to enhance his experience. Has he considered asking a friend or significant other to tag along?

 

[Cyrano]

At 22, I'd tell him to suck it up or leave him at home. It sounds like you guys have been there over Christmas before and he doesn't like it. Not everyone does, but at 22 I think he's old enough to decide to stay at home rather than travel on Christmas (as long as he's not a dependent adult or anything like that).

Merry Christmas to you too

 

[MattRyan]

Where are you staying? Some resorts have a more Christmas feel than others.

 

[minnie mum]

Merry Christmas to you too

well, the poster has a point. A 22 year old "boy" who complains because WDW isn't Christmasy enough for him? Only he can tell his mom just what it is that is missing. Maybe its as simple as just wanting to be in his own home and opening gifts under his own tree or watching the preparations for Christmas dinner, Who knows? You could spend a fortune on extra special add ons to your trip and still miss the mark. Ask HIM what he misses.

 

[andyman8]

I kinda see his point though. For the first time, we were away this past Xmas and it didn't feel right to me. Oddly, we went up north, so (unlike most), we went into the snow rather than away. Needless to say, it was weird waking up in a hotel room without a tree, not getting to do the whole present thing, not going to our church for midnight mass, etc... Something was off about it and we even had Eve and Xmas dinner with extended family but something was off.

I know for a lot here anytime they can get to WDW, they're going regardless of the holiday, time of year, etc..., but personally, I don't plan on traveling again (no matter if it were to WDW or not) on Xmas. The days before or after not a problem just not the 24 or 25. Just didn't feel right.

 

[TerryGriffin]

I'm christmas obsessed and an adult so I totally get it. Maybe bring little things from home; cheesy christmas stuff some stockings, christmas sweaters, hot coco packets, a picture of you are your family on Christmas and hang it up in the room. Surprise him!

 

[nat8199]

Maybe sneak a Disney themed stalking onto his bed while he sleeps?

Tell him you "forgot" the tree, but then set it up as a surprise?

There has to be a ton of little things that you can do to surprise him and help him feel the Xmas magic.

 

[MeanestMomEver]

Only child?

What traditions do you have on Christmas Eve and Day when you are at home?

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I kinda see his point though. For the first time, we were away this past Xmas and it didn't feel right to me. Oddly, we went up north, so (unlike most), we went into the snow rather than away. Needless to say, it was weird waking up in a hotel room without a tree, not getting to do the whole present thing, not going to our church for midnight mass, etc... Something was off about it and we even had Eve and Xmas dinner with extended family but something was off.

I know for a lot here anytime they can get to WDW, they're going regardless of the holiday, time of year, etc..., but personally, I don't plan on traveling again (no matter if it were to WDW or not) on Xmas. The days before or after not a problem just not the 24 or 25. Just didn't feel right.

I feel the same way, andyman, which is why we scheduled this year's trip for December 13-20th. I feel like it's "Christmas prep" but there's no way I want to be anywhere but home on Christmas. It's the same reason I don't travel to see family on Christmas anymore...there's no place like home. Plus, my kids are little (4 & 7) so we still have all the Christmas magic going on up in here. I am hoping that one day when they're older they'll want to take a nice Christmas vacation somewhere warm, but not Disney.

 

[leebee]

DD20 is the same way, and always has been. We are huge Disney fans, 25 trips to WDW under our belts, but the only place she wants to be for Christmas is home. I have to say, regardless of the Osbourne lights, special parades, and holiday fireworks, Christmas in a hotel room and a theme park just doesn't seem like Christmas. I WOULD like to do the Candlelight Processional on Christmas Eve or Christmas sometime, but I'd really rather spend Christmas with DD and making her happy.

 

[Planogirl]

We went last year the week before Christmas and I'm glad that we did. We had a wonderful time but it occurred to me that I wanted to be home for Christmas. Maybe he feels a bit like that too?

 

[rebelbuddhist]

1. Home is where the heart is-- be that your residence or a WDW hotel
2. WDW is filled with holiday events as other posters have iterated
3. Face time can put you in close contact with family, friends on Christmas Day
4. there are great dining opportunities in Orlando on 12/25 and no one in the family has to clean up
5. According to legend, Joseph, Mary and Jesus were not at home on the first CHRISTMAS, but they were not at WDW either.
Smile, laugh and find the silver lining in this "cloud".........