Parents that don’t get it – “I want my kids to remember it ..”

[5stljayhawks]

I have often wondered why parents are in such denial for taking their kids to Disney. Did they have a bad trip when they were young or maybe they didn’t to go at all? I have talked with parents both as a Guest and as a Cast Member, but it seems more times than not I am left shaking my head at “I want my child to remember their visit?” Isn't that what a camera is for? or photopass?

I usually ask where do you all go for family vacation? I get all kinds of answers… the lake, the beach, skiing, camping, the cape, ……. They go on trips but not Disney.. Why?

So does anybody else understand why? Or maybe you are a parent that has waited until you child is older…. Do you regret waiting? Did your child really have a better trip? Or more fun? I get the money limitation part, but just because you don’t want to…. it is fair to have your kid miss out on one of the greatest experiences in life? Meeting those who live in your imagination? meeting the fairies, princesses or Buzz Lightyear, or how about the Mouse himself? Sorry to those I have left off... step sisters, aliens, dwarfs, dogs, snowmen and fine china...

 

[cruisingtwins]

It's because it's an expensive vacation and for some families it is a one in a lifetime vacation so they want the kids to be in the right age for it.

Honestly after taking our kids at 19 months I think they would have had way more fun at the lake, or camping and they certainty would have loved the beach way more.

 

[mjkacmom]

Many, many families go to WDW once, and they're done. There are many places to vacation, and not everyone loves Disney. So, they go at a time in their kids' lives that the kids will get the most out of it. If you're not going to make many visits to the Grand Canyon, would you take a toddler?

 

[Alexle2007]

Can't explain waiting for Disney. We are waiting until DS6 is a little older to go to Australia. If he's lucky it would be his only opportunity but on the off chance that is, we want to appreciate and remember the experience and not just through photos.

 

[kerriemiller]

The first time we took our kids they were, just 2 yrs old and almost 4 yrs old. I bought a book The Unofficial Guide to WDW with kids and that book actually recommend you wait till your kids were 10 to 12 years old.

 

[mandyyyrose]

Hey, I'm 19, and have went a lot so I think this is something I can give input on. First off, going every year but me in a different mindset, I didn't realize some people never went to Disney, or only went once, it was strange to me. I also can never thank my parents enough for the opportunities to go. To be completely honest, I've been going since diaper days pretty much, but we always had Grandma with for when it got to hot and I needed to go to the hotel, so my parents could stay with my sister. We've gone generally every year, and I barely remember most trips from before I was 8/9, not to say I didn't have fun, the pictures seem like I do, but I personally can't remember them. My parents can remember them, all the 'first time you saw the castle/met a princess/ran away and started singing hakuna matata in the bathroom(It actually happened) so those are their memories with us there, but like I said, my memory pretty much starts at 8, and I can't remember a thing from before I was 6, so it really depends on the kid/family/situation. Most people I know went when they were 6/7/8/9, and that was it. While that may be all they wanted, I feel like each age and trip gets a different perspective of it. When I was younger my love was about the princesses and fairytales and magic, now since I'm in college, it's about how it's a massive company and I love learning how it works. People will enjoy it either way, there is memories to be made for all ages, it's really just a matter of what you want the memories to be. If you want memories of your baby in front of the castle, then let it be. If you want to do a backstage tour for example, you have to be 16 for that, so maybe that person wouldn't go as a baby, but go later on. In my opinion there's no real 'wrong' age for Disney, as long as you're prepared and can do it.

 

[dvczerfs]

for us, that's where we vacation. her first trip our dd was only 9 months old. every trip, at least once a year from that point on we have pictures of her at the same spot in the mk. 16 years ago when she was 5, we were sitting on a bench in the hub in the mk, she said "daddy, one day I want to work here." well, who would have known 16 years later, she would work in the hub in the mk.(its great seeing your kids dream come true) I will always remember the day I first seen her in costume with her name tag on.
the years with stroller........ she screamed in cop one day, I had to leave with her. (she still don't like that ride) theres just so many memories, a lot of she don't remember but has those pictures hanging on her wall in her bedroom.
she went to the beach every year with her grand parents and has dance around the country. (including the mk)
for some people wdw is an amusement park...... for others its more then just an amusement park.
I spent a lot of time there when I was kid and to see it all again through your kids eyes I have to tell you, was better then when I was kid.
now, she has a complete new set with being a cast member. managers, team leaders, co workers,guest from all over the world......... just more then you could ever post in one post.

 

[cruisingtwins]

I don't get why do you care when other people take their kids to Disney World. People know their kids better than anyone. For some kids especially the younger ones Disney is not the greatest experience in life.

My kids were terrified of characters and were bored in most rides. The only things they actually enjoy in magic Kingdom were the merry go around and the little dumbo play area. We could have done those things at our local mall for a small fraction of the price.

 

[scoutie]

While I don't understand the "they won't remember" argument (you don't not do things with a baby or toddler because they won't remember experiencing things), I do understand waiting for Disney if it's a once in a lifetime trip. For my family, it's cheaper for us to go out of the country on an all-inclusive beach vacation, than it is to Disney, so I want to make sure my kids are at the ages where they will get the most out of it.

They go on trips but not Disney.. Why?

Because beach trips, skiing trips, etc. are fun in a different way than Disney, more relaxing, and are likely less expensive.

it is fair to have your kid miss out on one of the greatest experiences in life?

I think many people would argue that Disney isn't necessarily one of the greatest experiences in life. I know plenty of kids who don't enjoy Disney. I was one of them. I didn't like the crowds, being dragged all over the place, the rides, etc. My kids do enjoy Disney, but I don't know if I'd say it's one of their best experiences in life.

 

[EmilyAnn]

my husband has never been to Disney and I went for the first time when I was a freshman in high school (1 day in Epcot before we went on a cruise) so we aren't big Disney people. I do want to go, but I wouldn't want to go every year! We can go to the beach for a week for a LOT less than a week at Disney and I want to take my kids other places too like Williamsburg, Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon, Washington DC, and maybe a cruise or two. I don't want every vacation to be at Disney. I am thinking we will do one Disney trip while they are little then one more when they are older (pre-teen age) then maybe I will get to go again when I have grandkids

 

[laura3773]

I sort of fall into this camp. We are taking my daughter at 27 months and then probably won't go again for 3 - 4 years. I figure she already loves everything Disney, so she'll have a good time, but once we have to pay for her I want her to take some memories home. Even staying at SOG and using military passes it is a very expensive trip, and having to pay for an extra park pass and the extra food will make it a stretch for us budget-wise. Many of the "yearly" trips you listed can be done for significantly less than Disney - a lake or the beach can be a $600 week for us vs a $2500+ trip.

 

[MandiC]

We waited until our older two kids were 7 and 9 for their (and MY) first trip to Disney. Lots of it was money. We save and we wanted them to have this memory. Spending all that money and something so special we wanted them to always have that memory of our family vacation to Disney and they definitely will. Photos are one thing but memories are better. I could get someone to photoshop a picture of me with them as babies in front of the castle for much cheaper than flying there
If money were no object, sure, I'd love to take them every year. I'm actually hoping to go back and bring our younger two kids next year. But if we can't swing it, we can't swing it. I am glad we did not bring them this first time (they are currently 2 and 4 but will be 3 and 5 by the time we'd go again). We did not have to worry about height restrictions or naps or strollers or diapers and it was WONDERFUL. Going back a second time I don't think it'd bother me so much but I am glad I got to experience it the first time without all of that. I'm sure they would have loved it but bringing 6 people to Disney is expensive and yes if they are not even going to remember it it does make it a little harder to swallow.

 

[wallskm]

We went last year when our kids were 16 months and 3.5. The 3.5 year old seems to remember a good bit of the trip, though maybe it's just because he looks at the pictures all.the.time! If it was a once in a lifetime trip I wouldn't have taken them until they were a little older, like elementary school age. For us it isn't a once in a lifetime thing though.

I didn't go to WDW until I was 28! My family didn't vacation really. I remember having a friend talk about it constantly and I was sad I didn't get to go, though we had a theme park in our town growing up that was great and I didn't really feel like I missed out. I think Disney is just once place that a family can have a great vacation. It's just for us right now with little kids it's where we want to be!

 

[Dani C]

I took my daughter for the first time to Disney in Tokyo when she was five, and she has absolutely no memory of that trip. When she looks through photos, from the time we returned through present, she most enjoys the photos at the temples and of our time in Nikko, not of Disney.

At seven, she went to Disney World in Florida and has a few memories but not many. She was thankful then to be able to ride the rides and not be too little.

We returned at least every other year until she was through high school and most of the later trips were a lot better for her and because of that, they were better for me.

Of course I loved the interaction with the princesses when she was small and her Jasmine costume from age 7 still hangs in my home, but overall I'm glad I waited.

 

[daisygirl902]

for us, that's where we vacation. her first trip our dd was only 9 months old. every trip, at least once a year from that point on we have pictures of her at the same spot in the mk. 16 years ago when she was 5, we were sitting on a bench in the hub in the mk, she said "daddy, one day I want to work here." well, who would have known 16 years later, she would work in the hub in the mk.(its great seeing your kids dream come true) I will always remember the day I first seen her in costume with her name tag on.

OK, seriously. You just made a pregnant Disney addict cry. What are you, some kind of monster?

 

[MandiC]

and yes we do other vacations with our kids every year that they won't remember. But they are MUCH cheaper We live in Wisconsin so going to Wisconsin Dells is always a big one and we usually go once a year at least but again...it is less than a quarter of the price usually. We go camping several times a year. Usually spend less than $300 on a whole weekend We do SixFlags once a year (but just with the 'tall enough' kids) I think even if we were within driving distance (less than 8 hours?) it might be a different story. I'd probably even get APs if we were that close...but as is. It's a special...and very expensive...trip.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

It's not just about wanting the kids to remember what is a very expensive vacation. It's also about them appreciating it, which takes some age. Frankly, the idea of taking the kids to Disney when they were VERY small wasn't even appealing to me - whether they'd remember it or not.

 

[Mama2girlz]

We will be taking our kids for the first time this year (my husbands first time too) we waiting until they were old enough to be out of diapers, done naps and tall enough for rides. This just makes good sense for an overall FAMILY vacation. Otherwise one parent is always sitting back waiting with the baby/toddler. Our girls will be 5 & 8 when we go.
We take other trips yearly, when our kids were 6 & 3 we went to Sesame Place and it was a blast!

 

[dvczerfs]

OK, seriously. You just made a pregnant Disney addict cry. What are you, some kind of monster?

sorry. I should have put a warning on my post for pregnant women.

 

[tazadd0420]

Both dd at 5. Had to be able to go all day and no strollers. Not every child is same so different for each family. 5 was awesome. Still believed in all the magic. I miss those years for that reason.