Need Help Please!! Christmas At Disney

[alwayspooh]

Hi Everyone,

I need your help to settle a little disagreement between my husband and myself. We got a pin code and this is the first time ever . I want to go to Disney for Christmas but we can not afford Disney and Santa. I told my husband that we could explain to my DD8 that we would be spending Christmas at Disney but that would mean that Santa would help us pay our trip there so that means that Santa's toy drop would be light. He said that an 8 yr old would not understand. I told him she would because we are actually there. Santa would still come but it would just not be as big as in the past.

Would you do that with your kids? I am so excited to be able to go and besides I think my husband owes this to me because he forgot about our 10 yr anniversary.

Thanks for you help!!

 

[Bete]

I'll share a story from a friend. Their grandparents are very kind at Christmas. This year they decided to try a skiing trip for everyone as their Christmas gift. This would be their only Christmas gift to everyone. At first all the kids were excited and then mom started to explain the ramifications of it all. Well, my friend started to talk to her children 16, 12, 10, and 6 about it. She explained it's their Christmas gift from their grandparents. There will be nothing else; the trip is it. All the kids were unhappy about it. Now, this isn't Disney, but I think you need to talk to your child and let her decide. She may get enough gifts from others not to be bothered by this, but parents typically give their children the most at Christmas. She may have been looking forward to a certain toy, etc. and now that's gone.

As bad as you want to go, I think you have to see from your child's standpoint and not yours in making this decision.

Can you compromise? Maybe, you can do a shorter, cheaper trip and still give some gifts. Stay off site to save money. Get a room with a microwave and frig and utilize them. Eat off site. When we were young we did peanut butter sandwiches for a lot of our meals in our room. If you are driving there you can bring food from home and save that way. We utilize WalMart when we go to Disney. If you are flying we take breakfast bars, nuts, instant oatmeal packets, cookies, etc. to use in our room when we are on a budget trip.

Can you make extra money before the trip like having a garage or yard sale? Can you babysit for others? Try to find ways to earn some extra income.

 

[alwayspooh]

Hi Bette,

Thank you for your repsonse. My girls do have a large family that would give them other gifts when we get back. They would still have a Christmas on Christmas morning with a stocking and everything but it just would not be as big as in the years past. My DD8 is so excited. I did ask her for her input. She is all for the idea of Christmas at Disney.

 

[pixiemagic30]

Last November we told our kids, 11 and 9, that we were going away for Christmas. All they knew was that we were going to the mountains (Space Mountain, BTMR, Splash Mountain...) Well, we also told them that the trip itself would be the main gift with a little something more. At first they were upset because they thought that they wouldn't have any Christmas with family. But once I explained that Christmas with everyone else would happen either the weekend before we left or after we got back they were ok. We gave them $50 for personal spending and the Epcot Passports as their gifts. They were thrilled with their surprise trip and receiving "less".

So, I would think that if you have spoken with your daughter and she is ok and loving the idea of being at Disney for Christmas then you will be ok. Go and enjoy your trip!

 

[happymommy]

I think young kids usually are happy at Christmas whether they receive a few inexpensive items or a lot or expensive ones. Some of the best things are the inexpensive stocking stuffers - I'd look into a few Disney Dollars also!

I used to do a lot for the kids for Christmas, but want to really scale back and focus more on the holiday. The stocking can be simple little things, then some smaller items.

I actually think I wouldn't mention again about it being smaller - I doubt an 8 year old will think they got more in the past years than this year. He or she will be oblivious - a stocking filled with goodies AT Disneyworld is awsome! I don't think they'll notice how much was spent at all.

I actually am thinking about taking my kids alone for 5 days right before Christmas (haven't told DD yet, as I'm only 50/50 whether I can swing it). I told my son that that would be my Christmas present to him and her if we do - he thinks it's cool (but he's 11, a little older). If we do, they will get very small gifts, and I think they'll be fine with that.

 

[dltnboz3mom]

The most important part of childhood are thememories that you make. What better memory could you give DD than waking up in the happiest place on earth with her family. I think most kids would take magical over material any day! I hope that you have a great time.

 

[twinkleintc]

I think waking up in Disney on Christmas morning is something every child (& okay, me too!) could ever want! A few inexpensive gifts and Disney should do it. Go and collect what your hubs owes you.

 

[hippsmom]

Well, I have an 8 yr old daughter and when the opportunity to go to Disney this December presented itself we asked her if she would rather have lots of Christmas and b-day presents (her bday is 12/26) or if she would like to go on vacation. She didn't hesitate, she wanted the vacation. We told her she will still get gifts from Santa but not much from mom and dad. She understands that mom and dad will be putting their Christmas funds into the trip instead of gifts this year. Although we will not be at Disney on Christmas morning, we leave the 23, so I didn't have to bust Santa out.