WDW 8 yo's totally different than last time!

[ThwTwinsMom]

Hi all. I had a lot of things change on me this trip. We took the boys the first time when they were 4.5 yo. On that trip, my initial instinct was to avoid EPCOT because they were too small. However, the people on this board convinced me to give it a shot. My guys were totally bored the whole time. They could have cared less about crafts and passports. Most of FW was too intense. However, I enjoyed trying it out.

We just got back from celebrating their 8th birthday at WDW. DH and I really wanted to try MS and TT. So, we thought we'd go over for a couple hours one day when it could be fit in. It turns out this time EPCOT was their favorite park! lol They really enjoyed TT, HISTA, and MS. We had a great time eating in Mexico, touring China (the 360 movie was incredible), and most of all, watching the living statue in Italy. We were all laughing hard. They still didn't truly appreciate the architecture. However, they understood a little more about cultures from school and reading. We stayed from opening until 4:30 pm. We weren't anywhere near ready to leave, but we had other plans and had to go.

Hope this helps anyone else that was in my situation!

 

[llp479]

Sounds like you had a great time celebrating the boys' birthday.

Our girls will celebrate their 10th b-day the day we arrive. Not sure what we'll be doing this trip because they've informed DH and I that THEY are planning the activites on this trip. At least I know they include Epcot for sure for one day because they love TT, Living Seas and eating in China.

 

[ThwTwinsMom]

Hope you have a great time. I know if my kids planned it, we would just go to Disney Quest and never leave!

I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know how crowded it is during full out spring break. It wasn't very crowded while we were there. I was wondering how busy it will get. My brother is thinking about taking his family next year.

Have a great trip!

 

[vicb]

ThwTwinsMom, We have taken our kids 3 times now to WDW and each time we (and they) grow to love Epcot more and more.

We saw the Statues for the first time in Feb. and the kids were mesmerized. We also watched Off Kilter, Kristos and the french mime. We ate in four WS restaurants! There is so much detail there that some families over look due to the "lack of rides". My kids spent about 30 min. in the little gift shop in Japan buying Japanese Yu-gi-oh cards and candies!

We did more things in FW this trip too that we'd missed before like HISTA, the Figment ride, Ice Station Cool etc...

Glad you had a great trip but next time you must get back at night for Illuminations. It is wonderful.

 

[ThwTwinsMom]

vicb,

I really wanted to see illuminations and fantasmic. Unfortunately, it was just a little too much to do. We did EMH every day except Sunday. That day we were still there by 8:50 am. My guys are early risers and usually go to sleep at 8:30 pm. I just didn't want to totally wear them out. Maybe they'll be up for it next time. I know eventually they'll learn to sleep past 7:00 am! lol

Did you find that your kids were concerned about different things? The first time we went, they loved HM and various spooky stuff. However, they wouldn't even get near TT because it was too loud outside. This time they were bothered by the spooky stuff, and could have cared less about the noise. They loved TT. I thought it was funny how quiet it was inside!

 

[vicb]

ThwTwinsMom,
My DS (8) is pretty wimpy when it comes to rides and spooky stuff, my DD (11) likes things fast, scary, big etc...

DS loves TT but didn't try MS. This trip he did HM and POC just fine but was spooked by Splash Mt. and BTM (did them but was scared). The big thing was he geared himself up to go on TOT, I didn't go but he really wanted to try it with DH and DD. DH tried to get him to take the chicken exit inside but he wanted to do it. Needless to say TOT pretty well "terrorized" him! But overall he did much better this trip at 8 1/2 than he did at 6.

We are not a morning family so we only did one EMH day. We just do regular opening at non-EMH parks. We still leave parks by 2-3:00 and return to our resort for a swim and rest (watch TV) and snack. THen we return to parks around dinner time.

Don't worry about missing night time shows, we missed Wishes at MK due to rain one day and the other day my kids were cold and tired (weather not too great that day) so we cut our losses and returned to our hotel for dinner. WE'll see it next trip... in two years!

 

[ThwTwinsMom]

My sons didn't even want to look at ToT! That is partly my fault. You couldn't pay me enough to ride that. I try not to be obvious about the rides that bother me. However, they are old enough to notice that I don't go on anything that has a drop. DH will go on all the roller coasters. However, they don't see to care that Dad will do it, just that Mom won't.

I can't wait to see what happens when they are old enough not to care what worries me.

 

[llp479]

My girls are identical, except when it comes to rides. One refuses to ride ToT and stays with DH while the other rides with me and lil dd. DH did ToT once with our youngest dd and won't do it again!

Each trip they get a bit more interested in "how things work." Last trip they were very curious about all the plants. I guess I'll find out in a couple of weeks now that they are "adults" in Disney's eyes if they have a new "adult" perspective on the "world."