Spreading the "Magic"

[kennezgirl]

I am sooooo excited about my upcoming November vacation. I am traveling with my mother, DH, DD12, DD8, DD8, and DD4. This will be our first family trip there. I went when I was younger with an aunt and uncle.
I have tried to explain the "magic" of Disney to them. They truly have no idea what I am talking about and my twelve year old has even went as far as to tell me that I need to "calm down" that November is still a long time from now.
How can I get them more excited and prepared for what we are going to experience? I want them to be as giddy as I am! lol
We have been looking at books and watching Disney movies.... and I have even had them come in to the computer room with me and look at the pictures you all have posted. Any other ideas?

 

[mello]

When we took the kids (5yo and 8yo at the time) to Disneyland for their first trip, DH and I were WAAAYYY more excited than they were. They just had no clue what a treat they were in for! We tried to show them with videos, and explain it all to them before we went, but they just didn't get it. We have a cheesy little amusement park (well, really it's not bad, but what can compare to Disney?) about an hour away from our home, and they kept thinking it was going to be like that. I remember walking over to Disneyland from our hotel the first morning, and dh and I were just giddy; we were practically skipping down the street, and the kids kept looking at us like we were crazy - they couldn't understand why mom and dad were acting like kids !

Now the funny thing, is that my mom, and sister and I took all the kids for a quick trip last summer, and it was my 6yo neice's first time, and boy did I get a kick out of seeing my boys trying to prepare their cousin for what she was about to experience! They kept telling her, "It's not like anything you can even imagine...".

So don't worry, they'll understand once they get there.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

Ditto - they'll understand when they get there. You might actually want to stop trying for now. I know it will be incredibly hard since you're so excited, but overloading on it might take away from the magic?

 

[goofydad621]

Trying posting the the sticky thread "Paying it forward" up top get somebody to send a little pixie dust their way, it may help at leat for the 12 yr old.

Good Luck

 

[bubba73]

I had the same situation when I took DW for the first time during the 25th Celebration. No matter what I told her, she still thought it was a thrill park like Six Flags. We had 5 days to go and visit. She couldn't understand what I was trying to convey but I swear, when we went into MK and walked down Main Street. That's when she started to smell the candy and popcorn, see the characters on the side, and then. There it was. She couldn't believe her eyes. I still remember her priceless reaction to her first time seeing the Castle. She was about 26 or 27 when we went for the first time and it seems like she has now got the desire to go every year. Even the peoplein our family that has went, thinks that is too much. But when we talk about where are we going to go for our vacation, it just seems like we are always heading back to WDW. Hey ! I'm not complaining!!

 

[MINNIEBOWSER]

I understand how you feel. Maybe you should have some tissues on hand on your departure day. My first visit was when I was 12. I had NO idea what to expect either but I cried when I had to leave there to come home. Of course, back then the only park was MK, so your DD has ALOT more to experience than I did when I was 12. I was not able to go back till I was 30. I could not have been more excited to go back and nobody shared my excitement with me. It can be frustrating! They will understand what you have been talking about once they get there.
Have a magical trip!!

 

[zookeeper]

DH refuses to get in the spirit.

I'm so glad I found this thread. At least I know that I'm not the only one having trouble convincing someone what a great trip we're going to have. I've never been to WDW and have been dreaming about it since I was a kid. In 8 days we are leaving for our first big family vacation and my DH is being a real downer about it. He went to WDW 3 times as a kid, but hasn't been since 1981. He's never seen any other park except MK, but he's convinced that there'll be nothing there that he hasn't seen before. I don't have to have been before to know how absolutely wrong he is, but there's no telling him that. I hope you're all right that once he's there he'll change his mind because if not I don't know what I'll do.

 

[PigletsPal]

Look on the board for anyone going between now and your trip and see if they would be a FairyGodMailer. Have them send a Post Card sign my a fav. chart. saying how that can't wait until you arrive. My son always gets a kick out getting one in the mail.

 

[JPN4265]

You cannot explain the magic of Disney, you have to experience it.