WDW a "family Place"....HA!!!!

[gillenkl]

this happens everywhere....not just Disney....it's life. One thing DH and I do when we start stressing in the parks or see someone else freaking is whisper to each other "The Happiest Place on Earth" - that always makes us laugh. It's our private joke.

 

[disney_family_1247]

The things you describe witnessing sound pretty normal for your typical American family . That makes it a Family Place!

 

[DISNEYFOS]

Last year we took DD (6 at the time) to WDW by herself, meaning we left our DS2 at home. We had a VERY rough year and we felt DD needed some one on one time since she felt the "trauma" of what happened more so than her brother. Anyway, I planned all our meals around her and the Princesses, I was on the phone at the crack to get all our ADR's, I also had planned for her to do tea with Alice.

Well our arrival day we planned on having dinner at 1900 Park Fare, she was SOOOO excited. We get to dinner DD looked beautiful in her dress, we were seated pretty quickly. As soon as we sat down (I do mean as soon as we sat down) Cinderella comes out with Prince Charming - I turn to look at her and see her expression but she was not there....where was she you ask? She was under the table crying and holding on for dear life. She was TERRIFIED of Cinderella. It took us 1 hour to get her out from under the table, then the Restaurant Manager got us into GF Cafe so we could atleast eat. I was SOOO ANGRY with her, I couldn't understand her hiding.

The next day we went to Epcot, our first ride was Spaceship Earth, she wouldn't go on...I swear I lost it. I told her if she didn't get her butt on that ride I would be sending her on the first plane home. Was that right? No. I was out of line, but at the same time I was stressed and a bit disappointed. I realized at the moment, I had to follow her lead for the remainder of the vacation or we would all be miserable. It turned out to be a WONDERFUL time!!! She talks about our trip all the time. Now I pray our trip this year will be different. I have spoken with her about what happened last year, she even asked if we could do Character Meals this time, I told her we couldn't until I see how she reacts, no need for a repeat of last year. When I clearly explained why about the meals - she was fine. This year I think we are going in to the trip with a much more relaxed plan.

I know I looked like a crazy woman in Epcot that morning, just thinking about our first few days makes me laugh....now!

I think this is a really good post to point out...It IS so hard to know how your child will react. When you are planning the trip, they've got BBB and Lunch with Cinderella..Character Breakfasts..and rides that are all new and unknown experiences. Its really hard not to get upset when you've planned this "wonderful" experience and your child is just not going for it.

I had to take DD BBB hair all out 45 mins after because she was sobbing it was so tight. We've spent multiple times in line waiting to see a character only to have her freak out right before we get to the front..... Or have your child refuse to go on rides.

I'll admit sometimes we are disappointed that we can't do more rides..but we still love it and enjoy our time immensely...and the kids are thrilled at the rides that we do over and over again...but it does take an attitude adjustment on the parents part.

 

[iwrbnd]

Last year we took DD (6 at the time) to WDW by herself, meaning we left our DS2 at home. We had a VERY rough year and we felt DD needed some one on one time since she felt the "trauma" of what happened more so than her brother. Anyway, I planned all our meals around her and the Princesses, I was on the phone at the crack to get all our ADR's, I also had planned for her to do tea with Alice.

Well our arrival day we planned on having dinner at 1900 Park Fare, she was SOOOO excited. We get to dinner DD looked beautiful in her dress, we were seated pretty quickly. As soon as we sat down (I do mean as soon as we sat down) Cinderella comes out with Prince Charming - I turn to look at her and see her expression but she was not there....where was she you ask? She was under the table crying and holding on for dear life. She was TERRIFIED of Cinderella. It took us 1 hour to get her out from under the table, then the Restaurant Manager got us into GF Cafe so we could atleast eat. I was SOOO ANGRY with her, I couldn't understand her hiding.

The next day we went to Epcot, our first ride was Spaceship Earth, she wouldn't go on...I swear I lost it. I told her if she didn't get her butt on that ride I would be sending her on the first plane home. Was that right? No. I was out of line, but at the same time I was stressed and a bit disappointed. I realized at the moment, I had to follow her lead for the remainder of the vacation or we would all be miserable. It turned out to be a WONDERFUL time!!! She talks about our trip all the time. Now I pray our trip this year will be different. I have spoken with her about what happened last year, she even asked if we could do Character Meals this time, I told her we couldn't until I see how she reacts, no need for a repeat of last year. When I clearly explained why about the meals - she was fine. This year I think we are going in to the trip with a much more relaxed plan.

I know I looked like a crazy woman in Epcot that morning, just thinking about our first few days makes me laugh....now!

I'm laughing only because I've been there! We took my daughter for her 6th birthday and she was scared of EVERYTHING! She was even scared on the Winnie the Pooh ride for heaven's sake! I was definately irritated with her!

 

[starsweeper]

I have two children that are 3 months apart. They were internationally adopted, so we're what's known as a "conspicuous family." People notice us everywhere, and notice what we do, it's just part of being a family for us. Imagine how stressful that can be because you absolutely know people are watching you. I've had my moments, but people didn't know that I went for 2.5 years without a full night's sleep, my husband traveled often leaving me to manage on little sleep with no help (no family nearby), and taking the kids anywhere was a huge ordeal because I never knew how they would react 5 minutes into a store (I had to do major planning between naps, etc. just to leave 10 minutes later due to a tantrum with nothing accomplished and try again in a few days--I finally started buying almost everything online). I'm sure people have thought I was a terrible mom, but my kids adore me and I adore them, and people who know us find our love inspiring. I'm not proud that I've gotten angry with my children, and regretted some moments, but I'm human. Don't judge until you have walked in someone's shoes and seen more than a few seconds or minutes of their lives.

When I was single, I often judged parents. Now I know how tough being a parent can be, and even the best of us can't hold it together every minute.

 

[badblackpug]

I have two children that are 3 months apart. They were internationally adopted, so we're what's known as a "conspicuous family." People notice us everywhere, and notice what we do, it's just part of being a family for us. Imagine how stressful that can be because you absolutely know people are watching you. I've had my moments, but people didn't know that I went for 2.5 years without a full night's sleep, my husband traveled often leaving me to manage on little sleep with no help (no family nearby), and taking the kids anywhere was a huge ordeal because I never knew how they would react 5 minutes into a store (I had to do major planning between naps, etc. just to leave 10 minutes later due to a tantrum with nothing accomplished and try again in a few days--I finally started buying almost everything online). I'm sure people have thought I was a terrible mom, but my kids adore me and I adore them, and people who know us find our love inspiring. I'm not proud that I've gotten angry with my children, and regretted some moments, but I'm human. Don't judge until you have walked in someone's shoes and seen more than a few seconds or minutes of their lives.

When I was single, I often judged parents. Now I know how tough being a parent can be, and even the best of us can't hold it together every minute.

I can completely sympathize. I am the palest blue eyed blond with 4 dark skinned African-American children. People stare at you wherever you go, no matter whether your children are acting right or not. As with you, it is something to which I've grown accustomed, but with everyone already staring it is very difficult to "hide" the less than perfect moments.

 

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

eep! i know on this trip ive threatened to leave the kids or sell them to the its a small world ride...i hope no one has heard me and taken me seriously! lol

 

[polineedyan]

Sometimes people are so much nicer to strangers than their own familiy.

This is something I SOOO observed here at home this week. For years, I have had a recluse neighbor. No family, no one to help him, renting his house off his nephew because he lost the house..heart condition..just a loner. Living in a shamble home.
Suddenly, he passed away. The nephew shows up and within 2 weeks, the house is completely gutted, renovated, and on the market.
Because, you see, it took the guy dying to make the house livable..

 

[seashoreCM]

... this Dad just outside of Pecos Bills at his wits end, he was carrying ballons, refillable ... a melted mickey ice cream running down his arm. He yelled at the top of his lungs "that is it, I've had it!" He literally dropped everything he was carrying and said to his two sons "right here, right now, no holds barred, go at each other!" The children were horrified, staring at him with eyes as big as saucers, frozen on the spot. I guess his kids had been fighting so much he just lost it. ...

Any chance that Dad inadvertently taught the children something new and at the same time the children coincidentally learned a lesson just at that moment? That they had been fighting for the purpose of getting on Dad's nerves and/or wanted more attention from Dad even in the form of reprimands?

And hopefully the boys learned from that moment on to be nice to each other without Dad's telling them?

The all inclusive ride-all-you-can ticket price actually encourages bad behavior. When you can get more for your money by going faster, then pushing and cutting is encouraged. Whereas if each ride had a separate price (as was the case before 1982) people would not feel like they are not getting their money's worth if they slow down.

 

[luvmy2babies]

I read through this whole thing and took it all in. Of course this morning I was telling my dd happy birthday (she's 7 today) and how I remembered the day she was born and how I was so happy she was my little girl and then 5 minutes later yelling "GET IN THE VAN!" because I had said it nicely 3 times but she just walked around in the yard looking at the dandelions while I stood there with the door open holding her little brother in his infant seat.

I'm planning our first trip for this fall. I'm one of those who gets disappointed if I go through a lot to plan something and then dd reacts in a way I don't expect. She's been begging me to go to Disney for over a year…says she wants to see Ariel, Mickey, Cinderella, Minnie, Donald all the rest. I can't imagine if we got there and she ran screaming. But she's loved characters since she was 2. I can't even get the "you wanna go see (insert character name)" sentence out before she takes off running and is posing with the character.

I find with children and characters they fall into 3 categories. 1-no fear, run right up to them, hug them, take my picture type. 2-Okay, I'll go, but you (the parent) have to come too type or 3-No way he H E double hockey sticks am I going near that thing are you crazy type. My dd has always been type 1 no matter what the character. My stepson was type 3, my stepdaughter type 2. These are all children of the same father.

We stood in line for 90 minutes in 90 degree heat to see Dora once. When the family in front of me got their turn, the little boy did a complete 180 and refused to go near her. I was like OMG!

Now, rides is a different story. I took her to Kings Dominion for her 4th birthday. Unlike Disney there are not many rides we can get on together. Rides are either adult or big kid or little kid only. She loved seeing the Nickelodeon characters. I got pictures of her with Dora, Scooby Doo and Blue, but she didn't want to ride anything. She even got on one ride and started screaming to get off before it started. We'd only be there 1 day and I couldn't believe it. 3 hours later, when I was about to pack it in, she decides she's ready to do rides and rode everything I had been trying to get her on the entire day. She's been great on rides ever since, stuff she rides alone and stuff we ride together. I pray that doesn't change. One of my greatest pleasures is seeing her enjoy herself and I'm planning the trip this year while ds is little to make it more about her. We're doing a shorter trip first and hopefully next year or the year after a longer one. I try to remember that we rush around 90% of the time at home and that vacations should be different. Going to have to remember that.

 

[simba20]

Sadly, it may just be an accurate reflection of families in America. I am constantly amazed at the way parents talk to their children. Critizing or correcting them so others can hear (would you want your boss to correct you in front of your coworkers), using a hateful tone, snatching, grabbing and pulling their little arms.

And I am equally amazed at how spouses talk to each other. I work part time in retail and the way some of these people talk, it is obvious they don't LIKE each other.

Fuuny story. My husband and I have put in an offer ont he house. I am not saying we have the house, until all is said and done, we sign the papers and get the keys. However, the house does need work, so I went to Home Depot to price carpet and get a rough estimate of costs based on room measurements form the MLS listing.

A few days later, my husband and I went back so I coudl show himt he carpet I picked out.

So one of the HD salespeople walks over and asks us if we need help. My hsuband asked a few gneral carpet questions and then asked how long it ook the carpet to come in once we ordered it. So she explains the process to us, and the timeframe which puts our planned move it date in iffy territory if I wait until after closing to order the carpet.

So my husband starts gogin on and on, basically meaning I need to go ahead and order the carpet NOW! And in my mind, I am trying to think things through, all while tryign to keep an eye on our 3 year old daughter who is running around the carpet section of HD.

So the salesgirl is standing there, reinterating points my husband is makign based on their timeframe and I barely have a moment to think. Finally I hold up my hands to tell my husband to stop and say very curtly "We will talk about this later." Then I turn to her and thank her for the information and her time.

No big conflict, but anyone could pick up on my aggrevation.

Well, the embarrassing part is a few days later (a few days ago) I went back to HD to set up an appointment time to have the real measurements done, and what person helps me, but the girl from our previous visit. She tells me that I look familiar, when I have to explain where she saw me, and therefore having to tell a bit about the situation....

She laughs and said that she thought I handled it well. She has had to stand there many times while fights broke out between couples at the store. She said, she could understand my hesitation about ordering carpet until we KNOW that the house is ours as well as understanding my husband's urgency. I explained that I was trying to think things through, but was distracted by the littl eone. Anyway, she laughed and said that I handled it well and it was far better than anything she has seen before.
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However, I will admit that this past Feb, at DW, we were in World of Disney and our daughter was grabbing sweatshirts off the table in the men's clothing area while screaming to go look at toys.

So my husband grabs her and takes her over to a corner where he feels he is out of the way and very sternly tells her to behave, we will look at toys in a bit.

Now you have to understand. It takes A LOT for us to even speak to her in a stern boice. We can usually use a normal voice and it works, but we were aggravated by people pushing past us, walking in our way in front of our stroller, stopping in front of us, etc. So what was planned as an enjoyable experience to shop at WOD turned into Wal-Mart on a Saturday.

So there's my husband, in a corner, talkign to our duaghter and this change of character from Daddy frightens her...as I said we do not do this often. So she starts crying. Well a young girl (college age) walks past and comments "Wow Dude, that's great, make your kid cry at Disney World."

Oh yeah, I followed her until she stopped and asked her if she had any more to say. Then I explained that our form of "punishment" a stern voice was far better than what we had witness in the parks.

I was hyped.

 

[DISNEYFOS]

I find with children and characters they fall into 3 categories. 1-no fear, run right up to them, hug them, take my picture type. 2-Okay, I'll go, but you (the parent) have to come too type or 3-No way he H E double hockey sticks am I going near that thing are you crazy type. My dd has always been type 1 no matter what the character. My stepson was type 3, my stepdaughter type 2. These are all children of the same father.

We stood in line for 90 minutes in 90 degree heat to see Dora once. When the family in front of me got their turn, the little boy did a complete 180 and refused to go near her. I was like OMG!

I think you have to add a 4th category with the characters.. The I am really dying to see this character..I can't believe they are right there....I'm nervous but I'm trying to be brave...Oh no way they are right there and I lost all my nerve..I can't do it Mommy/daddy" This can of course go either way and you won't know it unless you check continuously thru the line only to be hosed completely at the end

 

[frkymcky]

I guess I didn't mention in my previous post that our trip last year was not her first experience at WDW. I expected DD to be timid with Mickey and Goofy, etc (catch my drift) but not with Cinderella or Jasmine, etc.

I swear she was scared of her own shadow last year

 

[anabelle]

eep! i know on this trip ive threatened to leave the kids or sell them to the its a small world ride...i hope no one has heard me and taken me seriously! lol

It's funny but I have heard several parents at WDW say that they put the bad kids in It's a Small World and make them dance. My kids never fell for it.

 

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

It's funny but I have heard several parents at WDW say that they put the bad kids in It's a Small World and make them dance. My kids never fell for it.

haha- mine didnt either...or they just didnt listen to me when i said it. altho many people around me got chuckles from it.

 

[FLAgirl73]

In Dec we saw this Dad just outside of Pecos Bills at his wits end, he was carrying ballons, refillable mugs, stufffed toys and I think he even had the remnants of a melted mickey ice cream running down his arm. He yelled at the top of his lungs "that is it, I've had it!" He literally dropped everything he was carrying and said to his two sons "right here, right now, no holds barred, go at each other!" The children were horrified, staring at him with eyes as big as saucers, frozen on the spot. I guess his kids had been fighting so much he just lost it. We just kept walking and watched as his kids ballons floated away.

Wow, this is awesome. I just read it aloud to my husband and he cracked up. With two little boys, I can totally see this happening to us one day.

 

[tinkermom23]

It seems you can't win...You discipline your child and you are an ogre and a bad parent.You don't discipline and you are a terrible ,bad parent that doesn't care about their kids.

YES!

Just got back and we were one of those families. DS10 and DS3 were constantly picking on each other. I finally got tied of saying "stop that, leave him alone, hands to yourself, ..." We were at Epcot and they were kicking each other and yelling a bit. I grabbed both of their hands and said, in a loud voice " Either stop being mean right now or I'll kick both of you and trust me, it WILL hurt!" OK, that is not how I usually am, but it just came out of my mouth.
I looked up and there were about 10 people staring at me like I had grown 3 heads or something.

Then, on the bus back to the resort DS3 & DD3 get in a squabble and we just ignored it. The older gentleman across from me says "You just let them punch each other? He hit her, you don't use discipline him while on vacation? Boys shouldn't ever hit a girl."

I just smiled and separated the kids again.

 

[DisneyDorkORama]

I♥ Disney World..who doesnt...but when we went to the Mickeys not so scary halloween party I was surprise at the amount of people (teens, early 20's, even older adults) who were either wearing inappropriate costumes or dressed like sluts.

 

[RD-SOX]

I'll yell at my kids anywhere, not just Disney. You should hear me in Wal-Mart!!!!! [/QUOTE]


OMG!! Me too. Its called being a parent, and for those who judge me and everyone else should look in the mirror

 

[Zeebs]

YES!

Just got back and we were one of those families. DS10 and DS3 were constantly picking on each other. I finally got tied of saying "stop that, leave him alone, hands to yourself, ..." We were at Epcot and they were kicking each other and yelling a bit. I grabbed both of their hands and said, in a loud voice " Either stop being mean right now or I'll kick both of you and trust me, it WILL hurt!" OK, that is not how I usually am, but it just came out of my mouth.
I looked up and there were about 10 people staring at me like I had grown 3 heads or something.

Then, on the bus back to the resort DS3 & DD3 get in a squabble and we just ignored it. The older gentleman across from me says "You just let them punch each other? He hit her, you don't use discipline him while on vacation? Boys shouldn't ever hit a girl."

I just smiled and separated the kids again.

Someone told me off on a train in Vancouver once for plonking my son on the seat after telling him to sit down a number of times, I got a right old lecture about how he was just little and I could have hurt him etc etc etc.

Later that day the boys were sitting waiting for the ferry happily eating a lollipop each and another man told me I had the best behaved kids he had seen in a very long time. Go figure.

You are damned if you do and damned if you don't when it comes to kids.


Kirsten