Some WDW trips not for family?

[osugal]

We have friends who are Disney addicts. Like many of us. They have 3 kids and go every single year. A couple of their kids aren't really into it anymore. They're getting tired of WDW. But they continue to go. The parents plan it out and love it. It's probably a matter of time before the kids are old enough to just stay home and skip the family vacations.

So who is that really for? My family trips are really for the whole family. You can't make everyone happy all the time. But those trips aren't about their kids. Seems very selfish to me. Growing up I went on trips with my parents until I was married. We had so much fun together. And we talked about what places we wanted to see. Just kind of sad that they don't seem to see it.

 

[Minerva Mouse]

I would say it's probably the parents making their best attempt to have some family time with their children before it's too late... It's sad that the don't appreciate it any more,, hopefully they will come around again...

 

[lustergirl]

My sons are 19 and 23 years and hardly go to disney anymore (gasp). I would love to spend family time together in the world with them but am not upset because they don't want to go anymore.

 

[osugal]

I just don't think it's fair to force the family to take their vacation to the same place every year for 15 years if the kids have lost interest. That defeats the whole purpose of a family vacation.

 

[fla4fun]

In our house, it was me (the kid) who kept going and the parents who stayed home, lol! They would tag along for a day or two on the December trip to check out the holiday stuff, but otherwise, my trips were pretty much solo.

Some kids (not me ) reach an age where they act like Disney isn't "cool" and appear to not care about the trip . . . .until they actually get there. So maybe the kids are actually enjoying themselves while they are there, but trying not to show it when they are home. If that's the case, they may grow out of it in a few years when it's "OK to do things with the parents" again. You see posts where people have left their kids with Grandma and Grandpa while they go to Disney, so if they kids really don't want to go, then the Disney loving parents will end up going without them at some point and having a great time.

I figure every family does what works for them on their vacation, and if it stops working, they make changes.

 

[osugal]

In our house, it was me (the kid) who kept going and the parents who stayed home, lol! They would tag along for a day or two on the December trip to check out the holiday stuff, but otherwise, my trips were pretty much solo.

Some kids (not me ) reach an age where they act like Disney isn't "cool" and appear to not care about the trip . . . .until they actually get there. So maybe the kids are actually enjoying themselves while they are there, but trying not to show it when they are home. If that's the case, they may grow out of it in a few years when it's "OK to do things with the parents" again. You see posts where people have left their kids with Grandma and Grandpa while they go to Disney, so if they kids really don't want to go, then the Disney loving parents will end up going without them at some point and having a great time.

I figure every family does what works for them on their vacation, and if it stops working, they make changes.

But that's the problem. The kids are asking for a change but the parents aren't listening to them. I know the kids personally. They really don't want to go anymore. After going for years and years I'd more interested in being with my family than being in MY favorite place.

 

[Bonniec]

But that's the problem. The kids are asking for a change but the parents aren't listening to them. I know the kids personally. They really don't want to go anymore. After going for years and years I'd more interested in being with my family than being in MY favorite place.

Are the kids paying for it? If not, I don't see the problem.

 

[osugal]

So glad that my family picked places together as a family growing up. If WDW was the only place I ever visited I would never have seen the coast or the mountains or New England. Some people seem to forget that there's a whole world out there.

To me that's like giving someone something they don't want every year for their birthday instead of a gift they actually want. Then saying....hey at least you got something.

 

[DeaverTex]

While I see the OP's point, since when do kids get a say in where the family goes on vacation? When they pay for it, then they can say where they go. Otherwise, suck it up buttercup.

 

[carrie1626]

While I see the OP's point, since when do kids get a say in where the family goes on vacation? When they pay for it, then they can say where they go. Otherwise, suck it up buttercup.

Glad I wasn't the only one who had this exact thought.

fact is: Lots of parents take their kids to the same places every year, all over the country.

ex: where I'm from people go up north to a cabin every year.

 

[Poohbug]

ex: where I'm from people go up north to a cabin every year.

That's where I spend the majority of vacations growing up. Only we didn't get the cabin, we stayed in a camper.

The parents are paying, they get to decide where to go. I dreamed of seeing the Panama Canal, the kids did not really want to go, but they did and we all had a great time. I think every kid has that phase where they don't want to do whatever their parents are doing. They would not be happy wherever the vacation was. Either way, kids don't get to decide. They get input but they don't get to decide. When they pay to take their parents on vacation the decision is all theirs.

 

[minnie mum]

While I see the OP's point, since when do kids get a say in where the family goes on vacation? When they pay for it, then they can say where they go. Otherwise, suck it up buttercup.

Thank you. Exactly what I was thinking.

For most of my younger vacations I experienced the absolute joy of camping in a tent by a lake for a week every summer. I certainly wasn't asked for my opinion on the choice of vacation. Haven't camped since I started living on my own. But I don't think my life was permanently warped because I didn't get to go where I wanted to go.

Sorry OP. I'm hearing the sound of the world's tiniest violin...

 

[Dorisk3]

The dis boards are so funny. There is a wonderful exciting world out there to see. Forcing kids to do the same thing over and over again when they don't even like it is not cool.

What if the parents wanted to go to the beach or on a cruise but the kids wanted Disney, then everyone would say the parents were wrong.

As far as the whole, I pay I decide, I'm happy you weren't my parents. Kids have opinions too, no one needs to base their life on them, but it's pretty messed up to never consider what they might enjoy.

 

[JimmyV]

Are the kids paying for it? If not, I don't see the problem.

While I see the OP's point, since when do kids get a say in where the family goes on vacation? When they pay for it, then they can say where they go. Otherwise, suck it up buttercup.

Sorry. I don't get this at all. This smacks of pure Disney myopia. Are you telling me that after ten consecutive years of going to WDW, if your kids came to you and said:

"Dad, we are studying U.S. history and we'd really like to go to Boston, Philadelphia, or Williamsburg for vacation this year",
or
"Dad, we are really interested in the arts, and we'd like to go to Paris to see the Louvre", you would say: "Suck it up Buttercup. I'm paying and we're going to Epcot and you can see France there and watch Ben Franklin and Mark Twain teach you about history!"

Part of parenting is teaching. If your kids want to expand their horizons, you have an obligation to foster their growth. It's called being a parent. Even if it inconveniences your annual trip to spin on the Tea Cups. Honestly. Only on a Disney chat board would you find such a: "I ain't letting my kids' preferences get in the way of my Disney fun" attitude.

 

[JimmyV]

The dis boards are so funny. There is a wonderful exciting world out there to see. Forcing kids to do the same thing over and over again when they don't even like it is not cool.

What if the parents wanted to go to the beach or on a cruise but the kids wanted Disney, then everyone would say the parents were wrong.

As far as the whole, I pay I decide, I'm happy you weren't my parents. Kids have opinions too, no one needs to base their life on them, but it's pretty messed up to never consider what they might enjoy.

Posting at the same time. Saying the same thing.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

We have friends who are Disney addicts. Like many of us. They have 3 kids and go every single year. A couple of their kids aren't really into it anymore. They're getting tired of WDW. But they continue to go. The parents plan it out and love it. It's probably a matter of time before the kids are old enough to just stay home and skip the family vacations.

So who is that really for? My family trips are really for the whole family. You can't make everyone happy all the time. But those trips aren't about their kids. Seems very selfish to me. Growing up I went on trips with my parents until I was married. We had so much fun together. And we talked about what places we wanted to see. Just kind of sad that they don't seem to see it.

It is sad and it is selfish. A family vacation should be for the family! Do the kids get any say? Have they been allowed to do any of the tours?!? I could go to Disney every year but there is no way I would ignore other places if my family wanted to go there.

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

Go where the Kids want to go ???

When my youngest Stepdaughter was ... oh about 15?

She said

" You know they have these cool cruises you can go on and they have clubbing and parties for the teenagers and all.... You and Dad could take us on one of those cruises and we'd be so busy you and Dad could do whatever you wanted to !"....

my answer:

"If I never got to even see you then why would I even pay to bring you ?"

Brought them to Washington D.C. ("museums are boring") Brought them snow skiing ("It's TOO COLD" !)

I never once had them ask me to bring them for some highly educational vacation to enrich their minds. (maybe those kids are smarter than mine)

*some* kids go through a rebellious time in growing up. I don't see anything wrong with a Parent wanting to enjoy DisneyWorld even if the kids are saying they don't want to go.

I hope my kids have learned that if they do not want to go where I am paying to take them then they don't have to go.

We had the *least* amount of meltdowns this last visit... and everyone enjoyed Disneyworld (At 18, 19, and 20).

Maybe they are learning to enjoy and respect what is given to them out of love...

If my kid wants a Porsche and I give him a Honda.... ? I should give what he wants ? Do they know best ? I'm old school.... I guess.

Hugs,
Mary

 

[osugal]

Go where the Kids want to go ???

When my youngest Stepdaughter was ... oh about 15?

She said

" You know they have these cool cruises you can go on and they have clubbing and parties for the teenagers and all.... You and Dad could take us on one of those cruises and we'd be so busy you and Dad could do whatever you wanted to !"....

my answer:

"If I never got to even see you then why would I even pay to bring you ?"

Brought them to Washington D.C. ("museums are boring") Brought them snow skiing ("It's TOO COLD" !)

I never once had them ask me to bring them for some highly educational vacation to enrich their minds. (maybe those kids are smarter than mine)

*some* kids go through a rebellious time in growing up. I don't see anything wrong with a Parent wanting to enjoy DisneyWorld even if the kids are saying they don't want to go.

I hope my kids have learned that if they do not want to go where I am paying to take them then they don't have to go.

We had the *least* amount of meltdowns this last visit... and everyone enjoyed Disneyworld (At 18, 19, and 20).

Maybe they are learning to enjoy and respect what is given to them out of love...

If my kid wants a Porsche and I give him a Honda.... ? I should give what he wants ? Do they know best ? I'm old school.... I guess.

Hugs,
Mary

Not quite the same thing as high school boys outgrowing WDW and the parents ignore it for their own selfish reasons. I don't believe they're asking for a Booz cruise. They're asking for anything else after 15 years of Disney. Seems so reasonable to me.

 

[JimmyV]

Brought them to Washington D.C. ("museums are boring") Brought them snow skiing ("It's TOO COLD"

I hope my kids have learned that if they do not want to go where I am paying to take them then they don't have to go.
Mary

There is an inherent contradiction in your post. You imply in your examples quoted above that certain vacations that your children didn't enjoy were less than satisfactory if not abject failures, suggesting that you wouldn't want to repeat that experience. So why, then, is it a good idea for you or others to drag kids to WDW if they would be as miserable there as your kids were skiing in the cold? Taking kids skiing when they don't enjoy it is somehow a bad vacation, but taking kids to WDW when they don't enjoy it makes for a good vacation?

As for not having to go, it's kind of hard leaving an eight year old "Home Alone". I saw that movie. It doesn't work.

 

[canopynut66]

took mine to WDW and they liked it and then they grow up got married and one likes to go to the beaches and the other likes to go all over the USA to camp and hunt. we still go every year for two weeks to WDW and love it and enjoy it just as much. maybe more since no worries just us.