Unexpected savings?

[crisi]

My kids don't get to dictate anything either, and ruining everybody else's vacation because they are pouting isn't acceptable, either.

How do you pull this off? My son went from a happy go lucky easy going kid who we managed to take Washington DC summer 2011, even though museums and History aren't his thing, and had an enjoyable trip, into a sullen and non-communicative teenager over four months last winter and I am looking for ideas on how to get him to be more cooperative and have a better attitude. So far, not much is working. (He's fourteen). He's fundamentally a good kid, but his parents are uncool right now. Saying it isn't acceptable doesn't work, taking away privileges made it worse, and rewarding him when his behavior is positive hasn't had a great impact (although it works better than removing privileges).

 

[mommymeg]

Just a little optimism if you decide to take the leap and bring your hesitant kids to the World. We just got home from a multi-family stay at the Cabins at FW. 6 out of 7 of our kids were over the age of 10, including two highly Disney opposed boys (17 & 15). I kept close eye on those beloved boys who have turned from beautiful cherubs to "too cool for anything Mom plans" man boys. Their faces lit up like fireworks, even on Its a Small World. They also highly enjoyed Disneyquest, Typhoon Lagoon and just about everything at HS. In fact, on the last day they were begging to go back to MK for another ride on Space Mountain. They may just be trying to be difficult. If you go, keep it fun and light. Let them make some plans, choices and maybe even explore on their own. They might be surprised to find out that Disney is great at any age! (And if you are still considering alternatives, Pigeon Forge Tennessee was a winner also, but maybe not in December.). Hope it all works out!

 

[Pigeon]

How do you pull this off? My son went from a happy go lucky easy going kid who we managed to take Washington DC summer 2011, even though museums and History aren't his thing, and had an enjoyable trip, into a sullen and non-communicative teenager over four months last winter and I am looking for ideas on how to get him to be more cooperative and have a better attitude. So far, not much is working. (He's fourteen). He's fundamentally a good kid, but his parents are uncool right now. Saying it isn't acceptable doesn't work, taking away privileges made it worse, and rewarding him when his behavior is positive hasn't had a great impact (although it works better than removing privileges).

It's not always easy, is it? The teenage years are nature's way of keeping you from crying when they head off to college.

The key with my daughter is finding her currency. I take away her cell phone, and for every additional snotty remark, she loses another day. She'll normally push it a little bit and then she realizes that she's just digging herself in deeper.

 

[Jenny3]

I wouldn't plan an expensive trip if 2 out of the 4 didn't want to go; try to have a family meeting and come to a group decision. What about going to the Caribbean?

My 16 y/o was actually my 'worst behaved' when we went to WDW last year. I was all worried and concerned about the 2.5 y/o and was really shocked that the teenager was the royal PITA with her attitude and whining. Never again.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

I would ask a few more questions, and try to find out what the two kids object to, and what the big attraction of Vermont is. (Smuggler's Notch? We live 15 miles from the VT border, and aside from that, I'm drawing a blank!)

I also have 4 kids, and I try very hard on every vacation to take everyone's needs/wants into account. Not that everyone is going to be ecstatic every second, but I liek to have something that's super appealing for each child. For example, we spent a few nights at Great Wolf Lodge this summer. For DD17, she and I took a trip to the outlet mall. For DS15, we found a nearby rifle range, where he and DH got to try a number of rifles. DD9 was perfectly content at the waterpark and making a stuffed wolf. The highlight for DS6 was a day trip to the Crayola Factory. And the waterpark.

Similarly, when we go to WDW as a herd, we stay offsite--my kids prefer it. They like the room, they like my cooking, they like the private pool. We schedule plenty of down time, so they can watch movies or (DS15's favorite) play videogames in his own room with his own TV. We do Universal, Seaworld, and Gatorland. we stay for 2 weeks, but only go every other year.

DS15 has a chance to go to WDW as a class trip in the spring, and he doesn't want to go. He likes our family WDW vacations, and doesn't want to do the All-Stars and park blitz that he figures this trip will be. Along the same lines, I'm going down in Jan., with just my younger two kids. It'll be a different vacation, we'll stay onsite and jsut do WDW.

I should add that because of my family's size and age ranges, vacations require about as much planning as the invasion of Pearl Harbor.

 

[Dani4girls]

I would ask a few more questions, and try to find out what the two kids object to

I did. It's a couple of things. We recently went to Canobie Lake Park and there were a couple of rides that we "made" the kids go on thinking that they would like them, and they ended up NOT liking them. So, now they are afraid that we will make them go on rides that will scare them.

Secondly, they really like outdoor things. We had gone on a vacation to Vermont last year, and their favorite part was kayaking on Lake Champlain! They LOVED it! So, I guess I need to do some research on what kind of outdoor-sy things we can do at WDW?

I took out our pictures from our last trip to remind them of all the great times we had. That seems to have helped. I think with a little more planning and ideas, I should be able to change their minds!

 

[vicki_c]

We do two different vacations here. Disney frequently and Vermont for a summer week every other year. Both are great vacations. I really think you should try something different if that's what some seem to want. And in my family, my kids get no say at all, but they do love both types of trips.

 

[HM]

Well, if you decide on Disney I'd make it a shorter trip than 9-10 days, that's for sure. And I would take everyone, it's not a family vacation if two kids are missing.

Personally, I'd be looking at making the trip a two-part trip. Part at Disney World and the other in Key West.

 

[mjantz]

My kids are about the age of your kids. We are planning a trip to WDW & have decided to add Universal because both kids are huge Super Hero & Harry Potter fans. My oldest has said no Character Meals & no autograph book and I'm wondering if we will be able to get any character pics with him but he will be with us, which is the important thing.

As they get older we still decide the destination but they do have input in what we do at the destination. It seems to make the trip run more smoothly when we can say 'I know you don't like this museum but it was your sisters choice & Thursday we are going to the Worlds Biggest Lego Store that you want to visit'. And wonder of wonders, sometimes they decide they like what someone else picked out.

 

[crisi]

It's not always easy, is it? The teenage years are nature's way of keeping you from crying when they head off to college.

The key with my daughter is finding her currency. I take away her cell phone, and for every additional snotty remark, she loses another day. She'll normally push it a little bit and then she realizes that she's just digging herself in deeper.

Yeah, that didn't change behavior, cell phone, skateboard, getting grounded, video games, tv. There is no currency that he reacts to. And he never has... Didn't back as a toddler.