Need advice on taking niece to WDW

[tracilicious]

We're thinking of taking my ten year old niece to WDW with us in the beginning of May. She's from somewhat of a broken home (abusive dad's gone, she lives with her mom who is severely bipolar) and she never really gets to go anywhere unless it's with us. We haven't taken her to DL since she was seven though, so I'm pretty clueless as to what to do with a ten year old at WDW. My son will be three and my baby girl will be 11 mos.

She's lived with us before, so she's pretty comfortable with my family, but she's very shy and won't tell me what she does and doesn't want to do, so I'm trying to plan ahead as much as I can. I was thinking about getting her a small backpack and putting some stuff in it for the plane ride, little gifts, etc. I'm not sure if she's too old for princess stuff or not. What do ten year olds like?

Are any rides too scary for her?

I was thinking of getting her some clothes before we go, as she doesn't have much, but if I pick up clothes three or four months ahead is there a good chance that she'll have outgrown them by the time we go? She's pretty tall already. What's the weather like at the beginning of May?

My plan was to give her and ds (I'll keep ds's with me) $100 to spend on whatever. Is this too much for a kid that age? We'll be in the parks six days.

I'm so excited about taking her. She's so much fun to have around and ds adores her. I know she'll help keep him busy at restaurants and such. Thanks for any tips!

 

[Sandcass]

Yikes, that's alot of questions. But I have a DD who's 10, about to turn 11, so maybe I can answer some.

I would think that she is going to love everything about WDW. She will love seeing your little ones have their fun too. My DD just went for the first time this year, and it really brought out the little kid in her. Your niece is so lucky to have an auntie like you!

As for scarey rides, that's completely dependent on her. My DD rode everything, and loves the scarey rides. Myself, I didn't ride a rollercoaster until I was 19! So just play that by ear.

In the backpack for the plane, I'd recommend a disposable camera, gum, a diary and fun pens, maybe a puzzle book (soduku is very popular at my dd's class), Princesses are ok, in keeping w/ the Disney theme. Even Minnie Mouse would be ok. She might like the hidden mickey hunt, my kids did. Maybe get her that book about the hidden mickeys ahead of time so she can look for them. This age is hard, because they're not little anymore, but not teens either. My 10yr old enjoyed seeing her old favorite characters and remembering being little.

I probably wouldn't let my DD carry around $100. I'd be too afraid she'd lose it. I'd keep most of it with you in a seperate wallet or something. And that's definitley enough. Mine probably spent about that much on souveniers in a week. Your neice might like the fact that she has her own money so she doesn't have to feel bad about asking for things like a soda or ice cream too.

For clothes, she shouldn't change sizes too much in the next 6 months. I always buy tops a little big for my kids, so that's easy. And sandals, her feet shouldn't grow that soon. Maybe you can get her crocs? I hear they're great for WDW and my DD wants them terribly. You buy them a little big, so that should work for you.

I'd really stress to her how much help she is with your little ones. That will make her feel important, and not like you took her because you feel sorry for her. Ask her to do little things all week, to help with your kids. (Without turning her into a little slave or anything.) My 10 yr old is so excited to be getting close to babysitting age. She loves feeling so grown up.

I hope you have a fantastic time!

 

[tracilicious]

I would think that she is going to love everything about WDW. She will love seeing your little ones have their fun too. My DD just went for the first time this year, and it really brought out the little kid in her. Your niece is so lucky to have an auntie like you!

Thanks! I think she'll have a great time too.

As for scarey rides, that's completely dependent on her. My DD rode everything, and loves the scarey rides. Myself, I didn't ride a rollercoaster until I was 19! So just play that by ear.

I'm really hoping that she'll ride everything. I took her to DL when she was five though and totally traumatized her by taking her on Space Mountain (before I had kids!)

In the backpack for the plane, I'd recommend a disposable camera, gum, a diary and fun pens, maybe a puzzle book (soduku is very popular at my dd's class), Princesses are ok, in keeping w/ the Disney theme. Even Minnie Mouse would be ok. She might like the hidden mickey hunt, my kids did. Maybe get her that book about the hidden mickeys ahead of time so she can look for them.

Those are good ideas. I was thinking maybe she'd like the new fairy line better than the princesses. I also thought that I'd bring a few "tween" type movies for the plane ride. Princess Diaries maybe?

I probably wouldn't let my DD carry around $100. I'd be too afraid she'd lose it. I'd keep most of it with you in a seperate wallet or something. And that's definitley enough. Mine probably spent about that much on souveniers in a week. Your neice might like the fact that she has her own money so she doesn't have to feel bad about asking for things like a soda or ice cream too.

I think you are right. Maybe I'll let her carry around $20 for little things she sees and ice cream, etc., and I'll carry the rest for her.

Maybe you can get her crocs? I hear they're great for WDW and my DD wants them terribly. You buy them a little big, so that should work for you.

I had no idea what Crocs were when I read this, but I looked it up, and I'm going to get some for her, and for me, and for 3 yr old ds! I had seen them at the health food store a bunch of times, but I thought they were plastic gardening shoes! I hope they are as good as they sound.

I'd really stress to her how much help she is with your little ones. That will make her feel important, and not like you took her because you feel sorry for her. Ask her to do little things all week, to help with your kids. (Without turning her into a little slave or anything.)

This is really important because I think she already resents her situation a bit. I don't want it to seem like she gets the whole world with us and nothing at home. This is going to be tough because at home she lives a pretty normal life just like my kids (although I she does have extra challenges because of her parental situation), but when she's with us she'll be at AKL, eating in restaurants all week, have $100 to spend, and be at WDW. I hope that she gets that this is a special thing for any kid, and not some life of privilege that she doesn't have access to. She's used to me putting her to work anyways!

I hope you have a fantastic time!

Thank you so much!

 

[LMC]

My 10 yo niece is not into the princesses but she really likes Tink. You will find plenty of souvies with Tink!
I would suggest that each night you sit down with her and your older child and look over the park map that you will visit the next day. Get them all excited about it, and then ask your niece what three things does she really want to make sure she gets to do at that park, then of course, ask your DD or DS (can't remember which you have!) what they want to do. This way, you are not singling her out and pushing her for information but you are just concerned about what each of them would want to do and you want to make sure they have the opportunity to do it. I think if you take the time when you are at the hotel and it's not so crazy and rushed, then she will probably participate in the conversation and give you some feed back.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

As for gifts on the plane or during the trip, I would suggest Lizzie MacGuire or Raven from That's So Raven (disney channel TV show). My 9 yr. old really likes these. She says she is too old to wear or carry anything princess in public. At the Disney store there is a light up spinning toy of Lizzie Macguire that is cute. I would also suggest the book Walt Disney World for Kids which would be at either TDS or any bookstore. Then she could read about everything on the plane and make a list of what she wanted to see/do. It has great photos and most of it is written by kids.With the money I would let her choose some things later in the week when she's had a chance to look around and think about what she wants. Have fun!

 

[SandrA9810]

Another fun thing, would to be the pin trading thing. I know you're only going for a week, and probably won't be back for a while. But if you have a character primer store near you, you can buy a lanyard and a few extra pins (sometimes they have them on sale), and she'll have fun trading with cast members. And buy a pin from the hotel you stay at. That's one of the things I try and do every time we stay at a different hotel.
If you do have a CP store near you, you can pick up the autograph books and pens for cheap, and I picked up a pressed penny book for a 1$. Those are fun little suveniers to get.
And it might be cheaper to pick up a regular camera if she doesn't have one already, and just buy film for it. Walmart sells the fugi four packs for real cheap, compared to just one roll of kodak at disney. And don't forget a four pack of batteries for the flash. It'll be cheaper to pick up a roll of film than buying a new camera, and pick up a disposable camera for under water. Those are fun to have.

BTW, those croc shoe thingies, they really scare me, and they don't look all that comfortable. You might just be better off to take her shoe shopping in march or april and let her get her own thing. Plus that'll give her a little bit of time to break into the new shoes. Nothing like walking around disney in stiff shoes. And don't forget a pair of flip flops for the pool, or a swim suit.

BTW, how long will your flight be??
A short flight, a couple hours. You won't need much other than Suidoko and a good book. I get bored easily and it's not like I don't have anything to do, it's just I really hate sitting for hours on end. And I'll just end up staring out the window. Although I don't have a portable dvd player or anything. Just a game boy. Which if you wanted to, you could pick up a gameboy advance for 20$ used at Gamestop and a game or two. They also sell game boy videos (20$) that have two episodes of cartoon shows, there's a whole lot of them too.
Now if it's more than like four hours. You better think of everything possible to fit into a carry on bag. Since you do have a baby, it'll definatly make things interesting. Me personally, I'll sit there and hold the baby and play with them for hours or until my arms get tired, the best is putting them to sleep when they're cranky.
And don't forget a game or two that she can play with the older one, like old maid, or matching cards. Sometimes you can find those for goody bags at Party City.

Good Luck and hope that the plane puts them all to sleep for a little while.

 

[tracilicious]

My 10 yo niece is not into the princesses but she really likes Tink. You will find plenty of souvies with Tink!
I would suggest that each night you sit down with her and your older child and look over the park map that you will visit the next day. Get them all excited about it, and then ask your niece what three things does she really want to make sure she gets to do at that park, then of course, ask your DD or DS (can't remember which you have!) what they want to do. This way, you are not singling her out and pushing her for information but you are just concerned about what each of them would want to do and you want to make sure they have the opportunity to do it. I think if you take the time when you are at the hotel and it's not so crazy and rushed, then she will probably participate in the conversation and give you some feed back.

Great ideas, thanks!

 

[tracilicious]

I would also suggest the book Walt Disney World for Kids which would be at either TDS or any bookstore. Then she could read about everything on the plane and make a list of what she wanted to see/do. It has great photos and most of it is written by kids.With the money I would let her choose some things later in the week when she's had a chance to look around and think about what she wants. Have fun!

The book is a great idea. I think I will give it to her a week or two beforehand so that she can read and get excited. (Can you tell I'm a planner?!)

I agree about buying souveniers later in the week. The only tricky thing is that we will only be in AKL and MGM for one day. I think we'll make a trip to DTD at the beginning and end of the trip, so if she still wants to spend on the last day then she can.

 

[msklcassidy]

I understand your worries. My best advice (from taking my own nieces and nephews) is just to treat her like one of your own and be sure to involve her in the planning (she just might like it...my nieces and nephews do). We also declare that our vacations are "special" treats and try to plan just 1 special thing for each person (my son's favorite is the Disney Pirate Cruise) and my nieces all have LOVED the manicure at the Grand Floridian (much cheaper for a child than an adult)! Hope you have a great time!

 

[tracilicious]

I don't have one near me, but I'm thinking about making a trip to Character Warehouse in Orlando on the first night if it's not too expensive to take a taxi.

BTW, those croc shoe thingies, they really scare me, and they don't look all that comfortable. You might just be better off to take her shoe shopping in march or april and let her get her own thing. Plus that'll give her a little bit of time to break into the new shoes. Nothing like walking around disney in stiff shoes. And don't forget a pair of flip flops for the pool, or a swim suit.

Why do they scare you? We have a store that sells them nearby, so if we got that route then she can try them on before I buy them.

BTW, how long will your flight be??

Five and a half hours! With a baby, a three year old, and a ten year old. The gameboy is an excellent idea, although dh and I will want to steal it! I think we'll bring the laptop, a portable dvd player, a gameboy, and lots of books and games and snacks. It's gonna be a looong flight!

Thanks for all the ideas!

 

[tracilicious]

I understand your worries. My best advice (from taking my own nieces and nephews) is just to treat her like one of your own and be sure to involve her in the planning (she just might like it...my nieces and nephews do). We also declare that our vacations are "special" treats and try to plan just 1 special thing for each person (my son's favorite is the Disney Pirate Cruise) and my nieces all have LOVED the manicure at the Grand Floridian (much cheaper for a child than an adult)! Hope you have a great time!

Great idea! Maybe I'll be able to get a little "girl" time in with her while we're there.

 

[Feralpeg]

Since you say she won't tell you what she likes or not, why not ask her to help plan the trip. Tell her you are very busy and would really like her input. Buy a copy of a WDW guidebook. They have an edition for kids and ask her to come up with an itinerary. Take her someplace for lunch one day and go over it with her and discuss what is good and bad about the various rides. I would think it would help you identify the types of things she would be comfortable doing and get her excited about the trip as well.