Spectro..to do or not to do??

[ppan77]

There is only one evening during our trip where we can make Spectro. Our kids are ds4 and dd21 months. I am not even sure they will be up for it on the night we can go. Here is my dilemma...my parents are with us on this trip. This is the night my dh and I were going to go out to dinner on our own while they watch the kids. Would you...go to Spectro w/ kiddos and then dash out to a late dinner or would you skip Spectro and let the grandparents take the kids to Spectro??? My parents are completely capable of getting the kids where they need to be. I guess I am having mother's guilt of not seeing Spectro with them! WWYD?

 

[SnowWhitee]

Have you seen Spectro before? If not, I would definitely go see it with the kids. The way I see it is, you can get a babysitter at home and go for a "date night" dinner. You can only see Spectro at MK.

On the other hand...

If you think you'll be going back within a year or two, then plan to see it then when your youngest is a little older and go on your date night this time. The amazement on their faces will be awesome to see.

 

[Keri]

eh, I'd skip it, personally. We saw it 2 years ago, it was incredibly crowded, we had to hold the kids to get them to see anything, so we were sore and cranky by the end of it, and the kids were already tired and cranky too. But we couldn't move at all, because of the huge crowd on Main Street.

I'd go have a relaxing dinner, and tell your parents to take them if they want to, but to feel free to skip it. It was really stressful for us (our kids were 3 and 4.5 that year)

 

[AJA]

I would skip it if you know you'll be back in 2 years or so (so they can still see it as young children). Your littlest one will probably be asleep anyway.

We skipped it last year when DD was 4 and although at 5 this year she did enjoy it, it was by no means the 'highlight' of her trip kwim.

ETA: it is crowded and takes some planning to get a good seat. I got a spot about 45 mins early (while DH kept DD busy) if you're not upfront it will be really hard for the little ones to see anything, it's a lot of effort for the Grandparents so unless you know they'll be well prepared it might be more stress than it's worth.

 

[brockash]

There is only one evening during our trip where we can make Spectro. Our kids are ds4 and dd21 months. I am not even sure they will be up for it on the night we can go. Here is my dilemma...my parents are with us on this trip. This is the night my dh and I were going to go out to dinner on our own while they watch the kids. Would you...go to Spectro w/ kiddos and then dash out to a late dinner or would you skip Spectro and let the grandparents take the kids to Spectro??? My parents are completely capable of getting the kids where they need to be. I guess I am having mother's guilt of not seeing Spectro with them! WWYD?

Okay, I'm a little biased, as Spectro is probably my favorite thing at Disney, but I'd watch Spectro with the kiddos and then try to go to a late dinner. I think both of your kids would really like it. My dd enjoyed it even at just 17 months. Good luck!!

ETA: If you're going to see it, yes get there early to get a good seat. Our favorite spot is somewhere on the curb on Main St. We usually try to get there about an hr. early and reserve our seats and usually send someone for ice cream.

 

[Keri]

ETA: If you're going to see it, yes get there early to get a good seat. Our favorite spot is somewhere on the curb on Main St. We usually try to get there about an hr. early and reserve our seats and usually send someone for ice cream.

YES, definitely if you choose to do it, you need to get there early. We actually weren't trying to see it, we wanted to go home ... but we couldn't move! Seriously, Main Street was THAT crowded. So we just stopped & gave in.

 

[la79al]

Personally speaking, there is no way I would miss my DD seeing Spectro. She is at an age where she is growing and changing so fast. We are going in December and April and Spectro is a priority each time because I know DD will be fascinated by it and have a different reaction each time. When my DSis and I went in 2007 we had no problem getting curbside seats last minute in frontiertown.

 

[Mathfailure]

I think it highly overrated (seems to be a minority opinion!) but I do not like the parades in general and find that during the parades I much rather do other things with the lower people count.

I would go to dinner, have my parents choose what they want to do with the grandchildren, and everyone will enjoy themselves.

If you come back, they will see it again for the first time, because of their young ages, and you can enjoy it then.

For most parents of young children, a dinner out alone is a lovely treat.

 

[WantToGoNow]

My kids were 5.5 and almost 3 last trip and they loved Spectromagic. The get bored with the regular afternoon parades but I don't think they moved the entire time (and no, they were not asleep). We are definitely planning to see it at least once during out upcoming trip. Now whether you want to see it with your children or let your parents take them is totally up to you but personally I would want to be with my children - the expressions on their faces is something you can't get back.

 

[micheletenor]

My kids were 5.5 and almost 3 last trip and they loved Spectromagic. The get bored with the regular afternoon parades but I don't think they moved the entire time (and no, they were not asleep). We are definitely planning to see it at least once during out upcoming trip. Now whether you want to see it with your children or let your parents take them is totally up to you but personally I would want to be with my children - the expressions on their faces is something you can't get back.

My DD4 1/2 and DS 6 would love this, what time is this typically at? My fear is that by the time darkness rolls around they will be so wiped out from the day's activities..

 

[Keri]

My DD4 1/2 and DS 6 would love this, what time is this typically at? My fear is that by the time darkness rolls around they will be so wiped out from the day's activities..

The week we are going I think Spectro is at 7 and Wishes at 8 -- only on non-MVMCP nights though.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

At their age, you could skip it and they'd never know the difference. Besides, you mentioned they may already be in bed...

Hit up the afternoon parades with younger kids. IMO they are more "(inter)active" than watching lighted floats drive by.

 

[ktlm]

I took my then 2 yr 10 month old to Spectro on her 1st WDW trip. It is one of the times on our trip that my eyes welled up with tears. She was completely amazed by it and stood there watching it with pure joy on her face, sometimes even jumping up and down when one of her favorites got close. I will never forget that Spectro. If it is your kids first time seeing it, I don't think I would miss seeing it with them. The funny thing is, as much as DD loved it the first time she saw it, we went back to WDW when she was 3, and she really wasn't that interested in it on that trip. You just never know with kids!

 

[*Seanaci*]

Here's an idea...go see Spectro with the kids and grandparents...then if the grandparents are willing, send the kids back to the hotel with them for bed and you and hubs go have a nice dessert somewhere rather than a late dinner.