This Girl Needed Someone from Dis...

[EEyorelover22]

I'm not quite sure how this is done. I'm planning a trip in June with my entire family. That would be myself, wife, 3yr and 41/2yr olds, mother-in-law, older sister, brother and his family-19yr, 17yr and 15yr olds. None of the kids have ever been and my sister and brother have not been to all the parks or were there on a convention. My wife and I have been together and loved it. I have been twice before with friends and their children. I try to go every five years. Now that I have children I hope they love it as much as my wife and I do. My question is how do I make it interesting for my brothers kids. They like to have fun and ride rides but their parents aren't always gung-ho. I've made reservations for Aloha show and several character meals because of my small children and I know they will like that. We are not doing water parks on our package but might do one day there. We are there for 7nights and 8 days. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
philandy44

I think you should plan on not doing all things together all the time. I would research and offer suggestions and see what they want to do. My kids are only two years apart and they like to do very different things. One is a boy and one is a girl. I would for sure let them know that it's not 6 Flags. My brother and I always went to Cedar Point and we thought MK would be like that. Communicate with the teenagers. They may want to hang out at the pool..who knows. That doesn't mean that everyone has to. DS and DH go one way at WDW and DD and I go the other. We have breakfast and dinner together and do our own thing during the day.

 

[hogwartsdropout]

you don't mean "Muggles". Non magical folk, who don't get or appreciate the magic of Disney, or enjoy Walt Disney World.

 

[bowlesx3]

Oddly enough, my love and knowledge of Disney may have me in a bad spot. My friend is going through a divorce and wants ME to go with her and her 2 kids since her H will not go. I love Disney, and I love to enjoy it the way my family and I do, I don't have the money to blow on a trip with others, I am not a "large vacation group" kinna person, I love going with JUST my DH and DS!!!

I don't want to hurt her feelings, but I just can't do it and am not sure how to tell her no.

 

[XantheFan]

Love the Muggles comment! Never heard it described better!

My husband and I went for the first time together with our kids in December. Neither of us had been since we were children. I was all about the research, just wanted to learn from those that have been and know what to do. Our trip was fantastic! The best part was the looks on my kids' faces and when walking down Main Street our fourth day, my husband turned to me with a childlike smile of joy and told me this was the vacation he had always dreamed of. That is the magic!

 

[Nancyg56]

Oddly enough, my love and knowledge of Disney may have me in a bad spot. My friend is going through a divorce and wants ME to go with her and her 2 kids since her H will not go. I love Disney, and I love to enjoy it the way my family and I do, I don't have the money to blow on a trip with others, I am not a "large vacation group" kinna person, I love going with JUST my DH and DS!!!

I don't want to hurt her feelings, but I just can't do it and am not sure how to tell her no.

I have found that telling someone that I just cannot justify the money at this time is the best way to go. Good luck to you.

 

[Tiziminchac]

I've just got to the stage where I just shrug my shoulders and think 'Good, less crowds for me!'

I like the way you think!

 

[Freyja]

This is just sad

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Ok, so it was 17 years ago, I was 21 years old, and my sister was going on her 1st trip to WDW. She had decided to go when her oldest was 5, and he was finally 5. She gets back, and from that day on, harrassed me to no end about how I have to go! That there is no other place on earth. I was single and had no kids. I could not imagine why I would take a vacation to WDW. For years, I rolled my eyes at her.

I am now 27 years old. My mom had passed away, and I realized I worked 3 jobs, I was single and I had never been ANYWHERE. My mom dying at 62 years old, made me wake up and decide I better start living my life.My bf from high school was on her second degree. She had spent the last 7 years in school. I knew she had no money, and she was finally graduating after 4 years of a tough, tough course. So, my gift to her was a 10 day trip to WDW. Back then, WDW sent you all your documents in a folder shaped out of the Castle. I wrapped the folder, that had all her tickets, ect, in it and she opened that. At first, when she saw the folder shaped like the Castle, she didn't get it, but it was only an instant. As soon as she realized what the castle was, she screeched. She couldn't believe we were going to Disney! We went, and I came back the biggest Disney fanatic that ever walked the face of the earth. While I was down there, one the Elves must of snuck on my room at night and put a magnet under my skin, because I keep being pulled down there.

My sister was thrilled that I loved it so much, and we try to get everyone we know to go on at least one WDW vacation. One of my other sister's went down to visit my brother in Palm Bay, and she hated it. She says she 'doesn't get it" GET AWAY FROM ME! How can you NOT get it? Oh she is so aggrivating. I won't even let the topic of Disney come up when she is around, because I don't want to hear her negative. She has a baby now, and I am arranging for her to take a trip when he is 2, so she can see the Disney magic through him.

Some people don't get Disney, I don't get THEM.

 

[funhouse8]

I'm not quite sure how this is done. I'm planning a trip in June with my entire family. That would be myself, wife, 3yr and 41/2yr olds, mother-in-law, older sister, brother and his family-19yr, 17yr and 15yr olds. None of the kids have ever been and my sister and brother have not been to all the parks or were there on a convention. My wife and I have been together and loved it. I have been twice before with friends and their children. I try to go every five years. Now that I have children I hope they love it as much as my wife and I do. My question is how do I make it interesting for my brothers kids. They like to have fun and ride rides but their parents aren't always gung-ho. I've made reservations for Aloha show and several character meals because of my small children and I know they will like that. We are not doing water parks on our package but might do one day there. We are there for 7nights and 8 days. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
philandy44

Hi philandy44, I'm a Mom of teens and here are some things my kids like to do at the parks. First they love to hunt for hidden Mickeys (They sell a great book or you can get the info from the web site.) We always spend one afternoon Eating around the world in Epcot. Don't rush them though innoventions! Mice boats are a blast. Disney Quest is a must on our trips and last trip we discovered the comedy club at pleasure Island (They wanted to do this every night). I wanted to do the Aloha show with them our next visit I think this is a good one for teens. Rent Surrey bikes at the boardwalk then have Ice cream at Beaches & Cream, Also great! My kids are roller coaster people but never complain about the rides at Disney. These are different kind of rides & They do have TOT! Don't miss Fantasmic! Enjoy the park and they will enjoy it with you! Have a magical Trip!

 

[Disney Doll]

I'm not quite sure how this is done. I'm planning a trip in June with my entire family. That would be myself, wife, 3yr and 41/2yr olds, mother-in-law, older sister, brother and his family-19yr, 17yr and 15yr olds. None of the kids have ever been and my sister and brother have not been to all the parks or were there on a convention. My wife and I have been together and loved it. I have been twice before with friends and their children. I try to go every five years. Now that I have children I hope they love it as much as my wife and I do. My question is how do I make it interesting for my brothers kids. They like to have fun and ride rides but their parents aren't always gung-ho. I've made reservations for Aloha show and several character meals because of my small children and I know they will like that. We are not doing water parks on our package but might do one day there. We are there for 7nights and 8 days. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
philandy44

Buy "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World". They have touring suggestions, etc which are very helpful.

Tell yourself now that you are not going to be able to see and do everything, so research the stuff in the Unofficial Guide and determine what are "must see" attractions and what are "if we have time we'll do it".

Don't commando tour. Take a break in the afternoon with your little ones so they don't "melt down" in the evening. It's a nice time to be able to enjoy the resort too.

Don't think that the group of you have to be attached at the hip the whole time. Your kids are younger and the other kids are a bit older, so there may be some days when you won't be touring together all day, but meet up in the evening to do IllumiNations, Fantasmic, the MK fireworks or whatever.

The "eat around the world" thing is a good idea and lots of fun for the older kids and adults. Your little ones ,may not enjoy it as much, unless you tie it in with getting their passports stamped and taking them to the KidCot Kidstops at Epcot. You can buy a "passport" in any Epcot gift shop and when you go to teach country, one of the CMs will stamp it for you with a stamp for that country and they usually tell you a little bit about their country as well.

 

[allicat]

Dh knows someone who took their kids for the first time recently. He asked how they liked the Magic Kingdom and the guy said "well, we just walked through-we were tired and it was crowded. After all, we did all the parks in one day and thats the last park we went to!"
The poor kids probably didnt get to enjoy very much other than the atmosphere I guess.
Years ago,I went to MK for the first time in college just for the day when I was on spring break. I can tell you it was nothing special for me. I went back 6 years later with DH and DD and it was like visiting for the first time. We now have too many trips to count and are DVC owners so I definitely "got it" after I went back.

 

[NMAmy]

We took dd's friend along on our trip in February--they're both 15. She had been before with her parents and the whole trip she kept telling me, "I didn't know about that!" She had a blast and made notes to take back to her mom for their next trip. She also told me that she was amazed that I was so easygoing about stuff and didn't rush them along. If they wanted to ride something 5 or 6 times--I rode a couple of times, then went and had a snack or a drink and waited nearby. I told her--we're here to have fun not run on a schedule!

The poor child, on our first morning, kind of whispered to me, "When we have some time, can we stop by the bathroom for a minute? Just when it's convenient--I don't want to take time away from the rides or anything." I sat her right down and said, "Honey, we'll stop for the bathroom whenever anyone wants to. You just have to tell me! We also stop to shop or eat."

 

[Maleficent13]

The poor child, on our first morning, kind of whispered to me, "When we have some time, can we stop by the bathroom for a minute? Just when it's convenient--I don't want to take time away from the rides or anything." I sat her right down and said, "Honey, we'll stop for the bathroom whenever anyone wants to. You just have to tell me! We also stop to shop or eat."

Oh, the poor kid!! I personally have visited every bathroom in WDW...we make it part of the trip!! We (me and my mom) have our own rating system...including points for sentimental value (you know, like when Mom says, "Oh, I remember changing you in this bathroom!!")

 

[lisajl]

"While I was down there, one the Elves must of snuck on my room at night and put a magnet under my skin, because I keep being pulled down there. "



Is that what they did to me???? OMG! I wondered about something like that! LOL!!!!

Funny thing, we have family members that are the same...why are you going back? My in-laws understand, they were there with me and my DD the first time we went. They saw my face and my DD's face. Needless to say, I cried a lot that trip. Still do...

My DH said to me last night, "Why don't we go visit my niece in Savannah on our way to Disney later this year."

Our DD who is now 20 started laughing and said, "Did you see mom's face", "Wow it just lit up!"

I doubt we will go this year. Just went in Dec. but it was a nice, wonderful thought. I love my DH!

Lisa